Welcome to Ursuline Athletics

PAW PRIDE
URSULINE ATHLETICS
T H E
In this issue
Coaches Spotlight
Pg. 3
Alumni Spotlight
Pg. 5
What drives you?
Pg. 6
Bon Appétit!
Pg. 7
Stop by, and cheer on
the Bears this month!
Basketball
- 1/20 @ Villa, 7:00 p.m.
- 1/22 @ Cape ND
Shootout
- 1/27 vs Viz, 6:00 p.m.
- 1/31 vs FHN, 6:00
p.m.
- 2/3 @ IWA, 7:00 p.m.
- 2/7 @ Metro, 7:00
p.m.
- 2/11 @ KC Central
Racquetball
- 1/28 vs Nerinx, 3:30
p.m.
- 2/2 vs CJA, 3:30 p.m.
Swim & Dive
- 1/17 vs Viz 6:30 p.m.
- 1/19 vs Nerinx 4:15
p.m.
- 1/26 vs Principia/
Bishop Dubourg 4:00
p.m.
- 1/27 vs MICDS 6:00
p.m.
- 2/10 MWAA Diving
finals @ JBS
- 2/11 MWAA Swim
finals @ MICDS
See highschoolsports.net for times and
location.
P O W E R
W I T H I N
U
J A N U A R Y
2 0 1 1
Welcome to Ursuline Athletics
“We are what we repeatedly do, excellence, therefore is not an act, but a habit.”
Dear Parents and Students,
The holiday season has come and gone, so that only means one thing – it’s time to get ready
for the Prom! You may think I am kidding, but if you walk around the halls, then you will see and
feel the buzz created by the upcoming prom season. The girls spend countless hours talking, thinking, planning, shopping in preparation for prom. The activity level seems to increase this time of year
in the fitness center when everyone is scrambling to prepare themselves for spring break and prom.
Magazines lay all over the floors bookmarked to the dress that might just be the one. Girls start
working more shifts at their jobs to help cover the extra expense that incur with prom and a spring
break trip. The main talk at the café tables and during break periods revolve around all the details
surrounding prom.
Now, this is all good and fine, I have nothing against prom or spring break. I just wish the
girls would put as much time and preparation into preparing for a sport season as they do in preparing
for prom or spring break. Too often, our young ladies think that running a week or two prior to the
first day of tryouts is adequate prep time. Too often, our young ladies come to tryouts completely out
of shape. We then have to spend the first few weeks getting everyone in shape rather than focusing
on skills, and plays and other game prep activities. This is valuable time lost to our opponents who
have come to tryouts game ready. Most girls will only attend a prom after giving it their best effort at
preparation. Why then why does the same girl feel its ok to play a sport that they are not adequately
prepared for?
First and foremost coming in to a season unprepared is dangerous for health reasons. Being
physically out of shape is a big cause of injury. I also think it is selfish. To come into a season unprepared means that you are relying on your teammates and your coach to get you game ready. Well,
it’s time as my favorite coach Pat Summitt would say to “Start your own engine”! From this moment
on, I challenge our student athletes to mentally and physically prepare themselves for their sport season at least two months before the start of the season. That means if you intend to participate in a
spring sport – start training NOW! I can’t make anyone begin the preparations; neither can you as
their parents. However, I can provide opportunities (fitness center, trainers, and coaches) and instruction.
I challenge all of my student athletes this new year to not settle!
 Don’t settle for just being kind of ready
 Don’t settle for mediocrity
 Don’t settle for laziness
 Don’t settle for anything but your best effort
 Don’t settle for losing
 Don’t settle for anything less than a state championship (do you think the high
schools down the street do?)
 Don’t settle
(Continued page 2)
Any potential soccer players
Open gyms will be on Mondays and Thursdays starting
Monday, January 31. Mondays will be a fitness based workout and Thursdays will consist of playing soccer.
Monday
January 31
February 7
February 14
February 21
Thursday
February 3
February 10
February 17
February 24
3:10 p.m.
outside locker room
6:30 p.m.
new gym
Softball
The 2009-2010 Ursuline softball team was honored December
22, at half time of the basketball game for being named to the
Girls Got Game/NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete.
Pictured L-R, JV coach Dana Vahey, JV coach Katie Mueller
Tryouts will start on February 28.
Happy New Year to the Ursuline family
and in particular UA golfers! Each new year presents new opportunities and new possibilities! I
hope this note finds each of you refreshed from your
Christmas break and looking forward to the second half of your
school year! I wanted to congratulate our own, Andrea
Frankiewicz who was recently honored in the Post Dispatch being named to the 1st Team All-Metro Golf Team. Only five girls
make the list that includes schools in both Missouri and Illinois.
It was a fitting tribute to the outstanding four years Andrea represented Ursuline in golf playing all four years as a varsity starter and in her four trips to State she finished in the top 15
three of the four years. Way to go, Andrea!! Speaking of State,
the five girls that took second place in this past year’s State
Championship will be honored for their accomplishment during
halftime of the Bears home basketball game on January 27. We
hope to see many of you there, cheering the basketball team on to
victory and applauding Andrea and her teammates Hannah
Golf
Schmitz, Lauren Essmyer, Abbey Manley, and Amanda Baebler.
As I prepare my son for his golf try-outs at Webster
Groves, which start on February 28, I am reminded of how good
we girls have it!! We have all Spring, and the entire summer to
prepare for our season, while the boys are usually either cold or
wet during their season! Let this be a call to action to those of
you who plan to be a part of a very special year in golf at Ursuline Academy in 2011....did you know that there are several practice facilities in our area with “heated” hitting bays...there are
carpets in your basement, just dying to be “putted” on...and there
are mirrors in your room longing for you to gaze into them as you
work on your posture and take-away?!?!
Let’s make 2011 different from all the others...with a
different looking trophy in the Ursuline trophy case!!
Go, Bears
Coach Gilbert
(Continued page 1)
If you need help getting organized, if you need help with a prep plan, please don’t hesitate to ask. My door is always open
and I would be happy to help get you started. As Aristotle once said “We are what we repeatedly do, excellence, therefore is not an
act, but a habit.” I’m looking to change some habits this new year. Who’s on board with me on this “excellence” adventure?
2011 the year of Ursuline’s first MSHSAA state championship.
Peace and blessings this new year,
Jen Brooks CMAA
Special thanks to the voice of the bears.
The Ursuline bears would like to thank Charlie Kennedy for announcing at our volleyball and Basketball games.
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PAW
PRIDE
THE
POWER
WITHIN
U
Coaches Spotlight
Dana Vahey
What do you currently coach at UA?
basketball-assistant varsity, softball-JV
Where else have you coached?
softball at Webster University
What sports did you play in high school?
I played soccer, softball, and basketball for 4 years and ran cross country for three years.
Where did you go to college?
Webster University – “Home of the Gorloks”
Favorite Movie?
I have a few different ones, but I would probably say “Friday Night Lights”.
Favorite Food?
Cereal is great.
Favorite Professional Team?
I really like the St. Louis Cardinals, and all our home-town teams – including the Athletica. And I like
the White Sox too….
Favorite All-time Coach?
Any Coach that helped me get better as a teammate and an athlete and believed in me and the
team. They helped me get to where I am today and where I am going tomorrow. Especially some of
those certain “yeller” Coaches…
Family?
I have an awesome family and am extremely grateful for them – including my mom Joanna, dad
John, brother John, and dogs Teddie Bear and TAG. I am blessed to have been on some quality
teams, and consider many of my teammates family too.
Spring
Sports
tryouts start
February 28.
You must have
a current
physical on file
prior to trying
out for any
team.
Please send all
physicals to the
athletic
department.
Person you most want to have dinner with?
I have quite a few that I would like to meet/see again, but one person would be Jackie Robinson.
Sports Trivia
1. What was the first sport televised in the United States?
2. What sport is the most common cause of eye injuries in the United States?
3. Who was the only college football player to twice win the Heisman trophy?
Answers on page 7
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3
Basketball
Varsity
The Varsity basketball team has an 8-7 record. We placed 4th in the Rockwood Summit Holiday Tournament. Mandy Warren made the All Tournament Team. Varsity continued their tournament play in the Parkway West McAllister Tournament. The
Bears had victories over McCluer North and Troy placing 3 rd. In the 3rd place game Mandy Warren, Bridget Brotherton, Heather
Pesigan and Hannah Weisbrod scored in double figures. The team shot 78% (29/37)from the line.
The Bears had 2 players, Bridget Brotherton and Hannah Weisbrod, named to the All Tournament Team.
Our last game was played at UA against Oakville. Varsity won 69 – 58. The team shot 75% from the line. Leading scorers
were Hannah Weisbrod and Heather Pesigan with 16 points and 15 points respectively.
Come support all 3 Bears’ basketball teams at Villa on Thursday, January 20 th. Game times are Freshman 4:00, JV 5:30,
and Varsity 7:00. We would love to see and hear you at this MWAA conference event.
Senior Night will be Monday, January 31 when we play Francis Howell North. We will honor Bridget Brotherton, Jen Mach
and Mandy Warren with their parents prior to the varsity game. Game times are varsity 6:00 p.m. and JV 4:30 p.m. Special team
festivities will occur after the game.
Let’s go, BEARS!
Coach Mary Hannig
Junior Varsity
Swim & Dive
Notes from the pool deck
January is going to be an exciting month for Ursuline swim and dive.
There are a lot of meets coming up – and they will all be a good challenge for the
team. Which is what every team should want – a challenge. We've told the girls
that it's not always about the points on the board, but swimming a personal best –
beating the clock. Fast pool or slow pool – the challenge a swimmer faces is
improving on time, and every tenth of a second knocked off is an accomplishment. It's something to be proud about.
We have meets on the following dates and would love to see some
Ursuline support in the stands (remember it's always warm and cozy):
January 17, Ursuline vs. Visitation Academy (Principia) 6:30 p.m.
January 19, Ursuline @ Nerinx Hall (Forest Park Community College) 4:15 p.m.
January 26, Ursuline @ Principia & Bishop DuBurg (Principia) 4:00 p.m.
January 27, Ursuline vs MICDS (Principia) 6:00 p.m.
January 31, Ursuline @ Westminster (Westminster) 4:00 p.m.
After those meets we head on to MWAA Conference – which we are
excited about competing in this year. It's fun to see everyone from all the schools
in one place and see all the team spirit.
We would once again like to pass on that we have set up a website and
encourage swimmers, divers, parents, faculty and friends to take a quick look for
all things to do with the Ursuline Swim & Dive Team: http://bit.ly/
UABEARSintheH2O
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PAW
PRIDE
After a late surge by Hazelwood
Central, the JV Basketball team found itself
in overtime in the finals of the Rockwood
Summit Holiday Tournament. With key free
throws and defensive stops in the final two
minutes of the game, the team was able to
capture the Championship for the second
straight year. The team is 2-0 in overtime
for the season and has yet to let their opponents notch a point in either of the extra
periods. We are currently 11-1 for the season and look forward to key match-ups in
January against Villa Duchesne and Visitation Academy. With much of the season still
to be played, we are striving to make large
gains of improvement over the next few
weeks in preparation for the Nerinx Hall
tournament and conference rival Incarnate
Word in February.
Coach Jason Jabbari
Alumni Spotlight
Jen Myers Ramsey
When did you graduate from UA?
1988
If you could play sports at UA again, knowing what you
know now, what if anything would you do different?
I really can't think of anything
I would do differently. It was
such a wonderful 4 years of
my life. I am so grateful to
have been a student-athlete
at Ursuline Academy.
Did you play sports in college? If yes, what and
where?
I was fortunate enough to play volleyball and basketball at
Saint Louis University from 1988 to 1992. Again, another
wonderful 4 years of my life!
Tell us about your family and your life today.
I have been married for 14 years to my husband, Bob, and
What sports did you play at UA?
we live in Fenton. I have three children Brad (12), Lucie
volleyball (4 years), basketball (4 years), and softball (2
(10), and Brendan (6). We are members of Sacred Heartyears)
Valley Park parish and the kids attend school there. Sacred
Heart is home to many UA alums. Bob and I coach our
Why did you play sports at UA?
I've loved sports for as long as I can remember, and it was older 2 children in basketball, and I coached my daughter's
volleyball team for 2 years. Sports is a HUGE part of our
a privilege to represent Ursuline on the court and the
family life! Bob is on 101 ESPN's "The Fast Lane" weekday
field. I couldn't imagine not playing sports at UA, and I
afternoons from 2-6pm, and I'm currently teaching at Our
can't imagine my life, then or now, without sports in it!
Lady of Providence's preschool. Bob's also in his 25th year
of broadcasting Billiken basketball. I'm a member of UrsuFavorite memory of sports at UA?
line's Alumnae Board.
My favorite sports memory is when our varsity basketball
won the District title for the first time in 1987. I was so
Any closing thoughts or
proud to be on that team! Another wonderful memory was
advice?
when I was chosen as Ursuline's St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Sometimes, high school
Scholar Athlete in 1988.
athletes may think that
they don't get to have as
much "fun" as other stue
r
sco s
dents who don't play beo
t
r
t
firs er fou
cause they always have
e
th in h r.
s
practice, or a game, or too
a
a
s
w
e
nt
Jen 0 poi as a B
much homework that they have to finish. Keep working
100 years
hard; push your minds and bodies to their limits; strive to
be successful in the classroom and on the court or
field. The work will pay off. Also, remember your teammates will always be some of your best friends-a bond like
no other. Cherish these 4 years at Ursuline -- they go by
How did playing sports at UA
so quickly. Hard for me to believe I graduated from UA
make you a better person?
almost 23 years ago!
Sports teaches the most valuable life
lesson: if you work hard, you will
see results. The harder you work at
your sport, your craft, your career,
your faith, the greater the results
you will see. Sports also teaches you
to accept failure when it happens, to
pick yourself up after it happens, and
to find the lesson in it.
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5
This month we asked a few UA Bears the following questions;
Why did you choose to play a sport at UA?
 What drives you in your sport?
 Do you feel being part of a team has helped you excel in high school and
made your high school experience better?

Molly Adler
Other than my love for the game of softball, my coaches and my teammates
drive me in my sport. I am fortunate enough to have what I believe is the most committed coaching staff in the St. Louis area when it comes to making me a better player and
person in general. They never give up on me and I learn something new from them everyday. My teammates over the course of my past four years at Ursuline have grown to be
more than just my teammates. Upperclassmen or underclassmen, they are all my family. Our group, especially this year, had something really special. We always had each
other's backs and "held the rope" in good times and in bad.
Most girls hate the fall because that means school is starting, but for me it's a
completely different case. Softball season is my favorite part of the year. I love my team
and I love my coaches and without them I wouldn't be who I am today. They've pushed
me to become a leader and shown me how to be not only a good teammate, but a good
friend. My years at Ursuline wouldn't have been the same without softball. I've been having withdrawals since October. I miss it so much already!
Next year Molly will attend MIZZOU or Westminster University and play softball.
Mallory Yant
I chose to play sports at UA to be part of not only a team,
but a community. The UA community. There's nothing better
than putting on a uniform that sports the words "Ursuline Academy". It's an honor to represent UA and show the rest of the
schools just how hard we work and what we hope to accomplish
as student-athletes at UA, whether it be overall strength, vision,
sportsmanship, team unity, or team spirit.
In my sports, there are many
things that drive me. First and foremost, I
drive myself to be the best I can possibly
be. My coaches also play a huge part in my
drive. They help instill confidence and skill
into all players every time they step on the
playing field. We all want something to be
proud of, and for me, the best feeling is
when I represent myself well and my teammates well while competing.
Are you planning on
continuing your athletic
career in college?
February 7, is NCAA
National Letter of Intent
day. If you would like to be
recognized at school please
let us know by February 4.
Please e-mail Mrs. Hartin, the
college you will be
attending as well as what
sport you will be playing.
Mallory will attend Brown University next
year and continue her soccer career.
Kelly LaPoint
I chose to play track and diving because I had been playing those sports for many
years before high school and I loved them, but also I wanted to meet new girls and have new
friends. I love to do a great job in my sports because when I get a personal record or get
points for my team I feel accomplished and like I am helping my teammates. Also I feel like
being a part of a team has definitely helped me excel in high school and made my experience so much better because I met so many new people from it.
Kelly is still undecided about her future plans, she is currently looking at
MIZZOU, Clemson and Tulane.
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Chef Erik Henry, Cameron
and Jen Brooks
Last March at the Ursuline auction a dinner was auctioned to raise
money for the Katy Henry Spirit Award. Mr. and Mrs. Clayton (UA study hall and STUCO supervisor) were the winning bidders with a substantial donation to the Katy Henry Scholarship fund. Katy's
brother Erik is an executive chef and he offered to cook and serve a wonderful five course dinner for
six people.
On Sunday, January 9, I had the honor of assisting Chef Erik, and his sous chef and son,
Cameron, in serving dinner to the Claytons as well as other Ursuline family members, Mr. and Mrs.
Kohl and Mr. and Mrs. Shea. It was a wonderful evening of food, friendship and serviam.
Katy Henry Spirit Award - Katy Henry was a 2002 graduate of Ursuline
Academy. She participated in the Academy's Athletic program as a proud member of the cheerleading team. Katy was killed in an accident in the summer of
2003 after participating in a service project with her sorority. Katy's energy in the
halls of Ursuline was contagious and her smile would light up a room. Katy's
death was a tragic loss of a wonderful young woman. In an effort to keep her
spirit alive in the halls of Ursuline, Katy's family established the Katy Henry Spirit
Award. This award is given to an incoming freshman who exhibits Katy’s spirit of
determination, joy of life and willingness to persevere. The scholarship is based
on the student’s desire to become part of the Ursuline family, her spirit of determination and financial
need.
Make plans now to attend the annual UA Bouna Festa Dinner Auction and make a bid on the
Katy Henry Spirit Award Dinner. Click auction icon above for all the details.
Trivia Answers
1.
2.
3.
On May 17, 1939, baseball became the first sport ever televised in the U.S. The
game was between Princeton and Columbia at Baker Field. Princeton won 2-1.
Sports cause more than 40,000 eye injuries each year. More than 90 percent of
these injuries can be prevented. Overall, baseball causes the most eye injuries,
followed by basketball, water sports and racquet sports.
Ohio State’s Archie Griffin
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Ursuline Summer Sports Camps
Basketball
Team camp: June 5-7, grades 3-8
Individual camp: June 13-16, grades 3-8
Freshman camp: June 1-3
Cheerleading
June 20-21 grades 5-8
Dance
June 13-16, grades K-8
Field Hockey
June 27-30, grade 2-8
Lacrosse
June 20-23, grades 5-9
Soccer
July 11-14, grades 3-8
Softball
June 13 & 14, July 11 & 12 grades 4-9
Tennis
June 13-16, grades 5-12
Volleyball
June 13-16, grades 4-8
Ursuline Academy
341 S. Sappington Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63122
www.ursulinestl.org
NOTICE
All articles are submitted by the team coaches. Please direct questions or concerns
to individual coaches.
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