Holy Comforter’s athletic program has reason to celebrate.
The local private school for Pre-K through eighth grade saw its volleyball and cross country teams enjoy outstanding fall seasons.
The volleyball team finished 22-0, won the middle school championship and did not drop a single set for the second consecutive year.
The girls’ cross country team placed third in the FLYRA Middle School State Championship in Lakeland. Two runners – Maddie McVay and Kenzie McVay – earned top-20 finishes and All-State honors.
The volleyball is team is coached by veteran Joy Becker, who was inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016. She coached state championship teams in high school volleyball and basketball.
The Crusaders are 45-0 and have won 90 straight sets the past two seasons.
“This team reminds me of my very first team-a team full of very smart, respectful girls, who buy into working hard and are willing to spend extra time to learn the game,” Becker said. “Playing smart and playing hard have always been traits my teams have demonstrate – these team did it perfectly.”
Former FAMU baseball player Jeremy Barlow serves as the school’s athletic director.
Holy Comforter’s cross country teams earns state honors
The Holy Comforter girls’ cross country team won four races this season, including the Tallahassee Championship.
The Crusaders have won their host championship race the past four years.
Maddie McVay registered three first-place finishes, a top-5 in two other races, a ninth-place finish in the Pre-State meet and 11th at state.
Other state finishers included Kenzie McVay (19th), Laney Ungru (34th), Eleanor Blalock (38th), Ava Valenstein (40th), Megan Zirgibel (77th) and Catherine Ketcham (87th).
“When I first started coaching, we didn’t even have enough girls to make a scoring five,” Crusaders coach Deanna McVay said.
“We had to make a one-time exception to move up a few fifth graders just so we could compete. This past weekend, that same core group finished third in the state – going up against much larger programs running far more miles. These girls built this program mile by mile.
“More importantly, they learned what it means to be a team, to overcome adversity, and to embrace the role of the underdog. Those lessons will carry them far beyond running. Their time for more miles and more races will come, but what matters most is that they’ve built a foundation to train smart, stay healthy, and know they can compete with anyone in the state.”
The Holy Comforter boys’ cross country team also advanced two runners to the state meet, with Hudson Cheesborough (72nd) and Wyatt May (74th) placing in the Top-75 out of 203 runners.
Additionally, the Montford boys finished third among public schools, and Acadia Hassell placed in the top five in the girls’ race.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Holy Comforter’s volleyball, cross country teams excel during fall season
Reporting by Jim Henry, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
