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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Scotty Sports Corner: SMS Prepares for Tournaments

By Kelly Proctor '02
Special Correspondent

 Tappahannock (May 13, 2002)- St. Margaret's School athletes prepared for a week of tournaments by playing hard during their last week of regular-season games. Sparks will fly in championship action as Scotty softball goes head-to-head with St. Gertrude's School and tennis serves up a weekend of league competition at the University of Virginia.

SMS lacrosse game between SMS and SGS Arrow  Photo left: St. Margaret's 2002 tennis team includes, from front left: Rosalyn Morrison, Danielle Magid, Coach Katie Spiegler of Tappahannock, Kristina Bethea, Maggie Ransone of Kilmarnock, Jee-Sun Lee, Jennifer Stuart, Madison Barkley of Hague and Maggie Kite. Not pictured: Lulu Fiscella

Program Tennis: St. Margaret's tennis team celebrated two victories in two days by defeating both the New Community School of Richmond and Rappahannock High School in home court matches. The Scotties brushed New Community aside, winning 9-0 in a clean sweep on May 7.

"All the girls beat their opponents 8-0, too," said Coach Katie Spiegler of Tappahannock. "I'd especially like to recognize junior Madison Barkley of Hague. This is the first time she's played for St. Margaret's, and she won her first league matches! I'm real excited about our tournament next week."

Only a quick night's rest separated the winning match from the one before, when the Scotties beat Rappahannock in a well played 5-4 contest. Winning singles for St. Margaret's were junior Captain Maggie Kite, senior Kristina Bethea and junior Jennifer Stuart. Kite and junior Rosalyn Morrison won doubles, along with the duo of sophomore Maggie Ransone of Kilmarnock and junior Jee-Sun Lee.

Program Lacrosse: Varsity lacrosse met Virginia Episcopal School of Lynchburg halfway -- literally -- when they faced off in Charlottesville for first-round League of Independent Schools tournament play on May 9. Unfortunately, the SMS defense gave further ground, as VES ran the score up to 10-1. Junior Catherine Johnston scored the lone Scotty goal. Junior Co-Captain Lindsay Neist of Tappahannock credited junior goalie Ray Kurtis with a valiant effort and some effective blocking in the face of the Bishops' blazing offense.

The Scotties came into the tournament off May 6 and 7 losses to Trinity Episcopal School of Richmond (3-14) and the Steward School of Richmond (5-14). Earlier, on April 24, St. Margaret's defeated St. Gertrude's School of Richmond, 7-4. A combination of quick stick work and speed brought goals by junior Catherine Johnston and senior Katie Herrick.

Program Crew: As they have at every regatta this season, St. Margaret's crew team once again proved its flexibility in adapting to unanticipated conditions. Rowers overcame pleasure craft wake and mastered unfamiliar boats to return from the April 27 event at Lake Whitehurst with astounding scores and wins.

Most notable were the performances of the JV and varsity boats. JV rowed first, pulling ahead of the other teams, including Cox High School and Norfolk Collegiate, at 200 meters and clenching the win with sound blade work. The winning rowers were: freshman Annie Arnest of Kinsale, junior Catherine Farland, freshman Neillee Katona of Dunnsville, freshman Palmer Ware of Dunnsville and junior coxswain Patti Webb.

The varsity boat pulled up to the start of the 1350-meter race with ready oars and unwavering concentration. Pulling ahead from the first strokes, the boat kept the lead and bested both Cox and Collegiate. "This is a particularly exciting win, as Norfolk Collegiate had beaten us last race," said varsity coxswain Anne Czechanksi. Her boat consisted of senior Sarah Taliaferro of Center Cross, sophomore Captain Cariad Shepherd, Arnest and senior Kelly Proctor of Urbanna. The SMS crew team looks to make more waves at the regional rowing championships on Saturday, May 11.

Program Softball: St. Margaret's softball team met Trinity Episcopal on home turf May 7. Once again, the Scotties prevailed, beating Trinity in only four innings, 20-1. Junior Julie Srebro pitched a two-hitter. Coach Sue Saunders of Tappahannock said several players hit two-for-three: freshman Catherine Chilton of Litwalton, junior captain Michelle Sylva of Mount Landing and junior Srebro.

"We had ten hits and no errors," Saunders said. "Now that's exciting."





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