Skip To Main Content

Rockets celebrate successful fall sports season

Rockets celebrate successful fall sports season

Parents, coaches, and student athletes gathered on Sunday, Nov. 19 to celebrate the 326 athletes and 48 seniors who competed in the exciting and successful fall sports season. 

During the Fall Sports Awards program, Athletic Director Drew Schmidt recognized the accomplishments of teams and individuals, applauded the spirit of the Launch Pad and Rocket fans, and thanked the seniors for four-year commitments to their school and their sport. 

“We are grateful for our student athletes’ commitment, sacrifice, and selflessness that has been given to our school and community. These contributions to the foundation of our school and Athletic Department will forever be etched in our history,” said Mr. Schmidt.  

Mr. Schmidt also honored the nominees for the Bonded Together Award. This award recognizes student athletes who fit the following criteria: 

  • are exemplary teammates who care for academic success, progress, and integrity 

  • elicit pride at school events 

  • go above and beyond what is anticipated in their sport 

  • respect their peers and community members in a genuine manner 

  • provide service to the school and to the community 

  • support the sisterhood and brotherhood that make McNicholas so special 

The nominees were senior Grace Elpers for cheerleading, senior Ian Wolfram for boys’ cross country, senior Cannon Wells for boys’ golf, junior Nick Geiser for boys’ soccer, senior Annabelle Dugle for girls’ tennis, senior Isaac White for football, junior Lila Moeves for girls’ cross country, senior Carly Kent for girls’ golf, senior Grace Fechtel for girls’ soccer, and senior Maria Billies for girls’ volleyball. Congratulations to Grace Fechtel and Isaac White who won the award.  

Mr. Schmidt also highlighted each team with a 2023 Fall Sports Recap: 

Cheer

Our cheerleaders fired up the Launch Pad with high spirit and energy at football games this fall. The team began prepping for their season early attending UCA cheer camp over the summer where they workshopped skills and competed against other schools. With this experience under their belts, they committed themselves to practices and perfected new cheers and stunts to support our Rockets.  

Boys Cross Country 

Our Boys Cross Country Team ran all the way to the State Championships this season. Several members of the team finished races in the top-5 and as top performers during the regular season. In the postseason, the team finished 2nd at the GCL Championships with senior Christian Burt placing 2nd and senior Lucas Hannah placing 7th. Christian finished the season for the boys at the State Championships where he placed in the top 4% of runners in Ohio.  

Girls Cross Country 

For the first time in ten years, the Girls Cross Country Team qualified for the Regional Championships. Several runners had top 5 finishes and multiple top 10 finishes in the regular season. At the GCL Championship, the girls had their best finish in over five years, finishing in 2nd with senior Addy Russo placing 7th and junior Lila Moeves placing 8th.  

Football 

The Varsity Football Team went 6-6 this season with a few heartbreakers that would have changed the entire trajectory of the season. The Rockets lost three of these games by a total of seven points and missed out on a GCL League title by one game. They eventually fell to Clinton Massie in the Regional Quarterfinals by one point in overtime. The freshman team had a historic season, finishing 10-0. The first team to do so since 2013.  

Boys Golf 

The Varsity Golf Team finished 6th at the OHSAA Sectionals this season. Junior Jack Noone wrapped up the season for the golf team by advancing to the District Championships where he missed qualifying for the State Championship by just one stroke.  

Girls Golf 

For the first time in 20 years, the Girls Golf Team was led by a new coach, Taylor Stott. Under her guidance, the girls season ended with a 7th place finish at Sectionals, their best in over five years. Senior Lucy Timko was just one stroke away from advancing to the District Championships as an individual for the Rockets.  

Boys Soccer 

The Boys Soccer Team went 11-6-3 in their season going unbeaten in 13 of their last 16 matches. They were led by a new head coach this season, Isaiah Chapman. Under new leadership, they defeated GCL power Carroll for the first time since Carroll joined the league over 15 years ago. In the postseason, Rockets won two matches defeating Wyoming for the first time in 10 seasons before ending their season with a hard fought 1-0 loss in the District Championship match.  

Girls Soccer 

The Girls Soccer Team ended their season with a 10-6-3 record. After losing to two State championship teams early in the season, the team went unbeaten in 12 of their last 16 matches. The season finished in the second round of the tournament with a heartbreaking loss that came down to penalty kicks. Winning ten games this season, they matched the highest season total since 2016. 

Girls Tennis  

The Girls Tennis Team had a successful season with three players advancing past the first round of the sectional tournament. Senior Annabell Dugle won two matches in the post season before falling in the Sweet 16. Newcomer, junior Maia Zeilman, won three matches in the post season before losing to the eventual State runner up.  

Girls Volleyball 

The Girls Volleyball Team finished their season with a 21-8 record, winning the third most matches in program history. They also won the GCL League title for the first time since joining the Coed League. They reached the State Championships after winning in Sectional, District, and Regional Championships. In the State Finals, the girls lost to #1 ranked Mentor Lake Catholic and became the State Runner Up team. Read more about their historic season: Girls Volleyball earns OHSAA State Runner Up

    Rockets called to serve during Day of Christian Charity

    McNicholas students celebrated Catholic Schools Week with a school-wide day of service. This Day of Christian Charity is just one example of the McNicholas commitment to enthusiastic giving and serving our neighbors in the spirit of the Sisters of St. Joseph

    2025 Mardi Gras Court announced

    Congratulations to seniors Tyler Munzel and Katherine Noble who have been named Captain and Maid of Honor of the 73rd annual Mardi Gras Ball. This announcement officially kicks off the Mardi Gras season at McNicholas which culminates in the annual Mardi Gras Pageant on Sunday, Feb. 16.