Medals and Rings, Vocations and Victories

Lucia Volpe, class of 2027, who is the first student in Martin Saints history to win a medal at the state cross country championships.

Last week, reporting on our tennis team's recent triumphs, I promised a cross country and soccer update too. Please forgive the delay. This week has been "fully alive" at school, and I got overwhelmed. But by the end of this email, I bet you'll agree that this update was worth waiting for. Scroll to the end of this email for plenty of photos and some surprises.

But let's start with the news:

Junior Lucia Volpe and her brother, freshman Tobias Volpe, both ran in the state cross country championships last weekend. Of all the thousands of runners in Pennsylvania high schools, only a few qualify to compete in the state championship. Only the very best of the best place in the top 25 and win a medal. Lucia was the first MSC student to win a state medal, 16th overall. Tobias, in only his freshman year, was the first MSC boy to qualify for states. We can't wait to see what happens next season.

This year, Lucia has led our team, training with exceptional discipline and commitment. She shows us all what excellence requires. Thank you, Lucia, for lifting all of our standards all season long. You have reset the baseline for our school.

The week before states, at the district championships, many team members set personal records. It's a young team, with much to look forward to. Our district has the reputation for being the most competitive in the state. Nevertheless, junior Claire Pellathy ranked third on the district's most improved list, improving her 5K time by over three minutes compared to last year.

But what about soccer? That's the other thing that makes this team special and this season so memorable. Martin Saints is a small school, and we didn't have enough athletes to field complete teams in both sports. So coaches Dave Merola (cross country) and Rixon Corozo (soccer) combined forces. That's right - these two teams practiced together. The students competed in two sports in one season.

I remember the day after our first soccer match against another school. I bumped into Coach Merola and Athletic Director Dan Donnelly in the hallway. "How'd it go," I asked, bracing myself. "It was 10-2," they said. "Oh dear," I replied, "how are the kids? are they ok? do they need a pep talk?" I thought they'd been crushed, seeing as we're a small school, playing a new sport, etc. "Deacon, you don't understand," replied the coaches, "we were the ten!"

It is impossible to thank and congratulate these athletes and coaches enough. Combining two sports and being competitive in both sounds insane, but it worked. Kudos to the students for their flexibility and sportsmanship. Hats off to the coaches for knowing what they were doing.

Will we combine again next year? It's too soon to say. For now, we simply enjoy the ride. How wonderful to be at a small school where everyone has a role, where hard work is rewarded. The winter chess season started a few days ago, and the basketball season starts next week. Stay tuned!

And keep scrolling. There are a few suprises at the end of these photos...

At the boys district championships. Martin Saints boys are in navy blue.
Can you hear the thundering hooves?

Coach Merola keeping his team on the straight and narrow.

Lucia and Claire pray before a race.

Our second soccer game was a 4-3 come-from-behind win. Junior Owen Watters - the happy chap levitating in the center - kicked the game-winning goal from 50 feet at the last minute.

BUT WAIT. Don't close this page yet. There is more. Look who showed up with a ring on her finger on Monday....

Spanish teacher Bridget Burke is engaged to the incredibly fortunate Luciano Blancato! This is the fourth engagement or wedding at Martin Saints this year. Congratulations, Bridget and Luke!

And speaking of discerning our vocation and state in life: on Thursday, we took some of our young men to the cathedral for Mass and then lunch with Philadelphia's newly ordained priests. This event is for young men discerning their own vocations. Is there a future priest in this photo? I think so. Special salute to four of these guys, who are not only discerning, but also were on that soccer/cross country combo team. In this photo, we're at the cathedral, standing in front of the relics of Sts. Louis, Zélie, and Thérèse Martin, our patrons. They teach us that you can serve the Lord from either state in life - ordained or lay, single or married - but it's up to us to offer our lives in prayer and to discern.

One last thing. Our new and long-awaited sign, mounted at school earlier today...

When they say that an organization is "dynamic," it means that it's on the move, nimble, growing, pushing forward. Martin Saints Classical High School is dynamic. We are a community of ordinary people who aim high, trying to live faithfully and offer it all back to the Lord. Praise God for his graces, and please pray for our protection and continued growth. Do you know someone who belongs in our family of families? Spread the word about our open house on Thursday, November 18. Details and RSVP here.

And see you tomorrow at Mr. Cuddy and Miss Fitzpatrick's wedding! I guess we'll just have to send more photos again next week...