Athletics

20 MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME 2018-2019 • GYMNASTICS - We had eight girls on the roster last season, the largest number that we have seen in over five years. At the league finals we had students finish 2nd and 3rd overall. The girls are very enthusiastic and determined about gymnastics, they are even recruiting classmates to come out for gymnastics this year! • LACROSSE - Making great strides last year, the team improved their overall wins from the previous three years and also finished higher in league standings. They once again qualified for league playoffs but lost a heart-breaker by one point to the #2 seed. We are so proud of the total team effort, as they showed us what they are capable of doing. With 11 seniors who graduated, the coaches are confident that the underclasswomen will step up to fill the void to deliver a great season this year. • SOCCER - Our soccer program saw some great growth last year with 37 girls in the program, allowing us to form a JV team for the first time in four years. Due to the incredible success that the team had last year in league play, our program was moved to the WBAL’s tough Upper Division, where Varsity came in 5th and narrowly missed making CCS playoffs. Our girls held their own in league play and will return to the upper division ths season. JV had an incredible year finishing with an overall record of 7-3-3. The team ended up 2nd in league play and just missed the championship with a close loss to Menlo, who won the league. We have some great talent on the JV team who will most definitely be Varsity players in the future. • SWIMMING - Under new leadership, the swim program is growing and maturing with 23 girls on last year’s roster. At the end of the season we had 13 girls swimming at league trials and all of them had recorded at least one personal record in their marks. That kind of dedication to improvement is exactly what the program needs to carry into a successful next season. • TRACK AND FIELD - Last season, we had 16 girls with a ton of heart on the roster. Though they battled some persistent injuries, the team never quit working hard. At the league championships, the girls established 16 personal and season bests. All four relay teams ran their best times of the season as well. With no seniors, the girls will return with solid foundational experience to build on next season. SPIRIT SQUADS As you read in the Spring Oaks, our Spirit Squads had a long road to Vegas Nationals but they overcame competitive and logistical hurdles to bring home trophies. From injuries to cancelled flights, dance and cheer rallied together to support their fellow Mercy girls throughout the year. The Cheer team showed incredible Tri-School spirit by representing Mercy at Serra football and basketball games. Winter/Spring ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS 20 MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME

SPIRIT SPECTACULAR Every spring, Mercy Spirit Squads host a competition for Middle School teams called Spirit Spectacular. In a full afternoon of pep, local middle school teams showcase their programs through dance, cheer, and tumbling. The program was created as a way to celebrate spirit programs and athletics, and is a great opportunity for middle school girls to get to know Mercy and our school spirit. With six schools competing this year, St. Veronica’s took home the 1st place trophy!

WEST BAY ATHLETIC LEAGUE 2018-2019 All-League Selections Winter BASKETBALL 1st Team - Mia Calsada ‘19 2nd team - Kate McHale ‘19 Honorable Mention - Alayne Buban ‘19 SOCCER 1st team - Giana Zamagni ‘19 2nd team - Elizabeth Bermudez ‘21 Honorable Mention - Genevieve Flieder ‘19, Madeline Bonilla ‘20 Spring LACROSSE 1st team - Maya McGee ‘20 2nd team - Hayley Klingler ‘20 Honorable Mention - Carolyn Reilly ‘19 SOFTBALL 1st team - Isabel Borjoquez-Emmons ‘20, Karla Joachin Alvarez ‘20, Ryan Galea ‘20, and Ariana Montiel ‘22 2nd team - Riley Rodriquez ‘20, Bella Alterio ‘21 Honorable Mention - Jordan Larratt ‘20 MVP - Hailey Armstrong ‘21 Most Valuable Pitcher in the West Bay Athletic League

BASKETBALL The basketball team had a strong pre season record of 9-4 and went into the regular conference season with high hopes. The team qualified for CCS and was given a tough opening game in Carmel. The team endured a long trip and beat the odds to come away with a 10 point win. In the 2nd round, they beat the 6th seed (Scotts Valley) with a thrilling one point victory that earned them coverage in the San Mateo Daily Journal and WBAL. Their run was stopped in the Quarter Finals, but the team never backed down, and we are excited about the future of Mercy Basketball! Playoff HIGHLIGHTS

SOFTBALL The team won the WBAL League Championship with a league record of 13-1. The last time a Mercy team won league was in 2009! The team also made CCS playoffs for the 3rd year in a row. They were featured on 49ers Cal-Hi Sports Report twice, with coverage detailing a win over Kings Academy and later an interview with the team. With a young roster and no seniors leaving, we look forward to what the team can achieve this year!

Senior Athlete of the Year KATHLEEN MCHALE A consistent force in Mercy’s Athletics program, Kate was a four-year player in basketball and volleyball and also played two years of softball. As a senior, Kate served an integral role in Varsity Basketball as the team advanced to the quarter finals of CCS playoffs. She led the team in blocks, rebounds, minutes played, and was 4th on the team in scoring. She made 2nd Team All-League. Her skills and defense in the key will be sorely missed by the team for this upcoming season. Kate was a middle blocker on the volleyball team. She overcame an ankle injury early in the season, and never quit working hard in rehab to ensure that she would be back in action by league play. With Kate at her best play level yet, the team advanced to the second round of CCS playoffs.