by Cassie Florido

As the 2012 fall sports season nears its end, many STA varsity sports teams are competing in postseason tournaments. The postseason tournaments take place in many different ways. All of the fall sports participate in the postseason as a team. However, tennis, golf and cross country also compete in individual competitions as well as team competitions. For many sports, one of the first competitions that takes place in the postseason is the District tournaments. If a team wins Districts, they advance onto Sectionals and then State.

Softball

The STA softball team received the three seed in this year’s District tournament. The team faced Ruskin High School in the first round. Ruskin was unable to win a game during the regular season, resulting in an 0-12 season.

Upon competing in Districts, head coach Ty Abney made the team’s goal clear.

“We want to win as many games as we can,” Abney said.

On Oct. 3, the softball team defeated the Eagles 15-0, advancing into the next round. The following day the team faced Raymore-Peculiar High School. The Panthers defeated STA 11-1, forcing the team to fall one game short of the District championships.

The team finished the season with a record of 12-15, improving from last season’s final record of 7-18. The majority of the team will return next season with only three seniors graduating.

Tennis

This year, the STA tennis team received a bye for the first round of the District tournament because of their 9-3 record. On Oct. 2, the team faced an 8-9 Park Hill High School team. However, the team lost 5-4 to Park Hill.

The tennis team also had several players compete as doubles in Districts. The doubles team of junior Grace Wells and sophomore Hannah Bredar finished first in Districts. The team of junior Kathleen Conner and senior Mickey Redlingshafer placed second in the District tournament.

On Oct. 9, the two doubles teams competed in Sectionals. According to MSHSSA, the teams finished tied for second with a doubles team from Liberty High School. With only the top two teams advancing to State, the team’s season came to an end.

Golf

On Oct. 3, the STA golf team competed in the District tournament. The team finished fourth overall with a score of 381. Even though the team did not qualify for Sectionals, three golfers qualified individually for Sectionals.

Senior Emily McCann placed first in the District tournament with a +9 score. Senior Jacqueline McGee and sophomore Ellie Shorter also qualified individually with the scores of +26.

The team had two golfers qualify for the State tournament. McCann placed seventh in Sectionals with a score of +18. McGee tied for 16th with a score of +23.

Last year, McCann earned All-State honors and hopes to be All-State again this year. McCann says her main goal heading into State is to place in the top five or seven golfers. McCann and McGee will compete in the State tournament on Oct. 15 and 16.

Volleyball

Last year the STA volleyball team placed first in the District tournament. The team defeated Park Hill South High School in the first round of the State tournament. However, the team fell short at sectionals, losing to Lee’s Summit West High School.

This year the team is 7-11. Everyday, the team breaks their huddles with “State” to remind them of the goal.

“We expect to get to Sectionals and our goal is to make it to state,” senior Elaine Schmidt said. “We have a really good chance this year.”

Cross country

Last year the cross country team finished fourth in the State Championships. Last year, the team’s highest finisher, Courtney Coppinger, finished 16th overall. Coppinger’s teammates, sophomore Ann Campbell and senior Lane Maguire finished 23rd and 37th overall.

Several of these fall sports’ seasons have ended. However, throughout the end of October and into early November, the STA volleyball and cross country team will continue to compete in the District and State tournaments.