STLCC Fall Sports prepare to end the season with winning records
By: Ashley Biundo, Editor-In-Chief
Left: Lady Archers Volleyball celebrating a win against Jefferson College on Oct. 2 at Meramec; Middle: Taylor Thompson, Isabella Lundberg, Brea Griffonetti and Madison Gann celebrate a goal aganist St. Charles Community College on Oct. 17; Right: Fortu Hernandez and Mickel Ravello celebrating a goal against Lewis & Clark Community College on Oct. 16.
MEN’S SOCCER
With the 2019 season coming to an end, STLCC Men’s Soccer is ending their regular season with a winning record and getting ready for the regional tournament.
Although this is Martin Clayes first year as head coach for the soccer program he said he had expectations to make it to regionals but also to figure out the program. “This season would be about getting to know the players and the program,” Clayes said.
Every season comes with strengths and weaknesses and as for the Archers, they had high strengths. “Our biggest strength is the quality of our players; they can compete with anyone,” Clayes said.
With a new coach this season, they also had some setbacks. A better preseason would have allowed the program to get further along faster, said Clayes. “I think it took a little bit of time to figure out each player and what qualities they have and then figuring out how to use that to the benefit of the team,” he said.
As they gear up for the postseason, Clayes said that they are preparing for regionals. “The players are very good so we can compete with anyone. We feel we have a good opportunity to play well in the postseason,” he said.
As the season ends, the STLCC Men’s Soccer program is preparing for the next season. “As a college coach you’re always recruiting a little bit for the next season but I don’t spend a lot of time on next season,” he said. “This season, the next game, the next practice is what’s most important at any given time. Once the season is over you really begin to prepare for the next season.”
Although the season isn’t over quite yet and they still have regionals to go, the team has accomplished a goal of a winning record and more goals to accomplish in the postseason. “I don’t think we have had a great accomplishment…yet,” Clayes said.
Dennys Vasquez heads the ball against Lewis & Clark CC. 
Alexis Reyes Mortero dribbles the ball down the field on Oct. 16. 
Goalkeeper Liam Gibbs rolls the ball to his teammates. 
Jack Lenning kicks the ball.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
The STLCC Lady Archers Soccer ended their season with a record of 11-4. Head Coach Jason Howard is preparing the team for regionals in the postseason. He said he has expectations to make it to regionals.
“This year we have seven, sometimes eight freshmen. I think with all those young players, I think we’re doing just fine to this time of year,” he said. “The freshmen have stepped up and we needed to and the sophomores have been leaders.”
With the season ending, the Lady Archers figured out their strengths. “I think the girls get along really, really well. I think we’ve got a good team chemistry,” Howard said. “Fortunate for us to play hard, talented players that are athletic.”
Along with strengths, comes weaknesses for the Lady Archers. “I think, weaknesses, we can definitely be better finishing our chances going forward and capitalizing on opportunities,” he said.
Throughout the season, the has experienced their share of ups and downs but Howard said that he is proud of the team and how well they have played. “I think we’re happy with the way everything’s gone so far and I can take what we have right now,” he said.
As the season ends, they are preparing for the post season and according to Howard, he said that the team is ready to compete. “We’ve been playing good all year and we got the team that can compete for Regions,” he said.
Around this time of year The Lady Archers begin to start looking for new players to play next season. “Especially at this level we lose half our team every year. That’s pretty much a never ending process,” Howard said. “You gotta constantly looking for players because if you miss a class it’s gonna put you back a year or two.”
With the post season beginning, the team hopes to accomplish winning the regional tournament, according to Howard. “Well, seasons not over yet. Right? So [our accomplishments] are tough to say so far,” he said.
Goalkeeper Kelly Cates drop kicks the ball down the field. 
Mikayla Sisk dribbles the ball down the field. 
Makayla Duncan prepares to kick the ball. 
Brea Griffonetti goes for a header. 
The team celebrates their win.
VOLLEYBALL
The Lady Archers Volleyball Program, as of press time, currently stands with a 20-13 record and one game left before post season begins. Head Coach Geoff Davis said that the team has had a very good season.
“I think the girls have performed incredibly well. I think we have the potential to definitely go beyond postseason,” he said. “I think that we should; with a win on Friday [Oct. 25] that would secure that the Region Championship for us and put us into postseason play, which is here in St. Louis, which is pretty cool.”
Davis also said that if the team stays healthy, they will be in great shape.
With a winning season, comes strengths and weaknesses. Davis said that other teams underestimated the Lady Archers. “Our ability to push through and teams that played us were unexpected at the level of talent that was on the court,” he said. “We were scrappy, we were fast, and we hit really hard. So we came out with the element of surprise.”
The weaknesses that the team had was not having enough time for practices and just spending time together, according to Davis. “You always wish you had more time to spend together as a team. You always wish you had more time in the gym to prepare,” he said.
Davis said that he has high hopes for the freshmen and is proud of how this season went. “The freshmen are going to be miles ahead of the girls from last year just because our sophomores just really took it upon themselves to really make them feel comfortable to really teach them a work ethic that is, is attributable to college volleyball,” he said. “But it’s a different level of play and they prepared those kids really well for that play. So we had some big time kids stepping up, freshmen stepping up, and doing some really good things for us this year.”
Although the team was successful this season with 20 wins, Davis said that he is proud of how the team played. “We were very equally matched to those teams. So we were able to build a lot of confidence there,” he said. “We could have easily been 25 and one right now. But 20 wins for this organisation and this team. It’s pretty impressive.”
With postseason coming up, Davis said that the team is ready to play. “I think we’ve we’ve displayed the ability to be able to, to execute around some of the challenges that we’ve had,” he said. “I think we’re ready.”
With the season ending, Davis said that they are getting ready to recruit and prepare for next season. According to him, the number of kids wanting to come play at STLCC has increased. “I’ve had a lot more outreach, in terms of I’m always out recruiting and scouting. There’s been a vast increase in the number of kids that have been coming and saying, ‘Hey, we’re interested in ball here,” he said. “I think that’s predicated on the excitement that these guys have on the court when they’re playing. And people see that their commitment to success has created some opportunities for others to see, hey, there’s a there’s some competitive ball in the area. I think that’s given people an opportunity to say, ‘why not STLCC?”
Some of the accomplishments that the Lady Archers had this year was keeping the team healthy and maintaining very few injuries. “Keeping everybody healthy as much as possible, getting the girls to work together as teammates on the court and off the court,” he said.
Overall Davis said that he is proud of how this season turned out. “Helping them understand that their attitude determines their altitude and watch them be able to perform in situations that they could have easily given up, watch them come back and fight for that,” he said. “My accomplishment was is their success and that’s been a pretty cool deal.”
Photos by Ashley Biundo.
