SPRING 2008

Rosary’s softball squad reclaimed a spot in the company of Orange County’s elite teams this season, but it was the JV team that played some of the most exciting games of the year.  With a roster primarily composed of freshmen, the squad battled injury problems and the loss of some key players to varsity before they rallied to score several come-from-behind victories and capture the league championship.  The varsity Royals were lead by three exceptional seniors: second baseman Kristin Welsh (Santa Clara), and outfielders Nicole Ortiz (Holy Cross) and Jordann Wakabayashi (Chapman).   

The varsity team was ranked as high as #2 in the county during a second-half run of 11 consecutive victories.  Featuring five wins over top-ten teams and seven league wins, the victory streak was only ended in extra innings at Thousand Oaks during a playoff heartbreaker.  The results of a 21-10 season were the school’s first-ever Trinity League Championship and MVP and Pitcher of the Year trophies for juniors Caitrin DeBaun and Alex Peyton, respectively.  These two stars were joined by junior catcher Briana Magdaleno and sophomore shortstop Alyssa Gonzales on the OC Register’s All-County team.  Peyton and DeBaun were also named All-CIF and All-State Underclass.  Wakabayashi and Ortiz donned their Royal uniforms one last time as Senior All-Stars, a game that featured the coaching skills of honored varsity coach Nicola Walsh Huerta.

The highlight of the swim season was sophomore Hannah Croghan’s blistering sprint to win the 50-meter freestyle championship in the League Finals meet.  She also finished 4th in league in the 100-meter freestyle.  Additionally, Rosary’s 200-meter freestyle relay team of Croghan, freshman Bernadette Bevins, and seniors Lara Gruden and Red Solis finished second in the League Finals.  Both the free-relay team and Hannah’s 50-free time were CIF qualifiers, and these swimmers had the honor of swimming in the CIF Swim Championships.

The track & field team enjoyed their best results in years.  The athletes broke school records in the 4 x 100m relay, the 4 x 200m relay, the 1600m sprint medley, and the 200m dash.  During league finals, several athletes – including Caelainn Confer in the 800m, Liz Hartnett in the 300m intermediate hurdles, and Haley Stauber in the pole vault – set personal records.  Sammi Aiello claimed 6th place in league in the 100m hurdles and Jacquelyn Machado and Carolyn Greco ran 5th and 6th in the 400m.  Confer’s 800m time placed her 4th, while Hartnett’s showing gained her 5th place.  Senior Molly Mahony placed third in league in the pole vault, and Stauber was the league runner-up in the triple jump.  Hartnett, Mahony, and Stauber all qualified to compete in the CIF Division III Prelims, along with the 4 x 100 team of Jarminski, Faley, Matthews, and Gaitan.

During the year-end awards season, Katelyn “Red” Solis was named Senior Athlete of the Year for her aquatic excellence; valedictorian and hardcourt star Kelly Jones was declared Class of 2008 Scholar Athlete; and the Outstanding Athlete of the Class was 4-year tennis standout and track sprinter Andrea Gaitan.  The outstanding athletes of each class were juniors Nicole Favreau (volleyball) and Alex Peyton (softball); sophomore swimmer and polo standout Hannah Croghan; and freshmen Lloyd Hoehle (tennis, golf & swim) and Chelsey Patterson (soccer).