By Todd Freed, Staff writer | December 1, 2014

For the fifth time in the last six years, St. Thomas’ Episcopal School is a state champion in cross country.  With four finishers in the top 20, the STE Saints boys team won the TAPPS 3A state title by a 16-point margin over Schertz JP II.

“It was a really special year,” said STE cross country coach Bret Ramsey. “The goal for our guys is to represent themselves, their family and our school in an honorable way. I think all of that shows up in practice and in the meets.”

At the state meet, STE’s top finisher was senior Ben Graves, who came in fifth overall. “Ben has been incredibly consistent all year,” said Ramsey. “He was on the 2011 and 2012 state-championship teams and has been a key part of our program for his high school career.” Just behind Graves, STE junior Adrian Fetterley placed sixth overall at the state meet. “Adrian put it into high gear and ran a great race,” said Ramsey.

Other top finishers for the Saints included senior Matthew Hrncir, who despite taking a fall in the race, finished 12th. In addition, junior Saagar Pateder finished 17th, senior Kyle Lin came in 20th, sophomore Riley Moran was 24th, and fellow sophomore Christopher Han came in 48th. “I’m just really proud of all our guys and especially our two seniors, Ben and Matt. They showed great leadership throughout the season, and it paid off,” said Ramsey.

St. Thomas’ Episcopal junior Adrian Fetterley helped lead the Saints to the TAPPS 3A state championship in boys cross country. The victory marked the school’s fifth state championship in the last six years. (Photo: Robert Williamson)

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By Jeff Jenkins

November 11, 2014

St. Thomas' Episcopal has cemented its status as one of the state's premier boys cross country programs.

The Saints recently regained the TAPPS Class 3A state title after reeling off four straight championships from 2009-2012.

Even St. Thomas' Episcopal head coach Bret Ramsey finds it hard to believe.

"Mostly, I feel very blessed and thankful for all the success we've had," Ramsey said. "To think we would win five out of the last six years is more than I could have imagined."

St. Thomas' Episcopal's latest title was a bit closer than its more recent ones. The Saints tallied 49 points to hold off Schertz John Paul II with 66 and rival Red Oak Ovilla Christian with76.

It was truly a team effort, with five St. Thomas' Episcopal runners in the top 20.

Leading the way was senior Benton Graves, who placed fifth in the boys' 5-kilometer race in 17:51.6.

Junior Adrian Fetterley was next in sixth in 17:54.1, followed by senior Matthew Hrncir in 12th in 18:19.3, junior Saagar Pateder in 17th in 18:56.4 and senior Kyle Lin in 20th in 18:59.2.

Other finishers included sophomores Riley Moran (24th, 19:11.7) and Christopher Han (48th, 20:33.4).

Ramsey credited the leadership of Graves and Hrncir for keeping the Saints on track.

"They really pushed everyone to do their best when it counted the most," Ramsey said.

Unfortunately, Ramsey wasn't able to assemble a full girls' team. But St. Thomas' Episcopal should be better next year, with junior Kelly Parish and freshman Jian Liang coming back.

Parish was 22nd in the girls' 3,200-meter race in a time of 14:02.8. Liang was 28th in 14:21.8.

More Information

STE file

Distance dynasty: For the fifth time in six years, the St. Thomas' Episcopal boys cross country team captured the TAPPS Class 3A state title. Leading the way was senior Benton Graves, who came in fifth overall. Also placing in the top 20 for the Saints were seniors Matthew Hrncir and Kyle Lin and juniors Adrian Fetterley and Saagar Pateder.

http://www.chron.com/default/article/St-Thomas-Episcopal-debuts-at-No-1-in-state-5886464.php

Photo By: Jerry Baker, Freelance

STE boys hoping to return to perch in TAPPS Class 3A cross country

By Jeff Jenkins

October 14, 2014

Second place doesn't work for the St. Thomas' Episcopal boys cross country team.

After winning four straight TAPPS state championships from 2009 to 2012, the Saints came in second to Red Oak Ovilla Christian a year ago in Class 3A. St. Thomas' Episcopal head coach Bret Ramsey believes his squad has what it takes to return to the top.

"I think we're faster than we were a year ago," Ramsey said. "Ovilla Christian graduated five seniors, so they're not as strong."

But St. Thomas' Episcopal will have plenty to prove at the TAPPS State Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Waco Connally Middle in Elm Mott.

"We're probably the favorites, but we still have to run a good race," said Ramsey, who considers Red Oak Ovilla Christian and Scherz John Paul II, last year's 2A state champ, are the Saints' main threats.

The Saints' results have been outstanding, with St. Thomas' Episcopal claiming first place at the Lutheran South and Dayton meets and finishing second at Houston Christian's Dave Jantzen Invitational.

Ramsey noted that he was missing a few runners at the recent Bellaire/St. Thomas' Episcopal Invitational at Bear Creek Park, with the Saints slipping to 15th place.

"If we had everyone available, we probably would have been in the top 10," Ramsey said. "It was a tough meet, with public schools like Bellaire, Strake Jesuit and Katy Morton Ranch."

St. Thomas' Episcopal returns five runners who ranked in the top 30 at last year's TAPPS state meet.

Seniors Benton Graves and Matthew Hrncir are regarded as the Saints' premier runners. Hrncir and Graves were ninth and 11th, respectively, at state.

Graves has emerged as the No. 1 after winning the Battleground Invitational at La Porte and at Dayton. He was 24th at the Bellaire/St. Thomas' Episcopal meet.

"Benton has chance to be an individual state champion, but there are a couple of outstanding runners standing in his way," Ramsey said.

Hrncir, a key cog in several of the Saints' title teams, has a shot at a top five finish, according to Ramsey.

Juniors Adrian Fetterley and Saagar Pateder and sophomore Kyle Lin are back. Last season, Fetterley placed 12th at state, while Lin and Pateder were 22nd and 23rd.

Rounding out the team are a pair of sophomores, Riley Moran and Chris Han.

St. Thomas' Episcopal's girls will have a difficult time matching last year's third-place team finish.

"We've had a couple of injuries, so it's hard to predict what will happen," Ramsey said.

Freshman Jian Liang has been a nice surprise, emerging as the Saints' No. 1.

Junior Kelly Parish has been slowed by injuries, but she was 12th at state a year ago.

"I know Kelly's been frustrated with her season," Ramsey said. "She's hoping to be in the top 10. If she's healthy, she has a chance."

For the Saints to land in the top four, several underclassmen must emerge in the coming weeks.

More Information

St. Thomas' Episcopal file

Familiar spot: The St. Thomas' Episcopal boys cross country wasn't thrilled with its runner-up finish at last year's TAPPS Class 3A state meet. The Saints, who reeled off four state titles in a row from 2009-12, will be one of the favorites, led by seniors Benton Graves and Matthew Hrncir.

A little luck: Injuries have slowed the St. Thomas' Episcopal girls cross country team this fall. If the Saints get healthy, they could get close to last year's third-place showing. Leading the way are freshman Jian Liang and junior Kelly Parish.

http://www.chron.com/default/article/Saints-motivated-by-2013-s-runner-up-finish-5822714.php

Photo By: Jerry Baker, Freelance

Cross Country is a sport in which athletes race on an open terrain course which may include grass, cement, gravel, and hills. The High School ladies run a 2 mile course (3200 meters) while the High School men run a 5 kilometer course (3.1 miles). Middle school runners run from 1.5 mile to 2 mile races.  

Races are started en masse with a gun or horn sounding, then runners converge from the starting line into a narrow path that is followed until the finish. Each runner is responsible for staying on the path, and the course ends at a finish line with a chute. The chute is a walkway that keeps athletes single-file in order of finishing.