Jaguars Claim Third Place at DII Northeast District Meet

The Jaguars arrived at the DII Northeast District meet with big goals in mind, and the team delivered with an impressive performance. Ultimately, the Jaguars earned a third-place team finish out of 20 teams, improving on last season’s fourth-place district finish.

Maddie Koon’s 29 led the way for the team with a fifth place finish. Elizabeth Siefker ’28 followed with a ninth-place finish, while Avery Stives ’27 placed 14th. With five runners finishing in the top-15, the Jaguars put together a strong team effort to secure third place.

Annie Collins ’30 and Grace Litten ’29 also got their first taste of postseason racing, running strong races that contributed to the team’s overall success. With a high District team finish behind them, the Jaguars will look to carry that momentum into the next stage of competition at  Regionals. 

Next up, the team will compete at the DII Northeast Regional meet on October 31st. The Jaguars will race at Boardman High School at 11:50 a.m. as they look to continue their postseason run.

Jaguars Celebrate Senior Night at the Jaguar XC Invitational

With the best weather possible for mid-October, the Jaguar XC Invitational was the best way to end the regular season for the Jaguars. It was a strong night for the Jaguars, with 32 season bests and 21 lifetime bests. For the second year in a row, Olivia Palleschi ‘28 won the race with a time of 20:27. Right behind her were Olivia Newman ‘28 (3rd place), Bea Kratt ‘30 (4th place), Grace Litten (5th place), and Carolyn Skrha (8th place). With five Jaguars in the top 10, the team pulled off a first-place team finish for the fifth year in a row.

One of many notable performances came from Alison Donnelly ‘30. In just her third race as a Jaguar, Alison set a PR of 23:24, shaving off 2 minutes and 48 seconds from her previous best. Grace Henry ‘27 also lowered her PR to 23:43 to end her senior season in a memorable way.

After the race, the team honored its 11 seniors with a ceremony and picnic. Congratulations to Ella Antonetti, Stella Garland, Grace Henry, Noel Heuberger, Jesslyn Kostecke, Jezebel Kostecke, Vanessa Langer, Ellen Loftus, Grace Schmidt, Ella Schneider, and Avery Stives on a great senior cross country season.

The Jaguars now head to the postseason, running in the DII Northeast District meet at Lorain County Community College. The team races at 10:00 a.m.

Jaguars Build Postseason Momentum at Medina Milt Place

The Jaguars took on the Medina Milt Place XC Festival as their last full-team meet of the season, finishing the day with five season bests!

In the varsity race, Maddie Koons ’29 led the way with an impressive sixth-place overall finish. Close behind were Avery Stives ’30 and Elizabeth Siefker ’28, finishing 12th and 15th, respectively. With three Jaguars in the top 15, the team secured a strong second-place finish out of 23 teams. This high team finish provided yet another valuable data point as the team looks ahead to the postseason.

In the JV/open race, Olivia Palleschi ’28 led the team with a time of 21:43 and an impressive seventh-place finish. Right behind her was Bea Kratt ’30, who earned an 11th-place finish. These two Jaguars helped the team secure a fourth-place finish out of 18 teams. Another notable performance came from Olivia Ralston ’30, who recorded a 16-second PR with a time of 25:50.

The Jaguars will next compete at the Jaguar XC Invitational (Senior Night) on October 21 at the South Mastick Picnic Area. This will be the team’s final meet of the regular season!

Momentum Continues for the Jaguars at the Madison Invitational

For the third week in a row, the cross country Jaguars had a strong week across the board. That was proven at the Madison U Wanna Come Back Invitational, with the tam recording 17 season bests and 12 lifetime bests. In the varsity race, Maddis Koons ’28 had a standout performance, finishing in 18:38 and moving up to fourth on Saint Joseph Academy's all-time list. Avery Stives  ’27 and Elizabeth Siefker ’28 followed closely behind, while Siefker ran a 19:37, taking 22 seconds off her previous personal best. Freshmen Inez Somarriba and Annie Collins also made an impact as the fourth and fifth scorers for the Jaguars. Collins has maintained a strong varsity presence all season, while Somarriba has continued to secure her spot over the past three weeks. The varsity crew placed 7th out of 29 teams.

In the JV/Open race, Bea Kratt ’30 led the way again for the Jaguars for the second week in a row finishing in 21:38 and taking 21 seconds off her previous best time. Several other runners also recorded noticeable personal bests, including Teagan Frey ’29, who crossed the finish line in 24:07, improving by 57 seconds. Natalia Turner ’30 shaved 47 seconds off her previous best to finish in 25:06, while Camila Valore ’30 took off 1:16 to finish in 25:00. The JV Jaguars took home a 5th place finish out of 11 teams. 

The team races next at the Medina Milt Place XC Festival on October 10th. Varsity runs at 9:30am, followed by the JV/Open race at 10:40. This will be the final whole team meet of the season. 

Jaguars Place Fifth in Varsity and Fourth in Open at Strongsville

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio - Saint Joseph Academy placed fifth among 19 varsity teams Saturday at the Strongsville Fleet Feet Invitational, led by Maddie Koons ’30 and a consistent scoring pack. Koons finished sixth in 18:55, while Avery Stives ’27 and Elizabeth Sifker ’28 joined her in the top 25.

Racing on a new course with clear and cool weather conditions, the Jaguars maintained the compact formation that has supported their recent success. Saint Joseph Academy’s five scoring runners finished within 2:13 of one another, nearly matching the 2:12 spread the team recorded the previous week at Massillon Jackson. Koons led the way up front, while Stives, Siefker and the remaining scorers worked together to keep the team’s gaps tight throughout the race.

Saturday’s race offered an important early look at the postseason field. Of the 19 varsity teams competing at Strongsville, six are among the 21 teams Saint Joseph Academy is scheduled to face at the district meet on October 24. The Jaguars finished ahead of five of those six teams, providing a positive benchmark as the team heads toward the championship portion of its season. With districts less than a month away, the result showed that Saint Joseph Academy’s pack strength and consistency can translate against several of the teams it will see again when the postseason begins.

The team also placed fourth among 14 teams in the JV/open race. Bea Kratt ’30 led the Jaguars with a time of 22:11, followed closely by Carolyn Skrha ’28. Kratt, Skrha and Ella Schneider ’27 each earned a top-25 finish, giving the team three runners near the front of the field.

The JV/open group produced an even tighter spread, with only 1:23 separating its scoring runners. That consistency helped the Jaguars secure their fourth-place team result and extended a strong day across both races. The varsity and JV/open finishes continued Saint Joseph Academy’s momentum as the postseason, which begins Oct. 24, draws closer.

The Jaguars will next compete at the Madison Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. The varisty crew will race at 9:45am, followed by the JV/open race at 11:15am.

Jaguars Place Second in Varsity and Open Races at HeckSpacular

 

MASSILLON, Ohio - Saint Joseph Academy placed second in both the varsity and open races at the Massillon Jackson Heckspacular on Saturday, Sept. 19, as Maddie Koons ’29 and Avery Stives ’27 led a strong day of pack running at Jackson Middle School. The Jaguars scored 59 points in the varsity race, finishing two points behind the winner, while the open squad totaled 38 points and missed first place by seven.

Koons paced the varsity lineup with a time of 18:54, matching her lifetime best, and Stives followed closely in 18:57 setting a new personal best. Their performances strengthened both runners’ positions on Saint Joseph Academy’s all-time top-10 list. With only three seconds separating the Jaguars’ first two finishers, the front of the lineup set the tone for a varsity group that averaged 19:52 and placed four runners among the top 15.

The varsity race also produced five lifetime-best performances. In addition to Stives’ 18:57, Svlvia Langer ’29 finished in 20:25, Annie Collins ’30 ran 21:06, Grace Litten ’29 recorded 21:29 and Inez Somarriba '30 crossed in 21:34. Those performances helped the Jaguars stay within two points of the team title and demonstrated the depth developing behind Koons and Stives.

Saint Joseph Academy’s pack was just as effective in the open race with the scoring runners averaging a time of 22:30. Anna Heuberger ’28 led the Jaguars with a lifetime-best 21:09 and placed second overall. Bea Kratt ’30 finished fourth breaking the 22 minute mark for the first time, Samantha Eynon ’29 took eighth and Jezebel Kostecke ’27 placed ninth while running a season best time. The open squad put five runners in the top 15, allowing the Jaguars to compile a lower team score than the varsity group and remain in contention for the race victory.

The two runner-up finishes highlighted the Jaguars’ strongest pack running of the season. Across the meet, Saint Joseph Academy recorded 34 season-best times and 18 lifetime bests. Eight of those lifetime-best performances came from returning runners, giving the team another indication of its progress as the postseason approaches. The results came under clear skies with a temperature of 79 degrees.

The Jaguars will next race away at the Strongsville Invitational. Varisty will race at 9:00am followed by the JV/Open race at 10:00am. After placing nine runners in the top 15 across the varsity and open races at the Heckspacular, Saint Joseph Academy will carry improving times and a tightly grouped lineup into its next postseason tuneup.

JV Jaguars Take Third, Varsity Places 12th at Walsh Pat Richie Invitational

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio - Saint Joseph Academy’s JV Jaguars used three top-20 finishes to place third among 13 teams, while the varsity team finished 12th in a competitive 22-team field Saturday at the Walsh Pat Richie Invitational. Avery Stives ’27 and Maddie Koons ’29 led the varsity pack. Inez Sommarriba ’30 led the field in the open race with a hot second place finish.

Clear skies and cooler conditions at Walsh Jesuit High School helped produce 19 season-best performances for the Jaguars. The temperature was 63 degrees at the start of the meet, giving the team a favorable setting to attack their previous marks and maintain a steady pace through the race.

Stives and Koons set the pace for Saint Joseph Academy in the varsity race against a deep field. Annie Collins ’30 continued moving closer to the sub-22 mark, finishing in 22:05. Their efforts helped The Jaguars navigate the tough competition.

The Jaguars’ pack running was especially effective in the open race. Sommarriba cut 2 minutes, 9 seconds from her time the previous week and recorded a season-best of 22:14 to finish second. Olivia Palleschi ’28 stayed close behind in fourth place and crossed in a season-best of 22:25, while Samantha Eynon ’29 was not far back in 19th.

The close spacing among Sommarriba, Palleschi and Eynon gave Saint Joseph Academy three runners in the top 20 and powered The Jaguars to third place overall. Their ability to race together and hold strong positions provided one of the team’s most significant performances of the meet.

The Jaguars will travel to the Massillon Jackson Heckspacular on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, where varisty will race at 9:30am followed by the open race at 10:30am.

Jaguars Place Fifth in Maroon Division, Second in Open Race at Avon Lake Early Bird Meet

 ELYRIA, Ohio - Saint Joseph Academy placed 5th among 15 teams in the Maroon Division varsity race and 2nd among 12 teams in the open race Saturday at the Avon Lake Early Bird Meet. Avery Stives '27 led the Jaguars' varsity effort with a 10th-place finish in 20:39, while Bea Kratt '30 paced the open squad by placing 7th overall in 23:19.

Stives opened her senior season at the front of the Jaguars' varsity lineup, setting the pace through cool, damp conditions at Lorain County Community College. Elizabeth Siefker '28 followed less than a minute behind and finished 13th, giving Saint Joseph Academy two runners among the first 13 across the line. Their performances provided the foundation for the Jaguars' fifth-place team result in a competitive 15-team field.

Kratt delivered a strong race in the open divison, leading a compact Saint Joseph Academy group that helped secure the runner-up team finish. Anna Heuberger '28, Inez Somarriba '30 and Olivia Palleschi '28 were not far behind Kratt, using pack running to strengthen the Jaguars' position in the team standings.

That grouping proved significant in a race where every place contributed to the final result. With Kratt establishing the early benchmark for the Jaguars, Heuberger, Somarriba and Palleschi stayed close enough, all placing in the top-20, to give the team several finishers in succession. The depth behind the lead runner helped Saint Joseph Academy finish ahead of 10 teams in the 12-team open field.

Cloud cover, misty rain and a temperature near 74 degrees kept conditions manageable during the races. The heavier rain held off until the team was packing up, allowing the Jaguars to complete both competitions before the downpour arrived. The only casualty of the weather was a batch of postrace bagels that became soggy before the team could eat all of them.

Saint Joseph Academy will return to competition at the Walsh Jesuit Pat Richie Invitational on Saturday, Sep. 12, 2026. The varsity crew will race at 8:30am in the Gold Divison and the JV crew will race in the open division at 10:25am.

Jaguars Place Second at HOKA Night XC Showcase

GENEVA, Ohio - Saint Joseph Academy opened the 2026 cross country season with two top-three team finishes Saturday night at the HOKA Night XC Showcase. Racing on the new cross country course at Spire Academy, the varsity Jaguars placed 2nd among 37 teams in the black division, while the JV team finished 3rd among 17 teams in the open division.

Maddie Koons ‘29 led the varsity lineup with a 4th place finish, and Elizabeth Siefker ‘28 followed in 6th. Their two top 10 performances gave the Jaguars a strong presence near the front of the field and established the foundation for the runner-up team result.

Pack running strengthened the varsity effort behind the leaders. Sylvia Langer ‘29 and Grace Litten ‘29 stayed close to the front group, with both runners beginning the season by recording personal-best performances. Annie Collins ‘30 and Bea Kratt ‘30 also delivered notable races, holding their own against the varsity field in the season-opening showcase.

The Jaguars carried that depth into the open race, where Anna Heuberger ‘28 and Olivia Palleschi ‘28 led the team to 3rd place finish out of 17 teams. Their performances helped Saint Joseph Academy secure another high team finish.

The meet also marked important first steps for two runners. Inez Somarriba ‘30 and Teagan Frey ‘29 completed their first cross country meets and contributed notable performances in the open race. Their debuts added to an opening night that featured front-running results, personal records and strong team depth across both divisions.

The Jaguars next travel to the Avon Lake Early Bird Meet, hosted at Lorain County Community College on Saturday, Sept. 5. The varsity Jaguars will race at 9:00am in the maroon division followed by the JV/Open Jaguars racing at 10:30am in the open race. The meet will give Saint Joseph Academy another chance to build on its pack running and two podium team finishes from the season opener.

The Varisty Jaguars before the black divsion race

The JV Jaguars before the open race

The Jaguar XC Invitational (Senior Night) Recap

The Jaguars hosted a memorable Senior Night, rebranded this year as the first-ever Jaguar XC Invitational. It was a fitting way to close out the regular season with standout performances across the board.

Out of the 36 Jags running, 31set new season bests, with 23 of those being lifetime bests. The team’s hard work all season was on full display, making for a powerful finish to the regular season.

Six athletes earned Athlete of the Meet honors for their exceptional performances:
Jezebel Kostecke (‘27), Bridie Hyland (‘26), Alexy Actis (‘28), Grace Litten (‘29), Ella Antonetti (‘27), and Alex Cromer (‘26).

With momentum on their side, the varsity squad, along with two alternates, now turns its attention to the postseason. The Jags will head to LCCC this Saturday to compete in the district meet, ready to chase even bigger goals.

Medina and Portage Recap

It was a split week for the Jaguars, with part of the team traveling to Portage, MI for the Portage Invite (consisting of captains, four-year seniors, and sub-24 runners) while the rest competed closer to home at the Medina Milt Place XC Festival. Despite the high temperatures at both locations, the Jaguars rose to the occasion and gave gritty performances across the board. In Portage, Katherine Starck (‘26) earned the Athlete of the Meet honor for running a strong, determined race in tough conditions, while in Medina, Noel Heuberger (‘27) was recognized for her supportive spirit and a powerful finish that helped set the tone for her teammates.

Madison Recap

With less than three weeks left until the post-season, the Jaguars continue to put in solid effort, showcasing another strong performance at the U Wanna Come Back meet in Madison. The competition was fierce, with the Varsity Jags finishing 8th out of 12 teams, while the JV squad came through impressively, securing 3rd place among the same 12 teams.

Leading the Varsity team once again were Maddie Koons (18:54) and Avery Stives (18:58). Both athletes not only cracked the sub-19-minute mark but also earned spots at 8th and 9th place, respectively, on SJA’s all-time rankings.

On the JV side, senior Silvia Lanese led the charge with a personal best time of 22:32. She was closely followed by Celia O’Leary (23:07), Mora O’Linn (23:13), Alex Humphrey (23:25), and Bridie Hyland (23:25).

The day wrapped up with 26 runners achieving season-best times and 9 athletes hitting lifetime bests. The team recognized two standout performers as Athletes of the Meet. Avery Stives (’27) for securing her place on the all-time list, and Kate Neitzel (’28), who earned a lifetime best with a strong race.

Looking ahead to next week, the team will split up for two meets. Captains, four-year seniors, and those who have run sub-24 minutes this season will compete at the Portage Invite in Michigan, while the rest of the squad heads to the Milt Place XC Festival in Medina.

Black River Recap

This past weekend, the team split into two squads. The Varsity Jags took a well-earned break from racing, while the rest of the team competed at the JB Firestone / Black River XC Invitational. After placing fourth at the meet last year, the team returned with renewed determination and raced their way to an impressive first-place finish.

The Jag pack was led by strong performances from Anna Heuberger (5th place), Mae Wimbiscus (7th place), and Jezebel Kostecke (9th place), each playing a key role in the team’s success.

This week, three athletes earned the title of Athlete of the Meet for their standout performances and for leading and supporting their teammates both on and off the course. Congratulations to Stella Garland (‘27), Anna Heuberger (‘28), and Mary Linehan (‘29) for exemplifying the spirit and strength of the team.

Next up, the team will head to Madison High School for the Madison U Wanna Come Back Invitational.

Massillon Jackson HeckSpacular Recap

This past Saturday, the SJA Jaguars competed at the HeckSpacular, hosted by Massillon Jackson. While the meet was smaller in size, the competition remained tough. The Jags rose to the challenge, securing an impressive 2nd place team finish.

Leading the pack once again was Maddie Koons (‘29), running a season-best 19:01, followed closely by Avery Stives (‘27) with a lifetime-best 19:13. Both runners solidified their spots on SJA’s all-time performance list with these stellar times.

Senior Katherine Starck crossed as the team’s third finisher, also earning a lifetime-best with a time of 20:45. The next four scorers followed closely:

Carolyn Skrha (‘28) – 21:07
Olivia Newman (‘28) – 21:26 (lifetime best)
Ella Schneider (‘27) – 21:37 (lifetime best)
Anna Heuberger (‘28) – 21:45 (lifetime best)

In total, 26 athletes recorded season-best times, while 7 achieved lifetime bests. This is a testament to the team’s continued hard work and growth.

This week’s Athletes of the Meet, as voted by the team, were Izzy Snow (‘29) and Silvia Lanese (‘26) for their dedication and outstanding performances.

Next weekend, the Varsity squad will take a well-earned rest while the rest of the team heads to the JB Firestone Invitational at Black River High School. Go Jags!

Avon Lake Earlybird Recap

This weekend, the SJA cross country team tackled a more challenging and tactical course at the Avon Lake Earlybird Meet. Once again, the Jags delivered impressive results bringing home some more hardware. The Varsity squad raced to a 3rd place finish out of 18 teams, led by the dynamic duo of Avery Stives and Maddie Koons, who crossed the line in 4th and 6th place, respectively. Close behind, Elizabeth Siefker, Carolyn Skrha, Amelia Litten, Katherine Starck, and Olivia Newman ran a strong pack helping secure the team’s podium finish.

The rest of the squad dominated the Open Division, earning 1st place out of 13 teams. Ella Schneider led the way with an 8th place finish, while senior Yamaralz Vargas set a lifetime best, earning her a well-deserved nomination and the team’s second Athlete of the Meet title of the season.

Next week, the Jags head to Walsh Jesuit High School for the Pat Ritchie XC Invitational, ready to take on a fast, flat course and continue their streak of strong performances.

Riverside Recap

 The 2025 cross country season has started strong. The girls competed on the trails at Riverside High School during the HOKA Kickoff Classic. The varsity Jags secured 2nd place out of 36 teams, leaving the meet optimistic about the season ahead. The JV Jags also performed well, finishing 6th out of 33 teams.

Leading the pack were junior Avery Stives (3rd place), freshman Maddie Koons (5th place), and sophomore Elizabeth Siefker (7th place). Not far behind were Carolyn Skrha (‘28), Katherine Starck (‘26), Olivia Newman (‘28) and Sylvia Langer (‘29). A total of 47 Jags completed the race, including 12 athletes running their first-ever high school 5k! This year’s team boasts great depth, blending youthful talent with valuable experience.

The team voted to recognize an athlete of the meet for their significant contributions. This week, Mae Wimbiscus earned the honor and received the first athlete of the meet t-shirt of the season.

The Jags’ next competition will be this Saturday at Avon Lake’s Early Bird Invitational, hosted at LCCC.

Summer and Fall schedule now posted!

 The meet schedule for this fall has been posted. It is the same schedule as last fall, but with some subtle changes. We will NOT be going back to Cedarville for the All-Catholic meet and we will go back to using the Portage meet as the overnight trip for 4 year seniors and those who make the time standard.

Also, the important summer dates have been shared as well...camps, etc...

Remember, we will meet 3x/week during the summer for conditioning. It is not mandatory, but highly encouraged if you're in town. Mondays and Fridays at South Mastick: 8:00-9:30...Wednesdays at SJA 8:00-10:00.

Feel free to sign up for the strength/conditioning program as well! Being stronger is a good thing!

Jags earn 11th at State!!

This past Saturday saw the best of Ohio's high school cross country programs meet in Columbus for the state meet and the Jags were there to be part of it. With perfect weather and course conditions, all the races made this year's edition of the state meet the fastest in history, producing some of the best performances ever in Ohio and across the country. SJA was a big part of this day, finishing 11th in the 20 team Division 1 field and having all 7 runners set personal bests.

The Jags were led by sophomore Sofia Koons, who for the 2nd year in a row earned All-Ohio status with her 27th place finish. Sofia's time of 18:26 also bumps her to the 3rd fastest in school history. Not too far behind was senior captain Bridget Mullen who finished 45th overall and broke the 19 minute barrier with her time of 18:54. 

Sophomore Avery Stives also dropped a lot of time off her previous best with her 19:14 effort - she now sits number 13 on SJA's all-time list. Senior captain Grace Harris ran a spirited last mile to finish as SJA's 4th runner and break the 20 minute barrier for the first time with her 19:54 finish. Running a tremendous race in her first state meet as a freshman was Elizabeth Siefker who just missed breaking 20 minutes as did junior Amelia Litten - they finished in 20:01 and 20:04 respectively. Carolyn Skrha, also just in 9th grade, ran her fastest race of the season and finished not far behind her teammates with her 20:22. 

The team had an average of 19:17 which is the best average SJA has ever had at the state meet, even better than the 4th place team's average of 19:39 from 2002. It was an exceptional day for the Jaguars as they continued their tradition of excellence in the OHSAA tournament, greatly exceeding their 16th pre-race ranking and competing as the only private school in the Division 1 girls race. 

some news for week of August 5th

 On Tuesday, August 6th - uniforms will be passed out by the athletic department.  If you miss practice you can pick one up Friday before pictures - just come a little early please.

The spirit wear window closes Tuesday the 6th at midnight, so get your orders in!

The retreat is THURSDAY 8:00-4:30 (bus leaves the retreat at 3:30), NOT on Friday as the original calendar showed.

Team pics are Friday in the morning.  CC is the first team to go and we begin at 8:30...be dressed and ready to go by 8:15, please (and show up before that if you need a uniform top).  And don't forget your ALL Black shorts (and normal running clothes for practice afterwards)

district recap

The SJA cross country team started their post-season push this past Saturday at the Madison district where they finished 2nd overall in the 18 team field.  Despite the rain from the previous week, the competitors found the course conditions to be nearly ideal as times were fast as the competition picks up at the most important time of the year.

The Jags were once again led by the powerful duo of senior Grace Rowell (3rd overall) and freshman Sofia Koons (4th overall).  Rowell's time of 18:44 ties her for 5th all time on the SJA list.  Next in for the Jags was freshman Avery Stives, who caught over 10 people in the second half of the race to finish 10th overall with a new personal best of 19:33 (tying her for 23rd on the school's all-time list).  The last two scorers for SJA were junior Bridget Mullen who was 23rd in the race, and senior Maddie Jarc who finished 30th in the race.  Right behind Jarc was sophomore Amelia Litten who knocked 40 seconds off her personal best time.  Junior Grace Harris was the next Jag in at 47th place.

By being one of the top 6 teams in the race, the team now advances to next week's regional meet at Boardman High School.