The 5th and 6th girls soccer team had an exciting season, and the girls dug deep and gave it their all for every game. This team radiated energy, confidence, and enthusiasm each step of the way. Although this team only played four games, they out-scored their opponents 19-2, and multiple players scored hat tricks. 

Coach Wilbanks shares, “The 5th and 6th girls soccer team had an amazing start to the season! The team went 3-0 against Ensworth for the first two games and GCA for game three. I am so proud of every single girl that came out and worked hard in practice and in the games. I feel confident that we would’ve been hard to beat had our season continued. I look forward to seeing how this group of girl continues to improve throughout the FRA soccer program.”

 

"This 2020 varsity girls soccer team was one for the books," Becky Knight, girls soccer head coach, said. "Their season was defined by perseverance and resilience. We started training back in June, not even knowing if we’d get to play a game with all that 2020 was bringing our way. The girls never stopped battling, never stopped loving, never stopped striving for excellence, and through it all, they remained insanely positive. I couldn’t have asked for a better group than this one! Our seniors lead well and set the bar high for our underclassmen. I am extremely excited about the future of this program! Integrity, courage, and excellence is what we strive for, and it’s my goal to see every girl graduate from the program living out those qualities. As coaches, we can’t wait for next year! Go Panthers!"

For five FRA seniors, a historic run came to an end on Tuesday at Willowbrook Golf Club for the 2020 TSSAA Div-II Golf State Championships. Once again, both boys and girls teams qualified for State by winning their Region Tournaments. The boys were playing in their third straight State Tournament while the girls were competing in their tenth straight State Tournament. The girls were seeking their fourth straight title and eighth overall.

Rain soaked the course during Sunday’s practice round and the teams took to the course early Monday to begin round one. The wet conditions made life difficult for all players as mud and water made quality golf shots difficult. Despite the conditions, both teams held their own. The girls were led by junior Emily Wilson’s round of 74 and sophomore Nina Morgan's season best of 78. Senior and defending individual champion, Tzunami Polito, fighting a back injury carded a respectful round of 79. After round one, the girls trailed 2019 runner-up Northpoint Christian by three. 

On the boys side, the Panthers were led by senior Timothy Pinkston. Pinkston led the charge through Region Tournament and shot an even par round of 72 in the difficult Monday weather. Senior Aidan Call also played solidly recording a 75. Junior George Felker struggled on his opening nine holes but played his last nine in even par to shoot 80. Aaron Schierbaum rounded out the scoring with a round of 82. The boys earned their way into the championship wave of tee times as they sat in 2^nd place, 16 shots behind leader CAK and three ahead of Knoxville Webb.  

Both teams had their work cut out for them during a cool and windy final round.  The boys struggled in the wind and fell back on the opening nine holes.  One bright spot was the play of senior Paul Sposato who used a strong opening nine holes to eventually card a season best round of 91. George Felker also continued his steady play by working his way up the leaderboard with an opening nine 36. The back nine saw the Panthers rally led by Pinkston who used a birdie on hole #6 (both teams started on the back nine) and an eagle on hole #7 to card a 76 and finish fourth in the event and finishing All-State. The boys eventually fell back into fourth place as a team in the tough conditions. Felker climbed into 13^th place on the strength of his final round 76. The seniors on the boys team finish a career highlighted by two third place State finishes (2018, 2019), fourth place State finish (2020), two Region titles (2018, 2020) and a District title (2019). The team also won six regular season events over the past three seasons.  The three-year run by these seniors is statistically the best in school history.

The girls made a pact after Monday’s round to not give their title away. If someone was going to take it from them they’d have to fight for it and earn it.  Paired with Northpoint and Providence, the ladies came out focused. A birdie on hole #1 by Emily Wilson would close the Northpoint lead to one shot. By the time anchor leg Tzunami Polito parred her fourth hole, FRA had retaken the lead.  Wilson and Polito would lead the charge as the Panthers roared to a seven shot lead behind Wilson birdies on holes #11 and #13 and by big pars by Polito on tough holes #12 and #13. The win was eventually sealed by defending individual champ, Polito, when she ran in a birdie on hole #17. Polito was able to fight off the pain to shoot a second 79, one of only four rounds in the 70’s on the girls' side on the day, and finish her amazing career in fourth place. However, the day belonged to Emily Wilson. Wilson shot an incredible round of one under par 71 (best of the day by 6 shots) as she captured her first career State title with a two round total of 145.  Wilson lapped the field in winning by seven shots and led her team to a commanding 12-shot win and a fourth straight State title.  Wilson become the sixth female golfer to win an individual State title (Lance ’05 and ’06, Johnson ’12, Page ’13, Chan ’15 and ’18, Polito ’19). Nina Morgan rounded out an excellent first state tournament with a round of 88 to finish eleventh at 166.

Congrats to both teams on amazing seasons! 

Boys Results
309-330—639

T4^th – Timothy Pinkston (72-76—148)  All-State
13^th – George Felker (80-76—156) 
22^nd – Aidan Call (75-90—165) 
25^th – Aaron Schierbaum (82-88—170)
33^rd – Paul Sposato (106-91—197)

Girls Results
152-150—302

1^st – Emily Wilson (74-71—145) All-State
4^th – Tzunami Polito (79-79—158) All-State
11^th – Nina Morgan (78-88—166)