Only a few weeks into the school year, Saint Mary’s athletics are up and running, with several sports teams having their first competitions of the fall.
Cross country has already participated in two events, opening the season on Sept. 1 at the Olivet Comet Open. There, they enjoyed some success, highlighted by junior Adele Edmonds, who ran her new personal record 20:13 5K race and finished fifth overall. The next Belles finisher was senior Anna McClowry, finishing in a tie for ninth with a time of 20:28. The next week, on Sept. 9, the Belles took part in the Calvin Knight Invitational where Edmonds bested her previous week’s 5K personal record. Saint Mary’s finished in 17th overall as a team at the Invitational. Junior Emily Harrast finished with her best time since her freshman season. The next event for the squad will be the MIAA Jamboree on Sept. 23. Hope will be the event host.
The golf team has also come out of the gates with a hot start to the year. On Sept. 2 and 3, the Belles competed in the Olivet Labor Day Invite. At the tournament, the Belles held sole possession of second place after Day One and were able to improve their standing on the second day of competition, coming up with a win. Junior Taylor Kehoe and freshman Summer Stillson tied for second place overall with scores of 158 over the two-round tournament. Freshman Hunter Kehoe also impressed in the second round, coming up with an eagle on the par four eighth hole at The Medalist Golf Club, where the event was being played. Next up for the Belles is the Heidelberg Fall Invite, which will take place Saturday and Sunday at Mohawk Country Club.
Belles soccer (1-4, 0-3 MIAA) also began its season on Sept. 1, already competing in five games. The Belles’ lone win of the season came over Manchester. In the 4-1 win, freshman forward McKenna O’Shea set a program record with four goals in the game. O’Shea also scored two goals against North Park, Saint Mary’s’ first game of the season. Since the win over Manchester (0-5, 0-0), the Belles have failed to score a goal. Their next matchup will be Saturday at Alma.
Similarly, volleyball (2-3, 2-1 MIAA) has already had five competitions. Senior right-side hitter Rachel Bonek leads the Belles with 62 kills so far this season. Freshman setter Morgan VanderWey has tallied 137 assists and five service aces this year and junior libero Audrey Shannon has picked up 83 digs. Their next match will be Wednesday against conference opponent Hope at 7 p.m.
