Athletic Acheivements
6
It was another banner year for Knights athletics, as many of our student-athletes represented NDCS at the highest levels of competition.
Notre Dame’s varsity football team made a thrilling run to the TAPPS Div. III state title game at Bastrop Memorial Stadium. The Knights punched their ticket to the big game first with a district championship title won in a 100-71 victory over fellow city-school Wichita Christian, followed by hard-fought playoff wins against Trinity Christian and North Central Texas Academy.
Though the blue & gold boys eventually dropped a tough 66-50 decision in their final game of the season, the Knights became the first Wichita Falls school in more than three decades to play in a football state championship game. Junior Skyler Whitten, who led a team full of all-district and all-state award winners, was also named to the Times Record News’ Super Six all-star team.
The Lady Knights volleyball team looked to hunt down another state title for head coach Lisa Macha, advancing all the way to the TAPPS 2A regional final before falling to eventual champion Denton Calvary. Notre Dame proved dominant again early on in the season, claiming another undefeated district title. Junior Keeley Johnston represented Notre Dame as a middle-hitter on the first-team all-state ballot, highlighting several Lady Knights who received all-state and all-district recognition.
Senior Denica Palomo led her veteran girls basketball team to an undefeated district championship, as well as to the 2A regional final. She posted 21 points in the 40-33 loss to eventual state finalist Muenster Sacred Heart, and was later the only small-school area girl named to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-State Team. The Lady Knights were also well represented on the TAPPS all-district and all-state selections.
The Knights basketball squad checked off their season-long goal of securing a playoff berth. Though they fell 79-58 in the bi-district round, the team has several returning starters coming back next season. Junior Clayton McElroy was selected to the honorable mention all-state list, while junior teammates Sam Ozier and James Brady were among several Knights to chart all-district awards.
Notre Dame baseball and softball each went through some adversity throughout their individual season. Neither advanced to postseason play, but both squads featured a number of returning players for next season, with the addition of some up and coming underclassmen. Both the Knights and Lady Knights had several players named to the TAPPS all-district and/or all-state teams.
Skyler Whitten brought home a bronze medal at the 2016 TAPPS 2A state track meet, finishing 3rd in the men’s 200 M dash. Several of his ND teammates also made the trip to Waco, competing in men’s and women’s team relays, individual races, shot and discus. This capped off a successful district showing in which Whitten, Denica Palomo and senior Tori Harney took gold in the 200 M dash, 100 M Dash and shot put, respectively.