St. Dominic sports fans will have a lot to look forward to in these next coming weeks. With basketball and swim ready to kick off, athletes and fans alike are anticipating a winter season to remember.

Swim and Dive Team

After an impressive 20-4 season last year, the girls’ swim and dive team is ready to hit the pool and make St. Dominic proud once again. The Crusaders sent six girls to state last February and have the talent and competitive spirit to repeat their success. Some familiar faces, as well as a lot of new ones, will be competing on the swim team this season.

“We have a lot of new people this year and there is a lot of talent. It’s been very easy to adjust to all of the new swimmers, we just look for things that need improvement and work on them,” said Coach Jacquie Moutray.

The success of last year’s team drew a lot of interest and sparked a huge increase in fan attendance and support. Be ready to pack the pool for their first home meet against Fort Zumwalt North at the St. Peter’s Rec Plex on November 30.

Boys Basketball

The boys basketball team went 7-17 last year, leaving some room for improvement. Luckily, the team has some young and new talent ready to contribute, as well as experienced seniors ready to step into leading roles. Mr. Kevin Roberts returned to St. Dominic to coach the team after a two year absence. He guided the Crusaders to a 14-9 record in 2015 and hopes to bring back winning basketball back to St. Dominic.

“Having coach Roberts freshman year made the transition to his play style much easier. We were able to pick up the defense he runs because we’ve played similar defenses in the past. Coach Roberts has made it really easy for us to adjust to him, and it’s been a lot of fun,” said senior Ben Mueller.

It’s hard to beat the intensity and excitement of basketball. Whether you are on the court or in the stands, a St. Dominic basketball game is an incredible experience for everyone involved.

“I will definitely miss the community surrounding the basketball program the most. Not only will I miss the players that I’ll be leaving, but also miss the feeling of playing in front a crowd on game nights,” said Mueller.

Boy’s basketball tips off against next Tuesday, November 21 at University City. Be sure to come out and support your Crusaders as they take on the Lions.

Girl’s Basketball

The boys won’t be the only ones lighting up the court this winter. The girl’s basketball team has been preparing all off-season and are looking more than ready to return to the court. The Crusaders are ready to build on their success after finishing last year’s season with a winning record of 15-9 and making it to the district semifinals.

“I’m pretty confident we can do well this year. We have seven seniors and three juniors so we have a lot experience,” said junior Catie Poli.

The girls have be working hard to improve and are eager to showcase their skills in their first game. The basketball ladies will kick off their season at home on Monday, November 20. Be sure to come out and support your Crusaders.

Winter sports season always brings an incredible atmosphere to the gym and the pool, leaving us with some unforgettable memories. We wish the best of luck to all of those competing this season and encourage those who aren’t competing fill the Crusader stands.