POSTED: Tuesday, November 18, 2008/JACH News Service
LAFAYETTE -- Faith Christian School is celebrating two state championships among its fall sports this school year with titles with volleyball and boys soccer.
Playing in a different state tournament than the past, the Indiana Christian Schools Tournament, Faith Christian, 20-3-2, captured the boys' soccer last month, beating Lakeland Christian 2-1 in the semifinals and host Horizon Christian 4-0 in the title game in Indianapolis.
"We weren't sure how good we were going to be because we lost nine seniors from last year," said Kevin Johns, boys' soccer coach and assistant athletic director. "It was a growing year at first as we struggled with continuity, but then we won some big games. We won an invitational at Maranatha Bible College that was really big for us. Some of the local schools we defeated Twin Lakes and Carroll."
After losing the opener in the Maranatha Tournament to Eagle Heights 1-0, Faith Christian beat Shamburg 3-0, Marquette Manor 1-0 and avenged the Eagle Heights loss in the tournament title game 5-0.
Faith Christian would not lose another soccer match the rest of the season as the Eagles found its stride, beating Heritage Christian 6-0 in regional finals to qualified for the state finals.
Johns credited the leadership of four seniors for the season, Kameron Brand, John Teet, Bryan Quinton and Kyle Girtz.
"As a group, they brought a unity to team that was kind of surprising," Johns said. "They brought everyone together and turned what could have been a building season to one that was very successful. Kameron and John gave us toughness they were excellent defenders. Girtz was one of our main scorers. Quinton was the guy in the center of the field who I depended on to control the tempo of the game."
Johns said Faith Christian soccer teams won four titles in the Indiana Association of Christian Schools and found this tournament more competitive.
"The semifinals game against Lakeland Christian was the toughest team we faced all year and we managed to scrape by that one," Johns said. " This team had a lot of fun, but they were some of the hardest workers in practice. They were as goofy as anybody and loved to have fun, but when it was time to work hard they really got down and worked. They enjoyed being around each other. Unity definitely was a big part of this team as well."
The volleyball team faced a height disadvantage most of the season, especially against public school teams with its tallest player at 5-foot-8. But coach Denise Fox said the team more than made up for it with skill and smarts on its way to an impressive 40-2 record.
Faith Christian beat host Horizon Christian in the state semifinals 25-18, 25-12, 25-10 and then beat Clinton Christian in the state title game 25-20, 25-16, 25-10.
"This is a team that's been with me for since the volleyball program started," Fox, who has been coaching at Faith Christian for eight years. "Their skills are what keeps them together. We're a smart team and we place serves well and we hit it intelligently."
Fox, who played on a state championship team at Clinton Prairie back in the 1980s, said that team also didn't have much height but depended on its ability to play defense and play smart offensively. She said her Faith Christian team has taken on the same personality.
"Sometimes it doesn't matter your size, you can still accomplish a lot," Fox said. "We don't have those tall hitters like Central Catholic. We've instilled skills and what I'm trying to get girls to understand is the importance of skills and how that beats teams."
Faith Christian won the Rossville tournament, the Calumet tournament and beat public schools like Tri-Central, Seeger, South Newton and Attica. Other than the state champion, the Eagles biggest win came in beating Frankfort, a team that won the 3A Twin Lake sectional title and advanced to the Plymouth regional semifinals in October.
"That was a big accomplishment for us to beat those public schools," Fox said. "I use to coach at Frankfort and their coach Heather Hayes is a former player of mine. This team worked well together. They didn't seem to get stressed when saw Frankfort or Rossville. It was nice to see them not get intimidated by some of the big name schools."
Fox said one of tri-captains was 5-3 senior Kelly Bargsldt, who was one of the team's top hitters.
"Most teams probably looked at her and thought she wouldn't be able to do anything against them," Fox said. "But she was able to place it intelligently on the court and got some big kills for us."
Fox also had the pleasure of coaching her daughters, junior Morgan and freshman Maci.
"It's a great blessing," Fox said about coaching her daughters. "It was fun to be able to coach them. They have excelled so that was more exciting to see. I wouldn't have passed up that opportunity. In a public school it might have been more difficult but in this setting it has been great."
Faith Christian other starters included Kayla Meinema, Kiersten Harville, Brianna Keen, and Kayla Girtz.
Fox said this was the schools third state championship and the future looks bright for the Eagles next year.