Fall sports off to the races for Bishops, Iron Horses

Practice might not lead to perfection. But it has helped the Bishop England High School cross-country teams win eight state championships in the program’s first 21 years of existence.

 

If you are a BE student who runs cross country and are asked by a teacher to write a paper on “How I Spent My Summer” your paper might begin, “I ran. I ran and ran, and ran some more...”

 

Tony Colizzi, who coaches both the boys’ and girls’ teams, reported on the school’s website that members of the girls’ team combined to run 3,300 miles over the summer through late July. The boys’ team combined for 2,000 miles through late July. Six runners logged more than 200 miles in training.

 

That dedication has paid off. The Bishop boys won the Class AAA state championship last fall, while the girls finished third. This might be the BE girls’ year because five of their top eight runners returned.

 

The Bishop girls won a state title in their first year of competition back in 2000, and won back-to-back titles in 2006-07.

 

The boys captured their fifth crown last fall. They won three titles from 2008-11 and added their fourth in 2018.

 

While football draws big crowds and headlines, the other athletic teams at both Philip Simmons High and Middle schools have had much success and see a bright future.

 

At Philip Simmons High, the fall sports team collection grows by two as girls’ golf and swimming are now varsity sports.

 

“We added them because there was a lot of community interest,” Philip Simmons athletic director Dan Minkins said. “We have about 15 or 20 swimmers out, and that number will increase.”

 

The Iron Horses, who are in the final year of competing at the Class AA level, have had much success in the fall despite being a relatively new school.

 

The volleyball team, coached by Jay Watterworth, won the Region 6-AA title last year and are expected to be one of the top teams in the state.

 

The girls’ tennis team, coached by the affable Richard Schulz, also has state championship match experience.

 

The boys’ cross country team finished second in the state while the girls captured third place.

 

“Our biggest goal, our way of thinking, is to finish strong in all fall sports to set the tone for the rest of the year,” Minkins said.

 

At Bishop England, cross-country isn’t the only program that shines.

 

The girls’ tennis team, coached by BE alum Kristen Fleming Arnold, has 25 state championships to its credit, including the last 10 years in a row.

 

“We’re excited and we are ready to go,” Fleming Arnold said.

 

But are the Bishops ready to lift another state championship trophy in the air?

 

“We are always ready to do that,” Fleming Arnold said. “But it’s a new season, a new team and a new challenge.”

 

The volleyball team, coached by Cindy Baggot, has amassed 28 state championships in its history. The Bishops won 18 consecutive state titles from 2000 to 2017 – a national record.