146 / 212
144
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ST. THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL
/
HOUSTON, TX
FOOTBALL
17 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
39 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
WRESTLING
3 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
5 REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
4 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
SWIMMING
2015-2016 PREVIEW
CROSS COUNTRY
/
TRACK & FIELD
10 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
21 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
BASKETBALL
9 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
16 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
SOCCER
1 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
18 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
BASEBALL
23 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
49 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
Looking Back
The inexperienced Eagles labored
through a series of tight losses
throughout district competition and
bowed out of the TAPPS 5A state
playoffs in the first round.
Two-time Second Team All-State
midfielder and two-time captain
Liam Maharaj ‘15 departs along
with STH Defensive Player of the
Year Mason Wilson ‘15.
Looking Ahead
Midfielder Matthew Leal ‘17 leads
a returning group of seventeen
players who should turn the
frustrations and trials of 2015 into
a learning curve for a much more
rewarding season.
“We had a young group who
realized that final month of the
season they could compete. We
took so many district games into
overtime. We gave the number one
team from Dallas everything they
could handle in the playoffs before
losing 2-1. A bunch of freshmen
and sophomores just needed time
to figure some things out and that
should carry over,” Martin said.
Goalkeeper Jacob Manley ‘18 is one
of those freshmen who matured
almost game-to-game in a solid
campaign that produced individual
performance beyond reasonable
expectation.
“Manley really grew up. He was
consistently under the gun, knowing
that one or two goals would likely
get us beat. He made big saves
beyond his years to keep games
close. And he’s only going to get
better,” Martin said.
Manley should benefit from
playing behind a tougher and more
accomplished defense.
Leal and Jesus Toscano ‘17 give
Martin some scoring threats but
prove there’s enough overall punch
in the attack figures to be the first
measure of team improvement.
“We have to get our forwards
open in space and get them to
aggressively put the ball on the goal.
Toscano has a powerful leg. Leal
can go right or left-foot. But they
cannot be reluctant. When they
see an opening, they have to pull
the trigger, not pass and rely on
someone else. They have to have
the confidence,” Martin said.
Martin sees an overall stronger and
faster group thanks to across-the-
board rigid physical development
through the Iron Eagle summer
conditioning camp and assorted
college camps in the state and
outside the region.
“Leal attended the Future 500 camp
in Pennsylvania and went against
elite talent from across the country,”
Martin said. “The guys put in the
work. They challenged themselves
to improve which is all a coach can
expect during the offseason.”
Martin also points to a Christmas
break trip to the Arizona Soccer
Showcase in Phoenix where the
Eagles will compete among 50
schools from primarily the West
Coast as an x-factor that could pay
substantial dividends during the
most critical portions of the season.
“That trip gets our guys attention,
and gives them something to focus
on before district play. We want to
test ourselves as much as we can,
knowing there won’t be anyone
in the district or early in the state
playoffs who will be as good as
who we would have already played.
There’s likely no better way to lay
the proper foundation for the kind
of season we want to have,” Martin
said.