Charlie's Prediction Time

Posted: 10/30/2014 - by Charlie Narmi

More of an old 'Random Thoughts' article than a prediction column but who really cares, right?

Your heart goes out to a young lady like Senior Krisann Stephany who just missed qualifying for the State Cross-Country Meet.  For a few years she was just one of a few Saintes running cross-country and she helped bring the program back to a very respectable level.  It would have been a nice reward but sports (& life) doesn't always seem to work out that way, right Royals fans? Jacey Martin, run fast for yourself, family, school & Krisann Saturday.

The Hilltop Fund is at $30,000 already with still 2 months to go before year-end.  Great work everyone but keep it going.

On that front, from what I've heard, despite enrollment being down a touch in the high school the last few years, the school's finances are in as good as shape as they've been in for years.  Do we need more students in every grade level? Yes! Do we have to be smart about it? Yes! Is the campaign debt nearly paid off? Yes! Seriously, a Catholic school about to be debt free? WOW!! Are curriculum & academics strong right now? Yes! Did we just get a big gift to re-do the Jr. & Sr. High wings (bathrooms this upcoming summer)? Yes! And last but certainly not least, Campus-Ministry (Spiritual & Academic Growth is our mission) is as strong as I can ever recall...

Is everything perfect on The Hill right now? No.  It never will be, not at St. Albert or anywhere.  But what I can tell you from myself and many others, St. Albert continues to be one of the best values in your life.  You get one chance to educate and form a child.  That being said, the sacrifices that 80-90% of our families continue to make amazes me.  Nationwide incomes are down 10% the last 5 years, tuition is up a bit but you all keep hammering away.  Again, as I've been saying for a few years, "Is St. Albert perfect? No, but it's pretty darn good - and worth every penny!"

If you'd like to help educate a child, simply call St. Albert at 712-329-9000 and inquire about the 'Sponsor a Student' program.  I think those not involved with St. Albert would be shocked to know the % of St. Albert students that receive tuition assistance thru the Catholic Tuition Organization, scholarships and Sponsor a Student...

So the Iowa Boys High School Athetic Association did away with the brackets this year... How's that working right now? When you take away transparency, usually conspiracy theories and rumors arise.   Did the state 'apologize' to Iowa City Regina for disqualifying their cross country team's prior to the District Meet last week (practiced on the course) by sending Panorama their way? The way I figure it, the Panorama kids will get back in town around 1:30am Tuesday morning.

Other big drives Monday night: AHSTW going almost 2.5 hours to Fort Dodge (remember, most schools will be taking school buses, not charters or SUV's).  West Sioux, Hawarden 2+ hours to Logan.  Lewis Central 2 hours 15 minutes to Ankeny.  And Melcher-Dallas goes 2 hours and 45 minutes to Fremont-Mills in 8-man.  From @trentcondon on Twitter: The Association came up with this bracket-less concept to cut down on travel.  Twelve 2nd round teams will go 120+ miles on Monday vs 6 in 2013...

If you want to make sure the best 8 are still alive at the quarters like the girls association has admitted, then just say it.  Everyone will get it, but don't be coy about it.  Oh, and why aren't the playoffs staggered again? It would be fun to travel to different games on different nights.

The word is Treynor moves trick or treating from Halloween to Thursday night for the volleyball game.  In a sense, I get it and like it (everyone loves the scene in Hoosiers when the town follows the bus).  But to do it in such a short notice is a bit much for me.  BUT, why wouldn't the girls association schedule these games on Saturday night? They schedule post-season basketball on Saturday night's? Maybe they are afraid of competing with college football?

Irregardless, the Saintes will be walking into a amped up arena Friday night.  They'll need lots of self-created energy because I do expect our crowd to be weak.  Halloween used to be after Daylight Savings Time and some people were done by 7pm.  Not now - just the way I see it. 

Back to the match... the Saintes have fallen to Treynor twice this year: 2-1 at the Clarinda Tourney on September 6th and then 2-0 the following week at the Atlantic Tourney.  Since then the Saintes have picked up Paige Beacom who appears to be the weapon that just might put the Saintes over the top.  What I did see the other night was a new sense of confidence in the rest of the Saintes.  They'll all need to play well to beat a very tough Treynor team in their own house.

Getting back to the girls association... Now that each class is down to 32 teams, all matches should have certified offficials at all 4 places on the court.  To have hometown fans/coaches/parents calling balls in or out on the line at this stage of the game is crazy.  If the match was at St. Albert I would say the same exact thing! All girls around the state deserve for the association to spend a little money to make this happen moving forward.

Off my soap box...

I'll take the Saintes 15-11 in 5.  Give me the Falcons for 8th at State Cross Country and Jacey Martin to finish top 25.

Have a great Halloween and All-Saints weekend!

Charlie Narmi
stalbertsportsfan.com Volunteer
St. Albert Alumni Association

stalbertsportsfan.com is a privately owned website that is not directly associated with St. Albert Catholic Schools.  The views expressed here are of the author and may or may not reflect those of St. Albert Schools.

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