School Hosts First-Ever Metro League Awards

Principia School was honored to host the inaugural awards ceremony marking the first year of operation for the Metro League (an interscholastic sports association). Formed in 2011 mainly to bring together boys’ and girls’ sports in one conference, the Metro League evolved out of the all-boys’ ABC League. (Although all but one school in the ABC League was co-ed, the girls’ sports programs had been part of the larger Metro Women’s Athletic Association). Now, both boys’ and girls’ from the following eight area schools compete in the new Metro League: Saint Louis Priory School, MICDS, Westminster Christian Academy, Lutheran North, Lutheran South, John Burroughs, Villa Duchesne, and Principia.

On Sunday afternoon, June 3, Ridgway Auditorium was filled with top student-athletes and teams from all eight schools. The night began with appetizers and dessert in Principia’s former museum area, after which the crowd was ushered into Ridgway for a slide show of action shots and then the ceremony. Student-athletes were recognized for sportsmanship, Player of the Year by sport, Team of the Year by sport, and State Championships. Also, one boys’ and one girls’ team won the McConnell Award for overall team of the year.

Villa Duchesne’s State Championship volleyball team took home the McConnell Award for the girls’, and the Priory boys’ soccer team captured the same award for the boys.

Principia’s girls’ basketball and girls’ tennis teams were both named Team of the Year for their respective sports, and Liz Gilman was awarded Player of the Year for basketball. Olivia Ikuma was the Player of the Year for girls’ tennis, as well as the female Geoffrey Smith Sportsmanship Award winner. Connor Savoye won the sportsmanship award on the boys’ side for Principia.

The boys’ 4×200 State Championship relay team of Conrad Bollinger, Eddie Bargmann, Isaiah Laster, and Richard Bonsi was also recognized for their accomplishment at State.

Overall, it was a successful evening of celebration for all eight schools. During the course of the 2011–12 school year, the Metro League had 24 Final Four appearances, five State Championship teams, six State Championship individuals, along with the relay team champions, and 30 District Championships.

The athletic directors were proud of the young league’s accomplishments in its inaugural year and look forward to an even better 2012–13.