The semi-final game is scheduled for May 17, 7:30 p.m. at the University of Houston, but the plans are not final.

The competition was comprised of 23 individual competitions that varied in topic. The team finished in 25th place overall. The team is 60 percent sophomores and freshman.

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This scripture was used as an inspiration for seniors Francesca Crichton, Hayley Lang, Lori Schaefer, and Nikki Sobolik, who traveled to Hempstead, Jamaica over spring break, March 9 to 15, as a part of St. Peter’s Church annual senior mission trip. The trip was funded through multiple fundraisers.

“We’ve been going to the same community, not us physically but our Saint Peter’s seniors have been going to [Hempstead, Jamaica] for 19 years,” Schaefer said. “[The goal was] just to build a relationship, not only with that community but find individuals to share God’s love with. At the beginning of the trip Jeremy and I both bought two bibles to give away just to someone who was in need of encouragement.”

While in Jamaica the seniors picked up where the previous seniors left off, building a roof at the Hempstead all age school, ranging from grades one through six. The roof covers the walkway which now serves as a cover for the children as they walk from the classrooms to the kitchen. Because of the roof, the students are now able to have class outside when it is too hot in the school.

“I guess because of lack of chairs and lack of desks, they would have to bring chairs from other rooms into the main room, to the biggest class which is second grade,” Schaefer said. “I don’t know, but it just shows us how blessed we are here because their school is probably 200 kids and is probably equivalent to 3 classrooms here. It’s pretty cramped.”

During their free time away from the building construction, the seniors spent most of their time with the children who attend the school. The mornings began with storytelling and reading Bible verses. The children would then split into groups. The younger children stayed inside and worked on crafts, while the older kids played games outside, and then they would switch. According to Crichton, out of nowhere, the children would come up beside you, start talking to you, hold your hand and jump on your back.

“[The children] asked me if I had fake eyeballs because they had never seen blue eyes before,” Sobolik said. I was like ‘yeah, there are people with green eyes too,’ and they were like ‘green eyes?’ They had never seen anything like that.”

Because of the difference between American and Jamaican culture, this experience for the local children brought a change in their daily school routine.

“[My biggest impact was] just giving [the children] time and attention,” Schaefer said. “I know that… a lot of them have lots of siblings, and they have lots of kids and just being one of a lot… I can just imagine the lack of attention they must receive at home. Jamaica is known for not so good things at times, and their parents probably aren’t involved in the best things. I think just giving them that love and care and attention that they deserve so that they feel that they are loved and then also so that like just to play with them. Honestly I think they left more of an impact on us then we probably ever could on them.”

At the end of the trip, emails were exchanged between the seniors and the older children. According to Schaefer, some of the older children also had Facebook’s but she was unable to find them on the website.

“This trip was such a humbling experience and it moved me to see how these children were so content and joyful despite how little they had,” Crichton said. “To be able to experience God’s redeeming love for all of us was such a contagious feeling; I didn’t want to come home.”

“Something that stands out about us is that for us, we are always a team, on and off the field,” Hamilton said. “There is never anyone trying to put themselves before everyone else, it is always what is best for the team.”

Though the team is optimistic about this season, players are looking to gain an advantage by using practices and games to improve.  Practice consists of quickly paced defensive drills that, if performed incorrectly, the team must repeat. Practices also include batting stations and cardio drills that focus on developing mechanics.

“We have improved a lot mentally,” Hamilton said. “We have tons and tons of talent, but when it comes down to it, your mental game has to be just as good as your talent, and this year we do not let things get to us. We do not get down on ourselves, we just play the game.”

According to Hamilton, several of the team’s goals are to stay undefeated in district, win playoffs and advance to state.

” [Our] non-district rivalries include Pearland, the Woodlands, and Bellaire,” sophomore Brittany Nollkamper said. “If we show up and play our best, the wins will come.”

According to Nollkamper, leadership and support are a vital part of the team’s success. Nollkamper also cites the coaches’ experience as a source of success.

“You can’t be a championship team without support,” Nollkamper said. “Our coaches are so good at what they do and can always pick us up when we fall. We love all three of them to death.”

The players create an emotional foundation by supporting each other throughout the season.

“It is hard to always have a good attitude and always be positive, but when you take a step back, you realize that the small things don’t matter as long as you are out there encouraging everyone else,” Hamilton said. “I have learned that building everyone around you up will help build yourself up as well.”

According to Hamilton and Nollkamper, when it comes down to it, the ladies just play and work through ups and downs together.

“The relationships we have on the team are more than just teammates,” Hamilton said. “We get along really well and really care about each other. I think that is what separates us from other teams.”

UPDATE: The team will now advance to bi-districts to play against Chavez High School after becoming District Champions.

Jordin Wilkins eagerly watches the game from the dugout.

After Hamilton hits a home run, the team groups together to celebrate.

“[Our goal for this season] is to work hard, improve with each meet, win district and be state bound,” Coach Dana Mathis said.
This season, the team, despite its size, lacked varsity experience. This affected the team in many ways, but most significantly, it caused a gap in leadership.

“The guys have really come together,” Head Coach George Beasley said. “The leadership has emerged from the juniors and seniors throughout the year.”

Track spends hours in practices and meets, beginning in February. The sport reaches its peak around April.

“We practice every day after school until about 4:30 p.m,” Mathis said. “The distance runners practice every morning, Monday through Saturday. I believe [track] takes a lot of dedication. Most track athletes will train year around, which takes a lot of time out of your schedule. Also, meet days are very long. Some meets [consist of] two to three days of events.”

Cinco has a reputation for success in track, which the team hopes to uphold through hard work and dedication.

“The ones who have success in track and field do not reach it by accident,” Head Coach George Beasley said. “It is their hard work, dedication and discipline that separate them from the rest of the competition.”

The coaches consider finding a spot for each student the most challenging part of coaching track and field, since they like to acknowledge each student’s dedication. Track and field has a total of eight meets this season.

“We are limited with entries, but we want to make sure every kid who has put in the work has a chance to compete at several meets,” Beasley said.

By integrating individual goals with team goals, the group hopes to create a stronger base. They hope that through this, they will finish well at the district meet on April 10 and 11.

“[Our goal is] a strong team finish at District,” Beasley said. “Each week we have individual goals that we want to achieve. The more success each athlete has, the better the team will be.”

Each athlete has their own challenges, and for many, improving is the ultimate goal.

“Beating my personal record would be the most challenging thing about track and field,” sophomore Christin Vogel said. “My goal for this season is to place in the top three at the district varsity meet.”

Track consists of many events, which requires some athletes to prepare to participate in more than one event per meet.

“I really like the outside atmosphere and the energy that I am surrounded by at a track meet,” Mathis said. “I really enjoy the athletes that I get to work with.”