Konopka breaks swim record
GREENVILLE – Katrina Konopka, a sophomore at St. Joseph’s Catholic School, set a new national record at the YMCA Short Course Nationals held in Greensboro, N.C., recently. Her time of 22.55 in the women’s 50-yard freestyle broke the previous record of 22.68 established in 2010 by two-time NCAA individual champion and current Arizona Wildcat Margo Geer. It is also the top time in the country amongst her age group this season. Katrina is a member of the Middle Tyger YMCA Swim Team and St. Mary Magdalene Church in Simpsonville.
Barrow captures chess title
GREENVILLE – Joshua Barrow, a fifth-grader at St. Mary, won first place in his age bracket at the South Carolina Scholastic Chess Championship held in Columbia recently.
Winning with science
GREENVILLE – Middle school students from Our Lady of the Rosary competed in the Regional Science Fair at the TD Convention Center, which hosts hundreds of science projects submitted by Greenville County and private schools. Sophia Shinas and Noah May placed fourth in the biology category and received a special award from the Greenville Medical Alliance. Emma Fletcher and Maggie Barr placed third in the environmental category.
McKay nets tennis award
CHARLESTON – Fred McKay, principal of Charleston Catholic, was one of several tennis coaches in the Charleston County School District to receive the first annual “Game Changer Award” for his contributions as head coach for the CCS Saints. He received recognition on center court during the Family Circle Cup’s Kids’ Day on April 1.
Climbing high
SUMTER – Students from St. Francis Xavier High School attended a retreat at Camp Kanuga in Hendersonville, N.C., in March, where they enjoyed snow, rock climbing, orienteering, high ropes, and more. The theme was “The Compass; A Guide for the Soul” which focused on the necessity of teamwork in their outdoor activities, in daily life, and in staying on track with the ultimate goal of reaching heaven. Photo: Nick Doyle, a senior from St. Francis Xavier, and Stephanie von der Thannen, a junior exchange student from Austria, cheer as they make it across the high ropes course.