The Viking Insider
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Boys Basketball Ends Season In State Quarterfinals, Vikings Finish 26-4
It was an exciting week for Boys Basketball that began with a district title on Tuesday and ended with hosting a State Quarterfinal game in front of a record crowd at The H on Saturday. We recap the big week for our Vikings below.
District Championship Victory
In a thrilling Class 6 District 4 boys basketball championship matchup against St. Dominic on Tuesday, our Vikings picked up a 46-39 victory. Junior forward Will Paulson played a pivotal role in Howell's victory including scoring 10 consecutive points in a crucial moment, that propelled the Vikings to the win. Senior Jeremiah Poniewaz ended the game with 16 points while Paulson poured in 20.
State Quarterfinal Game
On Saturday it was a matchup of two premiere teams in the St. Louis area as our Vikings faced off with Chaminade in a state quarterfinal matchup. The game unfolded amidst an electric atmosphere at Howell, with a record crowd of 2000 spectators witnessing the intense showdown that came down to the final seconds of the game. After leading most of the second half by as many as eight points the Vikings were not able to pull of the win to punch their ticket to the Final Four. As the Vikings ended their season with an impressive 26-4 record Coach Agbo expressed pride in his team's hard work and dedication this season that included a tournament championship, conference championship and district championship.
Thank You Seniors
The loss on Saturday ended the season for several Viking seniors. Congratulations to Brennon Wibbenmeyer, Dallas Thornton, Jeremiah Poniewaz, Owen Larrigan and Jude James. The past two seasons these Vikings have helped the program earn a 45-14 record along with a conference and district championship and an appearance in the state quarterfinals. Thank you to our seniors on a great season and great careers at Howell.
Media
You can view several pictures from STL Today Photographer Paul Kopsky below as well as an article by Steve Overbey from STL Today and video highlights from GSV. Thank you to all of our media that have covered our programs this winter.
Evander Holyfield Supports the Vikings at the State Quarterfinal Game
Evander Holyfield, the legendary former heavyweight boxing champion, made an appearance at the State quarterfinal basketball game on Saturday at Howell, lending his support to the Vikings. Viking fans cheered alongside one of boxing's all-time greats. Holyfield's support added an extra layer of excitement to the game as he sat courtside.
Evander Holyfield is the only four-time world heavyweight champion, winning the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles multiple times throughout his career. Holyfield is best known for his epic rivalries with fellow boxing legends such as Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis, as well as his incredible resilience and fighting spirit in the ring. Outside of boxing, Holyfield is also known for his philanthropy and charitable work.
Howell DECA Celebrates Remarkable Success, Advances 25 To Nationals
Howell DECA has reason to celebrate as they brought an impressive contingent of 60 students to the state competition, with an outstanding 25 qualifying for nationals. The achievements of these talented individuals have left the Howell community bursting with pride, with the program achieving remarkable success across various categories.
Top Results Reflect Dedication and Talent
Among the standout performers, Natalie Muser claimed the top spot in Apparel and Accessories, while Chase Montgomery and Max Samsonov excelled in Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making, securing another first-place finish for Howell DECA. Laurel Jockisch showcased her skills in Food Marketing, earning yet another first-place title for the team, alongside Sadie French in Professional Selling and Porter Elliott & Danny Oberbeck in Sports & Entertainment Operations Research. You can view all of the results from state below.
Memorable Moments and Proud Achievements
The state competition was a day filled with memorable moments and proud achievements for Howell DECA. The team's hard work and dedication have undoubtedly paid off, with numerous students securing top spots in their respective categories. As Howell prepares to send these exceptional individuals to represent the school at the national level, the entire community extends their heartfelt congratulations and wishes them the best of luck.
Pride and Excitement for Nationals
As they prepare to compete at the national level, Howell DECA is poised to make their mark and continue their legacy of success. Congratulations to all the Vikings who will proudly represent Howell at the national level!
Drumline Takes First Place at FZE
Our Drumline continued their successful competition season with a first place finish at the Fort Zumwalt East CSPA competition on Saturday. It has been a great season for our Vikings so far. The talented group will travel to Kentucky this coming weekend to compete on the WGI circuit. Congratulations and good luck to Drumline as they prepare for a big weekend ahead.
Victorious Vikings: Winter Guard Secures First Place at WGI Regional Finals
Our Howell Winter Guard traveled to Bellevue, Nebraska this weekend to compete at the WGI Regional Championship event. The Vikings turned in another exceptional performance of their show Remember, showcasing their talent amongst teams from all over the Midwest. Their performance earned the guard 1st place in their class in preliminary competition and a spot in the finals. The guard advanced to finals and turned in another strong performance that earned them first place at the WGI Regional. Congratulations to Guard on a great performance and finish at the regional level!
Football Named Top High School Program By National Football Foundation
The Football program has garnered national recognition as it will receive the prestigious National Football Foundation Program of the Year honor. Chosen by the St. Louis Chapter committee, our football program stands out as the top program of the year, showcasing excellence, dedication, and sportsmanship on and off the field.
As a testament to their outstanding achievements, representatives of the Football program, will be honored at the 33rd Annual Awards Banquet on May 5, 2024, at the historic downtown Missouri Athletic Club.
Additionally, this recognition comes with a generous $1,000 donation from the STL Tom Lombardo Chapter to support the continued success and growth of the Howell Football program. This contribution highlights the Chapter's commitment to fostering excellence in high school football programs and acknowledges the hard work and dedication of the players, coaches, and supporters of our Football program. Congratulations to Coach Chojnacki, staff, parents and players for their efforts to make our program one of the best in the State and nation.
The Howell community is proud and grateful for this prestigious honor, which serves as a testament to their commitment to excellence both on and off the field. As they continue to uphold the Howell tradition of excellence, they look forward to representing their school with pride and gratitude at the upcoming Awards Banquet.
Jude James Named To National Football Foundation Top 25 Award
There is no doubt that Jude James was a standout player for our football program this past season. This past week Howell was notified that the senior multi-sport student-athlete has been selected as one of the Top 25 Big Red Players by the National Football Foundation. This prestigious honor recognizes Jude's exceptional talent, dedication, and contributions to the sport of football.
Jude will be celebrated at the National Football Foundation / College Hall of Fame STL Chapter’s 33rd Annual Awards Banquet, set to take place at the historic downtown Missouri Athletic Club on Sunday, May 5th. During the banquet, Jude will be formally recognized and presented with his Top 25 Big Red Plaque, commemorating his outstanding achievements on the field.
Jude's selection as one of the Top 25 Big Red Players is a just another example of the development of players in the Howell Football program and Jude's hard work, skill, and dedication. The Howell community congratulates Jude on this well-deserved honor and looks forward to celebrating his achievements at the upcoming Awards Banquet.
Diamond Dynasty: Inside Baseball's Championship Pursuit in 2024
The Howell baseball program is gearing up for what promises to be a thrilling season, marked by high expectations and national recognition. With consecutive final four appearances in 2022 and 2023, the Vikings boast a roster loaded with talent that has caught the attention of professional scouts and college recruiters alike. Recent practices have seen representatives from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Seattle Mariners, and Mizzou scouting Howell's standout players, highlighting the team's potential. Impressively, 12 players on the roster have either signed with colleges or received offers, with five destined for NCAA Division I programs.
The Vikings enter the season topping various preseason rankings, including being ranked #1 in the GSV St. Louis Poll and the Metro Sports MOKAN State Preseason Rankings. Additionally, players like Tytus Cissell and Leo Humbert have earned individual recognition, with Cissell claiming the top spot in Prep Baseball Report's Missouri Senior Player Rankings.
As they prepare to kick off the season at home this coming Friday, Howell baseball is poised to continue its legacy of excellence, with a rich history that includes 201 college players and 14 MLB draft picks.
Howell Baseball Team Rankings & Preseason Recognition
GSV Poll - #1
Metro Sports MOKAN Preseason Rankings State Poll (All Classes) - #1
Perfect Game Midwest Rankings - #6
National High School Baseball Coaches Rankings (Midwest) - #8
Prep Baseball Report National Rankings - #29
Howell Baseball Player Preseason Rankings & Recognition
Prep Baseball Report (PBR) Missouri Senior Player Rankings - Tytus Cissell - #1
Metro Sports MOKAN Preseason Player of the Year - Tytus Cissell - #2
Metro Sports MOKAN Preseason Player of the Year - Leo Humbert - #9
Scholar Bowl Finishes Regular Season In GAC Tournament
This past weekend the Scholar Bowl team competed in the GAC Tournament. While the Vikings didn't end the season where they wanted, the program saw a lot of great growth and development that will lead to future success. Congratulations to junior Jace Royer for finishing 10th individually at the GAC Tournament.
Online Eligibility Open For 2024-25 Cheer & Dance
The Howell MSHSAA eligibility process is now beginning for the 2024-25 cheer and dance programs. The online eligibility website can be found at www.howellvikings.com on the left side of the page by clicking the "MSHSAA Activities/Sports Registration (Eligibility)" tab or by clicking "Activity Registration" at the top of the page. Below you can find a step by step guide that has been established to help Viking families complete the eligibility process.
Those that are interested in trying out for cheer or dance must have their online eligibility registration completed prior to tryouts at the dates listed below:
- Cheer tryouts begin April 10th - Cheer eligibility registration will close on April 2nd.
- Dance tryouts begin on April 16th - Dance eligibility registration will close on April 9th.
Online registration must be complete and final clearance given in order to tryout for Cheer or Dance. New students and incoming freshmen to Howell should create a new account to register.
Please choose your students current grade for 2024-2025. We will roll grades up after July 1st.
Only currently enrolled students who are attending Howell can participate in tryouts during the school year. The only exception to this is 8th graders who are attending Howell Middle or Bryan Middle. Students who do not currently attend Howell, Howell Middle, or Bryan Middle cannot tryout during the spring semester. Those students who are enrolled for the 2024-2025 school year and not currently attending could tryout after the completion of the semester which ends on May 24th (summer) if enrolled at the school. Both cheer and dance will have additional information for those students after you register.
If you are a returning student athlete, login to your account, click on the Register dropdown, click on student’s name and complete the six steps. Those that do not have this process complete will not be able to participate in tryouts. Those that have questions or issues can now also view a tutorial video that has been developed that will walk you through the entire process. You can view the video below.
Link to video Tutorial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ-7BVe5GT4
Winter Season Recaps Coming Soon To The Viking Insider
As our winter season comes to an end, the Viking Insider will highlight all levels of each program once the entire program has completed their season. We have had a great group of Vikings represent The H this winter and we are looking forward to the future ahead. Stay tuned to future editions of the Viking Insider as we celebrate girls swim, girls basketball, boys basketball, girls wrestling and boys wrestling.
Cultivating a Winning Culture: Creating #unmatcHed Outcomes & Experiences at Howell
Over the next three weeks, in the Viking Insider, we will delve into the heart of what makes Howell programs truly exceptional. Our focus will be on highlighting the culture and experience we strive to cultivate within our programs, a culture that leads to unparalleled success for both our programs and students. Our coaches, student-participants, and parents all play pivotal roles in developing and maintaining this culture. From serving as role models who exemplify our core values of Respect, Integrity, Sportsmanship, and Excellence, to fostering strong relationships built on trust and camaraderie, to effectively communicating expectations and celebrating achievements, each aspect contributes to a positive team environment where all individuals thrive. Together, we support the journey and celebrate the unique experiences Howell has to offer, making our school a truly special place. This week we focus on our parents and what they strive to do in our programs.
The Vital Role of Parents in Howell Programs
Parents play a crucial role in the success of Howell's various programs, serving as pillars of support and guidance for student-participants and coaches alike. Understanding the importance of the parent role can significantly impact the progress and achievements of Howell programs and our participants.
A successful program thrives on the understanding and cooperation among parents, student-participants, and coaches. The relationship between these three groups is paramount, influencing the growth and development of students. As parents support their children and their respective programs, they become integral members of the Howell Family, representing the school's values alongside students and coaches.
Here are some key points for parents to consider as they engage with Howell programs:
Embody the Howell R.I.S.E. Core Values: Parents serve as role models for students, demonstrating respect, integrity, service, and excellence in their actions and interactions within the program.
Support with Positivity: Encourage students and their peers with positive reinforcement, fostering a supportive environment that nurtures confidence and performance.
Trust in Coaching: Allow coaches to lead and guide the program, respecting their expertise and decisions. Trust between students, parents, and coaches is essential for student development.
Provide Support and Recognition: Offer unwavering support, recognition, compassion, and encouragement to both the program and individual students. This boosts confidence, enjoyment, and performance.
Encourage Direct Communication: Empower students to address concerns directly with coaches, promoting independence and problem-solving skills.
Represent Howell with Pride: Understand that actions reflect not only on oneself but also on students and Francis Howell as a whole. Uphold the school's values in all interactions.
Promote R.I.S.E. Values: Encourage adherence to the R.I.S.E. values both on and off the field, fostering a culture of respect, integrity, service, and excellence within the program and in the stands.
Respect All Stakeholders: Show respect towards coaches, parents, officials, and game day personnel, accepting decisions and fostering a positive atmosphere at all times.
Parents contribute significantly to the success and well-being of Howell programs, ensuring a positive and enriching experience for all involved. Together, as a united community, Howell continues to uphold its values and create excellence in its students.
Summer Camp Dates, Times, Locations Begin To Go Live
This past week the Howell summer camp dates, times and locations began to go live on the camp website at www.howellvikingscamps.com The hope is that all camps will be completely live by Monday or Tuesday of this week. This year there is the addition of several new camps to the summer camp lineup. We look forward to a great summer of opportunities for current and future Vikings to realize their full potential and to have a great time with their friends.
Cheer Announces Tryout Dates and Times For 2024-25 Season
It is hard to believe but many of our programs are already planning and preparing for the 2024-25 season. This past week our Cheer program released information for tryouts for next school year. You can find all of the information below regarding the upcoming clinics and tryouts.
Tutor Doctor Vikings Of The Week - Reagan Trezek
This week our Tutor Doctor Viking of the Week is Reagan Trezek. Reagan is a member of the Cheer program and an excellent representative of Cheer and Howell. Reagan is a leader and role model for fellow Vikings at The H and she continues to do great things that show why our programs and students are special. Thank you Reagan for all you do for Howell and the Cheer program.
Howell Summer Camps & Dead Periods Released
Being involved in an activity, club or sport at Howell takes dedication and a great time commitment. Many activities, clubs and sports at Howell are a year round commitment. In order to help our students, staff and parents plan ahead for this coming summer the Howell Activities Department is dedicated to getting important dates out to our Howell family. Below you can find many important tentative dates for the 2024 summer. We hope that these dates will help our families in their planning for the upcoming school year. As always, thank you to all of our students, staff and parents for their continued dedication to Howell and our programs.
Upcoming Events
Francis Howell Activities Department
Email: sean.erwin@fhsdschools.org
Website: www.howellvikings.com
Location: 7001 Missouri 94, Saint Charles, MO, United States
Phone: 636-851-4700
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fhhsvikings
Twitter: @fhvikings