SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A total of seven St. Francis High students were recognized for their future participation in athletics at six different colleges and universities during the school's spring National Letter of Intent and College Commitment ceremony Tuesday morning.
This event supplements a similar event from last November, at which 12 Troubadour athletes were honored.
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"I could not be more excited to see our Troubie student-athletes be rewarded for their hard work and excellence," said SFHS Director of Athletics Mark McGreevy. "St. Francis owns an outstanding tradition of success in all areas of student life, including participation in sports. The opportunity to compete at the next level is an honor in itself, and I'm proud to see this group represent this school as they continue their athletic, academic and spiritual education."‑
Alphabetically, the honorees were Tatiana Cornejo (Cal Poly cross country/track & field), Sofia Flores (Central Washington soccer), Baya McIntosh (Cal Poly Humboldt rowing), Caroline Murdoch (Occidental soccer), Justine Pulmones (Dominican volleyball), Makayla Todd (Cal Poly waterskiing) and Safaa Umar (Fresno Pacific tennis).
The fall commits comprised Mia Collins (Mizzou soccer), Kayla Garber (Sacramento City College softball), Grace Jenkins (UConn softball), Hope Jenkins (UConn softball), Cate Joaquin (Georgetown cross country and track & field), Kate Killer (UC Santa Barbara soccer), Bella McCullough (William Penn lacrosse), Lindsay Niethammer (USC rowing), K.D. Ramirez (Gonzaga rowing), Zahra Smith (Delaware State lacrosse), Rachel Thilow (Bentley swimming & diving) and Abbie Williamson (Emory & Henry equestrian).
A detailed profile for each of Wednesday's honorees is available below:
TATIANA CORNEJO
CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD • CAL POLY
Member of two Sac-Joaquin Section cross country championship teams (2018-19) and one SJS track & field champion squad (2019)... SFHS also won three Delta League titles in cross (2018, 2019, 2021) plus one in track (2019) in her career... Individually, won the individual Delta League title last fall, leading a 1-2-3-4-5 perfect score... Went on to place fourth at CIF-SJS, fifth at state and fourth at NXR Regional championships in cross... Earned CA MileSplit Runner of the Week distinction on Nov. 8, 2021... In track & field season, did not have postseason meets in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic... One of three Troubie qualifiers to prestigious Arcadia Invitational in 2022, where she set the school mile record at 5:00.28... Briefly held school 1,600 record at 4:53.27, a mark that ranks third in SJS, 18th in California through April 24... Ran 800 PR of 2:16.36 at Bella Vista's Bronco Distance Festival in March, currently third in the section... Volunteers as a SFHS Big Sister and through community service at local churches and Loaves and Fishes... Plans on majoring in business administration at Cal Poly.
SOFIA FLORES
SOCCER • CENTRAL WASHINGTON
Two-year varsity performer for St. Francis, helping Troubies to 27 wins in 2021 and 2022 seasons combined... Team went 15-5-3 last season, winning a Delta League title and advancing a round in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I draw... Scored two goals with two assists as a senior... Previously co-scoring leader for SFHS junior varsity as a sophomore (seven goals)... Also played club ball for Folsom Lake Surf Premier since 2018... Serves as Student Body Officers (SBO) Vice President... Plans on studying biomedical science at CWU.
BAYA McINTOSH
ROWING • CAL POLY HUMBOLDT
Completing first season with local Capital Crew club program... Rows in 6 seat (port) for Cap... Lettered in both water polo and swimming at St. Francis, earning team MVP honors in swim as a freshman and sophomore... Scored 12 goals with 16 assists and 27 steals for water polo team last fall, helping Troubies to Sac-Joaquin Section playoff appearance at Oak Ridge... Enrolled undeclared at Cal Poly Humboldt (formerly Humboldt State) but considering education and/or child development.
CAROLINE MURDOCH
SOCCER • OCCIDENTAL
Helped St. Francis varsity soccer to 27-6-3 combined record in junior and senior seasons... Contributed three goals and four assists last fall despite playing most games on defensive end... Troubadour winner of Delta League Sportsmanship Award (2022), as selected by head coach Maryclaire Robinson... As Robinson noted, Murdoch's "work rate and effort on the field were impactful and provided a visual on what was needed to be successful at this level. She played where we needed her, and was helpful in all three layers on the field"... Intends to major in a social science... Serves as a board member for St. Francis' Key Club (Kiwanis-affiliated service club) and as an Ambassador and a Retreat Team member... Six-year member of National Charity League, performing service back to the community.
JUSTINE PULMONES
VOLLEYBALL • DOMINICAN
Three-year varsity performer, member of All-Delta League performer at libero, posting 324 digs, 33 aces and 330 serve receptions last fall... Also earned a South Team berth at the area's Optimist All-Star match in December... Helped Troubadours to 24-10 overall record and 9-3 mark (second) in Delta League... Troubies advanced to Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals and snared a spot in CIF NorCal Regional... Member of 2019 SFHS squad that won 36 matches and won Sac-Joaquin Section title... Plays club ball for NCVC, which advanced to USA Volleyball Junior Nationals in 2021 (17U) and 2022 (18U)... Plans on studying nursing at Dominican.
MAKAYLA TODD
WATERSKIING • CAL POLY
Currently on 2022 American Water Ski Association National Junior Team... Helped Junior National squad to first-place finish at 2021 IWWF (International Waterski & Wakeboarding Federation) Junior World Championships, thanks to individual berth in girls' U17 slalom finals... Ranked 7th in that event on IWWF world list... Placed third at 2021 Junior US Open U17s prior to worlds... Previously made National Junior Development Water Ski Team, also selected by AWSA... Member of Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team Caring Crew... Intends to major in industrial engineering at Cal Poly.
SAFAA UMAR
TENNIS • FRESNO PACIFIC
Two-year All-Delta League performer in singles, advancing to quarterfinals in 2020 then finals in 2021... Also a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I individual at-large qualifier, reaching quarterfinals... Compiled career record of 57-6 under head coach Kristi Spector... Troubadours won Delta League title in 2020 and advanced to CIF-SJS championship and NorCal Regional semifinals in both 2018 and 2019... Won Team MVP as a senior, Dedication Award as a freshman and sophomore... Also played for Rio Del Oro Tennis Academy... Member of Muslim Student Association, South Asian Troubies, Troubies Who Mean Business at SFHS... Will major in biology at FPU.
