High school spring sports rankings: St. Christopher's Szymendera reaches 500 wins
There are few high school sports coaches in the Richmond area as synonymous with their programs as Tony Szymendera is with St. Christopher’s baseball.
It was the 1986-87 school year that the Philadelphia-area native and Haverford College alumnus joined the Saints program as an assistant.
He took the head varsity job the next year at 24 years old. Now, in his 37th season at the helm for the Saints, Szymendera earned his 500th career win on April 16 with a 3-2 victory over Woodberry Forest.
The outpouring of congratulatory support which followed proved indicative of a figure who has made an indelible impact on the sport of baseball in Virginia.
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A six-and-a-half-minute video produced by the Virginia Baseball Coaches Association and spearheaded by Benedictine coach Sean Ryan included congratulations from myriad prominent coaching figures across the state and beyond.
PEEP THIS 👀👀👀👀
500
Congratulations @TSzym44 @STCAthletics
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉Thanks to the contributors and especially @collbaseball for spearheading
Talent “at all levels “ in VA – Go Tony! pic.twitter.com/9JHP06GYf9
— Virginia Baseball Coaches Association (@VBCA2018) April 17, 2024
That group included seven-time MLB all-star and current Miller School coach Billy Wagner; UVa coach Brian O’Connor; Notre Dame coach and former VCU skipper Shawn Stiffler; Virginia Tech coach John Szefc; Kansas State associate head coach Austin Wates, a St. Chris alum and former Virginia Tech player; Collegiate coach Andrew Slater; Steward coach Bruce Secrest; Douglas Freeman coach Ray Moore; and former Trinity Episcopal coach Sam Mickens.
“You’ve been such an important person in the baseball community for the Richmond area for as long as I can remember,” Moore said.
“Just really, really proud of what you’ve been able to accomplish — not just the wins and loses, but building such a great program, having so many great teams and building such great young men through the years. So thank you, on behalf of myself, my father and Douglas Freeman high school baseball for all you’ve done for our community. And congratulations for getting to win No. 500.”
Szymendera said he got into the profession to work with kids and teach life skills through the sport he loves. Such tenure as 37 seasons and milestones such as 500 wins were never on the agenda — those accomplishments occur organically, he said.
“This is about process and kids growing, maturing, learning lessons,” Szymendera said. “The learning comes in the struggle.”
Szymendera’s Saints teams have won two VISAA state championships (2013 and 2018) and have appeared in nine state finals. He’s captured 15 Prep League titles, had four players taken in the MLB draft and sent 50 ballplayers to the college level.
Among his most cherished memories are bus rides home full of laughter; postgame conversations with his ever-supportive wife, Heather, sometimes when he was down about a win in which he thought his team could have put forth a better effort, other times when he was happy about a loss in which his squad performed admirably against a superior opponent; and seeing program alums return to share memories as successful, happy adults with families of their own.
When Szymendera started at St. Chris, his three children — Mary, Anne and John — weren’t born yet.
Now, he’s a grandfather. His own 88-year-old father, Tony Sr., a longtime umpire, has been able to celebrate the accolade with his son.
After the win over the Tigers, he celebrated with his players, who held a 500 wins banner for their coach. Parents made cupcakes, and the coach reflected on what’s been a historic career.
Szymendera said the outpouring of support since reaching the mark has been deeply touching.
“To get the kind words from all of those folks was really meaningful, really special. That made me stop for a minute,” Szymendera said.
“When you hit a milestone like that, it’s pretty natural to reflect on everything from big games and big moments to all the kids and special moments over the years with them.”
Richmond high school spring sports rankings
NOTE: All records via MaxPreps or school website, current through April 23 games.
Ranking. Team (Record, previous ranking)
1. Hanover (11-1, 1)
2. Benedictine (13-2, 2)
3. Collegiate (11-3, 3)
4. Douglas Freeman (6-3, 10)
5. Mills Godwin (10-4, 5)
6. Mechanicsville (9-3, 4)
7. Glen Allen (7-3, NR)
8. Atlee (7-3, 6)
9. Deep Run (7-6, 7)
10. Matoaca (10-0, NR)
On the cusp: New Kent (10-2, 8), Midlothian (10-3, NR), James River (5-5, NR), Cosby (8-2, NR), St. Christopher’s (5-8, 9).
1. Hanover (7-0, 1)
2. Powhatan (7-2, 6)
3. Godwin (12-0, NR)
4. Midlothian (8-3, 2)
5. Matoaca (10-0, 3)
6. New Kent (10-1, 4)
7. Cosby (7-4, 8)
8. Atlee (5-3, NR)
9. St. Catherine’s (15-1, 9)
10. Dinwiddie (8-4, 5)
On the cusp: King William (11-0, 7), Deep Run (8-3, NR), Trinity Episcopal (9-7, NR)
Girls tennis
1. Maggie Walker (9-0, 1)
2. Douglas Freeman (7-2, 2)
3. Glen Allen (7-3, 3)
4. Deep Run (6-4, 4)
5. Clover Hill (10-0, 5)
Boys tennis
1. Collegiate (9-2, 2)
2. St. Christopher’s (6-1, 1)
3. Douglas Freeman (8-0, 3)
4. Deep Run (7-3, 5)
5. Midlothian (5-1, NR)
Girls lacrosse
1. Collegiate (13-3, 1)
2. Powhatan (7-0, 3)
3. St. Catherine’s (7-4, NR)
4. Trinity Episcopal (6-4, NR)
5. Douglas Freeman (6-1, 2)
On the cusp: Godwin (6-2, 4), Cosby (5-1, 5)
Boys lacrosse
1. Atlee (7-2, 1)
2. Collegiate (11-1, 4)
3. Midlothian (6-0, 2)
4. Douglas Freeman (7-2, 3)
5. Cosby (5-2, 5)
On the cusp: Hanover (5-1, NR), Manchester (6-2, NR)
Girls soccer
1. Midlothian (10-0, 1)
2. Deep Run (8-1-1, 2)
3. Collegiate (11-2, 3)
4. Cosby (8-2-1, NR)
5. Douglas Freeman (4-3, NR)
On the cusp: Matoaca (6-1-1, 5), Monacan (4-3-2, NR), Hanover (6-2-2, NR)
Boys soccer
1. Cosby (9-0, 1)
2. Godwin (10-0-1, 2)
3. James River (7-2-1, 4)
4. Prince George (8-1-1, NR)
5. Midlothian (7-2-1, NR)
On the cusp: Mechanicsville (6-1-1, 3), Matoaca (7-1, 5), Atlee (5-1-1, NR)
Track and field
100m – Nick Tyree, Thomas Dale, 10.48 (top time in state); Shamari Earls, Thomas Dale, 10.80; Andrew Wilkins, Midlothian, 10.91.
200m – Nick Tyree, Thomas Dale, 21.82; Shamari Earls, Thomas Dale, 21.87; Sir-Paul Cheeks, L.C. Bird, 22.11.
400m – Ethan Mullinix, Deep Run, 49.25; Nathan Sims, Trinity Episcopal, 49.64; Preston Douglas, Cosby, 49.68.
110mH – Davian Burke, Banner Christian, 14.03; Isaiah Washington, Prince George, 14.14; Trevor Curry, James River, 15.26.
300mH – Davian Burke, Banner Christian, 38.16 (top time in the state); Montrell James, Patrick Henry, 40.10; Ernest Campbell, Manchester, 40.53.
800m – Caleb Wilcox, Clover Hill, 1:56.56; Patrick Allen, Atlee, 1:56.90; Taj Peace, L.C. Bird, 1:58.59.
1600m – Quinn Parrish, James River, 4:20.00; Caleb Wilcox, Clover Hill, 4:20.33; Aidan Cassidy, Douglas Freeman, 4:25.36.
3200m – Quinn Parrish, James River, 8:58.57 (top time in state); Joshua Taylor, Clover Hill, 9:16.28; Trevor Lawson, Glen Allen, 9:36.63.
Discus – Jahleel Miller, Deep Run, 158-6; Donovan Cooper, Hopewell, 158-0; Pierce Mosley, Glen Allen, 151-8.
Shot Put – Uriah Harris, Hermitage, 59-7; Pierce Mosley, Glen Allen, 55-4.25; Jahleel Miller, Deep Run, 55-4.
High Jump – Jeremaih Johnson, Petersburg, 6-4; Bishop Foster, Collegiate, 6-2; William Bostic, Prince George, 6-2.
Long Jump – Omarion Taylor, Petersburg, 22-7; Nick Tyree, Thomas Dale, 22-6.5; Zalen Wiggins, Dinwiddie, 21-11.
Triple Jump – Anthony Mills, Thomas Dale, 42-10.25; Jayden Ballard, Manchester, 42-7.5; Kahlil Fukui-Hall, Thomas Dale, 42-7.25.
Pole Vault – Victor Olesen, St. Christopher’s, 17-0 (top mark in state); Kendric Curry, Highland Springs, 16-0; Todd Benhase, Hanover, 15-6.
4×100 – L.C. Bird, 42.56; Monacan, 42.81; Patrick Henry, 42.96.
4×400 – Manchester, 3:23.59; Atlee, 3:26.75; Midlothian, 3:27.88.
4×800 – Cosby, 8:02.94 (top time in state); Atlee, 8:13.46; Douglas Freeman, 8:23.88.
100m – Tori Goodson, Atlee, 12.00; Lilly Ver Beek, James River, 12.03; Josie Rempe, Atlee, 12.10.
200m – Josie Rempe, Atlee, 24.60; Lilly Ver Beek, James River, 24.63; Mariah Jameson, J.R. Tucker, 25.11; Tori Goodson, Atlee, 25.11.
400m – Mariah Jameson, J.R. Tucker, 56.20; Gabrielle Jones, Midlothian, 57.26; Micailah Cook, Henrico, 57.51.
100mH – Tori Goodson, Atlee, 14.25; Pryncess Jackson, Highland Springs, 14.40; Devyn Parham, Thomas Dale, 14.42.
300mH – Tori Lewis, Monacan, 44.29; Josie Rempe, Atlee, 44.87; Kaitlyn Cook, L.C. Bird, 45.53.
800m – Amelia Waggoner, Atlee, 2:19.93; Elise Graves, Midlothian, 2:20.43; Riley Humphries, Prince George, 2:21.55.
1600m – Elly Velasquez, Glen Allen, 5:04.06; Ellie Agustin, Hanover, 5:08.91; Avery Beike, Glen Allen, 5:10.31.
3200m – Elly Velasquez, Glen Allen, 10:55.48; Ellie Agustin, Hanover, 10:55.48; Avery Beike, Glen Allen, 11:05.59.
Discus – Nia Armstrong, L.C. Bird, 121-10; Mia Bryson, Atlee, 118-2; Mackenzie Blanchet, Glen Allen, 115-6.
Shot Put – Mia Bryson, Atlee, 37-5.5; Mackenzie Blanchet, Glen Allen, 36-8; Nia Armstrong, L.C. Bird, 35-11.
High Jump – Brienna Anderson, 5-0, Cosby; Kara Harris, Clover Hill, 5-0; Josie Rempe, Atlee, 5-0; Anna Igberase, Deep Run, 5-0; Tilliea Thompson, Highland Springs, 5-0; Lilly Zyglocke, Hanover, 5-0; McKenzie Hadfield, James River, 5-0.
Long Jump – Lilly Ver Beek, James River, 19-10 (top mark in state); Kaitlyn Cook, L.C. Bird, 19-2; Pryncess Jackson, Highland Springs, 17-11.75.
Triple Jump – Kaitlyn Cook, L.C. Bird, 39-3.25; Pryncess Jackson, Highland Springs, 39-1.5; Lauren Taylor, L.C. Bird, 36-6.
Pole Vault – Emily Romano, Glen Allen, 13-6 (top height in the state); Anna Bero, J.R. Tucker, 11-3; Sydney Miller, Douglas Freeman, 11-0.
4×100 – Atlee, 49.18; L.C. Bird, 49.30; James River, 49.86.
4×400 – L.C. Bird, 4:05.26; J.R. Tucker, 4:06.00; Monacan, 4:06.80.
4×800 – Monacan, 9:45.89; Atlee, 9:59.43; Collegiate, 10:13.60.
NOTE: All times, marks via MileStat
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