St. Paul celebrates success at annual All-Sports Banquet

SHINER – Things were a little emotional for Marrisa Ynclan on Wednesday.

After all, it was her last athletics function at St. Paul Catholic School. Ynclan was one of seven seniors who experienced his/her final St. Paul All-Sports Banquet Wednesday at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Shiner.

“It’s a little emotional right now,” Ynclan said. “I’m going to miss everything from the hot gym to the bus rides and my teammates and coaches. It’s going to be tough not having all of this.”

Ynclan was a member of the girls basketball, cross country and volleyball teams. In addition to Ynclan, Christine Bittick, Jacob Coull, Brett Hodges, Emma Holley, Kali Kocian and Justin Natal also celebrated their final All-Sports Banquet.

“It seems just like yesterday that I was a freshman,” Coull said. “It’ll be different next year not being a part of this, but I had a lot of good memories playing sports at St. Paul.”

Coull was a member of the football and tennis teams. He also was Salutatorian of the Class of 2012.

Every St. Paul athletic program was recognized at Wednesday’s banquet. Among the teams recognized were a state championship softball team and a quartet of state runner-up teams – baseball, girls basketball, girls cross country and football.

Kocian was a member of the basketball, cross country and softball teams, and also participated in track and field and volleyball. Hodges and Natal were members of both the baseball and football teams, and both athletes also participated in basketball and track and field.

After the recognition of the teams, a pair of scholarships were handed out. Kocian was the recipient of the James Muelker Scholarship, while Hodges and Natal each received the Michael Muelker Scholarship.

“I had a fun time at St. Paul and it was all worth it,” Natal said. “I made a lot of friends and bonds that would not have been made if I didn’t play. I’ll miss the people at St. Paul.”

While they did not win a state championship this year, Coull, Hodges and Natal all were members of the 2010 football state championship team. Hodges and Natal also were members of the 2011 baseball state championship team.

Kocian had the privilege of being a member of six state championship teams during her four-year tenure at St. Paul. She was a member of three cross country (2008, 2009, 2010), two softball (2011, 2012) and one track and field (2011) state championship teams.