TC celebrates girls basketball team’s banner year

Posted Mar 11, 2010 by Katherine Smith

Updated Mar 11, 2010 at 05:59 PM

Sarah Brennan and Colette Eule dreamt of unveiling a state championship banner in the Tampa Catholic gymnasium. On Thursday, that dream came true.

During a pep rally celebration for the Crusaders girls basketball state championship, Brennan and Eule pulled a rope that revealed the newest banner. Students, crammed into the stands, roared with approval.

“I can’t stop staring at it,” Brennan said. “I didn’t think we’d get it this soon. I thought we would have to wait.”

There were several distinguished guests at Thursday’s celebration. Following a prayer from Brother Chris Burns and a singing of the national anthem by one of the students, city councilman Charlie Miranda presented each of the players and coaches with a commendation and city pin.

Superintendent Dr. John Cummings from the Diocese of St. Petersburg surprised the Tampa Catholic students, and mostly principal Tom Reidy, when he announced that the school would get an unexpected day off to celebrate the victory again.

Tampa Catholic board chair and proud alumnus Jeanette LaRussa Fenton congratulated the team for the school’s first girls basketball state championship and the school’s first since the baseball team won in 2001.

“It’s been a long time since Tampa Catholic had a state championship and it took the women to bring it home,” Fenton said. “I’m here to tell you, the glory days are back at Tampa Catholic.”

Coach Nancy Kroll closed the ceremony with a reminder of what she told the team before the season began.

“I had challenged you guys to be a part of history,” Kroll said.

And now they are, with a banner to prove it.