LAMORINDA WEEKLY | SMC Athletes Featured at Moraga Rotary's 23rd Annual Field Day


Saint Mary's basketball players Jordan Giusti and Beau Levesque run the new basketball free-throw event at Rotary Field Day with Los Perales Elementary School competitors. Photos provided

Coach Randy Bennett, assistant coaches, and several members of the Saint Mary's College men's basketball team helped conduct Moraga Rotary's 23rd Annual Field Day, a track and field meet held at Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School for third, fourth, and fifth grade Moraga students in the local schools. There were 312 athletes this year, a few more than the 302 athletes last year, competing in events such as sprints, relays, sack races, long jumps, and baseball and football throws.

This year, fifth graders competed in a basketball throw event which was judged by the SMC men, who also judged the other events. Several of the children had fun trying to take the ball from Steven Holt as he was dribbling in a game of keep-away. Gold, silver, and bronze medals were awarded to the top three contestants in each event, and all athletes earned a blue participant ribbon.

Again this year, Donald Rheem Elementary School won plaques for High Point School, and the High Point Boys and Girls. Two girls tied for High Point: third-grader Charlotte Arnswald and fourth-grader Mia Columbini. Three boys tied for High Point: third-grader Robbie Mascheroni, fourth-grader Jalen Esteen, and fifth-grader Bradford Martin.

These students and their parents along with the High Point Teacher, Mrs. Bornfleth, and principal, Elaine Frank, both of Rheem School, have been invited to a Moraga Rotary meeting where they will be presented with the plaques honoring their achievements.

Tony Schoemehl, the Rotary Field Day chairman, said the work done by the Saint Mary's athletes was quite an inspiration to the competitors. He really appreciated the work done by the teachers and principals of the schools to promote and encourage participation by the kids, and how some of the parents were helping run the events.

The Moraga Rotary Field Day is a community service project originated by Moraga Rotarian past president Al Simonsen, who chaired the event for its first 21 years. Moraga Rotary is a local service club within Rotary International that meets at noon most Tuesdays at Saint Mary's College. For information, please call Frank May at (925) 376-8195.