Winter Wrapped

Our girls volleyball team had an outstanding season, finishing undefeated and earning the Aroostook League Volleyball Championship in Houlton. They won every scrimmage throughout the season and did not lose a single set in tournament play. It was a major achievement for the team and for MSSM athletics as a whole. After playing 10 games back to back, the team showed resilience, confidence, and the ability to reset quickly after every point. Coaches said one of the biggest lessons from the tournament was just how important mindset can be. Every point matters, not only on the scoreboard, but in what players tell themselves and how they respond in the moment. Looking ahead, the goal is for each player to keep building confidence and growing stronger in every rotation while continuing to strengthen the team as a whole.

Our boys volleyball team also had a strong winter, competing in scrimmages around the county and finishing 4th at the Aroostook League Volleyball Championship in Caribou. Their season showed steady effort and competitive spirit, and they represented MSSM well throughout the winter. They did well despite often having only enough members for the team with no one on the bench. For some scrimmages, classmates joined to help ease the load.

This season also marked a first for MSSM athletics with the introduction of JV basketball competition. MSSM students took part in the Aroostook County JV Basketball Round Robin Tournament at Presque Isle High School, giving both boys and girls the chance to come together and compete. Though official teams were not in place before the event, students stepped up quickly, showed teamwork and school pride, and laid the groundwork for something bigger. Organized by Student Life Coordinator Mr. Justin Kinney, the event became more than just a tournament. It became a first step toward building a lasting JV basketball program at MSSM.

Reflecting on the experience, Mr. Kinney shared that the biggest takeaway was how quickly students came together around a common goal. With each game, their confidence grew, and the foundation for a strong future program became clearer. The hope now is to build a full JV basketball season for both boys and girls next year and keep that momentum going.

Winter also included some fun competition off the official schedule. One Wednesday night, students took part in a free-throw contest in the dorm gym before the dorm meeting. Teams rotated through stations that included traditional free throws, one-handed shots, underhand shots, eyes-closed attempts, and even trick-shot options like bouncing the ball or shooting backward. In the end, Mr. Kinney won with 27 made shots, while Finn and Saketh tied for second with 20.

From championship wins to new team beginnings, this winter season showed the value of resilience, teamwork, and school pride. We are proud of all of our student-athletes and excited to see where this momentum leads next year.