The ARGUS 2O23 Prep Sports Review

A Closer Look at Two St. Louis Area Prep School Atheletic Powerhouses

Cardinal Ritter College Prep and Vashon High Schools had no shortage of medals and championships in 2023. In fact, it seemed like not a season would pass without the schools hoisting some plaque, trophy or medal. Indeed, the North Side area schools were pretty busy collecting the hardware. Meanwhile, Metro student-athlete Amari Foluke was a champion in his own right ‘on the hardwood’ floor, as he captured the region scoring title in boys basketball. As 2023 draws to a close, here’s a closer look at the best and brightest highest this past year:

When the Cardinal Ritter Lions football team took home the Missouri Class 5 title last week with a 38-25 triumph over Republic in the championship, it marked the latest crown captured by the school this season. Previously this year, Ritter had claimed the Class 5 girls track and field title and the Class 5 boys basketball title to match the football program’s achievement. 

Likewise, Vashon won both the boys and girls Class 4 state basketball titles the same weekend in March, claiming the first title in the girl’s department and 14th for the boys. The Wolverines football team’s pursuit of a state title ended with a 23-22 loss to Clayton in the second round of the playoffs, but they can still take a measure of pride because they won the Public High League title for the third year in a row. Quarterback D.J. Cody, running back Dorian Phillips, two-way player Daniel Boyce and Michael Taylor were among the catalysts.

Meanwhile, also for the second year in a row, Metro’s Amari Foluke led the entire region of boys basketball players by averaging 31.0 points per game. Not bad for an undersized guard at an academic school not known for its basketball success. Now a freshman at Howard University, Foluke is just focusing on academics as an engineering student. He won’t be defending any individual scoring titles this winter, unlike the boys and girls teams at Vashon and the boys team at Cardinal Ritte

In winning the Class 4 boys championship, Vashon was led by a few seniors and an underclassmen in Dierre Hill Jr, who has since transferred to Belleville Althoff High in Illinois, so there will be some rebuilding. Hill and senior Trey Williams combined for 26 points in the title game. On the other hand, Vashon’s girls team still return three key starters in JaNyla Bush, Chantrel Clayton and Brianna Hoffman-Collins. Bush scored 24 points in the championship, as did then-senior Rachel Jones. Clayton poured in 18 points and Collins added 10, as they outlasted St. Joseph’s Benton in double overtime 79-77. However, Vashon’s boys basketball  team had an easier time, in routing Central Park Hills 64-37, though.

As far as Ritter’s state championship in boys basketball was concerned, the Lions held off Ladue 65-54.

Balance was the key to their attack, as Clayton Jackson (13.4), Nashawn Davis (11.6) and Derrick Rivers (also 11.6 scoring average) had modest numbers that produced championship, all three return this season with a cast of veteran role players as well. The girls track and field team at Ritter also had balance, but a balance of star performers. Alexis Taylor in the long jump, Aniyah Brown in the sprint races, Charyle Moody in the sprint relays and Kyndall Spain, daughter to head coach Tiffany Jackson-Spain, and so on.

But when it comes to volume of talent, the Cardinal Ritter football team was second, simply because of the roster numbers and high-popping statistics: For example, in a unique, but immensely successful two-quarterback system, Carson Boyd threw for 2,224 yards, 29 touchdowns and just one interception in completing 128 of 161 pass attempts. Fellow signal-caller Antwon McKay completed 81 of 115 passes for 1,792 yards with 22 touchdowns and just two picks. Receiver D.J. Miller caught 66 passes for 1,361 yards and 24 touchdowns, while Jamarion Parker rushed for 1,644 yards and 26 touchdowns. On defense, Dominique Dixon had 64 tackles, Cam Clayborn 11 quarterback sacks and Bryce Gray had nine sacks. But Ritter coach Brennan Spain had the stats and the success go beyond sheer talent, rather its takes execution and hard work.

“People sometimes take our success for granted,” he said. “They just think we have some great athletes who show up and play. It’s hard work. All of us work hard to get better each week than the week before. We don’t get enough credit as coaches, either. We put a lot of hard work into coaching them.

Suffice to say, that hard work paid off in the form of another state title last week.