Grades 9-12 | Fall Sports 2026

Fall sports offered include Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Tennis, and Volleyball. Students interested in participating in a sport during the 2026-27 school year are asked to complete our Athletics Student Interest form. This is an interest form only and does not indicate a student's commitment to playing. All tryouts and practices for student-athletes participating in the 2026 Fall Season begin Monday, August 10 and attendance is MANDATORY.

Every student trying out must have all medical documentation completed in Magnus Health. A current physical is required to play. Most physicals are valid for two years from the date of the examination unless the physician states that it is only valid for one year. To guarantee that the physical meets the MSHSAA requirements for student-athletes, please use either the MSHSAA Physical Evaluation form or the Villa physical form found on Magnus Health. Please email Angie McMahon, School Nurse,  at amcmahon@villa1929.org or Tim Deines, Athletic Director, at tdeines@villa1929.org with questions regarding medical information. Students and parents should review all of the athletics information, especially the Parent’s Guide to Concussion, in the Co-Curricular section of the Student-Parent Handbook.

School attendance is mandatory for student-athletes.

Any absences can negatively impact a team, individuals need to commit to attending all practices and games and make the team their priority.  Please look over the athletics schedule carefully before planning or committing to other appointments or events.

• Students must be present at school by the end of the first period or they will not be eligible to play or practice that day.  Individual circumstances will be handled by the Athletic Director and Dean of Students.
• Students participating in sports must be enrolled and pass a minimum 7 out of 8 classes.

Excused absences include:

• Illness – An extended illness will require a doctor’s note.
• Physician/Dental Appointments – Students must submit a note to the coach from the physician’s/dentist’s office confirming the day and time of the visit.
• Family Emergency – Parents must communicate any emergencies with the coach/Athletic Director.
• College Visits – Students are allowed one (1) excused college visit during a season.
• School-sponsored Activities – Show Choir, Retreats, and other school-sponsored requirements.
• Academics – Academic excuses are allowed with confirmation/communication from a faculty member to the coach/Athletic Director.
• If a student is involved in a club sport, per MSHSAA rules, the high school sport takes priority over club activity. Students must communicate with the coach/Athletic Director for permission to miss upper school sport for club activity.

Individual circumstances will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the coach, Athletic Director, and Principal. Athletes will be allowed two (2) unexcused absences during a season. Excessive absences could result in removal from a team.

Selection of Teams:

Villa Duchesne wishes to provide a safe and positive experience for each student who wishes to participate in athletics. We encourage students to participate in sports, especially ninth graders. The number of students participating affects how many teams we can field. Depending on the amount of participation from the student body, size limitations may be imposed in some sports. When this occurs, coaches will evaluate students based on attitude, work ethic, skill, fitness, and the needs of the program to select the participants of a team. There is no guarantee that a student will make a team even if she made a team the previous year or that the student will move to the next level the following year.  No-cut sports for fall include cross country. All students trying out for a team are required to be present beginning the FIRST DAY so that we achieve the mandatory 14 days of practices required by MSHSAA prior to the start of the season contests and everyone participates in the tryout process.  If you have any questions regarding a sport, please contact the head coach.

Student-athletes should keep their schedules open the week of August 10-15 as practice times may need to be adjusted due to coaches’ schedules. When school begins, practices will be held after school.

If you have specific questions or interest in summer participation camps/opportunities for a fall sport, please do not hesitate to contact Tim Deines or the head coach for your sport.

Cross Country – Cross Country is a no-cut sport. Tryouts will begin Monday, August 10, at 7:15 am at Kenefick Gym. The schedule will be Monday - Friday from 7:15-8:45 am. Practice locations may change during the week, as the team may do some off-campus runs. Students should bring running shoes, a water bottle, and appropriate clothing for the weather. Head Coach: Brittyne Fitzgerald, bfitzgerald@villa1929.org

Field Hockey – Number of teams and cuts will depend on student turnout. Tryouts will begin Monday, August 10, at 8:30 am on Condie Field. The schedule will be Monday - Thursday from 8:30-10:15 am. Students should bring field hockey equipment including mouth guard, stick, and defensive face mask (if appropriate) as well as tennis shoes, turf shoes, water bottle, and appropriate clothing for the weather. There will be additional uniform costs for all players and travel costs for those who make the varsity team. Head Coach: Kate Graft, kgraft@villa1929.org

Golf - Number of teams and cuts will depend on student turnout. Tryouts will begin on Monday, August 10, at 3:30 pm at The Quarry at Crystal Springs golf club in Maryland Heights. The schedule will be Monday and Friday from 3:30-4:30 pm at The Quarry at Crystal Springs golf club in Maryland Heights, Tuesday and Wednesday from 3:30-5:30 pm at Forest Hills Country Club, and Thursday from 4:00-5:00 pm at Visitation Academy for rules review. Students should bring golf equipment, water bottle, and appropriate clothing for the weather. Head Coach: Sandy Schwartz, sandyschwartz17@gmail.com

Tennis - Number of teams and cuts will depend on student turnout. Tryouts will begin on Monday, August 10, at 5:00 pm at the Ririe Tennis Complex. The schedule will be Monday - Wednesday from 5:00-7:00 pm, and Thursday and Friday from 9:00-11:00 am. Students should bring tennis equipment, water bottle, and appropriate clothing for the weather. Head Coach: Justin Arnold, villaduchesnetennis@gmail.com

Volleyball - Number of teams and cuts will depend on student turnout. Tryouts will begin on Monday, August 10, at 4:30 pm in Kenefick Gym. The schedule will be Monday - Friday from 4:30-6:30 pm.  Students should bring volleyball equipment, water bottle, and appropriate clothing. Head Coach: Andy Haher, Andy.haher@gmail.com

Dance Team - Number of teams and cuts will depend on student turnout. Student’s skillset will determine team placement on the general dance squad or the “Elite” dance squad. Interested students must attend at least two of the three clinic days prior to official tryouts to learn a pom-style dance team routine. Clinic days will be held in the Dance Studio on the lower level of Kenefick on the following days:

• Monday, August 10, from 10:30 am-12 pm
• Tuesday, August 11, from 6:30-8:30 pm
• Wednesday, August 12, from 6:30-8:30 pm

Tryouts will be held in the Dance Studio on Thursday, August 13, from 6:30 pm until complete.

Skills Required for the Elite Squad:

• Strong pom motion technique
• Flexibility on right & left side
• Double/Triple Pirouette
• Toe Touch
• Split Leap (R)
• Center Leap (R)
• Firebird Jump
• Right Calypso
• Speciality dance tricks not required but a plus: turning disc, aerial, headspring, leg hold turn, tilt jump, switch leap, changing/reverse spot a la seconds, or any other trick you may be working on.

About the Saintsations:

• Dance team is a winter sport, beginning in late October/early November and typically practices Monday-Wednesday from 3:30-5:30 pm.
• Performances are at most Varsity Girls' Basketball games (games start at 5:30 pm).
• Competition: one per year; typically on a Saturday in January or February.
• Possible performance at a Boys' Varsity Basketball game.

We understand that students may want to try out for both a fall sport and dance team and have done our best to schedule clinic and tryout times when there wouldn’t be a conflict. Students may arrive late/leave early to accommodate a sport tryout, but must attend at least two clinic days before tryouts. Questions:  Stacey Buske, sbuske@villa1929.org

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If you have any questions about our team sports,  please contact Tim Deines, Athletic Director, at tdeines@villa1929.org

 

Go Saints!