The Washington DC trip was enjoyable in nearly every facet. The students learned a lot about our great nation’s history, and saw many landmarks, including the most important monuments and memorials in the city. While in the nation’s capital, the falcons became closer friends with each other, and made friends from other schools in Arizona and Colorado. The trip did have a negative effect on Falcon athletics, though there was not a significant drop-off in results.

The Girls Softball team was eliminated from the playoffs on Tuesday, April 28, during the trip. Without several  8th grade starters, the Falcons lost.

Boys Varsity Volleyball did not play while the 8th graders were on their trip; however, there was a game less than 24 hours after the travelers returned. Several of those who were on the trip did not play that game.

The effects on the track team were more subtle, if they indeed existed. The weary traveling Falcons had about 55 hours to recover from their return to St. Philip before the track meet.  That, along with the lack of healthy food options in the nation’s capital, likely hurt some runners’ chances of advancing to the final CYO meet, or placing well.

The week in Washington DC was fun, but came with some athletes missing games. The missed games were trivial in comparison to the great times and learning from the trip. Such sporting conflicts will likely result from future trips, but are unimportant in the midst of the great learning from the trip.