Posted on 07/07/2016
It’s something we’re getting used to when it comes to the Francis Howell High School (FHHS) baseball team – championships. The Vikings were state champs in 2003, 2011, 2013 and now 2016. But the baseball team isn’t the only winner among the Vikings’ sports programs. The boys soccer team also won a state championship last year, its first in school history. And there were final four finishes for wrestling and girls basketball as well. This recognition is one for all.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch annually names a Program of the Year (click here to read the story on stltoday.com), choosing a school that has best exemplified excellence in their athletic program. FHHS, part of the Francis Howell School District (FHSD), can boast of 303 players named to their respective All-Conference teams, nine district championships, and eleven conference championships.
"I am so proud of the progress our students made both as athletes and as people this year,” said Dr. Dave Wedlock, principal at FHHS. “Their hard work, resilience, and positive energy contributed to a tremendous school year, and we thank the coaches, families, and all those supporting our programs for their efforts."
The Viking baseball team won its fourth state championship in program history, and you can see a video about that produced by O’Fallon TV by clicking here. But you didn’t just see the team’s family and friends in the stands. Student athletes from other sports were there as well to cheer on the team and the entire Francis Howell community. It’s something that has grown exponentially in the past few years, as the enhanced success of the program has also enhanced the overall experience of a Francis Howell sporting event.
FHSD schools have received recognition from multiple outlets for their sportsmanship and for the overall experience at the games. Francis Howell Central (FHC) has been honored by Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) as a “Leadership School” for the past five years, and the school was even featured in a national publication’s article about sportsmanship.
It’s not necessarily whether you win or lose, but how you play the game, as the cliché goes. Luckily for those who attend games at FHHS, FHC, or at Francis Howell North High School, they’ll most likely get to experience the pinnacle of sportsmanship... and chances are good that they’ll win, too.