DELAND – After winning their seventh straight state title last year, word around the state was the streak was finally over.
The loss of seniors Payton Crews (TCU), Kirsten Pavlisko (FSU), Abbegale Newton (LSU) and Alisa Detlefsen (Troy), would be too much for St. Johns Country Day to overcome and the dynasty would finally end.
Yet, like every time they took the field for the last eight years, St. Johns Country Day knew they had a huge target on their backs, yet it never seemed to phase them.
St. Johns Country Day (21-3) made sure the dynasty continued with a 1-0 win today over Lakeland Christian in the Class 1A state championship game at Stetson University.
Through their seven game postseason run, the Spartans defense was flawless as the Spartans outscored its opponents 39-0.
As the reigning seven time state champions and defending national champions, the Spartans knew they would get another challenge from nemesis Lakeland Christian.
Behind Princeton commit and senior forward Kamryn Loustau and a dynamic defense the Spartans were back in Deland competing for another state title.
Only this time it wasn’t as easy as prior ones, including last years 6-0 win over Miami Country Day. Nemesis Lakeland Christian came ready to play and gave the Spartans all they could handle.
St. Johns unleashed a flurry of an attack in the first half outshooting the Vikings 14-3 in the first half yet couldn’t slip one by keeper Breanna Newberg.
Loustau sent several shots towards Newberg or in the direction of the goal in the first half but they were met head on with Newberg or were wide left or right of the goal. When Loustau wasn’t on attack she was feeding both Payton Walton and Kamryn Towers, who were also feeding her or being fed from Lauryn Mateo.
Spartans keeper Maddie Wilkes did her best keeping the Vikings off the scoreboard to keep things interesting as well.
After a scoreless first half and for most of the second half up till the midway point water break of the second half , it appeared the game was headed for overtime or penalty kicks.
Finally after 67 minutes, the Spartans were finally able to take advantage of the Vikings defense. Maddie Moody put a header into the left corner of the box off a corner kick from Paige Crews giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
That was all that the Spartans would need, as there was no way the Vikings were getting past the Spartans defense and keeper Maddie Wilkes.
An emotional head coach Mike Pickett was lost for words after last years game talking about how he dedicated the season to his father who passed away prior to the season, as well as saying goodbye to his five seniors who left St. Johns with seven state titles and unbelievable dynasty run.
According to Pickett, Detlefsen, Newton and Crews were apart of all seven state titles, while Pavlisko four and Carrico three state titles.
Amazing to think that Detlefsen, Newton and Crews won state titles every year they were at St. Johns and never lost a playoff game as well.
And now his three seniors Maddie Wilkes, Kamyrn Loustau and Payton Walton leave St. Johns Country Day with their own mark of having never lost a state title and more importantly keeping the dynasty going.
With only three seniors departing, don’t expect the dynasty to end anytime soon.
Since a stunning loss in the regional final to Trinity Prep in 2011, according to Miami Herald sportswriter Bill Daley the Spartans have won now won 40 consecutive playoff games and outscored their opponents 217-11 in the process.
As important as keeping the streak going is, the program broke a state record today by winning its eighth consecutive state title, breaking its tie with St. Thomas Aquinas for the states longest streak of seven consecutive state titles.
It also moved the Spartans alone into second place all-time with 11 state titles behind St. Thomas Aquinas, who leads with 15 overall state titles.
Overall state titles (According to FHSAA guide)
15––St. Thomas Aquinas 1990 (3A), 1993
(3A), 1994 (4A), 1995 (5A), 1996 (5A), 1997 (5A), 1998 (5A),
1999 (5A), 2004 (5A), 2005 (5A), 2011 (5A), 2012 (5A), 2014
(5A), 2015 (5A), 2017 (4A).
11––St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park), 2005 (2A), 2007
(2A), 2009 (2A), 2012 (1A), 2013 (1A), 2014 (1A), 2015 (1A),
2016 (1A), 2017 (1A), 2018 (1A), 2019 (1A).
10––American Heritage (Plantation), 2000 (A), 2001 (A), 2002
(A), 2005 (3A), 2009 (3A), 2010 (3A), 2013 (3A), 2014 (3A),
2015 (3A), 2016 (3A).
8 ––Bolles (Jacksonville), 1994 (3A), 1995 (4A), 1997 (4A),
2008 (3A), 2015 (2A), 2016 (2A), 2018 (2A), 2019 (2A)
6––American Heritage (Delray Beach), 2004 (2A), 2006 (2A),
2010 (2A), 2011 (2A), 2012 (2A), 2014 (2A).
5––Bishop Moore (Orlando), 1989 (3A), 1991 (3A), 1996 (4A),
1998 (4A), 2007 (4A).
5––Douglas (Parkland), 2003 (4A), 2004 (6A), 2005 (6A),
2006 (6A), 2007 (6A).
5––Melbourne, 1987, 2009 (6A), 2010 (5A), 2013 (4A),
2014 (4A).
5––Palm Harbor University, 1999 (4A), 2000 (3A), 2006 (5A),
2009 (5A), 2010 (6A).
Consecutive State titles
8––St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park), 2012 (1A), 2013
(1A), 2014 (1A), 2015 (1A), 2016 (1A), 2017 (1A), 2018 (1A), 2019 (1A).
7––St. Thomas Aquinas 1993 (3A), 1994
(4A), 1995 (5A), 1996 (5A), 1997 (5A), 1998 (5A), 1999 (5A).
5––Douglas (Parkland), 2003 (4A), 2004 (6A), 2005 (6A),
2006 (6A), 2007 (6A).
4––American Heritage (Plantation), 2013 (3A), 2014 (3A),
2015 (3A), 2016 (3A).
3––American Heritage (Delray Beach), 2010 (2A), 2011
(2A), 2012 (2A).
3––American Heritage (Plantation), 2000 (A), 2001 (A),
2002 (A).
