03/23/2026
Saints Shine On and Off the Court in Historic 2025–26 Season:
The 2025–26 season will be remembered as one of the most accomplished in the history of St. Francis girls basketball, as the Saints combined elite performance on the court with outstanding achievement in the classroom. Under the leadership of Coach Waterworth, the varsity squad finished with an impressive 19–9 overall record, including a strong 12–4 mark in Mississippi 8 Conference play, good for third place. Notably, eight of the team’s nine losses came against top-10 ranked opponents—underscoring the level of competition the Saints consistently faced.
This season also marked the 50th anniversary of St. Francis girls basketball, and fittingly, the team delivered one of the program’s top campaigns. Only seven teams in school history have posted a better record. Varsity letter winners include seniors Amera Stancer, Alyssa Anderson, Elle Herzog, Izzy Sztamburski, Madison Bailey, juniors Emily Schoenrock, Addison Clancy, Alina Lewis, freshman Chloe Waterworth, and 8th graders Sophie and Haley Schoenrock.
While the win-loss column was impressive, the Saints truly made their mark in the record books. The team set multiple game records, including 76 rebounds against Cambridge—breaking a mark that had stood since 1977 by 10 boards. Defensive intensity was a hallmark all season, highlighted by a 31-steal performance against North Branch and 16 blocks against Princeton. Over the course of the season, the Saints established themselves as one of the most dominant statistical teams in program history. They set new season records in rebounds (1,145), assists (464), steals (480), and blocks (210), while also finishing second all-time in three-pointers made (161) and three-point percentage (27.4%).
Equally impressive was the team’s success in the classroom. The varsity group posted a 3.59 GPA, earning the Mississippi 8 Conference Gold Academic Award. Individual academic honors went to Amera Stancer (4.0 GPA), Izzy Sztamburski (3.8 GPA), and Madison Bailey (3.74 GPA), who were all named Academic All-Conference. Stancer also earned Minnesota Academic All-State recognition.
Several players were recognized for their on-court excellence as well. Haley Schoenrock earned All-Conference honors and was later named Minnesota Honorable Mention All-State. Joining her on the All-Conference team were Alyssa Anderson, Emily Schoenrock, and Amera Stancer, while Sophie Schoenrock received Honorable Mention recognition. Team awards reflected both performance and character. Amera Stancer received the Saints Award, honoring her leadership, work ethic, and representation of the program. Addison Clancy earned the Leadership Award for her selfless approach and commitment to team success. Sophie Schoenrock was named Most Improved after overcoming a major injury to become a key contributor. On the defensive end, Alyssa Anderson and Emily Schoenrock shared Defensive Player of the Year honors for their relentless effort and ability to take on the toughest assignments. Leading the way was Team MVP Haley Schoenrock, whose consistent high-level play and ability to elevate her teammates proved essential to the Saints’ success throughout the season.
With a blend of talent, toughness, and academic excellence, the 2025–26 St. Francis Saints not only honored the program’s rich 50-year tradition—but helped set a new standard for the future.
