St. Thomas More High School
Press Release

Three St. Thomas More Students Sign National Letters of Intent for College Athletics

Brianna Flayter will play basketball for St. Xavier University; Taylor Kirby will play basketball for Maryville University; and Gabrielle Kennedy will pole vault for Murray State University.

By - Jan 4th, 2018 01:02 pm
Brianna Flayter, Coach Brian Krysiak and Taylor Kirby. Photo courtesy of St. Thomas More High School.

Brianna Flayter, Coach Brian Krysiak and Taylor Kirby. Photo courtesy of St. Thomas More High School.

Milwaukee, WI (January 2018): Three St. Thomas More student-athletes have signed their National Letters of Intent to play college athletics.

Brianna Flayter will play basketball for St. Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois; Taylor Kirby will play basketball for Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri; and Gabrielle Kennedy will pole vault for Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky.

“As an academic institution that strives to teach to the whole student, we cherish the fact that we have student-athletes who not only excel in the classroom but also in their respective sport,” St. Thomas More Principal Nicholas Kelly said. “These girls are a beacon of light for all of our students.”

Coach Dan Steffes, Gabrielle Kennedy and Coach Griffin Loehner. Photo courtesy of St. Thomas More High School.

Coach Dan Steffes, Gabrielle Kennedy and Coach Griffin Loehner. Photo courtesy of St. Thomas More High School.

Flayter, who also qualified for the state tennis tournament this fall, leads St. Thomas More in both points and assists so far in the 2017-18 season. She earned Second Team All-Conference after both her freshman and junior seasons and an Honorable Mention in the Metro Classic Conference after her sophomore season. “Not many people get the chance to extend their athletic career like I am,” Flayter said, “so this is a very special opportunity to me.”

Kirby, Flayter’s teammate on girls’ basketball team and another multi-sport athlete, has high expectations for her final season at St. Thomas More. “I’m hoping to lead my team throughout the season and on to regionals, sectionals, and state,” Kirby explained. “These are realistic goals for the team; we have to play with confidence and heart to get there.” Kirby earned First Team All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-Area her sophomore year and an Honorable Mention in the Metro Classic Conference her junior year.

Kennedy has been a dominant pole vaulter during her time at St. Thomas More. In addition to many accomplishments within the Metro Classic Conference, Kennedy qualified for state in track and field during her freshman season and took sixth place in the state meet last spring. “Collegiate sports offer me the chance to continue my track career for another four years,” Kennedy said, “and I am excited for the opportunity to work with great vaulters and coaches. I cannot wait to really get to specialize in pole vault and train more than ever before.”

Flayter, Kirby, and Kennedy join 12 STM students in the last four years who have earned athletic scholarships to help pay for the cost of college. “Winning championships is one measure of athletic success for a school,” said Athletic Director John Hoch (TM ’87), “but having students get their college education paid for and continue on to the next level in their sport is the greatest accomplishment for any athletic program.”

About St. Thomas More High School
Located on Milwaukee’s historic and diverse south side, St. Thomas More High School provides young men and women with the foundation to lead humbly, to always seek truth and knowledge, and to answer God’s call to serve. St. Thomas More’s teaching staff includes two PhDs, four Kohl Teacher Fellows, two fellows at the University of Wisconsin Center for the Study of the American Constitution, a Project Lead the Way Master teacher, and the 2017 Wisconsin Art Teacher of the Year. For more information about St. Thomas More High School, please visit www.tmore.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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