The daughter of Villanova All American Ken Schappert ('75) and the younger sister of Villanova All American Nicole Schappert ('10) will join Gina Procaccio's women's program for 2011. Like her sister Nicole, Stephanie Schappert is a two-time Florida 2A state champion in cross country, running for Pope John Paul II high school in Boca Raton, Florida. Stephanie was on the verge of winning her unprecedented third state cross country crown last week, leading in the final 40 meters of the state meet, but got light-headed and collapsed in the final 15 meters. Collecting herself, she arose and finished third. The article below describes Stephanie's regional win and identifies Villanova as her college choice.
How does Stephanie compare to Nicole, at similar stages of their careers? It seems as though Stephanie compares favorably to Nicole's high school performances at 800 meters, is about equal to Nicole at the mile/1600, and compares less favorably above the mile distance. Here are Stephanie's high school PRs to date (with indoor and outdoor seasons still to come), compared to Nicole's high school PRs:
Distance...........Stephanie's HS PR......Nicole's HS PR
800 meters.................2:10.81............2:14.25
1 Mile.......................4:55.86............5:07.13 (4:52.42 1600)
3200 meters..............10:49.46...........10:24.34
5K XC......................17:50.37...........17:33.00
Pope John Paul II's Stephanie Schappert races to regional cross-country title
Friday, November 12, 2010
Special to The Palm Beach Post
In her final cross country meet in South Florida, Stephanie Schappert put on quite a finish.
In the Region 4-2A meet Friday at Mills Pond Park, the Pope John Paul II senior was content to share the lead with Miami-Ransom Everglades junior Nicole Carpio for the first 2.5 miles. Then Schappert took off like a shot, looking like she was putting another yard between her and a disillusioned Carpio with every stride she took.
Pulling away, Schappert, the two-time defending Class 2A state champion, won her third consecutive regional title by 35 seconds in 18:13.
"It's a bittersweet thing," Schappert said of nearing the end of her high school career. "It's going to be really upsetting to leave my coaches and my team ... I can't wait to get to school next year, but I wish I could put things on pause for right now and enjoy them."
That school is Villanova, where her parents met and where her sister Nicole - who was in attendance Friday - helped the cross country team win the national championship last year.
Victories have become routine for Schappert, who was much more stoked about her teammates' performance. Pope John Paul II's Nos. 2-6 runners - four sophomores and a junior - all improved on their times from the district meet by at least 25 seconds, and helped the Eagles finish fourth overall with 121 points to qualify for the state meet Nov. 20 at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City.
"I'm just so excited for the progress that they've made," said Schappert, whose team finished sixth, 10th and 11th the three previous years at regionals. "Looking back on my four years, compared to where we were my freshman year, we've made a lot of improvement."
Lincoln Park's girls did not show as much improvement, and barely managed to earn the final qualifying berth for state one week after coming within three points of winning their district title. The Greyhounds (140) placed sixth ahead of Fort Lauderdale-Archbishop McCarthy (145).
Lincoln Park junior Austin Cox (fourth, 16:39) led all area boys and paced the Greyhounds (116) to third place, just behind district foe Fort Lauderdale-Pine Crest (110).
Jensen Beach sophomore Travis McHale (14th; 17:20) led the Falcons (187) to a fifth-place showing and a state berth.
Two St. Andrew's runners qualified for state as individuals. Sophomore Kimberly Schmutz (seventh, 19:31) and senior Brian Diener (eighth, 17:01) each were the second area finisher in their respective races.
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