Fall sports are quickly approaching the end of the regular season and now Zachary High fall athletes are preparing for postseason honors. A summary of recent competitions, upcoming regular season closeouts, playoff implications and more are summarized in this week’s Zachary Sports.

Results from the ZHS Bronco Cross Country Stampede and Northwestern Braves Battlefield Run

On Saturday Oct. 17, the ZHS cross country team hosted the annual Bronco Stampede at the Port Hudson Sate Historic Site. The host boys team finished in first place against 13 teams from south Louisiana. Senior Maximo Gennaro was the overall winner in the 3-mile course with a time of 16:12.5. Other top 10 finishers for the Broncos were seniors Tyson Franklin (fourth in 16:44.3), Elijah Dunaway (seventh at 17:17.6) and Carson Southall (eighth at 17:25.7). Sophomores Easton Dobson (17:34.7), Davis Parker (17:50.7) and Robert Brown (17:59.3) all finished in the top 20 overall.

The ZHS girls also finished first overall. Top 10 finishers for the girls were senior Blair Smith (second at 20:34.1), junior Trinity Killion (third 21:00.5), sophomore Mary Katherine Fontenot (sixth at 21:23.4), sophomore Madison Franks (seventh at 21:44.4), sophomore Isabel Johannsen (ninth at 22:44.5) and senior Destiny Thomas (10th at 23:02.7).

The boys and girls will compete in the East Baton Rouge Championships at Highland Road Park on Oct. 31.

Later in the day the Northwestern Braves cross country team hosted the Northwestern Braves Battlefield Run, which consisted of a 2-mile course. The Northwestern girls finished seventh overall, and the Copper Mill Elementary girls finished 13th as a team.

Top finishers for the Braves girls were Maci Septs (15:36.9) and the top finisher for Copper Mill was fifth grader Jordyn Matthews (16:24.1). The Braves boys finished second overall in a field of 21 teams. Patrick Franks led the Braves boys with a third-place finish in 11:57.3. Other top 20 finishers for the Braves boys were Hudson Broussard (12:48.8), Drew Barron (12:49.6) and Donovan Gallow (12:54.3). Sixth grader Jaxon Fletcher was the top finisher for Copper Mill in 14:37.3.

The Braves will close out their season Oct. 31 at the Performance Energy Middle School Cross Country Championship at Highland Road Park.

ZHS swimming closes regular season

On Oct. 16, the ZHS boys and girls swim teams competed in their last regular season meet at Crawfish Aquatics.

In a 10-team meet the Broncos boys finished second overall and the girls finished fourth.

During the meet the Broncos posted 11 personal best times including a win by Gabi Morgan in the 500 freestyle that was a personal record. Morgan also picked up a third-place finish in the 50 freestyle. Top finishers for the boys were Warren Griffin (third in the 100 breast and second in the 50 freestyle), Aaron Torres (third in the 200 freestyle) and Rafael Ropero (second in the 100 breast). The boys medley relay team of Caleb Connor, Ropero, Griffin and James Thornhill finished third as did the 200 free relay team of Griffin, Connor, Ropero and Jace Smart.

City championships are Oct. 30, followed by the state meet Nov. 20.

ZHS volleyball closing out the regular season this week

The ZHS volleyball team (12-10) has crept up in the Division I power ratings over the last month and are currently No. 25.

Last week the team won two out of three with victories over Port Allen (25-17, 25-10) and West Feliciana (25-16, 25-21).

They close out the regular season at home against Brusly on Oct. 28. Top 32 teams go to the playoffs so the next week will be critical for improving their playoff seeding.

Huge nondistrict ZHS football game on Oct. 30

After a home district win over Woodlawn (54-0) on Oct. 23, the ZHS football team sits at 5-3 with two games remaining.

On Oct. 30, Zachary will welcome 5A powerhouse Destrehan (7-1) to the Bronco Corral for a key matchup with playoff and playoff seeding implications.

At the time of writing the Broncos are No. 15 and Destrehan is No. 2 in the nonselect power rankings. A win over the Wildcats could move the Broncos up in the power rankings high enough to secure a first-round bye. Destrehan may also be a playoff foe and so this regular season matchup provides additional intrigue.