Athletics
The interscholastic sports program at St. Teresa’s Academy is an integral part of the school curriculum. This program provides student-athletes with experiences and learning situations outside the classroom that will contribute toward the positive development of the total person. STA provides student-athletes with excellent sport-specific and athletic skills training, team and individual success in athletic competition, and education in good sportsmanship.
Contact Kat Williams, Athletics Director, with questions.
Winter Tryouts (begin November 2, 2026)
Requirements
As mandated by the Missouri State High School Activities Association, student-athletes are not eligible for tryouts or competition until they have an annual physical and complete the required documentation as follows:
Step 1: Log in to the Parent Portal
Step 2: Click on the Student Health Records button and answer all required questions
Step 3: You will also be prompted to complete the following forms
- MSHSAA Athletic Health Physical Form (Update every 2 years from expiration date)
- Consent to Treat Form
- Student Transportation Consent and Release Form
- Travel Code of Conduct
NOTE: It is imperative to use the appropriate instructions and proper submission. No paper forms will be accepted and will be returned to the student-athlete. For questions completing the online submission, please contact fbaxter@stteresasacademy.org
*Administration may revoke a student’s participation in school-sponsored activities, sports, retreats, etc. if an account is delinquent.
VISION:
To be the region’s premier sports program for high school girls, where faith, education and athletics unite to shape future leaders.
MISSION:
We transform student athletes into confident, capable leaders, using sports to prepare them to excel in the classroom and beyond.
PHILOSOPHY:
We believe in building a community where every young woman is inspired to excel and set the standard for excellence in all endeavors.
View the brand story.
Athletics Director
Katherine “Kat” Williams ’07, MA, CMAA
Katherine “Kat” Williams ’07, MA, CMAA, is proud to return to the school that helped shape her as a student-athlete and now serves as Athletic Director at St. Teresa’s Academy, leading 15 athletic programs and more than 50 coaches.
Kat’s athletic journey began at STA and continued at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she competed as an NCAA Division I Track and Field student-athlete on scholarship. Before becoming Athletic Director in 2023, she served STA as Assistant Athletic Director, Head Track & Field Coach, and teacher. As an educator, she created an innovative course that launched the first award-winning live daily high school broadcast in the Kansas City area, providing students with hands-on experience in communications and media.
As Athletic Director, Kat has expanded opportunities for STA student-athletes by adding field hockey, flag football, and wrestling and helping lead more than $1.1 million in athletic facility and equipment improvements, including upgrades to the McDonnell Sports Complex, featuring the newly surfaced Kevin Gray Field and Track, an outdoor LED scoreboard, and enhanced fitness room amenities.
A recognized leader in interscholastic athletics, Kat was elected and re-elected to the Missouri Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (MIAAA) Board of Directors as the Region I At-Large representative, serving Kansas City and St. Louis. She has also been re-elected to the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Athletic Directors Advisory Committee and elected and re-elected to the Private School MSHSAA Investigative Committee. Nationally, she serves on the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) Publications Committee and as NIAAA Teaching Faculty, while also serving as MIAAA Teaching Faculty. She is a member of the National Organization of Minority Athletic Directors (NOMAD) and Women Leaders in Sports, and serves on the UMKC Roo Athletic Alliance Board of Directors and the UMKC Track and Field Alumni Alliance.
Kat earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication and Journalism and her master’s degree in Higher Education Administration with an emphasis in Sports Administration from UMKC. She is a Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA) and is currently pursuing her Ed.D. in Education at UMKC.
Assistant Athletics Director
Lori Flaherty, Ed.S, CAA
Lori’s background in education includes 23 years in the Raytown School District, where she served as assistant high school principal, athletic director and teacher. Prior to that, she coached at the collegiate level for 12 years. In the realm of higher education, she served as an adjunct professor at the University of Central Missouri, where she supervised aspiring teachers.
Lori’s collegiate coaching legacy includes leadership positions at Saginaw State University, West Virginia Wesleyan, and Saint Mary’s College, where she empowered female athletes on and off the court. She has been dedicated to the development, learning, and success of students and teachers by striving to create a welcoming, safe, and inclusive climate.
The St. Teresa’s Academy Athletics Department is excited to partner with Nexus Fit Co., a premier strength and conditioning program provider. Nexus Fit will design and deliver a comprehensive program to elevate the training of STA students. Our certified strength coach works with our student athletes for preseason, in season and postseason training. Coaching is available on Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-4:30 in the STA fitness center located in Goppert gymnasium. All student fitness workouts are created and documented in the digital fitness app – Team Builder.
St. Teresa’s Academy is proud to partner with Athletico Physical Therapy, the Official Provider of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training for our school. Through this collaboration, Athleticodelive
As mandated by Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA), student-athletes are not eligible for tryouts until they have an annual physical, complete the MSHSAA Physical Exam Form. These forms must be uploaded to Magnus Health. We cannot accept digital or hard copies.
STA’s campus has modern athletic facilities to help prepare the student-athletes for competition in the largest classification of MSHSAA schools. The athletic facilities on campus are used daily by the school’s physical education programs. STA utilizes additional off-campus facilities to offer a complete training and competitive experience for student-athletes.
On-campus facilities
Goppert Gymnasium (built in 1982)
- Basketball (one game court or two practice courts, six goals)
- Volleyball (one or two game/practice courts, two nets)
- Fitness Center (take a virtual tour)
- Large meeting room
- Classroom space with video capabilities
- Concession stands (indoor/outdoor)
McDonnell Family Sports Complex
- Track (eight-lane track, shot put/discus, high jump, long jump, pole vault)
- Kevin Gray Field (field hockey, flag football, lacrosse, soccer, softball with outdoor batting cages)
- STA Tennis Courts (two courts, resurfaced in 2010)
Updates
- 2018 Goppert renovation and track and turf field installment
- 2025 Outdoor LED Scoreboard
- 2025 turf resurfacing
- 2026 track resurfacing
Off-Campus Facilities:
- Tennis: Plaza Tennis Courts
- Swim and Dive: Rock Plex, 11300 Holmes Rd., Kansas City, MO 64131
- Golf Practice: Heart of America Golf Course , 7501 Blue River Rd, Kansas City, MO 64132 and occasionally other Kansas City area golf courses and country clubs.
View team records, individual awards, collegiate signings, and more.