Bishop Ireton High School | Archive | May, 2009

Summer maintenance underway at Ireton

Posted on 26 May 2009 by .

The spring season has just ended, but there’s no time to waste when it comes to athletic facilities with summer camps, open fields and gyms, and high demand for athletic resources at Bishop Ireton, according to athletic director Bill Simmons.  “We have a small window of opportunity to do annual preventive maintenance on our facilities, there are a lot of little repairs necessary on the field, track, gym, and workout areas” said the second year athletic director.  “Cleaning bleachers, repairing weight training equipment, fixing tents; it can fill up two days for the maintenance staff,” added chief engineer John Dickman.  “There are so many events that we host in addition to the regular games and so forth, we really don’t have much time and there is a surprising amount of maintenance and repairs that need to be done.”

Annual maintenance on the Father Godley Gym began Tuesday with sanding of the floor, with multiple coats of fresh finish to follow. Add the curing time into the schedule and it will be out of use for a week.  Fannon Field will have loose seams glued, thorough cleaning of the turf and track will follow and soon after the familiar white lines of football will make their annual return.  The bleachers will see a cleaning, burned out scoreboard lights replaced, batting cage inspected, and fitness center equipment repaired and replaced.  Sound systems are checked and uniforms inventoried and stored for the summer. Orders for new items have been long submitted, but the deliveries come at all times during the summer months. Scheduling to accomodate daily physical education classes is part of the process as well.  “This weather isn’t cooperating right now, but with the turf, we use every second it isn’t raining and fill the fitness center and weight room with classes.” said physical education teacher and varsity coach Kathy Gutmann. “We planned months in advance for this week with the athletic department.”

“It is a busier time than you might expect, but the summer camp season begins in just a couple of weeks. “Those are some of our potential Cardinals” Simmons commented. “We want to start out on the right foot with our campers and roll right into the new school year ready to go! It’s a fun time, but a busy time in the summer!”  While much of the effort will be handled by resident staff, Weyer Floor Service of Odenton, Maryland, has started the gym floor refinishing already. Company officials suggest Tuesday evening, June 2nd,  Ireton will be ready to return to business in the gym, not a moment too soon for basketball coaches Mike Hutton and newly hired Neil Berkman.  Area high schools typically participate in summer league basketball, and early June workouts are the only preparation the Cardinals receive prior to the beginning of league play.  

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Three Cardinals Named all-State in Lax

Posted on 22 May 2009 by .

 Seniors Lauren Gray, Ashton Hellmuth and junior Janet Tela were selected to the Virginia Independent School All State first Team.  Bishop Ireton finished the 2009 season with a record of 19-4, a school record, advancing to the Virginia State Championship Division I Final Four.

Gray, Hellmuth and Tela were also All Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) First Team selections.  Gray was also named the Father Godley Award recipient as Bishop Ireton’s 2008-2009 Female Athlete of the Year and finished the season with 43 goals, 21 assists and 50 draw controls as well as holding the career record for draw controls.  She will play collegiate lacrosse at Georgetown University.


Hellmuth finished an impressive career at Ireton with 71 goals in 2009 and 183 career goals which places her first in program history and second all time in total career points with 210.  She will play at Lehigh University next year.


Tela led the Cardinal offense with 86 goals, 43 assists for 129 total points, all single season records and is third on the all time scoring list behind Hellmuth and older sister Julianne Tela (2008) with 200 career points but with a 2010 campaign still ahead of her.  Tela has committed to play lacrosse at the University of Connecticut.


The 2009 Cardinals set season program records in virtually every category in addition to wins, goals, assists and total points to also include draw controls (Maddy Connor, 2010 – 69), ground balls (Claire Banta, 2008 – 50) and caused turnovers (Claire Banta, 2009 – 39).

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Ireton 4 boats, girls 4+ best Nationals effort ever

Posted on 22 May 2009 by .

 The Womens Senior 4+ finished 4th in the semifianls, just missing a chance to advance to the finals race, which sees the top three finishers move on. The boat finished 13th overall, second to only one other team from the metro DC area. This is the first time Bishop Ireton has advanced at the US National championship, held in Princeton, New Jersey.  They qualified a boat in the 2008 Nationals, a first for the program that year.  The crew of Mandy Howells, Clara Candalor, Sara Woodruff, Cecilia Baxter and JR Famisan led the first 4-boat contingent ever from the growing and rapidly improving program under head coach Ryan Gibson.  

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Cardinals snare 7 annual awards at City-wide gala

Posted on 19 May 2009 by .

 The Alexandria Sportsman’s Club lauded Cardinal athletes at their 54th annual banquet Wednesday, May 20th with an Ireton record-tying seven “player-of-the-year” awards, a scholarship, and a special salute to the Cardinals award winning cheerleaders.  Ireton athletic director Bill Simmons was honored as Alexandria’s “Sportsman of the Year” as well. 

Tennis senior Michael Parente and freshman Monica Zakaria, swimmer Mackenzie Soniak, senior volleyball captain Theresa Dalmut, sophomore grappler Elliot Mondragon, hockey defenseman Kevin Otto, and first team all-WCAC pitcher John Robertson were lauded at the Club’s gala at the Alexandria Hilton Mark Center Wednesday.  CK Kraft picked up a $2,500 scholarship as a versatile three-sport letterman in his senior year.  Kraft heads to Gettysburg to play football and baseball.

Parente and Zakaria led the Cardinal tennis squads in wins the past season, and paced the doubles teams in dual and tournament action.  Soniak set two school individual swim records and swam on record-setting relays as well.  Volleyball team captain Theresa Dalmut paced the Cardinals last fall, with her selfless play and leadership on and off the floor while the wiry Mondragon lead the wrestling team in wins and was selected their most valuable wrestler at the School’s annual awards gathering last Saturday.  Otto, a burly defenseman, tallied 5 goals and 18 assists in a 14-game hockey season for Ireton last season and heads to Lynchburg University in the fall.  Robertson, a first team all conference pitcher, led the baseball team with 7 wins in another strong season on the diamond, including its second straight WCAC championship game appearance.

Ireton’s cheerleaders ventured into unchartered waters for them when first year coach Angela Hope introduced them to competitive cheerleading. Like a duck to water, the squad captured a second place finish in the mid-Atlantic regional competition and thereby qualified for the nationals, then won the Virginia Classics in Lynchburg, before heading to Charlotte, NC. A overall fifth place finish from more than 200 schools competing in the Christian Cheerleading Association was a pleasant surprise until the organizers presented the six-foot National Spirit in Competition Award to the excited Alexandria cheerleaders.

The Sportsman’s Club has supported high school athletics in the City of Alexandria for more than 50 years, with an annual awards banquet to highlight the accomplishments of the City’s four high schools, Bishop Ireton, Episcopal, St Stephens/St Agnes, and TC Williams.

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Ireton Ends Track & Field Season at WCAC Finals

Posted on 18 May 2009 by .

 

The Cardinals completed the 2009 track and field campaign last weekend at the WCAC championships at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland.  Gonzaga won the boys title, while Elizabeth Seton captured the girls crown. 

A number of Ireton athletes ran their personal best, the boys 4×200 set a school record, and Coach Brad Byrnes felt the squad competed well against some of the nation’s best athletes, competition which often motivates a top-level performance.   The Cardinal girls finished seventh overall in the ten team conference while the boys finished ninth, paced by senior Colin Barkell’s third place in the high jump.  “Our kids did not seem in the least bit intimidated by the level of competition,” commented Byrnes, and with an extremely young squad, both the boys and girls, only two juniors on the team, the Alexandria runners are poised to be a real threat next year. 


 


A few top ten highlights from the past weekend:


Shannon Gordon  5th (100 meter HH)8th place(300 meter IH) 5th (High Jump)


Boys 4×200 relay team  8th place(new school record)1:40.06


Madeline Thomas 9th place (1600 meters)


Marin Nolan  6th place (800 meters)


Mike Anderson  7th place (800 meters)


Boys 4 x 400 relay  6th place


Girls 4×400 relay 5th place


Colin Barkell  3rd place (HJ)  top BI performance of the meet


Hannah Thomas  6th place (HJ)


Gabi Barowski  9th place (LJ)


Katarina Axenfeld  10th place (LJ)9th place(TJ)


Michelle McFadden  9th place (Discus)


 

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Athletes, Alum honored at annual banquet

Posted on 18 May 2009 by .

 Bishop Ireton’s 8th annual athletic awards banquet was held May 16th at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington.  Seniors Lauren Gray and CK Kraft were named the most valuable athletes in winning the Father George Godley Award for Excelllence in Athletics. Gray, a member of two school-record setting relays  on the girls swim team also anchored the Cardinals nationally ranked lacrosse squad. She will attend Georgetown University to play lacrosse next fall. 

Kraft, heading to Gettysburg, shared the lead for the Cardinals in pass receptions on the gridiron last fall, was the inspirational leader of the basiketball team, and used his speed to cover the outfield and terrorize catchers on the basepaths during a baseball campaign that saw the Alexandria school return to the WCAC finals.  Temmate John Attiliis, a football standout and golfer was named Cardinal of the year, as was two season cheer captain, Kyrsti Ashmall.

Ireton also honored Robert Hogue, General Counsel to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and a 1977 graduate of the school.  Hogue, a standout swimmer for the Cardinals went on to national recognition wihile playing water polo and swimming for George Washington University.  He was subsequently inducted into that school’s Hall of Fame for swimming.

Outgoing booster president Mrs Pam Holmes was honored with the School’s Service Award as was Dr. Kathleen McHale, the athletic department’s physician for the 22 varsity teams in the school. Booster club scholarships were awarded to Matt Verducci, a football and lacrosse letterwinner as well as Ashmall.

First year girls lacrosse coach Steve Tela was recognized as the School’s coach of the year for guiding the Cardinals to a 19-4 record, with wins over Georgetown Visitation, The Potomac School, two time NC state champion Apex, and Philadelphia Catholic league powerhouse, Archbishop Carroll. Of the four losses, a pair were to Good Counsel, the second an overtime loss in the WCAC finals, and perennial powerhouse St Stephens/St Agnes, both top twenty programs in the US.  Tela sends 7 seniors on to college division I lacrosse programs, and his innovative Lacrosse Day festival at Ireton has become a coveted invitation by northern Virgiinia youth programs.

Seniors Vincent Cuellar and Christina Downie received recognition with the Father Rozsko Spirit Award, presented to those students that promote athletics, school pride and spirit at sporting events.  The School recognized the most valuable player and Cardinal Award winner for each of the athletic department’s varsity teams.

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D.C. Beltway Area: Top 10 Baseball

Posted on 18 May 2009 by .

Baseball Top 10
Rankings and records as of May 18

1. Westfield (18-1) — LW: 1
Continued to cruise with shutouts of then-No. 3 Chantilly and Centreville last week.

2. West Springfield (17-4) — LW: 2
Riding an 11-game win streak, have not dropped game in over a month.

3. Quince Orchard (17-4) — LW: 9
Cougars defeated Whitman 7-2 in last week’s Maryland 4A West final. Will play Linganore in a 4A state semifinal on Tuesday.

4. Paul VI (19-8) — LW: NR
Panthers came from behind to beat Bishop Ireton for WCAC championship after knocking off St. John’s in semifinals.

5. Bowie (16-1) — LW: 8
Bulldogs rolled through Maryland 4A South playoffs, winning their three games by an average of 10 runs per game. Won’t be so easy in Tuesday’s state semifinals against Severna Park, as Bowie will attempt to prove itself.

6. Osbourn Park (16-3) — LW: 5
Has won three straight after a loss to Osbourn on May 9.

7. McLean (17-4) — LW: NR
Took a five-game winning streak into Monday’s showdown with Stone Bridge.

8, Huntingtown (12-2-1) — LW: 4
SMAC champion was upset by county rival and eventual Maryland 3A South champion Northern in regional playoffs.

9. Potomac Falls (17-3) — LW: NR
Panthers had won 10 in a row entering the week.

10. North Point (16-4) — LW: 10
Eagles reached first regional final in school history, but were upset 3-1 by River Hill in Maryland 2A South championship game.


Others Receiving Consideration
Calvert (13-6)
Chantilly (16-5)
Damascus (13-3)
DeMatha (17-8)
Bishop Ireton (15-12)
Lake Braddock (14-5)
North Point (16-4)
Northwest (12-4)
Paint Branch (15-4)
St. John’s (15-6)
South County (16-5)
Stone Bridge (17-4)
Walt Whitman (14-4)

PREVIOUS RANKINGS
May 4

April 27

April 20

Comments? E-mail Andy States at astates@digitalsports.com.

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Ireton crew qualifies for Nationals in NJ

Posted on 18 May 2009 by .

The Cardinal Crew Team will be going head to head with the fastest crews in the United States at the US National Championship this weekend in Princeton, NJ. BI Crew is sending double the amount of athletes and boats this year over last year and the Cardinals are sending the strongest crews in the program’s history. The boats entered are the Men’s Senior 8+, Women’s Senior 4+, and the Women’s Junior 4+.
 
The Women’s Senior 4+ makes a return trip to Nationals this year. Top finishes at every regatta this season including placing 2nd at the Washington Metro Championship and winning the Holy Cross Invitational earned their return.  The boat includes rowers Mandy Howells, Clara Candalor, Sara Woodruff, Cecilia Baxter and coxswain John Ross Famisan.
 
The Men’s Senior 8+ qualified for Nationals for the first time this year. This category is comprised of the fastest oarsmen from each program around the country. BI narrowly missed placing in the top 20 (finished 21st) at the Stotesbury regatta this past weekend and Stotesbury is the most competitive regatta in the United States. The top finish helped qualify them to compete at the US Nationals in Princeton this weekend. The boat includes rowers Kevin Borough, Justin Kyker, Tom Heitbrink, Thaddeus Babiec, Dexter Phan, Ryan Dougherty, Chris Ring, Patrick Walsh and coxswain Brian McCormack.
 
The Women’s Junior 4+ easily earned their inaugural trip to nationals by winning the Washington Metro Championship by over 10 seconds. The boat includes rowers Katherine Aust, Helen Fonda, Meredith Ramey, Sarah Morgan and coxswain Katie O’Neill.

Ireton found out after the team returned to Alexandria that the Men’s 2nd/Junior Eight also qualified for Nationals.

“It is exciting to qualify for the US Nationals knowing you have competitive boats. We went last year for the first time unexpectedly. This year we are going with the knowledge that we belong in a fight for a national title. We are doubling the number of athletes and boats going this year and are faster, stronger and better prepared across the board,” said Head Coach Gibson.

 

 

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2009 Athletic Awards Banquet

Posted on 17 May 2009 by .

 Three-sport senior CK Kraft and swimmer/lacrossse star Lauren Gray were selected for the Father Godley Award for excellence in athletics at the Bishop Ireton Athletic Booster Club Annual Banquet Satruday night at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington.  In front of a crowd of nearly 400, the Club also recognized Mr. Robert “Bobby” Hoge, a 1977 alumnus whose swimming acumen not only led the Cardinals but paced the George Washington University Colonials in water polo and swimming, earning Hogue a spot in the GWU Hall of Fame. A graduate of the George Mason law school, he serves in an SES position as General Counsel to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Kraft tied for the team lead in receptions his senior campaign on the football team, was the emotional leader of the basketball team, and has anchored the outfield and terrorized catchers on the base paths in baseball.  He will attend Gettysburg College next fall and hopes to play both football and baseball for the Pennsylvannia school.   Teammate John Attiliis received the Cardinal of the Year plaque for his efforts on the football field and on the links as an Ireton golfer.

Gray, a lacrosse recruit headed to Georgetown, was also an exceptional swimmer for the Cardinals, participating in two school-record setting relays this winter and winning the 50 meter free style at the prestigious Washington Metropolitan Independent Schools Swim and Dive League championships in January.  Kyrstii Ashmall, varsity cheerleading team captain for both fall and winter squads was recognized as the female Cardinal awardee.

The club awarded two $500 scholarships to a male and female athlete Saturday with seniors Matt Verducci and Kyrstii Ashmall receiving the grant towards their college tuition.  Vincent Cuellar and Christina Downie were recognized with the Father Roszko Spirit Award for their contrbutions to positive support of Ireton athletes and athleitic programs.

First year girls lacrosse head coach Steve Tela  was tapped as the School’s Coach of the Year for leading the Cardinal program to a top 25 national ranking and a Washington Post top three ranking of local girls lacrosse programs. The team finished the year 19-4 and had a program record 14 straight wins during the course of the regular season, losing only to national powers St Stephens/St Agnes and Good Counsel (twice)before their season-ending Virginia State semifinal upset loss to Potomac School on Friday.  Seven seniors received college disivion I offers to play next fall, a reconrd number for the program.

Outgoing club president Pam Holmes was honored by the School with a Service Award for her leadership and contributions to the athletic department’s success over the previous years.  Also recognized was Dr. Kathleen McHale, an orthopedic surgeon who serves as the School’s athletic department “team phyiscian” at no cost to the student or school for the past two years, including Thursday evening office hours at the school to meet with injured athletes.

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Potomac upsets Cardinals in state semis

Posted on 16 May 2009 by .

Third seeded Potomac School (13-6) rode senior Ryan O’Shea’s five goals in a great first half, to survive in an 16-15 upset of second-seeded Bishop Ireton (19-4) in the semifinals of the Virginia Independent Schools Lacrosse Association championships at Episcopal High School’s Hummel Field Friday.  Sophomore Charlotte Morris dominated faceoffs for the Panthers, a strong point for the Cardinals, and blew by a stunned Ireton squad in the first half, opening a 12-6 bulge. “it was perhaps the best half of lacrosse we have played at Potomac since I have been the AD here,” commented Potomac’s Cas Blanchard.  “We watched the film from our regular season loss to Ireton and knew we could play much better.” said Morris.

The Alexandria school, playing their third game in four days, seemed unable to match the intensity of the blue clan ISL squad early, but found new life in the second stanza.  “They are a very good team, and they played like it today,” coach Steve Tela remarked.  “I think it was a tough week physically and emotionally, but the girls had a tremendous season and this doesn’t diminish that really.”

The Cardinals chipped away at the lead and seemed to have the momentum and the game progressed and the Panther lead melted. Senior Maria Bowman scored five of her game high 6 goals for the redbirds, including 4 in the furious final 4 minutes where the Cards took at 15-14 lead.  A costly turnover as Ireton was setting up its delay formation gave Potomac the opportunity to tie the game at 15 and O’Shea nailed her 6th goal of the game, the winner, as time expired. 

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