Bishop Ireton High School | Archive | December, 2009

For the fifth consecutive year, Ireton hockey welcomed home its alums at the holidays by hosting an alumni game between the current year’s varsity team and graduated veterans of Ireton’s earlier campaigns.  This year’s affair at the Mount Vernon Rec Center featured players from Ireton inaugural season of 1998-1999 as well as members of the recently graduated class of 2009.  For the alums, it was among the largest group of skaters to return.

“I haven’t played a competitive hockey game since I left BI” commented Phil Spiess after the game.  Spiess, a VCU freshman, was home for the holidays and anxious to see many of his old mates from the current year’s varsity squad. Steve Bulcavage, class of 2000 and Drew Simmons, class of 2002, were anxious to see their “old” friends and each other as well.  Bulcavage, a graduate of Towson, where he was a college football punter for the Maryland school, still plays recreational league hockey in the area. Simmons, a 2006 graduate from Iowa State and second year law student, still plays “rec hockey” in San Francisco and lugged his equipment home just for the event.  He remembers fondly the Cardinals 2000-01 hockey season, perhaps the highwater mark for the program, where the varsity logged a 27-9-2 season record and fielded a junior varsity team in addition to a full varsity contingent under the mentorship of Brian and Ray Fleury. 

A pair of snipers that graduated in 2006, Brandon Houle and Matt St Pierre, both returned home for the contest. Houle, now playing for West Virginia University, and St Pierre, skating for Arizona State’s Sun Devils, both made it a point to meet at the alumni game.  Houle, playing in his third alumni game, is playing left wing for the Mountaineers as a junior in Morgantown.  St. Pierre, who with his father and brother returned to Alexandria from the west coast, reported that Matt is a first line forward majoring in economics and marketing at ASU and has worked an internship on Capitol Hill with the John Deere Company.

Justin Smith, class of 2005, graduated from the University of Texas, with a degree in accounting and is working at Tyson’s Corner. It was Justin’s second alumni game, while Kevin Schreiber, class of 2008, Alex Perlmutter and Kevin Warnke, 06, joined other familiar faces like recently graduated Craig Simoneau, now at Georgetown, and Tim Faletti for the holiday affair.

Pizza and soft drinks followed the game, as did a group photo. For the current team, it was an exhausting workout with few whistles and wide open up and down the ice action. For the alums, it was short shifts, that got shorter as the game wore on, and a chance to catch up while on the bench and afterwards with old classmates long gone in other directions.  While those alums will go home to enjoy the break, the current edition of the Cardinals prepares for the Gonzaga “Purple Puck” Dec 29-31 at the Ft Dupont Ice Rink in SE Washington.

“The team looked good,” commented parent Dr. Pat St Pierre, of the current edition of Cardinal hockey, “definitely a very competitive group compared to the squad that played with Matt back when he was here.”  One thing was certain, they all remain Cardinals. The two teams prepared to depart the ice, they left with a group cheer, as they long have:

“IRETON!”

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The Cardinals continued their undefeated season with back to back NVSHL wins last week at the Prince William Ice Center. Back after a 10 day break, the Cards came out strong on Thursday, December 17th, against a determined but undermanned North Stafford squad.

Although the game remained close for the first period, BI turned up the heat late in the second. The offense, led by Reid Yager with 3 goals and an assist, continued the pressure in the third period, ultimately prevailing, 9-4. Also scoring for the Cardinals were Dillon Roach with a pair of goals and Dave Souliotis, James Smith, Ben Gerke and Tom Cyrnak with 1 goal each. Assists went to Cyrnak (3), Souliotis (2) and William Chastain, Tom Casey, Smith and Roach with 1 each. Robert Chastain picked up the victory in net.
 
Friday, December 18th, saw the Cardinals return to the Prince William Ice Center to host a tough Forest Park/South County combined squad. This was a physical contest from the start, and it was clear the Cards had their work cut out for them. The BI offense rose to the challenge, firing 56 shots at the Forest Park goalie and slipping 5 of them by. Robert Chastain was solid in net, stopping everything sent his way, and preserving the 5-0 shutout, his second of the season. The offense on this day was led by Dillon Roach with 3 goals, with Reid Yager and Tom Casey picking up the other 2. Ben Gerke was credited with 2 assists, and James Smith, Dan Tangora, William Chastain and Robert Chastain each picked up 1.
 
The Cardinals head into the holiday break with a perfect 3-0 record. Their next NVSHL clash is Friday night, January 8th, at 7:00 pm at Mount Vernon when they’ll host a combined South Lakes/Marshall squad.

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The remainder of the Bullis Holiday basketball tournament has been cancelled. The severity of the storm and the impending regular season schedule for the teams in the coming week made it impossible to complete the tournament.  Both Cardinal boys and girls teams are back in action Tuesday against Good Counsel.

Bishop Ireton remains closed on Sunday. Clearing of parking lots, sidewalks, and steps begins Sunday as roads provide Ireton maintenance crews access. The School will not reopen until lots and sidewalks are passable for students, employees, and visitors.

Girls will host the Falcons in Godley Gym, freshmen at 4pm, JV at 5:45pm, and varsity at 7:30 on Dec 22d.  Boys travel to Olney for the same scheduled contests.  Boys (4-3)are fresh off a 75-52 pasting of previously undefeated Glenelg Country School, the Washington Post’s 20th ranked boys team, while the girls (4-4) return home from an 83-46 setback at Archbishop Carroll on Friday. 

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With a winter storm looming and bus arrangements taking the squad to suburban Maryland via Archbishop Carroll in northeast DC, the evening was shaping up to be a long one with the previously undefeateed and 20th ranked Glenelg Country School (6-1)ahead in the opening round of the Bullis Holiday Classic.  But Coach Neil Berkman’s team got balanced scoring and played a smothering defense on the Dragons’ Isaiah Miles to cruise to a surprisingly large 75-52 win.  Miles left the game with his fifth foul early in the final quarter.

For the Cardinals (4-3) it was their second win over a Washington Post top 20 team in as many meetings.  The Alexandrians, lead by junior Antonio Rouse’s 25 points, grabbed the lead in the first half and never let up. Ireton held a 34-19 bulge at the break.  The foul-filled contest saw the Cardinals head to the free throw line 48 times  and adding 33 points from the stripe.  Conversely, the Maryland squad made only 12 of 30 opportunities from the charity line.

Junior Patrick Hanafin added 14 points, sophomore Marcus Hayes had 13 and senior Marvin Elliott chipped in 10.

Saturday’s semifinal matchup with host Bullis, a winner over the Potomac School, has been rescheduled to Sunday at 4:45pm in the Bullis School’s “new” gym.  The format has also been changed, due to weather, to a single elimination event, with the title game tentatively set for Monday.

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With students heading home for the holidays, the Cardinals look to a variety of tournament opportunities as they take a break from the conference schedules.  For some squads it is a familiar routine, for other teams an opportunity for new venues and unknown opponents.  

As is always the case in this season, winter weather looms over all the scheduled events. Watch for FCPS annoucements concerning cancellations and call the Cardinal Athletic hotline at (703) 212-5141 for the latest information on schedules and events involving Ireton athletics. You can also sign up for text message and email updates to your favorite sports schedules online at www.bishopireton.org/athletics on the Cardinal Sports News page under “upcoming events”.  Host schools make weather-related decisions.  The Ireton wrestling will go unless Fairfax County cancels activities prior to the 7:30am weigh-ins.   “We want to do the right thing,” said Ireton athletic director, Bill Simmons. “We will stay in touch with all the schools. If we need to modify the format in order to get teams on the road early we will look at that. If the roads are a problem before we even get started, we will do the right thing in that case as well.  We certainly don’t want Benedictine to drive up from Richmond, however, then find out that we aren’t going to wrestle and put them right back on a dangerous highway.  I think the organizers of all the events; at Bullis, Gonzaga, Queen Anne’s will do the same thing, use good judgment and error on the side of being safe.”

The Bishop Ireton Holiday Wrestling Invitational will be held for the 18th consecutive year in Godley Gymnasium.  Coach Don Dight will host an 8-team field, including St Stephens, PVI, DeMatha, Benedictine of Richmond, and the Maryland School for the Deaf.   Cardinals have wrestled well in the early dual meet schedule and look for strong performances from senior Eliot Mondragon, Kevin Galloway, and Jacob Manley as well as sophomore Andrew Lutterloh.  In a very competitive field with the Stags, PVI Panthers, and St Stephens Saints as well as the all-boys Benedictine, organizers look for an exciting day of competitive wrestling, which kicks off at 9am.

The swimmers head to Manassas for a re-scheduled swim meet including host Seton School, John Paul the Great, Collegiate School of Richmond, PVI, The Heights, and Flint Hill. The Cardinals have seen a number of state meet-qualifying times so far in this early part of the swim season and look for strong competition from the teams as well as more qualifying times. Swimming begins at 2pm at the Freedom Center in Manassas.  Angus MacDonald and Alina Hall were tapped as swimmers to watch by the Washington Post and MacDonald has logged a sub :21 second 50-yard freestyle with his club team to serve notice the School record may be in danger.

Ireton’s hockey team has logged three wins to open the season with North Stafford High School and Forest Park on the road Thursday and Friday. After Christmas, they host the 5th annual Alumni game at Mt Vernon Rec Center on Monday then head into their biggest challenge of the season when they play in the Gonzaga Purple Puck tournament after a number of years away from the area’s biggest Christmas hockey tourney at the Ft Dupont Ice Rink in southeast DC.  Reid Yager and Tom Cyrnak lead the Cardinals on offense while Robert Chastian has taken care of the goal for Ireton.

Following a Tuesday evening road game with WCAC rival, Good Counsel, Coach Neil Berkman leads the boys basketball team to the Bullis Holiday tournament beginning Friday night with a 6:30pm tipoff versus Glenelg Country School, one of the pretournament favorites in the  tournament. “They have a very good ball club,” commented Berkman, “we drew as good a team as is in the tournament in the opening round. But I think the road to the championship will be through them so we might as play them first.” The Cardinals (3-3) play again at 6pm Saturday, win or lose, in the second round of the tournament. Juniors Patrick Hanafin and Antonio Rouse lead the redbirds early in the campaign. 

Coach Mike Hutton’s girls roundballers (4-3) look to rebound from a pair of lopsided loses to WCAC preseason favorites, Elizabeth Seton and Holy Cross, during the break. The gals travel to Archbishop Carroll on Friday night, to Flint Hill on Saturday, then host another conference power in Good Counsel, Tuesday before heading to the Queen Anne’s tournament in Queen Anne County Maryland on the 28th. Ireton opened the season 4-1 and captured the St Stephens St Agnes Tipoff Tournament before dropping their last two WCAC encounters.  Senior Sarah Baldwin, the St Stephens tourney MVP leads the run-and-gun Cardinals offense that utilizes the entire bench.

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          Senior Doug Vines, one of the most exciting offensive players in Bishop Ireton history, capped off a tremendous fall campaign with All State Football honors.  The Virginia Independent School Football Association coaches selected Vines as the first team all state punt returner during their annual meeting at St. Christopher’s School in Richmond on Thursday, December 10, 2009.  

        Vines, who rushed for more than 600 yards and added more than 200 yards receiving, was most dangerous in the moments after he handled a kick. Head Coach Tony Verducci noted, “Doug has exceptional vision and a very rare intuitive feel for how to attack a kick coverage.  He brought us great excitement and often gave us excellent field position.”  Vines, who had been a second team honoree each of the past two seasons, joined four teammates in receiving honors associated with their play for a 7 – 3 Cardinal football team.  The players will receive All State plaques before a home basketball game next month.

            Conlan McCallister, one of four captains along with Vines, was selected as a second-team all state outside linebacker.  McCallister completed an outstanding three year varsity career with his best statistical season yet; amassing 6 quaterback sacks, 55 tackles, 16 pass pressures and 7 pass deflections.  He often came of the defensive edge, using his quickness to defeat offensive linemen on his way to the quarterback.  Opposing coaches and quarterbacks knew they had to account for McCallister on every play because the Cardinals lined him up in a number of spots over the course of each game.

            Sophomore Moses Webb, Jr. was also selected to the All VISFA second team, as a defensive back.  Webb intercepted four passes this fall, including two for touchdowns against St. Stephen & St. Agnes and Bullis.  His “pick 6” against the Saints came in the fourth quarter as the host team mounted a comeback.  Webb stepped in front of a pass and weaved his way through traffic, breaking five tackles before he found pay dirt.  The following week, as Bishop Ireton’s Homecoming crowd settled into their seats, Webb stepped in front of a pass and took off down the sideline to put the Cardinals up for good.  Webb also pitched in 32 tackles and defended 16 passes at cornerback.

            Sophomore Andrew Denny, a two-year starter and the teams leading tackler, was selected for honorable mention as an inside linebacker.  Denny was Bishop Ireton’s one-man wrecking crew, leading the team in sacks (7), tackles (86), and forced fumbles (4).  Coach Verducci explained, “Andrew has an extremely high football IQ and plays with the effort and intensity that reflects a great tradition of Cardinal linebackers.”  Denny had 15 unassisted tackles and an interception as well this fall.  He and Webb look forward to being the cornerstones of another outstanding Bishop Ireton defense in 2010.

            Junior tight end Tommy Gallinaro was the other Cardinal selected for All VISFA honors.  Gallinaro had 18 receptions this season, becoming Michael Larrabee and Oliver Noon’s favorite target for third down conversions.  He was also the team’s most effective blocking wide receiver, often throwing key blocks that sprung Vines and senior WR Mark Holmes for big plays.  Gallinaro had a breakout game in a tough loss to St. Alban’s, hauling in 5 passes for 44 yards.  He will surely take on an even greater role in the offense next fall.

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Coach John Gullickson’s swimmers joined the area’s top private school swimmers Saturday for the annual Relay Carnival at Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington DC. The Bishop Ireton Men placed 6th overall at 2009 WMPSSDL event while the Women placed 5th. 

The girls 400 yard Medley relay team of Allison Wulf, Saskia Kroesen, Laura Becht, and Maddie Zeigler captured a second in 4:23.15 and a third place finish in 400 free style relay in 3:55.49.   Zeigler, Wulff, and Kroesen teamed with freshman Eileen Louison to grab a third place in the 200 yard medley relay in a time of 1:59.07. 

In the 200 yard breaststroke relay, Emma Irwin and three freshmen, Amanda Caballero, Emily Quinn, and Meghan Meija captured 5th place in a time of 2:36.23, an event for which the 2008 edition of Ireton girls set the meet record in a time of 2:13.57.  In the 200 Freestyle, a pair of juniors, Margaret Coyle and Lauren Grant teamed with two freshmen, Quinn and Caballero, to edge Holy Cross by .04 seconds for a 4th place in a time of 1:57.14.

The boys garnered a pair of 4th place finishes, in the 200 yard Freestyle and 400 free behind the strong efforts of Sam Ellis, Ryan Doughtery, Michael Clark, and Brian McGinty.  Their 200 time was .14 seconds behind DeMatha at 1:34.05 while they covered 400 yards in 3:33.91, only .02 behind Georgetown Prep.  

Three sophomores, Joe Darville, Vince Mule, and Tommy Corrridon swam with senior Cam Ellis to earn a 6th place finish in the 200 yard butterfly event and the all sophomore team added Cliff Louison and Max Becker to Mule and Corridon to earn a 6th place in the 200 backstroke relay.  Gonzaga captured the boys event while Georgetown Visitation earned a win on the girls side.


Swimming News and Notes: 

– Cardinals last action was a dual meet victory over Flint Hill, the boys winning 106 to 64, the girls topping the Huskies, 103 to 67.

– New State Qualifers from early action include:  Saskia Kroesn (100Fly, 100BK), Carey Natoli (200IM, 500FR), Angus MacDonald (100FR), Brian McGinty (200FR) and Maddie Ziegler (200IM, 100FR).

– City championships, orginally scheduled for December has been rescheduled to January 5th at the Chinquapin Pool on King Street.

– The Delaney Conference Invitational, weathered out on Dec 5th is now set for 2pm Saturday, Dec 19th in Manassas.

– 1st CARDINAL TO BREAK THE 21 Second Barrier in the 50 Yard Freestyle and Records Beware.  This past weekend Captain Senior Angus MacDonald (representing Occoquan Swimming) broke the 21 second barrier turning in blazing 20.94 in the 50 Yard Free Style at The 2009 Speedo Short Course Junior National Championships in Columbus Ohio. In his other events the 100FR 46.79, 200FR 1:43.14, and 100BK 50.85 he turned in times faster than that of any other Cardinal ever. Keep a close eye out on MacDonald while he Challenges Chris Soniak’s 100Fly Record of 50.15 since he clocked a 50.16 this past weekend. Gullickson thinks Ireton team record for a number of boys events are not safe until he graduates.

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On Friday and Saturday the Cardinal grapplers participated in the Northern Virginia (NOVA) Regional Classic Wrestling Tournament at Fairfax High School. With over 30 schools from throughout Northern Virginia participating, it was an arduous but exciting two days for our wrestlers. Again this year the Cardinals didn’t compete  in three weight groups (125, 130, or 189 pounds). Despite this however, the wrestlers improved upon their performance by returning six places higher than last year and by bringing home three medals.

Placing in this year’s NOVA Tournament was Junior Elliot Mondragon, who improved upon his sixth place from last year, by placing third in his 103 lb weight class and by achieving the fastest pin of the entire tournament. His tournament fastest pin of :15 seconds was also his career personal best. Also placing at NOVA was team captain and senior Joe Vitale, who placed sixth in his 145 lb weight class and sophomore Andrew Lutterloh, who also placed sixth in his 215 lb weight class. 

The pace of competitions will slow this week, with the Cardinals deep into their final exams. On Saturday (December 19), Ireton will  resume the competitions at our own Bishop Ireton Holiday Classic Tournament, which promises to be an exciting day of wrestling. The action will begin in Godley Gym at 10:00am. It will be a great day of wrestling, Ireton fans typically turn out in strong numbers for the day of competition. Cardinals won the team title in 2007 and hope to compete for the championship again in the ten-team field. 

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The 5-0 JV Cardinals take the floor tomorrow night it will be with the greatest test of the season when they travel to DeMatha.  While few fans are likely aware of the squad’s fast start to this basketball campaign, as junior varsity contests usually attract only a few parents and students in the stands, these Cardinals nonetheless take the opponents and the game with the seriousness of an NBA title matchup. The Ireton youngsters have swept aside Georgetown Prep, St Albans, St Stephens, Episcopal, and Don Bosco, Cristo Rey in the early going, with only Don Bosco traveling to Godley Gym so far in the season.

The fifth win of the young season was accomplished on Sunday afternoon when the Cardinals opened up a 20-point lead on Georgetown Prep and never looked back, in fact, scoring the game’s first points, going up 20-0, before the Prep team got in the scorebook. By halftime Prep had closed within ten, only to see it grow to twenty again in the beginning of the second half.

Although Coach Shirvan Joseph did not have the benefit of working with these boys until the November tryouts were completed, he nonetheless has quickly developed the group into a tightknit band. The team of Malcolm Westbrook, Devon Wiley, John Wilburn, Kevin Moreno, Robert Banez, Matt McShea, Justin Holmes, Brandon Scales, Sean Boldaji, Riley Walters, Ned Curry, and Merid Merid play as a team, a testament to Joseph’s ability as a coach and teacher. He is joined by coach Cliff Cooks who shares Coach Joseph’s passion for execution and commitment.

Tomorrow night begins the WCAC stretch. Facing the consistently talented WCAC schedule will be a big step up for the team and all recognize there will be few “gimme’s” on the slate. This JV teams plays hard, shoots well, and plays together. They do it without selfishness, and encourage each other during the game. This special team has the makings of a very good season, they look like “winners” so far!

Gametime is 5:45pm at DeMatha in Hyattsville.

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The Cardinals put the wraps on their nonconference schedule with a pair of contests against City rivals, St Stephens and Episcopal last week in Alexandria. Ireton split, with a lopsided win and a disappointing overtime defeat. One big factor in both contests was the presence of Ireton’s “Cardinal Crazies”. “Boy, those guys, they make a difference and their support on the road for us has been unbelieveable” commented Ireton’s Neil Berkman. “Their participation in our ballgames was the biggest surprise to me in this season so far, I love those Crazies enthusiasm, it makes a difference!”

BI got a great win on the road on Wed. Dec. 9 at St Stephens, St Agnes School. Junior Patrick Hanafin scored a game high 26 points on 9/13 shooting, including 4/6 from the 3 point line. Antonio Rouse chipped in with 17 points, including 10/12 from the charity stripe. Ireton was ahead by upwards of 20 in parts of the second half, but Saints rallied with 25 points in the 4th quarter. It was truly a team effort, according to Ireton head coach Neil Berkman as he emptied the bench in the contest.

The 3-1 Cardinals then visited the Maroon of Episcopal High School in Alexandria on Friday December 12th. It was a closely contested game with BI taking an eight point lead on a lay-up from Junior Antonio Rouse at the 2nd quasrter buzzer. The Cardinals struggled in the 3rd quarter scoring only 1 point in the first six and a half minutes.

The home team made a run but a resilient BI team fought back to trail by two in the waning seconds. Coach Berkman called timeout and sophomore Marcus Hayes hit an off balance jumper to tie the game. Episcopals’s ensuing jumper rimmed in and out at the buzzer to ensure overtime. BI ran out of gas in overtime with Episcopal prevailing by three, 54-51, in a close, hard fought game.

The Cardinals will next be in action to play the ESPN’s 7th ranked team in the country at DeMatha in Hyattsville, MD on Tuesday, December 15 at 7:30.

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