Bishop Ireton High School | Archive | May, 2010

Coach Tony Verducci and his staff welcomed new and returning players to the program this past weekend.  The staff fitted students with state-of-art helmets, accepted team wear orders, and finalized plans for the High School Football Clinic held from June 14-18 on our own Fannon Field.  Almost two-thirds of our incoming freshmen begin their Bishop Ireton football experience without having spent time in “organized” youth football programs.  Bishop Ireton’s freshman/sophomore team mission focuses on instilling a love of the game, teaching football fundamentals, and preparing young men to compete at the varsity level.  New students (incoming freshmen or transfers) should contact Coach Verducci for more information at Verducca@bishopireton.org.

One of the strength of the Cardinal football program is its multi-sport athletes.  Football players were well represented at the 9^th Annual Varsity Athletic Awards Banquet, garnering honors for their contributions on the gridiron and in other sports.  Dom Puglise, a team captain, was the BI male MVP based on his success in both football and lacrosse.  Dom was an all-state football player, National Football Foundation scholar-athlete, and all-WCAC lacrosse player.  The school’s male Cardinal Award winner was Kevin Galloway, an outstanding inside linebacker, accomplished wrestler, and talented middie on the BI lacrosse team.

Doug Vines was honored as the football team MVP for his exploits as a running back, defensive back, and kick returner.  Doug was a first team all-state selection and the team’s leading rusher, receiver, and scorer last year.  Jacob Manley was the team Cardinal Award winner, honored for his leadership, effort, and contributions.  Jacob was also honored as the wrestling team’s Cardinal Award winner and as the Class of 2010’s outstanding scholar-athlete.

Dom Puglise was also honored as the lacrosse team’s MVP, sharing the stage with football teammate Tommy Kestermann, who was the school’s Spirit Award winner and lax team Cardinal Award winner.  John Sullivan, who excelled as an offensive lineman in the fall, was recognized as the Cardinal Award winner for the Swim & Dive team during the winter.  Mark Holmes, a speedy wide-receiver, won the Track team’s MVP award as a standout sprinter.  Brad Thomas, the team’s center, put enough drives in the center of the fairway to be selected as the Golf team’s Cardinal Award winner.  Brendan Rizkallah, who transferred to Bishop Ireton for his senior year, played football and was honored as the Baseball team’s Cardinal Award winner.

The Bishop Ireton football team coaching staff extends its sincere appreciation and congratulations to our Class of 2010 athletes and looks forward to its first opportunity to work with the Classes of 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 during the June Clinic.  Registration materials are available in the Summer Camps Brochure on the school website.

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The Alexandria Sportsman’s Club honored four Ireton athletes and presented another a $2500 scholarship at their 55th annual banquet at the Westin Hotel in Alexandria Tuesday night.  Bishop Ireton’s Ryan Fannon served as master of ceremonies for the 12th consecutive year as the Club honored a number of varsity athletes from the City’s four high schools.

A traditional swimming powerhouse, the Cardinals swept the awards for male and female swimmers of the year. US Air Force Academy-bound Angus MacDonald was the Club’s choice for the men’s award while junior Saskia Kroesen was the pick for the women. Both swimmers were involved in school record-setting performances this season, Kroesen undefeated in dual competition.  MacDonald was a gold medal winner at the Catholic Nationals in Philadelphia this winter and will swim for the Falcons in Colorado Springs next year.

Rower Thaddeus Babiec, headed for Boston University with a rowing scholarship, was Ireton’s first rower honored by the Sportsmen for his superb performance with the Cardinals varsity 8+ boat. Babiec had the unusual distinction of medaling in all four events he entered in the MidAtlantic ERG Sprints at TC Williams High School this winter, from the sprint events to the grueling endurance races.  At 6′ 4″ his size and strength made him not only a valued member of the Ireton basketball team, but the prototypical rower.

UConn will be the next stop for Ireton’s final award winner, senior Janet Tela of Alexandria. The MVP of the 2010 girls lacrosse team, Janet leaves Cambridge Road with the school record in goals scored in a career, assists in a career, and total points for a career. Cracking the St Stephens stranglehold on City girls lacrosse honors, Tela was selected not only first team, all-WCAC, but also the Conference’s player of the year, a first for Ireton since Kari Morrison in 2005.

Jacob Manley, a three-sport athlete for Bishop Ireton, was one of three City athlete’s presented with a $2500 scholarship. A superior student with a cumulative grade point above 4.0,  Manley was recognized for his leadership in athletics but also in the school in the Club’s award decision.  The senior from Queen of Apostles School will head to Charlottesville next fall to attend the University of Virginia. In his acceptance remarks, he assured the Club he will make “good use” of their generous scholarship at Virginia.

The University of Alabama’s Sal Sunseri, an assistant coach for the national champion Crimson Tide in 2010, was the evening’s featured speaker. He spoke emotionally about the importance that he places, and top notch organizations place, on people who will represent the “name and brand” on the jersey.  From his days at Pitt as a player to his time coaching for the Carolina Panthers and now with Alabama, Coach Sunseri emphasized representing yourself, your family, the team, the university, and eventually your employer in a manner that brings credit to yourself and to those that choose to have you represent them.  He told the student/athletes they should make goals for themselves. He said he had four, some of which he accomplished, one he didn’t. He related that his mother found his list years later and noted his final goal was to always make his parents proud of him.  With tears of pride welling in his eyes, Sunseri told the audience his mother called him some time ago and told him that he most certainly did achieve his final goal; they could never have been prouder of their son, Sal.

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Seniors Dom Puglise and Janet Tela were honored with the Father George Godley Award for Excellence in Athletics Friday night the School’s 9th annual Varsity Athletic Awards Banquet at the Sheraton National Hotel. The School recognized a number of athletes, coaches, and alumnus Robert Battle at the dinner in Arlington.

Puglise, an award-winning football player and a second team, all-WCAC performer on the men’s lacrosse team, was the recommendation of the varsity head coaches while Tela, the school’s all time leading point and goal scorer as a unanimous choice of the coaches.  Coach Brad Byrnes, who led both the men’s cross country team and the men’s track and field team to Catholic State championships was acknowledged as the Coach-of-the-Year at the gala event.

Mr. Robert Battle, class of 1979, Notre Dame alum, and an attorney in Richmond, received the Robert Pollard Distinguished Alumnus Award. He humored the crowd early, but adviced the student/athletes that success is not an accident and to pay attention to the habits and attitudes of successful people. “Watch and model yourself after successful people,” he recommended, “success is rarely an accident or a birthright, rather it is a pattern of making good choices and doing things right.” He encouraged them to “plan to be successful” and to “find a passion”, so when your “interests and training meet you will never ‘work’ a day in your life”.

Athletic director Bill Simmons announced the creation of the Chris Delaware Memorial Award to recognize varsity assistant coaches and junior varsity coaches whose passion for the game, commitment to the team, and support of Bishop Ireton is exceptional as demonstrated by the late Coach Delaware, who passed away suddenly in April of this year. Delaware, a graduate of the class of 1998, was a varsity assistant lacrosse coach for the men’s program.  Mr. Shrivan Joseph, the lead varsity assistant men’s basketball coach as well as the head JV coach, was selected as the award’s inaugural winner.

Seniors Kevin Galloway and Christine Dean were selected as the Cardinals of the Year, for their efforts on behalf of their teams and teammates throughout the season. Dean, a four-year cheerleader in both the fall and winter seasons, made a welcoming inclusive squad a key to the cheerleaders finishing 5th a year ago and 4th this season in national competition, while winning the “spirit in competition” award both years. Galloway, a football, wrestling, and lacrosse enthusiast, was the inspirational, “follow me” leader of his teammates.

The athletic booster club awarded two $500 scholarships to graduating seniors, based upon their athletic and academic achievements as well as an essay on the impact of Ireton athletics on their high school experience. Mark Holmes and D’Elia Chandler were the scholarship winners.

Tommy Kestermann’s indominable school spirit and tireless organization and support for all Cardinal athletic teams was recognized in his selection for the Father Roszko Spirit Award.  His parents were surprised with special recognition as well with a School Service Award for the countless ways they have materially, emotionally, and physically helped Cardinal athletics. From towing a broken school bus on the way to summer camp to repainting the varsity football locker rooms, Fritz and Joan Kestermann’s assistance to the school are unsurpassed.  Assistant AD John Keller, class of 1979, was honored as well for his work as a volunteer AD, for up to 12 hours a day, including weekends, when the school released its salaried assistant AD to save money during the difficult economic times. Keller stepped forward to coach, but when offered the assistant athletic director’s position as a volunteer, accepted the responsibility without hesitation.

The evening also included the presentation of the most valuable player award and the Cardinal award to an athlete on each of the 28 Bishop Ireton varsity teams.  They include:

Football MVP –  Doug Vines,   Cardinal –  Jacob Manley
Men’s Cross Country MVP –  Michael Anderson, Cardinal – Billy Burns
Women’s Cross Country MVP –  Aubrey Gartlan, Cardinal – Madeline Grenadier
Men’s Soccer MVP – Dan O’Keefe,  Cardinal – Peter Giambone
Women’s Soccer MVP –  Joanna Faletti, Cardinal – Ciana Puglise
Women’s Tennis MVP – Christine Macey, Cardinal – Devon Tomaselli
Fall Cheerleading  MVP – Christine Dean, Cardinal –  Alese Zeman
Volleyball MVP –  D’Elia Chandler,  Cardinal –  Lauren Monroe
Water polo MVP – Angus MacDonald, Cardinal – Alex True
Men’s Basketball MVP – Patrick Hanafin, Cardinal – Antonio Rouse
Women’s Basketball MVP – Sarah Baldwin,  Cardinal – Alex McCargo
Wrestling MVP – Joe Vitale, Cardinal – Jacob Manley
Men’s Swimming & diving MVP – Angus MacDonald, Cardinal – John Sullivan
Women’s Swimming & diving MVP – Saskia Kroesen, Cardinal – Allison Wulf
Ice hockey MVP – Reid Yager, Cardinal – Tommy Casey VI
Men’s Indoor Track MVP – Sam Ferrara,  Cardinal – Murphy Costigan
Women’s Indoor Track MVP – Shannon Gordon, Cardinal – Katrina Axenfeld
Winter Cheerleading MVP – Whitney Cook, Cardinal – Alex Isola
Baseball MVP – Tommy Kiesner,  Cardinal – Brendan Rizhkallah
Softball MVP – Micki Crouch, Cardinal – Mandy Imbriglia
Men’s Lacrosse  MVP – Dom Puglise, Cardinal – Tommy Kestermann
Women’s Lacrosse MVP – Janet Tela, Cardinal – Maggie Covert
Men’s Track & Field MVP – Mark Holmes,  Cardinal – Andrew Kincinski
Women’s Track & Field MVP – Shannon Gordon, Cardinal – Marin Nolan
Men’s Tennis MVP – Jeric Iriate, Cardinal – Michael Clark
Men’s Crew MVP –  Thaddeus Babiec, Cardinal – Pat Walsh
Women’s Crew MVP – Sarah Morgan, Cardinal – Cecilia Baxter
Golf MVP – Steven Porter, Cardinal – Brad Thomas

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The Cardinals set out to Philadelphia to compete in the largest high school regatta in the world, the Stotesbury Cup, that hosts over 5,000 competitiors. 

Traditionally, Ireton goes to the Stotesbury in hopes they will someday place among the top 18 crews to advance to the semi-finals or as most rowers know “the second day.” The closest the school has come
in the past decade was anywhere from top 25-30 among a field of 60-65 crews.

On Friday the womens varsity 8+ made a statement in the rowing world placing 7th overall and posting the 6th fastest time in the semifinals. The boat included coxswain Julie Roth, Stroke Lily Ramey,
Sarah Morgan, Olivia Babiec, Catherine Burgin, Meredith Ramey, Carmen Fox, Katherine Aust, and Jasmine Conkright.

The womens varsity 8+ set out and posted a time of 5:45.37 in the heat to qualify for the final. “The crew had a great start and body of the race. The last 10 strokes of the race were the best the crew has rowed
all season. ” Coach Gibson.

The crew rowed in the fastest semi- final and placed 3rd posting a time of 5:23. It was the fastest time the crew has rowed all season but was 3 seconds short of making the grand final.

The ladies look ahead to the WMIRA league championship this upcoming weekend on the Anacostia and the US National championship on memorial day weekend in Saratoga, NY.

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The Ireton track and field teams wrapped up one of the most successful seasons on record with 5^th place finishes for both the boys and girls at the WCAC Championships. Six Ireton athletes finished in the top three earning earned a spot on the All-WCAC third team. Third place finishers included Chris Levy (triple jump); Sam Ferrara, BJ Townley, Chris Levy, and Michael Andersen (1600 m relay); and Shannon Gordon (300m hurdles).

Other outstanding performances were turned in by Madeline Thomas (1600m run – 4^th), Gabby Godette (3200m run – 4^th), Hannah Thomas (high jump – 4^th), Shannon Gordon (100 hurdles – 5^th/high jump – 6^th), Marin Nolan (800m run – 5^th), Girls 1600m – 4th (Catherine Babiec, Marin Nolan, Nicole Bond, Shannon Gordon), Girls 3200m relay – 4^th (Catherine Babiec, Madeline Thomas, Joanna Faletti, Marin Nolan), Boys 4x100m relay – 4^th and 4x200m relay – 6^th  (BJ Townley, Moses Webb, Sam Ferrara, Mark Holmes), Boys 3200m relay – 5^th (Arthur Stier, Kevin Moran, Daniel Burns,  Michael Andersen), 4x800Michael Andersen (800 m run – 8^th), BJ Townley (300 hurdles – 8^th).

Following the meet, Mark Holmes(Elon University) and Shannon Gordon were named team MVPs while Andrew Kicinski(Virginia Tech)and Marin Nolan captured the annual Cardinal awards.  Holmes also received a Athletic Booster scholarship of $500.00.   Several members of the team have qualified for the MileStat Gala All-Star meet to be held on June 12^th in Richmond. The annual post-season event is open to top performers in each event on the east coast.

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Senior Chris Levy won a pair of Catholic state titles and freshman Nicole Bond snared a championship in the women’s 100 meter dash as the Bishop Ireton Cardinals claimed their first Virginia Catholic State Track & Field championship for men, and a third place for women, since 2006. The host Benedictine was second, 23 points behind Ireton and O’Connell was third with 92 points. The Knights won the women’s competition, PVI was second in the one day event at the Abbey in Richmond.

For the men’s team, strong scoring in the field events got the Cardinals off to a strong start with Andrew Denny capturing a third place in the shot put at 40′ 3″ while junior teammate Theo Daubresse was fourth at 39′ 1″. Daubresse added points with a 5th place finish in the discus (97’5″).  Mark Holmes (19’9 1/2″) was third in the long jump while classmate, senior Doug Vines claimed a 5th place with a leap of 18’7 1/2″.  Levy won the state championship in the triple jump, with a 44′ 1/2″ effort, and teammate BJ Townley was second in the event with a jump of 39’5″ to pile up important team points for Ireton.

The redbirds won the 4X100 relay in a time of :44.60, with the team of Holmes, Sam Ferrara, Moses Webb, and Vines, and the Cards claimed a third place finish in the 4×800 and a second in the 4×400. It took a record time by O’Connell in the 4×400 to edge Ireton, at 3:29.5, just .9 seconds better than Ireton.

BJTownley was second (:17.12) in the 110 high hurdles, Levy grabbed a 4th (:17.59) and Denny a 6th place (:19.51) to pile on more team points while Murphy Costigan claimed a Catholic state title in the 1600 meter run in a time of 4:50.71.  Ferrara finished third (:52.85 sec) in the 400 meter dash, while Levy (:42.88) switched places with Townley (:42.90) finishing third and fourth respectively in the 300 meter hurdles. 

Mike Anderson, with a cross country Catholic title under his belt, added another in the 800 meters, winning in a time of 1:59.29 while youngster Dan Burns toured the oval in 2:09.47, good for a 5th place finish.  Distance teammate Liam O’Connor was third (10:42.0) in the 3200 meters while Billy Burns tacked on points with a sixth place finish in 11:01.6.

Holmes and Vines teamed up for a fourth and sixth place finish in the 200 meter dash, in times of :23.57 and 23.72 respectively.

On the women’s side, Nicole Bond was the Alexandrians’ sole state champ in the 100 meter dash in a time of :12.81.  Shannon Gordon was the workhorse for Bishop Ireton, scoring in all five individual events she was entered. Her long jump of 15′ 7″ earned a third place, her high jump of 4′ 4″ garnered a fourth place. She finished third in the triple jump with a leap of 31; 6 1/2″, while her hurdling, 100 meters in :16.47 earned a second as did effort in the 300 in a time of :49.36 was also good for second place.

Bond was edged in the 200 by O’Connell’s Allyson Cowden, who was .13 seconds better than Nicole’s :28.03 time.  She added more to the Ireton totals with a third place in the 400 in a time of 1:06.59.

Senior Eleyni Rodriguez contributed a 5th place with a discus toss of 63′ 2″, while sophomore Hannah Thomas leaped 4′ 10″ to earn a seond in the high jump.  Jessie McFadden went 24′ in the triple jump to snag a 6th place in that event.

Ireton’s relay teams finished third behind winner Bishop O’Connell and runner up PVI in the 4×800 (11:08.9) and 4×400 (4:39.67), and 6th in the 4×100(1:00.0). Both those rival squads would finish 1-2 in the women’s meet as well, with the Cardinals in third, the three diocesan schools easily outdistancing the rest of the pack, 4th place Bishop Sullivan 64 points behind the Arlington schools.

Junior Madeline Thomas ran the 1600 meters in a time of 5:43.22, good for 4th place in that event, while fellow junior Marin Nolan toured the 800 edging Bond for second in a time fo 1:05.40.  Another Cardinal workhorse was Sarah Hersey, who ran strongly in a number of events, finally breaking into the scoring column with a :55.88 time in the 300 meter hurdles.

The varsity soccer team’s Joanna Faletti, the team’s goalkeeper, ran the 800 in a time of 2:39.56, good for a 5th place while fellow soccer mate, sophomore Gabby Goddette, sped around the track in the grueling 3200 meter race in 12:33.78, good for a 4th place finish.

Team Standings

Men                                                                                                Women

Bishop Ireton                126                                                               Bishop O’Connell        159
Benedictine                  103                                                                PVI                         136
Bishop O’Connell             92                                                                Bishop Ireton             99
PVI                               69                                                                Bishop Sullivan            35
Bishop Sullivan                57                                                                Peninsula Catholic        30
John Paul the Great        33                                                                St Gertrude                16
Walsingham Academy      10                                                                John Paul the Great      4
Peninsula Catholic             5                                                                Walsingham Academy    4

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It WCAC playoff time, and for the past two years, that has spelled a time for some “Cardinal magic”.  Whether that continues is open to debate, but the “good guys” got two and third innings from starter Jake Gutman, then Andrew Bladen came on to hold St Mary Ryken in check for an 8-5 win on the road in Leonardtown.

“I don’t know what it is, but we have played our best baseball in May these past few years,” said Ireton’s Mike Gallagher. The coach pointed to key two-out hitting in the Monday night contest in St Mary’s County as a turning point, adding, “It seemed like we went the whole month of April without a two-out hit, then get key two-out hits from Patrick O’Connell and Corey Phillips today.”

Ireton fell behind 1-0 in the first, tied the game in the second, then surged to a 5-3 lead headed into the final frame. The Cardinals tacked on 3 in the 7th and though the Knights added a pair in the home half of the final stanza, it wasn’t enough to save their season. With the win Ireton advances to the quarterfinals on Wednesday at St Johns.

The Cadets are the league’s top seed, but Ireton has played them 4-3, and 3-1 in their previous meetings. “No doubt that St John’s is a tall order, but Wednesday we don’t have to be the best team in the league, we only need to be the best team on the field.” Gametime is 4pm.  Winner advances to the semifinals at the University of Maryland on Friday. Semifinals are scheduled for 4pm and 7pm.

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Senior Janet Tela and juniors Katherine Simmons and Sarah Rupp were named by the conference coaches to the WCAC Girls Lacrosse First Team for 2010.  Tela also was unanimously selected as the 2010 WCAC Player of the Year breaking a six year run by Good Counsel for that honor.

Seniors Madeline Irwin, Jacquie Galdos, junior Maggie Covert and sophomore Eva Irwin were named to the All Conference Second team.  Covert, the first year varsity goalie led the conference in saves with 190 and posted the highest save percentage (50%) since former Virginia Tech star Kari Morrison led the Cardinals in 2004. Morrison was also the Cardinals’ last player of the year in lacrosse.

Seven Cardinals made Honorable Mention Team led by seniors Hayley DAntuono, Liz Tauke, Maddy Connor, junior Olivia OSullivan and sophomore attacks Aubrey Gartlan, Ellie Marrin and Maddie Zeigler.

We were very well represented again in the all conference selections which is indicative of the respect the girls earned this season from the WCAC coaches, said Head Coach Steve Tela.  Coach OShaughnessy and I are very proud of the accomplishments the players have earned through the WCAC and the high regard the conference coaches have for them.  They have an extraordinary reputation for being fierce competitors and classy sportsmen both within the WCAC and as well as from outside the conference.

The Cardinals (13-7) are ranked 5th in Virginia and will travel Tuesday to 4th ranked Potomac School (10-5) for a Virginia Independent School State Championship quarter final match.  The Panthers were 16-7 victors over the Cardinals back on April 17^th.  Game time is set for 5:00PM with the winner advancing to the State Semi Finals Friday May 14^th at 11:00 AM.  The State semifinals and championship games are hosted by Episcopal High School in Alexandria May 14-15^th.

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Holy Cross senior Katie Slater led her Tartan teammates with laser precision on offense and the visitors blanketed the Cardinals as the third-seeded Kensington visitors upset second-seeded Bishop Ireton 13-9 to advance to the WCAC finals Friday.  Six-time WCAC defending champion Good Counsel awaits on Friday at 5pm. For the Cardinals, the loss means a wait-to-see who they will likely visit next week for the Virginia Independent Schools lacrosse tournament.

The game was a back-and-forth affair in the first half; Ireton broke away from a 2-2 tie with a pair of goals to go up 4-2, but the Tartans countered to tie at 4.  The Cards went back up 5-4, their final lead as the purple and white clan Tartans tied the game and Slater’s 5th goal of the first half gave them a 6-5 halftime advantage.

Holy Cross consistently won the draws and the fleet-footed visitors pressed the offense effectively, but it was a suffocating defense that denied the 8-meter zone to Cardinal passes.  When the hosts could get the advantage, they capitalized as sophomore Ellie Marrin pulled Ireton to 8-7 and classmate Aubrey Gartlan quickly tied the game at 8 early in the second half.

At that point, AHC regrouped and began to counterattack. Monica Lucas scored on a free position with 15:10 remaining to give the Tartans a 2-goal lead.  Slater tallied again, Lucas converted an Ireton turnover, and the visitors suddenly had a 12-8 advantage.  “It was a great game, I was really worried it was getting away from us at halftime,” admitted Holy Cross coach Jenna Ries. “We got a couple calls in the second half and we were really lucky to get this one.”

Maggie Covert made a pair of big saves while the Cardinals were down a player from a yellow card penalty, but the “good guys” continually had trouble cleanly clearing the ball from the goal and experienced painful turnovers while trying to close the lead.  Meanwhile, Holy Cross controlled the ball carefully, using up valuable time on the clock. When Slater scored her final goal of the game at 3:14 to give them a 13-8 lead the “handwriting was on the wall” for the Cardinals.  Sarah Rupp tallied at 1:47 but it was too little, too late for the red and gold, who miss the championship game for the first time since Holy Cross made their last appearance in 2007.

“Holy Cross was the better team today. We didn’t play our best game, but we played a very good team today.” said head coach Steve Tela. “We’ll regroup, we’ll be back when the state tournament starts.”  States are set for next week with the final poll due Sunday, the results of which will determine seeding and opponents.  Ireton (13-7), currently a 6th seed looks to be on the road when the final poll is released on the weekend with play beginning Tuesday or Wednesday.

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