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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