Bishop Ireton High School | Articles | Season Recap

Fletcher becomes Bishop Ireton’s first all-conference field hockey honoree

Sophomore Grace Fletcher (8) was Bishop Ireton's first ever 1st team, all conference selectee, seen in action against Elizabeth Seton.

The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) released their 2013 list of first and second team all conference  field hockey performers Tuesday and, with the announcement, Bishop Ireton had their first ever WCAC first-team, all-conference honoree in sophomore Grace Fletcher.  The Springfield, Virginia, forward was one of six offensive players selected for the squad, along with five defensive players, and a goalkeeper.

“We are one of seven teams in the conference, more than 150 players total,  and to have a sophomore selected for one of 12 spots, and three players on the top two teams overall was impressive to me.” said Coach Betty Sixsmith of the results. “I can’t say enough about how well the girls are developing.  Anna Fracasso had the highest save percentage in the Conference, and as a sophomore, who has never received any specialized training, to  be selected to the second team is unbelievable!”

The Cardinals did land Fracasso on the league’s second team as a goalkeeper and junior Kelly Mathews was selected also on the second team’s defensive unit.  Joining the three players were Christine Macey, Rachel Macey,  Hayley Snell, Kendall Cunningham, and Isabel Obregon on the honorable mention list.

Bishop Ireton did sponsor field hockey for the first two years immediately after St Mary’s Academy closed and the all-boys school became co-ed, but facility challenges and dwindling participation ended the program after its second season and volleyball sprang up as the new Washington Catholic Athletic Conference came into existence in 1993.  The Cardinals returned to field hockey on a limited basis in 2011 and played it’s first full WCAC season in 2012.  A 2-0 win over Elizabeth Seton was the School’s first WCAC varsity field hockey win earlier in the season, a feat they duplicated in a 2-0 win at Bishop O’Connell to end the regular season schedule.

Only Cunningham is a senior, so the Cardinals would seem to have a bright field hockey future ahead of them with this cast of characters poised to return in 2014!

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Stephanie Cabrera named 2d team all conference as WCAC volleyball season concludes

Sisters Stephanie (left) and Ashley (right) Cabrera have been two of Ireton's strongest performers. Stephanie earned 2d team all conference honors while Ashley's senior campaign was slowed by injury.

Junior Stephanie Cabrera was Bishop Ireton’s lone selectee to the WCAC second team in all conference balloting for volleyball it was announced this week. Cabrera ended her season with a team and WCAC-high 268 kills, good for 5th in the area overall, according to the Washington Post.  She also recorded 276 digs, good for a 16th best in the metro area.

The 5th seeded Cardinals ended their conference schedule with a pair of setbacks, to top ranked Holy Cross 3-0 on Senior Day at Bishop Ireton, then fell in three on the road to fourth-seeded St Johns in the opening round of the WCAC playoffs.

The Conference honorably mentioned three Ireton seniors, Brittany Fisher, Shanna Burns, and Rayghan Larick for their play with the Cardinals this fall.

Bishop Ireton concluded the campaign with a respectable 17-14 mark overall, 7-9 in the always challenging WCAC.   The season saw the team garner a pair of runner-up second place finishes in tournaments in Virginia and battle injuries to a number of starters that made tough schedule more difficult.

VISAA final polling for state playoff seeding will be conducted this weekend, Nov 2, 3.  Top eight teams in Division I qualify, the redbirds sit on the bubble at number 9 going into the season’s final state rankings.

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WCAC baseball accolades for Cardinals

Cardinals see 8 players receive all WCAC accolades, including 2 first teamers, 2 second team, 4 honorable mentions.

As the spring season winds down, the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) has released the 2013 baseball all-conference selections, including a pair of Cardinals to the first team, and two more to the second team.

Senior Cody Hagenston, a four-year varsity pitcher, was the Cardinals’ “go-to” guy in big games for Coach Mike Gallagher. He responded by leading Ireton in wins, despite often getting little in the way of offense.  The lanky right hander heads off to Randolph Macon Academy in the fall.
Ireton’s other first team selection, centerfielder Scott Schwartz was the rebirds offensi ve leader in a number of categories in 2013, including home runs, runs batted in, slugging percentage, and had a rifle of an arm from the outfield. The 2013 graduate is off to Guilford College to play baseball for the Quakers next spring.
Corey Phillips was a bulldog behind the plate for the Cardinals for 4 years.  The quarterback of the team on the field he was the leadoff hitter for Ireton and a leader in the dugout.  Phillips erased an impressive a60% of base stealers.  Phillips will play for Marymount next year in Arlington, Virginia.  The WCAC selected Phillips to the second team, all conference team.
John Todd was the 4th senior tapped for all conference honors, also as a second squad honoree as a utility player.  Gallagher suggested that was the perfect description of the senior. Hitting second in the lineup he was a solid third baseman with a .280 batting average.  Todd also served as the Ireton closer, leading the Cardinals in saves as well as recording a 3-1 record when he assumed a starting role on the pitching staff late in the campaign.  Todd will join Schwartz in North Carolina at Guilford in the fall.
Honorable mention recognition was also given to seniors Nick Tangora, Andrew Selby, Ben Judd, and junior Joe Bagnerise.  Tangora pitched and played first base for the redbirds, Selby patrolled center field,  Judd split time between the outfield and the mound, while Bagnerise played shortstop for Ireton.
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WashPost all Met results sends Girls Lacrosse to off season on high note

Outgoing WCAC president and Bishop Ireton principal, Tim Hamer, presents the finalist plaque to (left to right) junior Kendall Cunningham and senior Brenna Heaney as Coach Rick Sofield, (far right) looks on.

The Bishop Ireton Cardinals finished their most successful season since 2009 with a 17-6 record and a load of talent returning.

Among the players graduating was defender Brenna Heaney, who was 2d on the team in groundballs with 40 and draws with 48 while adding 7 goals and 6 assists.  Heaney will be playing lacrosse for Rollins College next year and earned 2d Team All-WCAC.  The other starter graduating is senior defender Charlie Buising who earned HM All-WCAC as well as the Father Godley Award as Bishop Ireton’s best female athlete.
The Cardinals will return ten starters who have been recognized with post-seasson honors.
The Cardinal midfield will return their leading scorer, sophomore Charlotte Sofield, who finished the 2013 campaign with 47 goals and 47 assists for a total of 94 points.  Committed to play for the NCAA Champion North Carolina Tar Heels, she was named 1st Team All-State; 1st Team All-WCAC; honorable mention (HM)  All-Met; and to the UnderArmour All-American Underclassmen Team.  Sofield was elected Tri-Captain for the 2014 season.
The Cardinals will return their leading draw control specialist, junior Kendall Cunningham, who recorded 63 draw controls on top of 42 goals and 9 assists.  Cunningham was named 2d Team All-State; 2d Team All-WCAC; and to the UnderArmour All-American Uncommitted Team.  A 2013 Cpatain, Cunningham was voted Tri-Captain for the 2014 season.
The Cardinal defense will return their defensive stat leader, sophomore Kaitlin Luzik, who led the team with 44 groundballs and 38 caused turnovers.  Luzik was named 1st Team US Lacrosse All-American; 1st Team All-State; 1st Team All-WCAC; HM All-Met; and to the UnderArmour All-American Underclassmen Team.  Luzik was elected Tri-Captain for the 2014 season.
Between the pipes, the Cardinals will return junior goalie Olivia Cole who has committed to play for the nationally-ranked Flordia Gators.  Cole recorded 168 saves for a save percentage of .531 while being named 1st Team US Lacrosse All-American; 2d Team All-State; 2d Team All-WCAC; HM All-Met; and to the UnderArmour All-American Underclassmen Team.
On attack, the Cardinal offense returns leading goal-scorer, sophomore Kelly Mathews, who scored 65 goals and 18 assists for a total of 83 points.  Mathews was named HM US Lacrosse All-American and 1st Team All-WCAC.
On defense, the Cardinals also return sophomore Natalie Irwin who anchored the defense while recording 9 goals; 5 assists; 34 groundballs; 23 caused turnovers; and 21 draw controls.  Irwin was named 2d Team All-WCAC and to the UnderArmour All-American Underclassmen Team.
At midfield, the Cardinals return sophomore Isabel Obregon who has commiited to play for the NCAA Champion North Carolina Tar Heels.  Despite missing several games to injury, Obregon recorded 30 goals and 31 assists while being named 1st Team All-WCAC and to the UnderArmour All-American Underclassmen Team.
Also at midifled, the Cardinals return sophomore Christine Macey who recorded 21 goals; 9 assists; and 24 groundballs.  Macey was named HM All-WCAC.
On attack, the Cardinals return freshman Kelly Larkin who was third on the team with 59 points scoring 35 goals and adding 24 assists.  Larkin was named HM All-WCAC.
On defense, the Cardinals return freshman Maggie Lohrer who recorded 15 groundballs; 9 caused turnovers; 6 draw controls; 1 goal; and 2 assists in earning HM All-WCAC.
In addition to the above players who earned post-season honors, the Cardinals will return freshman defender Susan Morad; junior midfielder Annie Barletta; junior attacker Catie Isham; sophomore midfielder Cori Vasques; freshman attacker Grace Fletcher; and sophomore attacker Maggie Wiltsie who each started several games for the Cardinals.
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Crew of Rowers head to Collegiate Programs in Fall

Great season, great seniors mark the 2013 rowing campaign as crew has nationally recognized season.

Coach Eric Gehrke’s senior rowers completed their high school careers with the best performance ever by the Cardinals. From dominating performances in the local area to impressive finishes at the prestigious Stotesbury Regatta  and US Rowing’s national championships, Bishop Ireton set new standards for the program in 2013.  For a number of graduating seniors, the book is closed on their high school careers, but another chapter is yet to be written for the class of 2013.

Among the rowers headed off to collegiate rowing programs are Catherine Babiec to the Ivy League’s Princeton University, Joey Gorman to George Washington University with a crew scholarship, Allison Lee heads to Boston College, who also received scholarship aid, as did Josh Martini, on his way to be at Badger at the University of Wisconsin.  Lyndsay Martini will join the defending national champions, the University of Virginia with a scholarship offer in hand and Kevin Shoop joins the men’s 2012 defending national champs in Seattle, at the University of Washington.

“I am very proud of our senior class,” Head Coach Eric Gehrke said, “as they set goals for themselves as underclassmen – individual ones and team ones. At this point, they have gone far beyond what they hoped to achieve individually and we hope to continue their success on a team-wide basis. I know they will all do a great job at their college programs in the coming years.”

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5 Cardinals poised to move on to College baseball in fall, 2013

Bishop Ireton's class of 2013 has five heading to college baseball. From left to right, John Todd, Scott Schwartz, Cody Hagenston, Coach Mike Gallagher, Cody Phillips, and Andrew Selby

As Bishop Ireton prepares to send one of their largest classes of senior baseball players off to college, five Cardinals will not pack their gloves in the attic trunk but will continue to play next year. The five, John Todd, Scott Schwartz, Cody Hagenston, Corey Phillips,  and Andrew Selby will give baseball at “the next level” a try in the fall.

Todd and Schwartz will remain teammates as they head to Greensboro, North Carolina, to play for the Quakers of Guilford College.  Pitcher/first baseman Cody Hagenston will call on his former teammates at Guilford when he joins the Yellow Jackets in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference’s Randolph Macon College.  The final players heading to a college program are catcher Corey Phillips, who becomes a charter member of Marymount University’s new baseball program in Arlington, Virginia, and Andrew Selby.  For Selby, a four-year varsity player, George Washington University will welcome the Cardinal outfielder to the Colonial’s program.

“Very proud of these players.” said athletic director, Bill Simmons.  “They have had great high school careers with the Cardinals and I am sure they will be welcome additions to the schools they selected.  As good as they are as players, they are also great examples of our student-athletes here. I am sure they will be contributing members of their colleges on and off  the diamond.”

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Season’s Results Signal Bright Lax Future for the Cardinal Girls

Cardinal goalie, Olivia Cole (22) and "Charlie" Buising (8) are busy during action over spring break on Long Island, NY

The Bishop Ireton girls’ varsity lacrosse team finished the season 17-6 with a team two-thirds composed of freshmen and sophomores (14 of 21 players). The Cardinals are only graduating three seniors this year—Brenna Heaney, Charlie Buising and Michaela Mulokey.  In 2014 there projects to be only four seniors—Olivia Cole, Kendall Cunningham, Annie Barletta and Catie Isham. 

During the 2013 season, the girls’ lacrosse team: 1) advanced to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship game for the first time since 2009; 2) advanced to the semifinals of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association championship tournament; 3) twice defeated 2012 WCAC champion Holy Cross—during the regular season 7-6 on April 19th and during the WCAC playoffs 13-5 on May 9th; 4) defeated two tough New York state opponents up on Long Island during spring break—Sacred Heart 11-5 on April 2nd and Long Beach 5-4 on April 3rd; 5) defeated 2012 Georgia state runner-up Lassiter 15-12 on April 5th; and 6) finished fourth overall in LaxPower.com’s DC Area power rankings.  

Only two early season losses could be considered “out of reach.” Two other losses were by single goals—vs. Milton (Georgia) 12-11 on April 5th; and vs. Collegiate 9-8 on May 17th. The Cardinals finished the season winning 10 of their last 12 games.

Twelve players received 2013 All-WCAC honors: First Team—sophomores Kelly Matthews, Charlotte Sofield, Isabel Obregon and Kaitlin Luzik; Second Team—senior Brenna Heaney, juniors Kendall Cunningham and Olivia Cole, and sophomore Natalie Irwin; Honorable Mention—senior Charlotte Buising, sophomore Christine Macey, and freshmen Kelly Larkin and Maggie Lohrer.   

The 2013 season saw 18 different players score goals with seven players in double digits and there were 16 different players getting assists with six players in double digits. Five different players were ranked among The Washington Post’s AllMetSports.com top 50 statistical leaders—Kelly Matthews was tied for 28th with 65 goals; Charlotte Sofield was 7th with 47 assists, Isabel Obregon was tied for 22nd with 31 assists and Kelly Larkin was tied for 42nd with 24 assists; and Olivia Cole was 8th with 173 saves.  

Kendall Cunningham had a team season-high eight goals vs. Potomac School on April 18th. Charlotte Sofield had a team season-high six assists vs. Paul VI on March 26th. Olivia Cole had a team season-high 15 saves vs. Sacred Heart on April 2nd and actually got two assists during the season as well—one each vs. Bishop O’Connell on May 3rd and vs. Collegiate on May 17th. Cole also had a sharp eye for notifying referees about illegal sticks being used during free position shots—going 8-of-9 on the season including two against the same St. Anne’s Belfield player on March 12th.  

Olivia Cole, Kaitlin Luzik, Charlotte Sofield, Natalie Irwin, Kelly Matthews and Maggie Lohrer were recently named to play for different teams representing the D.C. Metro Region in the prestigious Schoolgirls’ Division of the U.S. Lacrosse Women’s National Tournament taking place May 25-26 at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. 

Charlotte Sofield, Isabel Obregon, Kaitlin Luzik, Natalie Irwin and Olivia Cole were all named to Under Armour’s 2013 Underclass All-American Washington, D.C., team. The D.C. team will battle it out with nine other regional teams from around the United States at the respected Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic July 5-7 at Towson University in Baltimore, MD.   

Natalie Irwin and Olivia Cole are members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Girls Lacrosse National High School Team that will compete at the Lake Placid Summit Classic August 5-7 in Lake Placid, NY.   

Varsity and junior varsity players will again be playing this summer for various travel teams at tournaments all along the East Coast and sharpening their lacrosse skills at a variety of summer camps. This travel team/camp involvement also holds true for incoming Class of 2017 freshmen including participation in tournaments as far afield as the Vail Lacrosse Shootout July 1-3 in Vail, CO, and the U15 National Championship July 23-25 at Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Lake Buena Vista, FL.

 The future does indeed seem to hold much promise and potential for the Bishop Ireton girls’ lacrosse program under head coach Rick Sofield.

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Cheerleaders earn 2d at CCA National Championships, Coach honored

 

Cardinals' freshmen-ladened cheer squad captures the runner up spot in the 2013 national competiton.

Bishop Ireton Varsity Cheerleading Team, with 13 freshmen capped a banner year with a second place finish at the Christian Cheerleading Association’s (CCA) national championship competition in Winston-Salem, North Carolina Saturday. 

In December they became the 2012 CCA Virginia Regional Champions and received their bid to Nationals. In February they became the 2013 CCA Classic Division Champions and Grand Champions over the whole competition!

On March 6-9 the team traveled to Winston Salem, North Carolina to compete in the National Championships against teams from North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, California, Texas, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland and all over the United States. Over 210 teams competed and the Bishop Ireton Varsity Cheerleaders got 2nd place in the large Varsity Division!

Every team competing also votes for one team to get the 6 foot National Spirit of Competition trophy for their positive attitude, behavior and support of every team. For the 4th time in 5 years the Bishop Ireton Cheerleading team was awarded the coveted trophy and received a standing ovation!

Their Coach, Angela Hope-Eskew also was selected the 2013 National Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Christian Cheerleaders of America Hall of Fame.  “Not only are they great cheerleaders but, they also spend time giving back to the community. For the last 5 years the cheerleading team has worked to raise money for the Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia and in October 2012 they were award the Volunteer of the Year award by the organization.” explained the Association’s newest coach-of-the-year. “It was a very prosperous and exciting year for the Bishop Ireton Varsity  Cheerleading Team and for me!”

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Indoor Track ends most successful campaign ever with VISAA appearance

The 2013 Indoor track and field season ended at the VISAA Indoor Championships held at St. Christopher School in Richmond, VA.  This was the most successful year in school history with school records falling, personal records set for most of the athletes, and a large number of fun memories.  At the VISAA alone, Bishop Ireton athletes earned 3 new school records and 10 personal records (PRs). 

At the dinner after the VISAA meet, Coaches Williams and EveLyn shared with the athletes how proud they were of the team spirit and commitment the athletes showed all season, showing up during winter break in the cold and light rain and snow, giving up their Sundays to go train in the pool, and asking the coaches to add extra practices if they missed a day due to school closings.  This commitment showed in the number of personal and school records in almost every event.  To date this was the largest continuous number of student-athletes to participate in the program in school history and when you factor that the majority of students are underclassmen, the future looks bright.

The following represent the athletes with the 11 new school  indoor records:

 Christiana Grant in the 200 meters, Gabrielle Hall in the 500 meters, Rosie Hartwell in SHOT, Philomena Hughes in the Long Jump, Loren Gant in the Triple Jump, Gabrielle Hall in the 800 meters, Christiana Grant, Gabrielle Hall, Kaitlyn McNutt and, Grace Hersey in the girls 4 x 200, Anthony Mondragon in SHOT, Joseph Sardegna in the 200 meters, Sebastian Gutierrez in the 55 hurdles, and Sebastian Gutierrez in the Long Jump.

 Personal Records were set by the following athletes:

  55m                                                   300                                                      500

Joseph Sardegna                                 Joseph Sardegna                                 Joseph Sardegna

Cory Conway                                      Anthony Mondragon                           Cory Conway

 Santiago Gutierrez                              William Lamb                                      Patrick Reilly

 Sebastian Gutierrez                            Gabrielle Hall                                     Grace Hamilton

 Ciaran Lewis                                       Christiana Grant                                Philomena Hughes

 Anthony Mondragon                       Philomena Hughes

Patrick Reilly

 Ryan Verducci

Corey Johnson

 Bernie Hayes

Grace Hersey

 Christiana Grant

Rosie Hartwell

 

            800                                                      1000                                                    1600

            John-Paul Ryan                                   Aaron Ault                                          Aaron Ault

            Aaron Ault                                          Kaitlyn McNutt

            Patrick Reilly                                      Megan Reilly

            Megan Reilly                                      

 

            Hurdles                                               SHOT PUT                                         Jumps

            Kaitlyn McNutt                                   KB Samson                                          Anthony Mondragon

            Loren Gant                                         Bernie Hayes                                       Loren Gant

            Annie McHugh                                    Ryan Verducci                                     Philomena Hughes

            Adriana Nelson                                   Santiago Gutierrez

            Sebastian Gutierrez

 

Relays           

            4 x 400 Girls                                       4 x 400 Boys                                        4 x 800 Boys

            Lolo Hoque                                         Corey Johnson                                    William Lamb

            Annie McHugh                                    Sebastian Gutierrez                            Cory Conway

            Adriana Nelson                                   Ciaran Lewis                                       Patrick Reilly

            Erin Roosa                                          Patrick Reilly                                      Aaron Ault

 

            4 x 200 Boys

            Justin Paige

            Ciaran Lewis

            William Lamb

            Brandon Williams-Price

 

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WCAC Honors Cardinal all Conference Soccer Selections

Senior Kyle Brynteson joined Mori Diane on the WCAC all conference team announced Friday.

The WCAC announced the 2011 all conference teams for both boys and girls soccer.  The Cardinals landed four players on the first team, three second team selections, and seven players on the honorable mention list as well as capturing the first coach of the year award since Marianna Sullivan won the award in 2010.

Boys team captain Mori Diane was Bishop Ireton’s first team selectee.  He led the Cardinals with 18 goals and 9 assists for the season and, more importantly to Coach Jon Norem, Diane was the leader by example on the field.  The rangy senior is exploring his college soccer opportunities, including possibly Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.  

They were joined by their head coach, Jon Norem, selected by his peers.  “Jon clearly did a great job this season, we were the most improved team in the league without question. Our team has seen plenty of tough times in the past couple years, I was thrilled to see their hard work rewarded with a winning season. ” commented Bishop Ireton athletic director, Bill Simmons. “Jon has patiently coached, taught, and encouraged his players and it is obvious in the performance on the field.  I am glad for Jon that his colleagues took this step to publically recognize his work.”

Said Norem of the award, “I told the team that this is really a reflection of their efforts, it speaks to what they are doing on the field, not what I am doing on the sidelines. I am honored to recognized, but this is really about what the players earned.”

Senior Kyle Brynteson was a second team all conference honoree, as a middle fielder. He was joined by honorably mentioned Cardinals Preston Haugh, Spencer Amarantides, and goalkeeper Andrew Perham. 

The girls team, under head coach Gino Leon,  had another strong season. The conference’s coaches recognized Bishop Ireton’s efforts with three first-team, all WCAC picks. Senior Karina Azar was selected as a forward while teammates junior forward Adrienne Maday and defender Emily Gupton  joined her on the elite team. More good news for next year as the coaches tapped junior defender Natalia Barrow and freshman forward Lilian Webber for the league’s second team, all conference squad. 

Three of four honorable mentions return next fall, junior midfielder Kenza Alaoui joined sophomore middies Grace Hamilton and Corinna Vasques on the list with senior defender Nicole Bond.   “It was a strong season for a team that expects nothing less than great seasons,” suggested Ireton’s Simmons of the girls’ selections. “We have established our program as among the strongest in the area. That win over Bethesda-Chevy Chase, the 4-time Maryland state champs was no fluke. Being invited to McDonogh in the first place is evidence of the respect they have achieved. Of course, once you get that respect you have to work to keep it.”

The WCAC selected a pair of players as Player of the Year for both boys and girls, while Holy Cross’ Nelson Abreau was the girls coach of the year.  Midge Purce of Good Counsel and Morgan Reuther of Bishop O’Connell shared the girls’ honor while Nicholas Corriveaue of Gonzaga and Chris Odoi-Atsew of DeMatha tied for the boys’ award.

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