Search Results

Spencer warming up before an NBA 2K Summer League matchup. April 8th, 2024. UConn vs. Purdue. NCAA Men’s National Championship. Some guys are having butterflies. Among them calm, cool, and collected is Cam Spencer. Late Laker great Kobe Bryant once said, “Pressure is not real, but an imagination of the mind and we the athletes make our own pressure.” Spencers’ hunger to compete blocked out the pressure and he totaled 11 points and 8 rebounds in a championship win. Growing up in an area like Maryland where sports competition is at an all-time high can be intimidating for some people. Family rivalries with his two brothers competing in everything they did shaped a drive in him, with his older brother 4 years older and his other brother 2 years younger.. A lot of fights and competition growing up with them helped shape who they are today. A 6”3 guard who always loves a chance to compete, Spencers’ parents, brothers, coaches, teammates and his growth in the Catholic faith are the reasons he is able to persevere through any obstacle in his way. After his parents put a ball in his hand for the first time at 3 years old, Spencer knew he was meant to play sports. Living in an athletic family household, he leaned on his older brother Pat, who turned out to be one of the greatest college lacrosse players of all time, for guidance on and off the field and basketball court. It was through these experiences that Spencer developed a love for the game. Basketball was his first love, and his commitment shone in many ways, including an hour-long drive to school everyday which he had his parents to thank for, saying,“ [I’m] grateful to my parents and family for making me the person I am today. [They] sacrificed constantly [for me.]” Spencer was also an excellent lacrosse player in high school at Boys Latin in Towson, Maryland. The similarities of the two sports helped him with constant up and down movements and speeds of the game. Spencer decided to go the basketball route during his sophomore year, and ended up going to Loyola Maryland close to home for his first three years. Freshman and sophomore year had their ups and downs for Spencer. He averaged 10 PPG in his first two years but suffered some injuries, including a hip injury during the season freshman year that required surgery and took him out for months. He said, “It sucked. But at the end of the day, you can only control what you control, get off your ass and keep going.” When asked what he would say to a kid growing up in Maryland who may face obstacles to achieve their dream, he responded with, “It starts with your passion for the sport. The commitment level, discipline, and hard work [are all factors]. Focusing on your goals starts with your work ethic. Have a passion for it, and it will show in the work you put in.” The game itself never really sped up for him as it does for others and he was able to play at his own pace, something few can say when adjusting to the college level which required longer hours in the weight room and on the court. Spencer works out everyday in some capacity while usually taking one off day a week but still tries to stay active and do something that day. Junior year was a step up for Spencer as he led the Patriot League by scoring 19 points per game and steals (2.3). To get noticed by NBA scouts, he transferred to Rutgers for his senior year. Some of Spencer’s best moments was his dagger three-pointer to send Purdue home in a key conference matchup and hitting 6 three-pointers, including one in the final minute to beat Northwestern. For his final year of eligibility, he transferred to UConn and ranked No. 5 in the country in three-point percentage (44%). He described UConn head coach Dan Hurley as “super intense, passionate about winning, and willing to go to war for him.” Hurley got in his player’s face after a bad play or possession in practice or a game, something Spencer “appreciated and was grateful for.” On championship game day against Purdue, Spencer was efficient as UConn won their second title in as many years. Next up: the NBA Draft.     Spencer after a big play against Purdue in the National Championship Spencer wasted no time after UConn’s national title run for the NBA, starting to prepare only two weeks after the season ended. It all paid off when he got to hear his name called on Draft Day when Memphis selected him through a trade with Detroit with the 53rd pick, making him and his brother Pat (Golden State Warriors) one of the NBA brother duos. Spencer followed this up with a strong Summer League showing, averaging 15 points per game while shooting 59% from the field. He is pumped to suit up with the likes of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and fellow rookie Zach Edey. Spencer is also drawn to the “blue-collar culture in Memphis’ organization,” led by head coach Taylor Jenkins, one of the better coaches in the league.  Spencer may be one of the top three-point shooters, but he only cares about what is best for his team to win. His answer was very similar to Stephen Curry in that he is all about the team and will do whatever it takes to win, whether it is off-ball movement, setting up open looks for teammates or locking down on a defensive possession. On championship game day, when others may have had butterflies, he was ready to get the game started and compete. Unlike all of his teammates, Spencer does not have Instagram. He currently does not have a sponsor deal.  Spencer has received an undergraduate degree in Labor Relations from Rutgers as well as a Master’s Certificate in Nonprofit Management from UConn, achievements he can take with him for life after basketball. He plans on playing basketball in the NBA for as long as he can and then will do something with basketball afterwards whether that will be coaching, scouting or a front office job.

The 2024-25 Heights lacrosse team showed to be one of the best in program history, with talent producing on all levels. The pairing of experienced upperclassmen and talented younger guys was a working formula for head coach Boh Mitchell and his staff. Starting with the close defense, Owen James (Sr, D) was a menace on the field, taking on the assignment of facing off, man-up and locking down the best opposing player every game. Paul Anglade (Sr, D) was a physical force who did not not shy away from contact. JD DeLellis (Jr, D) was a player that did his job well with no complaints. Add Joe Mitchell (Jr, SSDM) and Mason Hemphill (Fr, LSM) up top and you had one of the better defenses in the WCAC. The offense was led by a mix of sophomores and seniors. Brendan James (So, A) is a player you have to watch for every game. Luke Chambers (Sr, M) is another player that welcomes contact while running over defenders and Grant Lanham (Sr, A) facilitates from the X spot. After a hot start, the team hit a rocky stretch in April, going 4-6 with tight losses to St. John’s, St. Albans, Gonzaga and Good Counsel during that period.  When the Cavs have their offensive rhythm humming and their defense on lockdown, very few opponents stood a chance. However, when that was not the case, the results often did not fall in The Heights’ favor. On April 29th, the boys traveled to face a hot DeMatha squad on  their senior day who were riding a hot streak following a slow start to the season. The game was physical from the jump, with guys battling at the face off X and blowing up dodgers on the crease. After close calls and a few altercations, DeMatha went into half up 5-2. The Cavs came into the second half determined to change the tide, but playing a whole quarter of defense will cause any great defense to allow goals normally never given up. DeMatha gave up an early 4th quarter run but held on to win 11-6 to end the regular season. The Cavs take the field for a big matchup against Good Counsel. WCAC Playoffs. Heated rival Good Counsel led by a pessimistic head coach. That was all the Cavs could think of heading into a quarterfinal battle of evenly matched teams. The Falcons boasted a Yale and Maryland commit on offense, but James and Anglade held their ground when their team absolutely needed defensive stops the first go around. Defensive coordinator Rich Bartozzi implemented a hybrid man down look late in the season which stumped the opposing offenses. Good Counsel’s defense was largely porous in man coverage, forcing them into a zone look which could be hard to crack except with hard cuts to the crease resulting in defenders losing their attentiveness easily. The Heights looked to exploit this weakness, and with spirits riding high rolled into Good Counsel after a weather delay ready for a fight. The boosters showed out, and tensions were high from the opening face, and a tight 2-1 Falcons first quarter was followed by a 1 goal second quarter, bringing it to 3-1 at the half due to unlucky shots and turnovers. Nevertheless, the Cavs did not lose hope, and competed hard in the third, and almost closed it to a two goal game at the end with an Anglade shot from the parking lot that was off by 0.2 seconds. In the end, Good Counsel’s defense managed to get the better of the Cavs offense, and the Cavs defense folded towards the end of the fourth, prematurely ending what was thought to be a promising season in a 9-5 loss.  Coach Mitchell stated multiple times this was the most talented team he has coached in years, maybe ever. You could go anywhere for a special highlight of the season, whether it was taking down top teams from different states, handing out new nicknames at practice, Owen James shattering The Heights’ all-time pole-goal record (27), a memorable Crescite week, or Anglade’s return to the field his senior year after many thought he would never play again due to an illness. This is a team that gained the respect and attention of other high caliber coaches and programs during the course of the season across the country. James brother highlight reels were being uploaded to popular networks like clockwork, allowing younger guys on the team to step into the spotlight as well. Chambers, Will Wright (Fr, M) and Nick Hill (So, M) elevated their offensive levels of production. Seamus Seaman (So, G) had one of the best goalie percentages in the conference (54.4%), and will lean on goalie coach Dave Diamond to continue to improve his game. The team looks to start off their 2025 campaign with NHSLS, the top high school recruiting tournament in the country, in June.

On Sunday, March 2nd, Coach Boh Mitchell and his group departed from The Heights by vans to Durham, North Carolina. They managed to get in a practice that day after having to make a Dick’s Sporting Goods run to buy a goal since the nearby field complex conveniently had none. That night the boys settled into their hotel which had an exceptional variety of food throughout the week. Pair that with a nearby Chick-Fil-A, Target, Aldi and a Sheetz, and the boys were stocking up on food. Traditional head shaving took place that night as well. Monday consisted of two practices at different fields, where the boys were going 100 percent to prepare for their matchup the next day against Cardinal Gibbons, a top team in North Carolina who had multiple D-1 committed players, compared to The Heights who did not and was seen as the underdog in this matchup. Although the Cavs do not have many verbally committed players, Owen James (Sr. D) is as good as any defender in the country, and with other D-1 caliber players such as Riley Shiner (So., M), Brendan James (So., A), Grant Lanham (Sr. A) and myself (Sr., D) among others, the boys were ready as ever to make a national statement on the road. The game preparation started the night before, with players and coaches reviewing plays and film. When gametime came, guys had some jitters, but none were like Seamus Seaman (So., G), the mid-year transfer from Good Counsel who came in after senior goalie Chase Stichmann went down in December with a season-ending shoulder injury. In his first-ever high school minutes, Gibbons peppered him early,with the score 2-2 after the 1st quarter. After a passionate huddle talk from defensive coordinator Rich Bartozzi, Seaman and the defense took a stand, holding the opposing offense to 1 point through the next 2 quarters, and with Brendan James, Shiner, and Luke Chambers (Sr., M) cooking offensively, the Cavs were up 8-3 midway through the 4th quarter. It was at this point due to questionable officiating and a couple of defensive breakdowns that Gibbons would score 4 goals in 2 minutes and almost come back to win the game. With 30 seconds left, the Cavs defense, on their heels, were able to hold them off, with Seaman saving the final shot attempt, winning the game 8-7 in a hostile environment. Seaman finished the game with a sensational 64% save percentage. To contrast, Heights alum Tommy Gross currently has a save percentage of 56% at St. Joe’s University.  Owen James and Joe Mitchell celebrate after a goal vs. Norfolk Academy. Wednesday and Thursday were light, as everyone was feeling good about the win but physically sick as well thanks to a certain sophomore infecting everyone earlier in the week. On Wednesday, the few people who woke up on time went to Ash Wednesday mass, and in the afternoon the team headed to the University of North Carolina to watch a top 10 team in the Tar Heels go full tilt in practice before their match against Hofstra later that week. Some players from the DMV recognized our school name and Coach Boh, who coached some of them on his travel teams. On Thursday, after practice, the boys headed to Frankie’s Fun House, where thousands of tickets were racked up by Chambers, Joe Mitchell, and Mattias Bunai, thanks in part to a generous ticket donation by Asst. Coach John O’Beirne. On Friday, March 7th, the boys had practice in the morning, and then headed back up home in the late afternoon. The boys rolled to a strong 8-0 start with wins against top teams in Florida and Ohio, and secured their first league win vs. St. Mary’s Ryken on Friday, March 28th before facing a tough Paul VI team on Tuesday, April 1st, where a lackluster performance resulted in the teams' first loss of the season. The Cavs look to face Bishop McNamara (MD), Yorktown (VA) and Bishop Ireton (VA) before an elite matchup against Gonzaga (DC) on Friday, April 11th.

The first round games of the new CFB Playoff format were largely lackluster. The first game was on Friday, December 20 where No. 10 Indiana, a team who had not played in a big game save for an embarrassing 38-15 loss at No. 8 Ohio State, took a bus ride to South Bend and got bounced by No. 7 Notre Dame, 27-17. Saturday’s games did not provide much excitement either as No. 11 SMU, another suspect team chosen by the CFP Committee, got trounced by No. 6 Penn State, 38-10, where Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin silenced some critics about his teams’ performance in big games during his tenure. That game was followed by what was considered the closest game of the day between No. 12 Clemson and No. 5 Texas. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney’s reluctance to use the transfer portal in the offseason showed early, and despite a promising comeback led by their quarterback Cade Klubnik, a key 4th down stop by Texas’ defense at the goal Star safety Caleb Downs celebrates Ohio State’s victory over Tennessee line late in the second half propelled the Longhorns to victory at home, 38-24. The night game was the most hyped game of the week, with No. 8 Ohio State taking on No. 9 Tennessee at home. The Volunteers may have set themselves up by warming up shirtless before the game, a trend that has not gone well for teams past. The Vols offense could not get anything going for the majority of the game. Add that to their usually stout defense not having their best day, their star running back Dylan Sampson and wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. going down with injuries early, and Ohio State true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith Jr. continuing his sensational season with 2 touchdowns,  the Vols folded to the Buckeyes, 42-17. Ryan Day silenced some of his critics who question his ability to win these big games, although he has lost “The Game” versus Michigan the last 4 years, the game that matters most to Ohio State fans and therefore had the fanbase restless after losing to a Michigan team that fell out of the rankings due to poor quarterback play.  Almost all concerns were put to rest when the Buckeyes faced No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl Quarterfinal in a regular season rematch which Oregon had previously won at home after poor clock management by Ohio State’s Will Howard. In a presser before the Rose Bowl, Smith Jr. said, “I’m just letting everybody know right now if you play man [coverage] Wednesday, we’re taking a shot.” Smith Jr. proceeded to have 5 catches for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns in the first half of a 41-21 rout of the Ducks. Notre Dame took on No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl Quarterfinal. The Bulldogs’ starting quarterback Carson Beck, who has since transferred to Miami, previously had gone down with an elbow injury vs Texas in the SEC Championship. Backup quarterback Gunnar Stockton came in and gave the offense a much-needed consistent spark in the passing game that Beck lacked to win the conference. Against the Irish, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart turned to Stockton in their biggest game yet against a Notre Dame team that managed to silence the critics in a telling 23-10 win over Georgia, with Bulldogs wide receivers continuing their season trend of dropping passes in key moments. Nevertheless, Stockton proved to be a bright spot in Georgia’s offense for the next few years. Texas defeated No. 4 Arizona State in the Peach Bowl Quarterfinal, 39-31 in 2 overtimes, where the Sun Devils gave the Longhorns everything they could handle on both the offensive and defensive lines. Even in a loss, running back Cam Skattebo stole the show for Arizona State, racking up 284 total yards and 3 total touchdowns rushing, receiving, and passing all on his own.  Penn State defeated No. 3 Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl Quarterfinal. In a game that featured Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty going against a tough Penn State defense including star defensive end Abdul Carter, the Nittany Lions stacked 8 guys in the box and refused to let Jeanty beat them in a 31-14 win where Jeanty rushed for 104 yards on 30 carries. In a game where a banged up Carter was still the best player on the field, Notre Dame managed to open up the semifinal round with a tight 27-24 victory over Carter and Penn State in the Orange Bowl Semifinal, where James Franklin’s group fell short yet again in a defensive battle. Nittany Lions safety Zakee Wheatley and Carter had great individual performances, but it was not enough as quarterback Drew Allar threw the game away in the 4th quarter. Led by head coach Marcus Freeman, the Irish have leaned heavy on faith during his tenure, due in part to Freeman reinstating the tradition of going to Mass before every game in his first season in 2022.  The Cotton Bowl Semifinal between Ohio State and Texas came down to Ohio State’s vaunted offense and Texas’ stout defense. The Longhorns gave the Buckeye offense all they could handle, neutralizing Smith Jr. by putting up to three guys on his side of the field. Their efforts were not validated as Ewers, who was streaky all season, failed to see linebacker Jack Sawyer, his former roommate, bull towards him on 4th and goal with 2 minutes left after a questionable call from Texas’ Steve Sarkisan on 2nd and goal set them back. Sawyer got the strip sack, picked up the fumble and ran all the way for a 86 yard touchdown to seal the game for Ohio State, 28-14.  The National Championship could not come soon enough for America, as Marucs Freeman’s group took on the “underdog” persona the week leading up to Monday, January 20th. Game day came around, and momentum seemed to be going the Irish’s way early after a 18 play, 10 minute drive that ended with Riley Leonard in the end zone. A few drives by the Buckeyes drastically shifted the game in their favor, going up 21-7 at half. They remained in control, even when Notre Dame made it a 31-23 game late. Ohio State’s Smith Jr. had given a warning to the Irish’s undermanned secondary about playing man coverage a few days before, and proceeded to exploit that weakness on a blitzing down on 3rd & 11 for 56 yards for the game-clinching play in the 4th quarter to win, 34-23. Ryan Day finally gets the weight off his back by winning the biggest game of his life, cementing himself as one of the better coaches in recent memory. Freeman on the other side showed resilience and what it means to have a foundation of faith in a team that never wavered down the stretch.

Midfielder Max Quenneville looks intently on during a league WCAC match. The 2023 Heights Varsity Soccer Team is a team that many consider to be the best since the 2018 undefeated squad that won the WCAC, including the Washington Post. Consisting of 13 seniors, 6 juniors, and 4 sophomores, this is a team that has improved vastly in the scoring chart. They have scored a total of 14 goals against JP the Great, Bullis, Landon, Georgetown Prep, and Bishop McNamara. Senior defenders Lawson Weeldreyer (Sr), Gabe Diaz-Bonilla (Sr), Jason Agwamba (Sr), and Ben Rosini (Sr) are the main reason the defense is as stout as it is this year, having given up 0 goals in conference play. They are commanded by the senior in goal, Finian Godfrey, who may be the, if not one of the greatest Heights soccer goalies ever. His best performance so far has come against Bullis, where he made an incredible PK save followed by an instant kick-save, which led to stud junior Nicky Diaz-Bonilla scoring the winning goal 40 seconds later. The man they call "Kevin", Max Quenneville (Jr) starts in the midfield alongside Edward Iriartre (Jr) and Santi Bendeck (Sr), with Mateo Stadelmann (Sr) and "We love" Enzo Sosa (So) starting up top. The team opened with a 4-1 home victory over JP the Great, and the boosters got rowdy. They would continue into IAC week, where they handled Prep, Landon, and Bullis. The boys would travel to Landover, MD to face DeMatha, where a highly intense game ended in a 0-0 score. The team showed resilience after a heartfelt halftime speech from HC Colin Gleason during the McNamara game. Luke Canady (So) would go on to have a 40 yard banger in a 3-0 victory.  They would go to The District twice the next week with a banger from Iriarte lifting the team over St. John’s in a windy, crucial 1-0 WCAC win, and beat Archbishop Caroll 5-0, with Nicky D-B putting his leg power on full display with 2 goals. Luis Garma (Jr) and Lawson kicked off October with goals against a familiar foe from O’Connell in a 6-0 win, and followed it up with back-to-back conference wins against Ryken and Ireton. Next up was senior day, in which almost everyone found their way in the stat sheet, with Larry Kilmer (Jr), Avery Christen (S o) , and Agwamba getting their first goals of the season in a 8-0 victory over Don Bosco Del Ray. The team currently sits at 11-0-1, and will look forward to tough matchups with Good Counsel and Gonzaga in a few games.

The 2023-24 Cavaliers were an exciting group to watch, with young firepower on offense and a veteran presence on the defensive end. Seniors Luke Scalia (M,A), “Senior Ton” Colosi (M), and “Madlax Jake” Goodwin (A) had great seasons for the team. Jason Agwamba (LSM) and Daniel Kim (D) had stellar, outstanding seasons defensively, with DK being the best Mr. Fundamental in the WCAC. Jason was…well let’s just say beware of the slide from #3. The juniors had some special players, starting with the man in the cage, Chase Stichman (G). A top goalie in the conference, Chase had a 51.9 save %, which is well above average. Owen James (D) and I (D) played well, with Owen repeatedly making top D1 commits look like they just started playing the week before. My season was cut short after 9 games, but I managed to get in a few hard hits while I could. We believed that J.D. DeLellis (D) could step up along with JP Flynn (D) to lock it down defensively, and they did. The D-Mid tandem of Joe Mitch and the All-Met Soccer POTY Finian Godfrey were a great 1-2 punch. Fin, despite having never played before, only needed 15 minutes into his first practice for the coaches to know he was our guy. The guys suffered some tough losses in April to Good Counsel, Paul VI and Gonzaga. We bounced back with some good wins, especially against Yorktown in a sensational OT win courtesy of Grant Lanham (A). Playoffs were up next. We handled O’Connell in the 1st round, with Luke Chambers (M) getting himself on the stat sheet as a pole and the James brother connection on fire. Next up was St. John’s and their highly talented roster, minus the best player in the country. Nevertheless, when we faced off in the regular season, we played it tight, and the score was 5-5 at half, with OJ and Riley Shiner (A) making Navy and Notre Dame commits look like JV players. St. John’s managed to pull away, but it was a good fight. This time around, St. John’s came out fast, and even after scoring the first goal, we just stalled in an unfortunate turn of events in the second half. Brendan James (A) was outstanding all season long with freshmen Shiner and Clark Lanham (M), and as a freshman was demanding the best pole on the other team. The offense is young and will continue to get better. Pio Kirk (M) dogged it out at the faceoff X against some of the best FOGOs in the country. We are excited for the incoming freshmen and next season which starts next month at the biggest high school recruiting tourney in the country!

Rose with his coaches, Liotta, James, Royals, and Lively on signing day. On November 13, Heights School (MD) senior Matthew Rose, one of the best swimmers in the country, officially committed to Purdue University, an excellent school which boasts a powerhouse swimming program in the Big Ten Conference. Rose’s parents, his sixth-grade brother Andrew, coaches Dr. Robert Liotta, Sean Franck and many others were in attendance to witness this historic event. The Heights, a top academic private school in Maryland, is generally known more for sending students to top universities to pursue academic goals. Thus, whenever a stellar athlete comes through the school and excels in both areas, people from around the interconnected DMV area feed into the buzz. Rose’s swimming career can be defined in this moment: The 200m is typically seen as the hardest event in high school swimming. With a WCAC championship at stake, the coaches called on their senior Captain to put the team on his back, and he answered the call. Placed in the anchor position on a s tacked lineup, the Cavs were behind by a half-second when he went in. He managed to catch Gonzaga’s swimmer on the last 25m in a clutch winning effort, which was the first time The Heights ever beat Gonzaga in a relay. Five minutes later, he had a big race in the 200m free, which he was down at the 150m mark, then came back in the last 50m and beat the top Dematha and Gonzaga guys to win the race. The Cavs went on to win the 200 IM after that, “all of which were crazy races,” said Rose. “A leader of men who is always the first one in, last guy out and always pushing his teammates to be better than the day before,” said Co-senior Captain Ryan Franck at Rose’s signing day. Rose not only works hard in the pool, but excels in the classroom as well, and he will continue doing so at Purdue, where he earned an offer for both his academic and athletic achievements. One of the better swimmers to come out of the competitive area that is the DMV, Rose has made a name for himself in the water. During his career, he has been undefeated in Individual Duel Races, a 3 time WCAC Gold Medalist, 3 time WCAC Silver Medalist,  2 time First Team All-WCAC, 2 time Second Team All-WCAC, WMPSSDL All-League, 2 time WMPSSDL Silver Medalist, a 2 time All-Met Honorable Mention, and the most points scored in a Heights Swimming program that has boasted masses of talent over the years. Out of all of these, he would still say his greatest achievement of his high school career would be avoiding the scrutiny of Assistant Headmaster Mr. Tom Royals for 4 years simply by being a swimmer. Rose also practices with some of the best the world has to offer, practicing with Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer and fellow DMVer Torri Huske multiple times over the last year. As earlier mentioned, Rose still manages to put academics first, writing a Jackson Scholar Thesis, which is a class only offered to senior students with GPAs of 3.95 or higher, on “The Effect of Smart Technology and Media on Generation Z’s Parental Relationships,” and is looking to pursue an engineering career after he hangs up swimming.

The starting 11 in a pregame huddle before facing Paul VI. Defending a title is hard in any sport. In the competitive gauntlet that is the WCAC, it is that much harder. On Tuesday, October 29, The Heights fell to Bishop McNamara in a 0-1 playoff matchup in what some assumed to be an underwhelming season. Nevertheless, this year’s Cavs team was full of talent despite losing 13 seniors the year before. Head Coach Colin Gleason had to take a different approach to his strategy and schemes after losing a physical group, relying this year on more technical players and play designs. Assistant Coach Pedro Paz had the midfield, the strength of the team, improving every week with Senior Captains Edward Iriarte and Luis Garma leading the way. The midseason return of their third captain, Nicky Diaz-Bonilla, brought a new energy and fervor to a team that was still finding its new identity at that particular moment. Diaz-Bonilla quickly picked up where he left off the year before, scoring and assisting in nearly every game for the rest of the season. He and senior Max Quenneville led a scary offensive attack along with junior Enzo Sosa up top. The fanbase traveled well, which not many schools can boast. The goalkeeping position was a question in the offseason, but it only took a remarkable save early in the season from senior Brandon Pin vs. Georgetown Prep in a 1-0 win to let goalie coach Kyle Blackmer know he was their guy. Along with a young keeper in Elias Hughes, he and Pin performed well down the stretch. Tough league battles included losses to Good Counsel, O'Connell, Gonzaga, DeMatha and wins against McNamara (3-2), a senior day victory (1-0) against St. John's and a long journey to St. Mary's Ryken that included a questionable red card against Quenneville and memorable food experiences in a 5-0 rout. Standout junior defender Avery Christen arguably played the best ball of his career on a fractured arm, showing the toughness that comes with playing Heights sports. Bright spots off the bench were sophomore Lucas Stadelmann and whichever Nicolacci twin came off the bench. Next up was the playoffs, where in a tightly contested battle, the Cavs fell to McNamara in a heartbreaking 0-1 quarterfinal loss on the road. The team looks to regroup next season with its new crop of emerging upper class men talent taking the pitch.

High school lacrosse playoff week. Pregame tensions are running high between two of the top teams in the Washington, D.C., area before a 7 pm face off. As senior goalie Tommy Gross, who has a Black dad and a white mom, takes the field against Paul VI High School on May 3rd, 2022, he looks over at their bench and sees there are zero players of color on their team. He and 4 others on his team will once again be the only Black players in the game. Gross, who is biracial, is a little bothered by this. He knows a large part of why there are no Black kids on the other team is due to some racial taunting the school can be known for. The US population has a 13% Black population, with a small amount playing lacrosse.  As a leader, Gross knows he cannot let them into his head, and he ended up performing well with a remarkable “save” percentage of 47.4%, albeit in a tough loss that ended his season. However, Gross had won a bigger battle that season and during his high school career, which was performing at the highest level while being a minority by simply outworking everyone else. A senior goalie from The Heights School in Potomac, Maryland, Gross has always stood out on the lacrosse field—not just for his skill, but for his role as a trailblazer in a sport often seen as exclusive to one race. Growing up in ethnically diverse Silver Spring, Maryland, Gross was accustomed to a melting pot of cultures. Playing at a school with little diversity was initially a challenge, both on and off the field. Gross’ journey in lacrosse has been marked by resilience and determination on and off the field. It was early on in his freshman year of high school that Gross experienced racial issues in those areas. Lacrosse, long regarded as a sport for the privileged, was a world of barriers for many, especially for minorities. Just 14 years ago, the sport’s minority participation was a mere 6%, with only 1.9% of players at the collegiate level being Black. In 2016 Hampton University finally broke ground with the first Division 1 men’s program at a historically Black college. These major breakthroughs are, “huge milestones for an ever-growing sport,” said Grant Lanham, a former teammate of Gross and Agwamba.   Lacrosse has always been seen as a “privileged” sport where only the rich and prestigious could partake. But growing prominence on TV, scholarships and other opportunities have shaped a new view of the sport in the Black community in the last decade. Gabe Robinson, an attackman at St. James School in Hagerstown, Maryland, remembers his first time picking up a stick. “Just being able to play with the stick felt fulfilling,” he said. Robinson noticed that as time went on, there were black kids that stopped playing simply because they could not keep up with the big financial commitment.  Lacrosse is expensive, with sticks alone costing between $80–$250, plus other equipment like goggles, cleats, mouth guards, and helmets. Some say it's only accessible to the economic elite. But as years have gone by, the increased number of players leading to mass production of equipment have led to reduced pricing and therefore an increased interest in the black community. Robinson witnesses this firsthand and feels it more as he gets older, saying whenever he takes the field, having more black people makes you feel “less alone and more accepted.” However, more black players on the field does not solve all the issues.  When he was in sixth grade, Robinson was playing in a lacrosse game for his travel team. During the game, one of his teammates of color (me) got into a ground ball scrum with another white player. Somehow it got heated, and it led to the opposing player calling his friend the n-word and a short brawl between the two. Robinson had to hold him back as he was trying to go after the other kid, who was ejected shortly after. Their coach, Ben Chisolm, who played at The University of Maryland for his college career, told them, “You cannot respond like that. You will let them win.”  Robinson learned from that experience how some people in the sport still saw and looked down on minority players. He took his coaches’ words to heart by not letting anyone say he did not deserve to be where he was at any point and time by outworking them on and off the field. His hard work is paying off as he will play in college for Hamilton College starting in 2025. “[It] sucks that we still live in a separated world [in parts of the country,]” said Iona University freshman defender Jason Agwamba, who attended the same high school as Gross. His journey underscores the importance of community and support systems in overcoming barriers in sports. In a separate instance at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., in 2023, star midfielder Cody Hobson was the recipient of a degrading racial prank by a white player on his team. Hobson opened his locker to find a monkey mask and a banana lying in it. He was hurt that someone who he took the field with would even think about doing something as derogatory as it was to him, the school, and the team. Although the kid was expelled, “[It was] something Hobson should have never had to endure simply because the kid sincerely believed he would get away with it,” said Lanham. This is an attitude which is dissipating, but sometimes not fast enough. Many of these racial issues rely on the stereotypes against minority players. Robinson, Gross and Agwamba all have had moments where someone either in their family or a stranger looked at them sideways because they said they played lacrosse. It does not sit right with them that people think the sport is only “for rich boys,” said Agwamba. Agwamba spent little money on equipment during high school, saying, “If you genuinely love the sport, that’s your payment right there.” Agwamba credits one of his best friends as well for giving him equipment so that he did not have to spend much money. Cultural aspects of the game can seem unappealing to the eye of a kid that does not come from your typical “private school neighborhood” such as Agwamba, who grew up in Laurel, Maryland, which has a large black population. White institutions have created rules and regulations that make it more appealing to students who attend wealthy private schools. The game's exclusivity and large team size make it appealing to families looking to improve their children's chances of getting into prestigious universities.  Gross, who is now the goalie for St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, saw the increase of black kids taking advantage of these opportunities in recent years, such as Will Wright, a first generation US citizen who attends Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts, plays for Next Level Lacrosse in Bethesda, Maryland and will play at Boston University next year. Gross knows these scholarship opportunities to these prestigious schools have the opportunity to “change a kid’s life,” and a prime example is Wright, who may have not had that opportunity even 15 years ago.  This inspires student-athletes of color to excel not only on the field, but also in the classroom, where the opportunity to be accepted into a top college through sports and good grades is now a real possibility these kids can lean on.  Another reason why more black kids are picking up a stick is because of players coming back to their communities and running clinics or travel teams directed toward those who may have no other way to access the sport. One of the top programs, Harlem Lacrosse, serves more than 1,000 students nationwide across 19 programs in Baltimore, Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles with a focus on low-income communities and students who are most vulnerable to academic decline and drop out.  One of Gross’ highlights of high school was playing for Nations United, a travel team featuring top black players from around the country. As one of a few black students at his high school, Gross says he felt “more accepted” in a sense like Robinson when surrounded by more guys that looked like him. These black athletes serve as role models and advocates for the sport within their communities. Their achievements help challenge stereotypes and inspire younger players to pursue lacrosse, demonstrating that talent and dedication are the true measures of success in the sport. Gross says, “It’s important for black lacrosse players to come back to their community and give back to give perspective to players. I think that it helps younger players see a path to college athletics." Growth of lacrosse in the school system further exposes the sport to more eyes. In 2010, the number of boys and girls in high school lacrosse was approximately 170,000. In 2020, that number increased to approximately 213,000 largely due to increased interest in the black community.  This also consequently led to the increased number of black players at the collegiate level. The game is becoming more inclusive with the numbers increasing every year. In 2022, there were 159 Black athletes on NCAA Division I men's lacrosse teams, which was a 120% increase from 2021. In 2023, that number increased to 168 players across 75 programs, with an average of 2.24 players per school, and that number stayed steady through 2024. Gross attributes his success to his parents staying married. Family foundation is important, especially for a race that has seen the highest rate of single-parent households in America since the 1990s per the census. Gross is grateful for his father, Rick, who was a great athlete at Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, Maryland. He played football collegiately at Wesley College his freshman year before transferring to Maryland for academics. He is now a high school teacher, while still putting his family first and it is this which inspires Gross to do his best in everything no matter the situation. It drives him to outwork everyone who doubts he could play whether it is practicing stick skills or becoming a role model for others that come after him.  Gross never wanted anyone to say to him that he did not “give everything he had.” He said, "You can teach technique and other aspects of the game through practice. Work ethic is something you cannot teach." Late Laker legend Kobe Bryant said he never wanted to leave a game thinking he could have done more. Some guys just have the drive to go harder than anyone else on the field, and Gross, Agwamba and Robinson all have that drive, that hunger, that passion for leaving it all out there.  Further explanations as to why lacrosse is growing so fast among the Black community can be compared to the growth of the NFL post-1950s. Initially, football was dismissed as an inferior activity that some of your friends would make fun of you for playing. However, as time went on, the sport generally gained more attention because players in the league would come and promote the sport to younger kids in their hometown area.  Similar to the NFL, players such as Gross come back to their communities and help run camps to promote the sport for kids of color.  TV deals with CBS, Fox and ESPN are helping the collegiate and professional levels gain more nationwide attention, similar to what happened to the NFL. The amount of players at every level began to increase, similar to what is now happening with the amount of Black lacrosse players. As a result, more people gained interest, which led to more revenue and national attention. We are seeing this happen at all the levels of the sport and it will only continue to grow with the help of the right social media outlets as well.  Agwamba always is making sure everyone on his team is good on and off the field, saying, “The greatest thing you can do is not individual work, but go find a small group of friends because you’re going to need someone to back you for support.” Being a minority lacrosse player that had to lean on others to find his way, Agwamba is a prime example of what happens when you have a dream and outwork everyone to make it to the top. It is that type of guy who inspires the younger youth to partake in the sport and help it grow. As young Black athletes continue to break barriers and showcase their skills on the field, they not only elevate the game but also inspire the next generation of players to see lacrosse as a sport for everyone. By amplifying diverse voices and building stronger community connections, Maryland is shaping the future of lacrosse—one where every player, regardless of background, has the opportunity to thrive. The growth of Black lacrosse is not just good for the sport; it’s vital for its continued evolution, ensuring that lacrosse becomes a game that truly represents all athletes who love it.

By: Paul Anglade UPPER MARLBORO, MD- Khyree Jackson, a cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings, was killed in a multi-car accident in the early hours of July 6th, 2024, along with his two close friends, Isaiah Hazel and Anthony Lytton Jr. The crash was caused by a woman driving recklessly. Police said investigators "believe alcohol may have been a contributing circumstance in the crash,” per the police report on State Route 4 near Upper Marlboro, Maryland, where the woman’s vehicle hit another car in addition to Jackson’s. Jackson, Hazel, and Lytton Jr. grew up in Upper Marlboro and won a state championship together at Dr. Henry A. Wise High School. Jackson went on to play football at Alabama and Oregon before being selected in the 4th round of the 2024 NFL Draft by Minnesota. Hazel played close to home at Maryland and later Charlotte, while Lytton Jr. played at Florida State and Penn State.  Terrion Arnold, a good friend and teammate of Jackson’s at Alabama, and a first round pick of the Detroit Lions in April. said on Twitter (X), “You hurt me with this one dude. The journey it took for you to get to where you was at and you really accomplished your goals of making it to the NFL, you really looked out for me. A true brother and all you wanted to do was see me succeed and vice versa always love slim.” resser, “Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him.”  Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah also spoke out, saying, “I am heartbroken by the loss of Khyree. As we got to know him throughout the pre-draft process, it was clear the goals Jackson wanted to accomplish both professionally and personally. His story was one of resilience. He was taking steps to become the best version of himself not just for him, but for those who cared about and looked up to him.” Jackson played mostly as a 3rd or 4th corner at Alabama before transferring to Oregon in 2023, where he had a career year with 34 total tackles and 3 interceptions. Oregon HC Dan Lanning was very fond of Jackson on and off the field because of his work ethic and character, saying he was a “great player and even better person.” Oregon OC Will Stein said, “Sick to my stomach over this… Khyree will be missed by everyone that knew him.” Jackson was competing and looking to be a top starting corner for the Vikings this upcoming season, a position they believed he would be able to fill, per an ABC News report. Coming out of the DMV area, where many people have become professional athletes in just about every sport, Jackson was looking to become the next great football player from that area, with some of the most notable being Chase Young (New Orleans), Stefon (Houston) and Trevon Diggs (Dallas), Rodney McLeod Jr. (Cleveland), Caleb Williams (Chicago), and Ja’Whaun Bentley (New England). Resilience is a common theme for DMV-bred athletes, especially the ones who were not highly recruited and talked about. A perfect example is Josh Hart of the New York Knicks, who although played and won at the highest level in college, was not a top guy in his draft class and had to scrape and grind for everything he received. Years later, he is now one of the most important pieces on the Knicks in their championship conquest. Jackson emanated that same mentality because although he did go to Alabama, arguably the best CFB program of the last decade, he initially quit football at one point after high school before returning to the sport at a community college and ascending to the Division I level. He did not see the field often. It was only when he was able to remember who he was as a person and a player that he used his confidence to restart and become one of the best guys at his position. Lots of kids in the DMV go through this struggle sometimes, and Jackson served as an example of not quitting on your dreams when it gets tough and continuing the grind relentlessly. Khyree Jackson, Anthony Lytton Jr. and Isaiah Hazel’s lives were cut short due to circumstances beyond their control. Their legacies will live on to other kids in the DMV area as inspirations to go and achieve your dreams, and to not let anything stop you.

This 75th season of the National Basketball Association has a great variety of reasons to watch it this season. A new, young and hungry generation has filled in holes where many stars have struggled. Players such as Tyrese Maxey, Ja Morant, Tyler Herro, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Zach Lavine, Lamelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Trae Young, Anthony Edwards, Jordan Poole, De’Aaron Fox, and Immanuel Quickley have established themselves as the next pool of talent in the NBA. Surprisingly, some of the league’s former leading scorers have seen their numbers drop this season. Guys such as Damian Lillard, Trae Young, James Harden, Bradley Beal, Joel Embiid, and Devin Booker have seen their PPG drop by a good number this season. A lot of this has to do with the new foul rule. Last season, we saw a lot of fouls drawn by the likes of Harden, Young, Chris Paul, Booker, and Kevin Durant. Their numbers have gone down because they are not getting the rest of those points at the free throw line like they were used to. This season, there is a new rule in place that states that there will not be a foul called if the offensive player clearly initiates the contact. An example of this is what Booker and Young love to do. They blow by their defender, then wait until the defender is right behind him. Then they stop on a dime and shoot, the defender runs into him, there is clear contact, and a shooting foul is called. This year the refs hopefully are not going to call that so often anymore.                      Another aspect of this season is the current record of teams and where they are headed. The Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, and the Utah Jazz have had stellar seasons, maintaining the best records in the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers have had a surprising season so far, to say the least, as they have been at .500 or below for most of the season. The Lakers were the preseason favorite to come out of the West, but the teams that are leading not just their conference, but the league have dominated the Lakers in their regular season matchups. The Lakers also have the oldest NBA roster by far, having an age average of 33.5 years old. The youngest roster in the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder, have an age average of 22.8. Staying on the floor has also been an issue for the Lakers. On November 21st, LeBron James nearly decapitated Detroit Pistons big man Isiah Stewart, who proceeded to give us his best Derrick Henry impression as it took nearly the entire Pistons staff, plus security officials, to hold him back as an entire side of his face was covered with blood. It was LeBron’s first suspension of his career. Anthony Davis has also had some knee issues and came back on January 25th after being out for a month. Russell Westbrook’s shot has been sick ever since he left the Thunder, so that is not helping them. A 37-year-old Carmelo Anthony is the Lakers’ most accurate shooter coming off the bench, shooting a solid 43.6% from the field. If the Lakers want to make it out of the West, they will have to get back on track fast, because the Warriors were looking unstoppable without Klay Thompson, who came back on January 9th. The Phoenix Suns have been one of the teams that no one is talking about, but they should be. They went an unrealistic 16-0 run back in November. They opened December by defeating the Warriors, holding Stephen Curry to just 12 points in his MVP campaign. The East, on the other hand, is looking at the Nets, Bucks, Bulls, and the Heat as the top teams. A team that most people thought would be top in the East are the 76ers, who have not been able to find a point guard in Ben Simmons’ absence. The big problem with this team is the point guard position. The current starting point guard, Tyrese Maxey, is a solid role player, but he needs a guy that he can look up to and learn from at his position to take the next step I believe he can take. Ben Simmons was supposed to be that guy. He is not proving to be that guy this season, as he has not played a single game due to his false claim that the organization did not surround him with a good enough team to succeed. The 76ers have a certified All-Star in Joel Embiid, and solid players in Seth Curry, Tobias Harris, and Matisse Thybulle. Simmons is afraid to shoot the ball, scoring only 5 points in an embarrassing Game 7 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in last season’s semifinals. He followed this dispiriting performance by coming in at training camp the next season with such a negative attitude it got him kicked out by head coach Doc Rivers. It has come to the point where 76ers fans themselves want Simmons out of Philly. Points guards to consider would be De’Aaron Fox from the Kings, Dejounte Murray from the Spurs, and James Harden from the Nets. The trade deadline is on February 10th.

The 2022 Maryland women’s soccer team is looking to continue to improve after a disappointing season, considering the amount of talent on the roster. Head coach Meghan Ryan Nemzer says this year’s team has players who have already been on the national stage, and that could help to change the team’s mindset to one of a champion. Nemzer stated that the biggest cultural shift she is implementing is a championship mindset by going hard every minute of the game.  Coach Nemzer believes that what it takes is to get 1% better every day, and to lean on upperclassmen to guide the younger players to success on and off the field. Her line of thinking can be compared to Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and “Heat Culture.” The Heat have had their superstar players over the years, but every player on the roster is putting their own interests and stats before the team, regardless of their role. Coach Nemzer is working on putting this mentality into the team, and has gotten some of the top recruits around the country to come to Maryland. The message is simple: why wouldn’t you want to come to a school that is among the best academically in the Big Ten, has an active student body, and has good teams in all sports. The great thing about this team is that it is led by the players holding each other accountable and being exceptional leaders. Coach Nemzer said that she is looking for the “X-factor” kind of person, the one who gives her A game on and off the field. She believes that you cannot make someone turn out to be that way, but that they have to have it coming in.  Transfers are going to be a big addition to the squad this year, with Liz Beardley coming in from Georgia to strengthen the goalie position. The 2023 recruiting class was number one in the country, and the 2024 recruiting class is said to be around the top twenty. Many of these players are located in the DMV area or up north in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. One of the reasons people are coming to Maryland is the location, which is perfect for jobs and internships in D.C. and the surrounding area. The positive cultural change is also helping draw more recruits to consider Maryland as their top choice. The new kind of leadership, poise, and determination is exactly what recruits and their parents are looking for. Caroline Koutsos, a senior who was a WCAC champion in 2018 at Good Counsel High School in Olney, MD, is a prime example of someone who has experience of being able to lead and rally the troops when it gets tough. This team will be exciting to watch this upcoming season, and will be having their first scrimmages in early August. The season will start in September, and coming to home games at Ludwig Field will be rowdy courtesy of the Crew.