What to expect from the Friars for the fall season.

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Water Polo seeking Inter-Ac four-peat

With several returning starters and a strong Junior class, the Water Polo team has a target on their backs.

Varsity Water Polo is looking to win their fourth consecutive Inter-ac championship and the odds are in their favor.

Led by senior captains Nick Calvaresi ’17 and Zach Maher ’17 the water polo team is currently 5-0 with big wins over several East Coast powerhouses including Loyola, and Calvert Hall.

The team started league play already with an 11-1 win over Friends Central. Isaac Salinas ’16 led the charge with 6 goals while Seamus Glynn racked up 5 steals.

Juniors and returning First team all Inter-ac players Steve Salle ’16 and Isaac Salinas ’16 are both leading the team powerful shots.

Upcoming Juniors Seamus Glynn and Sean Oates help round out the team on defense. “We are getting a lot of production on defense from Seamus who leads the team in steals,” Sean said.

The question of who would play goalie after Rory Allen graduated, has now been solved. Both Griffin Delaney ‘18 and Jack Leyden ‘18 have shared the starting role and it will continue to play out this way for the remainder of the season, or until one of them steps up and assumes the entire role.

The team faces tough competition in the upcoming weeks with LaSalle, known for their competitive swimming and The Hill School, a boarding school in Pottstown.

–J. McGlinn

Koenig’s Friars looking to take the next step

After finishing 2nd in Inter-Ac play this season, the Friars hope to “run away” with this year’s cross-country title.

Last year didn’t end the way the team hoped, but with talent and speed from top to bottom, this year’s team can certainly beat last year’s finish.

“The expectation every year is to win the league,” Coach Mike Koenig said. “[And to place] top 3 at states,” he said.

Along with the shared goal of winning the league, each runner sets individual goals that they hope to hit as well.

“Once they have a couple of races under their belt we can start to figure out where they’ll be by the end of the season,” Koenig said. [Those goals] always operate within the framework of a team goal,” he said.

Senior Ryan Franks, for example, has individual goals set for himself, but keeps the team within focus.

“My goals this year were to be one of our top 7 varsity runners, break 20 minutes, and bring the Inter-Ac title back to Warren Avenue,” Franks said.

This year’s team, lead by Juniors Peter Borger, John Powers, and Danny Malloy, as well as Seniors Luke Matzke and Zac DeStefano, looks set to contend not only in the Inter-Ac, but in State competitions as well.

–H. Malone

Friar Golf has tough act to follow

Even though the 2015 Friars compiled an overall record of 39-2-1, as well as a league record of 29-0-1, the returning players this year are prepared to give this season their all, and try to meet their now lofty expectations.

“Our goal every year is to win the Inter-Ac team championship so this year is no different,” Head Coach Gary Duda said. “The PAISSA State Tournament title is also in our sights as we compete against the top private schools in the state of Pa in late October.”

Senior Captains Nick Miller and Gavin Sims lead the way for the Friars, with the rest of the team being rounded out by Juniors Matt Davis, Eric McLaughlin, and Griffin Kennedy, as well as sophomores John Updike, Matt Civitella, Andrew Curran and Kevin Hagan.

They currently sit at 5 wins and 2 losses, although both losses came in tournament play with multiple different teams competing.

“My hope for the remainder of the season is that all the members of the team will be able to play to the best of their ability,” Senior John Sudjian said, “and be able to achieve our goals for the year of winning the Inter-Ac and the State Championship.”

Despite the sky-high expectations this year, the Friars are determined to work as hard as they can to be the best team they can be.

–H. Malone[/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end]

Championship goals for Brady and Friar Football

Inter-Ac conference play looms as Friars start season strong with wins against high-caliber schools like LaSalle and Pope John Paul.

With a high-powered offense, and a stifling defensive presence, 2016 looks like the year the Friars could bring the Inter-Ac conference title back home.

The objective this season is the same as always. “The biggest thing is to win our games at home, and win the league,” Head Coach Aaron Brady said candidly

Although Malvern lost it’s inaugural game this season to the fellow-Augustinians at St. Augustine’s Prep in New Jersey, Brady and the team bounced quickly with key wins over LaSalle and Pope John Paul.

It goes without saying that after the season, Senior leaders will graduate, and players in the rising class must step up and carry the torch. This year’s leaders seem more than up to the task of guiding the team to victory.

“Jake Glavin, Mike Fay, Justin Tichenell, Jerry Curran, and Zac Fernandez,” Brady said. “Those five guys, it starts right there,” he said.

Along with Brady, the Friars themselves believe that they can win the win the Inter-Ac this year and knock the Fords off their perch.

“We are really excited for Inter-Ac play to start,” Senior Matt Daller said. “But we have two big game this week and next week to deal with first,” Daller said.

–H. Malone

Coyle, Pina, Albergo lead Soccer in 2016

Although losing key players from last season to the ever-inevitable graduation, Seniors Billy Coyle, Cullen Pina, and Nate Albergo are ready to move on from the past and into the future of Malvern soccer.

Although the 2015 Friars aspired to win the Inter-Ac, the team’s season came to an end with a loss to Haverford, and a 2nd place finish in the conference standings. But this year’s squad is set on history not repeating itself.

“With the amount of talent we have, I expect to win the Inter-Ac,” Albergo said. “We lost key seniors last year but we’ve had new arrivals step up, as well as returning varsity players.”

Although the team currently holds record of 3-3-1, the team beat The Kiski School, one of the best teams in Pennsylvania by a convincing 3-0 final score. Also, conference play hasn’t started yet, leaving the door wide open for the Friars.

In addition to this year’s team captains, Malvern has also been lifted by strong play from the underclassmen, specifically juniors Jake Hodlofski and Mike Castaldi.

–H. Malone

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