What's Bruin?

Winter's Bitter End...

2010-02-26T10:00:00.005-05:00

By now you've no doubt heard about the resolutions of Park's indoor seasons. The latter days of winter saw Bruins wrestle respectability from forecasts of doom while others found devastation where they'd expected glory.

Boys' basketball fell in the former of those classifications, slowing their semifinal game with heavily favored Chapelgate to a strategic crawl. Though the Yellowjackets had confidently handled the Bruins twice earlier in the season, for 3 quarters at least the contest remained a toss up. With little pressure to succeed, or even remain in the gym, our Parkies matched the undefeated front-runner blow for blow before finally succumbing in the final stanza. All in all, the boys built quite a season with no abundance of raw material, and may have begun to address some of their needs for next year with their experience at the end. Well done.

The squash team had a similar finish, impressively passing all but 1 of their number through to the second round of their individual tournament. Matched against some of the premier players in the country, the second day didn't go quite so well, but it was a proud showing by the ever-improving team. My own inaugural experience on day 1 (maybe I'm the good luck charm...?) was fantastic. Make a point to head to Meadow Mill next year and check these kids out!

The aforementioned athletes faced little doubt in their games. Most expected them to lose. The girls basketballers, however, found that doubt, like any number of analogous bacteria or viruses that given the space to multiply and gain strength, can quickly become lethal. Doubt is a killer. Slacken your defenses for just a moment and it crashes in, humbling the mightiest of individuals and spreading through teams like a malignancy. Doubt may have been present in the minds of some, though certainly not many, among the Park throng prior to their championship bid last Sunday. It's not uncommon for teenagers and adults alike to carry doubt throughout their entire lives with little or no symptoms or consequences. If it was present, it was apparently sealed away early as the Bruins managed the somewhat sloppy contest on their terms for a half. The locker room speech rang of confidence and motivation. But, if you watched closely, somewhere there in the third period you may have noticed it; just a shadow at first, but unmistakable nonetheless. Doubt. While still largely innocuous (the Bruins held a 9 point lead shortly into the fourth), tentacles of apprehension, gloom and despondency began their silent creep from player to player. Park fell behind, struggled to tie and faced an overtime. All the while the doubt gained, until the Bruins' no longer grasped the game they'd seemed destined to play in all year. Shots and free throws ceased to fall and eyes rarely left the floor during time outs. The girls were finished.

Another malady entirely affected the indoor soccer squad. The girls had apparently simply forgotten to set their alarm clocks, and at the conclusion of the first half, the Bruins awoke to find themselves down 4-1. Thankfully, their talent hadn't remained in their pajamas, and Park roared back early in the second, tying the game with 10 minutes to play. That effort continued for the remainder of the contest, but Garrison managed to squeeze 1 more goal through and it was enough to earn the win.

The winter of 09-10 will go down in the annals of history as a success, and rightfully so. Yet, no banners have been ordered, and the haunting questions remain. What does it take to get over that final hump... and where can we find some?

...Check out the article on former Bruin, Zac White!

Got Snow?

2010-02-16T14:17:00.000-05:00

Among other things, a profound sense of guilt has driven me back to my keyboard in hopes of reviving What's Bruin. The feeling surfaced due in no small part to the castigation I've received via emails, phone calls and personal conversation with squash players and their fans regarding an erroneous, though outdated, post accusing them of remaining winless. The squash team HAS INDEED defeated Loyola and Friends. Forgive my ignorance squashers and, in the future, help to forestall it by granting me the occasional update!

Back to the grind, as it were, though I suppose many of us might consider our recent extended "vacation" to have been more laborious than any comparable period spent at work. Anyway, it appears the majority of us have adequately dug our way out of our igloos, motivated by Park's determination to return to some sense of normalcy before April and no shortage of cabin fever. Consequently, upon enduring the voyage characterized by craning necks around gargantuan mounds of graying snow substituting for stop signs at nearly every intersection and tiptoeing through the ice fields that mar the walk from car to office, we find ourselves back on campus. To our dismay, those few of us hunkered down in the PAC today have found ourselves thrust into a sports upheaval the likes of which none can recall occurring prior. The "storm(s) of the century" has, among other unpleasantries, shifted most postseasons springward by at least a week. The final week of the boys basketball season has been canceled, flash-freezing the standings but allowing all to enter the playoffs. Other teams find themselves returning to almost unrecognizable gymnasiums, ghostly venues holding vague memories of contests played oh so long ago. And it's game time! There's no warm up period in place so snow-weary squads can relearn their games. Oh no. Girls' basketball Quarterfinals are TODAY! Indoor soccer Semifinals are TODAY! Squash Team Semifinals are TODAY and Individual Playoffs begin TOMORROW (right gang?)! Boys' basketball Quarters are Thursday and Semis are Friday. Welcome back Bruins!

This week the girls' basketball team hopes to put a definitive end to the saga that has, due to no fault of the current roster, dragged on for 2 years after unexpected losses in 2 successive championships. You've heard the story before, as have the girls, and the added expectations and subsequent pressure to which they've been exposed as a result are unfair. Still they hang as a cliched dark cloud shadowing their romp through the regular season. Perhaps I'm making it all up, but it sure makes for good drama, no? First up is a quarterfinal showdown against Glenelg who has succumbed to the Bruins twice already, by 26 and 30 points, earlier in the year. Provided the win, the next opponent would be the Lutheran/BT/Oldfields winner. Their combined record versus Park is 0-4 with an average point differential of over 30, but I digress lest I jinx the outcome any further.

Indoor soccer is poised for a run at a championship as well, seated number 1 in the B-Conference. However, they face the task of regaining their cohesion and shaking the ice from their (soccer) boots after the long layoff. Their semifinal foe, Glenelg, conveniently played a quarterfinal game yesterday providing them a useful return to action before today's showdown at Du Burns arena. Are the Bruins rested or rusty following nature's interruption of their momentum? Will the defense return impenetrable or immobile after so many days of home-bound seclusion and Olympic television their only means of athletic outlet? We'll see. Further complicating the situation is St. Tim's decision to forfeit their semifinal against Garrison allowing the 2 seed a free pass to Thursday's final.

Boys basketball, it could be said, had the most conventional return to play, were it not for the outright wiping of the slate that was the remainder of the regular season. With no apparent alternative, the MIAA struck the final week of the schedule so as to maintain some semblance of their proposed playoff picture intact. The move cinched the 4 spot for the Bruins, which means a quarterfinal matchup with Indian Creek, whom Park beat 52-43 in their gym a month ago. What follows would be an imposing semifinal against 9-0 Chapelgate. The unfortunate truth is, had mother nature left well enough alone, the Bruins stood to face the dregs of the conference in their final games. Key (the 3 seed), on the other hand, was slated to play against 2 of the best. Third place would have been up for grabs with luck leaning slightly the Bruins' way. Alas, it was not to be but, regardless, the road to the title appears to wind its way through Chapelgate and Beth Tfiloh. No matter the side of the enlarged bracket, Park must take on all comers.

Welcome back everyone! Show your colors this week and support our contenders!

GO BRUINS!

Week of January 11... Back to work.

2010-01-13T00:06:00.000-05:00

Welcome back everyone. Here's hoping that students enjoyed their break and those real world adults out there at least enjoyed the thought of one. If it's any consolation to the unfortunate working class, Park athletes were forced to report for duty during the winter hiatus as well. The Hoops for Habitat Tournament interrupted the 2-week vacation, leaving both the boys' and girls' teams with unpleasant tastes in their mouths.

For the boys' basketball squad, the entire 2-day competition proved a struggle. A not-what-they-used-to-be athletic and savvy Grace Bible team pushed the Bruins to the limit, who toughed out a fourth quarter, 3 point victory. The tourney final did not go nearly as well. The Metro top 10 Edmondson-Westside Red Storm hammered the hapless Parkies. All the heart in the world may not have been enough to slow the waves of linebacker-sized aerialists that seemed to materialize from the opposition's bench. All the morbid details can be found elsewhere on the website. January seems to have lifted the boys' spirits, however (perhaps it's the return to classes). In their return, the Bruins got their first C-Conference win against the then undefeated Key School Obezags, and followed with their second B-Conference upset, knocking off Boys' Latin. Oddly enough, that brings the boys' record to 1-2 in the C and 2-0 in the B! There's been heart and guts and, at times, streaks of precision shooting intermingled with breathtaking slashes to the basket. There's also been fumbles and lapses in discipline and concentration intermingled with the tried and true habit of playing down to lesser adversaries. Plagued by this sort of inconsistency, Park faces a difficult road to the playoffs.

MBB: 1/13 @ Indian Creek, 1/15 @ Sts. Peter & Paul

The version presented by the girls' basketballers offered a bit more drama but the same second place dissatisfaction in the end. Grace Bible's girls apparently haven't been visiting the same recruiting neighborhoods their boys have frequented in recent years. They played the part of speedbump in the Bruins' drive to the final. Bryn Mawr put up a tougher fight, however, and unlike the Park boys, our girls sadly have no magic spell for defeating B-Conference teams. In the end, the Bruins found themselves trailing by but 3 points when time expired, a slim loss and an exciting game but a shock to the system nonetheless. The girls are currently 7-0 in the C-Conference and have enjoyed an average margin of victory of 25 points in their 10 overall wins. That statistic includes the 3 league conquests since returning to school, over Lutheran (62-22), AACS (65-36) and St. Tim's (53-20). The run has again sparked conversations on the appropriateness of the girls' C classification. The arguments for a move are credible and many (and, by the way, the transition year is upon us), but perhaps the most damning evidence against the upgrade is the conspicuous lack of that ever-elusive championship. Perhaps this is the year... let's not go there. And, take heart C-Conference haters; rumor has it that several B teams may be descending to liven up our next regular season. Stay tuned...

WBB: 1/11 v. New Town HS, 1/13 @ Key

The winter break caused a brief stir among the indoor soccer girls as well, unleashing a fleeting offensive outburst as they toppled Oldfields in bookend games (12/17 and 1/5) games by a combined tally of 27-1. Ouch. Reality snapped the team from its postseason daydreams, however, when the Bruins met second place (then 4-2) Garrison. The result was a 1-8 thumping, even despite another 23 save performance by goalie Nikki Casper. Normally a defensive powerhouse, with just over a 1 goal-per-game-against average in their 7 total wins, Park was spread thin by the Grizzlies' attack who notched scores with 6 different players. Park had beaten Garrison earlier in the year and, though a rude awakening, the Bruins remain alone in first place at 6-1. Only 1 game (3 points) now separates the 2 teams and, as the soccer gods would have it, they'll play 1 more before season's end.

ISC: 1/13 v. St. Tim's

Park squash remains winless in the hyper-competitive A-Conference, though they've shown signs of life, narrowly missing a win against Friends before the break. Unfortunately, details on the team are lacking just about everywhere and (fortunately I suppose) few among the group have visited the athletic training room so there's little to report. Though another game against undefeated Gilman looms in the near future, there are potential victories to be had in the weeks ahead, and the determined Bruins continue to improve.

SQ: 1/12 v. Gilman, 1/14 v. St. Paul's

With recent improvements in score reporting and the consistent updating of the website, What's Bruin looks to become less of a report on games past and more a look to the future and, perhaps, an outlet for thoughts on the program and/or high school competition in general. Send me your ideas, arguments and philosophies. Let's hear all that's good and bad about Park athletics, the ins and outs of Bruindom, and your ponderings on the MIAA/IAAM and all that is teen sports.

Weeks of December 7 & 14...

2009-12-01T11:46:00.000-05:00

Welcome to a special 2-week BONUS EDITION of What's Bruin! I hope you're excited. Those of you out there unfortunate enough to be cursed with a "glass half-empty" outlook on life might see it as my having dropped the ball last week... poor souls. Anyway... winter sports have now ventured into the thick of their seasons as conference games begin to monopolize the schedules once dotted by scrimmages and non-peer play-ins.

Indoor soccer was among the first to truly get going, and did they. After having already defeated 1 conference foe in Key School, Park challenged the defending champ on 11/30. "Garrison isn't undefeated anymore" was the greeting I received from Coach Piper upon his return from the match. Once again, the Bruins scored 4 goals (apparently their magic number) while their staunch defense stuffed the opposition, limiting the Grizzlies, who'd scored 21 goals in their previous 2 games, to just 3. The 4-3 victory lifted Park to an early 2-0 record and sole possession of first place in the B-Conference. Nikki Casper racked up 28 saves while Aiden Piper chipped in with 3 points (2 goals and an assist). The Bruins haven't slowed a beat since, knocking off St. Tim's (4-1), Beth Tfiloh (4-2), and Key School again (4-1). Not much has changed in the stat line either, as Aiden continues to assist or notch nearly every goal while Nikki plays backstop to our formidable D. The girls are now a blistering 5-0 and number 1 in the B-Conference standings. This week the girls have a light agenda, with only 1 game pitting them against winless Oldfields. An old football coach once said, "Kill a mosquito with an axe." Go get 'em girls!

ISC: 12/17 v. Oldfields

Girls' basketball has fared similarly, now sporting a 3-0 record in the C-Conference. On the heels of a 44-61 loss to non-conference foe Garrison, in which a depleted Park squad of only 5 players (including 3 missing starters) battled admirably, the Bruins have stepped on the gas. Defeating Beth Tfiloh (46-16), Glenelg (49-23), and Catholic (46-24), the girls have vaulted to the top of their standings as well. Senior Rose Coll enters the week with 2 successive double-doubles while classmate Lucie Weinberg has found her shooting stroke (24 points in the last 2 contests). But don't forget the freshmen. Akira Townes is averaging nearly double digits in scoring and point guard Zoe Mayers has chipped in solid play in the absence of injured senior Kristen Smith. As I've hinted before in this column, none of this has exactly been unexpected. The Bruins are not exactly flying below the proverbial radar. What remains to be seen, is how they'll perform under pressure; what they'll accomplish when the going gets tough. Will these girls be able to find the extra gear that's evaded similarly lauded Park girls' hoops teams in the past? The tests begin this week as the Bruins play Maryvale of the B-Conference, CHEN, and curently undefeated St. John's on Friday night in our GAME OF THE WEEK.

WBB: 12/14 v. Maryvale, 12/15 @ CHEN, 12/18 v. St. John's

Boys' basketball is lagging behind a bit, but just in terms of meeting their conference foes on the court. This group has been interesting to watch. As juvenile as it may seem, and don't take this the wrong way boys, "scrappy" might be the best descriptor I can conjure up. The Bruins have struggled to score at times but have proven themselves a gritty, tough bunch, playing tenacious defense and banging the boards even when outsized. The season got off to a bang with a tune-up at Greater Grace that unexpectedly turned into a frenzied rumble from which our boys escaped with a 39-32 win. The year's first home game saw Pikesville High down the Park boys 46-49. It was evident, though, that upon exiting the arena, a majority of spectators were nodding their approval of the Bruin effort rather than shaking their heads in dismay. These lads may just have something. Then the Quakers showed up on our doorstep. You know something special must have happened when we get this kind of press! Seniors Kyle Long and Nick Sangiamo led the way as the home team toppled Friends 59-50.

If only we had limited our B-Conference games to just that one. McDonogh hammered Coach Wolf's boys 2 days later, deflating the gym and the fans therein. And after just 2 more days, a muscle-bound, high-flying Coppin Academy team swaggered into the PAC, and whispered "uh-ohs" could be heard circulating the stands like the skittering of rats abandoning ship. The Bruins, however, rediscovered themselves and played their game... tough, full of heart and hustle, smart... and came away with an impressive 67-49 victory. On to the C-Conference schedule, kicking off with noe other than front-runner Chapelgate (8-2 overall) who earlier in the year clubbed B-Conference bottom-dweller BL 60-37. Here we go Bruins!

MBB: 12/15 v. Chapelgate, 12/17 v. BT

Bruins' squash may be the only team confronting tough times out of the blocks. Currently 0-3, they've dropped matches to BL (2-5), McDonogh (1-6), and Gilman (0-7). The good news is that the worst is over, at least temporarily. Those 3 losses happen to have been at the hands of the giants of the MIAA, who hold the top 3 rungs of the conference ladder, and Park won't have to face any of them again until January. In the meantime, it's up to the Bruins to now take what they've learned, having survived that early gauntlet, and utilize it to attack their more earthly competition. This week they'll face Bryn Mawr and 1-3 conference opponent and rival Friends School in matches they hope will place them back in the "Win" column. Look for seniors Alex Katz, Drew Kaup and Andrew Duberg to lead the way and keep an eye on newcomer Ashley Suan, playing the 4 spot in the lineup.

SQ: 12/16 v. Bryn Mawr, 12/17 v. Friends

See you out there! GO BRUINS!

Week of November 30...

2009-11-24T11:32:00.000-05:00

Welcome back... Hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing holiday break, replete with a bounty sufficient to offer leftovers for weeks, an adequate amount of football mayhem, and family and friends wise enough to not overstay their welcome. Many Bruins got an early start on burning off all those Thanksgiving calories, but first a few notes of news:

2 conference moves have become official. Next fall, the girls' tennis team will elevate their game in order to compete in the A. Girls' soccer chose the alternative direction, shifting to the C-Conference. Like all such jumps, each squad is required to stay put for a 2-year period.

The MIAA B-Conference announced their soccer All-Stars, naming 3 Park seniors to their roster. Andrew Duberg, Jon Hettleman, and Nick Ryugo received the honor. In so doing, "Duey" nabbed his second soccer award and fifth overall while "Hett" added a third plaque to his mantle with his first as the Bruins' goalie.

But back to the Bruins of winter... girls' basketball found their hands full with North Harford last Monday as early defensive pressure and commendably aggressive play appeared to temporarily set the Bruins' fab-10 onto their heels. Once the Lady Hawks' press was broken and Park's vaunted offense was permitted to settle into their game, however, the game turned slightly in our favor. Though there was no actual running score kept throughout the scrimmage, we certainly witnessed a nail-biter.

The girls' hard-nosed play continued through the weekend as they faced a bevy of public and private school teams on Saturday at McDonogh. Again, scores were somewhat arbitrary but, by all accounts, the Bruins played well defeating each of their opponents. Unfortunately, the 5 mini-games may have taken their own considerable toll. At least 2 injuries surfaced during the tournament, the severity of which remain to be calculated. Fingers crossed...

WBB: 12/1 @ Garrison, 12/3 @ Bryn Mawr

The boys' basketball team had their holiday interrupted as well, hitting the newly refinished hardwood at home for a Saturday playday against Poly and Towson High Schools. Both adversaries were populated with talented, athletic young men, many of them obviously career basketballers. The majority of our bunch, on the other hand, call another game their favorite; but the gritty Bruins held their own for the most part, often substituting hustle and heart for overt talent. Unfortunately, against such seasoned foes, that method could only carry the boys as far as their shooting percentage. Lack of accuracy kept the Bruins from making a serious run at either opponent and the boys lost each of their four 15-minute bouts. Still, in the way the boys stuck together, discussing strategy and offering constructive criticism, it was evident that there's something to this group. Whether they'll end up simply a likeable lot or a successful winner remains to be seen.

MBB: 12/1 @ Greater Grace, 12/4 v Pikesville

Little else occurred during the respite from everything school-related, but the docket is full for the week upcoming. Aside from the basketball matchups listed above, girls' indoor soccer will play first on Monday in our GAME OF THE WEEK, facing last year's conference finalist Garrison Forest. They'll then take on St. Tim's later in the week. Squash will get their season rolling with matches against stiff competition in McDonogh and Gilman. Good luck gang!

ISC: 11/30 v Garrison, 12/2 v St. Tim's
SQ: 12/2 v McDonogh, 12/3 v Gilman

GO BRUINS!

Week of November 23... THANKSGIVING!

2009-11-19T17:32:00.000-05:00

A short, holiday week calls for... well, a short blog entry.

Unfortunately, Bruins' squash stumbled out of the gate, losing to Boys' Latin by a score of 2-5. The performance was, however, a significant improvement upon last year's, with seniors Drew Kaup and Sam Cornblath pulling out victories and freshman newcomer Ashley Suan and classmate Andrew Katz pushing their matches to 4 sets. With several schools' numbers 1 and 2 players holding Herculean advantages in experience and skill, it is this "middle of the order," as it were, that might pose the biggest challenge to Park opponents.

SQ: No games scheduled

Last week's scrimmage pitting the girls' basketball squad against Dulaney was considerably downplayed into what amounted to a 2-team practice session due predominantly to public school regulations on preseason competition. Still, the Bruins played an intense style and, after a relatively even first half, completely dominated the Lions in the third quarter (the approximate score, 17-2!). The girls played a total of 5 quarters, winning at least 3 and looking solid throughout. No doubt there's room for improvement, but as early season scrimmages go, the small crowd nestled into the corners of the PAC got their time's worth in this one. The girls will kick off the short week with another non-conference game, facing North Harford on Monday.

WBB: 11/23 v. North Harford

So much for the 08-09 semifinal loss to Key School. Girls' indoor soccer took a small measure of revenge in knocking off the Obezags 2-1 in the season opener. Both of Park's goals came from junior Aiden Piper with an assist from fellow-captain Mariama Eversley. Meanwhile, the stingy Bruin defense stood fast, anchored by sophomore goalie Nikki Casper (15 saves). Playing out more or less just as envisioned, the girls appeared formidable. No games over the holidays, though, means we'll have to wait a bit for our next opportunity to truly ascertain whether or not this group will dominate this winter.

ISC: No games scheduled

As hinted upon last week, team cohesion can often go a long way towards securing success, however one might choose to quantify that expression. The boys' basketball squad appears ready to test that theory. Anything they might lack in terms of true talent on the court, they appear to make up for in maturity, heart and a certain unifying bond that may simply be the product of a senior-laden group (10 seniors among 12 players, not 11 of 13 as written last week) with so many years of mutual varied experiences in their collective pockets. A big, tight, gutsy gang are they. Should be fun. The boys will play bookends to the girls with GAMES OF THE WEEK on Saturday (11/28), a playday featuring teams from Poly and Towson High School. Sneak away from the leftovers and bring the family!

MBB: 11/28 Playday v. Poly and Towson

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and, of course... GO BRUINS!

Week of November 16... Winter begins!

2009-11-16T11:12:00.000-05:00

Fall is officially behind us, at least in high school sports terms. Cleats and running shoes have been stashed away in favor of the suddenly more appropriate (and far more comfortable) tennies and high-tops. The relative peace of wide open spaces has given way to the echoing cacophony of small, indoor arenas. While autumn may have been a bit heavier on disappointment than we would have liked (at least in regards to wins, losses and the timing of both), the winter outlook is brimming with promise and optimism. If you listen intently enough, you can already hear the squeak of sneakers on varnish like so many enormous mice.

Enormous may be a minor overstatement but it's quite obvious that this year's boys' basketball team does fall quite squarely on the large side, relatively speaking of course. With only 3 Bruins measuring south of 6 feet tall, it's one of the biggest groups in recent memory. And then there's the experience factor. Four players are in at least their second year on varsity (seniors Kyle Long and Jon Hettleman are playing in their 3rd and 4th, respectively) and the roster features 11 seniors. That's 11 seniors on a squad of 13! As it often does, much will depend upon the unit's discipline, heart and cohesion. Captains have yet to be selected so it's still unknown who besides Coach Wolf will lead the solidarity effort, but with so many mature athletes to choose from, the task of keeping this group motivated and on the same page should prove to be an easy one.

MBB: No games yet.

On paper, girls' basketball looks set to challenge (and destroy) all comers on their way to another successful playoff run. What remains to be seen is whether or not these Bruins can win the big one. A pesky dark cloud has anchored itself onto Coach Coll's team, and to the girls' program in general. In the last 2 years, the girls have sailed into the championship game as favorites only to be outdone by eager underdogs each time. And there are only slightly less recent examples that further reinforce the trend. Perhaps it's another instance of a group of Bruins missing that "thing" I'd mentioned in earlier posts. Perhaps it's simply a string of bad luck. Whatever the cause, the 09-10 girls seem confident in their ability to smash the paradigm. And for good reason. The team will carry only 10 players, among them 4 seniors. Six of the 10 are returning finalists (including All-Conference pick Rose Coll), 2 have stepped up from the JV, and the ultimate duo are much ballyhooed freshmen Akira Townes and Zoe Mayers. Still waiting to hear the captains' names here as well, but this is a group that has played, and won, together in the past. The future holds only 1 remaining obstacle. The road toward that goal starts with a scrimmage against Dulaney High's Lions this Friday (11/20) here in the PAC. Come and see the girls early and get in on the ground floor of what could be a memorable season.

WBB: 11/20 v. Dulaney

This winter's squash roster boasts approximately 26 athletes, 11 of whom will play for the varsity. Senior captains Drew Kaup and Alex Katz lead a group that lost only 1 member from last year's still developing lineup. The team also welcomes back All-Conference winner Andrew DuBerg and newcomer Ashley Suan who touts strong credentials and hopes to make a significant dent in the league. Overpowered by far more experienced players last year, the 09-10 Bruins return poised, better prepared and genuinely more skilled. They begin play Tuesday (11/17) at their home in Meadow Mill against none other than the Lakers of Boys' Latin. Look for additional news as it becomes available including the outcome of our debut or, better yet, grab the directions from the website and head down to a match!

SQ: 11/17 v. BL

Many thanks to Coach Rob Piper for the preseason rundown on indoor soccer who, after finishing last year's regular season with the second best record among B-Conference schools, bowed out in the semifinals with an overtime shootout loss. That heartbreak came at the hands of the Key School Obezags (I'll never get over that "mascot" name), the very same opponent the girls find at the head of their schedule this winter. More than the adversary feels familiar, though, in this particular case of deja vu. For the Bruins, the cast of characters remains nearly the same as well, with no fewer than 9 players from that semifinal game returning to the team this year. Add to that a handful of outdoor players, some unexpectedly seasoned freshmen, and a couple of skilled athletes revisiting their favorite sport after a brief departure and you've got a squad with experience on its side. Remarkably, the 17 that made the team (the girls suffered through numbers-mandated tryouts and cuts for the first time in recent memory) count only 2 seniors among their number! Captained by 1 of those, Mariama Eversley, along with juniors Aiden Piper and Lauren Sibel, this team looks to be one to watch for years to come. The fun begins with an early GAME OF THE WEEK as the girls take on the aforementioned Obezags Wednesday (11/18) at Freestate Sports Arena. Check the website for directions.

ISC: 11/18 v. Key

GO BRUINS!

Week of November 2...

2009-11-03T10:59:00.000-05:00

A bump and a dive. That's how the boys' soccer season ended; a bump and a dive. Friday's quarterfinal match culminated in a converted overtime penalty kick, the result of a catastrophic amalgam of a minor foul, a bit of acting, and a referee's regrettable actions. As unsettling as the final chapter may have been, one must find the objectivity to step back and ascertain how it came to be that a talented Park squad found itself tied and in a position to suffer defeat at the hands of an odd bounce or a misguided whistle. The Bruins tallied two first-half goals but failed to overwhelm the Quakers, allowing them opportunity and the subsequent confidence to claw their way back into the game. The boys' effort and emotion were certainly evident throughout, but something, some unseen, uncoachable energy, was missing that day. Unfortunately, that thing has failed us before, in big games and championships, in kilts and cleats, sneakers and shorts, shooting on hoops and cages alike. Is this soccer season, or any other promising schedule finished prematurely, a failure? Of course not. Much was learned, and the moments we perceive as 'lows" are often even more critical than the "highs" to which we aspire in shaping the people that we become. Cherish them equally. Still, in the interest of developing a more complete and well-rounded athletic persona, while striving to further cover with banners the remaining empty spaces on our gymnasium walls, we should investigate and discuss our shortcomings; discover where that occasionally missing thing resides within us and decipher the code that unlocks it.

MSC: Season ended.

Girls' cross country ran their hearts out at their own postseason competition, last Wednesday's Championship. Ellie Kahn was our top finisher at 19th (out of 105!), completing the course in 23:29.90. Only one other Bruin finished in the top 50 (fellow senior Dani Haswell at 48) and the team finished 10th of 16, more or less equaling their performance during the regular season. Behind Dani, Park's next 3 runners were all freshmen who, along with sophomore Ellie, intend to return the team to past glories. Unfortunately, the speedy girls have eluded me since the race so I've little to offer regarding their take on the race. Look for more pictures on the IAAM website. More to come... Congratulations girls!

WCC: Season ended.

Field hockey battled courageously in their opening playoff game but, unfortunately, goals are not awarded for gritty play. The Bruins lost 0-2 to Glenelg, an eventual finalist (the Dragons lost to McDonogh 0-1 for the title). Since then, the players have scattered to the farthest reaches of the athletic center and beyond, casting off their sticks for the moment and venturing inside for the soccer and basketball teams of winter or simply some well-earned relaxation. Among the latter group is Emily Breiter, who was voted an IAAM All-Star. Congratulations Em! Next year's team will again play in the B-Conference.

FH: Season ended.

Girls' soccer, however, will endure a minor adjustment, requesting entrance into the C-Conference next year. Decisions on movements among conferences will not be made until around Thanksgiving. The foot-ballers had one IAAM All-Star as well, sophomore goalie Arianna Strome. Congrats!

WSC: Season ended.

Another mover is girls' tennis, who will jump to the A-Conference next fall pending the IAAM's verdict. They'll do so minus two IAAM All-Stars, senior co-captains Sofia Macht and Jenn Swirnow. Thank you, girls, and congratulations!

WTN: Season ended.

So then, what's left to get rabid Bruins' fans out of bed in the morning? The boys' cross country team is still running strong, awaiting their date with destiny (at the risk of sounding overdramatic...) at the MIAA Championship this Thursday at Oregon Ridge. The boys finished the regular season with a loss at John Carroll, struggling to a 1-7 record. Running, however, is a sport that offers those failing to finish first not only the abstract intrinsic rewards seen in other activities, but tangible, concrete numbers beyond the "score" that gauge each athlete's performance. This year's Bruins may indeed be seeking these very accolades but, nevertheless, they're striving for success. The GAME OF THE WEEK begins with the first race at approximately 2:15 PM this Thursday. Go get 'em boys!
GO BRUINS!

MCC: 11/5 @ MIAA Final

GO BRUINS!

Week of October 26...

2009-10-22T13:33:00.000-04:00

Sorry I'm late this week, gang... Much to report, but even more work to finish first!

As we head into the final days of October, bearing witness to the final throes of autumn and days of temperate weather, 2 teams' seasons have already ended. The first delivered a plaque that rests upon Mr. Diven's "mantle" in the PAC lobby. The other finished without a victory.

Lest that come across as too somber an introduction to the week's news, let it be known that the girls' soccer team rose to the occasion and managed to put forth a superlative effort while laying to rest their difficult season. Following Monday's loss to the conference's number 2 squad, Bryn Mawr, the girls hoped to secure a rematch by upsetting 7 seed Chapelgate in Friday's preliminary round of the league's playoffs. Without a win to their credit, the girls remained confident in their abilities and motivated towards finally exhibiting them prior to the elimination game. Lead by their seniors, they expected to play well. And they did. With nearly the entire team healthy, a starting 11 envisioned during the preseason to be one of the team's best suited up together for the first time in countless weeks (perhaps all season). The Bruins struck first and pushed the Yellowjackets to overtime before succumbing 1-2. If nothing else, the girls proved to themselves that they've got some skillz, while offering us a glimpse of the desire that will lead next year's group to higher tangible successes in a new conference.

WSC: Season Ended

As has been mentioned in previous editions, the girls' tennis team has toiled away in relative obscurity, playing home matches far from the watchful eyes of the typical sports fan roaming the corridors of the Old Court campus. The daily bus rides to practice, the sparse crowds, and the relative anonimity among their peers... some part of it clicked with these girls. And it did so right from the start. The Bruins finished 10-1 in the B-Conference, trailing only undefeated powerhouse McDonogh in the final team standings. The effort earned the team a runner-up plaque proudly displayed on Mr. Diven's "mantle" in the PAC. All that remained were the individual finals, played Tuesday through Thursday of last week. On day 1, the girls wavered ever so slightly, suffering a loss at the #1 singles position. Everyone else advanced. Of note was the #1 doubles match, pitting senior captains Sophia Macht and Jenn Swirnow against rivals from Friends. That one competition lasted 3 hours and saw 2 tiebreakers, ending 6-7 6-2 7-6 (13-11) in favor of the 2 Bruins, exhibiting the grit and drive that epitomized the team's season. Wednesday panned out to be a replay of the Park-Spalding dual (duel?) in late September. All 4 remaining Park entries faced Cavalier opponents. Park's #2 singles and #1 doubles fell short, each by the score of 6-7 3-6. The numbers 2 and 3 doubles teams played on. Unfortunately, the finals would be swept by McDonogh's junior pros. The outstanding Bruins, freshmen Liz Kuntz and Ashley Suan and junior-senior combo, Chloe Shiras and Carly Basner, each fought unsuccessfully through 2 sets, finishing in second place. What a season. What a tournament. Congratulations girls!

WTN: Season Ended

With losses last week to John Carroll (0-1), Maryvale (0-2) and Glenelg (0-3), field hockey finished their regular season schedule with a record of 2-9-1, not quite what they'd hoped, but enough to earn a 6th place slot in the 8 team B-Conference standings. Furthermore, the seed (not decided until the final day of play) places the girls in a unique position. You see, they'll play the very same Glenelg Dragons team they battled last Wednesday. Will the extra preparation help or hinder their cause (Glenelg has the same advantage, remember?) remains to be seen. Park travels to Ellicott City Tuesday in the first of this week's playoff GAMES OF THE WEEK. Go get 'em Bruins!

FH: 10/27 @ IAAM Prelim/Quarters

The boys' cross country runners had a banner week, beating Mt. St. Joe's here on Wednesday and following it up with several victories (albeit over B-Conference teams) in St. Paul's Invitational on Friday. All that remains is one last trip to John Carroll on Tuesday. Then it's off to Oregon Ridge for the final challenge, both internal and external, as the crew faces the best of the best in the MIAA Final scheduled next Thursday.

MCC: 10/27 @ JC

Boys' soccer continues to defy uniformity, sailing up and down their chosen roller coaster track to the playoffs. The Bruins escaped with a 1-0 victory at (now) 3-9-1 Severn, coasted uncomfortably to a 3-2 win against BL (completing the season sweep of the Lakers!) and, with second place locked up, never really took the field in a 0-2 loss at front-runner St. Paul's. While the boys' playoff position may have been effectively sealed, what momentum they retained entering last week seems to have sifted through their hands like so many grains of sand. The slide persisted into this week as the lads tied St. Mary's (3-9) without a goal. It's as if the boys feel they can simply flip the switch as we head into the playoffs. Let's hope they can find it in the dark. In our second GAME OF THE WEEK, Park will take on none other than the Friends School Quakers this Friday in an MIAA Quarterfinal match on Kelly Field. The start is an early one at 3:15 so get out there early. The boys may require a boisterous wake up call from the sidelines!

MSC: 10/30 v MIAA Quarterfinals

The somewhat unexpectedly fleet-footed girls' cross country team took the week off to prep for our final GAME OF THE WEEK, Wednesday's IAAM Championship Meet at Oregon Ridge. The ladies finished the year 8-7, impressive enough for eighth place among the 17 team B-Conference. Middle-of-the-pack, as joyful a surprise as it may be coming from a group whose majority were "walk-ons" of a sort in that they hadn't participated in earnest prior to this year, may not satisfy these competitors. Striving to better their own times if not knock off more experienced athletes, the Bruins intend to put on a show, smiling all the while. Good luck!

No Meets
WCC: 10/27 @ IAAM Finals

Stay tuned for more playoff news as well as All-Conference selections and other awards!

GO BRUINS!

Update...

2009-10-19T13:30:00.000-04:00

A quick note of correction... Due to last Friday's rain, the start of the girls' tennis playoffs have been shifted back one day. As a result, the preliminary round will be played today (Monday, 10/19). The Bruins will not play until tomorrow's quarterfinal at 2 PM. The rest of the week remains the same: Wednesday semifinals at 3:30 PM and Thursday finals also at 3:30 PM, all at McDonogh.

GO BRUINS!

Week of October 19... Fall's Home Stretch

2009-10-16T14:07:00.000-04:00

Almost there... At week's end, barring any further weather-induced scheduling overhauls, there will remain exactly 2 contests (MSC @ St. Mary's 10/26 & MCC @ John Carroll 10/27) on Park's regular season schedule. The playoffs begin in earnest this week for several teams, triggering unbridled hope in some, stress in others, and relief among a select few. So, pull out that Bruins sweatshirt and take some time this week to enjoy the Fall sun while rooting ferociously for the Brown and White.

One group without the highest of expectations, perhaps, but certainly a handful of aspiration, is the girls' cross country team who, last Tuesday, completed their schedule with a success-laden 8-8 B-Conference record. They'll now have a solid 10 days to prepare for the championship meet to be held on our very own home course at Oregon Ridge October 28. The long layoff provides time to heal and refocus. Do your best to congratulate the girls among the classrooms and hallways this week while motivating them for the task ahead.

WCC: No meets.

The boys' cross country runners, in contrast, have had little to cheer about as a team this year, and their calendar holds 3 more competitions before they sniff the postseason. The meets this week, 10/20 versus Mt. St. Joe and AACS and 10/23 at St. Paul's, will likely do little to advance the Bruins in the standings, but they'll certainly serve to further groom our top runners for the finals still some time away (11/5). There, the boys hope to challenge some of the upper tier, larger schools' athletes after the next 2 weeks' improvement upon their own personal times. This Tuesday will be your last chance to catch the boys at home and in person as the final 2 meets of the season and the championship will all occur away from the friendly confines of the Park School woods.

MCC: 10/20 v MSJ & AACS, 10/23 @ SPSB

The good news on Girls' Varsity Field last week; the field hockey team notched a goal. The bad; McDonogh scored 5. After keeping the game tight in their initial contest earlier in the year, the Bruins' ambitions were significantly loftier this time around. While the wins haven't exactly been piling up, the team has improved, but the Eagles outplayed Park, still shorthanded due to injury and illness. The team hopes to have some of those players back this week, and they'll need them. The girls face 3 games in 3 days (originally it was 4!), starting Monday with a home tussle against John Carroll, whom Park handled 2-1 in late September. Another win Monday would mean a great deal to the girls, as would a good showing from their fans.

FH: 10/19 v JC, 10/20 v Maryvale, 10/21 @ Glenelg

Girls' soccer continues to search for the bright side of their season, falling to Severn last Tuesday. Though they remain winless on the season, the team looks set to reclaim several stars from the injured reserves just prior to their postseason's kickoff. The once gimpy girls will have 1 opportunity to shake off the rust Monday at conference co-leader Bryn Mawr. The matchup could benefit the Bruins in more ways than one, as it could foreshadow a second round playoff matchup. Getting there would of course require a victory in the year's initial Playoff Edition GAME OF THE WEEK this Friday. The girls will most likely face the 7th place team, currently Chapelgate or Catholic, in the preliminary round before taking on the top of the heap next week.

WSC: 10/19 @ BM, 10/23 @ IAAM Prelims

Today's blog also includes a carryover GAME OF THE WEEK as the boys' soccer team confronts Boys' Latin here at Park Tuesday after getting rained out last week. The test was made even more difficult with the postponement as the boys must now tackle the Lakers on no rest, following Monday's game at far-away Severn. Furthermore, both games are near "must-wins" due to the congestion within the conference standings. Currently, according to the MIAA website, the Bruins (5-3-1) occupy a shaky second place perch, behind 9-1 St. Paul's and just ahead of none other than Boys' Latin at 5-5 and Pallotti at 3-5. So, not only is 2nd place in jeopardy, but the playoffs themselves could be lost with poor play in their final 4 games, 3 of which occur this week. Stay focused boys.

MSC: 10/19 @ Severn, 10/20 v BL, 10/23 @ SPSB

Girls' tennis pulled off yet another 5-0 sweep (against Pallotti, their 6th shutout of the season) last Tuesday, thus locking up 2nd place with a regular season record of 9-1, sandwiched between McDonogh (10-0) and Spalding (9-2). There was little time to celebrate, however, as the squad's attention immediately refocused on the postseason which begins (and ends!) this week. What has been a phenomenal Fall for the Bruins ultimately comes down to these 4 days in October. No pressure though... In playoff GAMES OF THE WEEK, the girls challenge all comers Monday in the IAAM Quarterfinals, Tuesday in the Semifinals and, finally, Thursday in the Finals. I plan to do my best to make the tournament. Hope to see you there!

WTN: 10/19 @ IAAM Quarters, 10/20 @ IAAM Semis, 10/22 @ IAAM Finals

Remember, don't miss a game (especially a playoff!) due to my scattered brain! Check the website to be sure!

GO BRUINS!

Week of October 12...

2009-10-12T10:21:00.000-04:00

There's (finally) a chill in the air and campus is just starting to show signs of the turn towards autumn. For some, the dip in temperature is the first sure indication that "put up or shut up" time is officially upon us. For others, donning a fleece or hoodie for the first time stirred thoughts of winter and the hope of a new season yet to begin. The field hockey team may count among its diminishing throng several of the latter folk. Illness and injury have hounded several squads this year, but hockey has been all but dessimated by the duo. Last week started well enough, one might say... The girls dominated Monday's contest against Friends school, but were unable to find the goal, settling for a 0-0 overtime tie. Wednesday's game against Mt. de Sales provided another blow to the team's morale when the already depleted group lost another key starter to injury. The 1-3 loss in the record book was far less worrisome than the new gaping hole left in the roster. A white flag of (temporary) surrender was finally lifted Friday, when the girls were forced to postpone both their JV and varsity games against Maryvale due to the mounting player shortage. The day off heading into the weekend surely must have done some good for both the health and spirits of the team, but several injuries will continue to handicap the girls' chances this week as they face McDonogh at home on Monday, 10/12 and Glenelg away on Thursday, 10/15.

FH: 10/12 v. McDonogh, 10/15 @ Glenelg

The girls' soccer squad appears to be riding the heels of those dismayed few mentioned above (or, perhaps, it's the other way around), in that they've had trouble scoring, they've subsequently had difficulty winning, and their players are dropping like flies. The difference might be that this young team seems set to regain a bit of its muscle in the near future. At least 2 experienced starters appear ready to return to full strength this week and others may be on the way. Last Friday, unlike hockey, the soccer girls were able to scrape together a team to travel to Catholic. Another loss followed but, once again, the winless Bruins battled and kept things close, falling 0-2. The week ahead holds only 1 game, against 4-2 Severn at home on Tuesday.

WSC: 10/13 v. Severn

Boys' cross country limped home after a double loss at Curley last Tuesday, heading into a much needed week off. Park remains winless in the A-Conference, outclassed by the majority of their foes in this season of youth and inexperience. Indeed, it seems as though success might be best measured by individual performances among the Bruins' top runners, while the team hopes to knock off B-Conference teams and an unsuspecting rival or two as the year wears on. An escape to winter sports, however, is not on the minds of these Bruins. With only a few meets remaining over the next 2 weeks, the MIAA Championships loom in early November, and it is there that several hope to make their mark.

MCC: no meets scheduled

For those of you still reading, thanks for wading through what has turned out to be a significantly dreary opening to this week's blog. Let's begin the upswing with girls' cross country. If pressed for a sincere answer, the girls themselves, clad in black and white uniform tanks and runners kicks, might admit that not even they expected much from this group at the onset of practice in late summer. No matter their final record, which remains above 500 on the season, these Bruins may count themselves a success story, one that will hopefully continue to reverberate among the youngest Bruins competing, helping to rebuild a tradition of motivated participation and accomplishment. Not only did the girls achieve a double win at last Tuesday's meet at Pallotti, but 2 Bruins chopped minutes from their personal bests. That's minutes! Potential has been the story of this team all along. As we said, not much else was anticipated. As October wanes, however, one is now forced to wonder whether potential might yet transform into something more tangible. Only 1 regular season meet remains, Tuesday at Oregon Ridge, before the Championship on that same course. Run Bruins, ruuuuuuun!

WCC: 10/13 v. Multiple

The boys' soccer squad has had its ups and downs, both recently and all year long. They too have been nipped by the illness bug, playing the last 2 weeks or so down up to 6 players per game, but the greatest hurdle for this team might indeed be itself. The boys have shown an uncanny ability to play to the level of their competition, winning the big games as underdogs while struggling in the more obscure games as favorites. Last Monday's loss at Pallotti 0-1 could be partially explained away by missing players, but there's no hiding the day's poor play. The same weakened lineup managed a 1-0 double overtime victory against Gibbons on Wednesday followed by a 2-0 decision at Severn on Friday, keeping them in second place (and in the playoffs) in the B-Conference's Black Division, at 5-3-1 just a couple steps behind St. Paul's. The Bruins look to keep up the pace this Friday in our GAME OF THE WEEK, as they face Boys' Latin in a showdown on Kelly Field. The Lakers will no doubt be bent on revenge after an earlier loss, as if the rivalry needed any further tinder. If the season's trend holds, the boys should be playing their best and up to the challenge. The BL faithful will certainly be there. Let's be sure to crowd the sidelines and drown out the Lakers!

MSC: 10/16 v. BL

The brightest star of the year thus far, albeit it perhaps the least noticed, has certainly been the girls' tennis team. Last week turned out to be just another ho-hum dual drubbing. Tuesday, Oldfields fell 4-1. Thursday, it was John Carroll by a score of 5-0. The Bruins are now 8-1 and trail only McDonogh in the B-Conference. The lone regular season opponents that remain are Pallotti (0-9) and St. Tim's (4-5) before Friday's official start of the IAAM Tournament. It's still unclear whether or not any Bruins will see the court Friday, as they may qualify without the extra play-in round. Stay tuned for the final scores and news regarding our run to the championship!

WTN: 10/13 @ Pallotti, 10/14 @ St. Tim's, 10/16 @ IAAM Prelims

As always, check the website for late changes, venues and times!

GO BRUINS!

Week of October 5...

2009-10-04T18:21:00.000-04:00

The forecast was ominous as Friday afternoon approached, heralding the official start of Brown and White weekend. Rain clouds loomed, threatening both days' events, and a Trojanesque St. Paul's bus crept down Park School Drive, full of undefeated, and undaunted, Crusaders. Our own boys' soccer squad had shown fleeting glimpses of brilliance, as recently as the week prior when they upset Boys' Latin and Friends in successive games on the road. For every high, however, there seemed to be a subsequent low waiting in the wings. Even the promise of Homecoming could not fend off the trend as the boys, nearly healthy again and with Coach Mal back at the helm, fell to Glenelg 0-1 on Tuesday. Friday was to be different. With Bruin pride in the air, and perhaps at stake, Park rose to their biggest challenge thus far and buried St. Paul's early, going up 3-0 in the first half on their way to a 3-1 victory. Saturday brought all of the Homecoming festivities in their entirety, including a visit from our All-Star team of alumni who took the pitch along with the varsity that afternoon. Next on the list for the boys are 3 tests against lower-ranked teams: Pallotti (10/5), Gibbons (10/7) and Severn (10/9) all at home. Whether or not this roller coaster ride of a season will continue its ups and downs remains to be seen, but Brown and White weekend had certainly begun with a bang.

MSC: 10/5 @ Pallotti, 10/7 v. Gibbons, 10/9 v. Severn

For those of you keeping up out there, you may have noticed that the excitement actually began earlier in the week when our girls' tennis team similarly stepped up to the plate and swatted one out of the park, knocking off the then first-place Spalding Cavaliers. To date, according to the IAAM website, Spalding has lost exactly 5 individual matches (there are 5 individual matches within 1 team competition) in 7 contests. That statistic, of course, does not include the 3 they dropped to Park's finest last Tuesday. As an aside, and speaking of the IAAM website, I'd like to point out that while you'll find 3 Spalding headlines among the news stories on the tennis page, the Bruins are not mentioned. But I digress... The girls completed their Homecoming sweep by blanking the Gators of St. Paul's 5-0 on Friday and trouncing Friends 4-1 on Saturday. As successful (and tough) Brown and White weeks go, Bruins' tennis may have had the biggest of all. If the girls haven't yet piqued your interest, you're simply not paying attention. Fear not, however, for there are 3 regular season matches left for you to attend, including 10/6 versus Oldfields and 10/8 against John Carroll, both hosted by Park at Chestnut Ridge. Get out there and see these girls play!

WTN: 10/6 v. Oldfields, 10/8 v. JC

I won't pretend that the week was all butterflies and rose petals for field hockey, but considering the season thus far, it wasn' t bad. Aside from a superlative Saturday in the sun (that's alliteration, kids) complete with more outstanding alumni toiling alongside current Bruins, including appearances by none other than current coaches Kara Hickok and Robin Lowe, the girls nailed down their second conference win, beating John Carroll on their own field 2-1. While the exuberance of the win may have been short-lived (the girls lost at home to Seton Keough 2 days later), things may be looking up. In losing, the girls gave up only 1 goal to a second place team who'd trampled them early in the year. Hopefully we're seeing the defense stiffen while our offense prepares to go on the attack. This week's schedule includes 3 home games, our GAME OF THE WEEK 10/5 against Friends, 10/7 against Mt. de Sales, and 10/9 against Maryvale. The hockey squad needs your support... see you Monday!

FH: 10/5 v. Friends, 10/7 v. MDS, 10/9 v. Maryvale

Girls' soccer, on the other hand, may be about to leap from the frying pan squarely into the fire. Last week, the team lost not only 3 more games, but another couple of starters due to injuries. By the end of Saturday's game against Garrison, approximately 6 original starters remained on the field. Hopes are high that many will soon return and that others' injuries are minor. Will the re-infusion of lost talent be enough to turn the season around? Who knows. At the very least, young players are seeing the field and gaining experience while the girls appear to be maintaining morale. A portion of the team will get a much-needed rest as the first half of the week features only 1 "B" game before Friday's matchup with Catholic at home.

WSC: 10/5 "B" v. Cardin, 10/9 @ Catholic

Boys' cross country continues their uphill climb, finishing a runner or two near the front pack, but lacking the depth to significantly affect the outcomes of races. Losing at McDonogh last week, the boys have yet to win an A-Conference meet this year, but maintain that the experience gained during the regular season's struggle will aid them both mentally and physically next month at the finals. This year's successes may be measured, as they are (or should be?) for so many teams and athletes, by personal bests, levels of improvement from beginning to end, and simple fulfillment. Keep at it boys.

MCC: 10/6 @ Curley

Speaking of unique measurements of success, following the absence of half his team for a meet the week prior, Kent Walker, coach of the girls' cross country team, posted a personal "win" by accompanying all 13 members of his squad to IND last Tuesday. Happy to have everyone together again, the girls were only mildly dismayed by the loss to St. Paul's which left them with a record of 6-6 on the year. If you haven't had the opportunity to meet the team in person, your opportunities are dwindling. Left with only 2 more regular season races (the next is at Pallotti this Tuesday), the girls hope to cause a ripple among the contestants at the finals at month's end.

WCC: 10/6 @ Pallotti

A great weekend it was. Now begins the home stretch run to the playoffs. Best of luck all. Get healthy injured!

GO BRUINS!

Week of September 28... HOMECOMING!

2009-09-25T16:01:00.000-04:00

The good news is that Yom Kippur has shortened our week to only 4 school days. Around 2PM this afternoon should be the first time I surprise myself with an "Oh yeah, it's actually TUESDAY!" moment. The holiday will not, however, interfere with your sports viewing pleasure because this week leads us directly into Brown and White WEEKEND, complete with full Friday and Saturday schedules. This is your opportunity to show your spirit all week long, come back to campus (those that are away) and visit with alumni as well as support current Bruins wherever they may roam. We look forward to seeing you!

Gearing up for the festivities, field hockey got off the schnide in dramatic fashion last week against the rival Quakers. The struggling squad summoned all their remaining heart and character during the waning moments of overtime following a scoreless tie, driving home the winner with under a minute left on the clock. While most every victory is sweet, this one was particularly satisfying and deeply needed. The next 2 contests ended in losses, but both were tight games culminating in narrow margins, 1-2 against Glenelg and 0-2 at McDonogh. Opportunities are starting to present themselves. While Park is no longer in the basement, they must find new methods of taking advantage of scoring chances in order to make an impact in the conference. Wednesday, the Bruins travel to Jon Carroll and Homecoming weekend brings us the top ranked Gators from Seton Keough on Friday and the Alumni Saturday at 2 PM.

FH: 9/30 @ JC, 10/2 v SK, 10/3 v Alumni

Boys' cross country again ran from the middle and back of the pack as the highly talented teams from McDonogh (4th in the A-Conference) and Calvert Hall (1st in the A-Conference) came to Park last week. Check the MIAA website for a brief summary, including the snippet where they mention Jamie DeMarco coming in 8th (our highest finisher) for Friends! Ugh. The boys hope to "never let yesterday use up too much of today" as they challenge McDonogh to a rematch, this time on their course, Tuesday.

MCC: 9/29 @ McDonogh

Girls' cross country traveled lightly to Seton Keough last week. The freshman class had just returned from their outing earlier that day and found themselves to fatigued to take part in the meet. That left Park short nearly half its regular allotment of athletes! Consequently, perhaps, the team came up short against the host school and Severn, though several Bruins that made the event ran personal bests. Park currently holds a 6-5 record, according to the IAAM, which somehow places them just behind AACS who is 1-4. Remind me to sit down with Kent and Paul for another tutoring session on how this sport is scored. St. Paul's rides high on the same list, sporting a 7-1 mark which, no matter how you figure it, ain't too shabby. As it so happens, they're next on the list for Park. Time to see what the girls are really made of.

9/29 @ SPSG

At Chapelgate last week, the girls' soccer team allowed an early goal following a collision involving Ariana Strome, the squad's goalie. Unfortunately, it proved to be the winner. The Bruins had their shots, but none managed to find the net. Like the hockey squad, these girls are beginning to find their mojo but haven't been able to light the lamp. Slowly, the girls appear to be building some cohesion just as some of their injured stars may be glimpsing the light at the ends of their respective tunnels. The upcoming schedule offers a wealth of variety featuring top-ranked St. John's at home on Wednesday, a bus ride to middle-of-the-pack RPCS Friday and winless Garrison on campus Saturday (at 12 noon).

WSC: 9/30 v St. John's, 10/2 @ RPCS, 10/3 v Garrison

Girls' tennis continued to roll last week, producing yet another 5-0 sweep of a B-Conference foe, this time Glenelg, and lifting the team to a 3-1 record. That's the past. 14-3 is the future. 14-3 is the combined record of this week's 3 opponents. On Tuesday, the girls travel to conference leader, and 6-0, Spalding to test their metal. Then comes St. Paul's, with their 4-1 mark, at Chestnut Ridge on Friday in our co-GAME OF THE WEEK followed by a trip to Friends (4-2) on Saturday. It's a very big week for the surging Bruins, who due to their off-campus home, see far too little of their fans. Take a trip to Chestnut this homecoming weekend and cheer for the brown and white!

WTN: 9/29 @ Spalding, 10/2 v SPSG, 10/3 @ Friends

Boys' soccer limped into their last game, 9/22 at home versus AACS, missing 2 of their top players due to illness and foolishness (see last week's entry for details). Perhaps more importantly, and certainly more surprisingly, they were also without Coach Mallonee who was a scratch from practice and games while he remained at home stricken with flu-like symptoms. In his stead, Roger Seidenman led the rag-tag bunch to a respectable 1-2 result, in which AACS jumped out to a 2-0 lead only to falter in the second half, giving up the Bruins' lone goal and several quality chances down the stretch. I'm happy to report that Coach Mal is feeling better and the rest of his crew are generally healthy and back in uniform for Brown and White. On Tuesday, the boys travel to face a very capable Glenelg squad before tussling at with jugernaut and recent A-Conference descendee, St. Paul's, Friday at home. The game against the Crusaders stands as our co-GAME OF THE WEEK and could finally propel Park toward their ultimate goal. Saturday, the Alumni take over at 1 PM for a nice, relaxing and safe (you hear me Alumni?) get together on Kelly Field.

MSC: 9/30 @ Glenelg, 10/2 v St. Paul's, 10/3 v Alumni

Best of luck to all and hope to see all of you on campus at some point this weekend!

GO BRUINS!

Week of September 21...

2009-09-21T09:42:00.001-04:00

Park squads invaded the fields of rival schools last week, even as those teams littered our own venues. In the end, some Bruins excelled while others' heads hung low. A select few managed to do both.

To put it plainly, field hockey had a rough go. The Bruins labored to score goals and, in so doing, left themselves porous on defense as well, losing to Mt. de Sales 0-4 and Maryvale 1-6. Coach Hickok and her seniors struggled to maintain the team's composure in the wake of the losses, and must now find ways to avoid relinquishing their hope for the future. Fortunately, the season is still young and successes are not always measured by simple standings. Rebounding this week, however, will require a formidable (Herculean?) effort as Park faces a 3 game schedule. On Monday, the girls travel to Friends School to take on the 0-3 Quakers in a rivalry game to break out of the cellar in the B-Conference. Third place Glenelg then comes to campus on Wednesday and then it's back on the bus for a trip to first place and 5-0 McDonogh on Friday. Stay strong ladies. Go get 'em.

FH: M 9/21 @ Friends, W 9/23 v. Glenelg, F 9/25 @ McDonogh.

Though the 16-47 score may not have shown it, the boys' cross country team's loss to undefeated Loyola was not tragic. Coach Kessinger felt the lads ran well, further toughening their bodies and resolve for the second half of the season. That forward thinking and focus will again be tested when Calvert Hall, listed at 4-0 in the A-Conference, visits Park this Tuesday. If nothing else, the boys hope to challenge the Cardinals, earn their respect and yet remain under the radar until the November showdown at the championship.

MCC: T 9/22 v. Calvert Hall

Girls' soccer fell to 0-2 and the bottom of the B-Conference after losses to capable teams from Friends and St. Paul's. The lowlight of the week was not necessarily the losses, 0-3 and 0-6 respectively, but the lack of scoring. The Bruins had some opportunities but often found it difficult to find any flow through the midfield into the attacking zone. In the first half of the St. Paul's match, our girls appeared unready for the physical nature of the game. They made appropriate adjustments in both style and attitude during the break, but the goals remained allusive. The first opportunity to jump back into the thick of the conference race occurs Wednesday when Park travels to Chapelgate. On Friday, the girls hope to further tune their skills against non-conference foe Cristo Rey.

WSC: W 9/23 @ Chapelgate, F 9/25 v Cristo Rey

Park's girls' tennis team has, at 2-1, embedded themselves right in the middle of the B-Conference standings. Last week included two 5-0 sweeps of lower-ranked St. Tim's and St. Frances, even while missing two varsity players! Chalk one up for depth, strategy and good coaching. While the caliber of opponent in those matches may not have rivaled the early season challenge from McDonogh, each game provides opportunity for the girls to improve, further preparing them for the schedule to come and the finals themselves. Tuesday, Park hosts 0-3 Glenelg at Chestnut Ridge.

WTN: T 9/22 v Glenelg

The girls' cross country team also occupies the middle ground in the B-Conference. Last week included wins over Glenelg and Beth T'Filoh, improving the Bruins' overall record to 5-3 (of note, the IAAM website is entirely incorrect on this one). Tuesday, the girls face competition that resides above them in the standings when they travel to Seton Keough to race the Gators along with Severn and others. This week, the Bruins may indeed have to shed their smiles and claw for contention in order to continue their winning ways.

WCC: T 9/22 @ Seton Keough

The boys' soccer team may have had not only the most triumphant week of the lot, but possibly one of the more impressive regular season weeks in recent memory, knocking off perennial talents Friends School and Boys' Latin in successive games. The 2-1 and 1-0 victories catapulted the Bruins to second place in the B-Conference standings behind only undefeated, and recent A-Conference dropout, St. Paul's. Unfortunately, once the celebrations began upon the final whistle, emotion and an alleged game-long berating from antagonistic fans got the better of at least one Bruin, leading to an inappropriate taunt directed towards the crowd. The exaltation has resulted in the suspension of a key player for Tuesday's match against Red Division leader AACS, our GAME OF THE WEEK. Now, of course I'd prefer the focus of today's blog remain upon the outstanding effort and successes of the team. However, I feel it necessary to use the medium in some small way to remind current Bruins who may be reading that we at Park judge our actions not by means of some comparison to the behaviors of others, but according to our own standards of ethics, morals and sportsmanship. It's a matter of character, upon which we pride ourselves. No matter the degradations occasionally hurled by others, the flagrant fouls or other misdeeds that may occur on or off the playing surface; No matter what, you stay classy Bruins.

MSC: T 9/22 v. AACS

As always, check the website for updated schedules, times and venues!

GO BRUINS!

Week of September 14...

2009-09-11T15:35:00.000-04:00

If last week's arrival of the first few conference contests meant it was officially time to shake the rust and cobwebs from our games as athletes and fans, this week's schedule demands nothing less than mid-season form sporting at least 4 meetings with Friends and other arch-rivals.

Last week, What's Bruin? reported on the impressive numbers trotted out by girls' cross country coach Kent Walker. In their first meet, quality apparently coincided with quantity as Park knocked off 3 out of the 4 teams with whom they were matched. Only St. John's managed to outpace the Bruins as they bested Lutheran, RPCS and Catholic. Next, rivalry week kicks off as the girls host Friends and BT, among others, Tuesday the 15th at our home course, Oregon Ridge.

Boys' soccer didn't fare quite as well as the young runners, though technically there's no loss to report. It was early last year when Pallotti provided an overtime wake up call, testing the Bruins who managed to pull out the victory minus their best effort. Last Wednesday marked the beginning of the '09-'10 campaign in much the same fashion. This time, the double overtime match ended in a 1-1 tie. The Panthers were indeed improved, but the Bruins again failed to exhibit a peak performance. The preseason's rash of injuries left little opportunity for cohesive practices, resulting in a somewhat disjointed appearance in their first conference game. Rain provided at least 1 extra day of "rest" by postponing last Friday's trip to Severn. Perhaps the best example of our week of rivals theme, Tuesday (9/15) the boys travel to Friends and Thursday (9/17) they head to BL. If you have the opportunity, both games are nearby and a Park cheering section at either locale is always welcome.

Coping with a particularly rough start to their conference calendar is field hockey, who found themselves on the wrong end of 1-4 tally at Seton Keough. The team dealt with its own injury bug (not an excuse, simply a fact), losing 3 key players for much of late August and early September. The ailing group has little time to recover as they face 2 road games this week, at 2-0 B-Conference leader Mt. de Sales on Monday (9/14) and 0-1 Maryvale on Wednesday (9/16).

Battling a swarm of Gilman runners, the inexperience of the Bruins' boys' cross country squad was made immediately evident in the first meet of the fall season. 2nd and 6th place finishes by Jaime DeMarco (who trailed the leader by only 6 seconds) and Kyle Long, respectively, were left unsupported as much of the remainder of the somewhat depleted team worked to find their stride. The result was not wholly unexpected as the true focus for this group may be the second half of their season gearing up toward a strong A-Conference Finals' finish. Still, Coaches Hulleberg and Kessinger are hoping all the aching ankles and shins return to form before this Tuesday's (9/15) meet at Loyola.

Girls' tennis began a very promising fall with a 5-0 sweep of Lutheran followed by an unfortunate, though equally impressive, 1-4 loss at McDonogh. The Bruins provided the Eagles all the competition they could handle, extending each point, game and set at every level, even warranting post-match compliments from the opposing coach. This week, the girls look to continue their excellent play, while hoping to add to their win total, as they take on St. Tim's on Tuesday (9/15) at Chestnut Ridge and St. Frances away on Thursday (9/17).

The girls' soccer squad had their only varsity contest of the week rained out by Friday's deluge. As a result, rather than confronting Mt. Carmel, Park will launch their IAAM schedule against the likes of last year's B-Conference Finals pairing. Our inaugural GAME OF THE WEEK pits the young Bruins against the defending champion Quakers of Friends School (who's only loss during their '08 10-1 run was to... you guessed it, your Park Bruins), September 14th at 4PM on Boys' Varsity Field. Wednesday the 16th holds further challenges as last year's runner-up, St. Paul's arrives on campus. Please make every effort to show your support in your classrooms, the hallways and especially along the sidelines both afternoons!

Best of luck all. Get healthy and...

GO BRUINS!

WELCOME BACK! Week of September 7...

2009-09-08T17:16:00.000-04:00

Welcome back Park faithful! Let me first apologize for the delay in rejuvenating the blog. Thus far this year, it's often proven difficult to simply locate my laptop (much less sit and write upon it) through the preseason paperwork and calamitous crowds occupying my office. More on that later. Suffice it to say, professional visits to the ATR have far outnumbered the social calls during the early course of the season. Still, the weather is beautiful, the fields are green and whistles are blowing. Cleats are kicking and balls are bouncing, rackets swiping and runners... well, running. Spread the word; the Bruins are back.

The fall is officially gaining its stride with scrimmages giving way to conference games and early morning sessions having progressed to their more customary late afternoon slots, but before delving into a team-by-team address of what's to come, let's take a closer look at the highlights of what has passed. Over the summer, a handful of Park athletes were showered with accolades the likes of which we haven't seen in at least the decade I've been here, and certainly deserving of celebration among our community and elsewhere.

Departing senior Anja Fries ('09) and rising senior Lucie Weinberg ('10) were named High School Academic All-America honorees. Dawn Lee ('09) earned the Towson/Owings Mills Times Female Athlete of the Year award. And last, but certainly not least, Adrienne Tarver ('10) was recognized as a 1st Team High School All-America member and mentioned by Inside Lacrosse as a rising senior to watch this year. Oh, and she also verbally committed to Yale. To further satiate your appetite for all things AT, check the article from The Towson/Owings Mills Times. These girls are walking (running, playing, studying...) examples of the ideals set forth by Park Athletics; that while sports are certainly our passion, they do not define all that we are. Congratulations all!

Lucie ('09 All-Conference) and Adrienne join forces again this fall, leading the varsity girls' soccer squad along with fellow captain "Georgi" McCauley. They are 3 of only 4 seniors on the team of 23. The group that plays with "energy and enthusiasm," according to Coaches Piper and Jennings, is dominated by freshmen - 10 in all - and carries all the advantages and disadvantages of that sort of lineup. Limiting errors may prove the key in besting strong foes from St. Paul's, RPCS and Friends. In their first scrimmage, the girls took on Pikesville in a lopsided 5-0 victory. Their next test came against CHEN last Thursday (9/3); a game that, though tighter in goals, once again exhibited some of the potential of this year's team ending 4-1 in the Bruins' favor. This week, the "B" team takes on the Quakers at home on Wednesday. Mt. Carmel is next on Friday, the 11th, also at home.

Girls' field hockey will field 5 seniors, including captains Emily Breiter, Julia Meyerhoff and Maria Schwartz. Just like their counterparts on the soccer pitch, they've seen early success... supremecy, some might say. Their scrimmages - against Key, IND and Catholic - all saw first half shutouts that lead to premature resetting of the score. Coach Hickok hopes to burn out the scoreboard lights as conference play begins in earnest, but the team's path will be bumpy to say the least. Powerhouse B-Conference rival McDonogh is mentioned in The Sun's preseason top 15, and the schedule's first week provides little time to get comfortable with 2 games on the road; Wednesday at Seton Keough and Friday at Friends. Start strong girls.

Boys' Soccer has begun the year as a bit of an enigma. With 17 (count 'em!) seniors among the 27 athletes, you'd expect a disciplined, well-oiled machine, right? Early signs, however, lead Coach Mallonee, not to mention yours truly, to dread the repair bill rather than relish the performance of this experienced engine. A hefty portion of the Bruins found themselves sidelined by one malady or another during the early fall causing captains Jon Hettleman, Nick Ryugo and lone returning MIAA All-Star, Andrew Duberg to rethink their leadership strategy. Following a 4-0 blowout of Lutheran, a 3-3 wake up call against Key further increased the team's anxiety. It took a 0-4 loss against talented Gilman to expose what might be the first light at the end of the tunnel. Yes, I said a "0-4 loss." In that game, specifically the second half, the boys appeared to turn things around a bit and refocus themselves. Many players are in unfamiliar roles and/or positions and lack consistency. Several must step up, drawing on the Bruins' classic intelligence, toughness and hustle, if the team is to make a splash in November. Wednesday brings us Pallotti at home followed by a game at Severn on Friday.

Girls' Tennis rolls out a small army of 22 players (8 seniors) this fall. Captained by Sofia Macht and Jen Swirnow, the girls have only a month and a half to work out the kinks and find the apex of their game before the regular season closes in mid October. The abbreviated schedule certainly doesn't leave much room for error, but Coach Betty Medalie assures me that there are contenders among this bunch. Competition begins at Chestnut Ridge Tuesday (9/8) as the girls face Baltimore Lutheran. Make this early match if you can; finals are around the corner!

Lone senior and captain, Kyle Long, hopes to lead the boys' cross country runners to another top 10 team finish in the A-Conference. The past 3 years have witnessed Coach Hulleberg's "upstarts" string together consecutive 5th place awards in the Oregon Ridge final. Youth and inexperience may tilt the course slightly uphill against the Bruins this fall, but the boys' hard work in the off- and early-season is already paying dividends as the crew remains healthy, motivated and having fun. The gun goes off Tuesday at home against Gilman. Come cheer the boys through the woods from Kelly Field.

Girls' cross country fields its largest squad in the last 5 years with 13 members, only 3 of whom are seniors (Maggie Casey, Alix Gresov and Susie Yaster). This group, too, is young with 5 freshmen and 2 sophomores, but Coach Walker promises a "speedy" bunch with potential. Tuesday the girls travel to Lutheran to begin to ascertain both the quantity and balance of those 2 attributes. Work hard and have fun girls.

More info to come. Welcome to the new year! Always check the website to confirm dates and venues and don't hesitate to contact me to correct my errors!

GO BRUINS!

Summer news...

2009-06-16T12:15:00.000-04:00

For those of you out there still paying attention, we'll call this an addendum to the Year's End post. If you've been reading diligently, last week I mentioned briefly the rarity of a single All Metro award. This spring, we have THREE. Selected as Honorable Mention winners were Chelsea Burwasser for softball along with Adrienne Tarver and Lucie Weinberg for lacrosse. If the achievement alone is not enough to thoroughly impress you, consider that all 3 are underclassmen. Adrienne and Lucie are both rising seniors while Chelsea will be just a junior in 2010! Apparently we don't rebuild, we simply reload.

In addition, Park's girls' lacrosse team appeared on Digital Sports' Top 20 Poll in the "Other Teams Considered" category. Congratulations girls! Other 2009 springtime Bruins' distinctions:

All Conference:

Chelsea Burwasser - All IAAM C-Conference Softball
Andrew Duberg - All MIAA B-Conference Lacrosse
Alix Gresov - All IAAM C-Conference Softball
Jonathan Hettleman - All MIAA B-Conference Baseball
Andrew Keiser - All MIAA B-Conference Baseball
J. Harrison Macks - All MIAA B-Conference Golf
Adrienne Tarver - All IAAM B-Conference Lacrosse
Lucie Weinberg - All IAAM B-Conference Lacrosse

Congratulations all! Have a restful, yet productive, summer. More news to come this off season as it crosses my desk.

GO BRUINS!

Year's end: 2009...

2009-06-08T11:55:00.000-04:00

Last Monday we watched the Class of 2009 graduate and begin the next chapter of their own personal stories. In the weeks prior, our departing seniors reveled with teammates and classmates alike, celebrating 3 spring conference finals victories, and congratulated one another as the honored guests of the Athletics Breakfast. Among the hugs, applause and photo ops, we took the opportunity to reminisce, recalling the all-too-brief history of this group to be shared via this new platform. My personal archive, while likely tainted by the occasional inaccuracies of both a weary mind and lack of a credible online source (Barb and Lucky, where are you when I need you?), is nonetheless a testament to the prowess of the departing Bruins. It lists a double-digit tally of championship competitions with more wins than losses, as evidenced by banners hung and plaques displayed in recognition of successes by boys' basketball, girls' lacrosse (twice!), boys' tennis and softball.

17 all-conference awards, and 1 rare all-metro nod, have been stockpiled by the "Uh-Oh Niners" during their tenure here at Park. With 3 apiece, Carlos Cruz, the unstoppable, never-tiring waterbug of soccer, lacrosse and (finally) basketball fame, along with Dawn Lee, our very own imposing conglomeration of immovable object and unstoppable force, strode out of the Athletics Breakfast as Kelly Award winners. That same morning our Unsung Heroes received deserved, if unexpected and unsolicited, recognition. Lucas Hulleberg lead both on and off the field, through good times and bad, with little more than a smile and an infectious laugh, and triumphantly emerged from the daunting shadow of his older brother, providing much needed talent and cohesion to the cross country and lacrosse teams. Chris Benn proved a vital cog on the boys' soccer and basketball teams before battling through injury to win a tennis championship and, perhaps more impressively, managing to elicit the occasional chuckle from the Athletic Trainer in the spring (thanks Chris). Anja Fries, when not flaunting her bruises or boasting her bumps, spent her afternoons creating new ones on the hockey and lacrosse fields, culminating her career as a championship-winning goalie. The five honorees were the core of a small, but gritty senior class of athletes and all will be especially missed. Among the jumbled crush of numbers and statistics available (or not), the following were also of note:

All-IAAM Awards:
Rebecca Althauser - Soccer (1)
Kayla Bruun - Indoor occer (1)
Dawn Lee - Field Hockey (1), Basketball (2)
Julie Levitsky - Tennis (1)
Tess Shiras - Tennis (2)

All-MIAA Awards:
Carlos Cruz - Soccer (3)
Nathan Jones - Baseball (1)
Andrew Keiser - Baseball (1)
Karl Nelson - Basketball (3, 1 All Metro Honorable Mention)
Noam Yaffe - Soccer (1)

Departing seniors with at least 7 varsity seasons to their credit:
Rebecca Althauser
Nathaniel Colbert-Sangree
Carlos Cruz
Rachel Elliott
Dawn Lee

Indeed, like the long list of Bruins that preceded them, this year's group leaves in their wake a substantial void to be filled by rising underclassmen. Fortunately, the outlook is anything but bleak. The Class of 2010 enjoys both quantity and quality among their athletic attributes. As an example, 11 of the '09 juniors were 3-sport athletes this year, and the class has already matched the list above in number, counting 5 of their own as varsity letter winners in 7 or more seasons. What's more, the rising seniors have already accumulated 15 all conference honors!

The final seasons of the Class of 2009 gave us, among many others memories, the come-from-behind toppling of the Quakers in girls' lax as well as the heartbreaking finish to the girls' basketball championship. The former ranks among the most thrilling contests I've ever witnessed. The latter should instill a feeling of pride and community among each and every Bruin. Whether clamoring at the unimaginable feats of the victorious or shaking the gym in a losing effort, it is often the struggle rather than the outcome that are the ultimate reward. It is the friendships and emotion, rather than the records, that remain once the shouting has ceased.

Best of luck, gang! Keep in touch and continue to make us proud.

What's Bruin will return as we near the fall seasons and welcome the new school year. Take care all and thank you for keeping up with the blog and Park athletics!

GO BRUINS!

Week of May 18...

2009-05-15T13:48:00.001-04:00

Some minor computer difficulties and an internet outage or two slowed the writing of this week's post a bit, but perhaps the premier reason for the delay is simply a loss for words left to describe the weekend's events. A courageous quarterfinal defeat preceded three CHAMPIONSHIPS won by Park teams, each in thrilling fashion, and all exemplifying what we believe it means to be a Bruin. Let's go back to the beginning...

Boys' lacrosse faced huge odds. Even though they'd locked up a number two ranking entering the playoffs, the team had been decimated by injury. Several key players would be watching Tuesday's quarterfinal game against Glenelg from the sideline and, cheering as they might, would offer little aid in the end. The Bruins trailed by three in the final quarter of regulation after succumbing to the Dragons earlier in the season, but only after three overtimes. Somehow Park's boys found goals. They found huge defensive stands. Somewhere within themselves they found the sheer will to place themselves down only one score while with seconds left on the clock. Battered, bruised and weary, they even held the ball, albeit at the wrong end of the field. The final sixty yard toss sailed wide and the Bruins season was complete, but not before learning (and hopefully teaching) a valuable lesson. These boys refused to sit when a chair was offered and struggled literally until the final whistle, relinquishing their hope and effort only when the officials informed them that no time remained. The scoreboard read 9-8. Hold your heads high, boys.

Last Tuesday marked the start of the MIAA boys' tennis Individual CHAMPIONSHIP Tournament. Junior David Spivey and senior Chris Benn, dubbed Park's "number two" doubles entry, began the season playing separately. As fate would have it, both were stricken by injury and forced to attempt to rehabilitate their way back onto the team with precious little time left in the regular season. While not at full speed, each made enough progress to be considered for doubles play, and the pairing was set. Though their ailments certainly stole a step or two from their game, the two meshed their strengths and in short time found a chemistry as well as a strategy all their own. The plan, they realized, would entail a simple "cat and mouse" tactic. True, others may simply deem the boys slow starters, but let's not ruin a good story.

The Bruins began as a five seed in the two doubles bracket, a victory in and of itself, for no Park player(s) had attained such a high rating going into the tournament in recent memory. They'd also achieved a bye in the first round, held Monday. We may never know whether it was the extra day off or devious strategy that accounted for the boys' shaky start against Mt. St. Joe's on Tuesday but, in the end, they'd managed a three set win going 4-6, 6-4 and 6-3. For many, a bye and a quarterfinal triumph would have proved accomplishment enough, especially given the fact that Wednesday's match pitted Park against number one, Gilman. Add to that, Chris and David immediately dropped four of the first five games in set one. Trailing 1-4 to the top seed, the easy and, perhaps, intelligent thing to do would be to simply yield and concede defeat. Instead, the boys rallied to 3-5, then 5-5, and eventually a tiebreaker win in the first set! Having broken the imposing Greyhounds' confidence, the Bruins stubbornly refused to deviate from their plan and lost the first two games of the second set before cruising to another 6-3 victory. On to Thursday's final, where there remained only one more hurdle between them and a title; the two seed from McDonogh. Nervous? When in doubt, stick to the plan. The first set passed 4-6, a seemingly painful stumble by the underdogs. The two may have even feigned a limp before their resurgent 7-5 and, you guessed it, 6-3 second and third sets that sealed the CHAMPIONSHIP. The boys showed grit and determination in the face of overwhelming odds, proving that no matter the name across the front of the opposition's jersey, Bruins are not to be trifled with. The theme would continue.

The softball team played their CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday, but theirs was quite a different tale. A one seed and having run off ten straight victories, these Bruins were certainly no underdogs. Securing the title would be no small feat, however, as number two Bryn Mawr had earlier proven themselves a worthy adversary by testing Park's metal in a 4-3 loss. Just over halfway through the contest, though, it appeared that Park might again ride the pitching of Chelsea Burwasser (17 strikeouts in the game) to another easy win as the Bruins banged out a six run fourth inning to go up 7-0. With an all-star hurler in the circle and momentum thouroughly on our side, the game was over. There was one nearly fatal flaw in that notion. Namely, Bryn Mawr did not believe it and, perhaps more importantly, maybe Park did. The Bruin defense stumbled badly and even the unwavering accuracy of Burwasser seemed to falter. Suddenly at 8-6, up only two and reeling, the Bruins were on their heels looking for an escape from the fifth inning like a boxer praying for a bell.

The story of this game may have been a calming, deep, collective breath taken by the Bruins somewhere late in the afternoon when it appeared the sky was falling. The girls regained their composure and produced a perfect sixth and seventh inning, that's six up and six down, to gain the CHAMPIONSHIP. Again a situation had presented itself during which a Park team could have taken the path of lesser effort, succumbing to fear and doubt and what might have appeared an inevitable outcome to some as the game tilted in the favor of their adversary. Yet, the Bruins held their ground, rebuked the voices that whispered for their submission and rose to a new level of talent and success, worthy of the title.

No easy task indeed, with five minutes left in the IAAM B-conference lacrosse CHAMPIONSHIP, trailing undefeated Friends School 11-7, a Bruin victory was simply impossible. The game had begun well enough for the girls as they traded goals with the aggressive Quakers and ended the first half down 6-5. It was an admirable effort that certainly left Park hope of success after having lost their previous two matchups with Friends by only a goal apiece. Early in the second half, though, Friends flexed their muscle and the Bruins gave up their own equivilent of a big inning, allowing a handful of tallies that landed them in their late game, four goal hole. Those four goals would have to occur in under five minutes to force a tie and overtime, thus salvaging their season for at least a few minutes. What's more, the girls would need to shut out the Quaker offense that had just exploded upon them as well. Just one of those missions might be deemed a very slim possibility, but both? Even the most steadfast and optimistic of fans subtly shook their heads and silently contemplated the impending heartache of a second successive lax final fallen short. Visions of another runner-up platter on the mantle loomed.

A roar of the crowd lifted eyes towards the field once again and the score was 11-8. Then, 11-9. 11-10. At just under a minute and a half, 11-11. Late in the game, Friends had chosen to possess the ball, wisely draining time from the clock, now their ally. However, once again it was a palpable change in the mindset of Park's athletes, an increased ferocity that belied not just a desire to win, but a sudden need for it that determined the ultimate outcome. Key turnovers, aggressive challenges to the goal and exhausting end-to-end sprints had enabled the Bruins to achieve the impossible and set their sights upon the unthinkable. Then, with only nineteen seconds frozen on the scoreboard, it was done. Park 12, Friends 11. Julia Meyerhoff had sunk the final goal and Adrienne Tarver scooped the last ground ball. The Bruins were CHAMPS. Fittingly, the team gathered tightly together and hoisted the trophy together. If there was ever a game that you had to see to believe, this was it. "Good game Friends. Thank you fans. Thank you officials. WAY TO GO PARK!"

This year's plaques will be displayed proudly, but younger Bruins should take note of what lies behind the polish. There can be little doubt that Park consistently fields a competitive level of talent. The stature of our bodies and the quickness of our feet are generally on par with our opponents. As exhibited by all three of last week's CHAMPIONS, the difference is often made in the strength not of our shoulders, but of our character. Physical advantages are often bested by mental toughness, and hunger and heart can topple the most confident of rivals. These athletes didn't simply hope that this would happen, nor were they satisfied by being given the opportunity. They each found in themselves a player better than they had known prior and, embracing that persona, became CHAMPIONS.

Congratulations all. Credits for photos to Digital Sports.

GO BRUINS!

Week of May 11...

2009-05-08T17:36:00.000-04:00

One might say the official "home stretch" begins today. Unfortunately, the uncommon temperament of the recent spring climate created a backlog among area schools' athletic schedules. As a result, several teams face an uncertain week ahead for one reason or another. One can be confident, however, that the playoffs have finally arrived, many of them right here on our campus. The reality, while thrilling, faces fans with some difficult decisions. Which matchups will you attend?

First, with no postseason of their own, the struggling golf team ended their 2009 campaign last Thursday at 2-9 with a one-sided defeat to Friends. It was Wednesday's loss, however, that team members point to as a measure of success. The squad managed a strong performance against Glenelg, falling short by only two points. The Dragons finished 7-4 in the conference and sent three athletes to the Individual Stroke Play Tournament. The Bruins count the challenge as an expectation of the level of play they'll need in order to compete in the future, and now begin their search for up and coming talent.

The tennis team experienced its own inflated share of disappointment this year, ending the regular season with a 3-8 A-Conference record. Missing the team playoffs by only one game, the boys spent last week preparing for this week's individual championships at McDonogh. Several Bruins expect to advance beyond today's (5/11) first round, including the two-doubles squad who have overcome injury and even surgery to obtain a four seed and an eye for the final. Today's matches begin at approximately 2:45 PM.

Baseball provides a prime example of the late season confusion created by Mother Nature's interference. With heartbreaking losses to Friends and, more importantly, Severn last week, the boys placed themselves in the precarious and undesirable position of awaiting help from others around the conference still embroiled in rain-delayed competition this past weekend. At "press time," as it were, it was not known definitively whether or not the Bruins had indeed played themselves out of the postseason. Some investigation into Digital Sports' standings reveals that the boys, at 7-7, trail Severn by only one half game. However, even given a win in Monday's (5/11) contest against 11-2 Pallotti, the Bruins would appear to continue to trail the Admirals due to their 0-2 head-to-head record. So it may be that Park's only remaining role in the MIAA playoff picture would be that of spoiler, looking to prevent the Pallotti Panthers from taking at least a share of first place. The wise among you would certainly not trust a simple blogger to unravel the intricacies of MIAA tie-breakers, however. Instead, check the website, come out to Sugar Field on Monday to see the game, and get all the answers firsthand.

Another minor mystery exists concerning our other Sugar Campus tenants, the softball team. Perched atop the C-Conference at 8-1 and recently receiving praise from the Baltimore Messenger, the girls are hardly in danger of missing the playoff party. Rather, it is their opening dance partner that remains unknown. The girls ended their season toiling unopposed on the practice field, prepping for an as yet unidentified quarterfinal victim... er, adversary. Humor aside, the playoffs offer different pressures and a singular environment with which the young squad may not yet be familiar. Will they be ready? See for yourself on Tuesday (5/12) at 4:30 PM as the Bruins begin their march towards the title. With continued success, Thursday's semifinal, currently scheduled for 4:00, will also occur at home. The final looms Saturday (5/17) at 1:00 PM at Harford Community College.

The boys' lacrosse team also awaits confirmation of their opening round opponent as their postseason is set to begin Tuesday as well. The Bruins had a busy final week, beating Key School Monday, falling flat Tuesday in a 17-5 pasting by top-ranked AACS, and cruising over Chapelgate on Thursday. The results, however, were not the chief headline at week's end. Instead, the dominant story was the loss of key offensive and defensive contributors to the recent injury bug that has decimated the team. All is far from lost, though, as reserve personnel stepped in and performed admirably, locking up the number two seed in the Black Division of the B-conference. As such, the boys will face the number three team from the thorny Red Division which, at last check, still offered the possibility of a three-way tie among John Carroll, Archbishop Curley and Glenelg Country. Whomever the foe, should the 7-4 Bruins prevail on Tuesday (Boys' Varsity Field at 4 PM), their semifinal game would occur Friday (5/15), again at 4 PM, at the home of the higher seed.

The immediate future of the girls' laxers is clear. Park sails into their own Tuesday quarterfinal at home at 4:30 PM after commanding 14-5 and 19-5 victories over AACS and Mercersburg Academy last week. Awaiting them is 0-12 Chapelgate. The girls' most prominent challenge may be holding their focus, preparing for the game at hand while avoiding looking ahead to the next rival. Fortunately, we need not be so cautious. Thursday's (5/14) semifinal would pit the Bruins against the victor of the IND-Glenelg pairing, again at home, again at 4:30 PM. The final is set to occur at 1 PM on Sunday (5/17) on the campus of Gerstell Academy in Finksburg. Undefeated Friends School, to whom Park suffered it's only two losses (each by a single goal), could very well occupy one of the championship benches as they attempt to "run the table," but I digress. No one among us would dare gaze that far into the future, imagining one more shot at the Quakers.

Our GAMES OF THE WEEK include all our "second season" contests, both impending and potential/hopeful:

Boys' tennis plays daily Monday through Friday.
Boys' lacrosse:
...Quarterfinal - Tuesday 5/12, 4 PM, Boys' Varsity Field
...Semifinal - Friday 5/15, 4 PM, Higher Seed
...Final - Next week
Girls' Lacrosse:
...Quarterfinal - Tuesday 5/12, 4:30 PM, Girls' Varsity Field
...Semifinal - Thursday 5/14, 4:30 PM, Girls' Varsity Field
...Final - Sunday 5/17, 1 PM, Gerstell Academy
Softball:
...Quarterfinal - Tuesday 5/12, 4:30 PM, Sugar Field
...Semifinal - Thursday 5/14, 4 PM, Sugar Field
...Final - Saturday 5/16, 1 PM, Harford Community College

See you there!

GO BRUINS!

Week of May 4...

2009-04-29T12:20:00.000-04:00

Last week produced both stunning upset victories and playoff-eliminating defeats. Several teams poised themselves at or near the pinnacle of their respective conferences while others contended for pride alone. An assortment of uncomfortable but "playable" weather conditions permitted most teams to battle their way out of bottlenecked schedules and into a more routine work week as they readied themselves for playoffs. As a result, your opportunities to see the Bruins in action are dwindling even as the pressure and importance of the remaining contests is elevated to new fingernail-chewing and hair-graying levels.

A tough season for the golf team saunters on, highlighted last week by a 15-6 win against the Warriors of Beth Tfiloh, a club that had amintained a winning record prior to their matchup with the Bruins. Unfortunately, the Wednesday triumph was closely followed by Thursday's 14-7 loss to the theretofore winless Indian Creek squad, dropping Park to 2-7 on the year. The regular schedule concludes this week as another Wednesday-Thursday double looms with the team facing middle-of-the-pack Glenelg Country and 7-3 Friends School on the 6th and 7th respectively.

Boys' tennis began last week by slipping in an overdue set against the Quakers, completing the match begun almost a week prior. The Bruins two-doubles team came from behind, winning four straight games, to defeat Friends and earn the match victory. With a jumbled lineup due to injury and illness, the squad then fell to BT 3-2 on Wednesday and was shutout by Loyola on Friday to end the regular season. The loss helped to eliminate Park from the team tournament but did nothing to lessen the fervor of Bruins vying for individual titles. Those finals are scheduled to start Monday, May 11th at McDonogh. Stay tuned for the pairings and results.

Coming off a huge win over John Carroll the week prior, the boys' lax team was feeling confident going into their second of three key games against top opponents when they took Boys' Varsity Field against AACS last Tuesday. Mere seconds after the opening faceoff, the Bruins had lost a star defenseman to a turned ankle. A quarter or so later, another left the contest with a shoulder injury. Character may have been the word of the day, however, as Park held onto an early lead for an 11-9 surprise (at least for the Eagles) win. The theme continued Thursday against Pallotti when Park took a third quarter lead that they would not relinquish, beating the Panthers 9-7. The three best records in the B-Conference had been knocked off one by one during the Bruins' sweep that began the week before! Friday's guest, Sts. Peter and Paul, could do no better playing David to Park's sudden Goliath, losing 11-5. This week, the boys round out their schedule against three more conference foes: Key at home on Monday (5/4), a grudge match at AACS on Tuesday (5/5) and home again against Chapelgate on Friday (5/7). Another successful stretch could very well result in a three-way tie among the conference leaders. Impressive crowds have cheered the boys' latest inspiring efforts, perhaps without much of the background knowledge to complete the story. "What's Bruin" readers recognize the remarkable nature of this run. Spread the word among the fans!

Another spring feature, perhaps without all the drama of the boys' season (for now!), the girls' lacrosse team remains among the very best in the B-Conference, breezing through last week's competition while tinkering with strategy and honing the details of their attack along the way. Monday witnessed the Bruins defeat Baltimore Lutheran 18-3. An imperfect first half on Tuesday failed to impede the girls on their way to a 18-7 win over Glenelg Country. Scheduled for Friday was Pallotti, who'd narrowly lost a previous clash between the two by only three goals. This time, Park cruised 18-11. With only one conference game remaining, Tuesday's (5/5) contest at AACS, the Bruins have settled into second place with a record of 9-2 (10-2 overall) behind the Quakers mark of 12-0 (12-2). Mercersburg Academy of Pennsylvania will be the final tuneup before the playoffs on Wednesday (5/6) at 4:30.

The title of "Regular Season Champ," were it based upon wins and losses alone, would be the sole possession of the softball team. They captured first place in the C-conference by thumping then leader St. John's last Monday by a score of 17-3. The thrilling accomplishment was quickly eclipsed, however, when on Tuesday the girls won a pitcher's duel 3-1 against RPCS, paced by the 100th (as well as 101st through 105th) strikeout tossed by Park's own Chelsea Burwasser, a feat worthy of a mention on Digital Sports as well as our very first name drop here on the blog. That's 105 strikeouts versus 7 walks in 52 innings. For those unfamiliar with the world of softball statistics, those numbers are relatively, um... ridiculous. The victory clinched the top seed and a first round bye in the playoffs set to begin this Friday. The girls will have nearly a two week rest prior to the start of their post-season run towards the final.

Not yet at the top of their conference, baseball can do much to shuffle the standings this week. Sweeping the season series against Boys' Latin with a 6-4 victory last Thursday reestablished the Bruins as sole owners of second place before losing 13-3 to the first place Baltimore Lutheran Saints on Friday. The loss left the boys (now 7-5 in conference) percentage points behind the Saints and Lakers for the Red Division lead. This Tuesday (5/5) Park takes on 10-1 (15-8 overall) Pallotti, the Black Division leader. Cross-division play continues on Wednesday (5/7) at second place and 9-2 (11-6 overall) Friends School. Pending those results, Thursday's challenge against Severn could wind up either an opportunity to seize first or a battle for third in the division. The Admirals thrashed the Bruins in mid-April 22-12. Those potential ramifications qualify the contest as our GAME OF THE WEEK, so please mark your calendars and head to Sugar Field for the 4:15 start.

See you there!

GO BRUINS!

An alumni note: Maggie Sachs ('07) helped the Stanford women's lacrosse team (ranked 13th in the country) to its fifth consecutive Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship, and followed it up by shocking Penn (#3 nationally) in an 8-6 upset. Maggie and her Stanford teammates await the announcement of the NCAA tournament field to ascertain whether or not they've made the Division I playoffs. Keep sending all of your alumni sports news!

Week of April 27...

2009-04-23T10:24:00.000-04:00

This week's theme? Pay attention to the website. Ridge and Robin found themselves scrambling again last week in the wake of another double-digit tally of postponements and suspensions due to inclement weather. Vacant afternoons are now precious few as we begin to count the days until the first spring playoffs begin. A bounty of games await, providing a gift for the fans but no solace for our weary athletes. Show them your support by spending a warm, sunny afternoon (remember those?) at the fields or courts. Your options are many!

The girls' lacrosse team was the only squad to brave the rain last Monday, but it certainly took some doing. Originally slated as a home game for the Bruins, the downpour forced a potentially unfavorable change of venue. An assembly of our most loyal supporters gathered at Meadowood, IND's home (turf) field, to witness the girls complete a 23-12 blowout over the Indians. On the following Thursday, perhaps it was damp cleats that left the girls one score behind at the end of the much anticipated rematch against Friends School. The two traded goals and the lead throughout the thrilling contest before ending 15-14 in the Quakers favor. Friday, Chapelgate found themselves the unfortunate outlet for the girls' frustrations as Park romped 20-3 in a game that saw the Bruins spend the entire second half working on their offensive schemes, running plays through subtle variations for minutes on end prepping for the playoffs to come. The girls are now 7-2 in conference and face another three game week playing Lutheran at home on Monday (4/27), Glenelg away on Tuesday (4/28), and Pallotti at home on Friday (5/1).

Boys' tennis failed to escape the weather as well, suspending their Tuesday match at Friends with the final pairing tied at one set per team. Stay tuned as the contest will have to be resumed at a later date with just one set left to determine the outcome. Top teams St. Paul's and McDonogh got the better of the Bruins on Thursday and Friday, but the boys look to get healthy and bounce back this week, facing John Carroll away on Tuesday (4/28), and Beth Tfiloh and Loyola on our home courts on Wednesday (4/29) and Friday (5/1) respectively.

Golf got in a match on Tuesday, a near miss (11.5-9.5) against Mt. Carmel, before finding the win column Thursday in a big win over the Key Obezags. The Bruins first victory came in grand fashion as they nearly swept the contest, winning 17-4. The week ahead starts ominously, potential thunderstorms notwithstanding, with a trip to 7-0 Pallotti on Tuesday (4/28) followed by Beth Tfiloh at Woodholme County Club on Wednesday (4/29) and Indian Creek at Eisenhower Golf Course on Thursday (4/30).

The baseball team last week added some schedule tossing of their own, as well as season-ending injuries (yes, that's plural), to an already jam-packed agenda. Despite the many obstacles, the boys managed to persevere, posting an impressive 3-0 record. Apparently the Bruins located their bats some time before Tuesday's home game against Chapelgate, evidenced by a double digit first inning. Though lightning cleared the field early, the game was considered official, ending 19-2. Next came another victory at Glenelg, 7-2, on Thursday. But the highlight of the week occurred Friday when the "mercy" rule made an appearance in Park's17-6 whipping of the then first place Lakers of Boys Latin. With the win, which concluded spectacularly with a two-run walk-off homer, the Bruins clawed back into a second place tie with BL. Relatively speaking, this week is light in that the boys play only two games. What the docket lacks in quantity, however, it more than makes up for in quality. On Thursday (4/30) at Sugar Field, it's Park versus BL once again, and on Friday (5/1) the team travels to first place Lutheran.

The sky wasn't all that looked grim when the softball team retook the field last Wednesday after a brief thunder delay trailing Bryn Mawr in the sixth inning. However, the ensuing go-ahead rally and defensive stand capped the win for the Bruins and furthered their streak of successive conference victories. Thursday's test didn't quite live up to the drama of the day prior as the girls no hit and shut out St. Tim's 20-0. The easy win proved an ample tune up, though, as second place Park faced, and handily defeated 11-2, a tough opponent in Beth Tfiloh on Friday. Only two regular season games remain before the playoffs! Both are this week and both are big. Today (Monday, 4/27), the girls head to St. John's, listed by Digital Sports as the C-Conference front-runner with a suspiciously inadequate record of 3-0 (the Bruins are 6-1). Tomorrow (Tuesday, 4/28), RPCS comes to Park. The Reds occupy third place at 4-2.

Off to a slow start this year, the boys' lacrosse team began to show their metal last week. Confronted with a menacing series of games against three of the top squads in the conference, the outlook was dire. First place AACS pushed back Monday's contest, providing our boys an extra day of rest before facing Pallotti on Wednesday. It took a last minute goal by the Panthers to lift them to a 7-6 win, perhaps offering a glimmer of what the Bruins are capable. Apparently, then 6-1 John Carroll failed to notice. On Friday, the Park boys upended the rival Patriots by a score of 9-5, further upsetting the standings in a conference that continues to appear up for grabs. In honor of their momentum-shifting win, we're naming this week's entire lacrosse docket our very first multiple GAMES OF THE WEEK! AACS brings their 5-2 record to Park on Tuesday (4/28). Once again it's Pallotti, also 5-2 and tied for first in our division, on Thursday (4/30) at home. In the Friday (5/1) finale, it's 3-4 Sts. Peter and Paul again at home. Park is currently 2-3 in a conference in which most teams have played seven or eight games. That's three BIG games, all at home, with the playoffs on the line. What more could you ask for?

See you there!

GO BRUINS!

Week of April 20...

2009-04-15T11:35:00.000-04:00

You know what they say about the best laid plans... Last week's unrelenting drizzle again managed to transform playing fields into something that more resembled just-soaked sponges, forcing postponements, cancellations and allowing only one varsity game prior to Thursday. As a result, many teams' remaining schedules are growing increasingly congested as we approach the home stretch of the spring season, generating a measure of turmoil within the athletic offices but creating numerous opportunities and dramatic scenarios for you, the fans.

The boys' tennis team provides our first prime example. Though they somehow managed to complete two competitions, a 4-1 loss to Severn and Thursday's 5-0 thrashing of Boys Latin, the lads face a demanding agenda ahead replete with four matches against the likes of Friends (4/21, away), Loyola (4/22, home), St. Paul's (4/23, home) and McDonogh (4/24, away). All of this, including our big win over the Lakers, comes on the heels of injuries to our number two singles player and a member of our one doubles duo. So please take a moment to congratulate and encourage the tennis squad as they battle adversity and adversaries alike. Better yet, spend an afternoon at Friends School, Stevenson University or McDonogh this week and witness the Bruins firsthand!

The rain may have been the least of baseball's problems as they were humbled by Severn last Thursday and followed up with another loss to AACS Friday. The traumatic week dropped the Bruins to third place in the "Red" division with a 3-4 record. With some ground (as well as pride?) to regain, the boys hope to right the ship at winless Chapelgate on Tuesday (4/21) before facing division-leader Boys Latin on Sugar Field Wednesday. The "crowded schedule" theme continues as the Bruins then travel to Glenelg Thursday.

Softball appears to have regained their dominance, downing Garrison 23-2 and Friends 5-2 in their last two contests. Upcoming foes are said to be among the best the conference has to offer, however. Today (Monday the 2oth) the girls take on rival Beth Tfiloh at home on Sugar Field, followed by Wednesday and Thursday road trips to fellow 3-1 competitor Bryn Mawr and then St. Tim's to round out the week.

The Bruins golfers hope to find their way into the win column in matches against struggling Mt. Carmel, at Rocky Point Golf Club on Tuesday (4/21), and Key School, at Woodholme on Thursday (4/23). Having lost to Gibbons 14.5-6.5 last Friday, this week could be the turn-around the team needs.

The boys' lax team experienced a taste of heartbreak last Friday, losing a triple overtime bout to Glenelg 7-6. Today the Bruins head to AACS, the division leader, with a chance to even their record. The week gets no easier as the boys then hit the road against 3-1 Pallotti on Wednesday and the ever-dangerous and traditional post-season combatant John Carroll (4-1) on Friday. Let's hear it for the boys ('80's music reference for those of you paying attention) as they look to make a much-needed statement in the B-conference!

In a less than stellar outing, the girls' lacrosse team held off Pallotti last Thursday in a 20-17 tussle. Now 5-1 in the conference, the Bruins remain in second place behind arch rival and undefeated Friends School. The laxers must first endure games on Monday against IND and Tuesday at AACS, neither a simple test, before attaining their opportunity at redemption for the crushing, double overtime loss suffered at the hands of the Quakers at the start of April. Make plans now to carpool on Thursday (4/23) as you won't want to miss the second scuffle of the top two as the Bruins take on Friends, this time on their turf , for the premier seed in the conference. With all that's on the line, we'll call this one our GAME OF THE WEEK (an unprecedented away version) so let's be sure to pack the seats on Charles Street! But wait, there's more... Finally, the girls' busy week comes to a close at home in a classic "trap" game against last place Chapelgate. Come out and support the Bruins during this vital stretch!

To our most faithful fans, those who've recently ventured out to the fields for the very first time and others who've offered high fives in the hallways, we sincerely thank you for your time and encouragement. Every bit is thoroughly appreciated.

More wet weather is in the forecast so frequent the website for amendments to the week's calendar!

GO BRUINS!

Week of April 13...

2009-04-09T11:12:00.000-04:00

After a holiday-shortened schedule last week, the upcoming docket offers opportunities to see each of our varsity teams at least once on their home court, course or field. Before we get to that, however, this just in... a rundown of our winter sports award winners:

Sophomore Rose Coll and senior Dawn Lee were each named to the C-conference All IAAM Basketball Team. Senior Kayla Bruun and sophomore Aiden Piper earned similar honors in B-conference indoor soccer, and our own Karl Nelson was named to the C-conference All MIAA Team as well as the Baltimore All-Metro Team as an honorable mention!

On to the teams... Last week, baseball continued to overcome key injuries and shuffled lineups as they dominated Chapelgate in a 10-0 win. In so doing, they briefly seized sole possession of first place in the division only to fall back into a three-way tie a day later after a tumultuous loss to Baltimore Lutheran; a game in which the Bruins fought back from an eight run deficit before succumbing in the late innings. At 3-2, the boys stand even with Boys Latin and Lutheran atop the "Red" division of the B-conference. They'll travel to Severn(2-3) on Tuesday the 14th before returning to Sugar Field to play alongside the softball team on Friday the 17th when 4-1 AACS comes to town.

Girls' lax (4-1 in conference) put on a show last Monday with 22 goals against IND, maintaining a game advantage on the Indians and keeping themselves within striking distance of the Friends Quakers, alone in first at 6-0. Wander out to Girls' Varsity Field this Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 to witness the Bruins again as they take on Pallotti (2-3) in the first half of a home and away series that finishes at Pallotti on Thursday.

The boys' tennis team's struggles in the standings continued with a loss to Calvert Hall last Tuesday. Finding themselves on the short end of a 3-2 outcome, the boys narrowly missed entering the win column in the A-conference. This week they battle Severn and McDonogh in back-to-back road games on Monday (4/13) and Tuesday (4/14). Then, please make a note to catch the match on Thursday when they face the Lakers of Boys Latin on our home courts among the friendly confines of Stevenson University.

Our golfers face a similar uphill climb after losing to Severn 16-5 last week. They'll look to get on the winning track against Beth Tfiloh, to whom they lost a squeaker earlier in the season, on Monday at Woodholme Country Club. From there it's off to Diamond Ridge to challenge Cardinal Gibbons on Friday (4/17).

Boys' lax remains at 1-1 and in third place in the "Black" division of the B-conference after last week's respite from competition. This week the boys first travel the long road to 3-0 Annapolis Area Christian School on Tuesday (4/14) before facing Glenelg at home on Boys' Varsity Field on Friday. Wins would catapult the team into first place.

Rounding out this edition is the softball squad (1-1), who came into last week still stinging from a surprising loss in their conference opener. Last Tuesday, the Saints of Baltimore Lutheran found themselves in an unenviable position as the next opponent on the Bruins' schedule. Park tallied twenty runs in just five innings, shortening the game via the league's "mercy" rule, and reestablishing themselves as contenders for the title. This week, the young team (starting only 1 senior, 1 junior and 3 sophomores) faces new challenges and a crammed calendar as they play four games, starting with two away from home; at St. Tim's on Tuesday followed by at Garrison on Wednesday. On Thursday (4/16), the girls tune up against B-conference Catholic before taking the field in our GAME OF THE WEEK against Friends on Friday. As mentioned previously, the Sugar Field showdown will take place concurrently with the boys' baseball game against AACS just an infield fly away, creating an ideal day at the ballpark(s). Come out and see both teams when the girls toss their first pitch at 4:00 followed by the boys' just fifteen minutes later.

See you there! GO BRUINS!

Remember to all always verify opponents, dates and times via the school's website.

PS: In the picture below, can you name the recent Park School alumnus playing for Stanford against Maryland?

Week of April 6...

2009-04-01T12:06:00.000-04:00

Thank you to all who have read and commented on the newly-formatted weekly update! Keep the suggestions coming.

Last week's roller coaster ride of excitement and emotion was cut short by foul weather, robbing us (for the moment) of witnessing softball and baseball playing side-by-side against RPCS and Boys Latin on Friday. Hopefully many of you made it out to see the girls' laxers rebound from a heartbreaking loss to the first place Quakers by knocking off Glenelg. The boys' team similarly took out their frustrations upon Chapelgate after falling to Curley. Read on for more information including this (truncated) week's opportunities to see your Bruins at home and elsewhere.

On Monday, the varsity girls' lacrosse team goes on the road to face IND in an important bout between squads currently among the upper echelon of the conference. You can still get your ladies' lax fix here at home, however, as we give a special shout out to the JV team who will take on McDonogh on Girls' Varsity Field at 4:00 on Tuesday the 7th. McDonogh's girls' lacrosse teams are ranked number one in the area by Digital Sports. Come out and cheer for the up-and-coming Bruins as they face the A-conference Eagles.

Boys' lacrosse takes the week off after their devastating loss to the Friars of Archbishop Curley and convincing win over Chapelgate. The 1-1 split leaves them in second place, a game behind AACS, according to Digital Sports.

Our golfers plan to battle early forecasts of showers as well as the 1-1 Severn Admirals on Tuesday at Chartwell Golf Club. Thus far the Bruins have struggled, sitting at 0-2 on the season.

Boys' tennis plays just across town at Calvert Hall on Tuesday the 7th and again on Thursday the 9th against rival Beth Tfiloh on our home courts at Stevenson University. The team eyes both matches as potential wins that could catapult them into the thick of things within the A-conference.

What looked to be a busy start never really materialized for the softball team, and their season opener ended in a dreadful loss to Mt. Carmel. This week the girls dust themselves off and look to recover with games against Bryn Mawr and Baltimore Lutheran on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. In the former, the Bruins take on the 2-0 conference leader on Sugar Field in what could be a statement game. Tuesday's game will be on the road.

Baseball still clings to a share of first place after their own up and down week. On Monday, our boys of spring begin a brief home stand at Sugar Field, taking on Chapelgate followed by a Tuesday game against Baltimore Lutheran that is our GAME OF THE WEEK. Park and Lutheran currently share identical 2-1 conference records and top the standings in the B-conference.

Hope to see you there. GO BRUINS!

Week of March 30...

2009-03-29T20:07:00.000-04:00

And away we go! Welcome to the new and improved Bruin Blog, today's edition brimming with news of conference foes and bitter rivals making their way onto campus.

After wearing out the indoor facilities for weeks, the softball team finally takes the field, hitting the ground running as they play two C-Conference games, at Mt. Carmel and at Baltimore Lutheran, sandwiched around a "B-squad" contest at home against Catholic's JV. Take a breath... Conference play then comes to Sugar Field in Friday's finale matching the Bruins against 1-0 Roland Park Country School.

Itching for the O's to get started? Searching for an opportunity to take in a baseball game? Look no further as our boys play three at home, facing Glenelg on Tuesday, Mt. Carmel on Thursday and the Boys Latin Lakers on Friday. Establishing themselves as an early contender by knocking off St. Mary's in a squeaker upon their return from break, the Bruins could make an impact this week as the conference standings begin to take shape.

Boys' lacrosse hits the road Tuesday to begin conference play at defending champ Archbishop Curley. The Bruins' warm-ups are over as they start the season with an enormous opportunity to make an early splash by stopping the Friars and their streak of thirty-three straight (yes, 33) B-Conference victories. If you were looking for a way to support the team, or simply an excuse to scream at the top of your lungs, this might be the game to attend. If you'd rather stay close to home, cheer for the boys upon their return as they take on Chapelgate on Boys' Varsity Field on Thursday.

The girls' laxers may still be kicking the mud out of their cleats after last week's demolition of AACS in the rain, but all eyes will again focus on Girls' Varsity Field Tuesday in what might be the GAME OF THE WEEK as the 3-0 Quakers from Friends School bring their game to campus. Bleacher seats go quickly so get there early! And the schedule doesn't end there. The girls then play Glenelg at home on Thursday and travel to Mercy High Friday to face the A-Conference "Magic." (I didn't know they were called that either).

Hit the links with the Park golfers as they challenge Beth Tfiloh and Baltimore Lutheran Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, while the varsity tennis team takes the week off from competition after their east coast travels over break.

Remember to always check the website for last minute updates and weather alerts.

GO BRUINS!