PREVIEW: St. Paul's Fall Sports Lineup

 football coach Paul Bernstorf is optimistic about the Crusaders' chances in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association's B Conference.

The Crusaders return six starters on offense and six on defense from a team that went 6-3 last season, a mark that was a reversal of their 3-6 record of a year earlier. 

"Our three losses were to Curley and Archbishop Spalding by a touchdown, and also, Boys' Latin by two touchdowns," said Bernstorf. 

"We beat John Carroll, St. Mary's, Severn, St. Frances," Bernstorf continued. "I think that we can be better than last year's team just by sheer experience. We're excited, just like everybody is this time of year."

Among those returning for the Crusaders are 6-foot-3, 225-pound defensive end and three-year starter A.J. Koikoi, as well as 5-foot-10, 175-pound third-year starting defensive back/running back London Fitzhugh.

Koikoi and Fitzhugh are seniors. 

Senior quarterback Spencer Parks stands at 5-foot-11, weighs 180 lbs. and is committed to North Carolina for lacrosse.

Senior offensive lineman Hunter Lee, a 6-foot-2, 285-pounder, will be a focal point of the Crusaders' offensive line. 

Another key will be 5-foot-10, 200-pound junior strong safety/running back Dale Harris.

"I think that the biggest improvement that people will see is in our offensive line. I think that they've really stepped it up for this year and that they'll be a lot better given that we have three out of five guys returning," Bernstorf said.

"I think that the top people in the league are always going to be Boys' Latin and it's going to be Archbishop Curley and John Carroll. It's a pretty even league across the board," Bernstorf continued. "I think that any team can win during any given week. I think that we're starting to come on and getting back to where we used to be. Hopefully, we'll keep it going."

Soccer Season of Expectations

First-year coach Danny Skelton comes with an excellent pedigree to St. Paul's after four seasons at Perry Hall High School. 

The Gators' program won three county titles and earned two each in regional crowns and Class 4A state title game appearances during Skelton's tenure.

Coming from a Gators program that went 13-3 last fall, Skelton is enthusiastic about the Crusaders' chances of repeating as B Conference titlists. 

"I am very excited about the season. We have a very talented group of young men, including some very good freshman," said Skelton. "Coming into St Paul’s my goal was to raise the level of expectation in order to develop the program into a solid A conference program."

Senior midfielders Sam Tana and Reo Hara, senior defender Gavin Llewellyn, sophomore forward Iliyas Mirza and sophomore defender BJ Mattheiss are all returning starters. 

A highlight so far this year has been top-scoring freshman Nate Hall, a forward and center midfielder. 

The Crusaders have looked solid during scrimmages against Loyola and Mount St. Joseph of the A Conference, even as they have taken their early lumps in regular season games opposite A Conference foes Gilman, Curley and McDonogh.

"I stacked our schedule with the strongest A conference games in order to prepare the boys for that level of play. They have responded very well so far," said Skelton. "I have already seen substantial growth in just two short weeks.

"Our goal is to defend our B conference championship and use our difficult early schedule to prepare us for our conference games," he continued. 


Will Volleyball be Victorious?
 
Coach Jim Jung enters his third season with the Crusaders, winners of the B Conference crown in 2009.

"The team was undefeated last year in conference, but we lost to Boys' Latin in the championship. We have yet to have a scrimmage or match this year," Jung said. 

"I am looking forward to coaching a group of young men interested in improving fundamentals and tactics," he continued. "Our goal is to do well in the B Conference, and to be strong competition to the A Conference teams."

As many as 10 seniors graduated from the squad that was runner-up a year ago, five of whom were starters. 

But there is some experience back for the Crusaders with outsides Mike Mangan, Connor Norris and Will Rupersbeger, setter Tanner Brooks, middle Alex Wilson and libero Andrew Hamilton, all seniors. 

"Our varsity is made of all juniors and seniors, and our JV is all freshmen and sophomores. We have talented young men from last year's JV filling in the blanks," said Jung.

"Though A conference and B conference will have separate championships, there is a point system in place for cross-conference competition," Jung said. "A team gets a point for a conference win, and two points for an out-of-conference win. My goal is to have the boys learn the game, love the game and have fun."

Harriers in a Hurry

Keith Culbertson is entering his third season as the Crusaders' cross country coach, and he's aiming to improve on last year's third-place finish in the B Conference championship race after having won it during his initial season. 

"I think we will be very competitive this year, and have a great shot to win the B conference again," said Culbertson. "We have the largest team we have ever had, plus a lot of new talented freshmen."

Last year's Crusaders lost once in 13 regular season meets, and finished behind St. Mary's and Glenelg Country School in the championship event.

The top returning runners, in order, are junior Timmy Peters, sophomores Jack Hamed and Chris Acker, senior Henry Becker and junior Sam Blum.