Football looks for repeat win
EA
Despite entering the season with extremely high expectations, EA’s football team has lived up to the hype. Following the footsteps of last year’s senior class and their undefeated championship run, the Churchmen are certainly in contention to defend their title. Showing resilience through the injuries of some marquee players, many underclassmen have rose to the occasion and earned some significant playing time. With a dynamic offensive attack led by QB Ryan Whayland ’15 and TE Evan Butts’14, and a promising young defense led by NT John Minicozzi ’15 and ILB Cody Russell ’14, EA is currently first place in the inter-ac. Although their fifteen game winning streak that extended over from last season came to an end in a 48-47 thriller to Lawrenceville, the team has only one mission, to defend their league title. Co-Captain Mike Watkins’14 knows the importance of the Haverford rivalry, stating, “We are pretty hype this year. Haverford is always a big game, and we always want to win that game regardless of our season so far. Having it at home this year makes us even a little more pumped.” Just like last year, the historic matchup will have championship implications on the line as EA looks to defeat the Fords in consecutive years for the first time since we moved from the Merion campus.
HAVERFORD
Haverford football’s season got off to a rough start, losing to big names like Cardinal O’Hara , McDonough (MD), and Lawrenceville. But the highlight of the season came in the Fords’ double overtime 34-31 defeat of perennial power Malvern Prep. Senior captain and quarterback Brendan Burke ‘14 had a standout performance, including an 82 yard touchdown completion to tie the game late in the 4th quarter and soon thereafter a rushing touchdown to seal the victory in double overtime. After winning the game, Coach Mike Murphy told the Daily Times, “Our seniors, especially Burke, are the types of kids to do the little things right. I’m so proud of them.” Haverford, the following week, lost a close game to a tough Springside Chestnut Hill squad 24-21 before bouncing back again with a 28-0 shutout of Germantown Academy. Burke is joined by other captains Nick Helber ’14, Chris Sukonik ’14, and Phil Poquie ’15, and key contributors Michael Solomon ’14 and Christian Giubilato ’14. Their one loss sets them back in the league standings but the Fords are still putting up a fight.
Boys XC hopes to keep streak
EA
The boys cross country team, led by captains Ryan and Michael Quinlan has started out with a strong 3-2 record this year and some impressive finishes in local invitationals. EA opened the season with the Frank McAlpin Invitational held here at EA, and will appropriately end the journey this weekend versus the Fords. Having already defeated Haverford 35-23, the Churchmen look to duplicate their times from that day and keep their impressive streak going. It is often said how difficult it is to consistently beat another opponent, but EA cross country has been the exception, now victorious on EA/ Haverford day for the past decade and counting.
HAVERFORD
Haverford’s cross country team has had an up and down season, but they have a strong core group of Senior leaders who have been through it all. Behind Eamon Glavin ’14, Miller Joyce ‘14, and Rudy Miller ‘14, the Fords have bounced back resiliently. After early season defeats to EA and Penn Charter, they made a statement with a 18-45 victory over SCH Academy. According to the team’s webpage, “[the Fords] focus on developing aerobic strength and muscular endurance by taking a long term approach to development.” EA’s home course has been acknowledged as one of the tougher courses in the area, but the Fords are ready to take on the challenge.
Golf within striking distance
EA
In the past two Haverford Days, the EA Golf Team has suffered convincing losses to the consistently strong Haverford Golf Team. However, this year promises to be different. For the first time in three years, EA defeated Haverford in the regular season. In fact, EA has finished ahead of Haverford in the last two Inter-Ac tournaments. Co-Captain Andrew Jannetta ’14 has high hopes heading into the weekend stating, “I like our match-ups against Haverford from top to bottom.”The highly contested golf match will take place at nearby Aronimink Golf Club at 9:00 AM. As the 5th event, golf could very well serve as the deciding factor between the winner and loser of the sweater.
HAVERFORD
Haverford’s golf team finished off their season with a second place finish in the Inter-Ac behind Malvern. Although the team suffered its first loss in three years, it still had a very good season behind the leadership of seniors Cole Berman ‘14, Jake Van Arkel ‘14, and Ryan Tetrault ‘14. Junior Jay Berman, reigning Dailty Times Player of the Year, is the cream of the crop in the inter-ac. Losty ‘15 also had a great season posting a score of 38 in all 6 inter-Ac tournaments, an incredible feat of consistency. Collectively, the Fords will certainly be a tough team to beat when theymeet with EA at Aronimink, hungry after being dethroned as Inter Ac champions.
Soccer seeks revenge
Photo Courtesy of the Tabula Staff
EA
On November 9th, the Episcopal Academy Churchmen will be squaring off against the Fords in the biggest game of the season. Headed by coach David Knox and assistant coaches Jeremy Hark and Neil Hobbins, the team captains are Dutch Buckley ‘14 and Wills Singley ‘14. Coach Knox prides himself on eight key principle of play: technique, positive play, creativity & imagination, composure, dynamic mobility, immediate reactions, serious fun, and competitive mentality. Though the team had a rough start in the Inter-Ac, losing 4-1 to Haverford, they look to bounce back come EA/Haverford weekend. Raphael Furey ‘14, who plays midfield for the team, stated, “It’s been a tough season losing some close games to teams we know we can beat. Having played soccer since I was five years old and knowing this is my last month of soccer ever, Haverford Day will be bittersweet. But we have the senior experience of what the Haverford Day atmosphere will be like and would like nothing more than to win our last game at home in front of friends, family, and alumni.”
HAVERFORD
The Fords’ soccer team has continued its consistency this season, posting a 12-4 record (6-1 in the league) thus far, and once again leading the way in the inter-ac. Led by senior captains Peter Blynn ’14, Connor Keating ’14, Connor Black ’14, and Josh Klein ’14, the Fords are looking to defend their title. Klein elaborates, “The EA game means so much to us. It’s our last game playing as a team and it’s an incredible event. Both schools take the rivalry very seriously and it should be a great game.” They have proven to be a well-rounded team, having already defeated every inter ac opponent through the first series of games before suffering their first defeat at the hands of Springside-Chestnut Hill. Klein backs this notion up, stating, “Our strength is our ability to move the ball. Our center mids, Sander Yu ‘14, Connor Bradley ‘16, and Shane Mcbride ‘15, do a great job of controlling the field.” The Fords aim to use such versatility to their advantage when they take on EA in the heat of the rivalry. Not only are the Fords focused on winning the sweater, but they will also have a chance at the inter ac title.
EA water polo hopes to bounce back under team’s “resilience”
EA
Boasting a respectable 12-12 record, the boys’ water polo team has worked very hard under new coach Max Kelly. Led by lone senior Korey Leidheiser ’14, EA is an extremely young team with tons of potential in the coming years. Leidheiser is proud of his team, stating, “Our strength is our resilience. We have grown a lot as a team.” Their season to date was highlighted by their “Beast of the East” tournament championship. Leidheiser and coach Max Kelly are looking to use their resilience to seek revenge on the Fords after an early season defeat.
HAVERFORD
The Haverford water polo squad has great balance under 2nd year head coach Kevin Van Such. Under the great leadership of seniors John Zipf ’14, Chet Bickhart ’14, Alex Heldring ’14, and Sawyer Warden ’14, they have jumped out to a 13-6 overall record, most notably knocking off the EA churchmen 14-8. Although the Fords are out of contention for the inter ac title, they are still hungry to finish the season strong. As they finish up the rest of league play, the Fords are aware of how difficult it is to beat any team three years in a row. The rivalry has always produced instant classics, so expect an extremely hard fought game in the Burke Natatorium.
EA/Haverford Day Preview Contributors
Edward Zhao ’17, Avi Shah ’17, Connor Martin ’14, Thomas Woodville ’17, Jackson Donaldson ’15, Rich Palazzese ’14