by Lynn McKain


Ten alumni and two coaches will be inducted into McDonogh School's Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 10, as part of the celebration of the Eagles' football game against MIAA A Conference rival Gilman.


They include Raymond Stearns (1955 graduate), Don Evans ('88), Kelly Schaaf-Brown ('91), Aimee Gardner Murray ('91), Alison Schroeder ('94), Kara Kristaldi ('95), Bobby Sabelhaus ('95), Dwayne Stukes ('95), Laurie Schwoy ('96), Lance Clelland ('97), Coach Jack MacMullan and Coach George "Pee Wee" Harris, the latter, (posthumously).

The school's hall of fame was established in 1985 by the Class of 1935 on the occasion of their 50th reunion. To date, 191 alumni and 23 coaches have been inducted.  

Here, now, are the Hall of Fame inductees.


RAYMOND L. STEARNS, CLASS OF 1955

Ray Stearns ’55 won 11 letters at McDonogh: Three for football, three for basketball, three for lacrosse, and two for track. Besides being a member of those teams, Ray was captain of the lacrosse team in his senior year and helped lead the 1953 football team to the Maryland Scholatic Association championship. He received MSA honorable mention in all four sports. A true all-around student, Ray earned the Louis E. Lamborn Award for character and influence for both 1953 and 1954. He was class president for two years and served as cadet corps commander during his senior year.

Recruited for football, basketball, and lacrosse, Ray received scholarship offers from the University of Virginia, Johns Hopkins, William and Mary, Virginia Tech, and Loyola.   

He opted for UVA and distinguished himself playing three years of collegiate lacrosse. In 1958, Ray was named Honorable Mention All-American. In his senior year, he was selected to the All-South Team for the annual North-South All-Star game. During that game, in fact, Ray had the most memorable moment of his athletic career when he scored the tie-breaking goal.

The leadership skills learned from his days at McDonogh and years of leading sports teams paid off for Ray in his career. He was a career Army officer, retiring in 1989 as a full colonel.   

 

DON D. EVANS, CLASS OF 1988

 

The 1988 school yearbook describes Don Evans ’88 as a "quiet leader" who displayed "confidence without cockiness."  These traits enabled Don to lead the Eagles basketball team to the 1985-86 B Conference championship series against Boys’ Latin School.

In another memorable three-game series, Don scored 33, 26, and 27 points, and was named Metro Player of the Week by the Baltimore Sun.

During his four-year varsity career, Don scored a total of 1,200 points, averaging 20 points per game and 7 assists per game. That number is even more impressive considering opposing teams geared their defenses to stop Don.

For his accomplishments on the court, Don was named First Team All B Conference in 1987 and 1988, as well as All-Metro honorable mention in his senior year. He was also a member of the cross country team.

His commitment to the team, to coach Paul Smith, and to his academic career at McDonogh enabled him to succeed both on the court and off. Don currently works in the insurance industry.


KELLY M. SCHAAF-BROWN, CLASS OF 1991

 

Kelly Schaaf-Brown ’91 was a leader in field hockey, tennis, and basketball, and she has carried that leadership into her career as a teacher-coach. Starting in middle school, Kelly played varsity tennis; in upper school, she played varsity hockey and basketball in addition to tennis. She was captain of all three sports as a senior. Also in her senior year, Kelly earned the Ensign C. Markland Kelly Athletic Service Award and Leadership in Women’s Athletics Award. As an indicator of her varying interests, she also was honored with the Theater Arts Award.

Kelly cites her field hockey days as the highlight of her McDonogh athletic career:  "Amazing coaches, incredible teammates, and indelible memories that I carry with me today.”

Kelly graduated from the University of Vermont, where she played three years of Division I field hockey. In her junior year, she was voted the team’s most improved player. After UVM, Kelly earned her master’s degree in middle school English from Lesley University.

Kelly went on to teach English and coach at the Head-Royce School in Oakland, California, where she coached field hockey, basketball and lacrosse in 1997-98, boys’ basketball and soccer from 1998-2001, and girls’ basketball from 2001-2004 (winning two championships). Kelly is now head of the middle school’s English department.

Kelly still keeps her field hockey glove and ball in her classroom as a reminder of the confidence, sense of empowerment, and strength athletics has given her.


AIMEE GARDNER MURRAY, CLASS OF 1991

The early years of a sports team at any school are always tough, but when the teams are for girls at a previously all-boys school, the early years are even tougher. By 1987, McDonogh’s girls’ soccer team had moved into the well-established and very competitive Catholic League. Over the next four years, McDonogh began to assert itself as a force in this league.

Aimee Gardner was an important member of the team, being named captain three of the four years she played. According to coach Ted Scocos, “Aimee Gardner was the first true soccer player in the McDonogh School fall women's program. …  If the women's soccer team had a "Hall of Fame" - Aimee would certainly be a founding member.”

Her teammate, Bridget Collins reinforced the coach’s opinion when she said, “Aimee was the best player we had on varsity, hands down.  But her talent was not what made her a great teammate. Her humility and kindness made her wonderful to play with. She embodied the best of what high school athletics are about:  pushing yourself to achieve your highest potential, not for your own glory, but for your teammates, and for the school you love.  There is a wonderful quote by Deborah Palmore, ‘Even when you've played the game of your life, it's the feeling of teamwork that you'll remember.  You'll forget the plays, the goals, and the scores, but you'll never forget your teammates.’  Aimee is the teammate I remember most."

For her efforts in advancing women’s soccer, Aimee was awarded the Ensign C. Markland Kelly Trophy as outstanding female athlete, in addition to the four-year trophy for both fall and winter soccer.

Aimee returned to McDonogh to coach middle school girls’ lacrosse. She also coached for Baltimore County.  She also became a distance runner, literally going the extra mile by competing in three marathons, in Dublin, Ireland, Nashville, Tennessee, and Washington, DC. Just recently, Aimee completed the Baltimore marathon. This time it wasn’t a solo effort, as she pulled Mac (her oldest son, who is fighting metachromatic leukodystrophy or MLD) with her in his wagon the entire way!

 

ALISON M. SCHROEDER, CLASS OF 1994

 

Alison Schroeder ’94 was a two-season, five-year soccer player at McDonogh.  A member of the Dirty Dozen (12-year McDonogh student), Alison played JV soccer in the eighth grade. In the Upper School, Alison played both fall and winter soccer, scoring 27 career goals and 25 career assists.

She played lacrosse in the spring. In recognition of her leadership, she was named captain of the fall soccer team in 1992 and 1993, captain of the winter team in 1991, 1992, and 1993, and captain of the lacrosse team in 1994. She was also awarded the Ensign C. Markland Kelly Trophy for Excellence in Athletics that same year.

Alison was also recognized by the media for her achievements on the field.

The Baltimore Sun selected her as Player of the Year in 1993, and in November 1993, Fox News picked her as Prep Player of the Week, and she was twice named to the first team All-Metro, All-State, All-County, and All-Catholic league soccer teams.

Outside interscholastic sports, Alison was involved with the Maryland State Olympic Soccer Development Program from 1989 to 1994. She was on the under-16 Olympic regional soccer team in 1992.

After graduating from McDonogh, she attended North Carolina State University, where she played on the women’s soccer team from 1994 to 1997.

 

KARA A. CRISTALDI, CLASS OF 1995

 

Scholar-athlete is a term that fits Kara Cristaldi ’95 to a T. Following her graduation from McDonogh in 1995.  Kara earned her bachelor’s degree in finance from William and Mary College then earned her master’s degree in architecture from Georgia Institute of Technology. And from her days at McDonogh until the present, Kara has remained active in athletics.

Kara was a leader on the McDonogh soccer field and in the track lanes. She was a four-year letter winner in fall and winter soccer, captaining both teams in her senior year. She was a member of five championship teams and received All-Metro and All-State recognition in her junior and senior years. Kara also lettered in track all four years and finished second in the 15- to 20-year-old age bracket in the 1993 Constellation Classic race.

She still holds several top 10 McDonogh records.

During her career at William and Mary, Kara won four letters for the Colonial Athletic Association soccer champions. In 1998, the team was ranked #4 in the country.

Since college, the Atlanta-based architect has successfully mixed athletics with her sense of  “doing the greatest possible amount of good.”

Kara has volunteered with the Hands on Atlanta community service organization, in the Pediatric Oncology unit of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and for Arthur Andersen’s tax preparation program for families in need. Continuing her interest in soccer, Kara is a member of the Sting Soccer Club of Atlanta, which has won several league championships.

In addition, Kara was the first-place finisher of her age group in the Annapolis Ten Mile Run in 2000 and 2001, and third place finisher in her age group in 2002. In 2002 and 2003, she participated in the Columbia triathlon.

 

BOBBY SABELHAUS, CLASS OF 1995

 

The name Bobby Sabelhaus is synonymous with McDonogh football. The accomplished quarterback broke many McDonogh, metro, state passing records. Bobby also lettered for four years in basketball, one year in baseball, and one year in lacrosse.

In 1993, Bobby led the Eagles to an undefeated 9-0 season, the highlight of his career.  Over three years, he led the Eagles to a record of 22-6, including two wins over rival Gilman. Bobby still ranks the win over Gilman that capped the undefeated season as the biggest thrill of his athletic career.

The honors and awards Bobby earned for football include: First team All-Metro in 1993 and 1994; Baltimore and Maryland Player of the Year in 1994; first team All-State in 1994; Parade Magazine All-American; Street and Smith’s Magazine All-American QB; USA Today Maryland Player of the Year; Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year; Maryland record holder for most yards passing (5,826), and most completions (338), including 49 touchdowns; rated the #1 drop back passer in the country by the Tom Lemming Recruiting report.

In addition, Bobby was a Baltimore Sun Athlete of the Year finalist and Owings Mills Times 1993 Athlete of the Year.

In addition, Bobby helped lead Eagles to the MSA B Conference basketball championship in 1994. He was the team captain in 1994-95, and an all-tournament selection from the Private School tournament. Bobby played varsity baseball in 1994, when McDonogh won the Private School championship and was the MSA runner up. During his freshman year, Bobby lettered in lacrosse.

After McDonogh, Bobby went on to the University of Florida where he played one year of football for the Gators and was a member of the team that won the SEC championship. He moved on to the University of Maryland and earned his degree in sociology. Today Bobby works for a film production company in Los Angeles, and was a co-producer of X-Men III, among others.


DWAYNE LEMAR STUKES, CLASS OF 1995

To say that football has been the keystone of Dwayne Stukes’s life so far would be an understatement. Beginning with McDonogh, through college, and beyond, football, and Dwayne’s abilities, have carried him far.

Dwayne played four years of football at McDonogh. He also played three years of basketball and was on the track team for a year. He helped lead the teams to championships in each sport. The football and track teams were MSA champions in 1993, the basketball team in 1994. Dwayne was also football team captain in 1993.

As his skills grew each football season, so did the honors Dwayne won. He was voted All-Metro honorable mention as a freshman; All-City/All-County second team as a sophomore; All-City/All-County first team and All-Metro first team as a junior; and All-Metro first team, Super Prep All American, and Tom Lemmings All American as a senior.

Dwayne moved on to the University of Virginia. During his five years there, the Cavaliers were ACC football champions in 1995, and Dwayne won all ACC honorable mention in 1997. He was also ranked as the 25th cornerback in the country by Lindy’s Atlantic Coast Football Magazine.

Dwayne earned his bachelor’s degree in history, was on the all ACC Honor Roll, and was awarded UVA’s Gretchen Savin Macillwaine Football Scholarship, given for outstanding academic achievement.

From 2000 until the present, Dwayne has remained in professional football.

He has played with the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,  Colorado Crush of the Arena Football League, and the NFL Europe Berlin Thunder, where his team won World Bowl IX and X. Right now, he is back with the Buccaneers as a coach’s assistant. Dwayne credits much of his success to the lessons and values learned at McDonogh, and the foundation it provided. He especially values the lasting friendships formed with players and coaches.


LAURIE SCHWOY, CLASS OF 1996


If one name is associated with girls’ soccer at McDonogh, it is Laurie Schwoy ’96. Even though Laurie played basketball, softball, and track, it is soccer where she made her mark. During her career, Laurie scored an astounding, state-record 198 goals, including 69 in one season! As if that weren’t enough, Laurie also lettered in basketball for three years (league champion in 1993), softball two years, track two years, and winter soccer one year.

For her outstanding play and scoring abilities Laurie received numerous awards. The Baltimore Sun chose her as Athlete of the Year for 1996. She was voted All-Metro and high school All-American for three years. The National Soccer Coaches’ Association picked her as the high school player of the year.

For her leadership abilities, Laurie was chosen as captain of the soccer team in 1994 and 1995. Laurie led the team to the Catholic League championship in 1993 and an undefeated season and Catholic League tournament championship in 1994.

As a starter for the University of North Carolina women’s soccer team, Laurie led the team to four ACC championships. She was selected All-ACC three times, Rookie of the Year her freshman year, Soccer America magazine’s National Rookie of the Year, All-American for three years, and was a Herman Award (college player of the year) finalist.

From 1996 to 2000, Laurie played for the U.S. national team. She was a

World Cup alternate for the 1999 team. In 2001-02, Laurie played for the Women’s United Soccer Association Philadelphia Charge.

After that, Laurie returned to McDonogh as assistant girls’ soccer coach for five years so she could help instill her desire, and teach her skills to another generation of McDonogh soccer players.


LANCE M. CLELLAND, CLASS OF 1997

 

From McDonogh to the Big Ten, to pro football, to football coach are all big steps, but not so big that Lance Clelland couldn’t handle them. Coming to McDonogh in 1993, Lance immediately became a starter on the offensive line and helped the 1993 team become Maryland Scholastic Association champs.

Lance was not a one-sport wonder. He played four years of varsity football, three years of varsity basketball, three years of varsity track, and three years of varsity lacrosse. He was captain of the 1996 football team and the 1996-97 basketball team. In his senior year, he was also the league and state discus champion.

Lance was named an All-American in football as well as first team All-Metro and All-State. the Owings Mills Times Athlete of the Year.

After McDonogh, Lance attended Northwestern University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in education. He was also a four-year starter for the Northwestern Wildcats, the Big Ten Conference champions in 2000.  In 2001, Lance was named to the All Big-Ten team.

Lance played briefly for the New York Jets and our own Ravens, as well as the Philadelphia Soul in the Arena Football League. Following his pro stint, Lance returned to McDonogh as an assistant football coach, teacher and dorm parent. Earlier this year, he was hired as an assistant football coach at Dartmouth College.

With all the honors Lance has won, his favorite memory of his playing days is beating Gilman at Gilman his senior year at McDonogh!


COACH GEORGE “PEE WEE” HARRIS

Belying his nickname, George was a big man not only physically, but also in his devotion to McDonogh and his students. For thirty years ‘Pee Wee’

served as teacher, coach and mentor to countless students until his untimely death in 1978 at age 59.

Pee Wee grew up in Norwin, Pennsylvania, where he was captain of his high school football team. From there he attended Admiral Farragut Academy. He received a football scholarship to St. Joseph’s College in Philadelphia and graduated in 1941. After college, he worked for Bendix Radio Corporation and played minor league football for the Wilmington Clippers.

In 1947, he was drafted by the newly-formed Baltimore Colts but chose to teach industrial arts at McDonogh instead. In 1972, he was named head of the department.

Pee Wee was head coach of the JV football team and an assistant coach for varsity football. During the off-season, he taught swimming to children at Camp Red Eagle. He also officiated football and basketball games at both the high school and college level. Pee Wee is remembered by former students as one of their most loved and respected teachers. His insistence on quality, precision, and discipline, both on and off the field, characterized him as a Renaissance man.

He and his wife, Virginia, served as houseparents for lower school boarding students for many years in addition to raising four sons of their own, all McDonogh graduates.

Outside teaching and coaching, Pee Wee loved the outdoors, especially hiking, canoeing, and camping. The fitness enthusiast was a member of the Baltimore Canoe Club. He also enjoyed square dancing.

 

COACH JACK MACMULLAN


Growing up in a small town outside Philadelphia, Jack considered gym class, recess, lunch, and playing sports his favorite subjects.

Ordinarily, this would not bode well for a boy’s future, but in Jack’s case, they were the keys to his success. Throughout his 42+- year career at McDonogh, West Chester University, and Columbus Academy, Jack used sports as the vehicle to teach life lessons.

As head basketball coach at Columbus Academy in Ohio, Jack’s team won 75% of its games over a ten-year period, including 33 straight. During that time, he was voted Central Ohio Coach of the Year. He was also the line coach for the football team that  became undefeated Ohio State champions.

While at West Chester University, Jack was both the freshman and varsity basketball coach. His frosh team had the only undefeated season in the school’s history, 17-0, with wins over Temple, Penn, and Villanova. As a player at West Chester, he finished his career scoring only with 1,000 fewer points than Donta Evans ‘94!

Coming to McDonogh in 1994, Jack wore many hats: athletic director, chair of the physical education department, lower and middle school physical education teacher, middle school football coach, assistant varsity football coach, head varsity basketball coach, and junior varsity golf coach.

More than scores, won-lost records, and championships, however, were the lessons Jack felt he wanted to teach using sports. In his own words, “A coach must have the players honestly feel that the strength and importance of the TEAM is much greater than the strength and importance of any individual. Something really special can happen when kids buy into this idea. Some people call it chemistry; some call it spirit."

"I do know that when people get along, camaraderie develops. Out of this camaraderie will come a respect for one another, and, in many cases, friendships that last a lifetime," MacMullan said. "Teaching children to see the value in putting aside personal agendas for the good of a group is not any easy thing to do. However, I really do not think there is anything, in any curriculum, in any discipline, more important than this lesson.”