THE CALM: Gilman coach Brooks Matthews (above) has preached perspective to the players on his unbeaten Greyhounds' squad.
STEELE RESOLVE: Many believe that Loyola's Steele Stanwick (above), bound for the University of Virginia, ranks as one of the nation's premiere players as well as one of the best ever to play in the MIAA's A Conference.
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The Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association's A Conference is widely considered the nation's premiere high school boys' lacrosse league because of its depth and balance.
It is a conference that is steep in both tradition and excellence.
So on the eve of Friday's game featuring St. Mary's and unbeaten Gilman, ranked fifth and first, respectively, in the DigitalSports Top 20, it is interesting to ponder, historically, just what qualities have been found in the teams and players which have gone down as being
great.
There is no doubt that the 15-0 Greyhounds, an underclassmen-laden squad that is coached by Gilman alumnus, Brooks Matthews, has the potential to remain unbeaten.
Not only do the Greyhounds boast Harvard University-bound, versatile junior midfielder Jack Doyle and a cast that includes junior attackmen Marcus Holman and Davey Emala, as well as a deep midfield unit that includes senior Ty Kimball, junior Greg McBride and sophomore Duncan Hutchins, but Gilman's defense is anchored by emerging senior goalie, Matthew Holman, as well as Virginia-bound junior defender Harry Prevas and seniors Alex Gottsch, Idy Iglehart and Joey Ehrmann.
In addition, Matthews is a coach who espouses, above all else, unselfishness, humility and perspective -- all of the ingredients some have found to be present in the traditionally great programs such as the dominant St. Paul's teams of the 1940s, as well as the unbeaten, MIAA A Conference championship squads of St. Mary's and Boys' Latin, in 1996, and, '97, respectively.
In an informal discussion involving DigitalSports' Maryland State editor Lem Satterfield, historian Mac Kennedy and former Boys' Latin coach Dyson Ehrhardt, thoughts were shared regarding what they believe has constituted great players, and great teams, over the years in the MIAA.
Feel free to contact
Lem Satterfield with your thoughts at lsatterfield@digitalsports.com.
Some of your thoughts may be published in the future.
Thanks, in advance.