Winter Sports Preview

Following a successful fall campaign that brought two IAC championships and a DCSAA state championship back to the Close, Bulldog fans are setting their sights on what is sure to be a thrilling winter season.

Five teams suit up in the blue, white, and red this winter: basketball, hockey, swimming and diving, Voyageur, and wrestling. Let’s take a closer look at the upcoming seasons for the Dogs.

Head Coach OJ Johnson ’97 returns 3 out of his top 4 scorers from last year’s squad in guard Landon Mills (’24), wing-forward Kahu Treacher (’24), and All-IAC guard Jaylen Wills (’25). Eight members of last season’s JV IAC Championship Team and two new transfers round out the roster.

Coach Johnson has high expectations for the squad: “The coaching staff is more than confident that several other players will step up throughout the season as this entire group of guys have bonded extremely well to start the season and have bought into the team's and the entire program's motto of Be The STAndard (Sacrifice, Toughness & Attitude),” said Johnson

The season will heat up quickly, with some exciting match-ups that should pack the stands in Martin Gym:

It’s a historic year for the St. Albans hockey team, as it is celebrating its 30th year competing as a varsity program. With their home rink of Fort Dupont closed this season for construction, it’s been a test of perseverance and flexibility to find time on the ice. Nevertheless, the fighting spirit of the Bulldogs has made it work.

Coach Dan Pfohl is laser-focused on guiding his squad to an anniversary season for the record books, saying, “The team is excited to hit the ice and is focused on making a run for the IAC and MAPHL titles.”

On the ice, the Bulldogs’ lineup features a solid core of returning players in addition to a strong freshmen class. Already showcasing a dynamic offense, the Dogs scored 13 goals in their first 3 games, good for an average of more than 4 goals per game. The schedule has already been a challenging one with matchups against Dematha and Gonzaga. 

Before the break, the Dogs square off versus Bishop O’Connell on Friday, December 15, at the Medstar Rink in Arlington. With the puck scheduled to drop at 8:00 pm, it is certain to be a matchup the BEEF Club does not want to miss.

The Lawrence Pool has been busy this year as the 2023-24 swim and dive team has been hard at work preparing for competition.

This year’s team looks forward to participating in diving competitions this year, a change from last season in which no divers competed. Crucial to scoring points at meets, the divers should help position the team well to compete across the IAC.

As Coach Rich Bettencourt puts it, “The swim and dive team returns an experienced, and competitive, core of swimmers and adds a very talented Form III class to the roster. With the addition of four divers, this year’s captains — Charlie Greenwood, Teddy Lee, and George Shaw  —  have their team’s sights set on bringing a long awaited IAC banner back to The Close.”

With only one home meet remaining ahead of Senior Day in February, fans should look to pack the stands this afternoon for a matchup against Good Counsel and Paul VI at 4:30 pm.

While it’s a year of rebuilding for Voyageur, the expectation remains quite high for the climbing Bulldogs. Although five of the team’s eleven varsity athletes graduated last season, plenty of younger climbers are ready to step up.

Coach Velosky shared: “We've got a pair of strong Form VI climbers leading us this year, and a handful of sophomores and juniors ready to take on much bigger roles. We’ve also got a few athletes who are new to the program but look like they have the skills to make an immediate impact. The hope is that we can build on last year's momentum where we finished 4th out out of 10 teams at the WAICL championship.”

The Bulldogs have been working hard on the mat to prepare for a competitive season.

Coach Armstrong has been clear on the goals of the squad, saying, “Wrestling is focused on building the skills to become a championship caliber team. Our characteristics we train to improve are fearlessness, confidence, compassion and respect.”

With a schedule that progressively intensifies, the wrestling team hosted Sidwell yesterday and will travel to Landon next week. The majority of the schedule takes place in the new year, with tournaments across the DMV.