BEARSPORTSNEWS SUNDAY EDITION 08.08.2021

With only 32 days until school starts, a setting summer sun is a most appropriate banner image

Highlights

• More summer baseball news about a current Bear.

• The REAL 2021 Football schedule

• Bear alum coaches a current Bear lax summer MVP

• INTRODUCTION TO WILL McGETTIGAN, new head lacrosse coach

• 1^st introduction the 17 Bears playing college football

• Bear is an NIL pioneer in lacrosse

• Another Bear alumnus had a great summer internship

Inside the White Rocks

• FOOTBALL

• Eleanor Roosevelt was a 2019 scrimmage partner

  • Triangular scrimmage with Potomac and O’Connell will be an interesting opportunity to assess the strength of the Panthers (frequent MAC Champs) and the Knights (WCAC). Rumors still abound that there may be a merger of IAC, MAC and WCAC with divisions like the EPL.

  • Repeat on schedule from 2019  Dunbar School  was 10-3 with a tough home loss to the Bears (14-8); 8 seniors identified out of 34 player roster.

  • trip to Orange, VA to play against Woodberry Forrest last in 2019 [first 2021 away game for Bears]; 2020 1-0; returning 20 members Class of 2021 listed on 2020 roster; new coach

  • new opponent-Haverford School (Philly—PIAA\InterAc league) 2-1 in 2020[H]; young 2021 roster

  • Regular IAC schedule; few teams have posted their rosters

• LACROSSE–new Bear Coach

[Rob Bordley, Ian Healy, Will McGettigan, Connor Cassidy and JR Bordley.]

Will McGettigan has been named the 4^th coach in Landon’s history of lacrosse teachers-coaches-mentor. He has been on the sidelines for seven years; so, he knows what’s expected on him.  And the boys know their new head coach’s high standards.

Being part of the Bear lax coaching tree is daunting, but it’s apparent that Will will be able to continue the tradition.

Landon Lacrosse has benefited from three exceptional coaches. All played serious Division I lacrosse and were technical experts. The techniques, tactics and strategy prepared the rosters to play big time lax; college coaches marveled at how the incoming Landon platers showed a  sophisticated knowledge of the game at the first practice.

True to the school’s teacher-coach-mentor principle, these players learned more than X’s and O’s. Their coaches by their actions in all three of the pedagogical aspects instilled values. The most impressive proof of this education’s impact is that over 60 of their alumni went on the be selected captains of their college teams. The character development was evident to their peers and their coaches.

        This new coach meets the historical standards of excellence. Will McGettigan fits this mold of leadership having been captains of teams at The Episcopal High School and then at Brown. His leadership style connected with his players over the last 8 years; they recognized that Coach knew the game and trusted whatever advice he gave.

          His experience is heavy in teaching and coaching. He started teaching and coaching at Marin Catholic, a school which also sets values as a primary goal.  The 4 years (per MaxPreps) that he was the Wildcats head coach,he took  a fledgling program to the league championship and the school’s first Northern California state section championship. The team’s record was 61-28.

EDUCATION

2002 – 2006              BROWN UNIVERSITY       

A.B., June 2006

Varsity lacrosse – offensive midfielder and F/O

2006: team captain, All New England, offensive MVP 2005 ( the 2004 winner was PLL legend Chazz Woodson, now HC at Hampton university); Academic All-Ivy

2003:Vincent Marinelli Award freshman lacrosse player who best exemplifies Vin’s strong competitive spirit, sense of fair play and commitment to the quality of life.

2014 – 2016 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY                         

MAT, concentration in secondary education, social studies

2000 – 2002              EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL    

-a three sport athlete

Football MVP award  senior year at EHS

Will grew up in NoVa, started playing lacrosse early in life, and played initially at SSSA.

His wife, Julie, and Will have two children – Ella age 6, Michael age 3.

Bear Tracks

• Football

[NOTE: some colleges have not yet completed their web pages, esp. Div. III schools; also, last year’s pandemic cancellation has resulted in changes in academic years/eligibility]

Bryce Baylor, L18, RB #22, Dickinson College

Bryce Baylor: Celebrating Black History Month – Dickinson College (dickinsonathletics.com) Bryce Baylor, President of the Athletes of Color Coalition as well as a running back for the Dickinson football program talks about the importance of Black History Month and why it’s important to celebrate. Bryce also shares a special moment in sports history that has had a profound impact on him as well as other athletes of color throughout history. #BlackHistoryMonth #DsonRedDevils #AlwaysWearinTheRed

Mac Hollensteiner, L18  OL #77 Georgetown

Davis Walker, L19, K #47 Georgetown

Terrance Bridgers L19 (RS soph) DL, #93 Delaware State,

Joshua Chapman L19 #55 DL Pennsylvania

Chazz Harley L19 #27 (RS freshman)DBElon

Jelani Machen L19 #30, CB, Harvard

Jalen Williams L19 (RS soph) DB #35,Boston College

Gerney Johnson L21 RB Stevenson

Tejon Ford, L20 LB/S #5 Shenandoah

Tommy Kenary,L20  DL #62 Middlebury

Eric Ford,L21 United States Military Academy  (USMAPS?)

Chantz Harley, L21, DB #30 ,Villanova

Greg Johnson,L21 OL #76 Georgetown 

Dameon Ming,L21 RB/LB  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute  

Eric Speight,L21 Pace

College Coaching (2)

Justin Cort, L13, Director of Operations, Delaware State

Paul Padalino, L13, assistant coach, Georgetown

Lacrosse

Joey Epstein ’18 signs with Lacrosse Unlimited”

The NCAA now allows athletes to benefit from their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and Joey is one of the ten lacrosse players selected to participate in Lacrosse Unlimited’ s branding of them for the company’s products. A Landon teammate anonymously commented “It can’t be for his looks; yea his body is ripped; must be his GPA!”

Soccer

His predecessor was Jeff MacBean (Princeton AA) and his successor was Matt Ogelsby (Duke AA). Coincidence: Jeff’s father was on the lacrosse team that I managed, and Matt was captain of the team on which my son played.