Winter Sports Championships

3/27/2023

BASKETBALL

The varsity basketball team concluded a historic season with their second consecutive Baltimore Catholic Leage Tournament win. The Gaels entered the arena at Goucher College on March 5 with a chip on their shoulders after a tough loss to St. Frances in the MIAA A Conference Championship the preceding weekend. It was an overtime thriller with the Gaels coming up just short of the title, 75-78. They earned redemption in their next championship battle with a hard-fought victory over St. Maria Goretti. The Gaels had split the season series with Goretti, marking MSJ’s only regular-season loss in the BCL.

The Gaels started strong, scoring the game’s first six points and quickly building to a 17-point first-half lead. Amani Hansberry ’23 had 17 points and 21 rebounds, earning him the John M. Plevyak BCL Tournament MVP award for the second straight year. Amani was also named MIAA Player of the Year. Forward Tyonne Farrell ’24 added another 17 points, and point guard Ace Valentine ’23 contributed 13. Both players made the BCL All-Tournament team.

MSJ maintained a double-digit advantage through the third quarter and most of the fourth. In the final minute of the game, Goretti cut the lead to 56-50 with 0:39 left, but Tyonne, Amani, and Sean Clark ’23 strung together one free throw each to close out the game 59-50.

The championship win wasn’t the Gaels’ only major accomplishment this season. Securing first-place finishes in both the MIAA and BCL regular seasons, their 38-4 tally ties the program and BCL records for most wins in a season. In December, during the semifinal game of the ‘Iolani Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii, they upset the No. 1 team in the nation, Montverde Academy, 56-55, handing them one of only two losses on the season. Mount Saint Joseph basketball is currently ranked No. 19 in the nation by ESPN.

Coach Pat Clatchey ’80 was also recently recognized for reaching 782 career wins, surpassing Cokey Robertson for third most all-time coaching victories in Maryland boys basketball. He now has a record of 792-257, which is a 76% win rate.

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WRESTLING

In the MIAA A Conference Championship, the Gaels earned seven gold, one silver, and three bronze medals to secure a 270.5-194.5 win over No. 4 Gilman for their second consecutive title. They were also named MIAA Dual Meet Champions.

Coleman Nogle ’23, who is ranked No. 1 in MD and No. 11 in the nation in Scorebook Live’s National Rankings, was voted outstanding wrestler, and Cameron Cannaday ’25 brought home the “Russell Cup” for most points scored.

The following weekend, the Gaels earned their sixth straight Maryland Independent Schools Wrestling Championship, scoring 317 team points, 63 points ahead of second place. They went undefeated in the finals, crowning eight individual state champions. Twelve of 14 weight classes qualified for National Preps.

Coleman Nogle (126) bookended his career with a second state championship. In the second period of the MIAA Tournament finals, he pinned Spalding’s No. 5 Vincent Paolucci in 3:35. Their MIS Championship match-up met the same fate: a second period fall, 3:41. Coleman won an award for most career points scored for a team.

Other individual champions include Jake Tamai ’26 (113), Carter Nogle ’24 (120), Ben Smith ’25 (157), Nick Barnabae ’25 (165), Austin Lewis ’24 (175), Bryce Phillips ’24 (215), and Gavin Bage ’23 (285).

Coleman Nogle was named MIAA Wrestler of the Year.

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INDOOR TRACK

The indoor track team edged out Calvert Hall by two points to bring home the MIAA Indoor Track Championship title for the first time since 2017.

Halfway through the meet, the Gaels found themselves behind by 30 points. A first-place finish by Devin Underwood ’23 in the 500-meter dash helped diminish the deficit. With just one event remaining, the Gaels had caught up to the Cardinals, tying the score as they headed into the 1,600-meter relay.

In the third leg of the relay, Braedan Smith ’23 closed an eight-meter gap in his last lap to set up for anchor Devin’s final 400 meters. In a photo finish, Devin crossed first and secured the points needed to beat the three-time defending champions, 137-135. Devin, Braedan, and their relay teammates–Renaco Linberger ’23 and Pierce Schultze ’23–set the championship meet record in 3 minutes, 28.01 seconds.

Charlie Butler ’23 also added to the Gaels’ total with a first-place finish in the individual 1,600-meter event. Further contributions came from shot putter Mason Williams ’24, who placed third, and C.J. Johnson ’23, who placed seventh in the 800-meter.

The Gaels racked up 14 personal bests on the day, including two for Avery Jones ’23 in the 55-meter sprint and the 300-meter.

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