Calvert Hall, Loyola coaches continue longtime rugby rivalry
by Nelson Coffin
With 16 seniors gone from last year’s championship rugby squad, Archbishop Spalding will nevertheless continue to be a threat to three-peat in May.
That said, two-time runner-up Calvert Hall, Loyola Blakefield and Mount St. Joseph will do everything in their power to prevent the Cavaliers from extending their reign.
Calvert Hall coach JR Elliott is the first to acknowledge that his team will face a gauntlet of tough matches as it prepares for a season of bruising collisions and gritty competition.
One of those challenging games for Elliott and the Cardinals — the MIAA opener against archrival Loyola and Elliott’s former Towson University teammate Nate Brady coaching the Dons — was halted at halftime by a thunderstorm last week. Loyola led, 14-5, at the break.
“We have a tough schedule this year, in and out of the league,” Elliott said. “We are excited to compete in the MIAA and represent our school and league out of conference. We just beat (ranked in national top-50) St. Augustine). We are playing Salesianum (School), Valor (on a spring trip to Colorado on April 7), and Georgetown Prep at the end of April. We are playing everyone in our league one time — We are looking forward to competing against all of them as we always do.”
When the match picks up where it left off on April 20, Elliott will continue to rely on prop Melvin Tyree for excellent leadership combined with the kind of skills and athleticism that work well in a variety of situations.
Fellow senior Simeon Campbell is a back/wing game-changer on offense and defense, who’s taking on more of an offensive posture this season while classmate Patrick Krivosh (Mount St Marys) lends his considerable talent as a leader “and a guy who loves rugby and loves to compete” Elliott said.
Other notable seniors include Brayden Zuckerman (10/15), Shane Langway (9/scrum-half) and versatile Clinton Cole (wing/flanker).
Elliott said that Zuckerman, who also intends to play the sport in college, “has really completed his overall game this offseason,” while Langway “has been playing very well and (is) controlling the offense.”
Cole’s multi-tool ability adds to his prowess for playmaking whenever and wherever he is on the field, Elliott added.
Look for captain Norman Taylor (center/13) to continue to be the kind of difference-maker he has been since his freshman year for the Cardinals, along with fellow junior Liam Ritter (flanker, forwards captain), who is “a tackling machine and commander on defense,” Elliott said.
Another junior, Dylan Hospelhorn, spends most of his time on the pitch settling up his teammates while seasoned sophomore Jake Haudenshield plays a multitude of positions with great skill.
“Our league has gotten way more competitive and has been a showcase of rugby in Maryland,” Elliott concluded. “Spalding has become another rival for us, year-in and year-out, Loyola is always a game we look forward to, and MSJ has been top-notch competition in the past couple years.”
Brady, whose team boasts its share of standouts — including seniors Andrew Spencer (hooker), Joey Cuomo (8-man), Connor Johnson (9/scrum-half) and Jimmy Lazzati (fullback), and juniors Luke Kirkpatrick (inside centre) and TR Rosen (prop) — likened the match against the Cardinals to rivalries like the Ravens and Steelers.
“Anytime we’re playing Calvert Hall, there’s always an additional bit of rivalry,” he said. “It will always be a hard-fought, close match.”
Brady (Loyola ’08) and Elliott (CHC ’09) know from personal experience about the rivalry, having played for their respective high school alma maters in the showdown.
“He was a great player,” Elliott said. “I transferred to Towson and he was there playing, so it was cool to reconnect in a different way. Our team was really good during our time there. Nate went on to play longer and became a ref/official. He knows the game inside and out. It has been awesome to go against each other since he took over at Loyola. It definitely adds a little more to what already is a long rivalry. I wish him and Loyola the best and always enjoy preparing for them and competing against them.”
Brady said that Calvert Hall has had a lot of success during Elliott’s tenure.
“His teams are always well-coached and physical,” Brady added. “You know you’re in for a good match when you play them.”
Despite its niche-sport status, Brady’s love for the sport blossomed in his freshman year at Loyola.
“There’s always a position for everyone,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re 140 pounds or 250, if you show up and work hard, there will be a spot on the team and you can learn and grow together.”