portsmouth abbey news
A Banner Year for Raven Athletes
|
Colin McKay presents an award to Matthew Burgner '25. As the 2024-2025 academic year winds down for Raven student-athletes, the banners earned through their dedication, teamwork and perseverance will continue to be raised. In his Commencement address to the Class of 2025, Head of School Matt Walter reminded them of their many achievements in the past year alone. In the fall, the girls varsity soccer team qualified for the NEPSAC tournament, as did the girls varsity volleyball team. The boys varsity soccer team won the Eastern Independent League championship and captured the EIL Tournament Championship while also reaching the NEPSAC Finals. In the gym, the girls varsity volleyball team qualified for the NEPSAC tournament, and the Raven wrestlers were once again crowned EIL Regular Season Champions with Dino De Marzio being named EIL Wrestler of the Year. The boys varsity basketball team qualified for the NEPSAC tournament and the girls ' squash team earned the NEPSAC sportsmanship award. The boys team won the NEPSAC Class E Championship. On the ice, the girls varsity hockey team again won the EIL Regular Season Championship and the EIL Tournament Championship. The boys varsity ice hockey team won the Holt Conference Championship for the first time in School history. At the mound, pitcher Mitch Canuel was named EIL Player of the Year. The varsity baseball team again won the EIL Regular Season Championship after playing (and winning) against St. George’s on a beautiful night at Cardines Field in Newport, one of the oldest continually operating baseball fields in the world. Not to be outdone, the varsity girls softball team also won the EIL Regular Season Championship and the EIL Tournament Championship. Finally, the boys varsity track and field team won the EIL Championship for the second time in three years, finished as NEPSAC runner-up, and set a new school and NEPSAC record in the 4x400 relay.
Alumni Lacrosse Game and Recognition for Raven AthletesThe 21st Alumni Lacrosse Game was held on May 18. The tradition is always an entertaining event and an opportunity for longtime lacrosse coach Al Brown to reconnect with former players. Sixteen alumni played at the college level this spring, including Charlie Baughan ’22, whose brothers Christopher ’14 and Connor ’17 are also lacrosse alumni, and Parker Polgar ’22, whose sister Sadie ’24 and brother Gage ’25 also attended the Abbey and played lacrosse.
Special Awards Given at Prize DayTwo special awards for Raven athletes were given out at Prize Day to members of the graduating class. A complete list of spring athletic award winners will be featured in the summer issue of the Alumni Bulletin. Scholar-Athlete Award The Scholar-Athlete Award recognizes a boy and a girl in the Sixth Form who, during the academic year, earned three varsity letters while demonstrating the highest academic achievement. Dylan Galbreth, Piedmont, California Matt Burgner, Redondo Beach, California
The Portsmouth Abbey Athletics Association Selected by the varsity coaching staff and the athletic director, this award is presented each year to members of the Sixth Form who exhibit outstanding playing ability, sportsmanship, leadership, effort and dedication in each of the three seasons of athletics. Tomas Aubut-Lavin, Montreal-Ouest, QC, Canada Gabriel Devaney, Portsmouth, Rhode Island Layla Grilli, Portsmouth, Rhode Island Ella Liuzza, Portsmouth, Rhode Island |
Baughan and Polgar are members of the Dickinson College Lacrosse team, which defeated RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) in the NCAA semifinals and played against Tufts University at Gillette Stadium on Memorial Day weekend in the Division III NCAA championship. Baughan had four goals and an assist in the semi-final game and two assists in the championship game. Although his team did not win the championship this season, the Foxboro native received special recognition during the team’s first practice in Foxboro. A representative from the New England Patriots stopped by to deliver a jersey signed by team owner Bob Kraft and Head Coach Mike Vrabel.