Xavier Athletics Update

By Peter Barbieri '10

Xavier’s outdoor athletic programs have all enjoyed success during their respective spring seasons. 

Xavier's powerhouse rugby teams enjoyed another fine season on all levels. The freshmen had a memorable season to start their Xavier careers, finishing with a 9-1 record and a combined score of 528-38. The team had a dominant presence at the Jesuit Classic Tournament in Leesburg, Va. 

Captains Leo Pereira ’17 and Connor Buckley ’17 led the JV rugby team to an undefeated season. The team beat their opposition handily with a combined score of 687-59—including victories over East Coast rivals Gonzaga, 48-5, and Greenwich, 59-14. Jack Manzo ’17 had an outstanding season, moving up to the varsity team for the national championships; he greatly impressed the high school All-American coaches during the tournament and has been invited to the Under-16 team’s tour to Canada.

The varsity team heads into the last stanza of another great season as they play their last match of an undefeated league season against Fordham Prep on May 29. Led by Captain Eamonn Matthews ’15, the team looks to claim its third straight New York state championship next weekend in Utica. Two weeks ago, the team started the national championship tournament with a heartbreak as they lost to Penn High School (Mishawaka, Ind.) on the final play of double overtime, but the players rallied to win their remaining matches and finished 5th in the nation. The B-side also had a great season, going undefeated despite playing the majority of their matches against other teams’ A-sides.

The track team also finished strong, placing third in the intersectional championship. Charlie Lambert ’15, who will attend the University of Virginia this fall, took home the long jump title. John Rice ’15, who will head to the University of Texas on a track scholarship, was injured during the championship. We thank the many families and friends who have sent supportive messages and prayers to John. 

After a slow start, the tennis team captured two of its last three matches, finishing the season with a 2-6 team record. The team saved its best for the last match of the season, when the squad beat Archbishop Molloy 5-0 without dropping a set. Seven of the team's nine players will return next season, giving the team a talented, experienced foundation for the next few years. 

The varsity baseball team had a very successful season. They were young and extremely talented; Coach Rich Duffell said they were one of the hardest-hitting teams he has ever coached. Many of the games they lost this season were decided by one run, which proved to be the difference in the season. This past weekend, the team took on Christ the King and lost a 4-3 nail-biter in nine innings. The varsity baseball program looks forward to next year with the majority of the team returning and a talented JV squad coming up. 

The JV team finished the season fourth in the CHSAA and second in the Manhattan/Bronx division with a 13-5 league record. After winning the first two games of the seeding round, the Knights are the No. 2 seed in the playoffs and will play in the quarterfinals Sunday. The freshman baseball team finished 8-8 on the season. It was a positive experience for the first-year players, as many of their losses were also decided by just one run. The pitching was one of the main strong points of the season. The future looks bright for the Xavier baseball program.

For more details about Xavier athletics, visit the Xavier athletics website.