Spalding rugby captures second consecutive MIAA championship

Spalding enjoyed a tremendous spring season in sports. At one point in May, the Cavaliers had four varsity programs — boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, softball and baseball — ranked No. 1 in the Baltimore Sun metro-area poll.

Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, none of those traditional spring sports teams were able to secure conference championships. However, another varsity sport did reach the mountaintop.

Standout junior Reid Gerber led the way as Spalding rugby captured its second consecutive MIAA championship. Gerber scored a try and made four conversion kicks as Spalding beat Calvert Hall, 33-15, on May 14 at Pleyvak Field on the Mount Saint Joseph campus.

Junior prop Connor Woodward, senior forward Zach Longfellow, senior fullback Quentin Piccoli and junior winger Jon Kandrac also scored tries for the Cavaliers (11-1), who completed a second straight unbeaten run through the conference.

Gerber scored on a 20-meter run through a huge hole, then delivered a long pass to Piccoli for a 15-meter sprint past the try line. Kandrac capped the scoring with a dash down the sideline after catching a perfectly placed pop kick by Gerber as Spalding took a commanding 33-8 lead.

“Our whole eight-man pack played extremely well. Our scrumming was strong, our rucking was very timely and strategic and the throw-ins, lifting and securing the ball in lineouts was outstanding,” Spalding coach Chad Newcomb said. “We have 16 seniors and, knowing this was their last game for Spalding, really led the way up and down the field.”

Senior forwards Luke Skelton, Aidan Whay and Grant Wanner, senior center back Mike Stone and senior scrum half Liam Brennan were other key players for Spalding, which has gone 16-0 against MIAA competition over the past two seasons.

“That is an impressive feat that reflects the players’ consistency, discipline and dominance on the field,” Newcomb said.

Spalding’s lone loss this season came to Washington area powerhouse Georgetown Prep, 31-19. Spalding posted impressive victories over three other nonconference opponents: defeating DeMatha, 33-0, routing Father Ryan of Tennessee, 71-5, and manhandling Salesianaum School in Delaware, 53-7.

Gerber, a USA Rugby Under-19 All-American, plays club rugby for the prestigious Young Glory program in Washington. He is considering joining older brother, Aidan, as part of the powerhouse program at Navy and is also being heavily recruited by Army.

“The special thing about Reid is that he started every game as a freshman, which does not happen very often,” Newcomb said. “It’s been really special watching Reid get better and better. He is a very talented player and has tremendous potential.”

Longfellow scored seven hat tricks in 12 games this season and was named MIAA Rugby Player of the Year. He will play collegiate rugby at Catholic along with Skelton.