On
a bitter cold morning on Tuesday, January 5th, the Tour made its way
to Maryland to honor Our Lady of Good Counsel ranked No. 51 in the nation.
The presentation was performed at the school’s morning assembly in their
gymnasium at 8:00am.
Our
Lady of Good Counsel is a private Catholic school with approximately 1,000
students. The school while rich in sports tradition always seems to come
up short against arch nemesis and local rival DeMatha. But, this year was
different. With a loaded squad of roughly 20 seniors, Good Counsel
avenged a previous loss to DeMatha by beating them for the coveted state
championship, thereby affording Good Counsel the opportunity to become first
time recipients of the MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the National
Guard and its prestigious National Guard National Ranking trophy, the Minuteman,
symbolic for excellence, determination, perseverance, and commitment.
As
the students in uniform entered the gym, SGT James Richardson and SSG Ricardo
Morales of the Maryland National Guard and ole’ tour veteran, Charlie Thompson
of MaxPreps waited patiently. With the gym packed, the Good Counsel
Athletic Director introduced Charlie who spoke about the team’s on field
accomplishments, most notably beating rival DeMatha. Charlie then
introduced SGT James Richardson who called up the entire team and head coach
Bob Milloy. SGT James Richardson praised the team’s victory and state
championship and national recognition as one of 50 schools selected to receive
the National Guard National Ranking trophy.
All
the players held the trophy proudly and if there was ever a school that
deserved to place the Minuteman trophy in its trophy case, it’s Good
Counsel. The team showed heart, dedication and continued perseverance by
beating their arch nemesis with everything on the line.
Head
coach Bob Milloy thanked MaxPreps and the National Guard, players were given
their commemorative t-shirts and pictures were snapped to wrap-up the
ceremony.
Well
done Good Counsel!
