As we entered into DeMatha Catholic High School, one thing was evident - DeMatha's extensive athletic tradition and championships. Trophy after trophy decks the halls at DeMatha, from basketball to football to many others, similar to a high school sports museum. Uniquely, there was a tennis racquet in the case, and not for the actual sport, but as a tool to prepare and simulate the dominant 7'2" length of a young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (or Lew Alcinder).
The all-boys school nestled between Baltimore and Washington, DC and amazingly without an athletic facility to call its own except for an old, yet historic basketball gymnasium, has graduated some of sports most prominent sports figures such as James Brown, Adrian Dantley, Kenny Car, Danny Ferry and Notre Dame Fighting Irish basketball coach, Mike Brey. Furthermore, the school is mostly know for its nationally renowned basketball program now coached by Mike Jones, yet brought to such prominence by legendary Basketball Coach Morgan Wootten. However, this isn't about basketball (not yet as least). This Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard is about football and we were on-site to honor DeMatha's 2006 football team. With 16 League Championships, this year's Stags went a perfect 12-0 and were ranked in the Top 50 from over 15,000 teams in the MaxPreps national ranking poll.
At halftime of the boy's varsity basketball game, MaxPreps and the Army National Guard honored Coach William McGregor, Athletic Director/Assistant Coach Ed King and approximately 20 players by presenting to them the reputable MaxPreps National Ranking Trophy. Chris Stonebreaker of MaxPreps introduced the Tour and MaxPreps to about 400 fans and Sergeant First Class Frank Ristaino from the Army National Guard presented the trophy, a symbol of determination, dedication, perseverance, and excellence, to Coach McGregor.
We salute and honor the DeMatha Stags 2006 Football Team and on behalf of MaxPreps and the Army National Guard, we too are honored to have the MaxPreps National Ranking Trophy placed in the DeMatha trophy case among some of the most memorable championship moments in high school sports.
