SJ Sports: Sports Despite Strikes

All summer long the athletes at Holy Cross High worked hard to prepare for the fall sports season. For the athletes, especially the seniors, the fall season was something to look forward to, especially since the Lancers play a competitive schedule in every sport.

However, anticipation turned to frustration as a teachers’ strike left everything very much in doubt. The coaches couldn’t work out with the players, who had to practice on their own. The strike began on Sept. 4. South Jersey’s fall sports season officially began Sept. 13.

The athletes should be commended for staying together and working out, but it still isn’t the same as having organized practices.

Plus as the strike entered its second week and uncertainty grew, it was difficult for the athletes to keep their focus. The seniors were especially wondering if their final year would be cut short or lost entirely.

All sides were relieved when the strike was settled on Sept. 12. The seniors and all the other athletes will have an entire season to compete, even though some sports postponed the Sept. 13 openers.

The field hockey team showed unbelievable resiliency by winning their first game, 1-0 on Saturday over Conwell Egan.

The sport that was affected the most by the strike was football. Even though the players worked out during the strike, they didn’t practice in pads.

The players weren’t able to do any hitting in practice from Sept. 4 until Thursday Sept. 12. Then the Lancers had the unenviable task of opening their season on Saturday against one of the best football teams in the Delaware Valley, St. Joe Prep of Philadelphia, now 3-0.

While the strike was going on, Holy Cross coach Tom Maderia had hoped for a game, no matter what the outcome.

"Even if we lose 60-0, the kids deserve to play the game," Maderia said. "They worked hard and I hope the game gets played."

He got his wish, even though Maderia wishes for a better result. St. Joe Prep defeated the Lancers, 38-0.

Maderia, to his credit didn’t blame the strike for the loss.

"We were beaten by an outstanding team."

Maderia made a good point when he said that regardless of the strike, the fact that it was Holy Cross’s first game and the third game for St. Joe Prep made a difference.

"Strike or no strike, to have two games under your belt is huge," Maderia said. "But I don’t want to take anything away from St. Joe Prep because they played a great game."

Holy Cross was competitive early, and had the Lancers not dropped a sure touchdown pass and had another called back during a 17-0 first half, things would have been much tighter. The Lancers finally became deflated after St. Joe Prep scored on its first third quarter possession to take a 24-0 lead.

This was only a non-league game and it shouldn’t hurt Holy Cross’s chance to earn a Parochial 3 playoff berth. The Lancers are considered along with Woodrow Wilson the teams to beat in the newly formed Burlco/Olympic Patriot Division.

"There is a lot we can accomplish and it’s all ahead of us," Maderia said.

First, the Lancers must settle on a quarterback. Juniors Jay Marino and Joe MacArthur each played on Saturday. Junior Frank Piromalli could also be in the future mix at quarterback.

The Lancers still appear to be one of the best teams in South Jersey, and most importantly, they will have a chance to prove themselves on the field, instead of worrying about what goes on in a picket line.

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Author: Marc Narducci