The Friar’s Cup Cafe Opens

Re-Dedication of “Mary’s Place” in Honor of James & Mary Stewart

On Wednesday, September 15, Rev. James Flynn, O.S.A. provided over the blessing and re-dedication of “Mary’s Place,” a beautiful tree planted in honor of Mary Stewart after her passing in 2004 next to Austin Hall. At this ceremony, it was also newly dedicated to her husband, Jim. The four children of Jim & Mary were in attendance, along with their families.

Father Flynn noted that not only were they “phenomenal people, but also a phenomenal couple.” mp

The Friar’s Cup Official Opening

Malvern’s new café in Carney Hall officially opens and serves as a connection point for the St. Augustine Center for Social Impact.

By: Dakota Kolar ‘22, Contributor to The Friar’s Lantern This article first appeared in the December issue of The Friar’s Lantern

The new attraction to the campus, The Friar’s Cup, is now open and has created a buzz within the community. It has remained a topic of conversation and continues to excite everyone.

Students are excited about the official opening of The Friar’s Cup. It is open every day before school, during lunch, and after school.

Mr. Thomas Gray P‘21‘24, Director of Dining Services, shares what he has seen from the students so far.

“The idea that it was a classroom four months ago is astounding. I expected the novelty to start to wear thin and it hasn’t started wearing with the students,’’ Gray said.

Even though it recently opened, Gray states that the idea has been circulating for a couple of years.

“It started a long time ago when they wanted to put a kitchen in the CSI. With the new schedule that they have now, the lunch periods to get food are a little bit more condensed. So we wanted to spread the lunches out,” Gray said.

Only a month in, Gray discusses future plans for The Friar’s Cup.

“We’re really just experimenting with what we’re going to be doing. We want to expand the hours if we can get some more help. I also want to coordinate Stewart and the Cup together, the menus, and what we’re offering,” Gray said.

The staple of The Friar’s Cup, Ms. Williams, is excited about her new role. She has been at Malvern since September 2006.

“With this, I think I’ve done just about everything. I’ve done everything except be the chef,” Williams said. As she serves the students every day, she has seen a variety of reactions.

“Just the overall look of their face when they come in. How impressed they are and how amazed they are that it used to be a classroom. Also that we sell Wawa coffee,” Williams said.

Wawa coffee has been the new and exciting product that gets all the attention. Gray knew a change had to be made.

“We wanted to go upscale, and I thought the best way of doing that was with the coffee,” Gray said.

As an insider, Williams has seen all the things that went into making the cafe what it is. She thinks that Gray has been amazing throughout the process.

“I think he’s honestly done a phenomenal job. I think he’s hit the ground running, and he’s done a great job,” she said.

While Gray and Williams are the faces of the operation, Gray had to give credit where it was needed.

“We had some designers come in and take a look at the space, but I would say 90% of this job was done through Mr. Kinney and the Maintenance Department,” Gray said.

Students and faculty alike are thrilled to have an easy, convenient place to grab a bite, see a friendly face, and refuel for another Friar day. mp

Malvern Prep Welcomes the Class of 2025 with Brotherhood Ceremony

On Wednesday, September 22, members of Malvern Prep’s Class of 2025, as well as new members of the classes of 2023 and 2024, were formally welcomed into the Malvern Community during the Brotherhood Ceremony in the O’Neill Sports Center.

Fr. Christopher Drennen, O.S.A. ‘73 provided the homily and addressed the newest Friar Brothers, “In many ways, we are all different, but today we celebrate what we have in common...we need to recognize and celebrate our diversity but never forget the unity that we have as Malvern friars and Malvern families.”

Drennen reminded the students that “you need the higher power, that power we know is God the Father, Jesus Christ. Call upon that power. You are not doing this alone, you are doing it with God’s strength, with your brothers, with the community, and ultimately you are doing it because you look deep inside yourself, and you are finding your restless heart and what it calls you to do.” Drennen closed by thanking all of the new Friar Brothers for the gifts they have brought to the Malvern Community.

Each student began the ceremony by sitting with their parents/guardians. They were then presented with a medal of St. Augustine, which was placed around his neck by his parents/guardians. These medals depict the image of St. Augustine, the founder of the Augustinian Order of priests who established and support Malvern Prep. Each student and his family were then blessed by one of the four Augustinian Friars participating in the ceremony. The new Malvern Brothers then signed their names in a Class of 2025 ledger, symbolizing their acceptance into the Malvern community. They returned to sit with their classmates, rather than their parents/guardians, signifying their membership into the Brotherhood. mp

Malvern Community Completes Two Full Days of Christian Service

On Tuesday, October 26, and Wednesday, October 27, the full Malvern Prep Community participated in back-to-back days of Christian Service Learning. These dedicated school days offered both on and off-campus service opportunities to help those in need.

In keeping with the academic year theme, “To lead is to serve - to serve is to love” and under the direction of Fr. Chris Drennen, O.S.A. ‘73 and Mrs. Kelly Catania P‘21‘23, Christian Service at Malvern Prep has been revamped and reimagined to have a greater impact on the world around us as well as to be meaningful experiences for our students.

“During the pandemic, our students were limited in the types of service experiences they had. It was something that was notably missing as we reviewed the previous academic year - and to our students’ credit, it was something they asked to do more of this year,” explains Mr. Ron Algeo ‘87 P’15, Assistant Head of School for Student Life. “We are thrilled with the direction the service program is heading in this year,” he added.

For the 2021-22 academic year, six school days are dedicated to Christian Service. The design of the program pays tribute to the Augustinian Core Values of Truth (Veritas), Unity (Unitas), and Love (Caritas). The October 2021 service days were themed around Caritas and were designed to show our devotion to St. Augustine in caring for those less fortunate in our community.

Throughout the two days, students rotated to service experiences which included: - Rise Against Hunger - Students packed thousands of meals with people worldwide. This hands-on event helps educate students on the real need for food in so many areas of the world.

- Seeds International - Students packed seed bags which are distributed to impoverished communities in developing countries.

The strategy initiates a cycle of self-sufficiency that gives people the resources they need to feed themselves.

- AmericanSeedsUSA - Malvern Prep worked with AmericanSeeds

USA to pack and deliver thousands of beans wrapped in small bundles to aid those families suffering from food insecurity.

- Chester County Food Bank “Color Some Kindness”- Students decorated food boxes with paint, markers, and stickers that will then be delivered and filled with food we collected to feed the homeless.

- Comfy Covers - Students worked in teams to assemble beautiful, warm blankets to share with the homeless in our community.

- Blessing Bags - Groups designed cards and assembled blessing bags to share with the homeless people in Philadelphia.

Students also participated in learning events. One such event, “Walk for Water,” educated students on the hardships families face who do not have access to clean water. By traveling in groups to Black Friar Pond to fill a water jug, students experienced on a small scale the distance families travel for clean water. During “Hope for Hunger” students filled a small bag with rice and beans to cook for their own dinner. They were encouraged to “feel” what it’s like to experience true hunger. No snacks, no desserts, their entire supper is in their baggie.

In addition to the service-learning happening on campus, some students were able to participate in service off-campus at Good Samaritan Men’s Shelter where students visited with the men and helped with everyday chores as designed by the director.

Another off-campus activity that took place was the Walk for Hunger, a 10-mile journey from the Chapel on the campus at Villanova

University back to Malvern Prep. Every Friar in the class of 2022 has been challenged to take this walk which signifies what it is truly like for people around the globe that must travel far distances to feed their families. Thus far, 68 students and faculty have completed the challenge.

“It gives me such joy to see our students participate in these service activities and put their faith into action,” said Mrs. Catania. “At Malvern, service to others is ingrained in who we are as a community. It is a win-win because our students are impacted just as much as the people we hope to serve,” she added.

The results of the Christian Service Learning days in October speak for themselves. In total, 52 blankets were made for St. Patrick’s in Norristown; students assisted with packaging and delivering over 45,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger; over 42,000 seed packs were created for Seed Packing International; 30,000 seeds were packed for American Seeds; 4,200 cans of food were donated to Chester County Food Bank and St. Katherine’s, and 520 Blessing Bags were made for the homeless at Safe Harbor and Home of the Sparrow. mp

Robotics Club Expands to Middle School

Malvern Prep is proud to be known as the first school in the Inter-Ac to initiate an Upper School Robotics Club. This year, the Upper School Robotics Club is celebrating its 20-year anniversary - quite an accomplishment. The Robotics and Engineering Club provides students with opportunities to design and create. Throughout the year, students work on fun projects and learn to use tools and equipment common to the manufacturing and design business. The team also designs and builds a robot to compete with and against teams from across the region.

Last spring robotics expanded to the Middle School. The club has grown over the last year from eight members to 30 members this year. According to Zach Horwath ‘27, Middle Schoolers enjoy “the freedom that we get during our time in the robotics lab. Also, we enjoy learning and building as we grow the club. We continue to learn how to attack challenges and collaborate.”

Malvern’s Upper School (US) Robotics students took on the role of providing mentorship and encouragement to the Middle School (MS) club since it started. Last spring the MS build project was led by US students. This year, US students have been serving as the referees and administrators of the MS competition. Horwath explains that “the Upper School has played a vital role in starting the MS Robotics program. They influenced, motivated, and gave us guidance to build our robots because we started by using their workshop. They are also good role models for showing how we can tackle challenges.”

When asked about the opportunity that participating in this club presents, moderator Mr. Rob Buscaglia P‘22‘24‘27 said, “Students are tasked with designing a robot to compete in a field that has a series of different opportunities and challenges for earning points. Each of those challenges offers teams any number of ways to design their robot to accomplish the task. There are no prescribed building instructions, so each team is free to brainstorm, build, and test their own ideas. Throughout the course of preparing for and competing in the competition, teams are constantly ideating, testing, and modifying based on what works and what needs improvement. The teams learn to move from building, testing, and modifying to strategizing as the competition progresses. This leads teams to rethink their design, perhaps make additional modifications, or make adjustments to their on-field strategies. It’s a constant learning process. There is never ‘an answer,’ just constant adjustment and improvement to meet the next challenge.”

Robotics students are using what they learn in the classroom to hone their robotics and engineering skills, however, they are also bringing to the classroom skills that they have learned in robotics. Students use tactics such as problem-solving, collaboration, compromise, and leadership to build their robots. “We have learned as a group how to solve problems and conflicts while also being productive and effective. We have also learned how to utilize different types of tools in the workshop,” shares Horwath. They are also relying on assessing each other’s skills and strengths, which is essential to building a strong and effective team. These are all skills that serve them well in robotics, the classroom, and beyond! mp

Malvern Overwhelmed by Generosity on Giving Tuesday 2021 Malvern Prep celebrated its 4th annual Day of Giving on Giving Tuesday, November 30, 2021. As a school, we are thrilled to share that the number of gifts we received stretched beyond our goal of 250! Malvern received just over 450 gifts raising more than $270,000. Giving Tuesday 2021 sets the record for the school’s largest single day of giving in Malvern’s history. “I am very proud of the Malvern Prep community. The outpouring of generosity reflects a community that truly believes in the mission of Malvern Prep. Our community wants to support our students. It is a great day to be a Friar!” shared Mike Treston ‘02, Director of Development. Funds raised this year were primarily directed to The Malvern Fund, an unrestricted fund that supports our school’s areas of greatest need; The Friar Club, which supports Malvern’s athletic programs; and Malvern’s Keep them in Blazers Campaign, a fund for tuition assistance. GivingTuesday was established in 2012 as a day that encourages people to do good. It is now a global movement in over 70 countries, taking place each year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. mp

Five Seniors Recognized by National Merit Scholarship Program

Congratulations to the five seniors honored by the National Merit Scholarship Program. Cole Cherian, Nolan Horan, and Sumant Sharma are three of 7,500 Finalists. Alexander Hamil and Joseph Sheridan are Commended Students. This recognition comes after high school juniors took the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/ NMSQT) last fall. The nationwide pool of finalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. mp

Malvern Welcomes Lily Walker to Campus

The Malvern Community was fortunate to welcome Lily Walker to campus on January 26, 2022. Lily spoke to the student body following Weekly Mass, sharing her brave and inspiring battle with brain cancer.

Diagnosed at age 14 with brain cancer, Lily is currently a junior at Haverford High School and continues to fight with an inoperable brain tumor. Her family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers in Havertown join her in this fight with support in the form of lawn signs and by displaying green porch lights. They join her with prayers of healing on Zoom calls every few months and daily at 11:15 a.m. (November 15 is Lily’s birthday). Many people pray the Bill Atkinson Prayer (see box) for Lily’s miracle. Fr. Atkinson was a paraplegic that led an amazing life despite the challenges he faced. He is in the process of being canonized a Saint, this process involves miracles attributed to his intercession. Lily, her family, friends, and others touched by her story continue to hope and pray that she will be Fr. Atkinson’s miracle.

Lily’s family shares ties to the Malvern Community and Fr. Bill Atkinson. Lily’s grandfather was a childhood friend of Fr. Atkinson, her parents met at Villanova and their wedding took place at the Chapel at Villanova, presided over by Fr. Donald Reilly.

“I am hoping that by sharing my story and my devotion to prayer, people like you will become closer to God and appreciate His blessings,” Lily shared. Lily’s inspiring meeting with Malvern students included lessons she has learned from her three-year battle with cancer. She shared that her faith in God has become stronger, while she is going through something so difficult, she knows that God is with her. “Prayers have so much power and meaning,” said Lily.

She encouraged students to remember one of her favorite quotes: “Be kind to everyone, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” While not appearing sick, Lily shared that the brain tumor causes her short-term memory loss. “Just be kind,” she shared. Last, she urged the students, “please be grateful for your talents… use your talents and have fun, I would give anything to be using mine right now.”

Lily displayed amazing poise and grace while speaking with Malvern students. It was obvious to all in attendance that she remains positive and hopeful. “I could have chosen to be sad or mad or difficult, I could complain, but why? How are those choices going to make any of this better? So I choose to be positive, to be faithful, and be hopeful. This is where I find my strength,” she shared.

Following her talk, the entire Malvern Community prayed the Fr. Bill Atkinson Prayer together for Lily’s healing.

Malvern expresses its gratitude to Lily and her parents Megan and Matthew for joining our community and sharing their story. Learn more about Lily’s story at www.alilyfortheworld.com. mp

Prayer to Father Bill

Blessed are you, Father of Life, source of goodness and peace, in whom all creation has its origin and by whom every person is loved. In Father Bill Atkinson your mercy and compassion were made manifest as he brought solace to the suffering and hope to the needy. By carrying the cross of life faithfully he proclaimed confidence in your love and conformity to your will, and so drew others to you and to the generous gift of your grace. Hear our prayers which we offer through his intercession so that as your work continues to unfold among us it may bring honor to you, comfort to your people, and, according to your will, glory to your servant. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. mp

MALVERN PREP ANNOUNCES ITS 15th Head of School

On Tuesday, February 2, 2022, Malvern Preparatory School’s Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Mr. Patrick Sillup as the15th Head of School.

Following a months-long, national search, Patrick was recommended to the Board of Trustees by the Head of School Search Committee, chaired by Joe Davis ‘90 P‘21 T and search consultant, Carney Sandoe & Associates.

Patrick’s experience, leadership, and commitment to Malvern’s Augustinian, Catholic values stood out among finalists, making him the clear choice to guide Malvern. Patrick has served in a variety of teaching and administrative roles at Malvern Prep over the last 11 years and currently serves as Assistant Head of School for Academics. He received a BS from Duquesne University, MS from the City College of NY, MS in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, and is currently enrolled in the Doctorate of Education program at USC Rossier. During his time at Malvern Prep, Patrick has proven himself to be a dedicated and innovative leader. He has led the development of a new Academic Department (Interdisciplinary Studies), created opportunities for students to learn at local universities, and designed the Augustinian Values Institute - a professional development curriculum for faculty. Patrick was also instrumental in ensuring that the St. Augustine Center for Social Impact was more than just a new building when it was completed in 2019, but also a program encouraging students to solve problems for the Common Good.

Patrick shared his thoughts on his new appointment: “I am both humbled and honored to have been selected as Malvern’s 15th Head of School. I plan to continue the wonderful work Fr. Reilly has laid the foundation for - educating young men with a commitment to our Augustinian, Catholic values. It is an exciting time in Malvern’s history and I look forward to working with our community to provide the support necessary for the school’s continued evolution.”

Malvern’s Chair of the Board, Mr. Joe Davis ‘90 P‘21 T commented: “Selecting the next Head is a critical moment for Malvern Prep and required careful thought and consideration. I am grateful for my colleagues on the Board who worked thoughtfully to elect Patrick. He has a clear understanding of Malvern’s past and has the innovative vision and collaborative spirit to guide Malvern into the future.”

Malvern will continue to be led by Fr. Donald Reilly, O.S.A. for the remainder of this school year with Patrick working closely with Fr. Reilly to ensure a successful transition in July 2022.

The Board of Trustees also welcomes Patrick’s family to the Malvern Community. mp

A Message from Mr. Patrick Sillup, Head of School Elect

Dear Malvern Community, I am honored and humbled to have been selected as Malvern Prep’s 15th Head of School. It is a turning point for me and one that I look forward to with great excitement as Malvern prepares to celebrate 100 years in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The significance of selecting a new Head of School is not lost on me. It is a profound moment in the history of our school that started on Villanova’s campus in 1842. Throughout the search process, I found myself reflecting on Malvern’s past, evaluating the position of our school at present, and imagining the priorities and steps we will need to take together for the future of Malvern. This reflection made me realize two things: 1. preserving and progressing is necessary for longterm success and 2. it is truly a great time to be a Friar! As Head of School, I look forward to recognizing and participating in the wonderful Augustinian, Catholic rituals we have established as a community. Daily reflections and weekly Mass, along with a reverence and celebration of the liturgical calendar allow us to live our mission in demonstrable ways and underscore the important role they play in the formation of our students. You should expect me to protect these important experiences as well as participate in and grow them as the spiritual leader of the school. The depth and quality of relationships at Malvern were some of the most significant things that stood out to me after joining the community in the fall of 2011. Before coming to Malvern, my relationships, both as a learner and educator, were intentionally siloed. At Malvern, the connection students have with one another, regardless of grade, and with adult members of the community is different – revealing the true power of friendship and connections in an academic institution committed to transformations. Whether you are a member of the faculty and staff, a parent, a current 6th grader, or a member from the class of 1960, my goal is to work together to catapult Malvern to even greater heights. Over the last several years, Malvern has placed a clear emphasis on valuing each person and fostering a community where diversity of thought, background, and identity is embraced. Creating this welcoming environment sends a very clear message: You are welcome, and your gifts, talents, ideas, and investments will make Malvern a better and more dynamic place to learn and grow. I look forward to continuing the good work that has been started. Not only will this allow us to support students in our care, but it will also enable us to best prepare young men for a world in which creativity through diversity is necessary and valued. I’d like to sincerely thank Mr. Joe Davis ‘90 P‘21 T, members of the Board of Trustees, and the entire Search Committee for leading such a thorough process on behalf of the school. Thank you for your invitation to become Malvern’s next Head of School and for the trust and confidence you have in me. Thank you as well to Fr. Reilly who has served our school so well over the last four and a half years. We will work closely over the next several months to ensure a smooth transition in July. I expect he will be able to provide invaluable guidance and expertise. I look forward to continuing to grow personally, professionally, and spiritually at Malvern, and using the school’s Augustinian, Catholic heritage as essential ingredients in the development of a vision that will help Malvern become the best version of itself. Patrick Sillup Head of School Elect

Watch Mr. Joe Davis ‘90 P’21 T and Fr. Rob Hagan, O.S.A. T announce the election of Malvern’s 15th Head of School.

Friar SportsHighlights The 2021 fall athletic season gave the Friar FALL SPORTS community many reasons to celebrate. We had a return to normalcy as our studentathletes took to the field, course, pool, and green after a shortened 2020 season. While we continued to face challenges with COVID, the fall season went on as planned with both league and non-league competitions. We are proud of each student-athlete who adjusted and competed in the ever-changing environment of this new normal. Our Varsity Football team went undefeated in the Inter-Ac and reclaimed the Inter-Ac title! The Malvern Golf team had an impressive show- Football ing this fall finishing with an overall Player Recognition: record of 32-9 and placing 2nd in the Coltin Deery ‘22 - Inter-Ac MVP, 1st Team All Inter-Ac, 1st Team All-State, 1st Team Daily Local News All-Area Inter-Ac. Our Cross Country team took Isaiah Wright ‘22 - 1st Team All Inter-Ac, Maxwell Club Mini Max Award, 1st Team Daily home 2nd place at the Inter-Ac Local News All-Area Max Bowman ‘22 - 1st Team All Inter-Ac, 2nd Team Daily Local News All-Area Championship and 3rd at the PAISSA D‘Angelo Stocker ‘22 - 1st Team All Inter-Ac, 1st Team Daily Local News All-Area Meet. The Malvern Prep Soccer team Dale Law ‘22 - 1st Team All Inter-Ac, Honorable Mention Daily Local News All-Area Ryan Davis ‘22 - 1st Team All Inter-Ac, 1st Team Daily Local News All-Area had a strong season and finished Andrew Connolly ‘22 - 1st Team All Inter-Ac, 2nd Team Daily Local News All-Area 3rd in the Inter-Ac League. We are so Jake Reid ‘22 - 1st Team All Inter-Ac, 1st Team Daily Local News All-Area Lawson Haylock ‘22 - 1st Team All Inter-Ac, 2nd Team Daily Local News All-Areaproud of the dedication and resiliency of Stephen Hollander ‘22 - 2nd Team All Inter-Ac, Honorable Mention Daily Local News each athlete who competed this fall. Thank All-Area Peter Jones ‘24 - 2nd Team All Inter-Ac you to the parents, coaches, and fans who Ryan Falkenstein ‘23 - 2nd Team All Inter-Ac supported us in person and virtually this Colin McHugh ‘23 - 2nd Team All Inter-Ac Jack Capaldi ‘22 - 2nd Team All Inter-Ac year. We truly appreciate your patience and Will Shallow ‘22 – All Inter-Ac Special Recognition support for the Malvern Athletics program. The 2021 Football season was filled with exciting team and individual accomplishments; GO FRIARS! Athletes returned to the field after a shortened 2020 season, the team went undefeated in the Inter-Ac, and they reclaimed the Inter-Ac Championship title. The team was led by a stingy defense and a powerful offensive line. The team finished the season 8-2 with Mr. Jim Stewart, Jr. ‘86 big wins over Archbishop Wood, Episcopal, and The Haverford School. Congratulations Director of Athletics to all! mp

Player Recognition: Keller Mulhern ‘22 – Team MVP, Inter-Ac MVP, 1st Team All Inter-Ac Dylan O‘Connor ‘23 - 1st Team All Inter-Ac Davis Conaway ‘26 - 1st Team All Inter-Ac, Team Most Improved Jack Davis ‘22 - 2nd Team All Inter-Ac Henry Fish ‘22 – Team Sportsmanship Award Malvern Golf had an impressive 2021 season finishing with an overall record of 32-9. The team placed 2nd in the Inter-Ac with a league record of 25-5. A few highlights of the season were first-place finishes at the PC Invitational at Huntington Valley Country Club and EA Invitational at Merion West Golf Club. 2nd place finishes at the Friar Invitational at Waynesborough Country Club, the GA Invitational at Bluestone Country Club, the SCH Invitational at the 1912 Club, and at the MP Invitational at Waynesborough Country Club. The team placed 3rd at the PAISSA Tournament at Glen Mills. Congratulations to Keller Mulhern ‘22 on earning Player of the Year honors. Davis Conaway ‘26 had a fantastic fall, becoming the first Malvern Prep 8th Grader to be named 1st Team All Inter-Ac. mp

Cross Country

Player Recognition: Jake Marrone ‘23 - 1st Team All Inter-Ac, 2nd Team All-State Rylan Arata ‘25 - 2nd Team All Inter-Ac Despite a few tough losses at the start of the season Malvern Cross Country finished strong with a 2nd place finish at the Inter-Ac Meet and a 3rd place finish at the PAISSA Meet. The team was led by Jake Marrone ‘23, who was recognized as a 1st Team All Inter-Ac and 2nd Team All-State pick. Joining Jake as leaders on the course were Rylan Arata ‘25, Carson Myers ‘23, Jack McEvoy ‘24, Leo Russo ‘23, Kieran Sims ‘22, and Dylan Regan ‘23. mp

Water Polo

Player Recognition: Adam Utecht ‘22 - 2nd Team All Inter-Ac Malvern Prep varsity water polo endured a tough grind this season going 5-19 overall and 0-8 in the Inter-Ac League. The boys were competitive throughout the majority of the competitions coming up just short of a win by 2 goals or less in 7 games. Adam Utecht ‘22 the team‘s Co-Captain, MVP, and 2nd Team All Inter-Ac selection scored 110 goals to move into 3rd place all-time in single-season goals. Only Will Grant ‘11 and Isaac Salinas ‘18 have scored more goals in a season. The team‘s Most Improved Player was Carter Marks ‘24, who as a sophomore played solid in goal. Senior co-captains John Romano ‘22 and Connell O‘Rourke ‘22 we‘re team leaders and mentors to the many young Friars on the team. The team returns 18 players from this year‘s roster and is already looking forward to the 2022 Season! mp

Player Recognition: John Diederich ‘22 – 1st Team All-Inter-Ac, 1st Team Daily Local News All-Area Gavin DiEgidio ‘22 – 1st Team All-Inter-Ac, 2nd Team Daily Local News All-Area Dakota Kolar ‘22 – 2nd Team All-Inter-Ac, Honorable Mention DLN All Area The Varsity Soccer team had a strong 2021 season, led by 12 seniors that continued to improve with each game. The team finished 3rd in the Inter-Ac League with an overall record of 10-9-2 and an Inter-Ac record of 5-4-1. The Friars started off the season with a challenging schedule losing to powerhouse soccer programs LaSalle College High School, Shipley, and Roman Catholic. Progress could be seen with a 1-0 win over Archbishop Wood (PIAASA Finalist) and a tie with The Hill School 0-0. The team began to steadily turn the season around winning 7 out of 12 games in the second leg of their season. The Friars were difficult to score on, only allowing 4 goals during that time period. A few season highlights were beating Haverford at home and two wins over Episcopal Academy. The team also progressed to the second round of the PAISSA Tournament, displaying phenomenal soccer, losing to a stacked Shipley team after overtime and penalty kicks. A good turnaround after losing to Shipley 4-1 earlier in the season. A special game that everyone will remember was beating 2nd place Springside Chestnut Hill, away 3-0 to close out a fantastic season for the Friars. Notable player recognitions are 1st Team All Inter-Ac and 1st Team Daily Local News All-Area midfielder Johnny Diederich ‘22. Striker Gavin DiEgidio ‘22 earned 1st Team All Inter-Ac, and 2nd Team Daily Local News All-Area awards. Gavin was also the leading goal scorer in the Inter-Ac with 6 goals. Centerback, Kody Kolar ‘22 was named a 2nd Team All Inter-Ac and Honorable Mention Daily Local News All-Area selection. mp

Athletic Spotlight: BETHANY DEWITT

Malvern Prep‘s newest Varsity Swimming and Diving Head Coach, Bethany DeWitt, is in great company. Not only amongst the previous swimming and diving coaches, Paul Hornsleth ‘64 P‘96‘02 and Jay Schiller but with current Varsity Soccer Coach, Susan Barr. Coach DeWitt is now the second female head coach in Malvern‘s history. DeWitt grew up in the West Chester area and began to swim at her local swim club when she was six years old. She knew she loved the sport and continued to swim at the University of Pittsburgh. “I realized that swimming was something that I really enjoyed and I wanted to keep doing in college too, which was a huge challenge, but was extremely rewarding. I ended up having a school record and was the captain my senior year, which was very exciting,” she shared. After graduating from college, she returned to the area and attended West Chester University to get her Master‘s degree in Counseling. During that time, she coached at a local high school and at the swim club where she swam growing up. “When swimming ended in college, I was not ready to continue [swimming] but coaching seemed like a really good alternative to being around the sport I‘ve been familiar with since I was young,” she said. When DeWitt completed her Master‘s degree, an Upper School Counseling job became available at Malvern. She was familiar with Malvern‘s campus and she coincidentally coached Jay Schiller‘s grandchildren during the summer months. “I told him that I was interviewing for the counseling job and he said ‘Well Bethany, I‘m actually looking for an assistant coach for next year so if you get [the job], I‘d love to have you‘ and that was the Fall of 2018,” she explained. DeWitt mostly works with 9th and 10th-grade students on the high school transition and social and emotional needs. Outside of school, she has also been taking graduate courses in counseling to continue to educate herself and give her best self back to the students.

Accepting the Assistant Coach position for swimming was an easy decision. DeWitt knew that she wanted to be involved in other areas of Malvern outside of her counseling career. “I think the fact that I have this connection with the sport that when the students see me around campus, I‘ve become a familiar person in this environment,” she shared. “Being able to form those additional connections with students and see them shine in other aspects of their life is very important. It‘s all about making those connections with the boys.” The transition from Assistant Coach to Head Coach has been pretty seamless for DeWitt. Most of the student-athletes on the team know her already, either from her Assistant Coach role or as an Upper School counselor. She is taking the time to figure out what her style is as Head Coach and what things she wants to change. She knows she likes to interact with the kids and being able to see them challenge themselves, push themselves, and work through physical and mental barriers that come with swimming is something that will stay with her each season. When asked how she feels about being the first female Varsity Swimming and Diving Coach, DeWitt shared, “First I feel very honored. I‘ve been on the staff for the last three years, that‘s been helpful for the swimmers to get to know me. Even though I‘m in a different role and have different responsibilities, there is a good rapport already with both the student-athletes and their parents. Those previous relationships have been a huge help and a benefit for my first season as the head coach.” One of her most proud moments this season was attending the National Catholic Swimming & Diving Championship. Malvern Prep placed 3rd overall. At first, the team wasn‘t sure if they were going to place in the top three. When they realized they were getting close, she talked with the team and encouraged them to keep it up and swim their best, believing they certainly had a shot at placing and bringing home a trophy. “That accomplishment was very exciting for everyone,” DeWitt reminisced. When it comes to motivating her swimmers, Coach DeWitt quips “[They] are definitely motivated by winning their races.” But she knows there is much more to keeping the student-athletes motivated and excited to swim. As a coach, she understands how important it is to get to know each swimmer because each one responds to different types of motivation. “Learning what each swimmer needs helps them to motivate each other too and keep their spirits high. We‘ve discovered that having music playing and positive energy throughout the pool helps at practice. Really focusing on the positives helps build the boys up. That‘s my style in counseling too,” she states.

Reflecting back on when the Head Coach opportunity came about, DeWitt shared, “I was wondering who the next Head Coach was going to be because I did not jump on it immediately. I had a conversation with Jim Stewart, Jr. and his advice was ‘Bethany, you should really consider this‘ and I‘m really glad that I did.” mp

NewsNotes

1950s

__________________________________________ Jeff Doherty ‘58 recently moved from Fairhope, AL to Fleet Landing, Atlantic Beach, FL. He’d like to share that he is married for 57+ years, contributed 25+ yrs. in Marketing/Sales Administration, and is retired from The United States Navy after serving 20+ years.

1960s

Frank Esposito ‘67 has recently started booking speaking engagements on Championship Mentality to share his personal story of 5 decades of triumph and tragedy and near-death experiences as a Motorcycle Industry Leader and competitor.

In Fall 2021, Gary McCloskey ‘69 led a Retreat for Priests of the Diocese of Orlando, Florida and gave the Keynote Address at an Augustinian Studies Conference in Carthage/Tunis, Tunisia.

1970s

________________________________________ Jim McCarry ’73 retired from the Electrical business on October 31, 2021.

1980s

________________________________________ George Spyropoulos ‘83 is celebrating three years of joining the faculty in the Department of Family Medicine at The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

2000s

________________________________________ Thomas Hobson ‘01 has taken on a new role as Managing Director at GCM Grosvenor.

Congratulations to Brendan O’Sullivan ‘05 on the birth of his son, Ryan, a future Malvern grad!

Jim McErlane ‘60 PT inducted into the Chester County Business Hall of Fame

The Chester County Business Hall of Fame Award recognizes an individual’s outstanding achievements and contributions within the local business community. McErlane was celebrated for providing superior legal counsel to businesses for more than 50 years. Congratulations! mp

Will McGill ‘07 married Elise Bowe on September 4, 2021, in Malvern‘s Chapel, Our Mother of Good Counsel. Father Cassidy presided over the ceremony. Will’s brothers, Stephen ‘06 and Nicholas ‘09, were his best men, and Mike Splain ‘07 was a groomsman.

David Marcucci ‘08 married Patra Konugres on December 11, 2021. The ceremony was at St. George’s Cathedral in Philadelphia followed by a reception at the Please Touch Museum. They traveled to South Africa for their honeymoon. Congratulations to Joseph McLeod ‘09 on being featured as the Rising Star for Philadelphia’s Real Producer Magazine in December!

On November 29, 2021, Kelly and Chris Putsch ‘09 welcomed their son, James Jude into the family, joining 2-year-old big sister Grace.