By: Stephanie Hirsch
The Roman Catholic High School boys soccer team and coaching staff described what it means to play for their team in the prestigious All Catholic League in Philadelphia
“The program is up-and-coming. It’s kind of been down the past couple of years, but the past few teams we’ve had have brought the program back up.”
!["It's really cool to be apart of it because Jerry Brindisi was my North Catholic [High School] Coach and since they shut down, he has really worked hard to help out Ray [Destephanis]. [Jerry] was fortunate enough to be allowed by Ray to join the staff. It's really great to work with high school kids again, it's really nice. To be back where I am from in Philadelphia and coach kids who are around the same age as my brother, it's nice. They always ask for advice and I joke around with them to keep it positive and boost their confidence."](https://thelettermen.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/img_2106.jpg?w=141&resize=141%2C183&h=183#038;h=183 "John McCarthy, Mayfair, Philadelphia, 23")
“It’s really cool to be apart of it because Jerry Brindisi was my North Catholic [High School] Coach and since they shut down, he has really worked hard to help out Ray [Destephanis]. [Jerry] was fortunate enough to be allowed by Ray to join the staff. It’s really great to work with high school kids again, it’s really nice. To be back where I am from in Philadelphia and coach kids who are around the same age as my brother, it’s nice. They always ask for advice and I joke around with them to keep it positive and boost their confidence.”
“I love playing with all of my friends. You know I grew up with kids on the team, so it’s fun. I just can’t wait for the season.”
“To play for Roman Catholic is a dream because I thought I was going to make JV at first. But then I thought that I kind of played harder just to play varsity, and I ended up playing varsity. It’s pretty nice playing, at least getting in the games as a freshman and I at least started one of the four games. So it’s pretty nice.”
“To play for Roman is to play for my team. To make sure we are doing the best we can and win a PCL this year.”
“To me it means a lot because my dad played here. It’s a great program. They haven’t won a championship in forever, but we are hoping to bring one back.”
!["My dad went to North [Catholic High School] and I was going to go to North, but playing for Roman is the next best thing since North closed. I've always wanted to play for North since I was a little kid, but I have been playing with all of my friend since I was little that go here. So I am playing with a lot of neighborhood kids which is nice."](https://thelettermen.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/img_2232.jpg?w=205&resize=205%2C158&h=158#038;h=158 "Patrick Madgey, Port Richmond, Philadelphia, 17")
“My dad went to North [Catholic High School] and I was going to go to North, but playing for Roman is the next best thing since North closed. I’ve always wanted to play for North since I was a little kid, but I have been playing with all of my friend since I was little that go here. So I am playing with a lot of neighborhood kids which is nice.”
“To play for Roman in my opinion is one of the toughest programs, in a good way. It’s unlike any other program. We work harder, we have a longer day of school than everyone else with traveling. It’s different as well as beneficial.”
“Roman Catholic soccer to me as a coach for nine years it’s about family and tradition of the history of the school. It has a rich history in the soccer aspect also. Having one of only three Catholic High School Championships in soccer in the Southern Division. Ours being in 1997, we definitely want to become the first Southern Division school to get that second one and build off of that.”
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