Grads VandeMerkt and McGonagill still ballin’

When student-athletes wrap up their senior year, most go through the difficult task of hanging up the cleats for the final time. For those talented few, they receive scholarships and continue their athletic journey through college. RB has witnessed the growth of many incredible athletes, but none more special than Billy VandeMerkt ’10 and Sean McGonagill ’10.

VandeMerkt was a three sport athlete at RB, competing in football, basketball, and baseball. Even though he was extremely successful in all three sports, he was truly a star when he stepped on the gridiron.

 After taking over the starting job in week four of his sophomore year, VandeMerkt’s career really took off.

 He was named All-State twice, while throwing for more than 3,400 yards and 36 touchdowns in only 10 games his junior year. He was recruited by several D-1 schools including Western Michigan and Northern Illinois, but in the end, decided to attend St. Joseph’s College in Indiana.

He flourished the second he stepped on campus by starting in four games under center as a true freshman. He completed 65 percent of his passes while throwing for seven touchdown passes and running for five more. After a promising start to his college career, VandeMerkt was named the Freshman of the Year in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

It seems as if VandeMerkt has made the transition to college football with ease.

“College sports are very different from high school sports, it’s a greater commitment. You are held to a higher standard on and off the field,” said VandeMerkt.

After a summer of hard work, VandeMerkt was named the starting quarterback for his sophomore campaign. Even though the team has struggled in an 0-4 start, it certainly isn’t because of poor quarterback play. In two games, he has completed almost 60 percent of his passes, along with over 1,100 yards and seven touchdowns.

It will be interesting to see how VandeMerkt progresses throughout his collegiate career.

McGonagill, a hoops legend here at RB, made an immediate impact at Brown University by being named a starter as a freshman last year. The 6-1, 180 pound guard played in twenty eight games while averaging 11.8 points per game. Last February, in a win against Columbia, McGonagill scored a record breaking 39 points while shooting 15 of 19 from the field. His 39 points were the sixth most points ever scored by a Brown player, and the most points scored by an Ivy League player since 2003.

In addition to his record setting performances, McGonagill was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year. He was only the fourth Brown player to win this award.

It could be argued that McGonagill was Brown’s best player last season. He led the team in minutes played, at over 33 a game, while being the only player to start in all 28 games. He also set the freshman record in assists with 147, and recorded 2 double-doubles against Yale and Penn.

It’s safe to say that the future is bright for both of these former RB stars.

SPONSOR’S NOTE:
We’ve corrected this article to show both athletes as graduating in 2010. -D. Mancoff

Hoops fever is sky high

With the boy’s basketball season finally here, Riverside Brookfield High School could not be more pumped. With nine players returning for another season, the Bulldogs are back and better than ever.

The starting five players are a strong core of athletes including three all conference returners: Six foot one inch guard Senior Sean McGonagill, six foot guard Senior Billy VandeMerkt, and six foot two inch guard Junior Ryan Jackson. Added to those three are six foot five inch center Senior Terrence Reed, who will be commanding the paint this year, and six foot one inch guard/forward Junior Watoris Slater, who will be a rebounding machine. Both of these players are sure to help ensure the team victory.

The Bulldogs also have a strong core of players that will be coming off the bench. Six foot eight inch center Junior Alex Dziagwa, six foot four inch guard Senior Mike Hansa, six foot one inch guard/forward Senior Mark McDonagh, five foot eleven inch guard Senior Nick Arias, and five foot eleven inch guard Senior Matt Meindl, will all provide relief to the starting five.

The Bulldogs opened up their season this past weekend at the Bill VandeMerkt tournament hosted at RB. The team dominated the competition winning their second consecutive title by beating Payton 65-26, Hinsdale South 73-49, and rival Nazareth 69-45. 

The Bulldogs are looking to keep their undefeated season going by taking on the Tigers of Elmwood Park on Friday, December 4^th at 7 p.m. Come cheer on the Bulldogs, wear your blue and white, and be ready to scream your heart out.

RB football in the dog house

After coming off of an electrifying victory against the Robeson Raiders (2-2) to improve their record to 1-2, marking the first time RB Football had won a non-conference game in two years, the Bulldogs immediately slipped up the following Friday with a loss to the Fenton Bison (2-2). The Bison were able to cap off a 33-22 victory over the favored Bulldogs, who were not expected to lose a conference game in the foreseeable future. The loss snapped a nine game conference winning streak dating back to the 07-08 season, which was started after their last loss to Fenton.

They began the season against the likes of Metamora and Nazareth, two powerhouses in the state. Senior Quarterback Billy VandeMerkt has played well though this year and has found a favorable target in fellow Senior wide receiver Mark McDonagh, who in the process of blowing out Robeson, set a state record for receptions in a game. McDonagh however, is not overly concerned with setting marks, as winning is his primary concern. “The record sure was nice, but now we’re all past that, and focused as a team on winning conference,” he said.

Unfortunately, that goal is significantly harder now that the Dogs have played their way into needing for a little help from Ridgewood and Elmwood Park against Fenton over the next few weeks. That doesn’t mean that they’re completely dependent on those teams though. While Fenton is now 2-0 in the Metro Suburban Conference, RB can still play their way back into at least a tie for first place on October 9^th, 2009, when the Bison venture on over to Shuey Stadium in a grudge match for the Dogs.

Fenton QB Eric Justiniano and company will possibly be looking to secure a conference championship when they come to town, head coach Otto Zeman will be looking to climb back into the thick of things.

The Dogs were able to come back after the devastating loss to their conference foes, by walloping the Elmwood Park Tigers 48-7. Once again Mark McDonagh blew away the state record for receptions in a game, the second time in three weeks he’s done so, by hauling in an eye-popping 25 catches. McDonagh, however, wasn’t the only one re-writing the record books. VandeMerkt set a state record for career completions with his 646^th successful pass attempt.