August 14, 2025

DM Express

Here is the latest from DeMatha:

• DeMatha is about to open its doors for another successful school year. Students will begin arriving on campus next Thursday via this schedule:

• Aug. 21 - Freshmen
• Aug. 22 - Freshmen and transfer students
• Aug. 25 - Sophomores, juniors and seniors (freshmen off)
• Aug. 26 - All four classes

Prayers Requested

• Kathy Duffy, wife of former longtime DeMatha basketball announcer Dennis, and mother of Matt '97 and Chris '05.

In Memoriam:

• Michael Dickens '70. Obituary

• William Fern '57. Service arrangements pending.

Athletics:

• The 2024-25 DeMatha swimming & diving team was ranked No. 1 in Maryland and No. 5 in the country among independent schools by the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association. It's the seventh time the squad has resided atop the state rankings (2002, 2003, 2004, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025). The Stags' latest points total was its highest ever. DeMatha is coming off its first Metros championship as the top local public and private school boys team.

• Jerian Grant '10 will represent the United States in the FIBA Americup in Nicaragua on Aug. 22-31. This quadrennial competition matches national teams from the Western Hemisphere and doesn't include players currently in the NBA. Jerian was selected in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft and currently plays in Greece. He is making his USA Basketball debut.

• Rising junior Marcel Otim, who just began rowing in the past year, represented Uganda in the World Rowing U19 Championships in Lithuania. He has his sights set on the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal in 2026. Here are two stories: link & link.

• Strong safety Nick Cross '19 and running back MarShawn Lloyd, who last played together at DeMatha in 2018, might find themselves facemask to facemask this week. Nick's Colts and Lloyd's Packers are holding joint practices ahead of their game in Indianapolis on Saturday at 1 p.m.

• Here's a feature story on Nick prior to last week's game in Baltimore. The FOX59 TV crew traveled to DeMatha and interviewed Stags defensive coordinator Deno Campbell. Find out what Deno said Nick told him one day after practice: Link

• DeMarrco Hellams '19, who missed all of the 2024 regular season, returned last week to the Atlanta Falcons' secondary. Story

• Los Angeles Rams cornerback Josh Wallace '19 is proving his versatility by also playing safety. See what coach Sean McVay has to say about Josh.

• For those of you keeping score at home, that's three members of DeMatha's 2018 starting defensive backfield who are now playing in the NFL.

Alumni:

• Danny Gough '83 was the angler who pulled in a 72-pound white marlin to lead Billfisher to the top prize in the White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Md., and win $3.9 million. Michael Jordan's Catch 23 team was second with a 71-pounder. The 52nd-annual big-game sport fishing tournament drew 282 boats and is considered the Super Bowl of deep-sea fishing. Media coverage:

• WJLA 7News
• Marlin Magazine
• WBOC TV
• New York Post

• Joe (Benny) Gardella '96 and staff member Ben Fleri '11 are in Sicily, their ancestral homeland. Last Sunday, they were busy preparing for La Festa della Vara, which celebrates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven. Learn more about this festival and see some photos here.

• John Quashie '02 and his World Class Ballers pro-am basketball team won the 2025 Brunson League Championship in Baltimore. John serves as an assistant coach and advisor. The squad finished 9-1 with an average margin of victory of 18 points. Photo

• Mark Simmons '13 and his wife Amana (Seton grad) were married Saturday with several Stags in attendance. Congratulations! Photo

• Sean Doyle '14 got married Saturday. Several Stags served as groomsmen. Congratulations! Photo

• Alex Morris '14 recently started his own cybersecurity and cloud computing consulting firm, SecurCloud Consulting.

Events & Miscellaneous Information:

• Get your tickets now for the 55th-annual DeMatha Crab Feast, Saturday Sept. 27 (4-7 p.m.). Sponsored by the Senior Boosters, tickets cost the same as last year: $85 in advance for adults, $70 for children under 12. Reserve your spot online now or by mailing a check to Tim Miller '80, 6008 43rd Ave., Hyattsville, MD 20781. For questions or seating preferences, contact Tim at demathacrabfeast@gmail.com.

• Father James, who served as DeMatha's first president through 2024, would like everyone to know his health has greatly improved. His cardiac issues have been resolved, and he is grateful for your prayers and good wishes.

• This past Tuesday, Father James moved into the Trinitarian parish in Catonsville, Md., where he will assist in parish ministry. His new contact information is:

St. Mark Church

Attn: Fr. James, O.SS.T.

30 Melvin Ave.

Catonsville, MD 21228-4424

Email: jrd1198@gmail.com

That is all.

Thomas Ponton '78

Executive Director of Advancement

tponton@dematha.org

240-764-2222

Postscript from the Office of Advancement:

Members of the DeMatha rowing team were in Canada last week participating in the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. The two-man Stags team of rising juniors Eli Cummins and Josiah Henson made it to the semifinals, matching a previous program accomplishment.

This past spring, DeMatha's varsity four won gold at the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Rowing Association Championships for the first time since 2012. The squad, made up of Liam O'Connor (son of staff member Jamie '90), Mekhi Akonner, Cummins, Theo King and Joey Pla, was named first-team All-Met by The Washington Post. 

Coach Rich Blorstad '10, who was a part of a few championship teams during his time at DeMatha (under coach Andrew Bright '03), said he was not surprised the varsity four was successful. "Those guys were one of the most dominant groups we've had," Rich said. "That group could beat several eight-man teams, which is unheard of."

What is heard of is the response that the community has taken to the rowing program, which started in 1998, thanks to the help of former faculty member Rick Reeves. At present, 60 students participate, 35 on varsity. The sport is open to any student looking to play, even if he has never rowed before.

"Our philosophy is that we are a community," Rich said. "We'll bring in anyone who wants to participate and buy in. If they do that, they will find a home, a culture and community that will support them every step of the way."

To say that the coming months for coach Blorstad will be memorable would be understatement. His wife, Caitlyn, is expecting a baby girl in October. And there so happens to be a new DeMatha building that will be open for business, the Cross Center for Engineering, Arts & Robotics. Rich teaches engineering, math and computer science.

"It is exciting," he said by phone yesterday. "I've gone into the building four or five times now. It's going to be awesome to have the space."

As for rowing, Rich is excited to see another title added to the school's championship banners. He is about to start his third season as head rowing coach, his 15th as a coach in the program and his ninth as a DeMatha teacher. 

We wish Rich the best as he finishes out a calendar year he will not soon forget.  

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