The 27-man squad will tell you that the reason for its success was a team meeting called by senior captains Chris Giacomucci and Al Paisley before the Christmas holiday. Malvern had lost veteran swimmers Andrew Finley, Joe Lewis and Ted Pease to injuries or illness, and was not competing at its sharpest.

"That meeting was definitely the turning point," said junior John McGinley, who won two individual events at the National Catholic meet at Villanova. "They are a great pair of captains. After their talk, everybody began working harder and dropping times."

After the holiday break, the Friars topped Penn Charter, the preseason favorite to win the Inter-Ac title, and went on to finish 8-1 in dual meets.

"The win over Penn Charter was just great," said Paisley, who added that he and Giacomucci knew they had to do something after coach Paul Hornsleth held a meeting with the team. That's when they decided to have a closed-door meeting of their own.

"We had to get some priorities straight," Giacomucci said.

The Friars finished fifth in a field of more than 40 schools at the National Catholic meet, setting a meet record in the 200-yard freestyle relay. They took first in both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

McGinley, senior Ian Whitney, Giacomucci and Paisley won the 200 freestyle relay in 1 minute, 27.33 seconds. They set the meet record, 1:26.73, in the preliminaries. Evan Strickland, Tom Mershon, Giacomucci and McGinley took the 400 freestyle relay in 4:12.79.

McGinley earned first in the 100 freestyle (46.35) and second in the 200 freestyle (1:41.14), and Paisley was second in the 50 freestyle (22.23). Teammate Brad Hunt was sixth in the 100 backstroke (55.20).

Next for the Friars will be the Eastern Interscholastic Championships, scheduled for Feb. 22 and 23 at La Salle University.

Woodland honored. Brooke Woodland, former Avon Grove three-sport standout, has found a way to get back that field hockey season she lost last fall because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Woodland, who was among several students honored Monday night by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association, will stay at Philadelphia University for graduate work after she receives her degree this spring.

"I have some [athletic] eligibility left," the psychology major explained after being honored for her academic and athletic accomplishments. She plays lacrosse and field hockey for the the Rams. "I want to go into occupational therapy working with kids," she added.

Woodland, who also played basketball at Avon Grove, has a 3.99 grade point average. She holds several scoring records for the Rams' field hockey team.

"I was blown away by the award," she said.

Dougherty rated 35th. Malvern Prep graduate Sean Dougherty has been named one of the top 50 men's college lacrosse players for the 2008 season by Inside Lacrosse magazine.

The Notre Dame senior defenseman was ranked 35th on the list. An all-American last season, Dougherty led a defense that ranked fourth in the nation.

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