Kevin Condon knows all about team loyalty.
The senior midfielder for the Father Judge High School lacrosse team travels about 50 miles every day to play with the Crusaders.
"We moved from Oxford Circle to Warrington the summer going into my junior year," said Condon. "But I didn’t want to transfer schools because I really like it at Judge."
Condon, the team captain and a four-year varsity player, and his mates are off to a 2-3 start this year. He has scored four goals on the season and is a strong presence on the lacrosse field.
"Kevin is an excellent player," said coach Edwin Hearn. "He’s a leader on and off the field, whether he is calling plays during a game or setting up for practices.
"One of Kevin’s strongest assets is his confidence and intensity on the field," he continued. "He has natural talent and a love for the game."
Condon is one of only three seniors on the squad this season, but he has stepped into the leadership role with confidence.
"I like being a senior because you can teach the younger guys," said Condon. "I try to play coach as much as I can. So when I leave here, I know I left an impression on them and helped in some way."
With two freshmen on varsity this season, and more than 25 on JV, his leadership skills are essential.
"So far we’ve done well," said Condon. "We’re a pretty young team, so it’s a transitional year. But some of these freshmen have been playing longer than I have. They have a lot of good guys stepping up."
Last season the Crusaders went 8-4, finishing third in the Catholic League and making the playoffs for the second time in Judge history.
"It was an amazing accomplishment," said Hearn, who is in his second year of coaching the Crusaders’ lacrosse team. "In the end we were all very excited. It was a lot of hard work, but we had an excellent year."
Hearn hopes to lead the Crusaders to another successful year. With the season approaching the midway point, the Crusaders are putting in some hard work.
They don’t seem to mind. The team enjoys the intense practices. They look forward to their daily workouts. The roughness of the sport doesn’t seem to bother them.
It gets them ready for game day.
"I had an idea that the sport was brutal," said Condon. "But you don’t really know until you’re out there on the field. All freshman year I basically had the crap kicked out of me, but I learned and I haven’t stopped playing since. It adds to the intensity of the sport."
Even though he had a longtime interest in lacrosse, Condon never had the opportunity to join a team until high school.
"I always wanted to play in grade school but they didn’t have the leagues available that they do now," said Condon, who plays for the Philadelphia Catholic League All-Star team in the summer. "Over the summer I was coached by James Brennan (Roman Catholic) and Don Mangin (Archbishop Wood). They were both great coaches and taught me a lot, so now I’m just trying to pass everything that I have learned from them to the younger players here."
The student athlete has not decided where he’ll go to college next year, but one thing is sure. He expects lacrosse to be part of it.
"I think I’m going to walk on wherever I go," said Condon, who would like to attend Drexel University or Penn State. "And then if I don’t make it, I’ll keep playing club lacrosse. As long as I keep playing, I don’t mind where." ••
Sports editor Melissa Yerkov can be reached at 215-354-3035 or myerkov@phillynews.com