Wayne Maminski
is making it count

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Editor

Wayne Maminski has always been good with numbers.
Academically, the Father Judge High School senior is ranked eighth in his class, achieving a solid 4.0 grade-point average.
He is enrolled in four advanced-placement classes — biology, history, calculus and English. And he has been on the honor roll for the past three years and counting.
But Maminski’s numbers are just as impressive outside the classroom.
The Crusaders’ forward has helped lead his soccer squad to a 12-1-1 record, good enough for first place in the Catholic League.
"It feels great," said Maminski. "You always wish your senior year is your best."
Maminski also broke the all-time record at Father Judge for goals scored. The momentous occasion occurred on Sept. 25, when the Crusaders defeated Archbishop Wood, 5-0. Maminski passed the record of 41 goals when he scored four goals in that game with Wood. As the Times went to press this week, Maminski had 45 goals.
"It hasn’t really hit me yet," he said. "I guess when I graduate and look back on my time at Judge, it’ll finally set in. As of right now, I don’t really care about that. I just want to win."
The Crusaders experienced their first loss of the season, against Episcopal Academy, on Oct. 10. But that’s one number Maminski isn’t concerned with.
"Unfortunately we just lost our first game," said the four-year varsity player. "But it’s all a learning process — get that loss out of the way so we know what it feels like."
The 11 seniors wearing Crusader jerseys this season know exactly what a tough loss feels like. And they’re doing everything in their power to avoid repeating that dreadful feeling.
In 2004, despite optimistic predictions, the Crusaders failed to qualify for postseason play. The following season, they ranked fourth in the Catholic League but ended their season by losing in the first round of the playoffs.
Last season, the Crusaders pulled off a second-place finish but fell short in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.
"Every year is a building step, so hopefully this year will be it," said Maminski. "We keep falling short. But this is my last year and I’m not going down without a fight. I want that championship."
The athlete, a three-time selection to the first-team All-Catholic squad, has experienced his own rebuilding over the past three seasons. Coming in as a freshman, Maminski was young and shy. Now the team captain is one of the most dominant guys on the pitch.
"Wayne is someone who does academics and athletics and achieves at both," said coach John Dunlop. "He’s taking advantage of everything Father Judge has to offer him. He is an icon for our program. He’s a well-rounded player and he works at it — it didn’t happen overnight."
"Through the years I think I’ve developed as a leader," added Maminski. "I want to be the guy that everyone looks at to get fired up before the game."
And for the 11 Crusader veterans, that commitment is not taken lightly.
"You don’t want to have your senior season go down the drain just because before the game nobody was focused," said Maminski. "You have to stress that, so nobody screws around. Then hopefully we can accomplish that championship that we’ve all been wanting so bad."
Maminski also keeps his soccer skills in shape by playing with his club team, the FC Delco. The 17-year-old athlete has been a regular with the squad for five years, and almost made it to the top during the past two.
"Two years ago we ranked second in the nation, and last year we came in third," said Maminski. "I feel like we’re always the team that falls short in the end. We can’t seem to win that national championship."
FC Delco travels to various tournaments to battle some of the best soccer teams around the nation. Participation requires not just exceptional skill, but also intense commitment.
"I used to play basketball and baseball, but I had to give them all up for soccer," said Maminski. "I’m traveling to different states all the time for different tournaments. So I had to be a one-sport athlete. The commitment level is a lot. It’s stressful but it’s fun at the same time."
And with plans to move on to college, Maminski is confident his sacrifices are worth it.
"Soccer is the one that’s hopefully getting me into college," said Maminski, who has shown interest in Lafayette College and the University of New Hampshire. "Soccer might make it possible to get into a school that I wouldn’t have academically. If you’re a student athlete, it’ll help a lot."
The fact that he’s doing well in four advanced-placement classes probably doesn’t hurt either. But the heavy academic workload does come at a cost.
"School is tough, and sometimes I have a really hard time," said Maminski. "It can be stressful, but that’s why I like soccer — there’s no worries. You can just play." ••
Sports editor Melissa Yerkov can be reached at 215-354-3035 or myerkov@phillynews.com