Ed Krimmel takes his
guard duty seriously

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Editor

Every day for the past four school years, Ed Krimmel set his alarm clock for 5:30 a.m.
And every day the Somerton resident took the 58 bus to the Frankford Terminal, then the El and the subway to reach Roman Catholic High School at Broad and Vine streets.
Every day, he studied hard in class. And during football season, he practiced just as hard with his Roman Catholic teammates.
Krimmel can take heart that his perseverance paid off.
The senior, who plays left guard and defensive tackle, helped the Cahillites defeat St. Joseph’s Prep, 10-9, on Dec. 1 to claim the Catholic League title. Roman Catholic finished the season with a 12-2 overall record.
"It feels great all the hard work paid off — all the lifting and training in the offseason and practicing all year," said Krimmel. "I kind of knew we’d make it this far. Everyone said this is our year to win."
It was Roman’s first championship-game appearance in five years. St. Joseph’s Prep, on the other hand, has competed in the title game for the past eight seasons.
When the Cahillites and Hawks met earlier this year, St. Joseph’s Prep won, 36-7. It was one of only two defeats absorbed by Roman Catholic all season.
The Cahillites were ready for the championship game. It didn’t take long for Roman to put points on the scoreboard. On Prep’s first possession, Roman Catholic defensive lineman Jewhan Edwards blocked a punt that linebacker Andrew Regan recovered in the end zone, giving their team the lead.
Soon after, a Cahillites drive ended with a 36-yard field goal by kicker Chris Fioravanti. Roman Catholic held the 10-0 lead at halftime.
The second half, though, got a little scary for the Cahillites. Prep answered with a 45-yard field goal by kicker Tim Edger. With just 29 seconds left in the game, Hawks’ wide receiver and returner Jim McGoldrick put six more points on the board with an impressive punt return for a touchdown. Edger’s kick for the extra point — and a tied game — was wide, giving Roman Catholic plenty of reason to rejoice.
"The game was terrific," said coach Jim Murphy. "We really believed that we had the team to win a championship this year. We worked really hard for this."
Roman Catholic has earned a spot in postseason play for the past four years, compiling a 36-14 record in the process. But finally taking the championship was something to savor.
"All our kids from freshman year stuck with it and now we’re all seniors," said Krimmel, a four-year varsity player. "Sophomore and junior year, everyone was getting better and practicing. But it all came together this year. We definitely had the best team."
Now that the season is over, the uniforms put away for another squad, Krimmel is trying to adjust.
"I’m already starting to miss football practice, believe it or not," he said. "I know I’ll miss my teammates, coaches and practices, and mostly the unity that Roman instills in each student."
Krimmel, an All-Catholic player, is looking forward to his next step.
"My dream is to attend West Point Military Academy and play for the Army football team," said Krimmel, who recently visited the school in New York. "I want to go there because I want to serve in the military, and the education you get there is exceptional. It’s a great opportunity.
"The Army team has a lot of tradition and a long line of great players," he continued. "But it’s not just about football. The kids are dedicated to studies as well as athletics. I think that’s how I am at Roman."
Krimmel, a member of the National Honor Society since his junior year, is in the process of getting a nomination to West Point, a mandatory part of acceptance to the school.
"You can get one either from congressional, senatorial, vice presidential or presidential (recommendation)," explained Krimmel. "I’ve had three interviews so far, one with a congresswoman and two with senators, so I’m hoping to get a nomination from at least one of them."
In the meantime, Krimmel also has looked into schools like Temple, Penn and Millersville.
But his first choice is the military.
"I think I’d fit in at West Point. I’m used to discipline and work ethic from attending Catholic school and playing football my whole life," said Krimmel, a regular on the gridiron since 5 years of age. "I want to be in the Army. I’m ready."
Students attending West Point have their college education paid for. After graduation, they are officers who must serve five years of active duty.
"They pay for your four years, then you pay them by serving for five," said Krimmel, who plans to major in military science. "If I went up to West Point and graduated, the leadership opportunities and education would prepare me for any profession. But I am considering becoming a CIA agent in secret service. I think that would be interesting."
With a 4.0 grade-point average, the student obviously does quite well in the classroom.
"I’ve been involved with the Ambassador Club since my sophomore year," said Krimmel, who is ranked 10th in his class. "It’s an organization where you get chosen to be an ambassador, like a big brother for younger students who come in as freshmen and don’t know the ropes of school. I teach them about the school and I’m a mentor for them. I like it a lot."
His leadership skills in the hallways certainly influence his ability to take charge on the football field as well. As captain of his football team this season, Krimmel enjoyed offering guidance to his teammates.
"I love being captain. You get to lead by example on the field," said Krimmel. "And if someone has a problem, they’ll talk to you. It’s nice to be able to help."
"He helped a lot of the other kids," added Murphy, the Roman Catholic coach. "He worked so hard in the offseason. His work ethic is intense. He possesses all the qualities of a great team captain."
Although Krimmel could have chosen to attend a school closer to his Somerton home, he’s happy that Roman Catholic turned out to be the right call.
"I wanted to go to Roman for the education they offer," said Krimmel. "I decided to take the trip to Roman for both academics and athletics. I definitely made the right choice. I’ve had some incredible experiences there.
"My teachers are really skilled in what they do. I learn a lot from them," he added. "I love how close everyone is — especially the football team. If you have a problem, you can talk to teammates and they’re always there for you. The brotherhood of the school is indescribable." ••
Sports editor Melissa Yerkov can be reached at 215-354-3035 or myerkov@phillynews.com