On March 30th, 2026, the McClancy Boy’s Volleyball team faced off against St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, NJ. This inaugural scrimmage marks the beginning of a new tradition between our brother communities; both teams, hailing from Brothers of the Sacred Heart schools, were given the opportunity to connect in an afternoon full of companionship, athletic competition, and good food.
The event encapsulated the core values bestowed upon the BOSH by Father Andre Coindre: forming the whole person academically, socially, and spiritually. Before the game began, both teams gathered in a circle of prayer- thanking God for the opportunity to take part in such a momentous occasion. As we prayed, the two teams coiled and intertwined arms to further the spirit of brotherhood.
The match itself was riveting; both teams fought with valor, but Joe’s overpowered the McClancy team in a 3-0 finish. The St. Joe’s boys displayed immense strength and technical prowess: their extraordinary defense and formidable swings controlled the tempo of the match, forcing the McClancy boys to respond with counterattacks. St. Joe’s truly showed McClancy what it means to go all out. Ultimately, while the McClancy boys did lose, the ability to play against such a powerful team firsthand let us gather experience and inspiration.
After the game, St. Joseph’s treated the team to dinner- allowing for an opportunity to get to know each other better as we ate and shared stories. Despite only being a state apart, the conversations mainly revolved around the differences between social culture found in each school and regular daily life. The jokes, memories, and games will be fondly remembered by all the boys for ages to come.
Following the dinner, the boys engaged in more free play- whether it be team play or hitting lines- allowing for more lighthearted fun and deepened bonds between the two schools. Clearly, three sets of volleyball wasn’t enough for everyone, as we all still had loads of energy and steam to keep playing.
Needless to say, the first ever scrimmage match between brother schools was a huge success. This was the start of a hopefully longstanding custom for years to come, not only with St. Joseph’s, but with the other Brothers of the Sacred Heart schools nationwide. I had an extraordinary time during this excursion as I got to play and connect with new people through a shared love of volleyball, and I know I can say the same for everyone else. Excitingly, the tradition is already set to occur next year, with a rematch versus St. Joe’s at McClancy’s home gym! I am extremely hopeful for the future of this practice, along with the rest of the volleyball season.
