Editor’s note: Scherlte, in addition to his role as the head coach of the high school team, was also the club coach of 2015 ACC Championships Swimmer of the Meet Tanja Kylliainen.
Keith Schertle, head coach of Loyola Blakefield’s swimming and water polo programs, will be stepping down at the end of the 2014-15 academic year after 20 years of shaping competitive athletes in the pool at Loyola.
Schertle started in 1995 as an assistant on the swim team and, in 1996, became the interim head coach. The first year he took over, the team won the MIAA Swimming and Diving Championships and the National Catholic Swimming Championship. The team has only lost one MIAA Championship since and has gone on to win seven more National Catholic Championships—Schertle earning the Coach of the Meet title each time. In 2014, he led the team to an Eastern Prep Swimming and Diving Championship, one of the most prestigious and competitive high school meets in the country.
Over the years, Schertle has coached 30 High School All-American swimmers, numerous Junior National and Senior National swimmers, and two Olympic Trial swimmers in Oliver Bennett ’11 and Hugh Davidson ’10. Many of these swimmers were also products of Loyola Blakefield Aquatics, Inc. (LBA), a program Schertle founded in 1998 to help train young swimmers for a competitive career at Loyola. “LBA has benefited Loyola by providing young swimmers with early exposure to Loyola, fantastic year-round training, and through many charitable donations,” said Schertle.
In 1997, Schertle started the water polo program with Joseph Curreri ’98 and when water polo was sanctioned as a MIAA sport at Loyola in the fall of 1998, he was named head coach. He led the team to the MIAA Water Polo Championship in 2009, 2010, and 2014 and the Eastern Prep Water Polo Championship in 2009 and 2013, developing three All-American water polo players along the way.
“Keith Schertle’s accomplishments are second to none,” said Principal John Marinacci. “Certainly the string of championships, All-Americans, and records that have been earned under his leadership are proof of that. However, his stewardship of the aquatics program, the facilities, and the identity of the school itself are the true testament to his great service to Loyola Blakefield.”
In addition to his accomplished high school teams, Schertle coached middle school swimming and water polo. “With middle school, it is more teaching than coaching,” said Schertle, “and I am very proud to say that the middle school water polo team has never lost a game in 12 years.”
Out of the pool, Schertle has taught both high school and middle school physical education and 6th grade math. Even though Schertle is stepping down as head coach, he will still be on the pool deck next year to assist newly appointed Director of Aquatics, Matthew McDonough, whom Schertle coached at a young age.
“I know Matt very well and I am very pleased that he accepted our offer as Aquatics Director and Head Water Polo and Swim Coach,” said Schertle. “I have watched him develop as a coach first at Tiger Fish Aquatic Club and then at McDonogh School and Eagle Swim Team.”
McDonough, a member of the Towson University Swimming & Diving team from 2000-04, also served as an assistant coach in the program. Since 2009, he has advanced to Associate Head Coach and Head Age Group Coach at Eagle Swim Team (EST) in Owings Mills, Maryland. He also served as Middle School Physical Education Instructor at McDonogh School, where he assisted with the water polo and swimming & diving teams. “Loyola Blakefield is an institution that is known and respected for being ambitious and undaunted in developing men for others,” said McDonough. “I embrace the opportunity to continue the proud legacy of excellence at Loyola.”
Remarking on this significant transition, Mr. Marinacci expressed his pleasure in identifying such an able candidate for this newly expanded position. “Matt has a history of success with aquatics programs, and just as importantly, he carries on the same sense of stewardship as Keith, “said Marinacci. “He has a keen interest in educating young men, and he will be working with all activities and responsibilities associated with the pool. I am happy that he is joining our staff and certain he will make an exceptional Don. Furthermore, the fact that Keith feels that Matt is the right person to take over all he has built over the years is greater than any praise I can give.”
Mr. Schertle will continue his role as a full-time Physical Education Instructor at Loyola Blakefield. Mr. McDonough, as Director of Aquatics, will not only oversee all interscholastic aquatics programs, he will also work in conjunction with the Physical Education Department in implementing aquatics into their curriculum and will run LBA, Inc.
Congrats Keith! and Good Luck Matt, two outstanding individuals!