2022 Season Preview: Milton Academy “Mustangs”

<!-- wp:image {"align":"center","id":421293,"width":331,"height":219,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/milton-sports-branding-1024x677.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-421293" width="331" height="219"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The next Team preview is from the NESPAC as we preview the 2022 Massachusetts Milton Academy "Mustangs". Milton Academy plays in the Independent School League within the NESPAC. The Mustangs have transformed into a program that many college coaches have included within the recruiting landscape when traveling through New England. When evaluating the Mustang rosters of past &amp; present, one can easily see why this is a must stop and see the program. The Mustangs are well coached by legendary Head Coach Kevin Macdonald. Coach Macdonald arrived at Milton in 1996 after having served as head coach at Archbishop Williams High School (Braintree, Massachusetts) for 14 seasons. Known to all as "Coach Mac", he spends time year round locating and recruiting top athletes across the country. He locates the athletes he feels can fit the academic standard needed to attend Milton Academy, These same athletes also have the athletic skills needed to play high level H.S. Varsity Football. A tenured solid Head Coach with a winning record tradition best describe his success. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>In 2022</strong> It will come as no surprise for many that this upcoming 2022 season, Milton will continue to field excellent players who will compete in great programs in college after high school. The expectations are always high for this program and this year is no different. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2021 Season Results:</strong> The Mustangs went unbeaten in league play 2021 which earned them an invite to the New England Prep School Athletic Conference's Todd Marble Bowl. Unfortunately, the Mustangs lost their bowl game appearance against NESPAC Program Loomis Chaffee. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Toughest Losses to Graduation:</strong>  Duncan MacDonald (OL) Vanderbilt; [player_tooltip player_id='389299' first='Jack' last='Wilson'] (OL) UNH; Mathias Fowler (DB) Central Connecticut State; Sam Jaffe (OLB/HB/TE) Williams; Jack Smith (LB) Johns Hopkins; [player_tooltip player_id='368094' first='Luke' last='Thorbahn'] (RB) PG @ Avon Old Farms</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PLAYERS TO WATCH:</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6301283008206","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["367912"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u0022Rappleyeau0022 is a top New England recruit who is nationally ranked and has recently committed to Penn State. He has all the tangibles to be elite at the next level. At 6'4u0022 he has the height and frame. Has good wing span to make up the “length”, college coaches want at the TE position. He also  has the frame that can develop with his long arms to extend on blocks and reach up and win 50-50 balls in the pass game. HUDL: u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/8395711/Andrew-Rappleyeau0022u003ehttps://www.hudl.com/profile/8395711/Andrew-Rappleyeau003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/andrewrappleyea/status/1510618173854392338?s=20u0026t=157VCdjlgJiRRROP-oZttA","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/andrewrappleyea/status/1510618173854392338?s=20&amp;t=157VCdjlgJiRRROP-oZttA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63012a6408207","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["368092"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"In May 2022 we got word u0022Crowleyu0022 was under the recruiting radar. At this time he also held 1 offer from UMASS. Move ahead to June 2022, and we saw many coaches finally caught up to his talent potential.  Now he has over 20 D1 offers while recently committing to in state school  u0022Harvardu0022.  A solid set the edge guy. Also displays good technique with great size, explosion, and his first step in reacting to the play is special.  with continued development, he could matriculate to be an all IVY player.  HUDL: u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11675516/618879729a9c4d09487ac8bcu0022u003ehttps://www.hudl.com/video/3/11675516/618879729a9c4d09487ac8bcu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jackcrowley_10/status/1550909380593336327?s=20u0026t=hfAFSwFz1OCor_-6ezQ_8w","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jackcrowley_10/status/1550909380593336327?s=20&amp;t=hfAFSwFz1OCor_-6ezQ_8w </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6301335708208","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["368098"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A complete stud at (QB) u0022Holtschlagu0022 brings lots of reasons why D1 schools have evaluated and offered. He is a sure fire D1 QB that has the Football knowledge IQ, great size, strong arm talent, good athleticism and processing ability, to excel at the next level.  Watching his film from younger years, you can see he puts in the off season work to get better. He recently committed to Georgetown, and looks to lead the 2022 Mustangs to another year end NESPAC Bowl appearance.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jake_holtschlag/status/1557002735874199554?s=20u0026t=nW4WtwphqAjDtQW1XGUhxQ","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jake_holtschlag/status/1557002735874199554?s=20&amp;t=nW4WtwphqAjDtQW1XGUhxQ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>More Names to Know:</strong>&nbsp;2023 <strong>Ben Waterman</strong>&nbsp; (K/S); 2023 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='368093' first='Darius' last='Banaitis']</strong>&nbsp;(DL); &nbsp;2023 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='368099' first='Dan' last='Rosenberg']</strong>&nbsp; (OL/LS); 2023 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='398924' first='Ryan' last='McGurn']</strong>&nbsp; (OL); 2024 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='380958' first='Brady' last='Earle']</strong>&nbsp;(OL); <strong>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='384362' first='Aidan' last='Cole']</strong>&nbsp;(OLB); 2024 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='384363' first='Keith' last='Nally']</strong> (RB); 2024 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='380959' first='Owen' last='Howlett']</strong> (LB)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2022 Schedule/Games to see:</strong>&nbsp; </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><td>Date/Time</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Opponent</td><td>Location</td><td>Must see</td><td>League</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Wed Sep 14 4:30 PM</td><td>@</td><td><img src="https://cdn.arbitersports.com/Shared/SchoolLogos/logoGeneric11.png">Choate Rosemary Hall</td><td>Choate Rosemary Hall<br>Stadium</td><td>Must see</td><td>L</td></tr><tr><td>Sat Sep 24 7:00 PM</td><td>vs</td><td><img src="https://cdn.arbitersports.com/Shared/SchoolLogos/logoGeneric11.png">Buckingham Browne Nichols School</td><td>Milton High School<br>Brooks Field Turf</td><td>Must see</td><td>L</td></tr><tr><td>Sat Oct 1 3:30 PM</td><td>vs</td><td><img src="https://cdn.arbitersports.com/Shared/SchoolLogos/logoGeneric11.png">Lawrence Academy at Groton</td><td>Milton Academy<br>Stokinger</td><td>Must see</td><td>L</td></tr><tr><td>Sat Oct 8 1:30 PM</td><td>@</td><td><img src="https://cdn.arbitersports.com/Shared/SchoolLogos/logoGeneric11.png">Thayer Academy</td><td>Thayer Academy<br>Stadium 1</td><td></td><td>L</td></tr><tr><td>Sat Oct 15 2:00 PM</td><td>@</td><td><img src="https://cdn.arbitersports.com/Shared/SchoolLogos/logoGeneric11.png">Governor's Academy</td><td>Governor's Acad.<br>Football Field</td><td>Must see</td><td>L</td></tr><tr><td>Sat Oct 22 3:00 PM</td><td>vs</td><td><img src="https://cdn.arbitersports.com/Shared/SchoolLogos/logoGeneric11.png">Roxbury Latin School</td><td>Milton Academy<br>Stokinger</td><td></td><td>L</td></tr><tr><td>Fri Oct 28 7:00 PM</td><td>@</td><td><img src="https://cdn.arbitersports.com/Shared/SchoolLogos/logoGeneric11.png">St. Sebastians School</td><td>St. Sebastians School<br>Turf 1</td><td>Must see</td><td>L</td></tr><tr><td>Fri Nov 4 3:00 PM</td><td>vs</td><td><img src="https://cdn.arbitersports.com/Shared/SchoolLogos/logoGeneric11.png">Belmont Hill School</td><td>Milton Academy<br>Stokinger</td><td></td><td>L</td></tr><tr><td>Sat Nov 12 1:00 PM</td><td>@</td><td><img src="https://cdn.arbitersports.com/Shared/SchoolLogos/logoGeneric11.png">Noble and Greenough School</td><td>Nobles &amp; Greenough School<br>Burr Fld.</td><td></td><td>L</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notables:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Milton Academy</strong>&nbsp;(also known as&nbsp;<strong>Milton</strong>) is a&nbsp;coeducational,&nbsp;independent preparatory, boarding and day school in&nbsp;Milton, Massachusetts&nbsp;consisting of a grade 9–12 Upper School and a grade K–8 Lower School. Boarding is offered starting in 9th grade. It is a highly&nbsp;selective school, accepting only 14% of applicants in the 2020–21 school year.^{<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Academy#cite_note-1">[1]</a>}&nbsp;Historically, it has been an unofficial feeder school for&nbsp;Harvard University.^{<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Academy#cite_note-2">[2]</a>}</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Milton is a member of the&nbsp;Independent School League&nbsp;(ISL). Milton's historic athletic rival is&nbsp;Noble and Greenough.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Championship History: Over the past nineteen years Milton has enjoyed among the best winning percentages of all NESPAC ISL teams with a 108-43-3 record, including two undefeated league championships, three New England titles, and eight second-place finishes despite playing the toughest schedule in the ultra-competitive ISL. Over this same period, Milton has sent 26 players and counting, to play Division I collegiate football.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->