The Oratory Handball Tournament is one the biggest events of the school year, with athletes showing off their abilities and teams battling for glory and bragging rights. Here are my team descriptions and power rankings for the 2025 Oratory Handball Tournament:
16. Primetime Willz: Led by Christopher Fay and Ryan Olohan, this team of middle schoolers could attempt to make waves in this year’s tournament, but they are facing off against a freshmen team in the first round, Dumber. Dumber and Primetime Wilz could go either way, but I believe that Primetime Willz loses due to inexperience.
15. Dumber: This all-freshman squad may not be topping the leaderboard in this year’s handball tournament, but they’re certainly winning in spirit! Hopefully, they prove me wrong and defeat either Henry Zahn’s team or Charlie Kline’s team in the second round.
14. Dumb: This young team, led by freshman Brendan Healy and Mr. Barresi, is looking to upset Stock Team in the first round. Unfortunately, I predict that they lose due to inexperience and size, especially against giant junior Joey DeMarco, who might stomp them out just by himself.
13. Mr. McCrystal’s Bald Head: Although an amazing team name, Mr. McCrystal’s bald head won’t shine bright enough against Team, a roster comprising juniors who are varsity athletes in various sports. With the young age and inexperience of this group and the overwhelming threat of Team, it’s more than likely they will be eliminated in round 1.
12. Santillan Squad: This team, led by Xavier Santillan, has the small possibility of upsetting Team 1, an all-senior team. Even if they somehow did defeat them, there’s little to no way they could defeat George Fagan’s Team or Hislop’s Hooligans in the second round. Hopefully, they prove me wrong!
11. Dill and the Doldys: An all-sophomore team, this well-constructed team would’ve had a chance to advance further if they weren’t playing Brody’s Boys, an all-junior team featuring Andrew Hipolit and volleyball captain Devon Fernandez. Unless this team comes together and plays impeccable defense, I can’t see a world where Dill and the Doldys advance to round 2.
10. I Love the Olohans: Led by, of course, Brendan Olohan, this team has both size and a strong player in Mr. Maybe, who can easily run through his opponents with ease. However, they play Temp, an all-junior team led by Eric De Vomecourt, who by himself could dismantle and power through I Love the Olohans.
9. Hislop’s Hooligans: It seems like every year, one middle school team always seems to shock the school and advance deep into the tournament. Hislop’s Hooligans, led by Mr. Daughtery and their manager, Cormac Hislop, have shown in this year’s dodgeball tournament and last year’s handball tournament that size and strength don’t determine if you win the game, it’s if you have the drive to win. Unfortunately, I predict that there won’t be another middle school Cinderella story in this year’s tournament and that they will lose in round 1 to George Fagan’s Team.
8. Team Although a strong team featuring varsity baseball players, basketball players, and Derek Zapata, I predict that they will cruise past Mr. McCrystal’s Bald Head, but face some trouble with Stock Team, losing in a close game. It’s nearly impossible to cover Joey without fouling him and with the focus on offense rather than defense, It’s difficult to see their defense and goaltending withstand Joey’s brutal offensive game.
7. Charlie Kline’s Team: A team of all seniors, Charlie Kline’s Team reaches number 7 on my power rankings because they face off against Henry Zahn’s Team, starring Ryan Fay and William Mazzei. Charlie Kline’s Team may have advantages in experience and age, but I predict that they will lose in round one to Henry Zahn’s Team in a close game. If they win, however, they could find themselves in the semi-finals against either Stock Team or Team.
6. Henry Zahn’s Team: Zahn’s team has a difficult match-up against Charlie Kline’s team in round one, but can easily cruise past the second round if they advance to face either Dumber or Primetime Willz. However, this powerful team faces the threat of either Stock Team led by Joey DeMarco, or Team led by Devon Mulvaney. I believe they could defeat Team, but I predict that they will face off against Stock Team and lose in a close matchup. As many teams face, goaltending is a serious issue for this team, and containing DeMarco is a problem that’s easier said than done.
5. Stock Team: This team seems small on paper, but the roster is filled with good offensive players like Joey DeMarco and Anthony Costa, playmaking in Ben Fernandoe, and goaltending with either Aiden Lontai or Flynn Breeze. I predict that they make a Cinderella run to the finals, so long as they stick to the best game plan possible, give the ball to Joey, and let him work.
4. Temp: A small but strong team, Temp is led by Eric De Vomecourt, who can score against any goalie and power through any defender with ease. Although powerful, Temp would likely face off against Brody’s Boys, the top junior team in the tournament. Though Eric could lead Temp to victory, his flashy play style and small team size may lead to Temp’s downfall in round 2.
3. Team 1: An all-senior team starring Meade Gibbons and Aidan Fahy, Team 1 has the strong possibility of cruising to the finals, but they likely face George Fagan’s team in round 2, another all-senior team that is similar in size and offense. I predict that they’ll lose to George Fagan’s team in a close game, but the game could go either way.
2. George Fagan’s Team: Led by George Fagan and basketball star Max Cook, Fagan’s team is looking to decimate their opponents and easily pathe their way to a finals appearance. However, they face difficult opponents such as Hislop’s Hooligans, who are unpredictable and could get upset by them, Team 1, which has a similar team composition, and likely Brody’s Boys, who are the top team in this tournament. I predict that they lose to Brody’s Boys in the semi-finals in a close game, but don’t count them out!
1. Brody’s Boys: The best team in this tournament, this junior team has a star-studded roster all around the board. They have offensive powerhouses like Devon Fernandez, Andrew Hipolit, and Brody Sheehan. They have strong playmakers like Rocco Santillan, Jack Ebert, and Lucas Costa. Lastly, they have varsity hockey goalie Thomas LaFrance in net, making this team an all-around dominant team. It would shock me if this team didn’t make it to the finals, but they have one of the most difficult schedules of the tournament. I predict that Brody’s Boys and Stock Team will face off in the finals, Brody’s Boys taking the win and winning this year’s handball tournament!
