Boys' Soccer

MAPL CHAMPS

2017

Blair soccer is rich in history and tradition. Each season, our aim is to assimilate new faces with established players to form a committed and cohesive unit, both on and off the field. Discipline, organization and communication guide our daily work, and it is the responsibility of the group to internalize these principles if we are to be successful.

At the varsity level, Blair faces a grueling schedule as a member of the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) and a participant in the highly competitive New Jersey prep “A” division. Fielding a schedule of approximately 18 games, including the much-anticipated Peddie Day match, Blair soccer requires intense physical and mental preparation. Thus, fitness is crucial to the success of the team and, under the guidance of our coaching staff, our players train extremely hard to achieve peak condition.

Blair also maintains successful JV and 3rds programs, providing opportunities for future varsity players to mature and develop, while also affording students the chance to participate and enjoy the sport at an appropriate level. The teams play approximately 15 games against our MAPL rivals and a number of local high schools. Both JV and 3rds end the fall season on Peddie Day.

About Coach Farrell

A former semi-professional soccer player in the United Kingdom, head coach Matt Farrell was appointed head coach of Blair’s boys’ soccer program in 2016.

He brought a wealth of coaching, team development and mentoring experience to this role, having served as assistant men’s soccer coach at Centenary College in Hackettstown, New Jersey, as program head and trainer for Mount Olive Premiere soccer program and as a staff member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Coach Farrell holds a UEFA A coaching badge and is a New Jersey Olympic Development Program coach. He is also a director of Advanced Total Soccer Coaching, a New Jersey-based organization that works with soccer clubs on player development from foundational skills through elite national level competition.

Contact Coach Farrell at farrem@blair.edu for any questions.

About Coach Parauda

Assistant coach Tom Parauda is an English teacher who joined Blair's faculty in 1988. In addition to teaching classes, he is a monitor and the School's daily academic coordinator. Tom completed his undergraduate work in English and philosophy at Fordham University in Bronx, New York, in 1986 and went on to earn an MA in British and American literature from Columbia University in New York City in 1987. He is assistant coach of both the varsity boys' soccer and basketball teams. Tom does dorm duty in the new boys’ dormitory and lives in Millbrook Cottage with his wife, Christine, who is director of The Romano Gallery.

View directions to athletic events. To read recaps about past events, go to the "Team News" tab above.

View more photos from the 2019-2020 season on Blair's Photoshelter or past years on Blair's Flickr.

Blair soccer is rich in history and tradition. We maintain three levels of competitive, interscholastic soccer (varsity, junior varsity and 3rds), providing opportunities for players at all levels to participate in and enjoy the sport, while also giving future varsity players the chance to mature and develop.

Like the varsity team, the JV team plays against Blair’s Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) rivals and a number of local high schools. The soccer season culminates on Peddie Day in mid-November, when each of Blair’s fall athletic teams vies with Peddie for the coveted Kelley-Potter Cup.

About Coach Brandwood

Robert Brandwood, appointed in 1985, teaches freshman- and senior-level English. He graduated from the University of Wales U.K., with a bachelor of arts degree and earned a postgraduate certificate in education from Leicester University, U.K., followed by a master’s in English from Middlebury College. Prior to coming to Blair, Bob taught English in a government school in northern England and, for two years, in a small village school on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. During his tenure at Blair, Bob has taught at every grade level and had a hand in shaping the course of study currently adopted by the English department. He also coaches boys' soccer and swimming and serves dorm duty in Annie Hall.

About Coach Russell

Michael Russell joined Blair’s history faculty in 2019. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history at Georgetown University (1998); JD at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law (2008); and master’s degree in teaching at the University of the Cumberlands (2013). A former attorney in the Massachusetts state courts, Michael taught history for six years prior to coming to Blair at Dubai American Academy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Asia Pacific International School in Seoul, South Korea, and Taipei American School in Taipei, Taiwan. He teaches modern European history and Advanced Placement comparative government and politics at Blair; he also coaches JV boys’ soccer and varsity baseball. Michael and his wife, Associate Dean of College Counseling Shana Russell, are the housemasters of Freeman Hall, where they reside with their sons, Teddy and Ripley. The Russell family enjoys traveling the world to experience new cultures, foods, sights and geographies.

View directions to athletic events.

Blair soccer is rich in history and tradition. We maintain three levels of competitive, interscholastic soccer (varsity, junior varsity and 3rds), providing opportunities for players at all levels to participate in and enjoy the sport, while also giving future varsity players the chance to mature and develop.

Like the varsity team, the thirds team plays against Blair’s Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) rivals and a number of local high schools. The soccer season culminates on Peddie Day in mid-November, when each of Blair’s fall athletic teams vies with Peddie for the coveted Kelley-Potter Cup.

Meet Coach Pomeroy

Tom Pomeroy joined Blair’s business office staff as the School’s operations analyst in 2018. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice (2009) and master’s degree in sports leadership (2017) at Northeastern University and previously worked as a compliance coordinator in Northeastern’s athletic office. Tom also served as treasurer of Good Sport’s Young Professional Board in Boston. He is married to Blair language teacher Kate Lavalle.

About Coach Mundo

A Spanish teacher with 16 years’ experience at the elementary, secondary and post-secondary levels, Jaime Mundo joined Blair’s language faculty in 2017. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Spanish language and culture at the University of Puerto Rico (2001) and his master’s degree in Spanish language at the City University of New York (2012). Currently a doctoral candidate, Mr. Mundo is completing his dissertation at the University at Albany SUNY, in the school’s department of languages, literatures and cultures. At Blair, he teaches Spanish, coaches JV baseball and oversees weight training.

View directions to athletic events.

View more photos from the 2019-2020 season on Blair's Photoshelter or past years on Blair's Flickr.