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BG senior athletes Lupo, Johnson moving on to Annapolis

By Tom King - Staff Writer | May 15, 2020

Photo courtesy of Bishop Guertin/Br. Ralph Lebel Bishop Guertin skier Aidan Johnson will be headed to the U.S. Naval Academy next month, along with fellow Cardinal multi sport athlete Joey Lupo.

NASHUA – Aidan Johnson knew when he was in grammar school, thanks to a close family friend who was a Naval doctor, that he wanted to go to the U.S. Naval Academy.

“It’s a goal that I’ve had since the fourth grade,” the Bishop Guertin senior two sport athlete said. ” Since then, it’s been a growing dream. … I’m still kind of processing it now. I’m so happy about the whole thing.”

Fellow Cardinal two-sport athlete Joey Lupo knew a little later, his junior year. His sister Katie was at Annapolis, so that helped.

“I went down there for a couple camps, and was at their summer seminar,” said Lupo, a football and lacrosse standout for the Cardinals. “I saw the morale there and the opportunities that school presented and I just loved it.”

Both had their dreams come true when it was announced this past week they were accepted into the Naval Academy. They won’t have much of a summer as their Annapolis, Md.experience starts on June 25.

It’s been a trend the Cardinals have enjoyed over the past few years, now with six at Annapolis in six years and seven overall at military academies in that span. Besides Katie Lupo, among others who have moved on to Navy are Andre Laplante in 2019, (basketball and baseball at BG), Lucas Atwood in 2016 (track), and football player Brandon MacVarish (2015) while swimmer Matt Lashua (2019) is at the Air Force Academy.

Johnson, who was a runner and skier while at BG, plans on trying to compete on the Naval Academy crew team next year. Lupo, meanwhile, is hoping to walk on to the Navy men’s lacrosse team. His sister Katie played field hockey and lacrosse at BG and walked on to the women’s lacrosse team at Navy, playing one year. She’ll be a junior this year.

“It will be difficult,” Lupo said of lacrosse. “But it’s an opportunity to play a Division I sport that I otherwise wouldn’t have in my life, so why not try it?”

Football, however – he was an All Conference player thanks to his speed as a back, return man, and nose for the ball as a defensive back – is a thing of the past.

“I don’t think I could stick with the guys there,” he said of Navy. “It’s on a different level.”

Johnson felt his time on the Cardinals cross country team in the fall and ski team (he was one of BG’s top five in the latter) in the winter helped his cause, especially in the fitness testing.

“With those I get a lot of endurance in both, and actually a lot of core and lower body,” he said. “And upper body as well. Very endurance and core based sports helped me with my overall fitness assessment.”

And Johnson, who is from Amherst, feels that his competing in those two sports helped his leadership level. “Leading by example,” he said, adding that playing two sports combined with academics helped him develop time management skills.

Meanwhile, Cardinals coach Chris Cameron is rooting for Lupo and has spoken to Navy coach Joe Amplo about him. Lupo’s been playing lacrosse since the third grade.

“Joey has always been the fastest player on the field since he was eight years old,” Cameron said. “I’m going to miss watching him turn a simple play into a fast break time and time again. … Coach Amplo is excited to see Joey compete for a roster spot.”

Cards football coach John Trisciani said Lupo had colleges interested in him for football. But he’s thrilled to have one of his players headed to Navy. “As we try to promote academics and these multi sport athletes, Joey has represented everything we’re looking for. … He’s had a full plate for four years and is definitely someone we’re going to miss.”

And Johnson, Trisciani said, “is another kid who is way more mature than you’d expect from a high school kid.”

Johnson, meanwhile, said he talked to the Navy crew coaches and has some friends that have competed in that sport, so he feels he’ll be able to overcome his novice status.

“I really like the team nature of it all,” he said. “And also it’s a fantastic workout, I’ll be in great shape. And I’m pretty sure they work out all year round to stay in that shape.”

Lupo is amazed at the number of Guertin athletes who have gone on to the U.S. Naval Academy.

“There’s been a bunch,” he said. “I really have to give it to BG, they really develop the whole person. Athletics is a huge part but also academics and the dedication to being a student athlete is huge.”

That and playing multiple sports. “It shows you’re not just focused on one thing,” he said. “You spread yourself out.”

And both soon to be Guertin graduates are ready to be living a dream.

“I’m absolutely honored,” Lupo said. “This gives me an opportunity to be one of the leaders in serving our country, and that’s an honor I hold about all others.”

“If I’m down there June 25, that means I get to go to the Naval Academy,” Johnson said. “A life long goal finally coming to fruition.”

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