By Gretchen Crowe
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 10/28/04)

Spiritual fathers battled biological fathers in the Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC) School exhibition basketball game last Saturday night in Vienna. The diocesan priests’ basketball team, the Earthen Vessels, and the "dads" of OLGC students donned black and blue jerseys to celebrate the opening of the school’s new gym.

"I would like to thank the fathers for playing and also the other fathers for playing," said Father William Metzger, pastor, with a smile as he welcomed basketball lovers to the game.

The gym, complete with bright lights and a shiny new floor, was part of a $12 million building project for the church and school. After 18 months of construction, it was the first phase of the project to be completed.

Austin Poole, principal, thanked the parents "who have made it through our changing car pool lines" and the students "who have made it through gym classes in the hallway" for their flexibility and cooperation during the time of transition and growth.

"We’re very happy that the Earthen Vessels could come out to play," Poole said, adding that he was especially thankful for the presence of the superintendent of Catholic schools, Dr. Tim McNiff.

Over on the benches, family and friends cheered loudly for their favorite fathers.

Jack Hinnenkamp, "5 and three-quarters" years old, and his brother Michael, "4 and-a-half," spent the game rooting on No. 4 and running across the court during breaks in the action to hug their dad’s knees.

"I like watching my dad play basketball," Jack said with the sort of excited smile that leads you to believe that in another 20 to 30 years he’ll be out playing, too. Then Jack bolted, anxious to join the other children sliding on the slick floor during halftime.

During the break, the basketball court was transformed into an obstacle course for smaller athletes. Madeline Giuseppe, a fifth-grader at the school and out of breath from jumping bars and running through hoops, said that even though her dad wasn’t playing on the team, she and her family came to the game to "watch and cheer."

The OLGC dads led the Earthen Vessels 31-19 at the break before finishing the priests off with 54-35 at the buzzer.

Gail McCarthy, director of development, said the whole evening was "very exciting.

"We are just so thrilled to have this new facility," she said.

With the responsibility of serving kindergarteners through eighth-graders, the space should be well-used. And, the priests are demanding a rematch.