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BOYS’ SOCCER: For Roman Catholic Senior Stephen Clungston, Hard Work Pays Off

By Jim Polisi , 12/21/18, 3:30PM EST

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By: Jim Polisi

PHILADELPHIA –This year’s Roman Catholic soccer team was filled with abounding talent. The Cahillites had six All-Catholic players on its roster: First-Team senior and PA State Player of the Year Jared Dillon, Second-Team juniors Kevin Davis, Kieran Donnelly and Kevin Tobin, as well as Third-Team seniors Eric Williams and Mark Iannacone. With such a talented team, it is often easy for some player’s contributions to be overlooked. One of these players that happened to fly under the radar is senior right back Stephen Clungston. 


Roman Catholic senior Stephen Clungston - PSD Photo

Clungston has been a part of the Roman Catholic soccer program since the first day he stepped foot in the historic Philadelphia high school located on the corner of Broad and Vine Streets. 

Throughout Clungston’s four seasons at Roman, he spent time on the freshman, junior-varsity and varsity teams, respectively. 

Some players are just naturally gifted with talent from the day they were born. There are also the players that make it from the hard work and dedication they put in to their respective sports.

Clungston is one of the players that made it from his hard work and dedication that he puts into his on-field work ethic every single day. He was determined since his freshman year to make an impact on the varsity team for Roman. 

“Every day during the off-season for the past few years I worked and practiced by myself hoping to become the best player I can be,” said Clungston. 

After three seasons on the junior varsity and freshman teams, Clungston realized his senior year was his time to step-up. 

Clungston spent countless hours every single day in the summer perfecting his game. He spent his summer days working as a camp counselor at Houston Playground in Roxborough. After his day of hard work, he would work on his perfecting his game for many hours every single day at the playground. 

“My goal has always been to be a contributor for my team, whether that be on the field or off it. I always give it my all no matter what,” said Clungston.


Roman Catholic senior Stephen Clungston - PSD Photo

His hard work and dedication would not go unnoticed. During his senior year, Clungston fulfilled his goal to become starting right back for Roman, starting in every game this season. 

“Clungston brings senior leadership and is never afraid to make a mistake, and is always willing to learn, while going 110 percent at all times,” said Roman Catholic head coach Ray DeStephanis. 

The coaches were not the only ones to rave about Clungston’s hard work and dedication.

“Clungston is hardworking player who doesn’t stop running. He keeps our backline stable and we wouldn’t be where we were today without him,” said junior Kevin Davis, who scored a goal in Roman’s 3-0 Catholic League semifinal victory over St. Joe’s Prep in October. 

Clungston is hoping that this past fall will not be the last time he laces up his cleats and takes the soccer field.

“I applied to York, Millersville, and Bloomsburg. I have been contacting their coaches and hoping for the best,” said Clungston. 

With the help of Clungston and the rest of Roman’s talented squad, the Cahillites went on to bring home the school’s first-ever District 12 title with a 5-0 victory over Northeast High School on Nov. 3, 2018.