Jack Stackhouse grew up dreaming of winning a Catholic League championship.
He didn’t have to wait long to see his dreams come true.
Stackhouse is a junior on the Archbishop Ryan High School soccer team, and if you recognize the name, it’s because the Stackhouses have been tearing it up on Northeast Philly soccer fields for decades.
His father won championships at Ryan, his uncle is one of the best players in school history, and his older brother was a key player for the Raiders before graduating in 2018.
The newest Stackhouse wanted to bring success to Ryan and it didn’t take him very long to see it happen.
“It was so great winning the championship because a lot of people told us we wouldn’t be too good my freshman year,” said Stackhouse, who started as a freshman and helped the Raiders win a Catholic League championship in 2022. “I had to fight for a spot that year to get on the field, and by the time we got to the playoffs, things were great. We were hot at the right time, we played as a team and listened to Coach (Ryan) Haney. It all came together and we won.
“It means a lot to win Catholic League games. The PCL doesn’t have as much scouting as it used to, and it’s looked down upon by some. But it’s a great league. The PCL has a lot of talent out there. Judge is always good, La Salle, Prep, Ryan has been a good team. Roman is always good, Wood. I think it’s so much fun playing against these guys. Every game is important and if you win, you’re a good team.”
Stackhouse is no longer a youngster trying to find his way.
The Fox Chase native is now one of the captains and for the rest of this season and his senior campaign, Stackhouse is responsible for helping the Raiders scrap and claw their way to the top of the Catholic League.
He got there once, and he wants to return.
In fact, if he wants to catch some family members, he needs to bring home a few more crowns.
“I know my dad won three or four, my uncle Andy did win all four years, I know that,” Stackhouse said. “It’s great. It was a great feeling, I know I didn’t contribute as much as I would have later in my career, but I still think when I was playing, I was a big part of the team and I always looked up to my dad and uncles, my dad told me I can contribute a lot. I know there’s always someone better, I try to be as great as they were.
“I think it’s fun to come into a place where they were great. People ask about my uncles and my dad, they all went to Ryan. My uncle Andy has his number retired. His number is hanging in the gym. That’s my uncle. It’s very fun because I look up to my dad, I want to be right there with them and be as great as they were.”
Ryan isn’t a great team right now, it’s a work in progress.
And that’s a lot like the Raiders were two years ago when they raised the plaque. Ryan is hanging around the top of the standings, but as always, a loss or two can be the difference between first and fifth place.
That’s life in the Catholic League, and Stackhouse hopes the Raiders are one of the teams standing when the weather gets colder.
“Haney had me as a captain with (Shawn) Dixon and Peyton (Barton),” Stackhouse said. “A lot of the starting 11 played club with me and I try to be the best leader I can. Sometimes I’ll lash out, but it’s always love.
“On the field, Haney wants me to control the offense. He thinks I could be a leading scorer. I just want to be one of the best players in this league. I really want to do well because if I’m playing well, others will play well and that means we’ll be playing better as a team. That’s what we all want.”
Stackhouse loves Ryan because Ryan soccer means family.
And he’s not the only one to follow in his dad’s footsteps.
Older sister Grace was a star on the girls team, just as Will was for the boys. Kate played soccer at Ryan before tearing her ACL. And youngest Tom is a freshman on the junior varsity team.
“Soccer was important to all of us, and I love that we’re all involved with it. I’ve been around it my whole life,” Stackhouse said. “My mom didn’t play, but she went to school with my dad so she gets it. She never played but she’s been to so many games.”
Stackhouse wants what’s best for his team, and he will do everything he can to get Ryan back to the top of the league.
But he’s a true student of the game, and he loves the thrill of playing in the Catholic League against rivals.
They’re also friends.
“It’s always fun because I live in Fox Chase, so we’re everywhere,” Stackhouse said. “A lot go to Judge, I’m friends with a lot of Judge and Roman soccer kids, I play club ball with La Salle. It’s about bragging rights, getting wins. In the Catholic League anything can happen. In the league, it’s all love. We love to talk a lot, but we’re from the same area, it’s just fun.”
And he’ll do what he can to make sure the Raiders are talking the loudest.
“When I was a freshman, we had Joey (Phillips) and other great leaders,” he said. “Last year we had Owen (Stock) and Frankie (Monaco). They helped me so much. I want to be the guy who teaches the young guys what to do, so they can teach the young guys on their team. That’s what I want.”
