Mike Walsh has an easy answer.
Whenever someone asks Walsh, a senior at Father Judge High School, which sport he plays, he doesn’t have to think very hard.
The lifelong baseball player and longtime football star doesn’t have to weigh his options when people ask him that question.
He has a perfect answer.
“Oh, whatever is in season,” Walsh said. “I love them both. Right now, football is more a year-round thing than baseball mostly because you can’t pitch in the winter. I love them both. I don’t consider myself either. I play baseball and football.”
And he does them both well.
Walsh has been a starter for the Crusaders in football since sophomore year. He now plays defensive end and offensive tackle, and rarely comes off the field when Judge is playing.
Baseball is a little different. He was a good hitter, but has recently settled into becoming a fulltime pitcher.
The two sports certainly keep him busy during the school year, and this summer he’s been spending a lot of time working to improve his strength and conditioning. Most of the work has been with football, but it’s helping him become a better athlete, which will also help him become a better pitcher.
“In the summer, we practice football every day, strength and conditioning mostly,” Walsh said. “We usually go 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. every day and that’s good because you get the work out of the way and then you have the whole day to do whatever else we want to do. That gives me time to work on baseball, too.
“We practice Monday through Friday. It’s a lot of conditioning because we want to be ready for the season. Then we’ll go over whatever we need to go over. It’s mostly about getting stronger and faster.”
Walsh and his teammates need to get bigger and stronger because their schedule isn’t getting any easier.
Judge has dates with La Salle, Roman Catholic and St. Joe’s Prep on the schedule, which means three of their games are against three of the best high school football teams in the country.
That means a large portion of the Crusaders’ schedule is going up against players who will play high-level college football.
It’s not easy going up against that level of competition, but it certainly provides motivation to wake up early and hit the weight room.
“It’s fun, I remember playing Prep my sophomore year, the entire offense and defense was filled with Power 5 Division I guys from like Ohio State and Notre Dame,” Walsh said. “It was fun. The scoreboard wasn’t fun at the end of the game. But I think they help you get better. It’s a big jump from playing the local schools compared to playing the big prep schools. They get the big-named guys and it’s hard to go against them, but it definitely makes you a better player.
“I think sometimes people see our record and they don’t think we’re very good. We play tough teams. Last year we lost to Ryan, it was the first game of the season and we didn’t play our best. We beat two very good teams in Lansdale Catholic and (Archbishop) Wood. And we played Roman Catholic in the playoffs, it was 21-21 midway through the second quarter. They were one of the best teams around. They pulled away later, but we showed we could play with good teams last year.”
That makes 2026 a huge one for Judge football.
Coach Ryan Nase is in his second year and he has players who are ready to run through a wall for him.
Walsh is one of them.
Now in his third year as an every-down player, Walsh has the ear of his teammates and he’s not afraid to speak when the situation calls for it.
“I started the past two years and we always had a lot of older guys, so I would let them do it, but I talked when I needed to,” Walsh said. “This year, I need to step up and be a leader. I like doing it, I felt like I was vocal the past two years. Now I’m the older guy, I can take it on even more.
“I love doing it, it’s fun being with my teammates and teaching younger guys. They’re the future.”
He went the extra mile this summer, helping out with the Father Judge football camp where he worked with grade school kids.
That proved to be a great experience.
“It’s fun for the younger guys, they have fun,” Walsh said. “I think the younger kids do look up to us a little bit, so we have to help them. I like doing it. The camp was a few weeks ago and there were some good players. They had fun. We do drills and play 7 on 7. It’s a great time.”
Walsh is now focused on his final season.
He credits his family with helping him get to this point, including his parents and siblings, one brother, one sister.
“My parents, they’re always there for me,” he said. “Can’t remember the last time they’re both not at a game, even with school, they stay on me to keep my grades up. Not that I need it, but they’re always keeping me in check.
“My brother Andrew and my sister Carly help me a lot, too. We’re a close family in everything, life and sports. My sister plays soccer at Kutztown, she always helps me when I need it. Not just sports, anything. My brother ,too. If I need a second opinion or help, they’re there.”
They’ll be there this season as Walsh looks for a memorable football season.
“I think we’re going to be ready to play, and we’ll play hard,” Walsh said. “We will be young again, we lost a lot of seniors and some transfers, but we have guys ready to play. I think we could have a good year.” ••
