RJ Logan admits he was a little scared the first time he put on the goalie gear to play lacrosse.
The Camden Catholic High School junior was 11 at the time. He had played other positions for a few years, but his team needed a goalie. Logan raised his hand and started adding so much protective equipment that he could barely move.
“My very first practice I came out like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man,” Logan said with a laugh, making reference to the enormous monster from the original “Ghostbusters” movie. “As I got better, I eventually kept losing pads and losing pads, and I got to the point where I could move around again.”
It was a bit of an adjustment, but Logan maintained his direction despite taking a few lumps, both figuratively and literally. “That just made me want to get better and prove people wrong,” he said.
Now he’s proven to be one of the best goaltenders in South Jersey. Logan joined Camden Catholic’s varsity team as a freshman and stepped into the starting position after 2024 graduate Benjamin Truong suffered a season-ending injury midway through the season. Despite worrying for his good friend, Logan filled in valiantly and cemented himself as the Irish’s starting goalie for the foreseeable future. He also continued his strong bond with Truong, who helped guide the young freshman through his first season.
“He was one of my really good friends,” Logan said. “He was a great guy to talk to, and I knew him before I was coming to this school. It was big shoes to fill when he got hurt. He would still show up to practices, talk to me and give me tips. He was such a big help, and he was an inspiration to keep working hard.”
Logan’s work ethic is unmatched. He’s also Camden Catholic’s soccer goalie, and he wrestled for the Irish’s state championship team in the winter. His competitive nature and leadership skills also made him a pillar of the school’s lacrosse program.
“He took his lumps early and figured it out really quick,” Camden Catholic lacrosse coach Joseph Baylouny said. “He became an immediate leader on the defense, and that leadership has grown each year. I just can’t wait to see him go forward.”
Although the Irish have struggled this year, winning just three of their first 13 games, Logan has been a shining star in the goal crease, making 179 saves. On May 8, he made his 500th career save by making 20 stops in a game against Williamstown.
“To me, he’s the heartbeat of our team,” Baylouny said. “Without him, I’m not really sure where we’d be.”
For Logan, it was a long road of training to get to this point. His summers are filled with club lacrosse, and he worked 1-on-1 with Dave Page of Foundations Lacrosse, who is also the head coach of The Hill School in Pennsylvania.
“He was a great help to me,” Logan said. “He pushed me. I did a lot of goalie training and practices. I kept putting in the work, and I started getting out of it what I was putting into it.”
A growth spurt also helped.
“When I was in eighth grade, I was about 4-foot-11,” Logan said. “Then that summer, I jumped to 5’6’”. Then all the past experiences helped out. I knew what to expect and what to look for, and I could just play my game.”
On the rare occasions when Logan isn’t playing his favorite game, he keeps busy around school. He’s a member of the National Honor Society and Camden Catholic’s Green and White Club. He also finds joy in helping the school’s robotics club, which recently competed at the VEX Robotics World Championship in St. Louis.
“I’m the builder,” Logan said. “I just freehand everything. There’s definitely a learning curve. But I put two and two together with Legos and learned how things need to work. We also get to use power tools during school, which is pretty cool.”
Back on the lacrosse field, Logan is helping the Irish figure out their future. With their star goalie returning next year along with a talented bunch of underclassmen, the Irish are hoping to rebound in a big way.
Plus, Logan has become a vocal leader with his positive encouragement from the defensive end of the field.
“Next year, I’m hoping the [current] freshmen realize how much potential they actually have,” Logan said. “It’s just their first year out of four years, and they get better and better every year.”
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