Ohio City - In what is another example of being "Men for Others," Wildcats nationally acclaimed Hall of Fame Head Coach Chuck Kyle '69 and his gifted staff will share their wealth of football knowledge with Cubs Head Coach Scott Spitler, Running Backs/Linebackers Coach Matt Smith and Quarterbacks/Safeties Coach Jeff Fanello.
Along with his head coaching duties, Coach Spitler is also the Cubs' Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach.
Lucas High, located in Richland County, has made three consecutive trips to the Ohio High School Athletic Association's Division 7 football playoffs. The Cubs also qualified for the OHSAA's football postseason in 2006 and 2000.
Extending the invitation to the Lucas High School gridiron staff was Wildcats' veteran Assistant Coach on offense, Jim Cahill '89. Jim and Coach Fanello work together at Ohio Valley Manufacturing in Mansfield, Ohio.
Thursday's Varsity Camp gets underway at 3 PM on Wasmer Field and will be followed by the Junior Varsity Camp at 5 PM.
As for Tuesday's Varsity Camp, junior safety/receiver John Wetula was acknowledged by Saint Ignatius' outstanding Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Ryan Franzinger '02 after John went Pick City with an interception off an exceptional read and reaction. John is a nephew of Wildcats Assistant Coach Mark Ruddy '90, who was an All-Ohio mainstay at wide receiver and defensive back for Saint Ignatius' first Division I State Championship Team of 1988 and the State and National Championship Team of 1989.
Coach Franzinger was also smiling over the effort by strong and rangy junior linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, who read the scheme by the offensive line, overpowered the blocks and stood up the ball carrier for a significant loss. Tommy is the brother of former Saint Ignatius All-District, All-Ohio and All-American offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg '16. Liam is a redshirt freshman at the University of Notre Dame.
Staying with the Varsity Camp, quarterbacks Daniel Alexander, Kyle Hall, Patrick Delahunty and Michael Sarko each had their pass-worthy moments, senior wide receiver Michael Drobnick continued to show why he will be among the area's best, and multi-skilled senior wide receiver/defensive back Connor Kennedy made his presence felt on both sides of the ball.
WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A POSITION: Wildcats veteran Running Backs Coach Terry Fergus '72 smiled and kidded with senior Luke Mooney on Tuesday afternoon, as Luke, primarily a running back, was jumping at the opportunity to play different positions.
CAMPING: The latest camp stops for Saint Ignatius' standout senior kicker and gifted soccer player Matthew Trickett included Maryland and Brown.
JUNIOR VARSITY WRAPS: Sophomore linebacker/running back Jack Welcsh and sophomore linebacker Connor Francz came up with interceptions off nice reads and a nose for the ball, and sophomore running back/receiver Najee Lockett continues to impress with his exceptional speed and vision.
AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST: Two new faces grace Wasmer Field this summer, as highly respected Trainer Maureen Sizemore has been hired by Saint Ignatius to assist Wildcats veteran Head Trainer Mr. Hank Gaughan, and longtime area coach Pete Ducic has joined Coach Kyle's staff as an Assistant Coach for the defense.
Maureen "Mo" Sizemore previously served as the Trainer at Cleveland Heights and Beaumont. Saint Ignatius' outstanding Athletics Director Rory Fitzpatrick '88 said Maureen is also employed by University Hospitals. Rory looks at Maureen's addition to the Saint Ignatius staff as a tremendous hire.
Ducic, a 1973 graduate of Cathedral Latin School where he excelled in baseball, previously coached football and baseball at St. Edward High School. Pete had two stints at St. Edward, one in the 1970s and the second one in the mid 2000s. He also coached baseball at Benedictine and Gilmour Academy, and was the Head Baseball Coach at Cuyahoga Community College-West.
After a storied baseball career at Cathedral Latin School that saw him become the first Lion to play a Varsity Sport as just a freshman, Pete earned a spot on The Ohio State University's baseball team as just a freshman. A catcher/third baseman, Pete had Major League tryouts with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets, to name a few.
For those seasoned high school fans who wonder why Ducic has been away from the area coaching ranks the past three years, Pete has been battling Renal Cell Cancer.
We will see you at Wasmer Field on Thursday, as this old-timer looks forward to meeting the coaches from Lucas High School.