Welcome to the winter sports season!
With the start of the winter sports sports season, the Magis Athlete of the Week returns. As always, the award is given to a student-athlete (or manager) who best embodies what it means to live the Magis, or the "more," always going above and beyond on and off the field.
The award is presented by the Carfagna Family Magis Athletic Center. Without further ado, here we go!
Basketball – Micah Anglin '20
The basketball team did not play this week, but we still have an honoree.
Micah Anglin is this week's winner, for a number of reasons, both on and off the court.
To delve into his story, we need to start with the recognition Anglin received yesterday. Since Rev. Paul Shelton, S.J. became the team chaplain, one Basketball Cat per week has the honor of wearing a team jersey for the week. Last year, Shelton picked out a jersey from Germany. This year, Shelton settled on a Zion Williamson jersey after visiting New Orleans to officiate a wedding over the summer.
The jersey is given to a player who best shows what it means to be an Ignatian student-athlete. The jersey is not always bestowed to the best player. Rather, it's the person who works the hardest and shows leadership and courage. Academics and off the court behavior also factors in. Each week, the jersey is handed from last week's honoree to the next. The jersey winner from the previous week must give a speech about the new winner. It's an exercise in public speaking, graciousness, and praise-giving.
Anglin became the first to get the Zion jersey. Shelton selected him for a number of reasons. First, because it's not easy to make the team, especially when you're not on the team the last season. Before the start of last season, Anglin's family moved to Cleveland. So, as per OHSAA transfer rules, Anglin had to sit out. Instead of watching from afar, Anglin served as the team's video man, recording each game. In the offseason, Anglin worked incredibly hard, getting bigger and better.
Another reason for his selection is that over the summer, Anglin went on a school mission trip to Tanzania. He had a great experience there on the service trip. And if you ask his teachers, they will universally describe him as a leader and a great young man.
Bowling – Alex Madeja '20
Coaches often describe players as a "glue guy." Well, what exactly does that mean?
If you're looking for an example on the bowling team, look no further than Alex Madeja.
Madeja is the type of person every coach loves to have. He's enthusiastic, confident, energizing, and a good player.
While the Wildcats did not conquer the Eagles in the alley on Saturday, Madeja had a nice match. The senior tabbed a number of high-pressure spares with fans from the other team rooting for him to miss. Madeja showed his calm and cool demeanor by answering the bell with much-needed spares and strikes.
The Alley Cats are lucky to have Madeja. He's a wonderful young man with a great future ahead, particularly this season. He'll be not only a big bowler for the Wildcats, but also a vocal leader and a guide for a young squad.
Hockey – Zak Kovatch '20
It's not easy to follow in the footsteps of a legend, but Zak Kovatch is ready for the challenge.
The senior isn't planning on filling the shoes of Benny Savarino, he's making his own footprint. That showed this weekend.
Against a stout Pittsburgh Predators team, Kovatch allowed just two goals in two games. The first goal found its way in the net early on in the opening contest, but then Kovatch made a number of spectacular saves to keep the visitors off the board until later in the contest, when the game was in hand.
On Sunday, Kovatch was flawless. The Wildcats rode several big saves by Kovatch in a 6-0 shutout effort. The senior looked stout in net, letting nothing by him in a perfectly clean effort.
Kovatch is a great young man who will wow fans this seasons with his play between the pipes. A modest player, Kovatch is not one to hog the limelight. He's much happier with quietly doing his job, and doing it well. That's an admirable trait for a student-athlete, particularly for a young whose future is as bright as Kovatch's.