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Magis Athletes of the Week: Timmy Putka, DiMarco, Keim, Effertz All Excel

By Joe Ginley '12 , 01/28/20, 3:30PM EST

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Noah Keim won the diving portion of Friday's meet vs. Erie Cathedral Prep.

It was quite a busy weekend around Cleveland for our sports teams, as four of our five winter sports squads competed in Northeast Ohio.

Each Wildcats team enjoyed success, so this week's Magis Athletes of the Week are very deserving.

As always, this feature is presented by the Carfagna Family Magis Athletic Center

Basketball – Jon Effertz '22 

The Wildcats' back-to-back games vs. Louisville and Stow-Munroe Falls turned out to be the Jon Effertz Show.

The Wildcats' hot shooting sophomore enjoyed an action-packed weekend, ushering the Cats to two easy wins at home.

Effertz started his assault on the scoreboard on Friday evening. The 6'0, 185-pound guard tallied an early bucket in the first quarter vs. Louisville. Effertz drove to the bucket for a pair of free throws in the second quarter to add to his total. And then he finished off his night with a clutch trey vs. the Leopards in a big third quarter for the Wildcats. The Independence native completed his night with 7 points.

But even more impressively, Effertz took over the game on Saturday.

In the second half vs. Stow, the Wildcats needed a scoring burst to prevent a Bulldogs' comeback. Effertz fueled the fire for the Wildcats' offense. The sophomore buried a pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter, adding 3 more points at the charity stripe. Down the stretch in the fourth, Effertz buried another trey and added a layup. For the evening, Effertz finished with 14 points.

Effertz will continue to be key for the Wildcats with an end to the regular season in view. 

Hockey – Matt DiMarco '20

This week's honoree is not the type of player who will light up the scoreboard every game as a superstar. Rather, he's a hard-working grinder who often excels in the shadows as a below the radar kind of guy.

But Matt DiMarco earned some time in the limelight on Sunday morning.

The senior lit the lamp for the Wildcats vs. Loyola Academy. Late in the second period vs. the Ramblers, DiMarco found himself in the low slot. JT Trobek put a shot on net from the goaltender's right side, and the puck happened to bounce to DiMarco's stick on the goalie's glove side. With open net ahead of him, DiMarco did not waste his chance, roofing the rebound.

As it so happens, it was DiMarco's first career goal of the Wildcats. 

Listed as a forward on the roster, the grinder can play either forward or defenseman. His hard-working attitude has made an impression upon his teammates.

SIBN broadcaster Jack O'Rourke said of DiMarco, "He's one of those grinder guys who you won't read about in the Plain Dealer, but he's a guy you don't win a ring without. He's the embodiment of what you'd want out of a Magis Athlete." 

Swimming & Diving – Noah Keim '20

After a Senior Night win on Friday vs. Erie Cathedral Prep, it's only fitting that a senior win the Magis Athlete of the Week award for swimming & diving.

We might have chosen any one of several Wildcats, but going with Noah Keim just seems right. 

The senior won the 1 meter diving portion of Friday's meet vs. the Ramblers. Keim topped all divers with a nice score of 173.55. Keim is the type of young man who works hard away from the spotlight. But he earned his time in the sun on Friday.

A majority of divers pick up the activity early on. Noah Keim did not. The Lakewood native started diving at Saint Ignatius, and worked hard to become better. Even with the late start, he's developed into a very good diver, thanks to his quick learning skills and hard-working nature. 

At the start of the year, his diving coach Tom Blankenship said, "While a man of very few words, Noah has shown himself as a true Man of Others through his hardwork and attitude. He strives to be a better diver but more importantly, the best young man he can be."

Those words couldn't be truer. Keim is a great young man. 

Wrestling – Timmy Putka '22

Not to be confused with Ryan "The Animal" Putka, Timmy Putka enjoyed a wonderful weekend for the Wildcats at 106 pounds.

In a tri-match vs. Dublin Scioto and Padua, Putka served as the bookend. Putka wrestled in the Wildcats' first and last contested matches. He tallied pins in both.

Putka got the Wildcats off on the right note vs. Dublin Scioto. The sophomore fired out to a hot start against his foe at 106 pounds. Putka quickly notched a takedown, following the feat with three nearfalls. Then with just one second left in the period, Putka pinned his opponent, opening the contest with a 6-0 lead. The Wildcats wound up winning, 63-16.

Then Putka closed out the day in style against Padua. In the final contested match, the Wildcats' captain again wasted little time in roaring out of the gate. Putka penciled in a quick takedown and then a nearfall. At 58 seconds, the ferocious sophomore secured his second pin of the day, cementing a 78-0 win for the men of Ohio City.  

By the way, if you have any fun nicknames for Timmy, be sure to pass them along. He definitely deserves one, especially since Putka is an outstanding wrestler and young man.