Hello, crossover season!
As the winter season enters in its final stages with the postseason for basketball, hockey, and wrestling, the spring season has begun with the onset of rugby.
The busiest time of year to be a Wildcat is about ready to begin. With that said, let's learn more about this week's Magis Athletes, presented by the Carfagna Family Magis Athletic Center.
Basketball – Jon Effertz '22
The lone non-senior honoree this week is Jon Effertz, and for good season.
The sophomore guard caught fire during Saturday's Sectional Final. Effertz hit a couple of great shots in the early goings vs. Brunswick, and could not be stopped.
Msot notably, Effertz helped to hold off a Brunswick run in the third quarter. Even though the Blue Devils came alive for 22 points, Effertz helped the Wildcats maintain a significant advantage. The Independence native drained four shots from beyond the arc to spark the Saint Ignatius offensive in the second half.
Effertz finished the evening with 22 points, a game-high. The 6'0 guard is averaging 8.6 points per game on the season, good for third on the team. Effertz will be critical to the Wildcats' efforts in the District Semifinal on Thursday.
Hockey – Michael Boehm '20
After missing a few weeks of the season, Michael Boehm recently fought back into the lineup. And more importantly, Boehm has made a large impact for the Wildcats.
The 4-year varsity letterwinner has starred as a defenseman during his time with the Wildcats, and has shined particularly bright this postseason.
In the District Quarterfinal, Boehm proved to be unstoppable on offense. The senior found the back of the net three times, tallying a nice hat trick in the 11-0 victory over Olmsted Falls.
Boehm continued to play like a star in the District Semifinal. After the Wildcats surrendered an early goal, Boehm helped to keep the Amherst Comets off of the board.
Besides being a great player, Boehm is also a wonderful young man and a good student, with over a 4.0 GPA.
Boehm will be a critical player for the Wildcats in Saturday's District Final.
Rugby – Danny Strauchon '20
The Rugby Cats could not have started off the season much better.
On Saturday in Pennsylvania, the Wildcats usurped the No. 1 ranked team in the country, the Gonzaga Eagles.
Danny Strauchon played a big role in the victory.
The senior stepped up big-time in the Wildcats' 24-15 victory. Strauchon performed wonderfully on defense, stopping Gonzaga's offensive attack in its track several times. The senior's work in the offseason became very prevalent on Saturday. Strauchon wrestled over the offseason and got stronger in the weight room, and it showed in his performance.
Strauchon will be a Wildcat to watch all season long.
Wrestling – Tommy Buckles '20
All season long, Tommy Buckles has been a great wrestler for the Wildcats. The senior has truly found a groove in his final campaign with the blue and gold.
Buckles performed quite well on Saturday at the Sectional Tournament. The senior clinched a spot to this week's District Tournament at Perrysburg High School, sealing the deal with a third-place finish.
Buckles' Saturday did not start off on a positive note originally. The Lyndhurst native lost his opening match against his opponent from St. Edward. But Buckles did not allow the tough start to derail him.
The Wildcats' 170-pound grappler tore off a huge victory in his consolation opener, constructing a 5-2 lead before pinning his opponent at the 4:45 mark of the contest.
And then with the spotlight on him, Buckles excelled in the third-place match. Buckles pinned his opponent in the second period in dramatic fashion, earning the bronze medal.
On the year, Buckles has a 21-15 record, with 14 pins. Buckles has also tabbed 22 takedowns, 6 reversals, 4 escapes, and 5 nearfalls. He's also fourth on the team with 118 team points on the year.
This weekend, Buckles will look to punch a ticket to the State Tournament for the first time in his career. But either way, Buckles can be proud of the outstanding season he's enjoyed with the Wildcats.