THE TRADITION-RICH, BRECKSVILLE-BROADVIEW HEIGHTS HOLIDAY WRESTLING TOURNAMENT AND A MATCH UP IN SULLIVAN GYMNASIUM BETWEEN COACH SEAN O'TOOLE'S RED-HOT VARSITY BASKETBALL WILDCATS AND THE ALWAYS CAPABLE WARREN G. HARDING RAIDERS HIGHLIGHT ANOTHER "SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE" CHRISTMAS-BREAK WEEKEND IN SAINT IGNATIUS ATHLETICS.
Coach Mark Sullivan's varsity wrestling team, coming off a first-place performance at the Bowling Green State University Duals, will be competing in what will be the 53rd edition of the nation's oldest continuous running "holiday" tournament. This year, the Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School Tournament will take place on Sunday (11 AM) and Monday (10 AM), December 29 and 30. Saint Ignatius will be among a record 46 schools matching their skills on the mats.
This year's field includes 17 programs from Northeast Ohio, an assembly of other teams from across Ohio and two programs from Michigan. The competition will feature 113 wrestlers who have competed at the state-tournament level, including ten state champions from last season - Patrick Garren (Bishop Ready), Lincoln Olson and Jordan Cooks (Davison, Mich.), Jacob Danishek (Dayton Christian), Jacob Speiss (Delta), Devin Schroder and Nate Limmex (Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Mich.), Anthony Tutolo (Lake Catholic), Billy Miller (Perry) and Alex Mossing (Toledo Central Catholic).
Seven wrestlers who were state runners-up last season will also be on hand. They are Austin Assad (Brecksville-Broadview Heights), Matt Miller (Davison, Mich.), Christian Clary and Nick Vestal (Dayton Christian), Armando Torres (Elyria), Bobby Smith (Hilliard Davidson) and Aaron Schuette (Wauseon). Sixty-five wrestlers in this year's Brecksville-Broadview Heights field placed in the top eight of their state tournament bracket last season.
The host Brecksville-Broadview Heights Bees, who entered the season ranked 12th in the nation according to InterMat, are the defending Holiday Tournament Champions.
Saturday night in Sullivan Gymnasium Coach O'Toole's 4-0 Varsity Basketball Wildcats, coming off one of the greatest both-ends-of-the-floor performances in Saint Ignatius' rich basketball history - an 87-36 triumph over the storied Canton McKinley Bulldogs (see the corner's game story below) - will host one of Trumbull County's all-time best as the Raiders from Warren G. Harding come calling to West 30th and Lorain Avenue. Coach Chris Salata's 4-0 junior varsity team will get the action started with a 6 PM tip off against the Raiders' jayvees. The varsity tip is scheduled for 7:30.
The corner will preview the Wildcats-Raiders varsity match up on Thursday night.
****NOTE: As we reported on the corner earlier this month, Saint Ignatius three-sport standout Bryan Fisher (football, basketball and lacrosse) from the Class of 2013 will receive the prestigious John J. Wirtz "Athlete of the Year" Award during halftime of Saturday night's varsity basketball game. Named in honor of the Wildcats' late and legendary coach and athletic director, the Wirtz Award is presented yearly "to the man who has done the most for Saint Ignatius sports, whose name is synonymous with skill and good sportsmanship."
In varsity hockey, Coach Pat O'Rourke's 12-1-4 Ice Cats will be competing at the St. Edward Eagle Classic this weekend in Serpentini Arena at Winterhurst. Saint Ignatius' opening game is Friday against Olentangy Orange. The puck will drop at 6 PM.
Coach Jeff Ridler's swimming and diving team is slated to compete against Strongsville and Solon on Friday evening at Cleveland State University and return to CSU for a Relay Meet on Saturday. For a complete look at Coach Ridler's posted schedule, go to ignatius.edu, click on athletics and click on swimming.
As per the bowling schedule on Saint Ignatius' athletics pages, Coach John Kastanis' Alley Cats are matched up with the Westlake Demons on Saturday at Buckeye Lanes.
To all of the faithful readers who hang out on the corner and to the entire Saint Ignatius family, have a very Blessed and Merry Christmas.