Ohio City - After directing Coach Ryan Franzinger's junior varsity program to a second consecutive undefeated season in late October of 2011, Saint Ignatius quarterback Pete Mahoney '14 took advantage of the few opportunities that came his way last year as the backup to Ashland University bound Mike LaManna.
Pete, who was a key contributor to a junior varsity offense that outscored its 10 2011 opponents, 377-59, continues to display a work ethic that would make even the most demanding coach smile.
If he wasn't driving from Shaker Heights to the Force Fitness Center in Rocky River for Sunday drills and conditioning this winter, Pete could be seen honing his passing skills on brisk January and February afternoons at Wasmer Field.
So the high 80s and low 90 degree temperatures that hovered over Wasmer Field on Monday afternoon were a walk in the park for the 6-foot-4, 200-plus pound signal caller.
"The main thing is bringing you back to the fundamentals," said Mahoney after he took part in the first day of the annual Camp of Champions, an elite quarterback and receiver academy that resumes Tuesday on Wasmer Field from 1:15 PM to 4 PM and wraps up on Wednesday during the same time period.
"In the summer, you have all of these camps at colleges and stuff, and they just want to see what you can do," Mahoney continued. "I like this (the Camp of Champions) because it gets you back to thinking about the fundamentals, how to do things right."
Pete also pointed out what a great fit the Camp of Champions is for him, especially when you consider that Saint Ignatius head coach Chuck Kyle '69, Wildcats veteran offensive coordinator Nick Restifo and 'Cats quarterback coach Elvis Grbac are part of an outstanding COC staff headed by area high school and college coaching legend Joe Perella. And, as Pete added, it doesn't hurt to have several of the Wildcats' receivers at the camp, including fellow senior Jake Helton.
"It's a good opportunity to work on timing routes, aside from running plays," Pete said. "It's really invaluable to have coaches (at the COC) who talk directly to us about the fundamentals."
Before he headed off for his summer job as a stock-room man at an area food supply store, Pete shared with the corner that he has been working on increasing the velocity of his throws. He emphasized how much that stems from footwork and revealed that he has fine-tuned his grip on the ball.
"I feel that when I get velocity on the ball, that means everything else is in place."
NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME: Coach Kyle will take a record of 301-69-1 into the 31st season of his nationally acclaimed career at the Jesuit Preparatory School in Cleveland.
As someone who has covered and reported on a healthy share of those 301 victories and all 11 of Chuck's record Division I state championships, it never fails that every year Coach Kyle does something this old-timer has never seen before.
Monday afternoon, while working with receivers from a variety of schools, Coach Kyle noticed that almost every player, after running his route, would come back to the line and stand around with his hands on his hips.
Before the next receiver ran his route, Coach Kyle quickly turned to the promising athletes and said, "Hey, why don't you do this?" Chuck went into a receiver's stance and showed the young athletes how instead of just standing around they can actually practice their footwork, stance or explosion off the line while waiting their turn in line.
"That doesn't take too much energy, does it?" Coach Kyle said to the group of wide outs he worked with throughout the opening day of the COC.
Ah, the great ones. They just have a knack for the seemingly small, but oh so vital details.
THEY CAME IN ALL SIZES: From Lake Catholic in Lake County to Strongsville in Cuyahoga County, the opening day of the COC covered the area when it came to quarterback prospects.
But while the aspiring QBs were almost exclusively from grades 9 through 12 (entering the 2013-14 school year), there was one young man who caught the corner's eye from his first throw to his last.
Kolston Brewster, all 5-6 or 5-7 of him (and that might be a stretch), fired his left arm with poise and accuracy. Wearing a red Perry football helmet and red football shoes that were brighter than the sun, Kolston more than held his own with the big boys during the route drills.
Brewster, who will be entering the eighth grade at Perry Middle School in Lake County, attended the camp after his dad, Dana, asked Coach Grbac if he would work with Kolston. For the few of you who are not familiar with Coach Grbac, Elvis was a standout quarterback and basketball player at St. Joseph High School (now Villa Angela-St. Joseph), an outstanding QB at the University of Michigan and an All-Pro NFL quarterback.
Displaying the savvy of a four-year varsity letterman, the ever-smiling Kolston Brewster talked with the corner about how to throw over the front shoulder of the receiver when facing certain defenses. That and Coach Kyle's keen eye with the receivers made my day.
ONE OF THE ALL-TIME BEST: Visiting his alma mater on Monday was Wildcat Hall of Fame quarterback and basketball mainstay Dave Ragone '98 . A former NFL quarterback, an NFL Europe MVP, an All-American QB at the University of Louisville and currently the Quarterbacks Coach for the Tennessee Titans, Dave is in town for the wedding of fellow Saint Ignatius Hall of Fame inductee Jon Gannon '01, a St. Thomas More legend who excelled in football, basketball and track.
It was fascinating to sit in on an in-depth football discussion with Dave and Coach Restifo. It was everything from high school, to Coach Urban Meyer and the offensive schemes of the Titans. Sorry NFL fans, but I can't give out any inside tips on what Tennessee has planned for 2013. I do know that the Titans open their regular season at Pittsburgh.
See you at Day 2 of the Camp of Champions.