Led by Friday night's basketball game versus rival St. Edward in the Eagles Nest, Saturday evening's Baron Cup I semifinal against the University School Preppers at Brooklyn's John M. Coyne Recreation Center, the Swimming and Diving Sectional competition at Cleveland State University and Friday night's wrestling match at Lake Catholic, Saint Ignatius' faithful will have plenty of rooting interest this weekend.
Senior All-American Derek Hren will lead Coach Jeff Ridler's swimming and diving team into the all-important OHSAA postseason competition and Coach Mark Sullivan's wrestlers, coming off an impressive performance against North Canton Hoover, will tune up for next weekend's North Royalton Sectional by going toe-to-toe with the always tough and hard-nosed Cougars.
Friday night's game at St. Edward is the area basketball headliner, plain and simple. For a look at the second game of the annual home-and-home series, see the corner's preview story from Tuesday night. Coach Sean O'Toole 's Wildcats won the first meeting, 58-56, in a sold-out Sullivan Gym on Jan. 19. The Wildcats have sold their allotment of tickets, but if you don't have a ticket you can tune into the SIBN's live broadcast over the Saint Ignatius athletic website. Jumpn' John Fanta and Greg Ziton will be perched high above the floor in the Eagles Nest while calling it as they see it.
Coach Pat O'Rourke's varsity hockey team, coming off Wednesday's night's 4-1 quarterfinal victory over a tough and underrated Rocky River team (see the corner's story below), will put its No. 1 Baron Cup I seeding on the line Saturday evening when it faces Coach Bill Beard's always sound program from University School. The puck will drop in "The Big Barn on Memphis" at 5:30 p.m. Trent Kennedy, Scott Geyman and Sean Reynolds will have the call over the SIBN.
In what is one of the most competitive and classiest rivalries in Ohio, Saint Ignatius and University School played twice during the regular season - a 2-2 tie at the John M. Coyne Recreation Center and 2-1 victory by the Ice Cats at The Pond. If Saint Ignatius is successful on Saturday evening, it will return to the Coyne Recreation Center ice on Sunday for the 5:30 championship game.
As for coach John Kastanis' red-hot bowling team, the Alley Cats are gearing up for next weekend's sectional competition in Lorain. According to the OHSAA Northeast District Board, sectional play in Lorain begins the weekend of Feb. 16.
Have a great weekend!