Along with the varsity basketball team's matchups with Glenville in Sullivan Gym on Friday night and at Perrysburg on Saturday night (see the corner's preview below), the weekend also offers some very significant moments in the rich history of Saint Ignatius athletics.

On Saturday night at 6 in Sullivan Gym, Coach Mark Sullivan's wrestling program will present its annual Alumni/Seniors Night as the 2012-13 Wildcats take on North Canton Hoover. As part of this year's special night, Saint Ignatius will pay tribute to the first OHSAA state championship team in its athletic history - Ohio's 1988 Division I state wrestling champions (see the corner's story on the 1988 team that was posted on Monday afternoon). The Wildcats' wrestling program brought home the state championship trophy in March 1988 and the 'Cats' football program followed suite by winning the first of its record 11 Division I state crowns in December of 1988.

Saturday morning at 9, Coach John Kastanis' varsity bowling team will take on the St. Peter Canel Firebirds at Cloverleaf Lanes. Coach Kastanis reports that the Alley Cats will be seeking their first sweep (Handicap and Scratch Divisions) of the Greater Cleveland Interscholastic Bowling League.

On Saturday afternoon at 4:45 in Brooklyn's John M. Coyne Recreation Center, Coach Pat O'Rourke's varsity hockey team, ranked No. 1 in Ohio, will take a 14-game winning streak into its regular-season finale against rival St. Edward The Ice Cats (24-4-3), champions of the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League's Red North West Division, are 2-0 against the Eagles this winter.

Trent Kennedy, Scott Geyman and Sean Reynolds will provide live audio and video on the St. Edward game over the Saint Ignatius Student Broadcasting Newtwork. The pre-game show begins at 4:30.

At last, but certainly not least, be sure to check out the feature on Wildcats standout swimmer Derek Hren in today's Plain Dealer as Coach Jeff Ridler's team prepares for next week's sectionals.

A COACHING LEGEND: Coach Al Fracassa, who is a young 80 years old, will guide Brother Rice against Saint Ignatius in the 2013 football season opener at Wayne State University (see the corner's football posts below). Coach Fracassa said he will return for his 45th season with the Warriors, whom he led to their first back-to-back state championships in 2011 and 2012. Brother Rice has won eight state titles overall under Coach Fracassa.

The all-time winningest coach in Michigan high school football history with 416 victories, Coach Fracassa will be entering his 54th season overall in a career that began in 1960 with Royal Oak Shrine.