Two hockey headliners, including one at The Q, a visit from the nationally recognized St. Edward wrestling program, Week 2 in varsity basketball vs. Shaw, another major meet for the swimming and diving team, and Alley Cat fever at Cloverleaf Lanes.
Yes, it is another attractive weekend in Saint Ignatius Athletics.
So arrange your Christmas shopping schedule accordingly and take in a Wildcats sporting
event or two, or three or ----.
Saint Ignatius’ varsity hockey team (5-2-1), which is coming off a solid 6-2 triumph over Gilmour Academy, travels to the Winterhurst Ice Rink in Serpentini Arena on Friday night for a faceoff with rival St. Edward. The puck will drop at 6 p.m. Wildcats assistant coach Nick Biondo, a Parma Senior graduate and a former standout in hockey for The Ohio State University, will continue to serve as the Wildcats’ interim head coach while highly successful head coach Pat O’Rourke ’90 is on a medical leave.
Friday’s encounter will mark the first meeting between the Ice Cats and the Eagles since last season’s Brooklyn District state-qualifying game, where a two-deep standing-room crowd in the John M. Coyne Recreation Center watched St. Edward upset Saint Ignatius,
3-2, and end the Wildcats’ all-time state-best season at 39-1.
The gifted trio of Trent Kennedy, Scott Geyman and Sean Reynolds will have the call from
Winterhurst over the Saint Ignatius Student Broadcasting Network and El Presidente, a.k.a. Jump’n John Fanta, will be hosting a special SIBN postgame show at the West Park Panini’s.
Saint Ignatius and St. Edward fans are welcomed to join John and his crew for a discussion on the hockey game, anything Wildcats vs. Eagles, Coach Pat Shurmur's rejuvenated Browns and the busy on the trading market Indians.
On Saturday at 4 p.m., the Ice Cats will face the area’s preseason pick to excel – the talented and tested Shaker Heights Raiders - at Quicken Loans Arena. Trent, Scott and Sean will
again be on hand to give you the play-by-play and commentary.
All tickets for St. Ignatius and Shaker Heights fans are $11 and included in that
price is a ticket to the Lake Erie Monsters vs. Chicago Wolves game that follows at 7:30.
It will be Youth Hockey Night at Quicken Loans Arena and the first 5,000 to enter for the
Monsters game will be receiving a Monsters snapback hat. Sign-making, face-painting, as well as a number of other activities will be available on the concourse before and during the Monsters game.
For questions about tickets, orders of 20+ tickets, or for ADA accessible
seating, give David Aitken with the Monsters a call at (216) 420-2519 or email
at DAitken@LakeErieMonsters.com
WRESTLING: Wildcats’ hard-nosed and promising 195-pound senior Isen Vajusi said he and his
teammates can only learn from last weekend’s lower-30 finish in the nationally
acclaimed Ironman tournament at Walsh Jesuit.
The Wildcats will begin that process on Thursday night at Strongsville High School,
where they face the Mustangs and the Mayfield Wildcats in a triangular at 7, and
the next night, when perennial national and state power St. Edward pays a
Friday visit to Sullivan Gymnasium. Action begins at 7.
Saint Ignatius head coach Mark Sullivan said there are matches that can be won
against the Eagles and he added that his standout 126-pounder – Tommy Zeigler –
is expected to return to action after missing the Ironman with an injury.
BASKETBALL: Coach Sean O’Toole’s Wildcats (1-0) will be looking to build off last weekend’s
79-63 victory over John Hay when they face the Shaw High Cardinals on Saturday
night at 7:30 in Sullivan Gymnasium. Shaw is 0-2 heading into its home game on
Friday versus Lorain.
FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW ON THE ‘CATS VERSUS CARDINALS ENCOUNTER AND A LOOK BACK AT TWO OF THE MEMORABLE HOOPS GAMES BETWEEN THE RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS, SEE THE CORNER’S PREVIEW STORY FROM LAST NIGHT THAT FOLLOWS BELOW.
SWIMMING AND DIVING: Led by six-time All-American Derek Hren, the Wildcats will look to
build off their outstanding performance at last weekend’s prestigious Ned Reeb Invitational during Saturday’s Viking Invitational at Cleveland State University. Events begin at 8 a.m.
BOWLING: Senior Andy Maykut hopes to continue his hot roll as the leader of Coach John
Kastanis’ Alley Cats, who have been on fire the past few weeks.
Heading into Saturday’s match up with the Cleveland Central Catholic Ironmen at Cloverleaf Lanes, Coach Kastanis’ keglers are in third place in the Scratch Division with a record of 17-4, first place in the Handicap Division with a record of 19-2 and tied for second in the OHSAA Standings with a record of 2-1.
Rounding the corner and looking forward to another night of great hockey at Winterhurst
between two great programs.