Ohio City – With the nation getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, the families of Saint Ignatius’ varsity soccer, cross country and golf athletes, along with Wildcats’ Athletics Director Rory Fitzpatrick ’88, the teams and their coaches, broke bread together in The Rade Dining Hall on Tuesday night and then gave thanks for a group of Student Athletes who are truly “Men for Others.”
While the many athletic honors and achievements that were bestowed upon these young men come as no surprise, it was a specific set of statistical figures that had this corner shaking its head and smiling.
In a true representation of what Cleveland’s Jesuit Preparatory School is all about, it was announced that for the 10th consecutive year Coach Mike McLaughlin’s highly successful and nationally recognized soccer program has received Academic All-American recognition as a team. Leading the way as Academic All-Ohioans are seniors Tyler Sanda, Nick Siciliano and Colin Maloney.
Coach Mike Gallagher’s outstanding cross country program also had four of its gifted harriers – seniors Jack Miller, Vince Bartram, Pat Scanlon and Joe Arquillo – receive Academic All-Ohio awards. In cross country, you have to run in the state meet and have a 3.5 or better grade-point average to receive such an honor.
As for the athletic recognition in soccer, seniors Ty Sanda, Jacob Roth, Nate Fahey and Bryan Leneghan led another impressive list for Coach McLaughlin ’85, whose team finished 15-1-3 this fall.
Along with his All-American recognition, Sanda is a first-team All-Ohio selection, Ohio’s co-Player of the Year in Division I, the state’s Mr. Soccer, a first-team All-Greater Cleveland honoree and the Greater Cleveland Player of the Year. Roth is first-team All-Ohio and first-team All-Greater Cleveland and Fahey garnered second-team All-Greater Cleveland. Ty and Jake have also been selected to The Plain Dealer All-Star Team.
Honorable Mention All-Greater Cleveland went to Leneghan, junior Alec Nagucki and seniors Andres Kolaczko and Nick Taljan.
As for the team awards, which were based on votes by the players, the versatile Roth was selected as the Wildcats’ Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Defender. Fahey was chosen as the Most Valuable Forward, Sanda was the obvious pick as the Most Valuable Midfielder and Leneghan, a.k.a. Mr. Endless Energy, and Kolaczko, whose inner strength defines what Saint Ignatius’ soccer program is all about, received the prestigious Magis and Coaches Cup awards, respectively.
Fahey finished his outstanding career with 34 goals and 24 assists, numbers that place him eighth all-time among the 414 players who have competed in varsity soccer for the Wildcats. Sanda’s career marks are 23 goals and 19 assists.
Coach McLaughlin, who reached the 300-victory plateau during the season, paid tribute to his savvy coaching staff of Dan Crew ’99, Jim Brennan ’85, Joe Popelka ’84, Tara Henderson and Paul Kobe ’79. Coach Brennan, who is the Wildcats’ junior-varsity coach, secured his 200th career victory this past season.
In cross country, Miller received All-Ohio honors from the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches for his 13th-place finish at the annual state meet, an effort that helped Saint Ignatius to third place as a team.
Coach Gallagher’s second year letter winners were junior Jeff Foerg and seniors Jack and Pat Politowicz. Third year letter awards went to Scanlon, senior Dylan Lynch and juniors David Meler and Elliot Thorkelson, and Miller, Arquillo, Bartram, senior Jack Fitzgerald and senior Jake Maier received four-year letter awards.
Miller, Arquillo, Bartram and Fitzgerald were recognized for their work as Coach Gallagher’s captains and Ryan Smith received a four-year senior participation letter.
As for the varsity golf team, which had an impressive second-place finish at this year’s Sectional Tournament, the honors went to Jack Coyne for Low Season Average, Kevin Duncan for Most Improved Player, Dean Catalano as the 2012 Coaches Cup winner, Joey Malone and P.J. Malik for Second Year awards and First Year awards went to Coyne, Catalano, Duncan, Mike Maroon and Harrison Vonderau.
AROUND THE CORNER: Saint Ignatius standout junior linebacker Kyle Berger is expected to receive an official scholarship offer from The Ohio State University this weekend as he is a guest of the Buckeyes for the Michigan game and former Wildcat and Michigan State standout quarterback Brian Hoyer '04 signed with the injury-riddled Pittsburgh Steelers, who take on the Browns this Sunday in Cleveland. Brian previously played for the New England Patriots as the backup to Tom Brady before being released this preseason.
MARK THE DATES: Coach McLaughlin, Ty Sanda and Jake Roth will be competing in the High School All-American Soccer Game on Dec. 8 in Alabama and the banquet honoring the 2012 varsity football Wildcats will be Jan. 10, 2013 in the Murphy Field House.
LOOKING AHEAD: Next year’s varsity soccer schedule will include games against Olentangy Liberty (on the road) and Gahanna Lincoln (at home), the Jesuit Cup in Cincinnati and a trip to Washington (D.C.) to face Georgetown Prep and Gonzaga.
AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST: Just a reminder that the Saint Ignatius varsity hockey team opens its 2012-13 season this weekend at the Miami of Ohio Tournament. The first game is Friday against Lake Catholic and the puck will drop at 4 p.m.
Have a Blessed and Wonderful Thanksgiving - Eddie