*Note: The corner will provide previews on the 2012 varsity cross country, golf, soccer and football seasons over the next two weeks.
By Eddie Dwyer, Copyright August 2012
At the end of each practice, the Saint Ignatius Wildcats huddle around head coach Chuck Kyle '69 and take "10 seconds" to reflect.
Following Wednesday's second of two-a-day sessions, Coach Kyle asked his players to use those 10 seconds to think about what they can do individually to improve.
"You're a good team that can get a lot better," Coach Kyle said as the sun was setting on a picture-perfect summer evening.
Now in his 30th season as Saint Ignatius' head football coach, Coach Kyle emphasized to his 2012 Wildcats that this is their time, that they have seen what striving for improvement can lead to and now it's up to each one of them individually to strive for that excitement.
When you are a program that has won a record 11 Ohio Division I state championsips, there is absolutely no substitution for hard work.
In both of Wednesday's sessions, several of the Wildcats brought their lunch pails and went to work on Wasmer Field with a definite desire to succeed.
Senior Brian Hartnett caught this corner's eye with his endless hustle at linebacker, junior linebacker John Gibbons was in the middle of things during the evening session and senior linebacker Ken Stephen made a nice move on the ball and came up with an interception along the right sideline. Senior defensive back/safety Bryan Fisher, in a display of speed and reaction, also had a nice pick at the start of the second session.
The Wildcats displayed their versatility during the evening session, as standout senior nose tackle Dave Katusha showed he could more than handle some offensive line duties if called upon. Senior defensive end mainstays Kevin Kavalec and Matt Gawlik again got their reps at tight end and the leaders of the O-Line - seniors Mike Cray and Steve Franko and junior Jim Byrne - made their presence felt during some blue-collar time on the D-Line.
As has been the case throughout the summer camps, the 'Cats' gifted receivers left it all on the field.
Senior tight end Aaron Buynak was a route-running and pass catching machine in the evening session and you can add two more names for membership into the Good Hands Club - senior Nick Novak and junior Bennett Kinzel.
The Wildcats' varsity quarterbacks were sharp again and this corner was particularly impressed with the poise, determination and decision-making throws by senior southpaw Mike LaManna during Wednesday's final competition. Mike and gifted junior wide receiver Mike Siragusa capped off the evening with an impressive pass and catch down the left sideline near the Lorain Avenue end zone.
It's helmets and shoulder pads again on Thursday for the 2 p.m. start of two-a-days and then full equipment the rest of the way.
Rounding the corner and anticipating the arrival of the talent-rich Solon Comets for Tuesday's (Aug. 7) 10 a.m. practice/drills competition on Wasmer Field. The Comets have speed to burn!