By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Copyright Credit August 2016
Cleveland, Ohio - Coach Chuck Kyle's 2016 Varsity Football Wildcats have completed their preseason preparation and now the drive to the OHSAA Division I playoffs begins on Friday night as the Wildcats face the Normandy Invaders at Byers Field in Parma's Robert M. Boulton Stadium.
Friday's kickoff will be 7 PM and the game will be broadcast live by the Saint Ignatius Broadcast Network. Brendan DeVenney and Matt MacKenzie, veterans of the sounds of the gridiron, will have the call. That is if Terry Francona isn't checking with Matt on what the Indians' pitching rotation in Texas should be.
On Tuesday night, the corner will be previewing what will be just the second meeting between the Varsity football programs from Saint Ignatius and Normandy.
The Wildcats' talent and depth wore on the Invaders in last year's season opener at Byers Field, 63-7. For an in-depth look at the 2016 Saint Ignatius Varsity Football Program and the new regional alignment for the Wildcats, see the corner's season preview that was posted on August 14th.
In Varsity Soccer, Coach Mike McLaughlin's state and nationally acclaimed Wildcats, coming off their impressive 2-0 victory in the season opener at St. Edward this past Friday night (see the corner's story from Friday), will begin defense of their Ohio Jesuit Cup on Saturday versus the Titans from Toledo St. John's Jesuit. The match is slated to begin at 1 PM on the pitch at Walsh Jesuit High School, the host for this season's OJC.
Saint Ignatius and St. John's Jesuit are no strangers when it comes to big soccer matchups, as Coach McLaughlin's 'Cats, on their way to their record seventh OHSAA State Championship and third National Title, eliminated the Titans, 2-1, in Sudden Victory Overtime at last year's State Semifinal match on the pitch at Sandusky Perkins High School. Current senior forward Riley Houde provided the winning goal on a breakaway with 8 minutes and 32 seconds remaining in the overtime, and current senior defense Tommy Patacca, one of Coach McLaughlin's Captains this season, scored the first goal of that memorable November night.
Adding to Saturday's encounter with the Titans is the fact that Saint Ignatius also defeated their Jesuit brothers from St. John's, 1-0, in last year's Ohio Jesuit Cup Championship match on Wasmer Field. It marked the 'Cats' seventh OJC title. A goal by standout defense Hunter Gordon (now at the University of Pittsburgh) off an assist from the soccer gifted Lawrence Karpeh (now at Cleveland State University) was the difference maker on that hot and humid August 30th Sunday afternoon.
In 2010, in route to their fourth State Championship, the Wildcats defeated St. John's Jesuit, 5-2, in a state semifinal matchup at Rocky River High School.
I think it can be said that the Titans will always remember the times they played the Soccer Cats.
Under the direction of savvy Head Coach Dr. Mike Gallagher, the defending and four-time State Champion Cross Country Wildcats open their season on Saturday at 9 AM in the tradition-rich and always challenging Canton GlenOak Golden Eagle Invitational.
Led by big-meet tested C.J. Ambrosio, who was also a standout record-setter for the 2016 State Champion Track and Field Wildcats of Coach Kyle, Coach Gallagher's new Cat Pack has a nice blend of experience and youth.
For a look at the defending state champion harriers, see the corner's preview from August 14th.
And last, but certainly not least, Coach Brian Becker's Men of the Links, aka the 2016 Varsity Golf team, wrapped up its competition in the prestigious Kiely Cup today (Monday). See the corner's recap from Coach Becker that precedes this story.
The Wildcats will be swinging the clubs at the Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin Lion Classic this weekend, which will be held at two different courses - Little Mountain and Quail Hollow.
Have a special and safe week and weekend, and, in the words of the late, great Plain Dealer Stark County columnist and Canton radio legend Hymie Williams, "Goodbye until the next time, which will be the best time."