By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Copyright Credit September 2016 (it even applies on Mondays)
Cleveland, Ohio - October is just around the corner and another Autumn of our years officially arrives on Thursday.
That means the postseason is on the minds of the Wildcats' faithful, as the mid-point of the regular season is here.
This week in Saint Ignatius' Fall Sports, Ohio's top-ranked Varsity Soccer 'Cats will get things started tomorrow (Tuesday) when they travel to the pitch at Padua Franciscan for a 7 PM matchup with the Bruins. The action will start with a 5 PM match between Coach Jim Brennan's gifted Junior Varsity A Wildcats and Padua's Jayvees.
In what is a rarity in area soccer, Saint Ignatius and Padua Franciscan have sustained a rivalry on the pitch that stretches for more than three decades.
Staying with soccer, the Junior Varsity A is slated to play at Western Reserve Academy on Wednesday at 6 PM and Coach Mike McLaughlin's defending two-time and record seven-time OHSAA Varsity state champions will travel to Olentangy Liberty on Saturday for a 3 PM encounter with the Patriots.
The nationally acclaimed Soccer 'Cats, currently 6-0-1 and riding a 43-match unbeaten streak, defeated the Patriots, 2-1, in the state championship match in 2014 and 4-2 in the state title match of 2011.
Saturday's headliner will be preceded by a Junior Varsity matchup between the 'Cats and the Pats at 1 PM.
On the gridiron, Coach Rodney Gallaway's Freshmen 'Cats, coming off their 28-6 victory over Detroit Catholic Central, will face Walsh Jesuit's Freshmen Warriors on Thursday at 6 bells on Wasmer Field.
Friday night, Coach Chuck Kyle's Varsity Football Wildcats (3-1) will look to rebound from a tough 28-21 overtime loss at Detroit Catholic Central when they travel to Conway Memorial Stadium to face the 1-3 Walsh Jesuit Warriors. The kickoff will be 7 PM.
The corner will preview Friday's 11th gridiron meeting with the Warriors on Wednesday evening.
Saturday morning, Coach Paul Yappel's undefeated Junior Varsity Football 'Cats will travel to Medina Highland for a 10 AM kickoff with the Hornets. The JV 'Cats are coming off a solid, all-around 38-0 victory over the Junior Varsity Program from Detroit Catholic Central.
On the links. Coach Brian Becker's Varsity Golf Team will be heading to Toledo on Saturday to compete in the tradition-rich and talent-rich St. John's Jesuit Titan Cup. The tee-off time from the Maumee Bay Resort Golf Course is listed at 10 AM.
And last, but certainly not least, Coach Dr. Mike Gallagher's defending State Champion Cross Country Program will be competing at Saturday's Cloverleaf Todd Clark Invitational.
The Varsity Race is slated for 11:00 am, and the Junior Varsity/Freshmen /Open races are scheduled to follow at 11:30. The bus leaves Saint Ignatius at 9 AM and will return immediately after the JV race.
There you have it, another week in Wildcats Athletics is brewing. Just FYI, the corner will be on hand for the Varsity Soccer Match at Padua Franciscan Tuesday night and then will hit the gridiron for Freshmen, Varsity and Junior Varsity Football coverage.
Have a great and safe week, and, if I may, please keep my brother Jim, a Saint Ignatius High School graduate, in your prayers - Eddie Dwyer