By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Copyright Credit (even on Monday) October/November 2016
Cleveland, Ohio - As the outstanding Head Coach of Saint Ignatius Cross Country, Dr. Mike Gallagher '71, reported in his always must-read Sunday evening Gallagher Report, the Wildcats are returning to the State Championship race for the 9th consecutive year.
After a solid 4th-place finish at the talent-laden Boardman Regional, which featured a third-place individual effort of 15:58 by the Cat Pack's gifted senior C.J. Ambrosio, the defending State Champion Wildcats return to the site where they brought home the program's fourth overall State Team Championship in 2015, the National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio. Coach Gallagher said Saturday's Championship Race will begin at 12:30 PM.
This year's Regional pairings were changed by the OHSAA, as the 2016 Cat PaMatt Bull of Mentor (15:57) went 1-2.
Note: There will be a bus on Saturday to the National Trail Raceway, if there is enough interest. Sign up with Jennifer Fight in the Athletic Office.
The Saint Ignatius Football Wildcats, coming off their impressive 34-7 victory over West Side rival St. Edward in the regular season finale at the Browns' FirstEnergy Stadium on Saturday night, are back where they belong.
Winners of 11 Division I State Championships, the Football Cats, after not qualifying for the OSHAA postseason in 2015, will be making their 27th big-school playoff appearance when they host the Massillon Jackson Polar Bears on Friday night at 7:30 on Byers Field in Parma's Robert M. Boulton Stadium.
Saint Ignatius (9-1), under the direction of Hall of Fame Head Coach Chuck Kyle '69, will take a postseason record of 66-15 into Friday's kickoff, a mark that includes an amazing five consecutive Division I State Championships (1991-1995) and a State Runner-Up finish in 1996. The Wildcats were National Champions in 1989, 1993 and 1995, and a National Runner-Up in 2008.
The only other time Saint Ignatius missed the playoffs since its storied postseason run began in 1988 was in 2010.
As for Massillon Jackson, the Polar Bears (7-3) are making their first appearance in the OHSAA's gridiron postseason since 2004. They carry an overall playoff mark of 1-5.
While the Cats and the Polar Bears have competed in recent years on the baseball diamond and the basketball court, and could also see each other in this weekend's Regional Soccer Tournament, Friday night will be the first matchup in Varsity Football between Saint Ignatius and Jackson.
Note: Now that we have whet your appetite for Friday night's encounter on Ridge Road and Day Drive, the corner will be previewing the Jackson-Saint Ignatius first-round Region 1 playoff matchup on Tuesday night.
The State's and Nation's top-ranked Soccer Cats (17-0-2), the two-time defending and record seven-time OHSAA State Champions, and three-time National Champions, will carry their 55-match unbeaten streak into Wednesdaynight's Regional Semifinal matchup with the Raiders from Shaker Heights on the pitch at Brush High School. The action begins at 7 PM.
The Soccer Cats and the state's 11th-ranked Raiders did not meet in the regular season, but they had a spirited preseason scrimmage at Shaker Heights on August 15.
Coach Mike McLaughlin's gifted and resilient Wildcats advanced to Regional play by defeating the defensive-minded North Royalton Bears, 1-0, in Saturday's Parma District Championship match on the pitch at Padua Franciscan High School. Senior forward Riley Houde did the honors off an assist from All-American senior forward Steve Milhoan.
The Shaker Heights Raiders captured the Mentor District Championship by defeating Mentor, 2-0, and Riverside, 2-1.
If successful against the Raiders, the Soccer Cats will advance to Saturday's high noon Regional Championship match versus the winner of the Sweet 16 matchup between the Hudson Explorers, champions of the Kent District, and the Jackson Polar Bears, champions of the Austintown District. Saturday's site is to be announced.
Hudson advanced to Regional play by defeating Walsh Jesuit, 1-0, and Aurora, 2-0, and Jackson rebounded from last year's loss in the Sectional finals with a 7-2 triumph over North Canton Hoover and 1-0 victory over Green.
Saint Ignatius is seeking what would be a record third consecutive OHSAA Boys State Soccer Championship.
Have a great and safe week and weekend, and we will see you on the soccer pitches and the gridiron.