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Weekend Preview May 26-28, 2017

By Brendan DeVenney '17, 05/26/17, 5:45PM EDT

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Weekend Preview 5/26-5/28: Graduation Weekend Highlighted by Playoff Action

Competing doesn’t take an off day, even if that means you have to graduate in between games, matches, or meets. Before the Class of 2017 is promoted Saint Ignatius Alumni on Sunday afternoon at Cleveland’s Public Auditorium for the 2017 Commencement Ceremony, they have some business to take care of on the playing field as we are deep into the spring postseason.

CREW

On Friday and Saturday, Head Coach Pat Connor’s Rowing ‘Cats will compete for a National Championship at the 2017 Scholastic Rowing Association of America’s National Regatta on Cooper River in Camden, New Jersey.

The Wildcats are sending three crews to the National Regatta. First the Varsity 8 will compete, who took Bronze at the Midwest Championships two weeks ago. Then the Junior Varsity 8 will row for a National Gold Medal. The JV 8’s finished first at Midwest’s beating rival Loyola Academy by a mere four seconds. And finally Lightweight 8 boat will race on the Cooper after grabbing the Silver Medal at the Midwest Championship Regatta.

The Wildcats raced extremely well last spring, and will look to do the same this year. The Crew ‘Cats in year’s past have won only one gold at Nationals, to go along with three silvers and one bronze.

On Friday the Junior Varsity 8 will race versus La Salle, St. Joseph Prep, Montclair, Bishop O’Connell, and GPS/McCallie in their first heat. Then the Varsity 8 will row versus Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Montclair, Haverford, and Woodbridge. And finally the Lightweight 8 will race versus Moorestown, Belen Jesuit, Christian Brothers, and St. Peter’s Prep.

LACROSSE

The defending State-Runners Up will look to advance to the Final Four on Saturday versus the tenth ranked team in the state, North Canton Hoover. After advancing to the Region 2 Final on Wednesday with a 12-7 upset win over Hudson that saw Brent Chernosky and Nate Conry punch in hat tricks, the Wildcats look to get to the first ever OHSAA State Final Four in Lacrosse at Wooster High School at 11:00 AM.

The Wildcats and Vikings met before back in early April, and Saint Ignatius prevailed in that game, 7-3. Noah Catan had two goals in that game, along with a strike from Michael Boehm, Anthony Ameo, Chernosky, and Connor McGowan.

Hoover, who enters at 16-3, recently knocked off Massillon Jackson to advance to Saturday’s Regional Championship, 12-7. They will enter on an 8-game winning streak.

In the other Regional Finals, Olentangy Liberty is facing Lewis Center Olentangy at Thomas Worthington High School in the Region 1 Final. In Region 3, defending State Champion Upper Arlington faces Dublin Coffman at Olentangy High School. And in Region 4, it’s Cincinnati’s best rivalry, St. Xavier versus Archbishop Moeller.

VOLLEYBALL

Head Coach Casey Marcelo’s 19-3 Volley ‘Cats are looking to once again punch their ticket to next weekend’s State Tournament on Saturday in the North #1 Regional Final. The Wildcats, ranked 5th in the state, face off with the 9-11 Hudson Explorers at Walsh Jesuit High School at 12:30 p.m.

Hudson knocked off Brecksville-Broadview Heights this past Wednesday in the Regional Semifinal, 3-1. Saint Ignatius and the Explorers have faced off before back on April 19 in Hudson, where the Wildcats swept the home team 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-18).

The Wildcats advanced to Saturday’s match with a sweep of Medina, 25-4, 25-0, 25-14.

If Saint Ignatius is lucky enough to move on to the OHSBVA State Tournament at Capital University, they will face off with the winner of the East #2 Regional Final between Westerville South and Olentangy.

TENNIS

Five Wildcats are competing in this weekend’s State Tennis Tournament at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.

Josh Hsia is lone Wildcat representing Saint Ignatius in the Singles Tournament. He faces off with Niraj Komatineni from host Mason.

In the Doubles Tournament, Kevin Callanan and Jack McNally face Max DeCurtins and Peter Schulteis from St. Xavier. Richie Hofstra and Brian Zhu of the blue and gold take on Noah Stern and Nathan Zhang of Sycamore.

(Update: Hsia fell in his opening match 6-3, 6-3. Callanan and McNally fell in their opening match 6-2, 6-0. And Hofstra and Zhu fell in their opening match 6-3, 6-0.)

TRACK AND FIELD 

The Track and Field team is competing in the Amherst Regional Meet this weekend. After day one, everyone in every event advanced to Friday’s Finals, and Darian Kinnard advanced to the State Tournament in discus. Stay tuned on Twitter at @IgnatiusXCTF for updates on the Wildcats in Amherst as they look to capture their second Regional Title.