Ohio City - It was great to see former Wildcats outstanding offensive lineman Dale Williams '89 at practice Friday afternoon on Wasmer Field.
Dale, the Offensive Line Coach for the Purdue Boilermakers, was taking a look at some of the young Wildcats, including oh so promising junior linebacker Tommy Eichenberg.
Dale, a player this corner had the privilege to cover and report on during my nearly 40 years at The Plain Dealer, was the Wildcats' MVP in 1987 and then in 1988 he went on to help Saint Ignatius to its first of what are now a record 11 Division I State Football Championships.
In November of '88, Dale earned first-team honors on what yours truly and my dear friend, colleague and mentor, the late Dick "Zip" Zunt '50, always said was one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Plain Dealer All-Scholastic Football Teams ever assembled and graced by the brilliant Dick Dugan portraits. I still have that Plain Dealer All-Scholastic Team in a prominent place right near the table where I write my stories at home.
Dale, who excelled as both a run blocker and pass blocker, also earned State and Northeast Ohio All-District recognition during his memorable career at Saint Ignatius.
What a joy it was for this old gridiron grinder to reminisce with Dale, Wildcats Hall of Fame Head Coach Chuck Kyle '69, Saint Ignatius' outstanding Offensive Coordinator Nick Restifo and brilliant Assistant Offensive Coach Jim Cahill '89, Dale's former teammate, as we stood along the home sideline of Wasmer Field late Friday afternoon.
CONGRATS TO THE YOUNG MAN WHO, IN ALL REALITY, FOUNDED THE SAINT IGNATIUS STUDENT BROADCASTING NETWORK
Brendan Gulick '09, the former savvy and knowledgeable voice of Saint Ignatius and John Carroll University Athletics, who went on to an outstanding broadcasting career in minor league baseball and most recently with Baldwin Wallace University and Spectrum's High School Football Coverage, announced on Twitter this week that he is joining 92.3 The Fan as a sports anchor.
This corner wishes all of the best to Brendan, who from time to time would invite this old gym rat and high school football fanatic to have a few minutes with him on the air during halftime of Wildcats games. I also had the privilege to do a story on Brendan for the Saint Ignatius Athletics Website, during Brendan's time as a member of the Wildcats' highly successful Varsity Baseball Program, which is under the direction of veteran Head Coach and current Assistant Athletic Director Brad Ganor.
Again, congratulations to Brendan and 92.3 The Fan, which is not only getting an exceptional sports broadcasting mind, but a first-class young man as well.
A TIP OF THIS CORNER'S CAP GOES OUT TO CJ AMBROSIO, WHO AS A DUKE BLUE DEVIL IS PICKING RIGHT UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF, WHEN HE WAS AN OUTSTANDING RUNNER FOR WILDCATS CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK
Courtesy of Duke Sports Information
CJ Ambrosio Named ACC Freshman of the Week
DURHAM, N.C. - Freshman CJ Ambrosio, a member of the Duke men’s cross country team, was named ACC Freshman of the Week as announced by the conference office Wednesday.
Ambrosio helped Duke finish in seventh place out of 14 teams at the Roy Griak Invitational last Saturday. CJ was the second Duke runner to finish and was the 31st overall finisher, clocking a time of 26:15.8. Ambrosio was also the first true freshman finisher.
CJ used a late push to move up in the standings. After three kilometers, Ambrosio was in 53rd place with a time of 9:32. However, by the five kilometer mark he had moved up to 38th and continued to move up in the standings, until he crossed the finish line in the 31st spot. Overall, the Avon, Ohio native ran the eight kilometers at 5:17 per mile. The award is the first of Ambrosio’s career and the third won by a Blue Devil runner this season as Ambrosio joins teammate Paul Dellinger and women’s cross country runner Michaela Reinhart.
Duke will have a few weeks off from competition before running in the ECU Pirates Invitational in Greenville, N.C. on Oct. 13.
Congrats also go out to Saint Ignatius' Head Cross Country Coach Dr. Mike Gallagher '71and Head Track Coach Chuck Kyle '69, who helped guide CJ during his marvelous high school career.