by Gabe Mielke ‘16
Most Ignatius students only experience the football during their freshman year and/or through watching the games from the stands. Of those that did play freshman year most quit after the first season because they had gotten very little playing time. Have you ever wondered what it would have been like if you had continued playing football after freshmen year? Well, this is probably a good indication of what it would have been like. This is the story that you won’t see on ESPN or in the Plain Dealer’s High School Sports Section. You won’t hear this player’s name reverently whispered in the halls as he walks by. The student section never chants his name. Heck, you might not even know that he is on the football team.
This is the story of “Sloppy Joe” Mertens.
Joseph Mertens ‘15 came from rather unusual beginnings as far as his football career was concerned. Joe came into freshman football double session practices without ever having played a game of organized football in his life. No prior football experience. None at all. That is nearly unheard of here at the traditional football powerhouse known as Ignatius. Ignatius football is known to actually discourage many CYO and grade school football players from playing because of the increase in the level of competition.
However this common deterrent could not scare Joe Mertens away from the field. From the beginning Joe admitted that he did not really expect to get much playing time. He admits, “For me it was more about getting into shape, having fun, and being a part of something greater than myself.”
Because he had these three things in mind when playing Joe was never really discouraged by not getting a lot of playing time. “I soon came to realize that my place on the team wasn’t going to be out there playing on the field in games.” Joe said in a recent interview, “It would be on the scout team playing against the starting offense to help them prepare for the game.”
Joe has stuck with that role since the beginning of freshman football and has embraced it as his career has progressed. Joe said, “I know most kids are kind of frustrated playing on the scout team week after week, but I actually enjoy it. I get to work against some of the best players in the area and help make them better players themselves.”
Joe named off some of his most memorable opponents during his time on the practice squad: “Definitely Mike Cray, Steve Franco, and Jimmy Byrne as the top three. They were a tough bunch of guys and put me on the ground a lot.” As a defensive lineman Joe naturally spent most of his time going head-to-head with offensive linemen in the trenches.Since many kids are discouraged from playing on the scout team, and often cite that it would be a waste of time, I asked of Joe what he got out of playing on the practice squad. Joe deliberately stated, “More than anything else, it has made me more of a man, toughened me up. The scout team has taught me that life will knock you on the ground sometimes, you just need to get up, shake it off, and play the next play because other people — your teammates — are counting on you.”
Joe is often praised by his teammates for not only his tenacity and perseverance but his ef for t and positive attitude about ever ything. Jack Cook ‘16 had this to say about him:
“Mertens is an incredibly hard worker, he shows up every day and puts forth as much effort as he can. He was my vote for the defensive scout team MVP and I’ll be very surprised if he does not get the award.”
I asked Joe if he had any pre-game rituals or superstitions. In the true fashion of a team superstar, he responded, “I do two things to remind myself where I’m from and what I’m playing for, the first is always bring my Wildcat Prowl Towel to the stadium with me. I don’t wear it during the game, just keep it in my bag. Second, I say a silent prayer in the locker room before the game for the entire team so no one gets injured.”
