Wildcat Basketball Wants No Pity Regarding Absence of Alec Papesch
The minute Coach O’Toole came off the court after Saint Ignatius clipped the St. Edward Eagles at a rocking Sullivan Gym on January 19, he had a bittersweet feeling. His star big man, Alec Papesch, had been hurt before game action and sent to the hospital. The veteran for the Wildcats had a broken wrist, and is still trying to get back in action as soon as he can for the upcoming postseason. The Wildcats did make a statement that January night, as they had made a statement in beating St. Edward, a team that senior guard and captain Francisco Santiago said “is a team you need to beat if you want to make it to states.” “I do not want anybody to feel sorry for us. We need to fight and play on. It’s time for the other guys to step up like Eric and David Black, Jaylin McDonald, and Derek Sloan needs to keep on fighting,” said Coach O’Toole. “I do feel sorry for Alec, as he has worked so hard on getting to a point where he can be dominant inside and body you up defensively,” said the fifth-year coach at West 30th and Lorain.
Yes, the Wildcats did have to go through that, but through the leadership and guidance of an injured Papesch, the depth is being displayed by the Wildcat hoopsters. Papesch, who had been averaging 13.6 points per game, has worked with his fellow “bigs” on being strong down low. Eric Black has stepped up as the starting center and is over nine points a game and 5.5 rebounds a game. David Black and Jaylin McDonald have both come off the bench and have contributed solid minutes. The big man who has shown his assertiveness without Alec Papesch is Derek Sloan. Going into the game before Papesch was injured, Sloan was averaging twelve a game with four rebounds. He has stepped up his game by improving on the offensive attack and penetrating. Sloan is hanging above 13 a game now, as his rebounding average has gone up over six. All around, Derek has stepped up in big roles for the Wildcats. Papesch commented on his big men, “I have worked a lot on different moves. I love my team, and I love that they’re supporting me in this time. I will continue to be evaluated by doctor, and when I’m ready, you know I will be back,” said Papesch.
The Wildcats will be encountering tough district play in which they must be able to have pace control while facing flying teams like Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, and Garfield Heights. After defeating Saint Edward, 71-67, in Lakewood on Friday February 8th and moving to 14-3 on the season with a victory the next day over Max Hayes, the Wildcats earned the number one seed in the Solon District. The pizza is great and the mozzarella sticks are to die for over at Solon. This loose, resilient Wildcat team looks to make a run and keep fighting through adversity, as they take no excuses and no pity for the loss of one of their mainstays.
Wildcat Wrestlers Celebrate Special Night With 1988 State Championship Team
The magic was in the air at Sullivan Gym on a snowy Saturday night in the beginning of February. Saint Ignatius hammered North Canton Hoover 51-18 in match play, as the Wildcat Wrestling squad celebrated their senior night, but it would come with a twist.
President Father Murphy, S.J. presented the 1988 state title team, which was honored and recognized roughly 25 years after they had won the first-ever state championship in Saint Ignatius history in any sport. One of the greatest wrestlers at Saint Ignatius High School and one of the greatest high schoolers in his day, Mike Buddie ’89 (a 171-pound state champion on the 1988 team) could not have worn a brighter smile. The Wildcat senior wrestlers were introduced with their parents, as Coach Mark Sullivan could not have been happier for all of the liveliness for the Saint Ignatius Wrestling Program going on that night. Jim Ferritto, Tommy Zeigler, Dan Lynch, Isen Vajusi, Dan McGinty, Brett Bendokaitis and Max Baughman all were applauded to begin the match against Hoover.
Ferrito won an 8-0 decision at 113 pounds, Tommy Zeigler got a pin at 126 pounds, a major 13-5 decision by Dan Lynch at 152, and a 13-5 win by Isen Vajusi at 195.
From the 1988 night at St. John’s Arena in Columbus to the February Saturday night of remembering the past and turning towards the future, the Wildcat Wrestling Program was in a well-deserved bright light. Since then, the wrestlers won a hard-fought match over Lake Catholic, 33-30, to close out the regular season. They will now begin the postseason at North Royalton on Friday February 15th and Saturday February 16th in the Sectional Tournament. And with a wrestling center coming at the corner of W. 32nd and Carroll Avenue, the days are only getting better.
