compiled and edited by Cole Brownsberger ’14
There are athletes, lots and lots of athletes, in this year’s 2013-2014 men’s high school basketball season for The Diocese of Cleveland’s Catholic Youth Organization. Many Ignatius students have committed themselves to playing hard ball with the best of the best even though most are out of shape, disappointed from last season’s three wins, and concerned with their inability to shoot 10% from the field. Nevertheless, these students are excited to play through minor injuries and numerous occasions of having a shortness of breath to help their team score more than 25 points a game. The season has already started with some shady dealings from some senior players in the offseason, a potential 2011 Miami Heat team, and a rebirth of one of the greatest squads Ohio has ever seen. Filled with countless characters like soccer superstar Colin Cleary, drama queen Kevin Shekar, Ricky “Boot Season” Benninger, Jack “8 Ounce” Karnatz, Jacob “LeBron” Rossi, dirtybird Sean “CYO Joe ” McCann, Nick “I Play Rugby” DeCore, and Danny the “X-Factor” Dreiling, this season will be nothing less than legendary. And what better way would there be than to start the season with the CYO Power Ranking Predictions?
1. St. Albert the Great
The St. Albert the Great squad is coming off a heart-breaking defeat in the city quarterfinals after posting an impressive 14-2 record. Now, as seniors, the Mustangs are considering this season as “state championship or bust.” Seniors include the self-appointed league MVP Robert Wiseman (6’5” 190) and Kevin “Drama” Shekar (6’2” 180) at small forward. John Martin (6’6” 225), who runs a 4.47, is definitely the best athlete on the squad and complements the premier, Mutombo like shot-blocker in Paul Jakubowski (6’7” 215). Matt Kobunski (5’11” 170) remains the uncontested, best 6th man in all of CYO and takes pride in keeping the bench a warm 98.5 degrees throughout the game. Nick Micheli (6’0” 175), when he’s not talking to his girlfriend who lives 1200 miles away, has one of the purest strokes in the game. This is certainly a team to be feared; even Vetri Ravichandran, the team’s harshest critic, considers the team “unbeatable” and “probably the greatest CYO basketball team ever.”
2. St. Ignatius High School Varsity CYO Team
This squad comes in as a darkhorse. Originally supposed to be the Sacred Heart of Jesus Academy CYO team, they have decided to represent the school by wearing St. Ignatius on their jerseys. Having never played together, the team will need to use the early onset of the season to grow accustomed to playing habits. Since this line-up plays host to an amount of talent that surpasses that of the 1992 United States dream-team, you would think managing playing time would be difficult. But luckily it will be a minimal challenge for debuting coach and former St. Ignatius student body President, Chris “the Bear” Razek. Chris’s admirable recruiting skills have pulled together multiple players from multiple grade-schools. Stolen away from Dominic Gideon’s team, for reasons perfectly well known, are Jacob Rossi and Aidan Martin from Communion of Saints. Both players decided that it was time to join a winning team. Martin let down his team with some costly turnovers last year, but he’s been putting in the work in the off-season to improve. Rossi’s perimeter game is the definition of obscene. He is known for having an absurd amount of talent, hands down. Also from the former St. Ann’s is none other than QB 1 himself. Looking to make a full return to the court sometime in January is Peter Mahoney who is considered the best looking player in CYO to date. Stolen from Gesu is the deep threat, Jack Coyne. If his commitment level is anywhere near that of which he demonstrates in Pasko’s class, the team won’t have to go to states, states will come to them. After an intense athletic season in the student section, Jack J Hyland has decided to become an actual athlete and looks to run the point for this squad. He assures CYO that he is ready to “shock the nation” and claim not only the “best looking,” but also the “most athletic” title of St. Ignatius’ Jack Hylands. Pulling a fast one on St. Joan of Arc, Hyland and Casa were able to steal away the pure athleticism that is Dan Jamieson from St. Gregs, as well as the big man in the middle Matt “I’m Tim’s Little Brother” Mcvey. The founder of the team, Charlie Casa, looks forward to retaining his title as “the carpenter,” because he pulls so many boards. The team also features Austin Bedinhaus and his famous headband, as well as the X-factor- junior Toby Leahy (who hasn’t yet been informed that basketball is played with hands not feet). Jack Hyland is quoted saying: “Someone told me the other day “I thought gesu was the dynasty?” I told them “the dynasty is whoevers name is on the front of Jack J’s jersey.”
3. St. Francis Xavier in Medina
Coming from the southern tip of Medina, three fine Ignatius gentlemen plan to dominate the southern region of the CYO league. Unmatched by any opponent in talent, skill, and good looks, the Saint Xavier squad will surprise every team this year. The team, having been disbanded for quite some time, is led by senior Ricky “Boot Season” Benninger. Benninger, who is known more for his off the court antics rather than his impeccable ability to score from anywhere on the court, has decided to put his blood, sweat, and tears into this season. Rick’s desire to win is fueled by his anger after being fired from announcement duty and he poses a serious threat to the well-being of all opposing players. As team leader, Benninger is prepared to commit unnecessary fouls, vocalize empty threats against opponents, and say outlandish comments to spectating parents. His excitement for the season is equally matched by Mark Becker, the team’s starting shooting guard, who is known in all of CYO for having a deadly 3-point shot. Becker’s journey began in grade school when his CYO career quickly became the talk of the town. The 5’4” Mark Becker had a 75% shooting percentage and he averaged 10.5 points per game. At the age of 13, Becker led his team to an Akron CYO championship his eighth grade year to cap an amazing four years for Saint Francis Xavier basketball. After taking some time off during his three years of high school at Saint Ignatius to, uh, pursue other interests, Mark Becker is returning to his beloved squad so that the team may be reigning champs once again. After spending countless hours in the weight room during this off season, extensive speed training at Xpress, and late-night film studies with St. Ignatius coaching legend Brian Becker, Mark Becker looks to make a lasting impression on the CYO league. Although unable to put in the same amount of time as Becker due to other athletic interests during the fall season at Ignatius, newcomer Cole Brownsberger is equally eager to play one final basketball season. Having last played on “the greatest public school team there ever was” at A.I. Root Middle with Kyle Berger and Jake Maruna, Brownsberger has recommitted himself to an unbeatable squad. All of the rust has been brushed off and this starting point guard has spent countless hours practicing his ability to feed others the ball. Considered the most unselfish player in the league, Brownsberger refuses to take too many shots for he is more concerned on setting up fellow teammates with glory. Soccer superstar, Colin Cleary, is also a new edition to the team. He is expected to immediately start and take over Mark Becker’s roll as shooting guard as soon as he gets accepted into a college (timing of being accepted into any college is undetermined). Colin is ranked number 16 in the USA Today top 25 CYO ball players. Although new to the league this year, don’t be fooled by the inexperience of this squad. St. Francis Xavier will have an uncanny ability to dominate most teams this season. Also on the team is junior James Haney.
4. Our Lady Of The Lake/Holy Cross
Coached by Mr. Joseph Vaccaro with captains Cole Larson, Ryan Linker, and Stephen McDonnell, the Falcons are coming off of a state championship appearance. “The Dynasty of Holy Cross” has former Ignatius student, Shane Guhde, who provides intensity unmatched by any player in the league. Jack Williams brings lights out shooting to the team while Stephen McDonnell will most likely go 1/14 from three point range. Leonard Cervenik is always reliable to receive a flagrant foul each game which he believes helps the mental toughness of his team. “The Miracle on 200th Street” is in prime position to take home the title this year. Other players on Our Lady Of The Lake include Tommy Laycock and Aaron Gilliam.
5. St. Raphael Raiders 12th Grade Squad
“The Best Thing since Sliced Bread ” starring Jack “8 Ounce” Karnatz at Point Guard with a 3-point shot that has yet to be stopped since the summer of ’86. Matt Otter is a corner threat with always reliable Gavin Whitford, weighing in at 6’4”, 250. Whitford has a mid-range jumper that has seen steady improvement. Austin Jarosz holds down the fort on the blocks as he did all season last year with no problems. And of course our very own Student Body President, Mike “Stonewall” Zupan, leads the team in points, blocks, rebounds, and good looks. All in all, the squad looks strong; averaging a record-breaking 66 points a game last season and two tournament wins. The Raiders are certainly a force to be reckoned with this year. St. Raphael captains are Mike Zupan and Jack Karnatz, and coached by Bill “The Wildman” Karnatz, after he was released from prison last month.
6. St. Ann
Lamb, front row: Thomas Gruber and Dominic Gideon.
This year’s St. Ann (Now Communion of Saints) Sabers line-up really took a hit after Jacob “LeBron” Rossi betrayed his alma mater, taking his talents to Greg’s and bringing Peter Mahoney and Aidan Martin with him. This exodus of talent has left the team without a player who could really put the team on his back, yet the roster isn’t talentless. To start, the Sabers return veteran Ben Lamb, who was the leading scorer of last year’s junior squad. Although sometimes a little reckless, he is a force to be reckoned with on the court. As an athletic kid, Lamb often makes crafty drives to the lane along with a decent J. He also can be rather aggressive and is not afraid to take kids out “on accident.” Another Ignatius man, Kal Toth, is a power forward, who, although size-wise belongs in the post, is a shooter at heart. You can count on him for at least a few buckets, some tenacity, and, if the squad is lucky, a jumper. Dominic Gideon, the team’s fearless leader on the court, takes on the most important role for the team’s sake by becoming an unstoppable point guard who makes almost no offensive mistakes during game time. A defensive force as well, you can expect Gideon to lead his team on both ends of the court. Because of Rossi’s shadeball move, the team had to fill the spots with 3 Gesu boys: Tommy Gruber, Emmett Rhoa, and Andrew Prendergast. The combo of Rhoa and Prendergast will be very useful down in the blocks where the team lacked much presence last year. Rhoa, who is a more smash mouth player, enjoys banging down low while Prendergast is more of a finess, Dirk-type of a big man. Gruber, on the other hand, is a scrappy guard who will be a fierce defender and will not be afraid to have the ball in his hands on offense. From Benedictine comes Luke Hackman, a runner in the fall but CYO baller in the winter. He is a quick guard whose main asset is draining 3 balls from deep. Overall the team will likely be .500 and will struggle to find a consistent scorer. However, the Sabers will certainly be an aggressive hard-nosed team that will make unphysical squads sorry they took the court.
7. St. Ignatius (The Lesser Team)
Out of the ashes of the feared St. Rita Falcons (better known as the Dirty Birds) comes a behemoth of a ballclub that will be donning the hailed Blue and Gold. That’s right- the seasoned veterans of St. Rita have joined forces with other formidable ballers to assemble an intimidating St. Ignatius CYO squad. While these ballplayers no longer play for the Falcons, they aim to maintain the “Dirty Birds” style of scrappy and overly physical play fueled by obscene amounts of wingspan. This star-studded roster is coached by John McCann and Chris Bunder (who will also serve as mascot and aggressive fan). Led by team leader Sean “CYO Joe ” McCann, who is the starting forward and rightfully so, this squad will likely be mistaken for the St. Ignatius varsity basketball team on multiple occasions because of the players it possesses. McCann is known for being a classic hustle player and he makes his living on crashing the boards, diving for loose balls, and swatting opponents with his astounding wingspan. Alongside McCann is Nolan “Highlight Reel” Lehto (F/C) who is a force to be reckoned with in the paint. Lehto is likely to average a triple-double this year. Another key player on the squad is Tom “Feathery Touch” McCartney (F/C). McCarthney has a post presence but is also blessed with a ridiculous shooting stroke. Tom’s Dennis Rodman-esque physicality is overwhelming as well. His mentality about fouling is: “you can’t take ’em home with you.” Zach “Alpha Male ” Viets (F/C), is an all-around athlete who will dominate down low and stretch the opposing D outside with his shooting ability. Viets is also known for wheels that would make Joe Latkovich proud. Nick “I Play Rugby” DeCore (G) is a physical ballplayer who isn’t afraid to throw some bows out on the hardwood. DeCore is going to cause problems for opposing clubs. Now onto Anthony “Mr. Fundamental” Baldwin (G). The name just says it all. Baldwin’s fundamentals are impeccable. Kyle “The Game-Changer” Stephens (F) is the kind of baller that can take over at any point in a game. Opposing coaches will dread having to game-plan for Stephens. Considered the squad’s best player, Danny the “X-Factor” Dreiling (G), is a high-volume scorer who will do anything for the boys. Dan has been named a preseason CYO All-American to the surprise of no ESPN analysts. Dreiling, who got suspended for a short period of time due to his questionable actions in one of last year’s controversial games, has spent the off-season working on his anger management and attending yoga classes. Paul “Hard in the Paint” Haddad (F/C), is yet another threatening post presence. Paul has the ability to wow college scouts with his breathtaking athleticism. Joe “Humble and Hungry” Hozian (G) is a solid floor general with handles that will be sure to cause multiple broken ankles. Hozian is well-known to have one of the highest basketball IQs in the business. Jake “Varsity Athlete” Brenner (G/F) is a dark horse pickup for the Wildcats. Brenner looks to make it rain from deep in the Q on a weekly basis.
8. St. Angela Merici Bruins
The 2013-2014 St. Angela Merici Bruins look to turn things around. Realizing a one coach approach simply wasn’t cutting it, the Bruins have adopted a three headed coaching monster. The team hopes to build on last year’s key wins that included a victory over the St. Bernadette Bulldogs. The Bruins make a couple new additions to the squad, including Wildcat defensive back Ryan Cooper. Cooper looks to regain the trust of his fellow alums after last year’s brief stint with the Bulldogs, who clearly were in need of talent. Owen Manning, another member of the Wildcat secondary, won’t find it hard to get back into basketball shape after a stellar football season with 1.5 tackles. The team rests on his shoulders, although that may not be such a great idea seeing that he has popped them out during routine activities (e.g., playing tennis, cheering, lying on the couch). The two rugby strongholds on the team, Kyle Moroney and Mitch Zawodny, will bring the ruckus to the basketball court for a final year. The two have added massive amounts of lean muscle mass in the weight area and look to put that to use on the court. Moroney will stretch the court on the wing after battling a nagging ankle injury last season. Zawodny will attempt to break his sophomore year record of fouling out in 5 minutes after a tough season last year, with nothing in under 7 minutes. Point forward and debater Sean Lavelle seeks his second state championship, convincing referees to change their calls along the way. The Bruins have the pieces to defend the State Championship as long as they develop team chemistry.
9. Sts. Joseph and John Vikings
Coached by John “Da Boss” Ross, with team captains Nick Jacobs 14′ and Niko Minasola 14, the Vikings are known for being the most obnoxious team in CYO. Craig Cochran, starting point guard, looks to become the first player in CYO history to have a technical foul added to the stat sheet before the game even starts. Cochran, however, is the team’s best shooter. Nolan “The Awkward Pigeon” Ross, starting center, is often compared to Zydrunas Ilgauskas for his inability to run up and down the court. This bird like of a creature has a post game that is unmatched. John Vanderwyst, starting center forward, is formally the team’s best player. Vanderwyst had a relapse on his rune scape addiction, gained 75 pounds, and developed an allergy to the sun. Critics are worried that the Viking’s talented free agent signings provide polar opposite personalities that may affect the team chemistry. While Shaun Bentkowski, starting center, shows the same demeanor win or lose, Tom Krokey (PF) will punch you in the face for beating him at a thumb wrestle.
10. St. Brendan-St. Richards’s
A powerhouse composed from two North Olmsted schools, this team will do everything they can to have a winning season. The team’s most valuable player, senior Bill Bis, is a specialist on defense and can occasionally hit the long three. Senior Aidan Blake, who at 5’9″ is the whole package as the team’s point guard, also moonlights on the crew team. Senior Phil Criswell, who at 6’2″ is expected to shoot at least 10 3’s a game, will inevitably put the team on his back to win some key games. Don’t discount this team from making a run in the post-season because they will capitalize on their chances.
11. St. Jude’s Senior Team
Saint Jude’s senior team has only one Ignatius player, Matt Ivancic, who says the team is “sick” and “actually good”. Ivancic, who had major surgery on his wrist after a horrible accident during his spring break in 2012 (all Kyle Berger’s fault), is looking to make a huge comeback in the basketball world. Ivancic considered playing this season for the actual Saint Ignatius High School varsity team, but backed out last minute because of the skill level that would be demanded of him. Instead he has chosen to dominate the CYO league and St. Jude cannot thank him enough. Ivancic is a real threat with the ball and he is a player that needs to be taken very seriously.
12. St. Christopher Knights
The returning CYO city champs has everyone from last year’s team back except for one. This is without a doubt one of the top all-junior teams and they are looking for another deep playoff run. Overall, the team is very well balanced with an explosive offense and a stout defense. The big man in the middle, John Selby (6’5″), will lead his team in very important games by having a dominating presence in the paint. Kevin “Cash Money” Gross, who is the most likely to get a concussion, is always accountable for 4 points a game. With huge hops from Matt Coric, lights out shooting from Billy Schirmer, and impeccable defense from Chris Murman, this team can pose some serious challenges to opponents. Under the helm of floor general Drew Trutza, Jack Larsen hopes to learn the ropes as the newest addition to the squad. The three point threat is always a factor when anyone of these players touches the ball, and the fast break is a focal point of the offensive production with steals coming from the quick hands of Murman and Trutza at guard and speed on the wings coming from Larsen, Coric, Gross, and Schirmer. The intensity of the team is unmatched with pre-season practices occurring twice a week, and the chemistry is even better now that this will be the third season with essentially the same squad.
13. St. Bernadette Bulldogs 11th grade team
#ArrogantBulldogbasketball is back and the juniors are looking to make a run. Led by Ian Ryan who is coming off a strong year with 4.6 fouls per game, the Bulldogs are on the hunt and looking for victims to embarrass. A lot is expected of Derek Sinclair from this team, including his usual lane-clogging and intimidation in the paint. Geoff DiMassa will be the load he always is, but may be restricted to coaching duties due to injury. Although Kevin Malloy has failed to add the weight asked of him in the offseason, he told us he is “ready as ever to sit on the perimeter and do nothing.” A key addition comes in Liam Coyne, who should be deadly beyond the arc. Although he’s not the most coordinated kid, James Zajaczkowski will bring the fundamentals and intangibles, while Nick Mylonas has already lit a fire under the team with his enthusiasm and tremendous energy. Mike Mathews will round out the group with strong play, resembling Marshall Henderson, and seeks add to his rather large career technical foul count. Overall, this team is one that should be in your nightmares with their fast-break showboating and killer determination.
14. St. Bartholomew Pirates
Though this year’s squad is a bit of a dark horse to say the least, junior captain/coach/player Liam Garven has decided to reload instead of rebuild with the addition of shifty senior guard Colin Soeder and plenty of public school kids. Expect plenty of cheap shots and unshaved beards. Also, always reliable 2nd/3rd/4th string QB junior Jake Kucia brings a much needed and sometimes excessive intensity to the court at the PG/SG position. Big expectations. State. Nothing else.
15. St. Luke’s Crusaders in Lakewood
Led by 6’6″ big man, Duncan Mellino, the Saint Luke’s Crusaders are coming off a great season last year as the runner-ups in cities. Members of the team include sharpshooter Tyrone (aka Otto Watana), Andrew “Windex” Kerr (who is most likely to be ejected/receive a flagrant foul), the scoring machine “kid who is smart yet managed to be an athlete” Jack Eckman, and the “most likely to be ejected and shoot 1/15 from 3 pt range” Rai “Lights Out” Walters. Look out for these underdogs.
16. St. Jude in Elyria
Coached by Tony Reaser, and led by CYO all-star Jacob Kuchta who holds the St. Jude school record of most points scored in one game (45), the Jaguars hope to impress the upper classmen this year by going undefeated. If Mike Filiaggi can go 1/20 from the 3-point line like usual, and if Eric Shaver brings his intensity every game, then the St. Jude sophomore team may have a chance to win a lot of games. The rest of the team includes big-man Dominic Zullo, small guy Thomas Decker, shooting fiend Brad Lenowhich, hard-working Tanner Reaser, rebounding machine Kenneth Chrulski, and the intimidating John Tirbaso.
