by John Fanta ’13
What another weekend it was in the pool, on the mats, on the court, and on the ice in Wildcat athletics. Saint Ignatius’ winter athletic squads represented West 30th and Lorain well.
At the swimming state championship meet in Canton, the relay teams led the way for the Wildcats. Coach Jeff Ridler’s team took 3rd place as a team, with two relay teams bringing home first place finishes. Our Jesuit brothers from Saint Xavier took home its fifth state title in a row. The Wildcats won the 200 medley relay and they also succeeded in standing at first in the 400 relay. Peter Simcox, Nate Christian, Charlie Pophal, and Derek Hren took home the gold in both of the relays.
In other action at the swimming state title meet, Nate Christian and Charle Pophal took part in the 50 yard freestyle race. Christian, a junior, was fourth and Pophal, a senior, was seventh. Peter Simcox took fourth place in the 100 yard butterfly and as the night was wrapping, the team of Nate Christian, Pete Simcox, Rayon Artis, and Charlie Pophal were third in the 200 yard freestyle relay. In the final standings, Saint Xavier ended at 270 points, while Upper Arlington finished second with 187.5 points. The Wildcats had 186 points on the meet. What another strong swimming and diving season it was for Coach Ridler and the ‘Cats.
The Mentor “Meat Grinder” District is tough, there’s no question about that. Eight Wildcat wrestlers participated over the weekend. Tommy Zeigler (126 pounds), Jim Ferritto (113 pounds) were both North Royalton Sectional Champions, as Anthony McLaughlin (170), Isen Vajusi (195), Max Baughman (220), Joe Conway (182), Dan Lynch (145), and Kyle Vilsack (130) wrestled in Mentor over the weekend. Zeigler, McLaughlin, and Ferritto are heading to the state individual tournament championships at Value City Arena next weekend in Columbus. Zeigler and McLaughlin both were runners-up in their District Final matches and will head to Columbus. Ferritto won his third-place match to advance to Columbus.
The top team in the Plain Dealer Poll and seventh in the state, the Wildcat Hoops squad capped the regular season with two quality wins in an emotional weekend. On Friday night, the Senate League Champion, Glenville, came to Sullivan Gym for an encounter with the Wildcats. They fought to the very end, and hung very close with the Wildcats. It was a tight one, but the Wildcats’ length and depth were too much. Derek Sloan (Plain Dealer Player of the Week) scored 22 points and Francisco Santiago had 19 on the night to lift the Wildcats over a very athletic squad in the Tarblooders, 73-62. Although defensively challenging for the Wildcats to handle, Saint Ignatius did enough to hold off Michael Holt’s squad in a good battle of two Cleveland-area squads. The Tarblooders are in the Euclid District, so keep a bit of an eye on them. Mentor is the top seed there, but the Cards cannot just walk on the floor against Mentor and get a win. Just something to chew on with the postseason arriving.
The Wildcats stood at 18-3 on Friday, as they would aim to break the school record for wins in a regular season (18) the next night against Benedictine. Walking into it, the ‘Cats saw a team in the Bengals that was 6-15 and struggling greatly going in to the game. But that wouldn’t stop the Bengals from giving the Wildcats a handful and so much more. The Division II team that the Wildcats have wrapped the season against for four straight years never went away. Derek Sloan scored 23 points though as the Wildcats held off the Bengals with key finishing plays, 67-58.
Alec Papesch, Bryan Fisher, Francisco Santiago, Derek Sloan, and Austin Sterpka were the players honored on Senior Night. Senior manager Patrick Gibbons walked with his family onto the Sullivan Gym floor for the final time, and the SIBN broadcasters were both cherishing the night. Greg Ziton was honored for his three years on the air, and I was so honored to have the opportunity to walk on the floor that I love for the final time. It was a walk I will always remember, and I thank you for the “Thank You” chants. It was a great night that I will never forget.
The Wildcats broke the record for regular season wins, as they now prepare for the Solon Sectional District. The Wildcats face the winner of John F. Kennedy/Lincoln West in a Sectional Final match-up on Friday at Solon High School at 6 pm.
Saint Ignatius Hockey blanked Elyria Catholic 10-0 to advance to the District Semifinals of Brooklyn District Play. The top-seeded team has cruised in their first two games, outscoring their opponents 23-0. Miles McQuinn scored two goals on Saturday to move his total to 36 goals on the season and second behind Paddy Spellacy ’12 on the Ice Cats’ all-time career points records. Saint Ignatius takes on 4th-seeded Rocky River on Tuesday night at 7 pm. On Wednesday, #2 St. Edward encounters #3 Holy Name. The winners will meet on Saturday in the Brooklyn District Final at Brooklyn Ice Arena at 3 pm. The SIBN has live audio of Hockey and Basketball State Tournament Coverage. I’ll be on the air throughout all of the tournament coverage, and check me out on twitter @SIHSSports and @JohnFanta13.
It was a weekend where the Wildcats made us all proud as we hail the blue and gold. To think that Friday afternoon got the weekend all started with this extravaganza!
