Update: Christmas Food and Toy Drives
The 84th annual Rini Family Christmas Food Drive will continue this year despite COVID-19 and a transition to online school through Thanksgiving break.
A change to what the Christmas Food Drive has been in the past is that all food donations are going to the Arrupe House. All students still need to bring in four cans and four dollars. All preparation for the food drive has been changed to allow COVID-19-friendly practices, such as sanitizing the canned food as it comes in and proper social distancing for assembling the boxes. When it comes down to it, this is still the Christmas Food Drive. As long as everyone makes sure to use common sense and proper COVID-19 policies, this will be a just-as-effective food drive as in the past, even in these challenging times.
Additionally, the Student Senate Christmas Toy Drive will happen in conjunction with the food drive.
Students and parents should see their emails for more information on what to give and when and where to give it. Together, we can help others end this difficult year on a bright, hopeful note.
Model UN places third at William & Mary XXXIV
by Tyler Ove ’22
Coming off a strong first-place finish at Mentor V, the Model UN team attended the College of William & Mary’s annual conference, WMHSMUN XXXIV, with high hopes from November 6th through 7th. William & Mary has been a competitive conference for over three decades, having been nationally recognized for its merit. From https://bestdelegate.com’s top 25 national rankings, of which they are a part of, the DiploCats faced off against Thomas Jefferson, Langley, and Centennial. Although only including award-winning teams, the overall conference standings were as follows:
- Thomas Jefferson (Alexandria, VA)
- Langley (McLean, VA)
- St. Ignatius (Cleveland, OH)
- Maggie Walker (Richmond, VA)
- McLean (McLean, VA)
- Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, VA)
- Centennial (Roswell, GA)
- Bronx School for Science (Bronx, NY)
- Henrico (Richmond, VA)
- Bloomington North (Bloomington, IN)
- Hockaday (Dallas, TX)
- Townsend (Queens, NY)
- Needham Broughton (Raleigh, NC)
- Archimedean (Miami, FL)
- Greenwich (Greenwich, CT)
- George Mason (Falls Church, VA)
- Lindon Hall (Lititz, PA)
- Kennett (Kennett Square, PA)
Like Mentor, this conference was virtual, with each committee taking place in its own Zoom server. Committee topics ranged from dealing with the economic challenges of COVID-19 in the Economic and Financial Affairs Committee to planning for the construction of Atlantis in the year 3000 to establishing independence from Spain in the Catalan secession. Debate was thorough and numerous resolutions/directives were both proposed and passed by St. Ignatius delegates.
Bringing 31 delegates to the competition, 14 less than 2019’s trip to Williamsburg, Ignatius brought home a total of 4 individual awards as opposed to last year’s 6. While not being quite the performance that was hoped for, it was still enough for a podium finish. With no Verbal Commendations or Best Delegate awards, the winners were:
Honorable Mention
Brendan Oliss ‘21 – Ragnarok
Ferenc Somogyi ‘21 – Catalan Secession
Outstanding Delegate
Bert Wirtz ‘23 – Abraham Lincoln’s Cabinet
Tyler Ove ‘22 – Catalan Secession
While all of these awards are impressive, perhaps the most intriguing is second-year Bert Wirtz’s Outstanding Delegate. Having just achieved a separate Outstanding Delegate at Mentor (https://www.saintignatiuseye.org/2020/11/17/model-un-finishes-first-at-mentor-v/), Bert has established himself as a frontrunner among underclassmen during his successful early-season performance. Exploring the benefits that Model UN can have on your skillset, career, and college application, Bert holds that “MUN is a great program that really helps students to learn about other nations, international relations, and diplomacy. It is a great way to enjoy yourself while practicing public speaking skills and gaining experience in debates.” The Model UN team, done with their first-semester competitions, will ideally work hard into the second semester, as they seek a better showing at the University of Michigan (MUNUM XXXIV) in February. Go Cats!
A few of last year’s Williamsburg pictures from WMHSMUN XXXIII
Model UN Team finishes first at Mentor V
By Tyler Ove ’22
Last year, the Model UN team’s final main-season conference, Michigan State (MSUMUN XX), was canceled due to COVID-19. Just days after, the selective faculty-invite conference, Cornell (CMUNC 2020), followed suit. Although the DiploCats hosted a small virtual conference in May, the 2020-21 season had previously looked unsure. However, the team was able to acquire an unusually substantive schedule, consisting of largely virtual conferences, and Mentor V did not disappoint.
Technological expectations surpassed, the conference ran smoothly from October 9th through 10th. It was a joint crisis committee, with debate over policy, negotiation with foreign powers, and using abilities of individual positions to address a newly decimated ozone layer and the effects it had on the economy, politics, and the environment. Again, all this was done through Zoom, which Ignatius delegates logged into from the Westin Hotel downtown.
This smooth transition into the new virtual Model UN scene helped the Wildcats to a clean victory in their season opener. Although bringing far less than the average 45 delegates, 14 out of 21 total delegates brought awards – 44% of all awards – back to their seat in Ohio City. Paving the way to victory against our competitors (Holy Name, Solon, Hathaway Brown, Archbishop Hoban, Madison, and Gilmour) these delegates were:
Honorable Mention
Soham Shah ‘24 – China
Michael Swanson ‘24 – Japan
Will Riley ‘23 – Russia
Aidan Oliss ‘23 – France
James Votypka ‘23 – Japan
Rithvik Ayyagari ‘22 – United Kingdom
Terence McCafferty ‘22 – United Kingdom
Outstanding Delegate
Patrick Laudolff ‘24 – Germany
Bert Wirtz ‘23 – Russia
Chris Kondas ‘22 – Israel
Tyler Ove ‘22 – United States
Best Delegate
Braeden Pentz ‘22 – Israel
Ferenc Somogyi ‘21 – United Kingdom
With a surprising performance from the freshman and sophomore classes, the underclassmen are shaping up nicely to take the reigns in future seasons. On the same note, our upperclassmen did not fall short of expectations. One of the greatest team achievements was 3rd-year delegate Rithvik Ayyagari, Undersecretary for Resources, bringing home with his first award. Ayyagari says, “I’d say winning an award is always a good feeling. Being recognized for the hard work you put into anything whether it be school, sports, or extracurriculars, and seeing that it pays off is always a great feeling. And, to win an award, it really comes down to two things: mindset and hard work. If you’ve got a strong mindset and are willing to put in the work to present a unique idea in MUN, I’d say you’re basically set for an award.” The program applauds Ayyagari for his accomplishment and dedication.
Looking forward to William & Mary (WMHSMUN XXXIV), the DiploCats’ major fall conference, Ignatius is poised to compete fiercely against top schools such as Thomas Jefferson (Alexandria, VA) and Langley (McLean, VA). With last year’s performance being less than stellar at this conference, our delegates have something to prove heading into the competition. They will continue to train and accept new delegates on Tuesdays at 3:30 in their new venue in Murphy Gym. Go Cats!
Student Carjacked at Gunpoint Shares His Story
Editor’s Note: Around 4:00 pm November 11, 2020, Liam Walters ’22 was carjacked at gunpoint as he was getting into his car to leave Saint Ignatius for the day. In this exclusive article, he shares his story.
By Liam Walters ’22
I had gone to the CAT meeting after school on Wednesday, so the people I usually walk with to my car had already gone home. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, because there were almost always other students on their way to their cars too, so I was rarely completely alone. I had parked a little bit farther from school than I regularly do that morning because I was running late and couldn’t find a close parking spot. As I got close to my car, I did notice that there were no other students around, and that struck me as a little strange, but I was only a few feet away from my car so I wasn’t worried. I opened the back door and put my backpack on the seat, and before I opened my front door, a grey Nissan turned the corner and was coming down the road. The street was narrow, so I waited for the Nissan to pass before I opened the door. As soon as I opened the door, the Nissan stopped slightly past my car, but I hadn’t noticed it. I started to get in my car and close the door when it got caught on something. I turned around and saw two guns in my face. There were two guys, both about the same height or a little taller than me, about 5’9″-6′, pointing handguns at me. They shoved me in the car so I couldn’t get away, and stole my car keys, wallet, and phone out of my hands and pockets. They pulled me out of the car and one yelled at me to run away. As I started to run away they both yelled, “get back here!” so I came back. I have no idea what they wanted me back for, and they just looked at me for a second and sped away in my car. There was another guy in the Nissan they pulled up in who drove off in the other direction. After that I ran and borrowed a phone from a student on McLaughlin Field to call Campus Security. They arrived very quickly and the Cleveland PD arrived shortly after. I am very grateful for both Campus Security and the Cleveland PD for being so efficient, they caught the guys late that night. The whole incident was very shocking but I’m glad no one was hurt and that the guys who did it are behind bars.
CHEERS TO 10! Soccer Team Wins State Title
By Jack Slemenda ’21
On November 14, 2020, Saint Ignatius Soccer once again made history with its 10th state championship in the program’s history, defeating the New Albany Eagles 4-1. This is an accomplishment achieved by no other team in the state of Ohio. The Wildcats have now ended what is likely to be another national championship season with an undefeated record (21-0).
Congratulations to the players, coaches, and staff on yet another very impressive season. The seniors deserve special recognition for their dedication to the program and hard work in this season and in past ones.
So, how did it all go down?
The key to the Cats’ game plan was to come out aggressive and score very early to control the ball in New Albany territory for a majority of the first half. A mere three minutes in, sophomore Nolan Spicer nailed an absolute boot of a goal from the 18-yard line. The five attacker setup was instrumental in allowing the Cats opportunities at the goal.
Another goal soon followed Spicer’s, this time the dangerous senior Marko Rimac. Rimac navigated his way through defenders and managed to find the side netting to increase the Wildcat lead to 2-0 with only seven minutes off the clock.
The Ignatius offense was very precise in their attacks, probing the defense and looking for holes to exploit and score on. With the constant onslaught of attacks, the Wildcats did not allow the Eagles to cross midfield into Ignatius territory until there were 22 minutes remaining in the first half. The energy the Wildcats had was palpable as they went all out for every ball and remained patient when looking for time to wear out the defense.
Despite some tough efforts by the Eagles in the first half, Liam Sowell held strong in the box and made some crucial stops on free kicks. Luciano Pechota followed these turnovers with two on-target shots but each narrowly missed the mark.
Marko Rimac again led a big charge in the closing minutes of the first half that almost had the Cats leading by three at halftime. The first half wrapped up with the Eagles back on the attack but with Sowell between the posts, the lead remained safe for the Wildcats.
Some first half stats included a staggering 12 shots for the Wildcats and only two for the Eagles. Additionally, Ignatius had three corner kicks compared to the zero for New Albany.
To open the second half, the Eagles came out firing. They clapped back with their own goal in the first two minutes of the second half. A beautiful corner allowed a nice header that fell between the posts for what would be the Eagles’ only score. New Albany caharged back after the goal, but luckily Sowell was there to make the sliding save and prevent a tie.
Three “almost” goals followed for the Cats, one by sophomore Zsombor Onodi that trailed right; Marko Rimac just couldn’t get a full boot on one that fell short; and sophomore NateTrickett got flagged for offsides, which took a goal off the board.
None of this held the Cats back as Spicer broke free for a second goal on the night despite being held by the jersey. That made it 3-1 in favor of Ignatius with 20 minutes remaining in the state championship match.
Each team played extremely tough for the remaining minutes, going back and forth til the end. In dramatic fashion Sowell made another big-time save off a free kick at the goal line. With the whole team walling up the goal line Sowell broke free and clutched the ball tightly to end the attack.
Just a few moments later junior Luciano Pechota got a well deserved goal to put the nail in the coffin for the Eagles, giving the Cats a 4-1 lead. Pechota played the entire game and was an absolute workhorse from start to finish, never slowing down on any play.
Two minutes later the team rushed the field as Saint Ignatius became soccer State Champions for the 10th time in program history. The final score: 4-1. Amen! Cheers to 10!
Despite COVID, the Harlequins flourish, producing two astounding plays
By Ethan Potoczak ’21
The Harlequins, like everyone else, were hit hard in March when the order to shut down schools came from the office of the governor. The set for Mamma Mia, which had taken over three months of effort just to build, had been nearly complete for the opening date. Actor blocking and dance numbers had all been choreographed. The pit had been practicing. Everyone was almost ready to put on an amazing show when the statewide shutdown of schools was put into effect. Everyone was devastated and unsure of what the future held. But thanks to the determination of the director Mr. Hoover, the cast, crew, pit, and the entirety of the Ignatius directors for the Breen Center, COVID did not set us back. Rather, we transitioned Mamma Mia into a summer show. We were able to: remake and move the set into a tent in the Breen parking lot, recoreograph everything, make a COVID safe pit on the breen stage, and have a drive-in theatre production all within a week! COVID did not beat us in March, and we are determined to not let it beat us now.
In case you have not heard the Harlequins have decided to produce two amazing plays for the community; True West, and Crimes of the Heart. True West is about two brothers who are polar opposites coming together to work on a screenplay; they become closer until they become frustrated with each other and the play takes a dramatic turn of events. Crimes of the Heart tells the story of three sisters uniting when the youngest commits a horrendous crime. To find what happens to the brothers and sisters, come see the play this weekend in the Hummer Theater.
The drama department has made the decision to produce two plays this fall so we can get as many people as possible involved in the theatre program while keeping COVID protocols in mind. This allows us to have two different casts and run crews, making sure that we do not go over the suggested number of people permitted in locations such as the dressing rooms, backstage, the shop, and onstage. In many ways we are being treated as varsity athletes, as we are following the same protocols that have been put in place for all extracurriculars.. We avoid sitting in Rade and Senior Longue during peak hours. Everyone who comes in from a different school gets temperature checked immediately. Masks are constantly required to be worn by everyone at all possible times. Despite all of the challenges, we are and will do everything possible to beat the odds. During actual show dates, we will have the audience members in the Breen Center split up by families and socially distant. We hope to see you there!
Will Thanksgiving be ruined by COVID?
By Patrick O’Neill ‘23
Last year, as the fourth Thursday of November approached, students and their families prepared for the 3-day break. Lavish assortments of food, football games, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and the Turkey Bowl are all hallmarks for the Thanksgiving season. Yet, with the pandemic’s remaining presence and an upsurge in cases, could Thanksgiving be in jeopardy?
Several interviews with students provided information on this year’s Thanksgiving plans. One student remarked, “I had a trip to Michigan planned to visit out-of-town family members, but, ultimately, it has been cancelled due to the uncertainty of this virus. We really don’t have any definite plans for Thanksgiving.” Another classmate stated, “I am having a much smaller Thanksgiving celebration compared to last year. My family is pretty big, so we are trying to be safe by splitting ourselves into multiple, much smaller groups. We are trying to only partake in necessary occasions leading up to Thanksgiving in order to ensure it isn’t spent over Zoom, like Easter.”
On the entertainment spectrum of celebration, The Macy’s Thanksgiving has been officially canceled by Bill de Blasio, New York City’s mayor. It is still unsure if the Cleveland tradition, known as the Turkey Bowl, will join the rest of the Thanksgiving festivities’ year out of the spotlight as well. If the impending cancellation of Thanksgiving is upon us, the holiday season will not feel as special without friends and family.
Saint Ignatius Set to Transition to Virtual Learning
In an announcement and email Friday morning, Principal Dr. Fior broke the news that Saint Ignatius classes will transition online for the week prior to Thanksgiving vacation. Dr. Fior said in a letter emailed to parents, “Today marks the successful completion of 58 days of in person learning. The partnership between the school, parents, and students has successfully enabled us to stay in school. Simply put: that is incredible and everyone needs to be acknowledged for their efforts. All of us are well aware of the surging numbers across Cuyahoga County, the state of Ohio, and throughout the United States. Over the last four weeks our internal numbers — of both positive cases and quarantines — have more than doubled as a result of external community spread.”
Additionally, in a statement posted on the school’s website the administration said “Effective Monday, November 16th, Saint Ignatius High School will pivot to our Off Campus schedule for one week. During the week of Thanksgiving break, students will not be required to attend virtual classes. Monday, November 23 to Friday, November 27 is now an extended Thanksgiving break. Our plan is to resume in person learning on Monday, November 30, returning with our current On Campus schedule. Campus will remain open and in season extracurriculars will continue until further notice. Coaches and moderators will reach out to students regarding practices and meetings. Families should continue reporting any positive or suspected COVID-19 cases to Mr. Brian Martin ’94 and Mr. Brad Ganor throughout the next two weeks by completing this form.”
This is a developing story and will be updated shortly. Please check back for more details.
