Oscar’s Preview

February 19, 2014

by Bradley Merk ‘14

2013 was a profound year for movies across the board. Renowned directors such as Martin Scorsese, Alfonso Cuaron, and Woody Allen aspired to new cinematic heights while new directors such as David O’Russell and Steve McQueen continued to break new ground in filmmaking. With the 2014 Oscar’s quickly approaching, it can be helpful to understand who is nominated and how great of a year it has truly been for the movies.

Actors and actresses were the main spotlights for movies this year. Many films such as American Hustle, Her, 12 Years a Slave, and The Wolf of Wall Street were more character study than anything else, an impressive feat for a time when movies seem more focused on spectacle.

Women especially had a wonderful year with actresses such as Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett, and Sandra Bullock all receiving nominations for best actress. Supporting actress nominations were also full of wonderfully complex female roles such as Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle) and the always reliable Meryl Streep (August: Osage County). My guess is that American Hustle dominates these two categories (although I’m rooting for a surprise win from 12 Years a Slave’s Lupita Nyongo’o) with wins for Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence, just like at the Golden Globes.

Males had a wide variation of roles this year that will be making these categories more unpredictable. Main actors such as Christian Bale (American Hustle), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), and Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club) all have a chance of winning. However, due to the Internet’s despair at his multiple snubs, Leonardo DiCaprio’s role as the money-hungry Wall Streeter Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street may just snatch the award. Supporting actors such as Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club), Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street), and the underdog with a wonderful performance in Captain Phillips, Barkhad Abdi, all have a probability of winning. My guess goes to the crowd favorite Jonah Hill but Jared Leto could be a worthy adversary coming off his win at the Golden Globes.

The original screenplay category must go to Spike Jonze for Her: simply a given. Adapted screenplay may be Terrence Winter for Wolf, but Richard Linklater’s Before Midnight could be a surprise winner due to the immense critical success of the final film in his trilogy.

For the big two, best director and best picture, I find it very possible these wins will go to separate films. Depending on whether or not American Hustle will parade awards throughout the night, David O’Russell could win best director along with many of his actors achieving Oscars. Steve McQueen may also receive well-deserved recognition for his powerful direction in 12 Years a Slave. Best picture seems to be up in the air due to the eclectic group of choices. If I were to choose, personally, I would pick Her. Yet something tells me the Oscars voters are going to have a hard decision, yet again, between American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave.

Be sure to turn in on March 2 at 8:00 p.m. to see the winners and losers of the biggest night in Hollywood.

2014 Signing Day Profiles

February 13, 2014

by Pat McGuire ’14

James Byrne

A three year letter winner, James Byrne was a tremendously important figure on the Wildcat offensive line. Byrne, a towering figure played tackle for head coach Chuck Kyle for three years, with three different quarterbacks of varying style. After being a mainstay for the Saint Ignatius offensive line, Byrne will be moving on to the collegiate level for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. Byrne says that he has found a good fit both athletically and academically in the University of Notre Dame, similar to his alma mater, but in a larger scale. Jim was recruited heavily by colleges during the 2011 Wildcat state championship campaign, protecting a very talented quarterback in Eric Williams. Byrne will be mentored in the coming years by a very talented Fighting Irish coaching staff including offensive line coach Harry Hiestand and head coach Brian Kelly. James Byrne look to build on a very successful Saint Ignatius Wildcat career and play on Saturdays this coming fall for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

Jacob Maruna

Jacob Maruna looks to build off a very successful, final-four 2013 lacrosse season, and finish his Saint Ignatius career well before heading to the Crusaders of The College of the Holy Cross. A very talented midfielder and a captain, Maruna took a lead role in the 2013 regular season as well as into the tremendous run in the OHSAA playoffs. Jacob Maruna, having collected a total of 42 points in his 2013 campaign, looks to return to Wildcat Lacrosse as a senior leader on a very young, but talented squad. Following his senior season, Maruna will become a Crusader for The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. Maruna said that Holy Cross separated itself from the rest is a solid athletic fit as well as academic fit for him. Maruna will continue his Lacrosse under head coach Jim Morrissey in the Patriot league.

Dominic Santora

To say that Dominic Santora takes pride in his boats in the Wildcat Navy is a tremendous understatement. Santora has led his boats to outstanding results in prestigious regattas such as races with the fastest crew teams in the nation. The numbers don’t lie: Dominic’s boats placed incredibly well. Starting in the spring of 2012, Santora led his boat to 8th place in the nation; in the fall of 2013, he boat placed 10th nationally; and then in the spring of 2013 a 13th place finish. Dominic says he looks forward to finishing his senior year well this spring with his dedicated teammates Charlie Casa, Andrew Turk, and Aidan Blake, whom Dominic says he couldn’t do it without. Santora will be moving on to Syracuse University to join an already strong top 10 program in the Orange. Look for Dominic Santora to be competing for national championships in the coming years in Syracuse University Navy.

Kyle Berger

Three year letterman, Kyle Berger, will be heading to The Ohio State University next year to play for Coach Urban Meyer and don the scarlet and gray. Kyle Berger became well known throughout the state of Ohio as one of the toughest and scrappiest players in the high school after a phenomenal junior campaign. Utilizing quickness on blitzes to outrun linemen and strength to overpower running backs, Kyle forced the Wildcats’ opponent to game plan specifically for his tremendous defense. Berger wrecked havoc on even the most talented quarterbacks like Shane Morris, Mitch Trubisky, and Ryan Fallon. Needless to say, scouts took notice of the Medina native. Offers started flooding in, including the then top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, but Kyle chose Ohio State based on a variety of factors. The two most significant factors for Berger were the coaching staff of Urban Meyer and Luke Fickell as well as the proximity to family. Kyle is confident he has found the right school for him both academically and athletically. Kyle plans to plan football at a very high level this coming year for the Bucks in the Big Ten.

Nick Fabian

Nick Fabian, arguably the best all-around athlete in Saint Ignatius baseball is coming off a tremendous 2013 season, culminating in the state runner-up trophy. Fabian, both a pitcher and an outfielder, is the kind of player who can alter a team’s season throughout the course of every game. Nick showed in the 2013 season that he is perfectly capable to striking out 10 while pitching and then turning around to hit a bomb in his next at bat. Fabian was a crucial part of the Wildcat starting rotation as well as a mainstay in Left Field. Nick will look to have an even more significant role in his senior year for coach Brad Ganor and the Saint Ignatius Wildcats before heading to West Virginia University in the Big 12 conference. Confident that he has found the right school, Nick says that he is excited for his senior year and future career as a Mountaineer.

Nick Longo

Another very talented Wildcat outfielder, Nick Longo gave the 2013 a powerful left-handed bat further down in the lineup, challenging opposing pitchers to throw strikes. Longo, the starting right fielder for Brad Ganor’s 2013 Wildcats, was the fifth batter in a lethal Wildcat batting order, who made pitchers pay for leaving the ball over the plate. Longo looks to continue his success in this coming season as well as at the collegiate level for the Miami Redhawks. Nick decided on Miami rather earlier based on various factors like the coaching staff and opportunity to impact the team even as a freshman, giving him all the tools to be successful at a higher level. Longo plans to finish his career well as a Wildcat this spring and bring that momentum to coach Dan Hayden next year for the Miami Redhawks.

Peter Simcox

Pete Simcox is finishing an extremely successful career as a Wildcat swimmer for coach Jeff Ridler. Pete, a very consistent competitor, swam as the sprinter as well as in the butterfly for the 2013 Wildcat swimming and diving team. Simcox was part of some the most successful swim teams at Saint Ignatius, along with Nathan Christian. He plans to continue his swimming career next year at Miami (OH.) for head coach Pete Lindsay. Simcox says that he was drawn to Miami for a variety of reasons including athletically the coaching staff and facilities for the swim team as well as the business school in terms of academics. Pete is confident he has found the right match for him and will compete for the Redhawks at the collegiate level.

Dameon Willis

An integrral part to very talented Saint Ignatius Wildcat defenses, Dameon Willis proved himself to be one of the most talented and hardest-hitting defenders in the state of Ohio. Dameon Willis, a three year letter winner, played outside linebacker as well as safety for coach Chuck Kyle, developing the skills to defend the pass but also be able to step in and stop the ground game. In 2013, Dameon played a type of rover position in the secondary, allowing him to stay matched up one-on-one with his man or almost the entire game. Even against more talented wide receivers like Brandon Fritts, Dameon locked down the Cardinal receiver in meaningful games for the ‘Cats. He will now move on to play Division I football for the Indiana University Hoosiers. Dameon says that he is looking forward to playing or head coach Kevin Wilson because of the opportunity for early play. Look for Dameon Willis to continue to lock down talented receivers as he will be tested against Big Ten opponents in the coming years.

Nick Margevicius

Nick Margevicius was a stellar starting pitcher for the Wildcats during their state runner-up effort in 2013. Margevicius went 9-1 in the 2013 campaign, helped by his senior-led infield of Tyler Finkler, Dan Rowbottom, and company. This coming season, Nick will look to keep his momentum from last season’s already tremendous performance. A southpaw, Nick will be a mainstay in the 2014 starting rotation for coach Brad Ganor and the Wildcats. Nick Margevicius will be heading to Lawrenceville, New Jersey to become a Rider University Bronc and play baseball for head coach Barry Davis. Nick says that he enjoyed meeting with coach Davis and was impressed by the opportunity to play early for the Broncs. Nick will follow his senior season at Saint Ignatius by moving onto greater competition with the Broncs in the MAAC conference.

PJ Malik

A three year varsity letterman, PJ Malik will become a Flyer as he is heading to the University of Dayton. Malik was a very impressive player on Coach Brian Becker’s 2013 golf team, shooting his lower scores on the most difficult courses in Ohio. As a senior Malik shot a 76 at the Windmill Lakes Golf Course and a 75 at Firestone Country Club as well as a 71 in the sectional tournament at Sweetbriar, each an impressive feat in its own right. Malik recently received his scholarship offer from Dayton following his senior season and accepted, saying that he was immediately impressed during his official visit. Malik will be playing for head coach Gip Hoagland and the Flyers in the Atlantic-10 conference this coming season. PJ Malik likes his decision of Dayton based on the great coaches and the direction of the Flyers’ golf program. Says Malik, “Overall, it was an easy choice for me.”

Michael Vitale

Coming off a very impressive team run to the final four this past season, Mike Vitale will finish his Saint Ignatius career and then play collegiate lacrosse for Siena College. Vitale was a solid attacker for coach Patrick McManamon during the 2013 campaign. Vitale and the Wildcat Lacrosse team will have a very difficult season ahead of them as they will play arguably their most difficult schedule in years. As a senior, Vitale will take a leadership role along side other seniors like Jacob Maruna in leading a very talented, but young Wildcat team. Mike will finish his Saint Ignatius career this coming spring before heading to Siena College to play for head coach John Svec and the Saints. Vitale will be joining a Saints program that has found recent success, becoming MAAC tournament champions three out of the last five years. Watch for Mike Vitale to finish his Saint Ignatius career this spring for coach McManamon before heading to a bright future at Siena College.

Anthony McLaughlin

Senior Anthony McLaughlin, chosen as a captain for the 2013-2014 Wildcat wrestling team, will be moving on to wrestle at the United States Air Force Academy. Anthony wrestles for Saint Ignatius head coach Mark Sullivan at the 182 pound mark for the 2013-2014 season. McLaughlin will continue to compete against some of the strongest wrestlers in the area as well as in the State of Ohio this season. Anthony will wrestle at the Air Force Academy for head coach Joel Sharratt as well as other very talented assistant coaches. This season, Anthony hopes to be wrestling in the Schottenstein center in late February for a shot at a state championship before he heads to a well-regarded Air Force wrestling program.

Matt McVey

Following in the footsteps of previous McVey brothers, Matt McVey found success on the defensive side of the ball for coach Chuck Kyle and the Saint Ignatius Wildcats. Matt was part of a very talented defense along with seniors like Scott Arthrell and Dameon Willis. Among the many highlights of McVey’s season was the performance that he and his fellow defenders pitched against the Saint Edward Eagles. Matt and the Wildcat defense held the prolific Eagle offense to only 17 points, essentially secure the Wildcats’ week 8 upset of the then undefeated Eagles. McVey will be heading to Erie, Pennsylvania, this coming year to compete for head coach Brad Rzyczycki at Gannon University. Matt has found the right match in terms of both academics and athletics and is very excited for what the future holds.

Michael Siragusa

Michael Siragusa, a star Wide Receiver for coach Chuck Kyle and the Saint Ignatius Wildcats, will be heading to New Haven, Connecticut, to play for Yale University. Siragusa completed his Wildcat career with very impressive numbers, especially since he saw quarterbacks of varying styles. Arguably Siragusa’s biggest moment came during the 2012 regional final matchup against the Mentor Cardinals. Siragusa caught a final minute, game tying touchdown to send that unforgettable game into its first overtime. Michael racked up double digit catches as well as over 200 yards receiving in that game alone, making for one of the most memorable games in Saint Ignatius history. Siragusa will be heading to New Haven, Connecticut, to play for head coach of the Bulldogs, Tony Reno. Michael says that on his visit there about two months ago, he knew nearly immediately that Yale was the best opportunity for him both on and off the field.

Michael Dobscha

Michael Dobscha, a very strong and talented rower in the Wildcat Navy will be heading to Syracuse, New York after the conclusion of his spring season of crew at Saint Ignatius. Michael has consistently raced for Saint Ignatius in some of the fastest boats in years, qualifying for a multitude of national honors. Michael will be moving on to be an Orangeman for the already prolific Syracuse University crew program for coach David Reischman. He says that he has found the right match for both academics as well as athletics. Michael plans to enter the Forensic Science program at Syracuse University as well as continue his rowing career at the collegiate level. Michael says that he was immediately drawn to Syracuse because of their tremendous academic courses and study abroad opportunities as well as the opportunity to be part of a special crew program at Syracuse. Look for Michael to finish his Saint Ignatius rowing career before moving to the next level at Syracuse University.

The Love Guru: Valentine’s Day Special

February 13, 2014

by Joe Latkovich ’14

Ooo eee ooo ah ah, ting tang walla walla bing bang. Ooo eee ooo ah ah, ting tang walla walla bing bang. I told the love Guru I was in love with you (doo doo doo doo). I told the Love Guru I was in love with you (doo doo doo doo) and then the Love Guru he told me what to do, he told me ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang.

Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching, and my brother and I are schemin’ with the same girl. How do I eliminate him from the race? -David Sinclair ‘14

Since you and your brother, Derek ‘15, are both handsome young middle-eastern gentlemen, you should settle this like handsome young middle-eastern gentlemen; I recommend that you let your mother, Alice, pick your valentines, girlfriends, and eventually, wives for you boys so to avoid any brotherly discord.

My college of choice friendzoned me. What should I do? -Richard Kraay ‘14

You should tell them how you really feel. Send the Director of Admissions a letter proclaiming your love for the school. Dot every ‘i’ with a heart, and after you sign your name, throw in a couple XOXO’s. Attach a box of chocolates, too. Expect an acceptance letter in a couple days.

What if she has braces and you are afraid of braces? Those things could do some serious damage. I really need your help Joe. -Rusty Ellis ‘14

If your girlfriend has braces and you’re a senior in high school, you have more important things to worry about, like evading arrest.

Affichage de LG.jpg — Love Guru Joe Latkovich in action, giving advice to a group of students

Will Aedan Mangan finally find love since he made the Atlantis Rugby Sevens team? -Mike Chambers ‘14

Actually, Aedan found love while he was in Las Vegas with the team for a tournament. He spent most of his time there with a female rugby superstar from Saint Joseph Academy. Aedan’s mother is very proud that her extremely weak, very short, and blindingly pale son finally came close to being as smooth as his older brother Seamus ‘11, and she personally requested that from now on, everyone refer to Aedan as ‘Lover Boy.’

There are over 1,000 girls from over 400 schools that asked me to be their Valentine, and I don’t know who to say yes to. I also have 5 girlfriends. I feel like you understand my situation. – Kevin “Styx” Stefancin ’15

I cannot morally bring myself to help you manage 5 girlfriends, but I suggest that you set up some sort of competition for the potential valentine candidates to partake in. I would suggest a series of athletic events, such as cross-country skiing and/or ping-pong, that would determine a winner by pure sport and not by your choosing. Or (and this is my personal favorite), you could feign an illness and not have to choose a valentine at all.

Love Guru, It’s obvious that the rapid thinning of my hair will lead to being bald. Do you think this will hurt my chances with the ladies? -Brendan Carney ‘15

Going bald should not affect any man’s ability to attract females. Just look at your brother, Patrick Carney ‘13. There is currently a campus-wide bet at John Carroll University on whether Patrick will go completely bald before or after the fall semester ends. This doesn’t stop him from “killing it.”

Bradesca keeps school open through harsh weather

February 5, 2014

by John Dorow ‘15

Even after Magnificat, St. Joseph Academy, and St. Edward elected to cancel their classes due to inclement weather on Wednesday, January 5, Principal Bradesca was insistent that Saint Ignatius stay open, to the dismay of many students and surprise of some faculty members who were expecting a snow day.

One of the main complaints from the students was about allegedly dangerous commutes. Throughout Northeast Ohio, snowfall and ice blanketed the streets Wednesday morning, concerning student drivers.

“The roads were awful, and we should not have been forced to come to school,” said Connor Schumacher ‘15.

Bradesca, in an e-mail to the parents, said that he decided to keep the school open due to many school districts’ decision to remain open, although students said that dangerous roads should have closed the school.

Morning commutes to Ignatius were elongated, in many cases doubled, because of the traffic. As a result, Bradesca made another decision that drew criticism from the student body.

“The delayed start status is designed to accommodate additional time needed to commute to school,” he said, explaining why he announced a delay to the start of the school day at 7:58 a.m.

After four “calamity days” had already been exhausted earlier this year, many were left wondering whether Mr. Bradesca chose to keep the school open in order to save the last of five calamity days for possible future winter storms.

However, Bradesca wanted to dispel those rumors.

“The decision to keep the school open is never based on the number of available calamity days or important events on campus,” the principal said. “The decision to close or remain open is by no means an easy one.”

Mark Johnson’s talk on climate change draws large crowd, asks heated questions

January 31, 2014

by Patrick Millican ‘15

On Monday, NewsChannel 5’s chief meteorologist Mark Johnson spoke about climate-change skepticism in Mr. Dybicz’s room after school. In his speech, he made the case for skepticism in the theory of “manmade and catastrophic global warming.”

Attendance was well in excess of the fifty-man target Mr. Dybicz hoped for. So many students were packed into the room for the Conservative Union-sponsored speech that windowsills and backpacks became impromptu seats for members of the audience. Such a high turnout was possibly due to Mr. Johnson’s significant social-media presence and willingness to interact with many of his 20,515 Twitter followers.

Mr. Johnson began his speech by asking students if they knew what the scientific method was and placed special emphasis on the scrutiny necessary when vetting scientific conclusions. Throughout his speech, he repeated the phrases, “Show me the data!” and “Don’t believe me; do the research on your own” to emphasize that his conclusions–and those of scientists generally–need to be based on evidence.

His argument was threefold: He set out to prove that Earth was not warming (at least not as fast as scientists predicted it would), that global warming wasn’t manifesting itself in extreme weather, and that the methodology of many studies purportedly proving global warming are less valid than many think. To these ends, he showed charts detailing the adjustment of yearly temperature data by NASA so that it would fit the climate-change narrative, hurricane and tornado data that showed no upward trend in frequency, a British court case in which nine errors were declared to be in Al Gore’s movie An Inconvenient Truth, and a chart detailing the progress of the global average temperature against what many experts predicted it would be. Furthermore, he brought up several studies (such as those involving the famous hockey-stick graph, Arctic ice cores, and Baffin Bay lichen samples) and made the case that their methodology and findings were inaccurate.

For a topic normally charged with emotion, however, tensions ran low in the discussion of climate change and audience members’ queries. Students, for the most part, asked Mr. Johnson more neutral questions, while teachers tended to challenge.

For example, Andrew Beddow ‘14 asked him what he believed the source of the alarmism on the other side of the climate-change aisle is; his best guess was that alarmist scientists were simply inaccurate and pessimistic in their outlook.

Zach Fechter ‘15 asked whether a carbon tax was a viable means of reducing CO2 emissions; the answer was no.

US History teacher Mark Pecot ‘91 asked Mr. Johnson whether the motivation for his skepticism is ideological; the reply was that it was not, since Mr. Johnson calls himself “very liberal on some issues and very conservative on others.” Pecot went on to cite studies that showed that the overwhelming majority of climate-change scientists and research supports manmade global warming, which Mr. Johnson disputed.

Later on, AP Biology teacher Mr. Bogen disputed Mr. Johnson’s use of only American statistics as opposed to those of other countries.

All in all, the speech and ensuing discussion was without real conflict. For Mark Johnson’s part, he said shortly after the presentation ended that it was “exactly what [he] was hoping for,” and later that day tweeted that it had been a “Great conversation” and a “Great debate!”

Great time talking with students and faculty at St. Ignatius today. Great conversation. Great debate!

— Mark Johnson (@MarkJWeather) January 27, 2014

Our upcoming print edition will feature both an editorial comment and fact check on Mr. Johnson’s talk.

Rebuilding a Winner: Browns name Mike Pettine head coach

January 25, 2014

The long and arduous journey has finally reached its end. Rumors were rampant this morning that Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine would be named the 15th head coach of the Cleveland Browns today, and those rumors proved true as the announcement was made earlier this afternoon. Pettine was offered the job after a third meeting with members of the Browns’ front office and owner Jimmy Haslam.

Much speculation has been made of the fact that Pettine wasn’t one of the original candidates for the job. Additionally, many have pointed out that three initial candidates for the job (Broncos OC Adam Gase, Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, and Cardinals DC Todd Bowles) removed themselves from consideration. However, Haslam and the Browns brass made it very clear that they are thrilled to hire Pettine. Haslam specifically cited Pettine’s experience in the AFC North from his time with the Baltimore Ravens and his ability to develop players as qualities he brings to the table that the Browns liked. The player improvement factor is especially important for the Browns, as that did not appear to be former coach Rob Chudzinski’s strong suit what with the team’s 9-game losing streak to end the season.

In terms of Pettine’s coaching history, his previous career stops include Baltimore as the Ravens’ linebackers coach, New York as the Jets’ defensive coordinator, and, most recently, Buffalo as the Bills’ defensive coordinator. In both Baltimore and New York Pettine served under Rex Ryan, as Ryan was Baltimore’s defensive coordinator while Pettine was there; when Ryan was hired as the Jets’ head coach, he made Pettine his defensive coordinator. In the Browns’ introductory press conference today, Pettine mentioned his close relationship with Ryan and named Ryan as one of the reasons why he is where he is today. However, he noted that he and Rex have very different personalities; he made a point of saying that he wouldn’t be guaranteeing Super Bowls and wins and whatnot. At any rate, Pettine demonstrated great confidence in his ability to lead the team and the team’s ability to succeed in the near future.

First ever alumni mission trip sends grads to El Salvador

January 25, 2014

by Dominic Gideon ’14

“We’re Ignatius men forever.” Every Ignatius student has sung the phrase countless times, whether at an all school assembly in Sullivan or on a Saturday night at Byers, but what does it mean?

Over Christmas break, six alumni grasped, in a greater sense, what exactly that verse means to them while a part of the first ever alumni mission trip.

The idea all started in the summer of 2012 when Fr. Bill Murphy SJ, the president of Saint Ignatius, went on the mission trip to El Salvador with Ms. Barnes and a group of seniors.

“The trip blew me away,” Fr. Murphy said. “The history of the civil war is really horrific, but the hope, love, and grace in the people of El Salvador is really amazing.”

Following such an impactful week, Fr. Murphy thought it was unfortunate the experience was limited just to students. “I came home from that trip and I thought, ‘What would it be like to go with a group of alums?’”

And after talking to Mr. Dan Malone ‘00, head of Alumni Relations, getting some others on board with the idea, and doing some planning, Fr. Murphy got Mr. Mark Kaiser ‘06 and a group of six alumni from all over the nation (Jim Dodok ’72, Tom Gorman ’70, Fred Schnell ’66, Gerry Schroer ’82, Tim Clarke ’63, and Bill Beargie ’74) to go on a four day mission trip a year and a half later.

Unlike many mission trips, this was an immersion experience, “not a work trip where they give you a shovel and you’re building a school,” as Fr. Murphy put it. “It’s more like a pilgrimage, so it’s more about historical and cultural learning and understanding.”

Although it was an abbreviated period of time compared to the normal week long experience the students have had, Mr. Kaiser thought it “was the perfect amount of time for us to see and do things in El Salvador; for us to learn about the culture, the people, the environment, and the government.”

Each day was packed with a great deal of learning about El Salvador’s past as well as experiencing some of the Salvadoran lifestyle and culture. The group’s itinerary included visiting sites like the death places of Archbishop Oscar Romero and Fr. Rutilio Grande; the Acaccpamu bakery co-operative which Saint Ignatius has helped fund; a soy co-op in San Salvador; the chapel dedicated to the four American churchwomen killed during the country’s civil war; Central American University, the only Jesuit university in the country; and a museum which featured Oscar Romero, the four churchwomen, and six Jesuits who were also murdered during the civil war.

The alumni were greatly moved by all they saw and learned. Fr. Murphy thought they got even more out of the trip than students normally do.

“Through [the students’] work with the CAT team, with pallbearers, with Labre, through Sophomore Service… [they’re] already in pretty regular contact with the material poor,” Fr. Murphy said. “When I’m on a trip with successful, working alums, for a lot of them it’s been a lot longer since they’ve encountered the materially poor. And frankly when they were at Ignatius, that wasn’t a focus as it is today, so it’s a little bit more of a shock,” he added.

The group also meshed extremely well. “It was amazing how everyone kinda clicked,” Mr. Kaiser said.

All coming from different graduating classes, none of them directly knew each other; however through their strong ties back to Saint Ignatius, Cleveland, and the people they’ve met over the years, they already had an abundance of commonalities which connected them.

In regards to future alumni mission trips, nothing is quite certain. Fr. Murphy said the first trip was just an experiment to see how things go; and after such a successful first trial, he would love to keep such trips going, but no plans have been made.

That being said, the future of the alumni mission trip looks very bright considering how much of a success the trip was– etching a powerful impression on the alumni who went as well as emphasizing the idea that past students are forever an active part of the school’s mission– forever Ignatius men.

Rebuilding a Winner: Pettine Emerges as Favorite for Browns HC Opening

January 22, 2014

The interminable process known as the Browns’ most recent coaching search may finally be nearing its long-overdue end. Reports have surfaced that the Browns front office has invited Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine back for a third interview, which would seem to mark him as the undeniable favorite for the job. Other names that have been recently connected to the job are Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, and former Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano. However, none of these candidates seem to be likely ones for the job at this point.

First of all, Koetter is supposedly seen as a long shot for the job. As for Quinn and Schiano, reports from the NFL Network state that Quinn currently doesn’t have anything set up with the Browns, and after an interview with the Browns today, Schiano will not be hired. What with the withdrawals of Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase from the running, it seems apparent that Pettine is not only the most likely candidate for the job but also the ONLY likely candidate for the job (as it stands now).

We’ll have to wait and see how things develop after this third interview. However, barring any unexpected developments, Mike Pettine appears to be the hands-down favorite to become the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

UPDATE: According to ESPN, another unknown finalist for the job will meet with the Browns’ front office tomorrow along with Bills DC Mike Pettine.

CYO JOE: Updated Power Rankings

January 22, 2014

At a little past the halfway point in the 2013-2014 CYO basketball season, aside from the top two squads the rankings look much different. The contenders and pretenders have made themselves known, and a few squads are stuck in the middle at .500. Here is how the power rankings are looking at this point in the season:

1) St. Albert the Great (5-0) (Previous ranking: 1)

-With just one win by less than double digits, the Mustangs are cruising through their division schedule right now. However, a rematch against the squad they beat by single digits (Assumption) awaits, as well as a matchup with 4-1 St. Mary of the Falls. The nation is secretly rooting for them to fall.

2) Our Lady of the Lake/Holy Cross (4-0) (Previous ranking: 4)

-The defending state runner-up Falcons have likewise sailed pretty smoothly to a undefeated first half of the season, including a 40-point blowout over the mighty Sabres of St. Ann. We’ll see how Holy Cross finishes the season with games against two tough St. Paschal Baylon ballclubs and a season finale showdown with St. Ignatius (“The Greater”). Among many other things, Cole Larson’s integrity and reputation are on the line.

3) St. Jude Senior Team (5-0) (Previous ranking: 11)

-This squad appears to actually be “sick” and “actually good”, as Matt Ivancic was quoted as saying before the season started. With an undefeated record, the St. Jude senior squad finds themselves in both prime position for the playoffs and a high spot in the prestigious power rankings. This ballclub is one to look out for.

4) Sts. Joseph and John (4-1) (Previous ranking: 9)

-SJJ has looked very solid thus far in the 2013-2014 season, losing just one ballgame by a mere point to a tough Our Lady of Angels team. Their four wins include a tough, physical victory against St. Ignatius (“The Lesser”) by a final of 49-37. With just two games remaining in the division schedule, the Vikings look to end the season on a strong note.

5) St. Ignatius “The Greater” (3-2) (Previous ranking: 2)

-The Wildcats have battled their way through their division schedule to where they stand now, at 3-2. Luckily, the combined record of their next two opponents is 1-8 (including the St. Ann Sabres). However, they will conclude their season with a huge matchup against #2 Holy Cross. Blood will be shed.

6) St. Bernadette (4-1) (Previous ranking: 13)

-The Bulldogs, despite being a junior squad, have put together a quality 4-1 record through their first five games this season. With three games remaining, this squad seems to be a sure bet for a high seed in the playoffs.

7) St. Bartholomew (4-1) (Previous ranking: 14)

-Colin Soeder and the Pirates have used an initial low ranking from The Eye as a chip on their shoulders and have compiled a very good 4-1 record through five games. However, it remains to be seen how they will stand up against the infamous perennial powerhouse and 4-1 St. Columbkille, led by Brian Callahan.

8) St. Christopher (3-3) (Previous ranking: 12)

-This junior squad has struggled a bit to adjust to playing ball with “the big boys” this year, as they stand at a .500 record. However, the Knights have won two of their last three in division play, including a whopper of a ballgame over St. Ignatius (“The Lesser”) by a final of 29-20.

9) Assumption (2-3) (NR)

-This new addition to the rankings has had a slightly disappointing season so far, as they appear to be on the outside looking in right now in terms of the playoff race (even without Vetri Ravichandran’s flow). And, as mentioned before, a contest vs. #1 St. Albert awaits this squad next week. Luckily, though, their final two matchups will be against the ever-impressive 1-4 Holy Family, led by none other than senior Tim Riley, and 0-5 Sts. Joseph and John (a much different beast than #3 SJJ).

10) St. Brendan-St. Richard (2-4) (Previous ranking: 10)

-This squad hasn’t had the kind of season that it would’ve liked to have had thus far. Allegedly, Phil Criswell takes the blame upon himself for averaging just 20 a game instead of 30. Nonetheless, St. Brendan-St. Richard could still potentially sneak into the playoffs, although the road will be tough with two one-loss clubs awaiting them in their last two games.

11) St. Luke (2-3) (Previous ranking: 15)

-St. Luke hasn’t quite played like the dark horse contender they hoped to be this season, as they stand under the .500 mark. Furthermore, their next two opponents feature a combined record of 8-1, so the road to playoff contention looks very bleak. We’ll see how the Crusaders respond to this classic odds-stacked-against-them situation.

12) St. Ignatius “The Lesser” (1-5) (Previous ranking: 7)

-To say the least, these are dark times for the Wildcats. For a variety of reasons (namely Tom “Feathery Touch” McCartney’s shooting struggles), this St. Ignatius ballclub has not lived up to their state title expectations, and their struggles have been well-documented around campus. Nonetheless, according to team leadership the Cats are prepared to take on an “us vs. the world” mentality. “Haters are our motivators,” says an unnamed ballplayer. The playoffs are still a (very, very remote) possibility.

13) St. Angela Merici (1-3) (Previous ranking: 8)

-The mighty Bruins have no doubt fallen short of their preseason expectations as well. At two games below .500, St. Angela has some work to do if they are to salvage their season. Luckily, four winnable games await this scrappy ballclub. It’s a safe bet that these seasoned vets will play their hearts out.

14) St. Raphael (Either 0-4 or 1-3) (Previous ranking: 5)

-The Raiders, led by Mike “El Presidente” Zupan, have not had the kind of season they have been looking for. It remains to be seen what this club can do with its last four games, but they need a big turnaround. Gavin Whitford will have to do even better than his current 15 and 10 average in the points and rebounds categories.

(*Note- I’m not sure whether this team is St. Raphael (Gluck) or St. Raphael (Bellack). Mr. Karnatz is not listed as the head coach for either of the St. Raphael varsity teams.)

15) St. Ann (0-5) (Previous ranking: 6)

-The Sabres just haven’t been able to put it together this season, as they are still looking for their first win. There’s no doubt that de facto team captain Dominic Gideon will have to shoulder a large part of the blame for this season’s disappointments, but there is also no doubt that he will likely put the blame on Jacob Rossi for abandoning the squad. Luckily, St. Ann’s first win may be in sight as this weekend the Sabres will face also winless St. Rita, who has been completely hopeless without a certain school legend at the helm.

16) St. Francis Xavier in Medina (0-5) (Previous ranking: 3)

-There’s no other way to put it- this squad has fallen short of its lofty #3 ranking. It remains to be seen what St. Francis can do with the last three ballgames of the season, but right now things look grim. Cole Brownsberger’s #3 ranking for his team now looks quite shady.

17) St. Jude Sophomore Team (0-5) (Previous ranking: 16)

-These youngbloods who said they hoped “to impress the upperclassmen this year by going undefeated” may in fact impress us by accomplishing the exact opposite. With no wins to date thus far in the 2013-2014 season, St. Jude may in fact put up the rare goose egg in the win column. We can only hope that this plucky squad picks up at least one W and, in doing so, preserves its dignity.

So, with most ballclubs having 4 or fewer games remaining, the stretch run of another thrilling season lies ahead. The results of the next few weeks depend upon how much time each ballplayer has spent lifting, avidly watching film, and working on his touch beyond the arc. Good luck to all CYO ballers in their upcoming endeavors.

The Senioritis Saga: 2nd Semester– A Sweet Abyss

January 21, 2014

Oddly enough, I can lay my head to rest on a school night without a single worry in the world.

First semester midterms have come to a close, and you all know what that means– we seniors gallop proudly into the whipping Winds of Indifference and Lethargy and stomp proudly on the Plains of Apathy… We have arrived to the Holy Land: Second Semester Senior Year, the easiest workload we have or will experience in our entire lives. Stuck in the sweet abyss of being accepted to college but not yet there, we can finally stop being so stressed, at least for the time being.

Even our teachers, who have so graciously bestowed upon us the tools required to get into to college, realize that the need for work is no longer existent. If you listen hard enough, you can actually hear lesson plans coming to a screeching halt.

So I salute you, dear brethren, for riding the storm and doing the work required for three and a half long years. Kick up your feet, lean back, and enjoy the rest of your life as a high school student. You deserve it.

Complacently,

Paden Nagel

Experienced Slacker

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