During the regular season, the football Warriors went 8-2, with losses only to Benedictine and Hoban. Those games resulted in double overtime nail-bitters, each with a score of 35-34. That showed the team that they were capable of competing against respected powerhouse football programs.

Junior Topher Salek, a varsity linebacker, said, “Those hard losses at the beginning of the season really helped our team set goals and helped us focus to work harder in practice to prepare for games.”

Shortly before playoffs, the varsity swept the Crown Conference, demolishing Villa Angela Saint Joseph (50-20), Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (45-15), Lake Catholic (41-7), and Padua Franciscan (38-0). Three athletes were recognized as MVPs by the Crown Conference: Matt Natale, Kasey Kish, and Jack Romanini.  Joey DeAngelis, Dominic Fallon, Christian Ochei, Leshon Crenshaw, and Trey Bell, Bryan Blackwell, Turin Rogers, and Drew Erdmann were all awarded First Team All-Crown Conference. Justin Bremner, Josh Campagna, Charlie Klug, Noah Brock, and Brock Sherman were all named Second Team All-Crown Conference, while, ten Warriors earned Crown Conference honorable mentions.

In a 35-14 rout, the Warriors were able to wipe out St. Vincent-St. Mary (35-14) and “bring home the bell.” This is the first time since 2014 that the prized bell, newly painted a bright maroon, sits in a place of honor in the Commons.

On that memorable night, WJ students crammed into the student section at Green Street Stadium in Akron to cheer on the team. Following the game, they rushed onto the field to celebrate the victory.

Benjamin Belmonte, a junior, said, “The student section at the St.V game was by far the best student section of the year!” He enjoyed celebrating the win on the field under the lights with the team.

This season, the football program added three new coaches to the staff: Dom Davis, Brian Tyla, and Joe Keough. This experienced coaching staff was named Northeast Inland All-District Coaching Staff of the Year and also Crown Conference Coaching Staff of the year. The Cleveland Browns recognized the Warriors’ own Coach Nick Alexander as Head Coach of the Week following the team’s impressive playoff victory against the Hudson Explorers (23-14).

Head Coach Alexander explained, “The additions to our coaching staff have helped the team improve this year and brought a wealth of experience to this team.” He added, “Since I have worked with most of the coaches in this program for three seasons now, we work very well together, and that has helped tremendously to turn this program around.”

The Bell returns

A rebuilding year for WJ football

W.I.N. with Coach Alexander

Junior Cooper Kirda, varsity kicker, said, “Our coaches have a great player-coach relationship.” He went on to say, “A lot of our team’s success has been a result of this amazing staff and their leadership.”

The Warriors’ statement regular season performance earned them a spot in the OHSAA Division II State Playoffs. They started their run with a big home victory against Maple Heights (49-24), then moved on to the second round and a road victory against Hudson (23-14). Next the Warriors earned a rematch against Cleveland Benedictine, sweeping the Bengals out of the playoffs with a resounding win (34-20).

The team advanced to the Division II, Region 5 final. The Warriors fell to Archbishop Hoban (the 2021 Division II state runner-up) in a heartbreaking loss. This marked the first time Walsh Jesuit competed in a regional final since 2011.

Recognizing the team’s significant performance, OHSAA recently named Kasey Kish First Team All State; Matt Natale Second Team All State; Christian Ochei, Dom Fallon, Jack Romanini Third team All State; and Charlie Klug Honorable Mention All State.

There’s no denying that the football Warriors had a remarkable season which is revitalizing the football program.

Senior Nick Kahlil said, “Walsh Jesuit football has a strong and talented rising senior class, and the success for next year will start in the weight room with the leadership from the senior class.”

Head Coach Alexander said, “The football program at WJ has a very bright future.” He also explained that “next season we will continue to instill the Warrior Culture with the leadership of our senior class (2023). Next year will be a reloading year, not a rebuilding year!”