As winter’s chill settled over Walsh Jesuit, the fire of competition ignited within its facilities. From the echoing halls of the gymnasiums to the rhythmic splashes in the pools, and the intense focus of the wrestling rooms, winter sports teams showcased their best. Celebrated for their state-level appearances and remarkable achievements, these teams broke records and exemplified the Warrior spirit. Reflecting on their journeys, The Pioneer highlights the dedication, resilience, and triumphs that defined our winter Warriors.

Men’s Basketball

In the face of adversity, including significant team changes and the departure of a pivotal coach, the Men’s Basketball team emerged with a commendable 13-11 record, clinching the Crown Conference Championship. Their journey was emblematic of resilience, particularly when their season was cut short in an overtime defeat to Austintown Fitch, a match that tested their mettle but couldn’t dampen their spirit. Tyler Bell ’24, named the conference MVP, reflected on the season’s ethos, “Having a team filled with experience from last year’s Regional run allowed us to overcome the adversity.” His leadership, alongside Sean Spicer ’24’s single-game scoring record of 38 points, and the collective achievements of Jesse James ’24 and Joe Sitarz ’24, underscored a season of personal excellence within a framework of team unity.

Women’s Basketball

Transitioning without key senior players, the Lady Warriors Basketball team demonstrated unmatched tenacity, finishing 13-10 and securing their third consecutive Crown Conference title. Cesily Sutton ’24, adorned as the Crown Conference Player of the Year, spoke to the team’s legacy, “We’ve worked hard to maintain the high standards of our program, and I’m thrilled with what we’ve achieved.” The season was further highlighted by record-breaking achievements, with Kara Courtad ’24 amassing 774 rebounds and Taylor Angielski ’24 setting records for three-pointers in a game (7), season (66), and career (153), embodying the spirit of individual achievement and team success.

Cheerleading

Marking their second year back in competitive cheer, the Cheer team achieved remarkable success, capturing first place at the OASSA invitationals, Minerva, and OHSCCA BITS, and securing a commendable fifth place at the OASSA states. Their journey, marked by hard work, creativity, and spirit, signaled a significant chapter in the program’s history. “Countless hours of practice and perfecting timing, stunts, tumbling, and little details. Our coaches were so amazing and helped us achieve an amazing routine that we all worked really hard on and performed our absolute best in,” junior Natalie Wilson continued, “Every routine was an opportunity to showcase our teamwork. Achieving fifth at states was a testament to our hard work and dedication, marking a new era for Walsh Jesuit cheer.”

Indoor Track & Field

The Men’s Indoor Track & Field team’s season was punctuated with significant achievements, including placements at the OATCCC State Indoor Championship. The 4x200m relay team’s 6th place finish, with a time of 1:30.2, and the 4x400m relay team’s 8th place, with a 3:26.95 time, at the state level highlighted the team’s competitive spirit and dedication. “Being part of the relay team that placed at the state was incredibly rewarding,” shared Logan Hill, emphasizing the teamwork and commitment that underpinned their success. Drew Fouche’s 10th place in the 400m and Jerry Rosati’s 16th in the 800m were notable individual achievements that demonstrated the talent and hard work within the team.

Gymnastics

The gymnastics team, led by students Mady Wolfe ’24 and Ellie Moore ’25, achieved unprecedented success this season, including Wolfe’s qualification for the state championships and the team setting a new high score. “Achieving the highest team score in school history was a highlight of our season and a testament to our growth,” Moore reflected, capturing the essence of their groundbreaking season. “Our highest team score this year was a 137.9 which is out highest in school history,” junior Ellie Moore said.

Dance

Under the guidance of Coach Miss Springer, the Walsh Jesuit Dance Team entered its third season, comprised of 15 talented dancers split between competition and game day squads. The game day team enhanced the atmosphere at seven varsity basketball games, culminating in an electrifying performance on senior night. This year also heralded the team’s debut in competitive dance, with 10 dancers representing Walsh at the OHSAA competition. After qualifying with their jazz and hip hop routines at the January regionals, the team made an impressive first appearance at the State Championship. Junior Chloe Broholm reflected on this milestone, saying, “For our first competition season, advancing to the state championship filled us with pride and excitement.” At the state level, their jazz routine ranked 9th, and the hip hop routine 8th, concluding the season on a high note and marking a successful debut for the Walsh Jesuit Dance Team.

Bowling

In a year of rebuilding, the Men’s Bowling team showcased potential and resilience, culminating in an 8-8 record. Jonathan Conley’s standout 280 game was a highlight, “That 280 game was a personal achievement and a reflection of our team’s potential,” he stated, emphasizing the season’s high points. The Women’s Bowling team, led by Gabrielle Price’s exceptional performances, finished strong with an 8-4 record. Price’s first-place finish at the Tri-County Sectionals and her subsequent accolades reflected the competitive spirit and talent within the program. Gabby also took home the Conference, High Game (230) and High Series (430) trophies.

Wrestling

The wrestling team’s dominance was evident through their capturing of the Jesuit Cup and Crown Conference, boasting an impressive 11-1 record in dual meets. This season the team was led by seniors Bruce Beskur, Dawson Brown, Jonathan Campbell, Trevor Dick, Ricky Holmes, and Brock Sherman. Coach Mariola was named the Crown Conference Coach of the Year, which is also noteworthy. The team earned the title of 2024 OHSAA Sectional Champions, and advanced 11 wrestlers to the OHSAA District Tournament at North Canton High School. Gavin Gruber and Ricky Homes qualified as state alternates; and Bruce Beskur, Jonathan Campbell, Luke Evensen-Hein ’26, and Brock Sherman advanced to the state tournament in Columbus where Campbell placed 4th and Sherman placed 8^th.

The inaugural season of the Lady Warriors Wrestling team was marked by Bella Ndinga Mbappé’s historic 4^th placement at the State Championships, “Being the first female from Walsh Jesuit to place at the state championships is an incredible honor and a milestone for our program,” she shared, highlighting the growth of the sport and inclusion. Bella had an overall record of 42-7.

Swimming and Diving

Under the expert direction of Coaches Hunt and Forsythe, the swim and dive teams notched significant achievements, with the men’s and women’s teams finishing their dual meet seasons with records of 8-2 and 8-3, respectively. Jack Cerone’s qualification for the State Championship, the first since 2020-2021, was a high point of the season, “Qualifying for the State Championship was a culmination of our team’s hard work and dedication,” he stated, emphasizing the collective effort behind individual successes. In the postseason, 15 swimmers and one diver also qualified for the District Championship.

Hockey

Despite a below .500 finish, the Men’s Hockey team’s season was defined by resilience and potential. Facing a rebuilding year, the team’s spirit was undeterred in closely contested matches, showcasing their growth and readiness to challenge top teams. “Every game was a lesson in resilience and teamwork. Our close matches against top teams have set a foundation for future success,” noted a team member, reflecting on the season’s challenges and the growth potential.