The sound of basketballs hitting the hardwood and sneakers echoing through parish gyms around the area means one thing: CYO basketball season is back! Every winter, students pack into small gyms around the Diocese of Cleveland to play and watch the games that bring friends, teammates, and parish communities together. After a one-season break, Walsh’s own CYO squad is hitting the hardwood again.
For many seniors, bringing the WJ CYO team back is the perfect way to stay active once their fall sports come to an end. Instead of waiting months for spring athletics, students turn to CYO for competition, community, and a chance to keep playing with their friends in a fun, low-pressure setting.
“I play for our CYO team, and this is my first year with them,” said senior Marty Tobin. “Football was over, and I wanted something else to do to stay active. I’m really glad I chose this because it’s a lot of fun playing with my friends, and being on the WJ team has been pretty cool.”
Senior Colin Locigno found the same kind of opportunity after soccer. “I finished playing soccer and was looking for something else to do to stay active,” he said. “Playing on the Walsh CYO team has been a lot of fun so far. It’s a great way to stay involved and play with my friends.”
Walsh Jesuit last fielded a boys’ CYO team two years ago. When the program didn’t materialize last winter, senior Quinn Anderson helped bring it back. “After soccer ends, I’m always looking for something else to do to stay active,” Anderson said. “CYO basketball is perfect for that, especially in the winter when you can’t really be outside.”
Anderson organized the revival by talking to athletes from soccer and other sports. “I felt like Walsh Jesuit should be represented again, so I did what I could to bring the team back,” he said. “Once I started talking to guys from different teams, the roster filled up pretty quickly.”
Senior Sawyer Del Busso also returned to the school team after playing for his parish for several years. “I used to play for St. Barnabas, but this year I really wanted to come back and play for Walsh,” Del Busso said. “My heart is closer to the school, and I wanted to be with my friends here.”
For Del Busso, CYO offers the right mix of fun and competition. “After football ends, I’m always looking for something to keep me active, and CYO is perfect for that,” he said. “It’s lower stakes, so there’s not a ton of stress, but we still play hard and want to win. It’s really just about having fun with my friends.”
Many Walsh Jesuit students also continue to play for their home parishes. Senior Jack Garner, who has competed for St. Barnabas all four years of high school, appreciates the tradition that parish CYO teams offer.
“I love CYO because it’s lower stakes and more laid-back and fun,” Garner said.
One of his favorite memories came during his sophomore season, when St. Barnabas made a playoff run. “We lost, but it was still such a great experience, the excitement of that night, being with my teammates, representing my parish,” he said. “Getting that far is something I’ll always remember.”
Although much of this year’s focus is on the boys’ league, CYO basketball includes opportunities for girls as well. Many Walsh Jesuit students have played in the girls’ division, representing their parishes with pride.
“CYO is the perfect middle ground… organized, competitive basketball without the pressure of high school varsity sports,” said recent WJ graduate Anna Paulus, as quoted in a previous article. “Playing for my parish, it feels like we’re all in it together.”
That sense of community is what continues to draw students each winter. Whether joining the revived Walsh team or competing again for their parish squads, CYO offers a way to stay active, build friendships, and enjoy the game.
As for Anderson, helping to bring back the Walsh CYO team has been a meaningful way to close out his senior year.
“I’m not trying to make a big deal out of bringing the team back,” Anderson said, “but I’m really glad I did. It’s been meaningful to play with my classmates and stay involved in athletics as a senior. I hope other kids keep it going in the future.”
