Athletics

Athletic Highlights

By Kevin Kelly '80

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly limited postseason play for the Marian Catholic men’s and women’s basketball teams. Both responded to fresh opportunities in a big way during the 2021-22 campaign.

In the case of women’s basketball, Marian Catholic turned in the 13th season of 25 or more wins, advancing all the way to the IHSA Elite Eight for the first time since 2014. Led by the senior trio of Anna Kleszynski, Sarah Segarra, and all-ESCC selection Zikora Okonkwo, the Spartans won four tournament titles en route to an overall mark of 27-9.

“I am also extremely happy for our seniors, who were a big part of the foundation of the team who lost a heart-breaker two years ago in the sectional final to Providence,” stated Coach Murray. “They did not have a chance last year because of Covid, which was very, very sad.”

The Spartans opened the year by winning the Immaculate Conception Invite, then captured the Marian Christmas Classic for a second time with a title-game victory over rival Fenwick. The postseason trail saw Marian Catholic win its own IHSA 3A Regional and the Kankakee Sectional. Even in defeat to Morton at the Streator Supersectional, the Spartans staged a huge comeback from a 15-point deficit.

Marian Catholic also won the consolation championship of the ESCC Tournament, no small feat when you analyze the strength of the state’s best conference. Three ESCC teams advanced to IHSA State, as Carmel Catholic defeated Nazareth Academy in the 3A state championship contest.

“The ESCC had four sectional winners and three advanced to the State Final Four,” praised Murray, who has been at the helm at multiple schools for 427 career victories. “Hands down the best girls basketball conference in the state. Playing in this conference is an honor and always helps us get prepared to become our very best.

“Hopefully, we can continue to carry on the rich tradition of Marian Catholic women’s basketball into the future.”

“I am very proud, as I hope Marian Catholic is, of this team,” praised Coach Dan Murray, who was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on April 30 and was also recognized as an IBCA Coach of the Year. “They had a fantastic work ethic and were committed to one another. If you ever had a chance to see them play, the genuine excitement they had for each other was infectious.”

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Jeremiah Jones '22

With an equally strong reputation for the ESCC on the men’s side, the Spartan men’s basketball squad rose to the occasion against one of the most difficult schedules in the Chicagoland area. After Mike Taylor’s squad posted an 8-1 record, good for second place in the ESCC, the Spartans upset top seed Benet Academy to win the first-ever ESCC Tournament.

Marian Catholic also finished second in its own Chicago Heights Classic on its way to a 20-11 overall mark. It took Elite Eight qualifier Lemont to knock the Spartans out of the IHSA postseason in a regional championship. The strong campaign was led by senior Jeremiah Jones and fellow all-ESCC selections, Tre Davis '23 and Quentin Jones '23.

WRESTLING

In Wrestling, freshman Joey Baranski wasted little time in establishing himself as a force on the scene. Second-place finishes at 126 pounds in both the IHSA regionals and sectionals earned Baranski a spot in the IHSA Class 2A state tournament.

Joey Baranski '25

FENCING

Fencing hosted two major invitationals. In addition to hosting the Great Lakes Team championships at Marian, the Spartan men’s and women’s squads had perfect records when Marian hosted its own invitational in January.

MARIAN CATHOLIC CLASS OF 2022 COLLEGE COMMITMENTS

Veronica Aguirre (soccer) Judson University Conner Bailey (fencing) Cleveland State University Alexiana Jackson (volleyball) Millikin University Demarcus Jackson (football) North Central College Isaiah Johnson (football) Bemidji State University Sara Johnson (volleyball) Radford University Jeremiah Jones (basketball) University of Mary Anna Kleszynski (basketball) Elmhurst University Alexander Las (baseball) Viterbo University Nyah Moustakas (volleyball) Elmhurst University Wande Oluwibe (football) Indiana Wesleyan University Richard Redding (baseball) Calumet St. Joseph Erica Sledge (volleyball) University of Illinois-Springfield

CHEERLEADING

Cheer hosted the Marian Invite, as well as an Illinois Cheer Coaches Association qualifier. Both the Marian varsity and junior varsity squads qualified for ICCA state competition, with varsity capturing a seventh-place state finish and the JV notching a fourth-place finish. No doubt a highlight of their cheer career, co-captains Camryn Mitchell '22 and Isabel Correa '22 received the Illinois Cheerleading Coaches Association Senior Scholar-Athlete Award. Senior scholar-athletes must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for at least five semesters during their high school career!

Camryn Mitchell '22