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Student Carjacked at Gunpoint Shares His Story

Editor’s Note: Around 4:00 pm November 11, 2020, Liam Walters ’22 was carjacked at gunpoint as he was getting into his car to leave Saint Ignatius for the day. In this exclusive article, he shares his story.

 

By Liam Walters ’22

I had gone to the CAT meeting after school on Wednesday, so the people I usually walk with to my car had already gone home. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, because there were almost always other students on their way to their cars too, so I was rarely completely alone. I had parked a little bit farther from school than I regularly do that morning because I was running late and couldn’t find a close parking spot. As I got close to my car, I did notice that there were no other students around, and that struck me as a little strange, but I was only a few feet away from my car so I wasn’t worried. I opened the back door and put my backpack on the seat, and before I opened my front door, a grey Nissan turned the corner and was coming down the road. The street was narrow, so I waited for the Nissan to pass before I opened the door. As soon as I opened the door, the Nissan stopped slightly past my car, but I hadn’t noticed it. I started to get in my car and close the door when it got caught on something. I turned around and saw two guns in my face. There were two guys, both about the same height or a little taller than me, about 5’9″-6′, pointing handguns at me. They shoved me in the car so I couldn’t get away, and stole my car keys, wallet, and phone out of my hands and pockets. They pulled me out of the car and one yelled at me to run away. As I started to run away they both yelled, “get back here!” so I came back. I have no idea what they wanted me back for, and they just looked at me for a second and sped away in my car. There was another guy in the Nissan they pulled up in who drove off in the other direction. After that I ran and borrowed a phone from a student on McLaughlin Field to call Campus Security. They arrived very quickly and the Cleveland PD arrived shortly after. I am very grateful for both Campus Security and the Cleveland PD for being so efficient, they caught the guys late that night. The whole incident was very shocking but I’m glad no one was hurt and that the guys who did it are behind bars.

CHEERS TO 10! Soccer Team Wins State Title

By Jack Slemenda ’21

On November 14, 2020, Saint Ignatius Soccer once again made history with its 10th state championship in the program’s history, defeating the New Albany Eagles 4-1. This is an accomplishment achieved by no other team in the state of Ohio. The Wildcats have now ended what is likely to be another national championship season with an undefeated record (21-0).

Congratulations to the players, coaches, and staff on yet another very impressive season. The seniors deserve special recognition for their dedication to the program and hard work in this season and in past ones.

So, how did it all go down?

The key to the Cats’ game plan was to come out aggressive and score very early to control the ball in New Albany territory for a majority of the first half. A mere three minutes in, sophomore Nolan Spicer nailed an absolute boot of a goal from the 18-yard line. The five attacker setup was instrumental in allowing the Cats opportunities at the goal.

Another goal soon followed Spicer’s, this time the dangerous senior Marko Rimac. Rimac navigated his way through defenders and managed to find the side netting to increase the Wildcat lead to 2-0 with only seven minutes off the clock.

The Ignatius offense was very precise in their attacks, probing the defense and looking for holes to exploit and score on. With the constant onslaught of attacks, the Wildcats did not allow the Eagles to cross midfield into Ignatius territory until there were 22 minutes remaining in the first half. The energy the Wildcats had was palpable as they went all out for every ball and remained patient when looking for time to wear out the defense.

Despite some tough efforts by the Eagles in the first half, Liam Sowell held strong in the box and made some crucial stops on free kicks. Luciano Pechota followed these turnovers with two on-target shots but each narrowly missed the mark.

Marko Rimac again led a big charge in the closing minutes of the first half that almost had the Cats leading by three at halftime. The first half wrapped up with the Eagles back on the attack but with Sowell between the posts, the lead remained safe for the Wildcats.

Some first half stats included a staggering 12 shots for the Wildcats and only two for the Eagles. Additionally, Ignatius had three corner kicks compared to the zero for New Albany.

To open the second half, the Eagles came out firing. They clapped back with their own goal in the first two minutes of the second half. A beautiful corner allowed a nice header that fell between the posts for what would be the Eagles’ only score. New Albany caharged back after the goal, but luckily Sowell was there to make the sliding save and prevent a tie.

Three “almost” goals followed for the Cats, one by sophomore Zsombor Onodi that trailed right; Marko Rimac just couldn’t get a full boot on one that fell short; and sophomore NateTrickett got flagged for offsides, which took a goal off the board.

None of this held the Cats back as Spicer broke free for a second goal on the night despite being held by the jersey. That made it 3-1 in favor of Ignatius with 20 minutes remaining in the state championship match.

Each team played extremely tough for the remaining minutes, going back and forth til the end. In dramatic fashion Sowell made another big-time save off a free kick at the goal line. With the whole team walling up the goal line Sowell broke free and clutched the ball tightly to end the attack.

Just a few moments later junior Luciano Pechota got a well deserved goal to put the nail in the coffin for the Eagles, giving the Cats a 4-1 lead. Pechota played the entire game and was an absolute workhorse from start to finish, never slowing down on any play.

Two minutes later the team rushed the field as Saint Ignatius became soccer State Champions for the 10th time in program history. The final score: 4-1. Amen! Cheers to 10!

Despite COVID, the Harlequins flourish, producing two astounding plays

By Ethan Potoczak ’21

The Harlequins, like everyone else, were hit hard in March when the order to shut down schools came from the office of the governor. The set for Mamma Mia, which had taken over three months of effort just to build, had been nearly complete for the opening date. Actor blocking and dance numbers had all been choreographed. The pit had been practicing. Everyone was almost ready to put on an amazing show when the statewide shutdown of schools was put into effect. Everyone was devastated and unsure of what the future held. But thanks to the determination of the director Mr. Hoover, the cast, crew, pit, and the entirety of the Ignatius directors for the Breen Center, COVID did not set us back. Rather, we transitioned Mamma Mia into a summer show. We were able to: remake and move the set into a tent in the Breen parking lot, recoreograph everything, make a COVID safe pit on the breen stage, and have a drive-in theatre production all within a week! COVID did not beat us in March, and we are determined to not let it beat us now. 

In case you have not heard the Harlequins have decided to produce two amazing plays for the community; True West, and Crimes of the Heart. True West is about two brothers who are polar opposites coming together to work on a screenplay; they become closer until they become frustrated with each other and the play takes a dramatic turn of events. Crimes of the Heart tells the story of three sisters uniting when the youngest commits a horrendous crime. To find what happens to the brothers and sisters, come see the play this weekend in the Hummer Theater.

The drama department has made the decision to produce two plays this fall so we can get as many people as possible involved in the theatre program while keeping COVID protocols in mind. This allows us to have two different casts and run crews, making sure that we do not go over the suggested number of people permitted in locations such as the dressing rooms, backstage, the shop, and onstage. In many ways we are being treated as varsity athletes, as we are following the same protocols that have been put in place for all extracurriculars.. We avoid sitting in Rade and Senior Longue during peak hours. Everyone who comes in from a different school gets temperature checked immediately. Masks are constantly required to be worn by everyone at all possible times. Despite all of the challenges, we are and will do everything possible to beat the odds. During actual show dates, we will have the audience members in the Breen Center split up by families and socially distant. We hope to see you there! 

Will Thanksgiving be ruined by COVID?

By Patrick O’Neill ‘23 

Last year, as the fourth Thursday of November approached, students and their families prepared for the 3-day break. Lavish assortments of food, football games, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and the Turkey Bowl are all hallmarks for the Thanksgiving season. Yet, with the pandemic’s remaining presence and an upsurge in cases, could Thanksgiving be in jeopardy? 

Several interviews with students provided information on this year’s Thanksgiving plans. One student remarked, “I had a trip to Michigan planned to visit out-of-town family members, but, ultimately, it has been cancelled due to the uncertainty of this virus. We really don’t have any definite plans for Thanksgiving.” Another classmate stated, “I am having a much smaller Thanksgiving celebration compared to last year. My family is pretty big, so we are trying to be safe by splitting ourselves into multiple, much smaller groups. We are trying to only partake in necessary occasions leading up to Thanksgiving in order to ensure it isn’t spent over Zoom, like Easter.”

On the entertainment spectrum of celebration, The Macy’s Thanksgiving has been officially canceled by Bill de Blasio, New York City’s mayor. It is still unsure if the Cleveland tradition, known as the Turkey Bowl, will join the rest of the Thanksgiving festivities’ year out of the spotlight as well. If the impending cancellation of Thanksgiving is upon us, the holiday season will not feel as special without friends and family. 

Saint Ignatius Set to Transition to Virtual Learning

In an announcement and email Friday morning, Principal Dr. Fior broke the news that Saint Ignatius classes will transition online for the week prior to Thanksgiving vacation. Dr. Fior said in a letter emailed to parents, “Today marks the successful completion of 58 days of in person learning. The partnership between the school, parents, and students has successfully enabled us to stay in school. Simply put: that is incredible and everyone needs to be acknowledged for their efforts. All of us are well aware of the surging numbers across Cuyahoga County, the state of Ohio, and throughout the United States. Over the last four weeks our internal numbers — of both positive cases and quarantines — have more than doubled as a result of external community spread.”

Additionally, in a statement posted on the school’s website the administration said “Effective Monday, November 16th, Saint Ignatius High School will pivot to our Off Campus schedule for one week. During the week of Thanksgiving break, students will not be required to attend virtual classes. Monday, November 23 to Friday, November 27 is now an extended Thanksgiving break. Our plan is to resume in person learning on Monday, November 30, returning with our current On Campus schedule. Campus will remain open and in season extracurriculars will continue until further notice. Coaches and moderators will reach out to students regarding practices and meetings. Families should continue reporting any positive or suspected COVID-19 cases to Mr. Brian Martin ’94 and Mr. Brad Ganor throughout the next two weeks by completing this form.”

This is a developing story and will be updated shortly. Please check back for more details. 

Welsh Academy Goes Virtual for Two Weeks After Student Tests Positive for COVID-19

Building behind leaves
The Welsh Academy's new building which opened in October. Photo via Nathan Kuczmarski '22.

By Nathan Kuczmarski ’22 and Terry McCafferty ’22

After several months without any COVID-19 cases, a student at The Welsh Academy has tested positive for the virus this past Tuesday. Because of the small size of the school– under 50 students–this single case led to more than 15% of the student body to be quarantined. As previously outlined in guidelines given by the school, this percentage surpassed the threshold required to move students online. In response, the school has followed through on these procedures in a push to maintain safety.

This story is still developing. Please check back for updates.

Wildcat Weekly | Fall Sports Closing Down

Kurt and Bobby wrap up the seasons for golf, football, and cross country. They also preview the soccer's final rounds in their quest for the championship before toasting Mr. Ginley and his new job at JCU. 

Saint Ignatius Chorus sings “River in Judea”

By Darien Kulchytsky ‘21

Though there have been many setbacks in terms of singing, the Saint Ignatius Chorus, against all odds, has been able to assemble together to sing “River in Judea”. The beautiful singing shines brightly as a symbol of hope, hope for a better future. Against all odds, the Chorus, only meeting 2-3 times a week, has been able to assemble this piece for your enjoyment. Kudos to the Chorus and their enthusiastic director, Mr. Croglio.

River In Judea Lyrics

(Jack Feldman/Linda Marcus)

Oftentimes I dream of music,

Of the river that freely flows.

And it sings a song sweeter than honey,

One everybody knows.

Late at night, I hear it singing.

Then again when I wake at dawn.

And it fills me up with hope and goodwill,

The will to go on,

Go on.

(Chorus)

There is a river in Judea

That I heard of long ago.

And it’s a singing, ringing river

That my soul cries out

To know.

I believe it keeps on trav’lin’

But it rests on the Sabbath day.

And the time when it pauses in stillness,

I almost hear it pray.

When I’m weary and downhearted,

How I long for the song it sings,

For the calm within its gentle blue,

The peace that it brings, it brings.

(Chorus)

There is a river in Judea

That I heard of long ago.

And it’s a singing, ringing river

That my soul cries out

To know.

May the time not be too distant

When we meet by the river (meet by the) shore.

‘Til then dream of that wonderful day

As we sing once more, once more:

(Chorus)

There is a river in Judea (hallelu)

That I heard of long ago (hallelu),

It’s a singing, ringing river

That my soul cries out (my soul cries out)

To the river in Judea.

(optional repeat)

Hallelujah!!!

J&G Show | NFL Week 7 Recap and Week 8 Preview

The boys discuss the NFL inside and out leading into week 8. 

Produced by George O'Brien '21. 

How Students Can Make Saint Ignatius Stay In-Person

So you want to stay in person, sports to continue, and other activities to resume? 

By Terry McCafferty ‘22

The decision is increasingly in your hands. It has become clear that in recent weeks the Saint Ignatius High School Administration is reevaluating their previous official COVID policy. At the start of the school year, the official position of the school was to move off campus if Cuyahoga County went from Level 3 (red) to Level 4 (purple) on the Ohio Department of Health’s map OR if between 5-10% of students or 15% of staff are quarantined. From interviews conducted by The Eye with Principal Dr. Fior and Head of Discipline Mr. Franzinger, it has become evident that there is an ongoing conversation within the school’s halls of power over whether classes will remain in person regardless of if the county turns purple, which could very well happen as we head into the fall months. 

Original school policy which is now apparently “on the table” for discussion according to Dr. Fior.

When Dr. Fior was asked point blank by reporter Nathan Kuczmarski ‘22 if he would stand by the school’s original policy, he did not answer in the affirmative and instead said, “I think we should consider everything on the table.” When pressed on if this should be interpreted as there being a possibility that the school would continue if the county turns purple but the Governor didn’t mandate otherwise, he conceded “there is always a chance.” 

Mr. Franzinger went even further in calling into question the original official school policy saying, “Are we beholden to the county’s numbers or more so our own communities numbers? I think we’ve done a great job, so we should for those efforts hopefully be able to stay.”

If the leaders of our school are possibly willing to prioritize internal numbers over county numbers as long as our internal numbers remain low, every individual student’s impact on the future of the school year increases drastically. Every COVID case Saint Ignatius has takes us one step closer to going online. 

Therefore, there is no better time than now to double down on our efforts to remain healthy. So far, based on both anecdotal evidence from the principal and our continued low COVID counts, the students and teachers have been doing a relatively good job following the safety guidelines. However, if we want to stay in person, sports to continue, and other activities to resume, we must continue to be persistent about wearing masks, constantly wash hands, and physically distance as much as possible. But that is just the easy part. If we want to really make a difference, we have to lead the way and help others make the same responsible decisions. Don’t be afraid to remind others to follow these rules when they forget. 

“Men for others” is more than just a slogan, it is what Ignatian men aspire to be. Dr. Fior mentioned that mask wearing was a clear example of being a “man for others” and was also an “act of charity.” This is our chance. This is your chance. In these fall months, being a man for others isn’t hard. You don’t need to be martyred. You don’t have to give away everything you own to the poor. You don’t have to start a big charity or lead some extensive operation. All you have to do is keep keeping yourself and others safe and be more persistent in encouraging your peers to do the same. 

This is our test, our mission is clear. Can our school continue to overcome this enduring challenge of staying healthy into the fall months and holidays? The choice is yours.

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About The Eye

The Eye is the student-led publication of Saint Ignatius High School.

Editors-in-Chief: Kelly Coleman '23, Young Kim '23 & Aidan Oliss '23