As winter raged on in Cleveland last week, several Saint Ignatius athletics teams ventured out of the area for top competition and warmer weather.
The baseball and rowing teams took their customary trips south South Carolina, the lacrosse team jetted to California, and the rugby squad headed overseas to South Africa.
For its spring trip, Baseball Cats participated in the Southeastern Baseball Classic in Hartsville, SC. Competing against some of the top teams in the south, the Wildcats finished with a 2-2 record. The team showed off its strong pitching and the bats began to heat up as the trip progressed, bringing a ready attitude for the 2018 season.
The Crew Cats descended to "Camp Bob" in Summerton, SC last week. The team bonded and honed its skills with three practices a day, heading into an always demanding spring schedule. One highlight was a successful scrimmage against Fordham Prep, which allowed the Wildcat Navy to get some early racing experience.
Meanwhile, the Lax Cats headed west to Southern California for a 3-game swing. All things considered, the trip went well, as the Wildcats played all three teams close and walked away with one win. The squad also visited Patrick "Brick" Yarcusko '08 and the pilots at the Naval Air Station on Coronado Island. The warm, California air seemed to follow the Cats, as the team has won two straight since returning home.
The Rugby Cats traveled the farthest – nearly 8,200 miles to Cape Town, South Africa. The team took part in the prestigious Worlds School Festival at Paarl Boys School. The tournament featured some of the best teams in the world, as the Wildcats faced two of South Africa's best teams. The Rugby Cats lost both contests, but visited plenty of cultural and historical sites during a stopover in Istanbul and during downtime in Cape Town.
With all of the teams back in Northeast Ohio, the spring sports season is in full swing for the Wildcats. Stay tuned to @SIHSSports on Twitter and
ignatiuswildcats.com for all spring sports updates!