"Opponents would have to beat Anna to beat CJ."
That was just one of the many things women's soccer Head Coach Roy Craig had to say about Anna Money '16 before she signed her letter of intent with The University of the Cumberlands. Money was the only senior to take part in National Signing Day, Wednesday, February 3.
"I've always wanted to be a part of this," Money shared. "To sign on National Signing Day is pretty cool."
The 2015 GCL North-winning CJ varsity baseball players spent the first two days of their winter break mentoring and coaching younger baseball players eager to learn more about the sport.
The CJ baseball winter camp was split into two sessions this year; one for students in Grades 3-5 and the other for students in Grades 6-8.
"We thought it would be better to split the campers up that way they can focus on what they are able to do ability-wise," said CJ assistant varsity baseball coach Mike Hoendorf '03.
On Friday, December 18, in front of a sold out crowd of students, parents, alumni, and supporters, head men's basketball coach Joe Staley '72 was recognized for his 400th win at CJ.
"The team would not be the same without Joe," said assistant varsity coach Charlie Szabo '98. "We have had a good tradition, but this current CJ basketball is all him - he has built this."
Staley came back to CJ to be the head men's basketball coach in 1985. His first game was against Carroll, the same school the Eagles defeated on Friday with a score of 57-50.
"In order to win, you have to have strength."
R.D. Caldwell Junior knows a thing or two about what it takes to have strength. Caldwell, the 2014 NPC Mr. Universe middleweight and overall champion, recently spoke with the CJ wrestling team and shared his nutrition tips along with what motivates him.
"I saw Caldwell recently at the YMCA," shared CJ Wrestling Head Coach Larry Dryden. "I have known him since he was in grade school. So when I saw him, I asked him to talk to the wrestlers about proper nutrition; but I believe they got a whole lot more out of his talk."
The second senior of the award-winning 2015 women's golf team signed her letter of intent on Tuesday, November 24.
Ellie Cronin '16 will be playing golf for Cleveland State University next year.
"I like that it's in the city," said Cronin. "My sister went there too so I think it's cool that I can have a shot to go where she went."
CJ women's golf coach George Menker '55 said Cronin was one of the top players he has seen in the women's golf program's entire existence.
From trips to state, to big plays and wins over competitors, the fall sports season at CJ was an exciting one. Learn more below about the accomplishments and coaches' thoughts on the season.
Update: On Saturday, October 17, the women's golf team placed third in the DII state tournament. The team score was a 698, the fourth lowest score in CJ women's golf history. Individually, Ellie Cronin '16 placed third overall in the tournament.
On Friday, October 16, Kelly Pleiman lost 6-2; 6-1 to the defending state champion. Congratulations on a great season Kelly and the women's golf team!
Road to State
The women's golf team has had five players in the past nine years continue their athletic career after CJ. On Monday, October 12, Lizzi Yeazel '16 became the sixth women's golfer to sign-on to continue playing in college.
Yeazel signed her letter of intent to play at St. Mary of-the-Woods College, located northwest of Terre Haute, Indiana. She is going to the school to study music therapy.
For CJ's football team, being a part of the program is more than running plays on the field. It is also about developing young men as future leaders in school, in their relationship with God, and in the community.
Recently, several Eagle football players attended a SportsLeader Rosary Rally at the University of Dayton. Other football players from area Catholic high schools, including Alter, Bishop Fenwick, Carroll, Sidney Lehman, and Springfield Central Catholic, also attended the event.
While Cincinnati Reds fans are looking forward to the upcoming All-Star Game being played at Great American Ball Park, CJ baseball players and fans are excited to play ball again, thanks to major renovations at Howell Field.
The ball park had a significant facelift, with new fencing, infield dirt, dugouts and more, thanks in part to a $5 million commitment from the Reds and Major League Baseball to upgrade nine Greater Cincinnati ball fields.
