A few weeks ago, the Wednesday Journal honored the Oak Park and River Forest High School wrestling team as its Team of the Year based on the Huskies’ glittering resume, highlighted by a 28-0 record, multiple tournament titles, second straight Class 4A state championship and No. 1 national ranking in 2015.
If such an honor was given to a local middle school, the St. Giles 8th grade boys basketball team would be a worthy recipient. Actually, the Lions have demonstrated a commitment to court excellence over the past four years.
During that span, the Lions finished 86-0 in the Classic League and 167-20 overall. The team also owns four Classic League championships and three St. John Vianney regular season and tournament titles.
“The key to our success is all of the hard work we put into practice,” St. Giles player Lucas Kolovitz said. “The effort we put into practice really shows on the court during our games.”
Depth and chemistry have triggered the team’s winning ways.
“Our whole team is very good,” St. Giles player Max Barnett said. “Ever since fifth grade, we have always had really talented players. [Classic league rival] St. Luke had three or four good players, but we had an entire team full of talent. That was probably the key to our success against the other Classic League teams.”
“We all stuck together throughout the years and we’re all friends,” he added. “We’ve stayed together no matter what and helped each other out through all four years. I think we knew that we could defeat any team that came our way. Everyone on this team is my friend. Guys never got angry at each other or had any disagreements. We all just wanted to help each other and help improve each other’s game.”
The Lions’ league dominance is particularly impressive, considering the wide array of area teams, including many with rich basketball traditions. The Classic League is comprised of the following teams: St. Giles, Divine Providence, St. Bernadine, St. Edmund, St. Luke, St. Vincent, St. Barbara, Divine Infant, St. Celestine, St. William, St. Louise and St. Mary (Riverside).
Along with stars like Kolovitz and Barnett, Ryan Jackson, Owen Mackinnon, Nick Segovia, Ethan Forded, Jarron Long, Merrick Silvis, Brendan Nelson, Fernando Flores, Nathan Laboe, David Arnett, and Kyle Huback contributed for St. Giles.
This year, the team flourished in tournament competition by earning three runner-up finishes in the 8th grade tournament, Al Allen OPRF Village Tournament and the Fenwick Tournament. Other notable results the past season included a third-place showing in the Bob Barnes tourney and a final four appearance in the Whitney Young Tournament.
In 2014, they won the Fenwick tourney, finished second at the Barnes tourney and placed third in the Wolfpack Village Tournament as 7th graders. They also claimed the St. Patrick High School tourney title in 2013.
Although Kolovitz is looking forward to attending Fenwick as a three-sport athlete in the fall, he’s already fondly reminiscent of his time as part of a very special team at St. Giles.
“I loved having fun with all of my teammates,” he said. “Sharing the experience with them is what made everything that we accomplished special.”
