St. Joseph School's 8th grade Boys' A1 team and Girls' A teams swept the 10th Annual Downers Grove Mayor's Goodwill Classic Basketball Tournament in January. Tournament play hosted by Walker Athletics Sports Complex in Lisle included 14 middle school teams and included a first-year girls bracket.
St. Joseph 8th grade girls took this first title in the division on a three-pointer at the buzzer in overtime by tournament MVP Maggie Johnson edging Jefferson Junior High of Woodridge 17-15 in the final game. “I was excited to see us outlast our opponents and put together such a poised, controlled effort for that final shot,” said coach Daina Cyvas. “Going the full court distance with only eight seconds left, the girls pulled together a real team effort.”
Girls All-Tourney Team included St. Joseph's Johnson, and Megan Kitz, Jefferson’s Jenny Adams and Jami Haasl, St. Joan of Arc’s Megan O’Connor and St. Mary of Gostyn’s Madeleine Sanderson. Jefferson’s Jaida Green was given the Girls Sportsmanship Award.
St. Joseph’s girls team was coached by Cyvas and Kelly Scheid. Additional team members were Marija Cyvas, Jillian Gaydos, Shannon Kennedy, Monica Lim, Clare Morrison, Daina Polikaitis, Lucy Provenzale and Francesca Tiballi.
The Boys Tournament play gave St. Joseph School the title with a 49-44 win over Herrick Middle School. St. Joseph tournament MVP David Edwards scored 14 points in the tournament game.
This tournament win brought the St. Joseph 8A1 team’s winning-streak to 44 over the past 2 ½ seasons. Coach Miles Farley is proud of his team. “The boys really play hard. They have learned to play well together and that is the part I am most proud of.”
The Boys All-Tourney Team included Miles Farley and Eddie Fitzgerald along with Herrick’s Danny Bartkowiak and Jamal Cox, and Eisenhower’s Manats Augustinavicius. Jefferson’s Alex Bielawa was honored with the boys Sportsmanship Award.
St. Joseph’s Boys team was coached by Myles Farley and Joe Fitzgerald. Additional team members were William Falotico, Patrick Geraghty, Evan Jakobsze, Jack Mc Ginnis and Charles Norgle.
Tournament play included 14 teams from Eisenhower Jr. High (Darien), Herrick Middle School, Lakeview Jr. High, O’Neill Middle School, St Joseph School, St Mary of Gostyn (Downers Grove), St Joan of Arc (Lisle), St Michael School (Wheaton) and Jefferson Jr. High (Woodridge).
The event is sponsored by Walker Athletics Sports Complex in Lisle and Briggs Paving of Downers Grove as well as the DGN boys varsity coach Jim Thomas, Downers Grove State Senator/Mayor Ron Sandack and numerous parent volunteers.
