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Ursuline’s 10 seniors earn coach’s credit
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo
Ursuline Head Coach Dan Reardon dodges water, as #55 Ronald Green and #20 Craig Ulicny look on. The Ursuline Irish achieved their primary season goal: to win the state title for a record third-straight time. The Fighting Irish had an impressive end to their season with a 51-21 victory over Coldwater in the Division V State Championship game at Canton's Fawcett Stadium Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010.
By Greg Gulas
BOARDMAN
Less than 48 hours after his football team became the sixth in Ohio High School Athletic Association history to accomplish a “three-peat,” Ursuline’s Dan Reardon reflected on the Fighting Irish’s storybook season.
Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly luncheon meeting at the Blue Wolf Banquet Center, Reardon noted that senior leadership played a big part in this year’s championship run.
Stability on his staff has been equally important, which has resulted in four consecutive title game appearances.
“There were 10 seniors on this year’s team and all had excellent seasons.” Reardon said. “When last season ended, this group took it upon themselves to make sure that no one forgot the importance of this year’s theme and overall goal.”
The Irish are 53-6 over the past four years, adding two undefeated campaigns (2010 and 2008) and a runner-up crown.
They joined Delphos St. John, Cleveland St. Ignatius, Newark Catholic, Cincinnati Moeller and Versailles as the only schools in the state to win three consecutive crowns.
All 10 seniors were four-year letterwinners under Reardon, while six of those players earned all-state honors.
Running back Akise Teague and linebackers Zach Conlan and Kevin Thurston were First-Team All-State selections, while tight end/linebacker Jordan Markota, offensive lineman Pete Wearsch and wide receiver/safety Jeff Podolsky earned either second-team or honorable mention laurels as well.
Quarterback Paul Kempe, tight end/linebacker Corbin Adams, guard/defensive end Mike Zappa and defensive back Frank Dundee were the other four seniors.
In the process, Teague became the second player from the Mahoning Valley to earn the title “Mr. Football” in the state and will visit the University of Cincinnati this weekend.
He also has two other visits scheduled that will take him to the University of Wisconsin and Penn State.
Reardon said that the team’s senior leadership was no accident.
“Our seniors got to play in 20 extra games over the last four years while our underclassmen also got plenty of extra reps in both practice and during the postseason,” Reardon said. “When that happens you have a chance to be very successful.
“As for my staff, stability goes a long way in developing a program,” Reardon said. “We’re on the same page, philosophy-wise and that makes it significantly easier when you are a head coach.”