By Michael Muenchen
Currently, the McNicholas Varsity Football Team is 6-1, with wins over CJ (42-23), Purcell Marian (38-8), Roger Bacon (27-6), KIPP (31-2), and Wheelersburg (34-3), Alter (7-3). Putting them at 76th in the state of Ohio and tied for first in the GCL with Badin High School. McNicholas Varsity Football also leads the GCL in stats, having the most points scored this season, with 195, and 83% winning percentage, the least points allowed with 60. Additionally, their JV team is currently 4-0 (MaxPreps; gclsports.com).
Head coach Mike Orlando said, “We play in a really good league, so every year we have five teams that are, if nothing else are physical, you know, it’s a physically demanding game. You have CJ (Chaminade Julienne). Their style of offense and what they do is always tough. Alter was in the state finals last year and returned a lot of guys. They have a tremendous program. And you’ve got teams like Badin who had a streak and haven’t lost a game to (McNicholas) for like 4 years in a row. So, there are really good teams in our league.”
McNicholas still has three games left in the regular season, and Orlando said it’s difficult to know what opponents could create a problem. “You never know what’s on the horizon, and it’s a week-to-week thing and it could be anybody, sometimes not even the teams you expect, to get yourself into a really tough spot. You hope to play well and play your best and just see what happens the night of the game,” Orlando said.
The Men’s Varsity Soccer team is currently 5-9-1. As of publication, they are 1-3 in their conference. They are ranked 165th in Ohio and have wins over Fenwick (5-0), La Salle (3-2), Oakwood (3-0), Cincinnati Country Day (2-1), and Covington Catholic (2-1). Future opponents include CJ and Roger Bacon. Senior Rollie Gabriel told us that the greatest challenge for the rockets has been “facing GCL teams,” and that fans should expect for them to “turn it around and get some wins.”
The Cross-Country Team, the only co-ed combined fall sport, is coached by Mr. Dan Rosenbaum. “This year has been a challenge for the runners with the changing of coaches. The seniors had run with a different coach for three years and got into routines and had certain expectations and so bringing in a new coach has been a challenge for them. I really appreciate how the team has accepted me and some of my different approaches to training. I have been very proud of how hard this team has worked,” Rosenbaum said.
The last Cross-Country meet was held on Oct. 5, with GCL Championship at Fenwick on Oct. 12. “I was the Cross-Country coach from 1995 until 2011 and have been out of coaching since, so this is my first year back. I have enjoyed the season immensely. I really appreciate the effort that the kids put into Cross-Country. There is no secret to what it takes to be good at this sport. It takes relentless effort on an everyday basis. Our Cross-Country Team has embraced this effort and whatever results come our way, I know that these kids will have achieved the most that they can this season.”
The McNicholas Milestone 