2010 Detroit Catholic Central
Season
The Catholic Central Varsity Academic Team finished off the 2009-2010 season with an impressive showing at the NAQT National Tournament in Chicago, Illinois. The team competed against some of the best academic teams in the country at this invitation only tournament and made it all the way to the quarterfinals, finishing seventh in a field of 200 teams. Representing Catholic Central’s Varsity A team were seniors Matthew Nicholas and Michael Yurko, and juniors David Ciccarelli, Ryan Dillon, Matthew Messana, and Chris Wolfe. Making the Academic Team’s finish at Nationals all the more impressive was the fact that CC returned none of the starters from last year’s A team. Catholic Central’s B team also made the playoffs at NAQT Nationals, being the first B team in school history to make the playoffs at a National Tournament in school history. The B team finished the tournament in the top 25% of all schools competing.
The varsity A team finished its season with an overall record of 168-37. The A team brought home seven individual tournament titles and the freshmen and junior varsity teams earned nine more, for a combined total of 16 tournament victories in four different states for Catholic Central Academic Teams.
The Freshman team coached by first year coach Christopher Gismondi won four tournament championships at the novice division. The Junior Varsity team coached by second year coach Ben Herman won five tournament championships in three different states on the junior varsity level. Considering the successes had by the Freshman and Junior Varsity Teams this year, the Academic Team seems well-positioned to continue its success for several years in the future.
Senior Michael Yurko was given the distinguished honor of being named to the Michigan All-Academic Team. Many other Catholic Central Academic Team players were honored for individual recognition during the course of the regular season. Academic Team members honored for individual performance recognition included seniors Matthew Nicholas and Michael Yurko, junior captain David Ciccarelli, Ryan Dillon, Matthew Messana, sophomores Bobby Dorigo-Jones and Jimmy Haubert.