r3 104928_MCHS Fall06 Nlr - Marian Catholic High School

MARIAN TEAMS EXCEL ON GOLF COURSE, GRIDIRONFore! Success on the golf course wascontagious this fall, as a second place in statefinish for the Marian women in 2005 wasfollowed up by top state performances fromboth the men and women in 2006.Both teams followed up brilliant regularseasons by rolling through the postseason.The women added to their trophy collectionwith conference, regional and sectionalcrowns, nearly capturing another statetrophy with a fourth-place state finish. Themen turned in Marian’s best finish in schoolhistory with an 11th-place state finish.“The men’s and women’s teams hadoutstanding seasons, highlighted byoutstanding state finishes and each teamfeatured a conference champion inSamantha Sloan ’08 and Ben Nichele ’08,”said Jim Mendenhall, who has guided themen’s team for 14 seasons. Each team hadfirst-place and runner-up finishes ininvitationals and the women also wonregional and sectional championships.Seniors who completed outstanding golfcareers included Kate Kotora, LaurenPascarella, Joe Barker, Dan Karwowski,Kyle Panici, Anthony Rosati, TomScrementi and Mike Vanover. “There wasmuch camaraderie between the teams as wecompeted in a Ryder Cup competition thatended in a tie. Both teams are lookingforward to next season,”said Mendenhall.The contagious trend of success translatedto the football field, as the Spartans earnedtheir first IHSA playoff berth since 2003.Marian golfer Ryan Maksimikeyes up a shot during a verysuccessful men’s season (11that the IHSA state tourney).Winning five of its last six regular-seasongames, Marian opened the playoffs with arevenge victory over Homewood-Flossmoorin overtime. The Spartans turned the tableson a 42-28 season-opening loss to theVikings by winning a thrilling 20-14 playoffcontest in overtime.It was no surprise that this group broughtsuccess as the 2006 seniors posted a perfect9-0 ESCC record as freshmen, led by thisfall’s co-ESCC Players of the Year ClifftonGordon (Offense) and Josh Howe (Defense).Running back Gordon finished second onMarian’s all-time charts for both single-seasonMarian junior Sammi Sloanfinished fourth at the IHSAstate tourney.Senior quarterback Jack Krauseheads upfield during theSpartans’ run into theClass 8A playoffs.rushing (1,958 yards) and career rushing(3,274).More good news is forecasted for the winterseason, where men’s basketball will try tobuild on a school-record 22-win campaignand Marian’s second IHSA regional crown inschool history.Meanwhile, the women’s basketball teamgot good news even before it started its bidfor a fifth Elite Eight visit in six years. TheMarian women’s squad was ranked as thearea’s pre-season No. 1 team in the IllinoisTimes, Daily Southtown and Star Newspapers.PERKOVICH TANDEM HITS NATIONAL RANKINGSJohn A. and John B. Perkovich ’92John A. Perkovich, Marian teacher since 1977, and his son, JohnB. Perkovich ’92, began playing the national USTA Father-Sontournament circuit last year. They achieved a ranking of 77th in thecountry and were the only father-son team from Indiana rankednationally. For 25 years, John “A.” was Marian’s varsity tenniscoach. He is currently Director of Tennis for Briar Ridge CountryClub in Schererville, Indiana. John “B.” is a certified PTR tennispro and head pro at Briar Ridge. He is also the head girl’s varsitycoach at Andrean Catholic High School in Merrillville, Indiana.Their competitions have taken them to Cincinnati, Ohio, CherryHills, New Jersey and LaJolla, California.7