CYC Sports

 3 BIG CYC NIGHTS AT COLLEGE BASKETBALL GAMES

FIRST - Sunday, December 13th at 2pm         SLU Women host Indiana at Chaifetz Arena                   Come watch this early season clash between Saint Louis University, A-12 upstarts taking on Big 10 power, Indiana.  Best of all, Kids wearing CYC Jerseys get in FREE.  CYC families and friends can get tickets for only $4 if they call the SLU Ticket Office at 314 977-1260 before 5pm Friday, December 11th.  There will be Pre- game and Halftime contests.  If your CYC team wants to participate in the contests, have your coach contact Buzz at 314 792-7604.

SECOND - Saturday, February 27th at 7pm at Chaifetz Arena        SLU Men host Duquesne                A young SLU Billiken men's basketball team host A-12 rival Duquesne in a late season match-up which could have a spot in the post season conference tournament on the line.  All CYC tickets (Kids, family and friends) are only $9, but there is a limited supply of these seats.  It is first come, first serve for these CYC seats.  To reserve a seat call the Billiken Ticket Office at 314 977-1260 and ask for the CYC tickets.  No CYC tickets will be sold after 5pm Friday, February 26th.  Kids please wear your CYC jerseys!  If your CYC team wants to participate in the pregame contests have your coach contact Buzz at 314 792-7604.

THIRD - Saturday, March 13 at 5 & 7:30pm at the Family Arena   Mo Valley Women's Championships See two exciting Missouri Valley Women's Basketball Semifinal games in St. Charles at the Family Arena.  This is another WEAR YOUR JERSEY AND GET IN FREE game, and tickets for family and friends are only $5 each. 

Ticket procedure for this is a little different.  To reserve BOTH complementary and paid discount CYC tickets you must contact Buzz Swanston at the CYC Office.  You can either call him at 314 792-7604 or e-mail him at buzzswanston@archstl.org   Tickets must be reserved by Friday February 26th.  Tickets will be paid for and picked up on gameday at the Family Arena Box Office.  Mo Valley is asking everyone to bring a donation of a personal hygiene item for the April Showers Campaign. 

One last item, with these games, we are inviting you and your CYC team to "Adopt a Mo Valley Team" this season.  As your team goes through your season, follow one of the women's Mo Valley teams through their season.  Learn about their players, read about the team online, and follow the team through their website.  When you reserve your tickets, let us know which team you have adopted.  Then come to Semifinal Saturday with signs to support your team!  We will have some prizes for the Best Signs in the Arena!!!  

We want to thank the folks that brought these 3 Random Acts of Sportsmanship (RAS) to our attention, and we encourage each of you to keep your eyes open for other RAS, especially now, during Playoffs and Spirit Games.  If you see something, simply e-mail the description to buzzswanston@archstl.org. 

1 - Casey McClure, 3rd grade boys soccer coach for St. Mary Magdalen was nominated by an opposing coach for his actions in a game back in October.  When the officials did not show up, Casey volunteered to referee a soccer game between his team and St. Gerard Majella.  Volunteering to officiate meant all the boys would still get to play the game.  But Casey showed great integrity when he had to call a penalty kick against his own team in a close game.  Then add to that, after his team lost a close game, each of his players made it a point to congratulate the St. Gerard players and say what a great game it was.  The St. Gerard players, coaches and parents were so impressed by this.  St. Gerard coach Paul Ruzicka said, "we are a better team because of the sportsmanship Casey and his players showed us today."  Thank you Casey and the St. Mary Magdalen soccer team for representing CYC Sports in such a wonderful way.

2 - In early fall, St. Elizabeth - St. Robert soccer parent and basketball coach Chris Arger passed away.  His daughter, Annelise plays on the 8th grade soccer team for SESR.  Before one of Annelise's soccer game this past October, Immaculate Conception - Dardenne coach, Jim Boyd, presented Annelise a memorial plaque honoring her father.  A number of parents e-mailed how incredibly touching and moving the gesture was.  We thank Jim Boyd and his ICD team for their Act of Sportsmanship and of Kindness.  Proving once again that there is so much more to CYC sports than the game itself.

3 - Ryan Janasik is a freshman at Kirkwood high school.  He plays soccer for the Pioneers, and grew up playing CYC soccer for St. Peters in Kirkwood.  Ryan took his Civics assignment to heart and elevated his Random Act of Sportsmanship to the International level.  While looking for a service project Ryan found the Soccer for Life Foundation, which provides soccer uniforms and equipment to poor children in Honduras.  When Ryan looked at the Soccer for Life website he saw kids kicking around a ball that was only rags tied together with string.  He saw children with no shoes or socks, with worn out shorts and shirts.  He wanted to help them play the game he loves.  So he made a plea to all the CYC parishes for donations of old jerseys and balls.  Ryan was overwhelmed with the responses he has received.  He has spent the last 6 weeks collecting uniforms, balls and equipment.  So thank you to all those parishes who pitched in to help Ryan.  To date Ryan has collected about 2900 uniforms!!!  He plans on sending them in December.  So it is not too late to donate, just e-mail buzzswanston@archstl.org and he will put you in touch with Ryan.  Although this RAS did not take place during a game, it will affect many lives and games in the future.  Great job Ryan!!!    

On November 7th and 8th a seminar was held in Rome.  The theme was 'Sport, Education and Faith: a new season for Catholic Sport Associations.'  Pope Benedict XVI had this message for the attendees, "Through sporting activities the ecclesial community contributes to the formation of young people, providing an environment appropriate for their human and spiritual growth.  Indeed, sporting initiatives - when aimed at the integral development of the individual and administered by qualified and competent personnel - represent a fruitful opportunity for priests, religious and lay people to become real educators and life-teachers for the young."

"Thus it is necessary", the Holy Father added, "that in our own time - when there is a pressing need to educate the new generations - the Church should continue to support sport for the young, making full use of sporting activity in its positive aspects such as, for example, the capacity to simulate competitiveness, courage and tenacity in pursuing goals."

In conclusion, Pope Benedict XVI highlighted how, "through co-ordinated educational activities, managers, trainers and Catholic workers must present themselves as experienced guides for adolescents, helping them to develop their sporting potential without overlooking those human qualities and Christian virtues that bring the individual to full maturity." 

It's official!  Online ID Cards are here!  

You are now able to apply for your card from home. No more having to drive across town after missing the ID session last week at your parish. No more standing in the long lines two weeks or the night before the season starts. Do it from home, school, library or work.

For those of you that do not have access to a computer, you can still obtain your card by attending a scheduled ID Card session. These sessions will no longer be held at the parishes, but will be scheduled at the CYC Office location.

To purchase your new Online CYC ID Card, click here or on the 'ID Cards' tab above.

Those that bundled up and braved the cold and the wind on CYC Night at the SLU Women's soccer game were treated to a 2-1 Billiken victory.  Both goals were scored by former CYC players.  The first half goal was scored by freshman Maggie Baumann off a corner kick from another former CYC player Ashley Brazill.  The goal was the first of Maggie's career at SLU.  Midway through the second half, CYCer, Susan Frederickson lofted a perfectly placed free kick from 30 yards out into the upper far corner for her unassisted game winner.   

At halftime the CYC presented "I Played CYC Sports" t-shirts to the 18 former CYC players now on the SLU women's roster.  The presentation was followed by a 12 minute game between the 5th grade girls teams from Sacred Heart and St Bridget's.  We want to thank those girls for representing the CYC at halftime and as ball girls for the game.  Pictures from the night can be seen by joining the "CYC Sports" facebook group.  

There will be CYC Nights at SLU for both Men's and Women's basketball games.  As soon as those dates are agreed upon, they will be announced at this website and at CYC Sports on facebook. 

The CYC fall seasons are a month old and we have received 4 notices of Random Acts of Sportsmanship since the season started.  We would like to thank the folks that submitted these and encourage every player, coach, official and parent to keep your eyes open and let us know about other Random Acts of Sportsmanship you see at your fields and in your gyms.

1. An official at St. Gabriel's gym recognized a RAS when Tom and Bridgette Yehling's entire 3rd grade boys volleyball team from St. Paul's in Fenton (pictured above) went over to both referees after their games and shook the officials' hands and thanked them for officiating their game.  Way to go boys and coaches!!!  We hope you continue that through all your years of CYC sports.
2. Ashley Fite of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta has shown her good sportsmanship by her terrific support of her teammates in both volleyball and soccer.  Why is that so special?  Ashley broke her ankle during the first soccer game of the year, so she hasn't been able to play since then.  Yet she has been to all of the teams' practices and games.  Her upbeat attitude and support is a great example of being a real teammate.  We hope you heal quickly Ashley and continue practicing Random Acts of Sportsmanship. 
3. John Angelbeck, coach of St. Paul's Junior Girls soccer team showed his sportsmanship when his opponents came to their September 27th game with only 9 players.  John evened things out by playing 9 on 9 and giving all the girls a competitive, enjoyable game.  Thank you John for being a class act and exemplifying a RAS. 
4. Finally, we want to recognize St. Joseph of Cottleville 7th grade soccer player, Maddie Glisson (pictured above).  Twice this year Maddie has bypassed the obvious opportunity to score a goal herself, and passed the ball to a teammate, so her teammate could get their first goal of the year.  Congratulations on your unselfishness Maddie, and for the great example of teamwork.  Our guess is your act will lead to many other Random Acts of Sportsmanship.

If you see a RAS, please shoot an e-mail to CYC Sports at buzzswanston@archstl.org so we can recognize all the great sports we have playing CYC Sports.

There has been a lot of questions and requests for cancellation of CYC Sporting Events when conflicting with other Catholic Youth Apostolate events. 

18 SLU Women's soccer players grew up playing CYC sports, and all of them want you to put on your CYC Jersey and come cheer them on Friday, October 16th at 7pm at Hermann Stadium as they take on the George Washington Colonials.  As with the other CYC Nights at SLU you get in FREE if you wear your CYC jerseys, and your friends and parents can get tickets for only $3 by calling 977-1260 (that's a new number) at least one day in advance of the game.  That's a price the whole family can enjoy. 

The hundreds of CYC fans that came to cheer on the SLU Men's Soccer team were treated to a Billiken overtime victory over Clemson on a beautiful goal by sophmore Alex Johnston.  Although St Louis University controlled the play for most of the game they could not put the ball in the net during regulation play.  Both teams hit the crossbar, but scoring threats were far and few between.  Then only 1:57 seconds into the first overtime, Steven Bartolon crossed a throw-in that found the head of the leaping Alex Johnston, who deflected the cross into the far corner.  The golden goal gave the Bills a 1-0 win and improved their record to 5-4.

At halftime of the game, the Billiken Half-Century team was recognized.  These were the best players through the first 50 years of St Louis University soccer.  Twenty-four men were named to the Half Century Team, and twenty-one of them played a CYC sport before heading on to great college soccer careers.  Those honorees are listed below:

Coaches: Bob Guelker (1959-66) (1st CYC Director) and Harry Keough (1967-82)

Goalkeepers: Kevin Johnston (1987-90) and Chuck Zorumski (1972-73)

Defense: Dan Ceresia (1962-64), Joe Clarke (1972-75), Mark Demling (1970-73), Bruce Hudson (1971-74), Kevin Kalish (1997-98), Bob Matteson (1970-73), Bill McKeon (1979-82), Denny Werner (1970-73)        Al Trost (1968-70)

Offense: Dan Counce (1970-73), Carl Gentile (1963-65), John Hayes (1978-81), Ty Keough (1975-78),       Pat McBride (1963-65), Matt McKeon (1992-95), Mike Seerey (1969-72) and Mike Sorber (1989-1992)

Tired of standing in the long lines to obtain your CYC ID Card?

Modern technology has finally reached the playing fields; we are almost there. Starting in early October, you will be able to apply for your CYC ID Card online! For those of you that do not have access to a computer, you can still obtain your card by attending a scheduled ID Card session. These sessions will no longer be held at the parishes, but will be scheduled at the CYC Office location.

You will be able to apply for your card from home. No more having to drive across town after missing the ID session last week at your parish. No more standing in the long lines two weeks or the night before the season starts. Do it from home, school, library or work.

Check back soon for more details!