OLM Basketball Wraps Up Season, Holds Awards Banquet
The OLM Parish and School Basketball Program recently completed its season and by all accounts, it was another very successful season for the OLM basketball teams. Participating in the Catholic Athletic League (CAL), OLM fielded 10 competitive teams comprised of a total of 102 players. This included 7 school teams and three parish teams. Saturday mornings in the OLM gym have traditionally featured the instructional league and this year was no different as 20 youngsters worked with volunteer coaches, learning the basics of the game. OLM had four teams play in the developmental league where records are not kept and 5 out of the 6 remaining competitive teams qualified for the state playoffs by finishing the regular season ranked in the top 4 of their respective divisions. The Girls 7th/8th Grade School Team captured the D2 Grammar Division State Championship. The Boys Junior Division 1 Parish Team (6th grade) lost in the first round to top- ranked St. Augustine. The Boys Grammar D2 (7th grade boys) had a first round bye and lost a hard-fought battle to St. Peter’s in the semifinal. Finally, Boys Grammar D1 (8th grade) beat Good Shepherd in the opening round and then lost to St. Philomena in the semifinals.
At the OLM Basketball Awards Banquet on Sunday, April 8, each coach awarded a team MVP that was chosen by the team’s players. In addition, the Catholic Values Awards were given to honor those athletes who exhibited humility, sportsmanship, compassion and teamwork throughout the season. Those awards were chosen by the coaches of each team.. Prior to the banquet, players and their families attended mass together at OLM Church. The highlight of the evening came with Mr. David Lynch’s speech at the end of the banquet where he honored the late Mr. Todd Youngs as the MVP for his 8th grade team. All 14 players voted for him, making him the unanimous winner. Todd served as an assistant coach for his son’s 8th grade team and was a head coach for several OLM teams over the past few seasons.
With a tradition of excellence in Catholic elementary and middle school education since 1951, Our Lady of Mercy School offers its students an opportunity to pursue excellence in academics, athletics and the arts. Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the Pre-K through Grade 8, co-educational Catholic school located in East Greenwich provides a nurturing, values-driven environment built upon the teachings of the Catholic Church.
OLM Basketball 2018 Awards
Team (Coach) MVP Catholic Values
Boys 3rd (Knudson) Michael Brugnoli Grant Beland
Boys 3rd (Egan) — Harrison Kairnes
Boys 4th (Couto) Jacoby Basler Dylan Madritch
Boys 5th (Carll) Quinn O’Connell Quinn Legault
Boys 6th (Thomas) Ryan Thomas Christian Butera
Boys 7th (Igoe) Connor Caldwell Jake Kopech
Boys 8th (Lynch) Mr. Todd Youngs Patrick Torres
Girls 3-4 (Brookfield) Elizabeth Hamil Jacqueline Mattos
Girls 5-6 (Mita) Ava Paletta Ava Sullivan
Girls 7-8 (Verdi) Meghan Pagliaro Nicole Cretella and Hannah Wind
