The DeSmet game changed the landscape of the Weekly Most Improved Player award in two ways:
- It was the first game in which more than one player was selected; thereby demonstrating the fact that these Cadets are serious about their football.
- It was the first game in which any Cadet has pulled off the REPEAT selection....Double Congratulations to you Kevin Gerwitz!
Typically the email from the coaching staff arrives sometime during the middle of the week following the game, so I was pleasantly surprised to receive this week's email on Saturday (another indication of how much these Cadets are ramping up their efforts). Never having had it happen that more than one Cadet was selected, I was surprised to say the least to find not one but three names and one of them a repeat awardee to boot. I quickly sent each Cadet their personal notification that they had received this honor, and waited impatiently for each of them to complete their questionnaires so that I could write this post.
Check out the video below [click play button two times] to get a better feel for why this week's three chosen Cadets, Gerwitz, Rallo, and Coleman were chosen. In a single play [believe it or not, captured quite unexpectedly by me during the Mehlville game], you can see Gerwitz pull to create an extended hole, Rallo lead the ball carrier to it and through it, while Coleman blocks to make sure that there is minimal interference on the run!This is the kind of effort that the coaches saw in the DeSmet game that led to these three Cadets being selected as the week's Most Improved Players. Here is your chance to become a bit more familiar with each of them.
The first Most Improved Player this week is our first repeat awardee, Junior Cadet Kevin Gerwitz! It goes without saying that Kevin is a hard-working, dedicated member of our team, but I wonder if even he realized how much the effort he is giving is recognized and appreciated by our coaches and fans alike. Other members of the team when asked about Kevin seem to have the exact same perception of Kevin's work ethic as do the coaches. Once again during the DeSmet game as he did during the Hazelwood East game, Kevin gave his all in the team's attempt to have that game end up in the Win column. It is obvious from this selection that the fact that the game did not end up in the Win column had little to do with Kevin! Kevin, we were already proud of you, but THIS definitely takes that pride to a whole other level. Keep up the great work and continue to motivate us all to step it up!!
Having already completed the questionnaire the first time he was the recipient of this honor, I have not asked Kevin to complete it again.....you can read his original questionnaire here if you missed it before. However, I did ask Kevin to answer a couple of questions from the questionnaire again as they are specific to the game for which the award is won. Here are Kevin's vitals and his answers to those questions.
Name: Kevin Gerwitz
Nickname: Gerber Baby
Ht: 6'1" Wt: 210
Position: OG/DT
Varsity Number: 68
Parents: Paul and Jennifer Gerwitz
Motto/Quote to live/play by: Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in always rising when we fall.
QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES (amended):
Other than you, who on the team do you feel deserved this honor for the game in which you earned it and why?
-I felt that Ryan Jenkins also deserved this honor. He stepped up his game and brought mine along. He deserves this as much, possibly even more than me.
Would you like to give a special someone a "shout-out"? Here's your chance....
-I would like to thank my Dad, Mom, Sister and Grandparents. They have continually supported me through everything. I appreciate your constant support every day.
Our next Most Improved Player is Sophomore Cadet Derek Rallo!!! Derek is definitely a huge asset for the team even though he is the youngest player on the Varsity roster. Derek is one of those players who maximizes his time on the field at all times. It is truly surprising to see such dedication from such a young player.
Derek's eagerness to make a difference can be seen whether he is opening up holes for the running backs or providing protection from opponents. The energy that comes from this particular Cadet could power a small town! A prolific team player, Derek has earned the respect of his older colleagues through hard work and a never say die attitude that will most likely translate into a leadership position on future Varsity Cadet teams!
Derek had a few things to say that will lend a bit more insight into who he really is!
Name: Derek Rallo
Nickname: Dare Bear
Ht: 5'11" Wt: 200
Position: FB/LB
Varsity Number: 8
Parents: Michael and Karen Rallo
Motto/Quote to live/play by: The game isn't over until its over.
QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES:
Are you surprised to receive this honor? Why or why not?
-Yes, I’ve been working really hard to try and keep improving and not lose my starting spot so this really means a lot to me.
What are your personal football goals for this year?
-I would like to keep improving on my blocking to where I execute most all of my blocks. I would like to get a touchdown or two also. On defense I would like to lead the team in tackles. For the team I want us to win the MCC and make it to the playoffs and we can see how it goes from there.
Do you have a football “HERO”? Who is it and why is he your hero?
-Not really a famous football hero but my brothers Mike and Ryan help me out a whole lot. They both were great players at CBC and they try to help me out and give pointers with whatever they can.
Other than you, who on the team do you feel deserved this honor for the game in which you earned it and why?
-I feel Kevin Gerwitz deserved this award as well. He played really well on the offensive line. He had 6 pancakes, came off the ball well, and completed most of his blocks.
Would you like to give a special someone a “shout-out”? Here’s your chance…
-I would like to thank all the coaches for helping to improve my game over the course of this season. Also most important, thanks to my teammates for supporting me and teaching me how to win.
This week's final Most Improved Player is Junior Cadet Stephen Coleman!!! To date, Steve is the Cadet who has been the most vocal on this blog and for that, I once again offer him my gratitude. On the field, Steve is a consistent hard worker who tries every day during every practice drill to improve his game.
The DeSmet game produced a zeal amongst our Cadets that had not previously been seen [as the number of Cadets chosen this week demonstrates]. The very first person chosen as Most Improved Player from this game was Steve, because of the extra effort he demonstrated on each and every play in which he participated. Steve pushed himself to step up his game on both sides of the ball and it showed!! Last night at the Chaminade game, I had the pleasure of sitting near this Cadet's family. They were speaking of never truly having had an athlete in the family before; well now they most definitely do! Here is your chance to become more familiar with this phenomenal Cadet!!
Name: Stephen Coleman
Ht: 6'2" Wt: 220
Position: TE/LB
Varsity Number: 81
Parents: Steve & Bridget Coleman
Motto/Quote to live/play by: Watch me Crank that Soulja Boy!
QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES:
Are you surprised to receive this honor? Why or why not?
-Yes, I am very surprised to get this honor. I thought that I played much better this week but I would never think I'd be recognized for it.
What are your personal football goals for this year?
-This year I would like to make a defensive touchdown. I think intercepting a pass and then running it back for a touchdown would be amazing.
Do you have a football “HERO”? Who is it and why is he your hero?
-No response received.
Other than you, who on the team do you feel deserved this honor for the game in which you earned it and why?
-Everyone stepped up their game for DeSmet, everyone knew that they had to play better after the Mehlville game and I think that everyone did. So to pick out one person from the team would be difficult.
Would you like to give a special someone a “shout-out”? Here’s your chance...
-I’d just like to take this opportunity to say thanks to all the CBC football fans that come to every game, it means a lot. And I’d like to give a shout-out to my Grandmother; she is my biggest fan and comes to every game, every week.
**Cadet Carpe Diem Most Improved Players are selected by the Varsity Football Coaching Staff based on noted improvement from week to week**
Ryan is a charmer of mothers (his own and others such as his "lenient Mom" Maureen Flachs); he is an as yet undiscovered comedian, and if he has his way, he is a future college football standout! Ryan is well known throughout CBC as one of its premiere visual artists and has future aspirations to become a cartoonist or graphic designer.
He is also an accomplished pianist who plays beautifully by ear and is currently enrolled in his very first piano and music theory classes both of which he adores.
This is one of Matt's senior photographs, and its almost supernatural-like quality tickles me as the most amusing thing about Matt in my opinion is his almost fanatically superstitious nature when it comes to football. Whether it be wearing the exact same article of clothing for every game to eating the same meal at the same place at the same time each week prior to the game, I don't believe I have ever met a more superstitious kid than Matt Happe!
As she stood in the stands offering her wares, one particularly fun-loving Cadet of yesteryear, Mr. Paul Reynolds took one of the extensions and without hesitation placed it upon his own head! He followed this surprising move with an even more shocking one as he took up the Mom-provided Pom Pons [dreaded by men everywhere] and promptly began to shake them like he just didn't care! This kindred spirit of truly vocal fans everywhere even went so far as to chastise the two loudest mouths in the stands (Ann Luberda and myself Sharon Jenkins) for not cheering with enough bodaciousness and consistency. To say the least, I was stopped in my tracks....but how could I possibly argue with a fan of this magnitude? I had to admit that he definitely demonstrated that he knows the world of "fan-dom" as well or better than any of us, so instead of trying to defend ourselves, Ann and I stepped up our game. Like the saying goes, "If you can't beat'em...."
And Kids painted their faces,
[Check out Thursday's Cadet FAN-tastic update for more on this subject!].
There has been some buzz around the CBC campus this fall about something being missing from football this season. For several weeks, as hard as we all have tried, we just could not seem to put a finger on exactly what that "something" was. Then, as if by some sort of "Divine Intervention" intervening, the missing element was elucidated....
Thanks in advance for your help!
