SENIOR SPOTLIGHT....Tim Massey

The subject of this Senior Spotlight feature is in many ways more dedicated to Cadet Football than most anyone. Tim Massey lives in Illinois, and consequently must awaken hours before the sun does in order to attend morning practices when they are scheduled.

One of the players on the team who everyone else looks up to, Tim's skills as a lineman are legendary on the Varsity Football team. As if his own dedication to the Cadets was not enough, Tim's younger brother also contributes to the team's success by providing hydration on the field during games. I sense a legacy developing!

A huge asset to the team in more ways than one, read on to get to know Tim Massey better!

Name: Tim Massey

Nickname: Hey Right Tackle!

Ht: 6'0" Wt: 260

Varsity Number: 62

Parents: Tim and Soraya Massey

Motto: "You betta recognize!"

QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES:

What are your plans following graduation? (If planning to attend college, what are your top 3 choices?)

-I plan to attend college, my top three choices are: Catholic University of America (D.C.), Benedictine University (Chicago), Knox College (Galesburg IL)

Do you plan to play football in college?

-Maybe, if I get enough interest.

What are your personal FOOTBALL goals for the season?

-Score a defensive touchdown. Score higher than a 95% on blocking.

Who is your personal "Hero" (football or other) and why?

-My dad because his is always patient and supportive.

Would you like to give a special someone a "shout-out"? Here is your chance....

-Hey Mom and Dad....Hey Emily!

URGENT! Media Guide Ads

Those wishing to have a personal message to your Cadet or the team or an advertisement included in the 2007 Football Media Guide should plan to turn in their order forms during the game against DeSmet this Friday night. In order to begin the work of formatting the guide to be delivered to the printer, ALL ads to be included need to be received by this deadline.

Please show your support of our Cadets by adhering to this deadline and supporting the production and sales of this year's Media Guide as all proceeds will be used to offset the costs of the end of season Football Awards Banquet for all three football teams.

Order forms may be given to any of the Moms listed in the Cadet Spirit Planning Committee section on this blog. Freshman team supporters can get their orders to Lori Johnson, the mother of #85 Bradley Johnson. JV supporters can deliver their ads to Susan Berberich, mother of Andy and Matt Schroeder.

Thank you for your support of our teams and this project!

Are You Clear On Why We Do It?

Clicking this link will take you to an article every parent, coach, and anyone invested in children's sporting activities should read. As we head into "The BIGGEST Game of the season" it is so very important that we ALL remember what this is really all about!

An excerpt of what you will find:

"If our purpose as parents and coaches isn't for our kids to have fun playing sports, to feel part of something, to build self-esteem, what is the purpose?

I think about Chris Zandstra and it seems to me everything he did was all about joy. I think about his family and his parents and it seems to me the times they spent watching Chris play were all about excitement, encouragement and love.

Why should it be different for parents who are fortunate to have healthy, athletic kids? Those intangible rewards should be our primary goals, not trophies or championships. Those should be our expectations, not statistics, not scholarships. Those should be the reasons our kids play — not to please us, not to make varsity, not to justify those expensive lessons."

I encourage everyone, parent's, coaches, and kids alike to click the link and read the entire article so that we will all be reminded of why we really do this!

Sending our prayers of blessings and peace to the Zandstra Family.

Once a Cadet, ALWAYS a Cadet!

Take a peek and see how one of our own is faring in the "real world"! Clay Wolff's college debut certainly didn't come as a surprise to any of us! Congrats Clay!!!

Most Improved Player....KEVIN GERWITZ #68!

Our very first featured Most Improved Player comes from the season opener and is none other than our very own Kevin Gerwitz!

Kevin is a junior who stepped up to the task at hand and SEIZED THE DAY during the intense game our Cadets played against established local football powerhouse Hazelwood East! Thanks to Kevin's focused dedication to our team's objective, the groundwork for a spectacular season was laid when our Cadets showed Hazelwood once again that last season was no fluke!

Continue reading to see Kevin's responses to the Most Improved Player Questionnaire.

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:

Are you surprised to receive this honor? Why or why not?

-Yes, very. I thought some of our veteran players had improved and played better than me.

What are your personal football goals for this year?

-To achieve 75% - 85% game rating each game. Also to block for Rayon so he can get 2,000 yards rushing

Do you have a football "HERO"? Who is it and why is he your hero?

-My football hero is Jerome "The Bus" Bettis. He inspired me to play football. He showed me the joy and excitement of football everytime he was handed the ball.

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 Tim Massey deserved this honor more so than me. He allowed us to rush for most of our yards, and is also considered our best lineman. He has set a standard that I wish to achieve this year and next.

Would you like to give a special someone a "shout-out"? Here's your chance....

-I would like to say thank you to my friends Bobby Pierce, Alex Francescon for coming to every game so far, and because they will be going to every game from now on. Also, I would like to say thank you to my Dad for supporting my decision to play football. I really am thankful to everyone.

**Cadet Carpe Diem Most Improved Players are selected by the Varsity Football Coaching Staff based on noted improvement from week to week**

Cadet Honors Feature Post Archives

Okay folks please bear with me as I play a game of catch up!! The Senior Spotlight and Most Improved Player features on this blog will change from week to week as new Cadets are featured. Taking this into consideration and wanting to find a way to have all the featured Cadets' moments in the spotlight remain durable I have decided to add a post on each one which can be archived so that it can still be viewed once their "week in the spotlight" has passed.

If you missed the feature post on any of our featured cadets, you can find that individual's feature by clicking the name link for that individual in the archive list for that particular honor (i.e. Click on Kevin Gerwitz in the Most Improved Player Archive list to the right to view his feature post). If clicking on a featured Cadet's name does not provide access to a corresponding post about that individual it is because that Cadet has not yet forwarded his questionnaire responses as requested.

Spartans....The Encore??

Post-Dispatch rankings
09/11/2007
Large SchoolsRank, team Record LW Quick hit

1. East St. Louis 2-1 3 No. 1 is up for grabs. We'll give it to the Flyers.

2. DeSmet 1-0 2 Big game this week against CBC. (Does anyone besides me find it funny that the CBC/DeSmet match-up is classified as a big game even if CBC does not meet the "standard" for inclusion in the rankings?)

3. Kirkwood 2-0 5 As good as last year? We'll see.

4. Pattonville 2-0 10 Where did this team come from?

5. Eureka 2-0 7 Nice tuneup against University City.

6. Hazelwood East 1-1 6 CBC beats Spartans, then loses to Mehlville? (The implication here is that Mehlville is a "nothing team", but their win over CBC [who was dropped from the rankings with a 1-1 record] places them back in the rankings again with the same 1-1 record as CBC who beat then ranked #1 Hazelwood East who remained in the rankings with the same 1-1 record....hmmmm.)

7. Edwardsville 2-1 1 We're not sure about this team.

8. Cahokia 3-0 8 Can't punish team for not playing.

9. Zumwalt W. 2-0 9 Holding steady at nine.

10. Mehlville 1-1- Wow. CBC win shows heart and talent. (Funny how anyone facing CBC gets credit for a facing a tough opponent but CBC does not merit inclusion in the ranking....I'm only a Mom, but it does seem odd....)

Dropped out: CBC

On the bubble: Timberland (2-0), McCluer North (1-1), CBC (1-1), Hazelwood Central (2-0), Parkway Central (2-0); Webster Groves (1-1), Howell Central (1-1), Washington (1-1)

Not much to say that hasn't already been said except that we can show'em better than we can tell'em. Come on Cadets! Don't let this rankings head game get to you....read between the lines and see the same message I see, "The CBC Cadets are a force to be reckoned with and facing them is no easy feat!" You are considered a threat and an obstacle to be overcome. Even if the ranking does not reflect it, reading between the lines demonstrates that YOU ARE FEARED AND REVERED WHEN YOU ARE ON YOUR GAME!!!! So Come on Cadets! Get On Your Game! Get Mad! Get Tough! Show them all what we are made of and that they are absolutely correct in what they think about you but refuse to actually say. Let them all eat their words and let their thoughts come to light when you use another group of Spartans to show them all who we really are!!!!

The DeSmet Spartans Are The Path To Respect!!!

LET'S GO CADETS!!!!!

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT...Jack Swoboda

This feature is on a senior anyone who reads this blog routinely is very, very familiar with already....Jack Swoboda!

Jack has been a key component of the 2007 Cadet offense and defense, in addition to being selected as the Athlete of the Week by Fox 2 News and Johnny Mac Sporting Goods. Read on to learn more about Jack and to read his responses to the Senior Spotlight Questionnaire!

Name: Jack Swoboda

Nickname: Mister BoDangles

Varsity Number: 6

Ht: 5'10" Wt: 155

Position: QB/WR

Parents: John & Monica Swoboda

Motto: Go 100% each play every game!

QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES:

What are your plans following graduation? If planning to attend college, what are your top 3 choices?

-I will most likely attend Mizzou. My next choices are Chicago and Colorado State.

Do you plan to play college football?

-No, the only football I will play in college will be intramural.

What are your personal FOOTBALL goals for the season?

-My personal football goal for the season is to make sure that I play 110% on every single play of every game.

Who is your personal "Hero" (football or other) and why?

-My personal football "hero" is Brett Favre because of all the consecutive games he had without missing a single start, even playing on the day that his Dad died.

Would you like to give a special someone a "shout-out"? Here is your chance....

-My "shout-out" goes out to my parents and my older brothers who constantly gave me support throughout my life in the hard times of football. I owe much of my success to them.