St. Edward hopes rebuilding process is over
Opinions vary, but biblical scholars who study the Book of Genesis estimate it took Noah between 100 and 120 years to build the ark.
Rebuilding the St. Edward football program from scratch after a flood of transfers in the summer of 2005 hasn't taken fifth-year coach Mike Rolando quite as long, though it probably seemed like an eternity during his first two seasons when the Green Wave finished 0-9 back to back without the benefit of upperclassmen.
Two years ago the Wave broke through for one victory. Last year, the rain began to ease and the team finished 4-5, nearly qualifying for the playoffs.
As for this year? With 15 experienced seniors, 15 juniors and one sophomore, Rolando thinks this ship is ready to float.
"We're going to have seven or eight seniors starting on the defensive side of the ball," Rolando said. "I can't remember the last time that happened, certainly not under my watch.
"This team has set goals and we want to get better. Getting better from 4-5 means a fifth win and maybe more, which gets you into the postseason. If we don't get a fifth win and maybe a sixth win to get into the playoffs, we'll be disappointed. Every year we want to get better. Not getting better is not acceptable. We only have one way to go and that's into the postseason."
St. Edward will compete in the Gold Division of the new Suburban Christian Conference, led by four-year varsity starter Shane Finnane (6-0, 240). An all-conference lineman last season, Finnane, who has been clocked in the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds, will shift to middle linebacker. Playing outside linebacker will be fourth-year varsity starter Nathan Gaige (5-11, 205) and third-year starter Jordan Torres (6-2, 220). Eleven years of combined varsity experience makes the linebacker position the strength of the Green Wave defense.
Other returning defenders include senior end Dan Duffy (6-0, 185), senior tackle Price Davis (6-1, 180), who started at linebacker last year, and senior cornerbacks Jon Godfrey (5-5, 175) and Jack Cholewa (5-10, 175).
Junior free safety Sam Pozezinski (6-3, 180) and junior safeties Alex Arciuch (5-7, 165) and Nick Scholly (6-1, 170) will attempt to shore up a secondary that was vulnerable against the deep ball last year.
Senior Jim Cholewa (5-10, 185), who took a year off to play soccer, will play both sports this fall. He'll be a defensive end and the team's kicker.
Offensively, Rolando said the offense will strike a better balance between the run and the pass. In 2008, the Wave rushed for 2,298 yards and threw for only 282.
Junior Ben Lehman (6-2, 185) steps in at quarterback and should be able to find 6-foot-6 senior tight end Zack Von Ahnen along with the 6-3 Pozezinski at wide receiver.
Rolando said the offensive line "should be as good if not better than last year" with Shane Finnane returning at guard alongside senior tackle Kevin Lawson (5-11, 260), junior guard Derek Porto (5-8, 205), junior center Zach Trisilla (5-10, 245) and sophomore tackle Evan Finnane (6-1, 260).
That group will pave the way for Torres at fullback and senior tailback David Hoebbel (5-8, 175), who Rolando said "is a pretty magical kid who can make things happen."
Home cooking will be a factor in the playoff push. St. Edward will play six of its nine games under the lights at Elgin's Greg True Field.