What's Happening in Cougar Country

Lake Catholic is pleased to welcome home Tess Connolly (Lake Catholic Class of 2016) as its next head volleyball coach.

“We are very excited to announce Tess Connolly as the next head coach for the Lake Catholic volleyball program,” said Athletic Director Erik Schroeder. “Tess brings a ton of experience from her playing days here, playing Division I college volleyball, and coaching at her current school. She has demonstrated great leadership skills as both a player and a coach. It’s exciting to have an alum carry on the strong tradition of Lake Catholic volleyball for our players, school, and community.”

Connolly takes over for Kara Oster (’10) who stepped down after leading the Cougars to back-to-back Division III state championships to commit more time to her career and her family.

“Coming back to Lake Catholic means so much to me,” Connolly said. “I feel like I’m coming home. Lake Catholic gave me so many tools that helped me become the best person, student, and athlete I could be. I would not have had the same success in life without the guidance and support I received while at Lake Catholic.” 

Connolly was a four-year starter for Lake Catholic, earning all-conference first-team honors her senior season, before receiving a full scholarship to Iona College (New Rochelle, New York), where she was also a four-year starter. While at Iona, she was honored as Iona College Female Rookie Athlete of the Year (2016). During her junior season (2018), she was named Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Player of the Week, helped lead the Gaels to the MAAC regular season and MAAC tournament championships, while advancing to the NCAA Division I tournament. She was also named a team captain for her senior season (2019).

Since August of 2021, Connolly has been a teacher and volleyball coach at St. John’s Preparatory High School in Astoria, New York. She’s taught algebra, computer science, physical education, and child psychology. As a coach, she began the Red Storm’s boys’ volleyball program and serves as its head coach. She was also the head JV/assistant varsity coach for the girls’ team.

Connolly said she will finish out the school year at St. John’s before moving back to the area, where her parents and brother still reside. She said she plans on coming back to Lake Catholic for a few days later this month to meet the girls on the team in person.

The following is a brief Q&A with Connolly.

Why did you apply? Why was now the right time for you to come home?
I applied for the coaching position because I wanted to give back to Lake Catholic, my community and be closer to my family. When I heard about the open position, I got a gut feeling, and I could not stop thinking about it. Lake Catholic has a tremendous tradition, and the volleyball program has been very successful, and I want to help continue the positive impact that the school and the program have. I want to help all my student-athletes remember their time at Lake Catholic and be filled with fun and happy memories.

The program has such a strong tradition and successful history, what will you bring to the program?
I will bring skill/technique development, mental toughness, and leadership to the whole Lake Catholic volleyball program. I was taught by some of the best coaches in Ohio and New York, and I will teach those same skills to our players. I bring a history of success in high school, JO, and college. I know what it means to play in meaningful games, to play in front of hundreds and thousands of people, and to succeed in those situations.

What is your coaching philosophy?
I believe my coaching philosophy is surrounded by three key aspects: discipline, skill-based coaching, and motivation. Volleyball is a game, and it has to be fun. And it has to be a way for each player to grow and improve, both in volleyball skills and in life skills. My players learn volleyball, but they also learn teamwork and discipline. To be successful, each player has to develop skills around passing, hitting, communication, and defense, and, as a teacher, I take pride in teaching and developing those skills in each and every player.

Any added pressure knowing they are back-to-back state champs, have been to the state tournament three years in a row, and have a lot of talent returning?
Of course, I want to continue the great success the program has had over the years and in the past three years in particular. I have always been very competitive throughout my volleyball career, in JO, in high school, and at Iona College. I still have a strong competitive edge as a coach, and I believe that helps me to push myself and my student-athletes. I have seen how much talent the program has returning, and I am very excited to see what the future can bring for us. To improve as a team, each and every player has to improve, and I have the teaching skills across all positions to teach the proper fundamentals and to push each player to reach her full potential. Get better, every player, every day.

When will you get a chance to meet the girls on the team?
I will be traveling back to Mentor for a few days in February, and I will visit Lake Catholic to meet the girls on the team. I am very excited to meet them. I have heard amazing things about them all, and I can’t wait to help them grow both on and off the volleyball court.

Are you finishing out the school year in New York?
Yes, I will be finishing the school year at my current high school. As a teacher and coach, I strongly believe in finishing what you start and never leaving something unfinished. I have done a lot at my current school and could not imagine leaving all of my amazing co-workers, friends, students, and student-athletes without a proper goodbye.

Is your family still in the area? If so, how nice will it be to come home and be back around family and friends?
Yes, my family still lives in the area. My parents live in my childhood home, and my brother lives in Mentor. I truly missed my family and friends while in New York, and I cannot wait to be close to them again. I know they will continue to support me, and it will be easier for me to support them once I return to Ohio. Of course, a lot has changed since I left, but I am excited to have the support of my family and friends as I start the next chapter of my life.

Pass on the Torch of Loyalty. 

It’s written right there in the Lake Catholic alma mater.

At this year’s President’s Circle Reception, the Torch of Loyalty was literally passed on to a Lake Catholic legend who has figuratively passed on that torch throughout his life – before, during, and since his time at the school.

President John Morabeto, in his first President’s Circle address, awarded Fr. Marty Polito with the Torch of Loyalty Award for his years of service to Lake Catholic and its entire community.

As Morabeto explained, “The Torch of Loyalty Award is the most prestigious award a Lake Catholic High School President can bestow upon an individual or family. This award is designed to honor extraordinary individuals demonstrating the core values of Lake Catholic and a commitment to the success of Lake Catholic for generations to come.”

Although Fr. Marty accepted the award to a standing ovation, he wondered aloud, “When Carla (Ronnebaum, Lake Catholic Director of Advancement) came to mass and told me that I would be honored with this award, I asked her ‘For what? What have I done?’”

From 1986-1996, Fr. Marty served as the Chaplain at Lake Catholic. His responsibilities included serving as the Spiritual Director, the key figure in faith formation for students through service, retreats, liturgical celebrations, and prayer services. He was inducted into the school’s Hall of Excellence in 1992.

Before coming to Lake Catholic, he served at Holy Redeemer Parish in Collinwood, where he now serves as the parish’s pastor. He has married many Lake Catholic alumni, baptized others, and performed other milestone sacraments – First Reconciliation, First Communion, and/or Confirmation.

“I was honored to be sent here,” Fr. Marty said. “I was honored that the Diocese and Lake Catholic trusted me. I’m honored by the parents who provided the opportunity for such a great education to their sons and daughters. And there have been honors along the way even after I left. A lot of former students keep in touch, some have stopped by Holy Redeemer to say hello or even became part of the community there.”

He went to tell a story from 10 years ago when he had to have quadruple bypass surgery. He was recovering from the surgery at his brother and sister-in-law’s house in Mentor, where he would take daily walks as he rebuilt his strength.

One day he came across a high-school-aged boy, who was wearing a Lake Catholic shirt while playing basketball in his driveway. Fr. Marty said he stopped to talk to the young man and asked him if he went to Lake Catholic, which he did. He asked him to tell him about it, what he liked about it.

“This was well after I had left Lake Catholic, so he didn’t know me.” Fr. Marty said. “But he told me that he liked his teachers and his classes. He liked his coaches. And then he told me that ‘they would give the students whatever they wanted or needed,’ it’s just the kind of place it was. And that’s the wonder of the Lake Catholic community.”

He again thanked Morabeto, Lake Catholic and everyone in attendance, and then spent the rest of the evening greeting and reminiscing with the more than 150 attendees.
In addition to the engraved Torch of Loyalty crystal, Fr. Marty was also presented with a custom stole with the image of the chapel's stained-glass window embroidered onto each side.

Prior to presenting the award to Fr. Marty, Morabeto spoke about his first six months as President and a few important plans for the future.

He thanked those in attendance for the gracious welcome he’s felt since arriving, reiterated the good work Principal Tom McKrill (’07) and the faculty continue to do, and noted the many successes the students have achieved in the classroom, spiritually, artistically, and athletically.

He went on to promote the return of the Hall of Excellence, which recognizes distinguished members of the Lake Catholic community for their professional success and commitment to service. New members of the Hall of Excellence will be honored at the 40th Annual Gala on March 23, 2024.

Morabeto announced the plans to completely renovate the school’s locker rooms.

“Spaces that have received little attention for decades will be transformed into college-style locker rooms that are open concept and allow for a common space for teams to gather with coaches and yet private restrooms and shower facilities.

“The entire project will cost $1 million and thanks to the good work done by my predecessor, Mark Crowley, we have already secured a generous $500,000 lead gift.”
The hope, Morabeto said, is for the project to begin after this school year.

He finished his remarks by reminding everyone of the important eight-month Strategic Plan process that was started last week when an initial survey was sent out to current students, parents, faculty and staff, alumni, donors, and other Lake Catholic stakeholders. 
 

Nick Brandt, a standout on the football and boys basketball teams, was recently named a winner of an Ohio High School Athletic Association student-athlete scholarship by the OHSAA's Northeast Athletic District Board's Scholarship Committee.

The award is a $1,000 scholarship, which Brandt can now use as he moves on to Miami University.

He is the second winner to be named from Lake Catholic since the scholarship's inception in 2007. Kennedy Newhart won a scholarship in 2018.

Recipients were selected based on a point system which rewards students for grade point averages; class rank; community service; varsity letters earned; and individual and team athletic honors. 

Brandt finished high school with a grade-point average higher than 4.0 and ranked in the top 5 in Class of 2023. In his time at Lake Catholic he earned eight varsity letters (three in football and basketball and two in track and field). 

This past season on the football field, Brandt was a jack-of-all-trades on offense. He had 51 receptions for 489 yards and two touchdowns as a wide receiver; he carried the ball 44 times for 179 yards and three touchdowns; and even played quarterback completing 11 of 22 passes for 109 yards and one touchdown. All told he accumulated 777 yards and accounted for six touchdowns.

“Nick was a constant leader for our program - academically and on the field - throughout the duration of his four years at Lake Catholic,” football coach Marty Gibbons said. “He strives to do well and we all look forward to seeing him do great things in the future.”

On the basketball court, Brandt was the starting point guard and captain for the district champion Cougars. He led the team in steals and assists, with his 166 assists making him one of the top assist leaders in Northeast Ohio. He was named to both the Northeast Lakes All-District and All-Crown Conference teams.

“It is very well deserved, but not surprising to me, that Nick Brandt has won the OHSAA Scholar Athlete Scholarship because I was fortunate enough to see daily how hard he works on the court and in the classroom," said boys basketball coach Matt Vespa. "Nick consistently demonstrated that he is not intimidated by hard work or willing to back down from a challenge. I have no doubt he will continue to demonstrate these admirable skills in the next phases of his life. It was truly an honor to not only coach Nick for this season but also to see someone receive the recognition they deserve for all of the hard work they have put into being successful academically and athletically.”

For winning the scholarship, Brandt will be honored along with the other scholarship winners at an awards presentation and dinner at Progressive Field prior to a Cleveland Guardians game later this summer.

photo courtesy of Full Stop Photography

Earlier today, the Diocese of Cleveland named John Morabeto as the next President of Lake Catholic High School.

An accomplished leader and strong proponent of Catholic education, John has extensive experience in institutional advancement, having served as the Vice President of Institutional Advancement at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland for 11 years, securing more than $150 million for endowment growth, facility improvements, and faculty
formation. 

A product of the Diocese of Steubenville’s Catholic Central High School, John holds a master's degree in higher education administration from the University of Akron and a bachelor's degree in management and marketing from Kent State University.

John expressed his excitement about the opportunity to serve as the President of Lake Catholic stating, “Education rooted in our Catholic faith has been a lifelong commitment for me as a student, a professional, and as a parent. Its mission and outreach are critical as we look to form the young men and women of the next generation in this challenging world. I have experienced the grace Catholic education has provided my family and I am impassioned to help others experience it as well. I look forward to joining the Lake Catholic community and advancing this important work in Lake County and across the entire greater Cleveland area.”

Associate Superintendent for Secondary Schools, Michael Zelenka, shares in the excitement surrounding Mr. Morabeto’s appointment, “The Diocese of Cleveland’s Office for Catholic Education believes that John’s strong Catholic faith, proven track record in advancement efforts, commitment to Catholic education, and leadership acumen signals an incredibly bright future for Lake Catholic.”

Lake Catholic Principal Tom McKrill added: "I am very excited to work with John Morabeto as we look to maximize the opportunities for Lake Catholic. Mark Crowley has done great things for our school. I look forward to continuing his work, and the mission of Lake Catholic, into a bright future with John."

Morabeto replaces Mark Crowley, who announced his retirement early in 2023. Crowley's last day with Lake Catholic will be June 30.

“Mark has provided steadfast leadership to Lake Catholic through an important time in its history by focusing on mission and the unique charisms of the Lake Catholic experience. “Today the school enjoys steady enrollment and growing community support to ensure financial stability and position Lake Catholic for future growth,” Frank O'Linn, Ed.D., Superintendent of Catholic schools said back in January. ”Mark as also assembled a talented team to lead and sustain Lake Catholic for the future."

Now, Morabeto will take over the reins of that team and lead Lake Catholic into a promising future.

(The image is just a sample illustration of what the space could look like.)

Lake Catholic High School is pleased to announce a major gift to benefit collaborative learning. The Skalicki family has made the generous pledge that will help fund the school’s innovative project-based learning program.

The Skalicki family has been a supporter of Lake Catholic for many years. This latest donation is a testament to their commitment to the school and its mission of educating students in a collaborative learning environment.

“Lake Catholic is blessed to have many multi-generational families with aunts, uncles and cousins sharing the Lake Catholic experience – The Skalicki Family is no exception with a dozen relatives from three families attending Lake Catholic,” said Lake Catholic President Mark Crowley. “They shine in academics, fine and performing arts, spiritual life, student government and really anything they put their mind to.

“They have also been generous in helping us transform the educational experience with this investment in our Media Center. We expect it to serve as a catalyst throughout the building.”

The project-based learning program at Lake Catholic encourages students to take an active role in their education. Through the use of technology and collaboration, students are able to work together to solve problems and complete projects. This type of learning encourages students to think critically and develop the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century.

“This transformational gift will provide state-of-the-art educational facilities for our students and faculty,” said Lake Catholic Principal Tom McKrill. “The Skalicki family has been a strong supporter of Lake Catholic, and their vision aligns very well with the future of Lake Catholic.

“We are taking the time to rethink old norms by examining a broader more individualized perspective on what our students’ success is and how they achieve it. The Media Center project will come with faculty and student development to gain knowledge, acquire practical skills, and develop personally. We are excited for this opportunity the Skalicki family is providing us with, as we enter a new era at Lake Catholic High School. “

The donation will be used to purchase the necessary equipment and materials for the project-based learning program. This includes capital improvements to the space, furniture upgrades and improved technology.

McKrill said he plans on putting together a focus group comprised of faculty, staff, and students, to come up with the best working solutions for the entire media center space. The school will work with Ohio Desk, an office furniture dealership in Cleveland, to reimagine, plan and build the new space.

“Our family’s contributions over the years have always been geared towards strengthening the school’s technological capabilities and improving the opportunities available to both current and prospective students,” said John Skalicki (Lake Catholic Class of 1993), who made the donation along with his brother Robert (’89), sister Barb Schoen (’95) and their parents, Zeljko and Amalija. “We are excited to be considered a catalyst in Lake Catholic’s project-based learning movement and hope our financial commitment inspires others to help fund this initiative for years to come.”

The family’s donation is a major boost to the school’s efforts to provide a top-notch education for its students. By investing in the project-based learning program, Lake Catholic is ensuring that its students are prepared for the future.

“Our faculty are already teaching with Ben Franklin’s adage in mind, ‘TELL ME and I’ll forget; SHOW ME and I may remember; INVOLVE ME and I’ll LEARN’,” Crowley said. “Research has shown that the contemporary furniture we will be purchasing with the Skalicki Family donation engages the students and teachers even more, thereby increasing the student’s learning.

“We are so grateful for their support.”

If you, your family and/or your business are interested donating for future projects, please contact Carla Ronnebaum, our Director of Advancement, either by email or by phone (440.578.1020 ext. 234).