For just the second time in the 2000s, St. Xavier’s football team had a losing season.
The Cougars finished 5-6 in 2024. The last time they failed to field a winning team was 2016, when they also finished 5-6. They followed that up with a 10-2 season after that.
Cougars coach Mike Feminis would like a repeat of that series of events.
“That’s the plan — to get back to where we are supposed to be,” he said. “Last year was hopefully just a blip on the screen because that was not us.”
The Cougars are usually a fixture in the preseason rankings but not this time.
“For the first time in a long time we are flying under the radar,” Feminis said. “Most of the preseason ratings are based on postseason ratings from the year before. That’s the way we ended and we don’t deserve to be ranked. We have to prove ourselves. We don’t deserve the ranking because we’re St. Xavier.”
As always, the coach stacks the nonconference schedule and the Cougars lost 31-3 to Indiana Wesleyan on Sept. 6 on the road. Wesleyan was ranked sixth in the country in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
Former Andrew star Dominic D’Ambrosio threw for 103 yards and Tyreese Lee ran for 45 yards. Linebacker Terry Elias had 14 tackles.
The Cougars (0-1) host NCAA Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater (1-0) at 1 p.m. Sept. 13 at Deaton Field.
Tight end Charlie Koeppen (Stagg), defensive back Cole Nolan (Marist) and linebacker Jacob Bylina (St. Laurence) are local players on the Whitewater roster.
De La Salle Ram tough
De La Salle’s boys soccer team finished second in the state in Class 2A last year and it was the first time the Meteors played for a state championship in any sport.
The Meteors want to improve on that this year and bring home the top prize. Winning the 32-team Windy City Ram Classic should help boost their confidence early in the season.
De La Salle knocked off Lockport 3-2 in the final on Sept. 4 at Reavis. Alex Panduro had two goals and Christian Flores added one. Kevin Gates came up with an assist and goalie Jahir Anaya had seven saves.
Wintrust Complex a winner
Wintrust Sports Complex at Bedford Park was named SportsEvents magazine’s top volleyball venue in the country.
“With its strategic location, numerous courts and excellent amenities, Wintrust Sports Complex at Bedford Park’s recognition as the 2025 Ultimate Volleyball Venue is well-deserved,” SportsEvents editor Bob Sexton said.
The facility is a 116,000-square-foot, multi-purpose building and is constructing a new 40,000-square-foot practice facility, slated in time for the Chicago Sky 2026 season.
Richards golfers break skid
Nathan Masek fired a 35 and Ezra Robles a 41 to lead Richards boys golf team to a 174-183 victory over Oak Forest Sept. 5 at Coyote Run Golf Course in Flossmoor.
It marked the first time the Bulldogs beat the Bengals since 2009.