By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
The Nazareth community was saddened on Feb. 20 when it found out that graduate Ryan Keeler, who was attending and playing football for UNLV, had died in Las Vegas.
It was revealed last week that the results of the autopsy performed on Keeler determined the 20-year-old UNLV football player died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which can cause a thickening of the heart, according to a statement from the Clark County Coroner’s Office.
“We join the community and members of UNLV Athletics in mourning the loss of this rising football star and send our condolences to Ryans family and friends,” a Clark County statement said.
After graduating from Nazareth, Keeler attended and played football at Rutgers, but did not get into any games. At UNLV last fall, the defensive lineman had eight tackles and one sack in seven games.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, UNLV Barry Odom is dedicating the 2023 season in Keeler’s honor.
Comings and goings
There is plenty of activity and changes on the local boys basketball landscape.
Star players have been fleeing St. Rita, but the Mustangs did hire a new coach. Ross Burt, who was recently the coach at Payton, was named the new boss. Burt replaces Roshawn Russell, who left the school to become an assistant at St. Laurence.
Burt was an assistant coach at Trinity University in San Antonio, where he was in charge of keeping the program in line with the university’s mission and academic standards.
It will be interesting to see what the makeup of the Mustangs will be in 2023-24.
Over the past three years, the Mustangs lost all four Division I-caliber Class of 2024 players Russell had brought in as freshmen to transfers. Iowa State recruit Nojus Indrusaitis — who had transferred from Lemont to St. Rita — left the Mustangs for St. Laurence.
In other player moves, Riverside-Brookfield’s Will Gonzalez is heading to Curie and Tre Dowdell is transferring from Brother Rice to Evergreen Park.
In other coaching news, Andrew’s Justin Stirn was promoted from an assistant to head coach after Dave Wilson headed to Lockport. Stirn is an Argo grad.
Even schools are transferring. Bolingbrook is leaving the SouthWest Suburban Conference to join the Suburban Prairie.
Gold Glove for Wright
Saint Xavier freshman infielder Kaitlyn Wright was named to the inaugural National Fastpitch Coaches Association NAIA Rawlings Gold Glove Team.
Wright was a unanimous selection at third base. She registered 110 assists, 38 putouts and two errors for a .987 fielding percentage. She also helped turn six double plays.
Frisbees will be flying
The Chicago Union’s Ultimate Frisbee team will play at 6:30 p.m. June 17 at De La Salle’s Parente Field.
Former De La Salle basketball great La Rue Martin will throw out the first disc. General admission is $15 but a VIP package with food, beverages and beer is $45.
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