Cathedral wins state title for school’s wrestling ‘family’

The Cathedral High School wrestling team in Indianapolis and its ‘family’ celebrate winning their first-ever state championship on Feb. 22.

By John Shaughnessy

The e-mails and text messages kept pouring in for coach Sean McGinley in the hours and days after the wrestling team at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis won its first state championship.

Friends, former wrestlers and alumni wanted to celebrate and share in the state title won on Feb. 22, a championship that has eluded Cathedral through the years.

“For about 30 years, we’ve had one of the top programs in the state,” McGinley said. “We’ve been very close. We’ve been the bridesmaid too long. It’s nice to finally have a state championship.

“It’s a big win for us, but it’s also a big win for the Cathedral wrestling community. Everyone has felt a part of it. It feels like a Cathedral family wrestling win.”

The championship was earned by the performance of seven Cathedral wrestlers who qualified for the individual state championships, including three athletes who made it to the final match in their weight class.

Wesley Bernard led the way for Cathedral by winning the 285-pound weight class. Vinny Corsaro earned a state runner-up finish in the 160-pound class, and Blake Rypel also finished second in the 182-pound class.

“The kids knew what our number one goal was—a team state title. And we did it,” McGinley noted.

The coach credited the senior leaders—Bernard, Corsaro, John Devine and Brant Larson—for setting the expectations for the team.

“We just had a great senior class,” McGinley said. “They led the team throughout the year, and the other kids followed their lead on the mat and in the academic room. The biggest thing was their passion for the sport of wrestling. They put in the extra time. They led this team.”

The result was a state championship—and an influx of social media congratulations.

“I’ve had quite a few texts and e-mails,” McGinley said. “My wife, Kathleen, put the news up on Facebook. And there have been so many ‘likes.’ It’s been everywhere from Boston to California to New Jersey.

“I’m so happy for the team, Cathedral and the Cathedral wrestling family. It’s been a long time coming.” †