SAINT RITA ADDED TO
2017 HINSDALE CENTRAL HOLIDAY CLASSIC
The Mustangs of Saint Rita are the lone new
addition to the sixteen team field set to play at this year's
Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic. Saint Rita, a member of the
Chicago Catholic League, won 19 games last season and advanced to
the championship game of the IHSA Sectional last year.
This year the Mustangs will look to return to their winning form
with a combination of players with multiple years of varsity
experience along with some highly touted underclassmen
returning for the 2017-18 season. Point guard Jordan Matthews
will be at the helm for his fourth year on the varsity club.
Senior Landan Gladney is a 6-3 wing forward who will be in his third
year on the varsity. And 6-8 junior center Cameron Bartmann
will also be in his third year of varsity competition. A pair
of dynamic sophomores who made their varsity debuts as freshmen also
will be also be a part the mix with 5-10 combo guard Joel Watts, a
deep shooting threat, and 5-11 point guard Alec Millender, who are
both expected to make major contributions. Also keep an eye on
6-8 junior Jeremiah Oden, who grew six inches in the past year.
Head Coach Gary DeCesare returns for his ninth season at the helm
with the Mustangs where he has won four consecutive Catholic League
championships and back-to-back regional titles. DeCesare
coached at Saint Raymond's in the Bronx for 16 years before becoming
a Division I assistant coach at the University of Richmond and
DePaul University. While in New York, DeCesare won two state
championships and was recently inducted into the New York Catholic
High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. DeCesare also
coached the West team to victory in the McDonald's All-American Game
this past March.
DeCesare looks forward to playing in this year's Hinsdale Central
Holiday Classic, "We have been blessed to travel to some very good
tournaments across the country and play different teams from
different states the past few years. I was looking for an
opportunity to compete in a local tournament this season and the
Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic after two years has established
itself as the premier Holiday Tournament in Chicago. I know we
will have to bring our 'A-Game' each night to compete against so
many highly competitive and well coached teams in a great setting.
We are very excited about competing in this year's event".
The sixteen teams participating in the 2017
Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic are: Bolingbrook,
Crete-Monee, DePaul College Prep, Glenbrook North, Hinsdale Central,
Homewood-Flossmoor, Lincoln Park, Maine South, Marian Catholic,
Richards, Rockford Auburn, Saint Charles East, Saint Rita,
Stevenson, Urban Prep Englewood and Westinghouse.
"Saint Rita is a perfect addition to our field at the Hinsdale
Central Holiday Classic" said tournament manager Joe Spagnolo.
"The Mustangs have a combination of experience, up incoming players
and a high success ratio. They will fit in nicely to a very
strong and deep group of teams. The Hinsdale Central Holiday
Classic continues to get better and better".
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