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Tri-County Press
Sports & recreation
August 26, 2009
CHCA lands former pro, Olympian By Tony Meale tmeale@communitypress.com
Mike Sylvester had options. In the late 1960s, Sylvester, then a junior at Moeller High School, was drafted by the Chicago Cubs. But he never pursued his pro career – at least, not in baseball. A standout on the hardwood, Sylvester was named Player of the Year in Cincinnati during his senior year in 1970. He played college ball at the University of Dayton – where he was named an All-American – and in 1974, he was drafted again, this time by the Detroit Pistons. He took his act overseas and played for five different teams during a 17-year professional career in Italy. “It was a big adjustment living in a foreign country, but it was fun,� said Sylvester, who became fluent in Italian. “I wasn’t a great player; I was a good player. I was a big fish in a small pond. When you’re a pro athlete over there, you’re a household name.� Sylvester, who had dual citizenship in Italy and the United States, also helped the Italian team to a silver medal at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, which was boycotted by several countries, including the United States. “Had the United States played that
year, I don’t know if we would have won a medal,� Sylvester said. Still, Sylvester, 57, vividly recalls receiving his silver medal. “I never felt more Italian in my life,� he joked. It was a remarkable career for Sylvester, who was inducted into the Moeller Hall of Fame, the UD Hall of Fame and was named to the Flyers’ All-Century team in the late 1990s. While in Italy, he even played with Mike D’Antoni, who is the current head coach for the New York Knicks. “He’s still a close friend,� Sylvester said. When Sylvester’s pro career ended in 1991, he became an assistant coach for the Dayton Wings, which played in the World Basketball League, and helped them to a title. He became the head coach in 1992, but the WBL folded later that season. Sylvester then coached in the International Basketball League in Winnipeg, and he has spent the last several years working at Victory Wholesale Group. Then Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy came calling. “I met (senior-to-be) Andrew Wallace, who was the point guard on the team last year,� said Sylvester, who majored in physical education and minored in business. “I worked with
him and helped him with his shot and started following the team. Then I saw the job became available, and I thought it’d be fun to coach a varsity program.� Sylvester got the job. Born in the Elder heartland, the current Loveland resident is eager to begin his tenure at CHCA. “My No. 1 goal is to make it a memorable senior year for our seniors,� he said. “You should enjoy playing sports. When you have fun, it translates into success. I want them to look back on their high school experience fondly.� Sylvester said his squad should be a fun team to watch. “Every high school coach has to adapt to the players he has,� he said. “Our nucleus has the ability to score, and we will run and be an up-tempo team. Playing up-tempo typically keeps guys happy; players get tired faster, we sub more often and guys get more playing time.� Sylvester, however, doesn’t want his decorated basketball career to be a distraction for the program; he wants the focus to remain on his team. “It’s time for me to give back and make this experience memorable for the kids,� he said. “It’s not about me. It’s about them.�
ROD APFELBECK/CONTRIBUTOR
Keep away
Wyoming High School senior sweeper Reed Jaeger controls the ball against Hamilton during Wyoming’s 4-2 victory in their first scrimmage of the year Thursday Aug. 13. Jaeger later scored a goal to go along with two by junior Joe Panos and one by freshman Daniel Richtand.
Moeller QB picks Notre Dame By Mark Chalifoux
mchalifoux@communitypress.com
seven freshmen last year, so they will be deep this year. I’ll be going into a program that knows winning and will hopefully keep steamrolling and we’ll be talking about a national championship race soon.� Academics are another sticking point for Hendrix, who is one of the top students in his class. “That is one of their strong points,� he said. “That and the network of alumni is phenomenal. That’s a huge plus when you’re out of college and looking for a job; the network is so big.� Moeller head coach John Rodenberg said he fielded more than a few calls from colleges about Hendrix and he thinks Notre Dame is a
great fit for his quarterback. He said the team is excited anytime a player gets a scholarship to a big school. “Guys can see that with hard work you can be put in front of big schools when they are coming in, and being at Moeller is a great opportunity for that,� he said. “It gets the whole weight room fired up.� Hendrix is one of several Division I prospects on the Crusaders’ football team and Rodenberg said he loves to see any of his players go on to the next level. “I work these guys hard and it’s my responsibility to the player and parents to take care of them,� he said. “That means making sure they are staying on top of their academics and helping
them get better athletically. “I’m just as happy when a kid signs with Wittenberg or Mount St. Joe’s. Anytime a player gets an opportunity to fulfill a dream is awesome and having a chance to further your career and live your dream is what its about.� Hendrix said he’s most excited to finally be able to focus solely on the team and not on himself. “I’m putting 100 percent of what I have into working out with the team,� he said. “Other guys are tuning down their process too and we have a lot of dedicated guys. “I’m really excited for the start of the season. I think we have a really special class and a special team.�
SIDELINES Youth development academy
Classics Hammer FC soccer will conduct the fall edition of the Youth Development Academy from 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Sept. 16, 23, 40, Oct. 7 and 14, at Classics Hammer FC Training Facility on Kellogg Avenue in front of Four Season’s Marina. Registration begins 30 minutes prior to session start, and is available at www.classicshammerfc.com. Cost is $60. Make checks payable to Classics Hammer FC. Mail checks to Classics Hammer Fall YDA, 7314 Woodcroft Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45230. Each soccer player will be trained by professional staff through the use of a circuit curriculum, enabling players the chance to improve their technique with different coaches each session. The play portion of the session will allow each player to showcase their skills and practice what is learned that day.
Swinging into first
The Evendale boys’ tennis team celebrates winning both league and the Junior NETL Tournament, recently, for the first time since 1996, when current coach Tony Teufel played for the team. In front are Clayton Bennett, Anthony Caracci, Aaron Levy, Ben Sieder, Henry Kuechly and Dominic Caracci. In back are Ryan Frank, Sam Ficke, Abraham Williams, Sam Sieder,Coach Tony Teufel, Jacob Bent and Michael Roy. Not pictured are Jake and Vincent Mazzone, Kevin Russell and Harvey Cobbs.
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FILE PHOTO
Moeller High School quarterback Andrew Hendrix has committed to play college football at Notre Dame in 2010.
College football superpowers engaged in a heated recruiting battle to land Moeller High School quarterback Andrew Hendrix and a winner has finally emerged from the pack. Hendrix has committed to Notre Dame. “I’m very relieved,� Hendrix said, “Towards the end, a lot of schools put on a lot of pressure, recruiting sites call a lot when you get down to your final decision, but once you make it things cool down.� Hendrix took a visit to Notre Dame in mid-June and stayed overnight with
some of the players. He said that visit helped him finalize his decision. “That really put it over the top. They were guys I could relate to and were a lot like myself and my classmates at Moeller,� he said. “The camaraderie they have with each other and knowing I could see myself as a part of it really put it over the top.� Ohio State was another big-time program that heavily recruited Hendrix. Hendrix said he’s been a lifelong Buckeyes fan and not much of a Fighting Irish fan. That will change. “Now I’m definitely a fan,� he said. “I love the direction the program is going in. They started 11 freshmen two years ago and