Shown with the championship trophy are, from left, kneeling, Thomas Benson and Joey Piccini; and standing, Jacob Zimmerer, Emmanual Legarreta, Wheeler Wilson, Austin Smith, Christian Cochran, Jorel De Guzman, Christopher Lee, Zach Jolly, Ethan Green, Diane Ziemba, Brian Cochran, Ron Ziemba, Grayson Foley, Fr. Blake Dubroc, and Carter Domingue. Ron and Diane Ziemba, representing tourney sponsor the Knights of Columbus, presented the trophy to the team.
A group of seminarians from Saint Joseph Seminary College won the 21st annual Fr. Pat O'Malley Invitational basketball tournament in Mundelein, IL, this past weekend. It is the second time SJSC has won the tournament (also won in 2007), which brings seminarians from around the country together to compete on the hardwood.
Saint Joseph Seminary swept through pool play with wins over Mundelein Seminary, 46-26, Conception College Seminary, 42-40, and Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary, 49-40, to advance to the semifinals. The Ravens defeated Saint Mary's Seminary, 51-29, to advance to Sunday's championship game, where they beat Saint Francis de Sales Seminary, 75-67.
Team members are Ethan Green, Thomas Benson, and Joey Piccini, Archdiocese of Mobile; Grayson Foley, Diocese of Jackson; Jacob Zimmerer, Diocese of Fort Worth; Wheeler Wilson, Diocese of Orlando; Austin Smith and Jorel De Guzman, Diocese of Saint Petersburg; Emmanuel Legarreta, Diocese of El Paso; and Carter Domingue, Diocese of Lafayette. Zach Jolly (Saint Joseph Abbey) and Christopher Lee (Lafayette) assisted the team, coached by Brian Cochran. 2014 alum and Diocese of Lafayette vocations director Fr. Blake Dubroc served as team chaplain.
Domingue was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.