Shown with the championship trophy are, from left, kneeling, Emmanuel Legarreta and Jacob Zimmerer; and standing, Coach Brian Cochran, Francisco Maldonado, Logan Simon, Thomas Benson, Tim Talbott, Michael Bradford, Ethan Green, Zach Jolly, Grayson Foley, Evan Lang, Carter Domingue, Joey Piccini, and Fr. Maurice Moon.
SAINT BENEDICT, La. – A group of seminarians from Saint Joseph Seminary College won the 22st annual Fr. Pat O'Malley Invitational basketball tournament in Mundelein, IL, this past weekend. It is the second straight year the team has won the tournament, which brings seminarians from around the country together to compete on the hardwood.
Saint Joseph Seminary swept through pool play with wins over Mount Saint Mary's Seminary (Athenaeum) from Cincinnati, 61-38, host Mundelein Seminary, 49-39 in overtime, and St John Vianney Theological Seminary of Denver, 54-49. The Ravens defeated Mundelein in the semifinals, 35-30, to advance to Sunday's championship game, where they beat Conception College Seminary of Conception, MO, 75-62.
Team members are Ethan Green, Thomas Benson, Michael Bradford, Tim Talbott and Joey Piccini, Archdiocese of Mobile; Grayson Foley and Francisco Maldonado, Diocese of Jackson; Evan Lang and Jacob Zimmerer, Diocese of Fort Worth; Emmanuel Legarreta, Diocese of El Paso; and Carter Domingue and Logan Simon, Diocese of Lafayette. Zach Jolly (Saint Joseph Abbey) assisted the team, coached by Brian Cochran. Fr. Maurice Moon served as team chaplain.
Domingue, who scored 32 points in the championship game, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.