Much credit for the Class of 1963’s success in sports goes to Willie.  I am still amazed that a young man carving out his own path in life would give what Willie gave us – and other SFR classes too.  But I am so thankful that he coached Football, Basketball, Softball, and Track at SFR. 

Thankful for his: dedication and commitment of time to us despite life’s other distractions; sharing knowledge of the sport with us; teaching us and holding us accountable to perform as instructed; leadership and sportsmanship which he preached, practiced and required of us; values that he imparted in us – teamwork, execution, effort, respect among them; being there for us and mentoring as necessary.  To think he did all this with a bunch of adolescent males.  In nature some species just expel adolescent males from the family group.

I think Willie bridged a gap.  Outside the classroom he gave us what the nuns and teachers did in the classroom and our parents did at home – structure, values, accountability, and direction.  Willie’s influence on me has been lifelong.  The team successes and my personal experiences in sports at SFR have increased my self esteem and reinforced the values I try to live by and have passed on to my children.

Unfortunately Coach Willie Ward was not able to be our guest at any Reunion activities.  Below is a brief message from our Coach. 

I've been  hobbled since February and just finished 100 days in a nursing home. I appreciate the invite, but regret I can't attend. Give my regards to all your classmates.

                                                  Submitted by Jim Cerny

Mike Meere was the captain of the team that went 5-2 in a tough CYO schedule and 6-3 record for the season.  The 2 losses were to St Thomas Aquinas and St Peter Canisus.  The single wing offense was the strength of the team featuring Mike Meere's running from the tailback position.  The team practiced and played home games at Columbus Park & Rockne Stadium.

The weather made the game against St Ferdinand's very memorable.  The rain poured before and during the entire game.  Players from both sides sloshed, flopped and slid throughout our 6-0 victory in the mud. 

 *Click here for closeup of related Cicero Life article* 

                                                          Submitted by Jim Cerny & Joe Papa

Pat Hayes was the captain and leading scorer of the team that had a 33-12 overall record.  Our CYO section was very strong and featured St Lukes who went on to become CYO Champs.  St Mary of Riverside, St Catherine of Siena and ourselves were also very competitive and joined St Lukes in advancing to the playoffs from the same section.  Our CYO highlight was beating St. Mary of Riverside in sectional play at Fenwick. 

We also competed in the St Mary of Czestochowa League in Cicero.  The teams from St Leonard and Our Lady of Charity provided stiff competition throughout the season.  Overall we were very successful, highlighted by winning the Christmas Torunament and second half of the regular season title.  

Outside of league play there were tough games with St Vincent and Our Lady Help of Christians, and who can forget practice, practice, practice at Cicero Stadium.  

                                                      Submitted by Jim Cerny & Pat Hayes

In the midst of Softball season, Willie organized and coached a Track team that competed in 3 Track meets.  In early May there was the a meet at Lafollette Park.  In early June there was the Cicero Boys Club Junior Olympics meet at Morton West.  In between these meets there was the CYO meet at Rockne Stadium.  Medalists in these meets included: Paul Prazak, Joe Papa, Tom Walter, Fred Wiewiora, John Korinek, Chuck Dougherty, Len Lioi, Kim Tetzloff, Ron Piecz, Mike Meere, Al Pintozzi, Jim DiGregorio and Jim Cerny. 

The link below is to an article from the Cicero Life about the Boys Club Junior Olympics.  

*Click here for closeup of article on right* 

                                         Submitted by Jim Cerny & Joe Papa

*Click here for closeup of New World article* 

Leonard Lioi was the captain and leader of the team that went undefeated in CYO and Chicago Park District play.  

During CYO sectional play there were no close games.  As we moved through the playoffs, games became closer.  In the semifinal game with Angel Guardian we fell behind 10-0 early in the game.  This was the first time all year we were behind in a game after the 2nd inning.  We chipped away at the lead every inning and rallied to win 14-10.  In the final we beat St Maurice 16-3 and won SFR's first CYO Softball Championship!

We also competed in a Chicago Park District League at Lafollette Park.  Similar to CYO sectional play there were no close games and we went undefeated in league play.  In retrospect, we surprised ourselves at how well and consistent we played.  Thanfully, Willie kept us well grounded, focused and prepared. 

 *Click here for closeup of related Cicero Life article*

 *Click here for closeup of related Cicero Life article with Box Scores*

                                                           Submitted by Jim Cerny

*Click here for closeup of 20th Reunion photo*

When now deceased starting catcher and team cornerstone, Jimmy DiGregorio was designing the logo for his donated 1983 Commemorative T-shirts with an educated guestimate 20-0 record, that we wore in our 20th SFR Reunion Softball Game, he told me most of that team that was undefeated in the 1963 season and playoffs thru the Semi-finals and Finals in Grant Park against Angel Guardian and Maryville orphanages and that summer went undefeated in winning the Chicago Park District Championship, continued to play thru High School and that their combined record was more like 80-2! Now THAT was a Real Dynasty for the Record Books, boys and girls!!! That is why I have been so driven for the last 2 years to ensure that our Field of Dreams would manifest itself one more time before more of our Fourteen Boys of Summer would be gone forever. May God bless and keep close Didi and Billy Boland; Jimmy Lasorella and Willy Ward, wherever you two are.                                                            

                                     Submitted by: Kim Tetzloff

1965 CYO Champs in under 16 age group

Once again SFR went undefeated in winning the CYO Championship - this time beating Resurrection.  Most of the team were Class of '63 members, and the team was coached by Leonard's brother-in-law.  We were in the same section with Resurrection, which was very unusual for 2 teams from the same section to make it to the finals.  

1966 CYO Finalists in under 18 age group

SFR went undefeated in winning its section and throughout the playoffs until the championship game.  Though we played well, St Maurice got a little revenge in beating us (we beat St Maurice in the 1963 championship) in a high scoring affair.  About half of the team were Class of '63 members, and the team was coached by Jim DiGregorio's father. 

 1967 CYO Quarterfinalists in under 18 age group

SFR went undefeated in winning its section and through the playoffs until the quarterfinals.  For the first time we did not play well and lost to a team which we beat twice in sectional play and at least six times in the past 3 years.  Just under half of the team were Class of '63 members, and the team was coached by Jim DiGregorio's father. 

                                                    Submitted by Jim Cerny

Willie Ward coached the team in a very memorable season that was filled with surprises, highs and lows, including a “ do over” in the semifinal game. 
We were in a section with Our Lady Help of Christians and Our Lady of Sorrows, and several other teams.  The Our Lady of Sorrows team won the CYO championship in this age group the previous year (undefeated).  We were familiar with the Our Lady Help of Christian team from exhibition and high school games. 
We beat Our Lady of Sorrows the first time we played them – their first loss in quite some time (high).  At the end of the regular season all 3 teams were tied with 2 losses after splitting games with each other.  Typically, only 2 teams from a section advance to the playoffs, but this time all 3 teams advanced (surprise) . 
Our Lady Help of Christinas made it to the quarterfinals then lost. We played Our Lady of Sorrows in the semifinals twice (surprise).  The first semifinal game was very close and the scoreboard had us losing by 1 point.  However, there were discrepancies among the scorebooks and scoreboard – 3 different results, 1 tie and 1 win for each team.  Rather than resume play in an overtime scenario, the game was replayed (do over).  We were never in the do over game and lost (low).  Our Lady of Sorrows went on to win the CYO championship.  

                                                                             Submitted by Jim Cerny