By RICH FISHER
Contributing Editor
As participants and their families gathered in Trenton’s Mincey Manczak Gymnasium for the Mercer County CYO Basketball and Cheerleading Opening Day Mass Nov. 9, celebrant Msgr. Dennis A. Apoldite’s homily included a message that coaches constantly give to their players.
Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony parishioner Nicole Scharibone distributes Holy Communion at the Nov. 9 CYO Opening Day Mass. Rich Fisher photo
Play for your team, not for yourself.
Msgr. Apoldite – the CYO secretary; pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Trenton; and episcopal vicar for Mercer County – noted during the Mass that just working with each other can cultivate success.
PHOTO GALLERY: CYO Opening Mass
“When you’re part of a team, it tells you exactly what you need to do,” Msgr. Apoldite told those assembled. “It’s not as an individual, but it’s a group of people that have a common goal. And for all of you the common goal is always to win. And you do. Most of the time you win.”
Msgr. Apoldite added that his lesson applies to life beyond basketball.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s sports, but you win from being part of a team,” he said. “Individuals growing together and learning from each other; and doing some things that are not so good together. That’s part of growing up. When you learn from the things you do that aren’t so good, that’s even better.
“You learn that on your court, you learn that in your home, you learn it at school, you learn it at places where maybe you shouldn’t be,” he continued. “Today as we begin this new season, you’re the symbol of your team, you’re the symbol of your parish and you’re the symbol of God.”
Treasured Memories
The Mass was followed by awards given to players now in ninth grade who graduated from the league last year. CYO Executive Director Tom Mladenetz addressed the crowd sitting in the new bleachers, giving credit to major donors and telling everyone “You are the first ones to ever sit in these seats.”
CYO executive director Tom Mladenetz recalls youthful memories of CYO. Mike Ehrmann photo
Mladenetz, now in his 30th year as executive director (after three years as athletic director) played in the league in the late 1960s and early ’70s. He is proud to note that as the CYO enters its 72nd year, there are about 50 basketball teams and six cheerleading squads that include roughly 750 children. He is even prouder that the heritage lives on.
“Those were some of my best childhood memories,” Mladenetz said. “It brings me great joy to see the tradition of CYO basketball continuing and hundreds of youths creating their own special memories.”
And the opening day Mass is a big part of those memories.
“The late founder and first CYO director Msgr. Leonard Toomey told me this was a tradition that we should never let go,” Mladenetz said. “The opening day Mass brings together teams, coaches and families before the competitions begin to pray together and show we are all one Church.”
Scholar Athletes
The annual Mass also honored past players who made a positive impact.
CYO Athletic Director Quincy Walzer introduced the 2023-24 Scholar-Athlete team, whose members were all honor students. They included Dylan Ochoa (Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony, Hamilton), Jack Bendas (St. Gregory the Great, Hamilton Square), Emma Cimino (St. Gregory the Great), Stephen Chynoweth (St. Paul, Princeton), Amelia Kenney (St. Paul), Samantha Brown (St. Raphael’s/Holy Angels, Hamilton), Brett Prester (St. Raphael-Holy Angels), Nalisha Narvaez (Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy, Hamilton) and Andre Robinson (Trenton Catholic).
That was followed by recognition of the major award winners, which featured Female Athlete of the Year Sienna Golizio of St. Gregory’s, Male Athlete of the Year Sebastian Kyler of St. Paul, and Volunteer Coach of the Year Russell Loring of St. Paul.
For the 33rd straight year, Rosemary LaMachia (left) provided the vocals and Joann Sciarrotta provided the organ music at the Mercer County CYO Opening Day Mass Nov. 9. Rich Fisher photo
Golizio was unable to attend, but Kyler said “it’s a great honor. I didn’t really expect it at first. When I first started in this league in second grade, I never thought this would happen.”
In looking back on his CYO experience, Kyler had nothing but praise.
“It’s great,” he said. “It’s something bigger than yourself. I’m getting to play in a different environment than I’m used to when I’m playing with my schoolmates. And I agree [with Msgr. Apoldite], teamwork is very important. You can’t do anything without working with others.”
Kyler is now attending Montgomery High School and will play basketball and baseball.
Loring has stepped down after seven seasons as St. Paul athletic director. He oversaw the athletic program during the COVID-19 pandemic and was happy to note, “We were still able to get our kids good basketball practice and keep them active during the pandemic.”
The South Brunswick resident feels that the goal of St. Paul is to keep the players active while giving them the chance to socialize and grow.
“And not just as players but as individuals, as adults learning to cooperate with others and competing against each other with humility and grace,” he said. “The CYO does a good job to make sure the kids in this area have a good outlet for that.
“I’ve seen a lot of kids come through St. Paul and play basketball in this gym,” he continued. “They’ve played against each other for six years, battle after battle, and they can still leave here shaking each other’s hands and being respectful to one another. That’s my favorite thing about CYO, it really teaches the kids about sportsmanship and respect. It’s not just about winning and losing.”
Mary Stadnyk, associate editor for The Monitor, contributed to this story.
Scholar athletes recognized after the Mass included, from left, Brett Prester (St. Raphael-Holy Angels, Hamilton), Jack Bendas (St. Gregory the Great, Hamilton Square), Stephen Chynoweth (St. Paul, Princeton), Amelia Kenney (St. Paul), Dylan Ochoa (Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony, Hamilton). Mike Ehrmann photo