-
December 15, 2014It was a great night of celebration in the Viking Village as the boys’ varsity basketball team took on the Green Wave of Holy Name in the Vikings’ first home game of the season. Of course, the final score – 100-61 in favor of the Vikings – provided plenty of cause to celebrate, but the celebration actually went far beyond the action on the court.
Among other things, the Friday night (Dec. 12) blast included a tribute to Don ’70 and Mary Jo Dailey, whose generosity made the “new” Viking Village – complete with state-of-the-art bleachers and wall-to-wall cosmetic enhancements – possible. The season opener for the No.1-ranked Vikings was the perfect opportunity to show off the venerable gym’s updated look.
It also was the ideal setting to honor senior standout Carlton Bragg for achieving his 1,000th point, a feat he accomplished in last season’s Division III state championship final in Columbus (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWDRQwgg3OQ).
In addition, the evening saw the debut of the Viking hoopsters’ latest and greatest video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ttQeKC1Dao), which Coach Babe Kwasniak ’94 says will be shown before all home games this season.
In the team’s traditional chapel service prior to the game, Kwasniak spoke to the players about the key elements of victory. He used the film Lone Survivor, an inspiring war story starring Mark Wahlberg, as a metaphor. The team had watched the movie on their return trip from Benton, Ky., where they beat nationally ranked Archbishop Carroll (60-54) from Radnor, Pa., in the Marshall County Hoopfest a week earlier. (View the entire game here: http://www.team1sports.com/index.php/videoPlayer/view?broadcast=91571).
Kwasniak spoke of five ingredients that make the Vikings special: culture, the feeling of home, the willingness to fight, always finding an excuse to win, and leadership. “The essence of leadership is caring about your brothers and sisters more than yourself,” he said.
In remarks just prior to the start of the game, Athletic Director Nate Zavorek ’94 paid tribute to the Daileys for the support they provided “to literally change the entire Village.”
“The Daileys have provided much more than financial support to this school,” Zavorek said. “They have restored the belief in our mission and what we are all about.
“This year marks the changing of an era,” he added. “The gym that the Vikings call home has improved and its new look provides a renewed sprit and reflects the sense of pride on the faces of all those wearing Viking gear – students, alumni and fans.”
Don '70 and Mary Jo Dailey during the Viking boys basketball season opener vs. Holy Name high school
