As the EC boys varsity team heads to the CHSL semifinal this evening, today’s blog is a guest post by senior Joseph Thibodeau.
“The 2022 boys varsity basketball team picked up their season right where they left off from last year. The 2021 boys varsity team was very successful last year with a record of 18-2. It was the first year in Everest history that the boys varsity basketball team made it to the Catholic League Championship, unfortunately losing to Riverview Gabriel Richard in a thriller of a game. This year the boys are on task to make the Catholic League Championship again with a record of 13-2. The team this year has had numerous exciting games including a buzzer beater win against our rivals Cardinal Mooney. The shot was made by Lucas Cross as he intercepted the ball at half-court forcing a Mooney turnover and – just as the clock was about to hit zero – finished the game with a finger roll. That is just one of the many exciting games the boys have played.
Another exciting event for the boys team this year is the new head coach, Rich Cross. This is his first year as head coach of the program, and it is safe to say that he has been very successful building a championship caliber team. Coach Cross is an alumnus of Everest Collegiate he was a part of the second graduating class here at Everest in 2013. Coach Cross was also a member of the boys varsity basketball team while he attended Everest Collegiate. He was coached by Ann Serra-Lowney who is now his assistant coach after retiring at the end of the 2021 season.
Here is what Coach Serra-Lowney said about having Coach Cross as the head coach, “It’s great to see one of our own come back and be a part of this culture again, it shows me that we are doing things the right way at Everest Collegiate.” Ann Lowney has also been a very successful coach in her lifetime. Ann graduated and played basketball at Oakland University, and – to this day – she still holds the record for most assists at Oakland University for women’s basketball. She then went on to coach at Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes from 1989-1990. From there she went on to coach Birmingham Seaholm from 1995-1996 and then to Clarkston High School from 1997-2004. Coach Serra-Lowney has an overall record of 168-75.
When I asked Coach Cross about having Coach Serra-Lowney as an assistant coach, he said, “It’s great to have a coach with so much experience. I can always count on her giving me advice and tips to help make the team better. It is also great having her because she was my old coach and a lot of my basketball knowledge has come from her coaching me over the years.” Coach Cross also played basketball in college at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio.
Another reason for the boys’ successful season this year is the four returning starters from last season (three seniors and one junior) along with the addition of senior Sawyer Arbogast. The four returning starters are seniors Lucas Cross, Johnny Nedwick, and Joseph Thibodeau and junior Luke Walker.
Lucas Cross has been the team’s starting point guard for the last three years. He shows incredible ball control, which helps contribute to his lethal pull-up jumper and impressive finishes around the rim. His two favorite moves are the step-back three and the euro step around the rim. Lucas is a three sport athlete playing soccer, baseball, and basketball. He was the captain of the soccer team where he won the All-State award three years in a row.
Johnny Nedwick is another three sport athlete playing football, basketball, and baseball. Johnny won All-State in football this year as a safety with 103 total tackles. He is very well known for his defense, always guarding the opposing team’s best player and shutting them down. He also contributes on the offensive side with a smooth shot from deep and works in the paint effectively.
Joseph Thibodeau is another three sport athlete playing football, basketball, and baseball. He was the football team’s All-State quarterback this year. Thibodeau contributes on the offensive side by lighting it up from deep and dominating teams in the paint using his favorite move, the spin move.
New to the Mountaineers starting lineup is Sawyer Arbogast. Sawyer, along with his fellow teammates, is a three sport athlete playing basketball, baseball, and soccer. While Sawyer did not play basketball last year, he has been a great addition to the team by playing intense defense and grabbing rebounds for second chance opportunities.
Rounding out the starting line-up, junior Luke Walker is also an All-State athlete, winning the award two years in a row for soccer. He is a very well-rounded player who contributes offensively with his smooth shot from the three point line. He also contributes great effort on the defensive side.
With this impressive and very experienced lineup, the boys varsity basketball team is looking very intimidating for opposing teams. The team has proven to dominate other teams this season, and fans are excited to see where they will finish.”
