Long legacy of championship teams
1 Of his nine state championship teams, coach Matt Senffner said 2001 was his best. The Celtics (14-0) averaged 40 points and crushed Richards 41-0 for the 6A title behind Mike Mentz (135 yards rushing, two TDs) and Jim Berthold (109 yards, two TDs). The defense, led by LBs Rory Steinbach and Matt Eggert and DBs Matt Gannon and Mark Reiter, was better. Unfinished business
(Jean Lachat/Sun-Times)
2 After finishing third in 1978, coach Frank Palmisani's 1979 powerhouse (32-1) romped to the Class A basketball title behind 6-8 sophomore Walter Downing and seniors Barney Mines, Tiger Williams and Tennis Curry. No opponent got within 12 in the last four games. In the final, Downing scored 21 as the Celtics built a 14-2 lead and beat Havana 46-33.
3 Providence has won 10 state wrestling titles, including six in a row, and finished second six times but coach Keith Healy said ''the greatest moment of all" was in 2001 when senior Matt Kucala pinned heavily favored Eric Tannenbaum of Naperville North in the third period for the 125-pound title. It was the only loss for Tannenbaum in his four-year career.
4 Coach Jaime Garcia's baseball teams won state titles in 1978 and 1982, but 1978 was most memorable. The Celtics upset New Athens 5-4 with P Tom Carruthers, SS Dave Andrade, OF/P Jim Robinson, OF/P Bill Wingate, C Mike Imrie, 2B Jim Boban and 3B Ted Tonelli. With the bases loaded, Andrade made a leaping catch for a double play to save the game.
5 In 1978, Sr. Judith Legan's girls won the first Class A girls track title as sprinter Cheryl Johnson won the 100 and 220 and anchored the winning 440 and 880 relays. Providence scored 31 points to St. Joseph-Ogden's 16. Johnson combined with Jayne Glade -- who was second in the 220 hurdles -- Kaye and Alice Bertagnoli and Leanne Burla to win the relays.
• Pete Bercich: NFL player.
• Sean Bormet: Three-time state wrestling champion.
• Clarissa Cerda: Former assistant counsel to the president of the U.S.
• Jose Cerda: Chief of Policy for City of Chicago and former special assistant to the president.
• Walter Downing: Mr. Basketball 1981, one of IHSA’s 100 Legends.
• Steven Fleming: Actor, comedian.
• Brad Guzan: Goalkeeper, U.S. soccer team.
• Sarah Jones: Judge, Will County’s 12th Circuit.
• Fr. Burke Masters: Former professional baseball player, Vocation Director for the Diocese of Joliet.
• Kerry Muzzey: Film and television composer.
• Steve Morrisette: Bank president and CEO.
• Jim O’Connor: Principal and founder of KIPP Ascend Charter School.
• Carmen Pignatiello: Pro baseball player.
• Bryan Rekar: Pro baseball player.
• Eric Steinbach: NFL player.