b'recalls. Why dont we play each other in a tourney?Ill host the first one.Good might be understating the case just a tad.After all, the Irish of STVM are coming off two con-secutive state championships in boys basketball and they play home games in a building named forhigh-profile alum and NBA megastar LeBron James. Meanwhile, several other NBA luminariesJaysonTatum, Bradley Beal and David Leeboast a Marianistpedigree. And virtually all of the schools in the mixfor the Marianist Classic are accustomed to hangingchampionship banners in one sport or another. All of that made Toms idea an easy sell for MikeEngland, president of St. Marys High School in St. Louis.I said, omigoshabsolutely! It would be great forour kids to have an opportunity to play in the gymthat LeBron built, he says.Something bigger happening hereWith STVM athletic department staffers Willie McGeeand Carley Whitney doing most of the legwork, theDec. 21-22 event began taking shape, drawing a stellarfield of Marianist schools that also included ChaminadeCollege Preparatory from West Hills, California; PurcellMarian High School from Cincinnati; North CatholicHigh School from Pittsburgh; and Chaminade CollegePreparatory School from St. Louis. (In addition, aseventh school, Kennedy Catholic High School fromHermitage, Pennsylvania, played a Friday game, fillingin for the Purcell Marian squad who had a schedulingconflict that evening.)The inaugural Marianist Classic featured some greathoops, including three hotly contested overtime con-tests. But no one took home a trophy. That wasntthe point, says Willie. Rather, the showcase formatpromised each school a pair of games against qualitycompetition and a chance to build relationships, ashe puts it. We all have lots in common. This gave usa way to get to know one another.For Rob Webb, president of Chaminade-West Hills, to tour the Pro Football Hall of Fame in nearby Canton On Dec. 21 - 22, 2018, thethe event had mission written all over it. I have and offering a setting for the southern California teens Marianist Classic featured sixso much respect for the other Marianist schools and to experience their first-ever snowball fight. fiercely contested matchups.the kind of work they do, he says. Its important Beyond memories to last a lifetime, the Marianistfor our kids to see it, tooto let them experience Classic also provided an excellent opportunity tothat theyre part of something bigger. spotlight the characteristics that embody our spirit,Its a sentiment shared by Mike England of St. Marys. says Rob, whose California school will host the secondIts about being together, being in a competition, tournament in 2019. It draws attention to the fact thatand being able to appreciate what we all share in we are, indeed, unique. As a Marianist school, wecommonhow important this Marianist charismshare a mission with some outstanding institutions.is to all of our schools. This event is the perfect way to promote that.Travel to northeastern Ohio provided some notableattractions, too, giving one out-of-town team a chance John Schroeder is a freelance writer from St. Louis. marianist.com/donate 17'