Junior lineman Ricky Mysliwiec is a key cog for the IC Catholic Prep football team.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
Simple is better.
That’s how junior offensive and defensive lineman Ricky Mysliwiec paints the reason behind the success of those IC Catholic Prep football units.
“We grind it out and we get back to basics,” said Mysliwiec, who plays right tackle on offense and nose guard and defensive tackle on defense. “We do everything the same way. There is nothing new. It’s done over and over again. We also have great coaches who get us ready every week.”
Mysliwiec’s contributions on both sides of the ball helped IC Catholic Prep win its second Class 3A state title in a row last Friday in DeKalb (a 35-0 shutout of Pleasant Plains). Mysliwiec had two tackles in the state title game and was part of an offensive line that helped rack up 395 total yards of offense.
As an offensive lineman, Mysliwiec again credits IC Catholic Prep’s coaching staff, specifically offensive line coach Kevin Cooney, for helping him improve.
“I listen to the coaches and take what they tell me and apply it in practice and in games,” he said. “Coach Cooney has taught me a bunch of stuff to be a better player and reach my full potential like moving my feet quicker and a lot of basic stuff you have to get back to.”
Likewise, Mysliwiec has learned plenty from IC Catholic Prep defensive coordinator Roger Kelly. “He’s taught me a ton of stuff like shooting the gap and doing a bunch of stuff to be a better player and get to the next level.”
Mysliwiec said despite playing on both lines, fatigue is never a factor. “I don’t get tired,” he said. “The coaches in summer camp make sure we are well-prepared for the season. We run and do strength conditioning every day. Anybody that is playing both ways is ready to go.”
Mysliwiec added he’s stepped up his leadership abilities this year. “I do like being a leader,” he said. “It’s fun, but you have to lead the guys the right way. You have to lead and you have to teach. I’ve taken a big step from last year. Last year we were led by guys such as Jimmy Kenneally and Robert Vitek. This year a bunch of different people like Dylan Packer and myself had to step up. Being a leader is very challenging and fun at the same time.”
Mysliwiec said earlier last week the 2017 season has been “crazy.”
“There are a bunch of words to describe it,” he said. “I love playing for these guys. They are my brothers and our coaches are great. There is no other team in the state like this one. The coaches are amazing and I wouldn’t trade any of my brothers for anything. Each week, practices on Monday and Tuesday are really rough. But knowing your brothers next to you are doing the same thing makes practices so much better. We have coaches who are willing to teach you. This has been awesome. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Coach Cooney is out there giving us life lessons to be better men and telling us nothing comes easy in life. The coaches push us and believe in us and are always encouraging you to be your best. They tell us we can be great future leaders. They push us to take our talents to the next level and to build our character.”
Mysliwiec said he will be sad to see the senior class go, but noted he still has one year of football left to go at IC Catholic Prep.
“I’m going to miss playing with them, but thank God I still have one more year left,” he said. “I have a really strong bond with a bunch of guys and we have some young guys pushing us every day whether it’s in individual drills or team drills. They are pushing us to be better. Those young guys doing their job and pushing us makes us better as well. I just feel blessed and privileged to come to a football environment like this every day.”
