By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor When people thought of the 2016 La Salle football team, the first two players that probably came to mind were running back Amon Milliner and defensive end Myles Cecil. As good or great as both of those players were, it took solid, blue-collar guys like Wyatt Cimino for the Lancers […]
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
Wyatt Cimino (l) and Coach Russell Gordon (r)
When people thought of the 2016 La Salle football team, the first two players that probably came to mind were running back Amon Milliner and defensive end Myles Cecil.
As good or great as both of those players were, it took solid, blue-collar guys like Wyatt Cimino for the Lancers to make school history.
Cimino was what coach Russell Gordon called the ‘quarterback of the defense’ and at safety, his two years in the Lancers’ defensive backfield were incredibly consistent,
In 2015, Cimino had 51 tackles and two interceptions and this past season, he picked off three passes and had 56 tackles.
Much like Cecil, Wyatt Cimino is also very gifted in the classroom (3.5 grade-point average) and holds a high intellect.
Because of his athletic and academic skills, Cimino signed this week to continue his football career and education at the University of Redlands.
“We couldn’t be more proud of or happy for Wyatt,” his coach said. “He is a quiet kid that doesn’t do a lot of talking, but he sure makes a sound with his play. He is a very inclusive kid, in that he accepts and loves everyone, and he also is a great player who anticipates plays before they happen.”
Cimino will be remembered for being a part of a class of 22 seniors who broke through and won their first two Angelus League games after two years of nothing.
La Salle also won their first playoff game in nearly seven years and Cimino was key in that victory with three tackles and an interception over Mayfair on the road.
But his brightest moment may have come in a game most of his classmates never saw, because it was in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The Lancers were being outplayed and trailed 25-0 in the heat of September that Arizona is infamous for, but Cimino and his boys made a charge.
Next thing you knew, La Salle took a 28-25 lead into triple overtime, but Notre Dame Prep had the ball and needed just a touchdown to wrap up the victory.
Cimino wasn’t going to allow that to happen, as he picked off the Saints’ quarterback in the end zone and clinched what could easily be considered a season-defining moment about a group of kids that would never say die.
Quotable:
La Salle senior Wyatt Cimino: “My experience at La Salle gave me many life lessons, but one stuck out to me. If you’re struggling at a certain time in your life, do not give up. Nothing comes easy. If you focus and work the results will be glorious. I learned this after three seasons with no league games won. Our reward from our work came during our senior year by not only winning one, but two league games and making school history. Having my teammates and friends around me when I signed (to Redlands) was heartwarming. I could literally feel the joy and love they had for me.”
