It’s not often Providence’s Ricky Costello and Mike Cascino disagree, especially when it comes to matters on the golf course.
The senior captains happen to be one of the premier golf duos in the state, but they find themselves on disparate sides concerning the Celtics’ ritual before meets.
“We usually do this silly thing before tournaments,” said Costello, an Iowa State recruit. “It’s called, ‘Beast Mode.’ We all get together as a team and pretend to drink from an empty can and then we smash the can. It started a few years before I got to Providence and it gets us pumped up.”
Costello is game to keep the tradition rolling. Cascino? Not so much.
“It’s really not that cool,” Cascino said. “I don’t want to do it. It’s too corny, especially if we don’t win. Usually Ricky and I agree on a lot, but this is the one disagreement.”
Whatever the team decides, there’s no doubt Providence will retain the fun, laid-back playing style it has consistently shown under coach John Platt.
After all, it’s hard to have a bad time when you’re one of the best teams in the state. The Celtics finished ninth in Class 3A last year and fourth in 2014. Costello and Cascino played major roles on both those deep postseason runs.
“We’re able to keep it loose because we’re all pretty good friends and like to joke around on the course,” said Cascino, who’s received an offer from Loyola and interest from Butler and Michigan. “When we get too serious, we tighten up and don’t play our game.”
Providence seems to be in line for another big year. Costello and Cascino have the talent to contend in every tournament, and Tyler Roat, Zach Bilotta and Gino Sanfilippo provide needed depth.
“We’ve been super lucky with a great group of guys,” Costello said. “We all work so hard at it. When the pressure is on, it’s all something we really want.”
Costello knows what it’s like to deal with stress. He finished fourth individually in 3A last season, fighting back from the middle of the pack with a 1-under 71 on Day 2 of the state tournament to move into the top five.
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As a sophomore, it was the same story. Costello finished sixth with a sterling 71 on the second day to reach the state podium.
“It’s not like I’m saying, ‘Let’s shoot high the first day so I can go low the next,'” Costello said. “But when my back’s against the wall, that’s when I play my best.”
Another podium finish would put Costello in elite company. Costello could become the fourth golfer in state history with three top-10 finishes in 3A. The IHSA transitioned boys golf into three classes in 2007.
Providence looks like the cream of the Southland, but there are several other teams that could make postseason noise. Sandburg, Lemont, Brother Rice, Marian and Marist all return formidable talent from last season.
Logan Malloy is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.