The Lacrosse Cup won by South Elgin’s Kyle Viverito and his teammates last spring could produce a carry-over effect this fall in another sport.
Storm linebackers are counting on it.
Known for offense since the school’s opening, South Elgin’s football team wants the defense to take a step forward and take away the ball. Agile, quick linebackers with experience are key to that approach.
In 7-on-7 events this summer, they’ve displayed a knack for covering the middle and the flat. And they can thank other sports for some of this speed and maneuverability.
“I would definitely say our linebackers are the strength of our defense,” coach Pat Pistorio said.
Three of the four linebackers played lacrosse in spring and helped the Storm win the Class B state title.
“We’re sure our defense will be better,” Viverito said. “We have experience starting from last year and can do whatever it takes to get the job done.
“We’re malleable. We bend but we never break.”
At 6-foot-2, Viverito is the only one of the group taller than 6-0, and none come in heavier than 210 pounds.
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Yet Viverito, Colt Doherty, Joey Cipriani and Matthew Lopez can run to the ball. They possess lateral quickness more than flat-out sprinter’s speed, and it’s easy to see where they got it.
“Lacrosse is intensity, and it carries over to football and vice versa,” Viverito said. “We’re able to gain leadership through lacrosse and camaraderie. And speed.
“But I started out in football first. So did Colt.”
Viverito joked about his first experience watching lacrosse, standing with his father on the sideline.
“I went to watch my younger brother Joey play lacrosse,” Viverito said. “I turned to my dad and said, ‘Lacrosse is just like football, except you get a weapon.’ “
Cipriani plays a hybrid defensive back/linebacker spot, while Doherty and Viverito are on the edge. Lopez plays the middle and is the only one of them who doesn’t play lacrosse.
“We just have to work as a unit and we’ll get where we want to be,” Lopez said. “We’re trying to use our speed. It’s our big advantage. We know our size isn’t great, but it will have to do.
“All of us linebackers have our own specialties, but the speed is best for us.”
Lopez helped his own lateral quickness in a different sport. It’s not the usual offseason cross training for middle linebackers.
“I started playing on the tennis team when I was a freshman,” Lopez said. “It really does help with my lateral movement.”
The linebackers and entire South Elgin team are pointing toward a Week 1 trip to Orlando, Fla., to play Miami’s Ranson Everglades at 8 p.m. Aug. 25 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Pistorio, a Larkin graduate, got the idea for the trip after St. Edward coach Mike Rolando, another former Larkin player, took the Green Wave to Orlando last year.
“It’s all been possible through the fundraising efforts of the players’ families and also families of cheerleaders and the dance team because they’re going, too,” Pistorio said. “There are more than 80 kids going.”
A victory, a few good hits and some forced turnovers would make for a complete trip for Viverito and the linebacker corps.
“Some of my buddies from St. Edward — Ryan Pomeroy and Vincenzo Mauro — went last year and said it was the time of their lives,” Viverito said. “I’m looking to build a lot of memories with my teammates and have a lot of fun out there.”
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