With the men’s basketball tryouts starting soon and the Lady Irish basketball season opener on Oct. 31, the coaches prepare for the upcoming season.

The men’s coach is Mr. Jason Delaney and the new women’s coach is Mrs. Reggen Melson. Melson was introduced as the new women’s head coach last season after Coach Mr. Ed Freije ‘99 resigned to take on the duties of serving as the head coach of the varsity baseball team.

Melson previously served as the head coach at Crispus Attucks and Scecina. As a new member of the coaching staff, she wrote in an email, “I am very excited to be at Cathedral. It feels like family already. Everyone is so inviting and supportive.”

The women’s first official practice took place on Oct. 16, so the season in effect has already started. Melson said that most of the women’s practices are in the Welch Activity Center, but when the men’s season begins they will practice in both the auxiliary gym and the WAC.

Melson also said that nine freshman girls tried out. Ms. Jessica Wright coaches the C team, with Ms. Molly Lauck as the junior varsity coach.

Delaney is the men’s varsity head coach, and he oversees the entire men’s basketball program. He wrote in an email, “We have the honor of coaching really good kids who now have bought into the culture, and during June saw success because of it.”

This year Delaney anticipates “between 25 and 30 freshmen when our tryouts start on Nov. 6.” He conducts practices six days a week either in the auxiliary gym or the WAC.

The women’s first varsity game is Oct. 31 in the WAC, with the junior varsity tipping off at 6 p.m. and the varsity following at 7:30, with the Irish taking on Ben Davis. Melson expects a good year. She said, “We want to make sure we have a winning season, but also bring home some hardware.”

The men’s first junior varsity and varsity game is on Nov. 20 at Gary Lighthouse College Prep, and the freshmen play Nov. 30 against Arsenal Tech. Delaney said, “Our goal is to win the State championship and enjoy the journey along the way.”