Sestili, Tzagournis lead Jerome to state title
Saturday, June 3, 2023
By Scott Hennen
shennen@cbussports.com
Dublin Jerome’s Brady Sestili (4) battles Cincinnati St. Xavier’s Magnus Violet (left) during the Celtics’ 12-10 victory over the Bombers in a Division I state championship game on June 3 at Historic Crew Stadium. Photo: Michael Rich
Brady Sestili and Marek Tzagournis led a Dublin Jerome senior class that willed the Celtics boys lacrosse team to its second Division I state championship in three seasons.
Tzagournis, the state’s leading scorer, helped lead his team with five goals on six shots as the Celtics defeated Cincinnati St. Xavier 10-8 on June 3 at Historic Crew Stadium.
Jerome finished 21-1, losing only to Detroit Brother Rice 12-9 on May 5. It was the program’s fifth state championship.
“Our seniors in the huddle took over and made plays,” seventh-year coach Andy Asmo said. “We made one or two more plays than them. They are a heck of a team.”
Sestili helped the Celtics seal the victory with a hard-fought unassisted goal with 4 minutes, 15 seconds left in the game. The midfielder, who signed to play football at Ohio University, took hits behind the net. He curled in front of the Bombers’ goalie and propelled the ball into the net for a 12-8 advantage.
“I definitely wasn’t expecting to shoot it there,” said Sestili, who had two goals and three ground balls. “Usually I look around and see Marek, obviously, sitting behind there. As soon as I saw him clear out I knew that I was going to shoot it.”
Asmo was not surprised by Sestili’s effort.
“That’s our middle linebacker going to OU,” he said. “That’s what he does. He’s pretty amazing. He has done that for us all year.”
Dublin Jerome’s Marek Tzagournis (11) celebrates after scoring a goal during the Celtics’ 12-10 win over Cincinnati St. Xavier in a Division I state championship game on June 3 at Historic Crew Stadium. Photo: Michael Rich
The game was scheduled to start at 7 p.m. but weather delays from earlier in the day kept the game from starting until 9:10 p.m. It had little effect on Jerome, which came out and grabbed a 3-0 lead.
The Celtics led 3-1 after one quarter but the teams were tied at 5 at half after a 4-2 effort by the Bombers in the second.
“For us as a team we looked at it as an advantage for us,” Sestili said. “They are a young team and we knew the majority of us have played in the last few state championships. We knew what to expect coming in here and we thought that would be to our advantage.”
Jerome led 10-8 after three quarters. Tzagournis, an attacker, scored his final goal with. 9:13 left to give his team a three goal edge at 11-8.
Dublin Jerome’s Michael Smith (center) celebrates with teammates and students after the Celtics captured a Division I state championship with a 12-10 victory over Cincinnati St. Xavier on June 3 at Historic Crew Stadium. Photo: Michael Rich
“Every game the third quarter is our quarter. We knew what we had to do,” Tzagournis said. “We play so much faster than other teams and we gain an advantage.”
The Celtics defeated St. Xavier 16-12 on May 10, which gave them a sense of confidence entering the final.
“We played this team earlier and we were up by nine goals at one point,” Sestili said. “We knew we were the better team and we knew we could only beat ourselves.”
The Celtics defeated Upper Arlington 12-11 for the state title in 2021 but lost to the Golden Bears 12-10 in last spring’s championship.
“I think everyone on the team was on a mission since last year’s loss,” Tzagournis said. “We had the right mindset this year and that really helped us.”
Senior attacker Carder Ungerott scored two goals with one assist and junior goalie Cory Lorentzen had seven saves.
Sophomore attacker Khalif Hocker and sophomore midfielder Magnus Violet both scored two goals for the Bombers (18-6). Sophomore goalie Trent Yelton had 14 saves.