Mater Dei reversed last year’s Indiana 2A state championship loss to Andrean. Friday, at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, the Wildcats beat the 59ers 20-10.
The championship is the second overall for Mater Dei. The first came during 2000.
“This team, I compared them to (2000 squad) a little bit,” head coach Mike Goebel told IHSAA.org. “We didn’t dwell on anything except what we had coming up.”
Mater Dei quarterback Mason Wunderlich threw for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Ethan Stolz caught both TD’s.
Mater Dei finishes 2022 with a 12-3 record. Andrean wraps-up with a 10-4 mark.
Congratulations to Evansville Mater Dei’s Joey Pierre, the 2022 Blake Ress Mental Attitude Award recipient for Class 2A Football, presented by the Indianapolis Colts!@MaterDeisports @ColtsYouthFB @Colts pic.twitter.com/WJ015yNL5q
— IHSAA (@IHSAA1) November 25, 2022
Evansville Mater Dei’s Joey Pierre earns the Blake Ress Mental Attitude Award
During the awards ceremony, Joey Pierre of Evansville Mater Dei High School was announced by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Blake Ress Mental Attitude Award in Class 2A Football.
The award is annually presented to a senior who is nominated by his principal and coach, and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability during his four years of high school.
Pierre is a three-year varsity starter for football, including three time All-Academic, All-City designee. He has over 3,000 career rushing yards to go with 27 touchdowns. Pierre is also involved with wrestling and baseball for the Wildcats.
Pierre excelled in the classroom, as he is ranked 9th in his senior class as well as a member of the National Honor Society.
He is the son of Jim and Lori Pierre of Evansville, IN. He will attend Indiana University and is interested in studying business.
The award is named in honor of Commissioner Emeritus Blake Ress, who served as the IHSAA’s seventh commissioner from 2000-11.
The Indianapolis Colts, the presenting sponsor of the state tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Evansville Mater Dei High School’s general scholarship fund in the name of Joseph Pierre.
