Copyright M Live Michigan
Mike Ribecky is the last person who will take any credit or crave any time in the spotlight, but the 2022 Muskegon-area Sports Hall of Fame inductee reached another historic milestone on Saturday. The veteran assistant coach for the Muskegon Catholic Central football program registered win No. 400 with the Crusaders’ 55-18 home win over Oakland Christian. In his 47th year roaming the sidelines for the Crusaders, Ribecky viewed the accomplishment as just another day in the office. “It just proves that you’ve been around for a long, long time,” joked Ribecky of the milestone. “It’s more about the kids than anything else. To me, it was just another game that we were trying to win. Football is basically my hobby. Some people do other things, and I just kind of do this and try to help each kid learn the game while they’re here. “Throughout the years, we’ve had so many good kids, and they are what make us successful. As coaches, we just try to put them in the right place and teach them what to do, and that’s really about it. You’ve got to have the Jimmies and the Joes to make things work.” Muskegon Catholic Central senior tailback Timmy Railling proved to be a difference maker against Oakland Christian on Saturday, as he rushed for 296 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries to power the Crusaders’ rushing attack. Senior quarterback Bode Zygmuntowski rushed for 32 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries and added a 48-yard touchdown pass to Landon Luchies. Zygmuntowski also registered a team-high 12 tackles on defense, while Nate Rowan added 7.5 tackles, including a sack and a fumble recovery. Railling had 6.5 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception, and Beckett Ream had 6.5 tackles and one interception. The Crusaders have battled through inexperience and dwindling roster numbers in recent years but the growing pains have been rewarding for Ribecky and the Crusader staff. “It’s definitely fun to see some of the young guys make progress, but it takes time to get there,” Ribecky added. “A lot of these kids are going up against guys who are four years older, and that makes a big difference, especially on the offensive and defensive line. “It’s a little easier for skill position players to jump in as underclassmen but it’s a bigger challenge upfront. You’ve got to go head-to-head with guys who are bigger and stronger than you every play. It’s a challenge in a lot of ways, but it’s nothing new for a lot of schools nowadays.” Ribecky was a 1973 graduate of Muskegon Catholic Central and went on to become a four-year starter at offensive tackle for the Western Michigan University football program. In his senior year in 1976, Ribecky helped the Broncos finish second in the nation in rushing yards and earned second team all-Mid American Conference honors. He returned to Muskegon after his playing career, where he worked for 29 years with the Muskegon Heights Fire Department and has spent 47 years as an MCC football assistant coach, specializing in coaching the offensive and defensive lines. The man referred to as “Bunny” by most in the Muskegon community has coached alongside Muskegon-area coaching legends such as Roger Chiaverini, Pete Kutches, and Mike Holmes. He also helped current Muskegon Catholic Central head coach Steve Czerwon win four consecutive state championships from 2013-16. During his time at Muskegon Catholic, Ribecky has helped the Crusaders make the playoffs 33 times in 47 seasons, make 15 state finals appearances, and claim 12 state championships. “(Muskegon Catholic) is where I was educated and my kids were educated, and it’s just a special community,” said Ribecky. “They’ve always been very supportive of us, and we’ve had great followings. We still have strong showings at games. “It’s really more about the community and the people than just the football program. I was brought up through the Catholic school system, my kids went through the Catholic school system, and now my grandkids are going through it, too. “We’ve had good administrators and very supportive staff, and it’s kind of just been another family in a lot of ways. Me helping out as a football coach is just my way of giving back to that family in a way.” The Ribecky family is ingrained in the DNA of the Muskegon Catholic Central football program, as Mike’s son, Jason Ribecky, joined the coaching staff in 2015. “That’s been fun,” said Mike Ribecky of working with his son. “We’re working together with the (offensive and defensive) line. I’ve been giving him a little bit more reins and just letting him do some of the blocking schemes. It’s been fun for me to watch him grow up and follow his career, and now, all of a sudden, I’m working with him every day. That’s been a fun experience. I also get to watch him grow as a man and a father, and he’s in town too, so it’s been an enjoyable experience all around.” The transition from player to coach was fairly easy for Jason Ribecky, who often caught the ire of his dad while playing for the Crusaders from 2009-12. “It’s definitely more enjoyable coaching with him,” joked Jason. “Being the coach’s son, he was tougher on me than the rest of the players on the team. Looking back at it now, I’m grateful he was hard on me because he made me the best player I could be, and I know he was just trying to get the most out of me. “We all know he’s probably on the Back 9 of his coaching career, so I’m appreciative each time I get to go out there with him, whether it’s for practice, games, or just Sunday film.” The Ribeckys will attempt to push Muskegon Catholic into the playoffs this week as they travel to Buchanan (5-3) on Friday for their regular-season finale. A win for the Crusaders will likely put them in the Division 8 playoff field, while a loss would likely keep them out for the second straight season. ---
