Introducing: The Cavoli Cup
Most rivalries are straightforward.
You fight each other on the pitch, and then you go your separate ways—one side grumbling about the referee, the other side jubilant in their victory.
And that’s usually it—one high-emotion, trash-talking clash per year.
Well, St. Edward and St. Ignatius are taking their rivalry to a new level. And not in the brass knuckles and billy-clubs kind of way.
They are elevating their rivalry to something beautiful. A clash of camaraderie. A Holy War. A bond of brotherhood that transcends cleats and turf.
So, what is the Cavoli Cup?
Here, come along with me, and I’ll give you the full picture.
The Schools
St. Edward and St. Ignatius are neighboring Catholic high schools—about six miles apart—in Cleveland, Ohio. They each have a rich history in the Cleveland area, with St. Ignatius being founded in 1886 and St. Edward in 1949.
On the sports field, a natural rivalry—fueled by location and cultural similarities—has burned bright for nearly 75 years. Dubbed the 'Holy War,' this annual matchup draws alumni, parents, and faculty to witness the athletic prowess of their teams. Our topic here is rugby, but the rivalry has roots in their football programs.
St. Edward Head Coach—and alumnus—Greg Miranda commented on the rivalry, saying, “There’s been a huge rivalry between St. Eds and St. Ignatius for many years—it’s always been known as the ‘Holy War’. Back when I was playing football at St. Ed’s it was the game that you couldn’t even hear anything on the field because it was so loud. It’s the matchup the two schools really treat as the ‘special one’.”
The Cavoli Cup extends that rivalry to the rugby pitch. Although they already have one big clash each year, both Coach Miranda and St. Ignatius head coach Dan Arbeznik agreed—once is not enough. Coach Miranda summed up their conversation about it, saying, “We really need to play each other more than one time per year…and we need to make it about more than just the varsity matchup.”
“The idea is to celebrate the rivalry—to make it more than just a single matchup on a single day. We wanted to make it bigger than that…and we wanted to honor a legendary individual while we do it.”
Which brings us to the most important part—the name behind the competition.
The Cavoli Cup: Honoring Dan Cavoli
Dan Cavoli was a beloved figure at both St. Ignatius and St. Edward. A St. Ignatius graduate, he taught at both schools and formed deep relationships with students and faculty alike. He left a void in both schools when he passed away in April 2024—evidenced by the beautifully written tributes from each institution.
Everyone [at St. Edward & St. Ignatius] has a unique memory of Dan Cavoli. And every memory about Dan Cavoli is one that you smile about. He was a force of positivity—all the time.”
It is clear—even without having met him—that Mr. Cavoli was not only an excellent teacher, but a humble and generous man who made each person he interacted with feel that they were seen, heard, and most importantly, loved.
A few things that stood out about him:
He was known to shake your hand enthusiastically, as if it was the highlight of his day.
He was a prolific linguist, rumored to have been fluent in 28 different languages.
He would leap onto his desk and deliver soul-moving orations to his pupils, often in Latin.
He had a gift for making his students fall in love with the subjects that he taught.
He always made time for you, even at odd or inconvenient hours of the day.
He started the Wilderness Retreats at St. Edward and St. Ignatius, an important feature in the formation of the young men at both schools.
He wrote a “Latin Haka”, known as The Aquila, for the St. Edward rugby team.
“After greeting a person with his energetic handshake and heart-felt smile, he would focus on him or her with the intensity which made one feel as though they were the only person in the room. And then he would do the same with the next person.”
Coach Arbeznik (St. Ignatius) shared that Mr. Cavoli played an important role in his family’s life, particularly in shaping his younger brother’s experience at St. Edward. Coach Arbeznik also attended the Cavoli-led Wilderness Retreat in the Allegheny Mountains between his senior year of high school and freshman year of college.
“He was always so giving of himself and his time. It's an honor for our schools to be united in this initiative to commemorate the contributions of a true Man for Others.”
What a fitting person to dedicate this tournament to!
The Format
2 separate weekends with games played by all 3 sides.
First Round: March 15th — games by the Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman teams.
Second Round: April 16th — games by the Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman teams.Everybody matters: points are calculated evenly across all age groups. It’s not only the Varsity squad that determines the outcome. In fact, the results from every single team—Freshman, Junior Varsity, and Varsity—are taken into account to decide which school wins the trophy. That means that every single game is important. The varsity team will be just as invested in their younger brothers playing well as they are in themselves. This is a fantastic feature of the tournament.
Varsity results aren’t weighted more than Freshman results. Everyone has equal contributions towards winning the Cup.”
After both weekends, the points will be tallied up and a winner declared.
The winning school receives the Cavoli Cup—a stunning, European-crafted trophy adorned with both schools' insignia. The cup even has Dan Cavoli’s “Latin Haka” printed around the rim.
The Cup will belong to the winning school for the duration of the year, until the tournament resumes the following season.
The Cavoli Cup
Credit: Greg Miranda
Final Thoughts
My first reaction upon hearing about The Cavoli Cup was: “Wow, that’s a really cool idea—a formal way to make their rivalry more exciting.”
Only after reading about Dan Cavoli did I see the full picture—and the beauty behind it.
Mr. Cavoli had a way of making everyone feel important. The Cavoli Cup carries that spirit forward—every player matters. You can’t win the Cup with your stud varsity players alone—every boy participates in their school’s shot at the trophy.
The thoughtfulness behind this tournament is a testament to the character of both schools. From their dedication to Dan Cavoli, to the inclusion of every age group, to the beautifully crafted Cup itself—the common thread is clear: this competition is about more than just rugby; it’s about camaraderie, tradition, and shared excellence.
Sure, there’s a brand new trophy and plenty of bragging rights at stake. But most importantly, the introduction of the Cavoli Cup shows the rest of us that a rivalry—properly cultivated—can be a vehicle for growth in virtue, skill, and brotherhood.
Cheers to St. Edward and St. Ignatius high schools. We’ll be following along!
How did we do?