The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Mayfield’s successful class sends five to college
It was a signing day befitting one of Mayfield’s greatest football seasons.
Senior Wildcats football players signed their national letters of intent on Feb. 5, and there was plenty of talent on the stage at Mayfield High School.
Five key players from Mayfield’s 11-1 seasons secured their future — defensive lineman Marco Tramontano (D-II, Notre Dame College), running back Joey Suchy (FCS, Butler), linebacker Clay Cunningham (D-II, Edinboro), safety/ linebacker Nick Cunningham (D-II, Walsh), and wide receiver Joey Isabella (FCS, Duquesne).
The group produced 42 varsity letters in a variety of sports, but a huge portion of that success was on the football field, where last season the Wildcats had their first undefeated regular season in 42 years.
“We’re happy, but (it’s) bittersweet because we’re losing a good group of seniors but a lot of good colleges are getting some really good kids,” said Mayfield coach Ross Bandiera.
The biggest and possibly best of the bunch is Tramontano, who’s also a standout heavyweight wrestler (33-1 this season) and a thrower for the Wildcats’ track and field team. He might have been a FBSlevel recruit had Tramontano not suffered a shoulder injury as a junior, but that’s in the past.
Tramontano — who will be an offensive lineman at Notre Dame College — is healthy and ready to compete for playing time at one of the nation’s top D-II programs.
“Well, I want to win rings now,” said Tramontano. “That’s definitely exciting. If we could get a full set of rings, that would be really nice.”
NDC coach Mickey Mental likes the sound of that, and he especially likes the skill-set Tramontano will bring to the Falcons’ offensive line.
“We love him at O-line,” said Mental. “We think he’s going to be really special for us for four or five years.”
Brothers Clay and Nick Cunningham entertained the idea of attending and playing at the same college — a few were interested in both — but they were content with their decisions.
“It would have been a great advantage playing with him but we both realized that we had to make (a decision) that was best for ourselves first,” said Nick. “There was a small possibility (of attending the same school) but it just didn’t work out.”
Said Clay: “It ended up just being the best fit for us going different ways.”
Suchy is really excited for his opportunity at Butler, where he was recruited to play running back. Suchy spent the majority of his time at Mayfield playing defense, but finally got a shot in 2019 at running back and responded with 1,364 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Isabella will follow his brother Andy — a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals — to college, where he hopes to be a big-time playmaker at receiver, just like Andy was at UMass. Joey chose Duquesne over the likes of St. Francis (Pa.), Iowa State, Cincinnati, New Hampshire and an assortment of D-II programs.
“I was fine going anywhere,” said Joey, who last fall had 49 catches for 594 yards and nine TDs. “Wherever I liked it the most I was fine with it. It doesn’t matter what level.”
Tramontano, the Cunningham brothers and Suchy began playing football together at about age 7. Isabella joined them in seventh grade. As a group, they helped created bigtime success and plenty of memories. Sharing the stage together on signing day added to those memories.
“This was definitely a special class because I don’t think anyone has worked as hard as us,” said Tramontana.