The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Looman siblings set for their showdown
Mayfield girls coach Ryan and the Wildcats to host sister Jessica and Steubenville CC
It’s a warm summer afternoon on Warrick Drive in Ashtabula as Ryan Looman spins the ball in his fingers and heads toward the basketball hoop in his family’s driveway.
On his heels is his little sister Jessica, three years his junior but anxious to show her big brother she can hang with him on the court.
That was somewhere around the year 1999 when Ryan was heading toward his sophomore year at Ashtabula St. John High School, his sister an aspiring athlete in her own right in the junior high ranks.
It has been quite a while since the Looman kids have gone headto-head on the basketball court. But that loving family rivalry will be renewed on Saturday, Dec. 30, when the Mayfield Wildcats’ girls basketball team, coached by Ryan, hosts the Steubenville Catholic Central Crusaders, coached by Jessica.
Front and center as Catholic Central’s varsity assistant will be Ed Looman, proud father of both.
It’s a showdown no one in the family ever saw coming, but one all involved are looking forward to experiencing.
“I’m looking for it more than I’m nervous for it,” Ryan said. “I get to play my younger sister and my dad.
“You want to play your best. If you lose, you lose. But if you do lose, I’ll hear about it for the next year or so. But I’m still looking forward to it.”
If you had asked anyone in the Looman family if they ever imagined a brother-sister encounter on the basketball court, you likely would have been greeted by a round of laughter.
Ryan always envisioned himself as a football coach, a passion he followed for 11 seasons before finding himself as an applicant for Mayfield’s vacant girls basketball job.
Jessica wasn’t an aspiring coach, either. A recruiter for a transportation company in Pittsburgh, she was approached about coaching Catholic Central’s volleyball program, took a stab at that sport and then a year later was hired as the girls basketball coach.
Lo and behold, the only children of Ed and Carol Looman have found themselves in the same sport. And on Dec. 30, they will find each other as adversaries for the first time. Go figure. “We’ve been trying to talk him into playing us,” Jessica said with a laugh. “He said he had one opening this year, and we were more than happy to come up and play.
“I am so stoked. My girls are really excited as well. We’re going to make a weekend trip of it.”
The Crusaders toppled Weirton Madonna — a rival just across the Ohio River — on Dec. 12 to run their record to 5-1. Catholic Central also has a win over West Virginia big-school juggernaut Brooke to its name.
Mayfield sits at 2-2 after a recent loss to North.
Mayfield is Division I, while Catholic Central is Division IV.
“I think she coaches the way she played,” Ryan said of his sister. “She was a scrapper and doesn’t take crap from anybody. That’s kind of what I remember of her growing up. Whether it was in sports or at school, she was always one who could take care of herself.
“I think that’s how she coaches. She’s intense, gets after it and pushes her players to give 100 percent.”
Jessica considers her brother extraordinarily analytical as a coach.
“He’s always watching film, preparing for the next opponent,” she said. “He’s very passionate.”
Which begs the question, how much will the siblings share with each other heading into the game? Ryan chuckled. “I talk to Dad on my way home after games,” he said. “I’m sure he’ll ask, ‘What did North do against you? Did it work? And can we use it?’”
Jessica said there has been no trash-talking yet.
“Well, you know we used to talk a lot more basketball before we decided to play each other this year,” she said. “We’ll probably talk more after we play. I know he talks to Dad after every one of his games and debriefs him.”
Enjoying it all will be the proud parents and Ryan’s three sons — Eli (5), Koby (3) and Weston (9 months). Jessica said she has bought blue and gold Catholic Central shirts for her nephews, but isn’t so sure they will wear them for the MayfieldCatholic Central game.
Both Ryan and Jessica figure their parents will be torn, too.
“Mom is one of our most vocal fans,” Jessica said. “I told her if she cheers for Mayfield, the girls are gonna be mad. I’ve been giving her grief. I don’t think she’ll be too vocal that day.”
Added Ryan, “Dad will enjoy it. He’ll probably try to soak it in more than anything else. Whether or not (Mom and Dad) are more into the game or more into seeing their grandkids five days after Christmas, that’s the interesting part.”
Stories of growing up in Ashtabula roll off the tongues of the Looman kids as if they happened just yesterday. Both beam with pride over the memory of watching the other suit up for the St. John Heralds as much as their pride in the career paths — and the accompanying success — they are enjoying.
Their head-to-head matchup on Dec. 30 will be the latest of a litany of memories the Loomans will tuck into their treasure chest of family heirlooms.
“It’s going to be fun being on the sidelines together,” Jessica said. “I’m excited. It’s going to be a fun day.”