Out of the Milczarski backyard athletic games with the neighborhood boys, a passion for competition was born.  Alongside their father, Mike, who coached various sports at Marian, the Milczarski family's involvement created a tight-knit community that extended beyond the game. Throughout their high school years, Megan Milczarski Peitz '02 and Mallory Milczarski Pickens '04 dedicated countless hours to perfecting their skills on the basketball court, with their mother, Monica, attending countless games over their six years, even continuing to support the program from the bleachers long after her daughters graduated. Their journey from Marian's gym to impressive successes on and off the court exemplifies the powerful impact of their high school experiences and the strong family bond that fueled their success. 

Can you recall a favorite moment on the court together? 

Megan: Mallory is two grades behind me. My senior year, she got brought up at the end of the season to play varsity basketball.  We won the Catholic League Championship that year!  One of my favorite pictures of all time is us high fiving as we received our medals on the courts at U of D Mercy. The high of winning, while being able to celebrate with your little sister...Pure joy.    

Mallory: My sister was my biggest supporter. I will never forget being a nervous sophomore on the bench and we were beating a team by a ton in the district final game. I was sitting at the end of the bench and Cicerone called my name to go in for the final minute. My sister stood up and cheered for me, and I could see how excited and proud she was. It was definitely a special memory I’ll always cherish. 

Mallory, how was it having your dad as a coach? 

Mallory: When I reached fifth grade at St. Lawrence, we needed a parent to volunteer to coach our soccer team. My dad had never played or coached soccer, but I asked him to be our coach. He bought two books about soccer and coached me in soccer and basketball throughout my time at St. Lawrence. He also coached me in varsity softball at Marian. He consistently pushed me to exceed expectations, and this experience played a huge role in shaping who I am today. He is the reason why my husband and I coach our kids' sports teams—to create similar experiences with our own children. 

Mike, how would you describe the experience of coaching your daughter? 

Mike: Mallory had it a lot tougher than any other softball player, because I expected more from her.  She always had to work harder to prove herself because she was the coach’s daughter, and she did a great job of managing it.  We had a family saying that was “Milczarski’s are tough” and they sure are.  I couldn’t be prouder of both of them. 

Was there a lot of basketball growing up?  

Megan: We were never idle growing up. The neighborhood boys wanted my dad to come out and play flag football or baseball, and he would only play if "his girls" could play. Out of this, our passion for competition was born. I started playing organized basketball at St. Lawrence in fifth grade. My dad liked to take matters into his own hands with coaching, and he ended up coaching Mallory in every sport she played. This is why she was better than me! But he was at every game he could make, even while working full time. 

Mallory: This was very true, we still joke about it to this day that the neighborhood boys would come over and ask our dad "to play”. My first time playing “competitive” basketball was at Metro Hoops in second grade. My dad started a team so we could play together, and I believe we were one of the only, if not the only, all girls team in the league—and did a good job holding our own!  I quickly developed a love for basketball and to this day it is still my favorite sport by far! I was blessed to have been coached by two of the greatest coaches of all time (in my opinion), my dad and Cicerone.   

Megan, describe your decision to play basketball for Hillsdale. 
 
Megan: Initially, I wasn’t sure—I was looking at some super nerdy, out-of-state private schools. But Katie Solner Embree '02, asked me "Are you really ready to give up basketball?" Turns out, I wasn't. I ended up at Hillsdale, playing my freshman year and then continued to work on the team staff. I also ran the Intramural women's sports league and finally got my chance to play flag football. 

Why Marian?  

Megan:  My parents encouraged us to choose among the Catholic high schools, but we didn't know much about Marian. At a “high school night,” Marian students shared their experiences. They were poised, confident, well-spoken, and enthusiastic. After hearing them, choosing Marian was a no-brainer. I didn't care if my friends were going elsewhere. In my mind, all the other options paled in comparison. That was probably the first "big decision" I ever made that went against the grain, and I'm so thankful I did. 

Mallory: It didn't take long for me to see all the amazing things Megan saw in the Marian girls. To this day, my closest friends are still those I met at Marian. 

Mike: Honestly, because my girls were there. I coached at St. Lawrence and St. Fabian, and when the freshman basketball coaching position became available after Mallory’s freshman year, I accepted. I felt privileged to be a part of the Marian community. The support I received from Sr. Lenore, the late Dave Feldman, and all the other coaches made it a truly remarkable environment. I am proud of my time spent there. 

This article first appeared in Vol. 47, No. 2 Summer 2024 Edition of the Marian Monitor