The spring practices and the spring game are crucial for team development as the players build strength, speed, and all-around skills, components that the Rangers have drastically improved on. This year’s spring is especially important because of the departure of the star seniors on the 2012 roster. The class of 2012 class had nine players commit to play collegiate football, all at top-talent schools. With such talented seniors leaving, the underclassmen must prepare to replace these crucial players.

However, do not expect the Rangers to disappoint as the spring has greatly enhanced their ability to be competitive next year. “I feel our team has progressively improved during spring football in many areas,” commented head coach Brandon Hickman. “We have great competition out there and our team is growing up and learning our schemes offensively, defensively, and on special teams.” With these skills improving, Jesuit hopes to dominate on both sides of the ball.

The team, however, will not be the same as last year’s because every season is different. As Hickman describes, “I feel our overall depth is good which we have lacked the past few years. As a staff we wanted to be a more physical football team and I believe we have accomplished that. We still have room to get better in that area, but I like what we have seen so far. We will be inexperienced in a couple of spots, but we feel that our younger guys will step up and accept the challenge.”

Spring is also the perfect time for underclassmen to earn their shot at a starting spot. In some cases, current freshmen and sophomores could beat out current juniors for positions, depending upon their overall skill and experience. “Some players have been working their way up through the program…they have patiently waited for their chance and now it’s here,” said Hickman, revealing the potential youth we could see on the field this fall.

The Rangers are not your average bunch, though, because ideals such as the magis, striving for the more, are woven into their DNA. Hickman expressed how “our players work extremely hard…the energy and effort have been exciting to see this spring.  They come to practice with enthusiasm and a great attitude every day.  They want to get better and are eager to learn, which makes coaching these guys really exciting and fun.”

The coaching staff will also be a bit different from last year’s. Billy Thompson was recently hired in the offseason as the new defensive coordinator. Hickman, who played football alongside Thompson at Texas Christian University, described him as “a very detailed football coach who will bring great passion and intensity to our program.” Thompson will also be wearing his slacks and tie in the hallways as he serves as one of Jesuit’s superb English teachers.

This year’s spring football season featured numerous practices, weight room and film sessions, and three scrimmages. However, the offseason does not stop at the spring; the training picks back up in the summer. In addition, the Rangers will play 7-on-7 and participate in lineman challenges during the month of June. Coach Weeks, Director of Athletic Performance, will also play a prominent role in the summer by improving the team’s strength, agility, speed, and conditioning.  The summer is also a great time to build team chemistry. All of these elements are key stepping stones to being successful come the regular and post seasons. With all of this preparation, the Rangers are shaping up for another exciting year.

The spring season will conclude with the annual Blue and Gold game on Friday, May 17, where all of the Rangers will emerge victorious. Go out and support your Rangers!

Chase Ryan ’16, a student of Mr. Bob Lanier’s class heard about the project before he even knew what Jesuit was, “I moved to Dallas in 2008 from Maryland and midway through my fifth grade year I had already heard all about the project. It’s just that famous.”

The bug project serves as the first major project a Jesuit student encounters during his first year at Jesuit, giving the freshmen  an opportunity to get out in the field. Biology teacher Jonathan Short says that the purpose of the project is to “increase the students knowledge and classification of living organisms and get [the students] out in the field to collect their own organisms.” Short also added that “students also learn how to further understand biology, as a whole, [and] learn what characteristics [are] unique and different from one another.”

The project requires the collection of insects ranging from grasshoppers to box elder bugs. The project is worth three test grades and students are given the whole year to do it. There are ten orders of bugs needed, five bugs per order, and there must be at least three different species within each order.

Bugs as odd as ant lions and the famous, highly-coveted, lacewings are needed for the project. John Michael Priddy ’16 described his catching techniques as sneaky, saying that they require quick reflexes, “I was way too scared to catch the bugs such as bees or wasps so I would creep up behind them and trap them on the ground and as time went on and the more bugs I caught, I found myself less afraid.”

Possibly the hardest part of the entire project is pinning each bug to a styrofoam board. Each insect is required to be pinned, and all 50 insects should have a pin through its thorax, but the insects whose thoraxes are too small must be glued to a flash card. Butterflies, usually the center piece to each person’s board, have special rules for pinning them, as do cockroaches and beetles.

The project this year differed for Dr. Todd Gruninger’s honors biology class, though.  Instead of the traditional 50 bugs, Gruninger’s classes were required to collect 7 insects out of two orders of their choice and extract DNA from two of the bugs. Trevor Lastelick ’16, a student in the class, said the project was very intriguing. Lastelick went on to say, “When we were first assigned this project, we all thought this would be easy.” Lastelick continued, “Although collecting the bugs was easy, extracting DNA from the bugs was more interesting than anything.”

Upon finishing the project, there is no doubt that the freshmen feel a sense of accomplishment. The bug project is a learning experience for all freshmen, and because of the project, insects are always seen in a different light. Luckily for freshmen, the biology bug project has finally come to an end.

Completed projects can be found on display in the biology labs.

On Friday, May 9, the seniors united to host these games, setting up and preparing the campus for the 400+ special athletes that would be on the campus during the day. After the senior convocation, the games began and activities were held all around the athletic fields.
Combining a sense of unity and brotherhood, the games were a great way to put Jesuit values into action. As Mr. Patrick Triplett, a history teacher at Jesuit, said at the senior breakfast on Sunday, the Special Games were “the ultimate test of the six elements of the profile that these seniors have developed over their four years.”

 
After a bit of a rocky start with all of the preparations, the day smoothed out and was running well in no time. Cameron Kerl ’13, Nathan Krog ’13, Jacob Keeley ’13, and Erik Eppig ’13 lead the set-up that morning, checking students in and giving them their T-shirts as they arrived.
Erik Eppig ’13 said that when the athletes first arrived they were “a bit uncertain, maybe nervous,” but that changed before too long. Seeing such helpful and inviting young men greeting them, the athletes were soon “excited as they could be,” ready to start a fun-filled day.

 
Throughout the day, the athletes participated in everything from competitions to fun crafts. Accompanied by Jesuit seniors all around, the athletes always had a willing assistant there to help them and join them in the activities.
Basil Seif ’13, the student body president, commented that the Special Games were “a great service opportunity and it’s a lot of fun to spend time with your brothers and with a lot of the kids you do service with,” appreciating the community atmosphere formed in this event. He also added that “it represents the whole Jesuit experience in one day,” an application of all the skills learned through the four years.
As the day wound down and the special athletes left, these graduating seniors had the opportunity to reflect on the great day that they had experienced. Even after seeing and hearing about it for three years, actually participating in the games was even more fulfilling than they believed.

Seif ’13 said he enjoyed the closure that the games brought, adding that “it’s a great way to just be with all of your friends one last time outside of the classroom.”

Andrew Lanham ’13 said, “I was glad to see the brotherhood that we have built over four years help us to do something truly useful.” Working together as Men for Others, the Class of 2013 was able to pull together and make a genuinely positive impact on so many special athletes.

Mr. Mark Knize (@MKNIZE), assistant principle at Jesuit, shared similar sentiments about the way the Special Games went, tweeting, “Thank you for today Jesuit class 2013…you made me proud, very grateful.”

Although saying “goodbye” is never easy, these outgoing seniors were able to put the elements of the Jesuit Profile into action in an enriching event to end their Jesuit careers. Even though we recognize this class for its great athletes and its sharp minds, it is important to remember that they are also a loving and selfless class, something that they proved with their conduct at the Special Games.

Starting at an early 7:40 AM, the sophomore students and teachers gathered around their designated bus to kick off the day. After driving about an hour to a secret location the sophomores cannot divulge, they finally arrived at their destination where they would spend the rest of their day. No time was wasted by the retreat crew that morning as a small band of our very own students entertained the 260+ tired sophomore students as they entered. Saxophones, clarinets, guitars, and other instruments were played as a precedent of what this day was going to be like.

Sure enough, as soon as they were all seated, Mr.Williams, one of the sophomore counselors, indicated that the music would be large part of the day, saying that “before each presenter a certain song will be played to prepare us for the speech.” After introductions and welcomes, the day began.

To start off, exciting and bonding activities were played in small groups to help the sophomores get comfortable with one another. For example, the first game, the wagon wheel, was a game where 4 students, who all sat back-to-back, faced 4 other students on the outside so each person on the inside had someone else facing them. The moderator on the megaphone would say something to ask or talk about with the person facing you, and when finished, the wheel would “turn” so that people rotated to talk with a new person. Sophomore Aviel Samuel found the activity very interesting, stating that “it was a cool activity. We got learn new things about our classmates and play an interesting game at the same time.” Another sophomore, Peyton Arenson, said that “it was an interesting way to get us interacting. [I] never would have thought of it.”

After a few speeches, small groups got together to draw a superhero that modeled the sophomore class and its qualities as a whole. Each group’s picture being different, the depicted superheroes demonstrated creativity and uniqueness from the students as they attempted to outline their class’s positive and negative attributes. Sophomore Jack Hazzard found this to be “[his] favorite activity” because “[he] loves to draw and express [himself].”

The events then shifted from speeches and games to lunch and free time. Enjoyed by many students, this time, according to Dylan Yhap ’15, was “debatably the best part of the day because of the great food and soccer afterwards.” Following lunch, interesting activities continued, including some spectacular performances and speeches by students. One performer, guitarist Michael White ’15, enjoyed the chance to play, adding that “[he] loved the opportunity to play for the class and [he] would love to be able to do it again.” Sophomore Dylan Roberts added that his experience playing the guitar “was cool because I could play some music with my friends for all of our classmates.”

After a short prayer service and closing events, the retreat events were over. Filled with many games, speeches, and reflections, the sophomore retreat was truly an intense experience for the class of 2015.

Trevor Johnson in 8th grade.

Initially, I felt offended by this feature of the Jesuit profile. I viewed this demand as an intrusion into my personal life that violated the typical boundary between school and home. At the time, it seemed to me as though the administration simply wanted a student body with a sharp and respectable appearance, making the school look more appealing.

Moreover, I felt personally targeted by the pressure to be physically fit because, as an eighth grader, just five feet tall and weighing more than 120 pounds, I wasn’t exactly in the best shape. To the contrary, I was actually leading a life of terrible health, enjoying numerous bags of chips every day at lunch and drinking several sodas per week. The prospect of changing eating habits frightened me, and I inwardly rejected this aspect of the Jesuit profile.

However, as I began my freshman year, I eventually came to understand the meaning and purpose behind this emphasis on physical fitness. While I initially viewed this characteristic of the profile as a selfish demand, such intentions could not be further from the truth. Instead, this feature is concerned with the students’ well-being because a long and fulfilling life depends greatly on one’s state of health. Moreover, physical fitness contributes to the growth of a well-rounded individual, complementing the academic exercise of the classroom.

Driven by this new and positive outlook, I set out on a journey to fulfill and uphold the valuable benefits of physical fitness. First, I began with changes in diet, avoiding all sodas and choosing foods with less fat. While such adjustments in lifestyle seem minute and insignificant, this shift presented an arduous task, as it removed my prior joy and excitement for meals. However, over time I ultimately adjusted to this transformation as the temptation of sweets and sugary snacks faded, easing the struggle to lose weight.

Yet, changes in diet alone would not bring about better health, and I soon came to see the importance of physical exercise. Fortunately, my father greatly helped me achieve this goal when he purchased personal training sessions at LA Fitness and gave them to me as a birthday present my sophomore year. I would now spend three one-hour sessions in the gym per week working one-on-one with a fitness instructor.

Over several sweaty months, these workouts provided me with essential knowledge, teaching me how to exercise both safely and effectively. Moreover, I began to notice visible results, which further motivated my struggle to uphold physical fitness. While I have put on ten pounds since my time working out, I have grown four inches in height, and have thus greatly reduced my percentage of body fat in exchange for muscle mass. However, despite such progress, my mission to lead a life of physical fitness persists to the present and must continue into the future, ensuring that I not relapse into old habits.

The impact of the Jesuit profile has also driven other students to achieve physical fitness through extracurricular activities and sports. Matt Siess ‘14 felt

Trevor Johnson May 2013

this influence as he began his high school career and recognized the importance of health, admitting to himself that “there were some things to work on and improve.” Consequently, during his sophomore year, Matt set out to fulfill his greatest potential, beginning to focus on both academics and exercise. He soon observed a close relationship between mental sharpness and physical well-being, for “as [he] started to work out more, [his] grades went up.” In addition to exercise, Matt has further gained physical fitness through changes in diet, which include “eating less and replacing sodas with water.”

Trevor Johnson August 2012

Although such changes initially proved difficult, Matt encountered a renewed sense of pride and accomplishment because he was “working hard and feeling good about it.” Ultimately, such dedication in pursuit of fitness has yielded stunning results, for Matt has lost over 35 pounds in less than two years. However, while not all students at Jesuit encounter such outstanding success, Matt is not alone in the journey of physical fitness, but instead is joined by dozens of other peers who similarly pursue a healthier lifestyle.

This Jesuit mission to preserve physical wellness extends beyond the student body, calling faculty members to assume this noble struggle. Anthony Mattacchione, assistant director of  Community Service, responded to the call of a healthier life after he “kind of fell away from a workout routine,” and reached a weight that he “had told himself he wouldn’t reach,” which caused him to grow concerned. Realizing the harm of such a lifestyle, Mattacchione resolved “from that moment forward to become fit at forty” and began “watching what [he] ate.”

Moreover, as the coach of the Rugby team, he took advantage of the opportunity to exercise and “started to work out with the guys during practice.” Aside from such strenuous workouts, this father of two pursues physical fitness as he spends time with his children “doing activities together like swimming, cycling, and going for walks.” Ultimately, this transformation in diet and exercise has yielded drastic results, similar to the before and after pictures aired on television commercials. Since the beginning of this journey to become physically fit, Mattacchione has lost an astounding 75 pounds, and thus serves as living proof of the power of self-improvement.

Fortunately, students and faculty are not alone in the struggle for physical fitness. Jesuit offers substantial opportunities to improve one’s health through both diet and exercise. First, to ensure that everyone has access to proper nutrition, the cafeteria serves a wide variety of healthy choices, ranging from a side of fruit to grilled chicken salads. However, while changes in diet greatly improve health, the school further provides the tools for physical exercise. Coach Jeremy Weeks, the Director of Athletics, emphasizes this point when he states, “the weight room is not just for athletes, the weight room is for all Jesuit students.”

By extending this facility beyond the sphere of organized sports, the school guarantees every student and faculty member the chance to work out in a gym, an opportunity of great advantage in the struggle for physical fitness. Moreover, Jesuit offers programs such as the “Chisel Trail,” which teaches students how to exercise both safely and efficiently. However, Coach Weeks stresses that “while the tools are there, the students need to become aware of these facilities and take the initiative to become physically fit,” for a life of wellness ultimately depends on individual choices. Ultimately, every member of the Jesuit community holds the power to live a more healthy life; the only obstacle is motivating oneself to embark on this arduous but fulfilling journey.

Click here for Jack’s first round of pictures. 

Mr. Mark Wester, economics teacher and director of the Information Commons, will be experiencing these images this upcoming Memorial Day weekend, May 26^th at the Carry the Load walk on the Katy Trail. The point of this walk is for veterans and others to symbolically walk with heavy backpacks on their backs to represent the “heavy load” soldiers bear for our country.  He will walk for 20 hours and 13 minutes, representing the current year, 2013, in order to commemorate a group of fallen U.S. soldiers.  “I do not have a set person I am walking for, but I am walking for the guys on the plaque out front of Jesuit” said Mr. Wester.  “I am carrying the load for the fallen in general.  I feel the need to help carry the load.”

Mr. Wester is not the only person with a Jesuit connection partaking in the walk. Fellow military member Patrick Dossett ’98, who became involved through the non-profit group of Tip of the Spear, is also participating.  In totality, Carry the Load has raised $563,111 and Mr. Wester’s faction of charity has raised $930.  “It is benefiting the people who paid the ultimate price.”

When asked how he got involved in this walk Wester stated, “I started doing a program where I walked around and carried weight, spending the day paying respects to people who gave more than me.”  Last year, Mr. Wester carried 65 pounds for 12 miles.  Through this, he paid respects for the fallen members of the military, and he created a donation fund to help the fallen and their families. Then “Patrick Dossett sent me a link of the Carry the Load website, and I joined his team.  It spoke to exactly what I was doing.  You can simply donate money, time, participate, or even show up and cheer.”  It is a great way to show reverence for the soldiers that paid the ultimate price.

Mr. Wester got down to the specifics of what he was carrying.  He commented that he isn’t “going to carry a weighted and heavy backpack because of the extended distance.  It can really destroy your body.  I am carrying a backpack of about 20 lbs. because I am carrying my own water, my own power bars and snacky food stuff.  The point of this is a continual output of the 20 hours and 13 minutes.  If people could do more than me, then I can at least do this.”

When Mr. Wester carried the 65 lbs., he trained like any runner would.  He started walking short miles, such as 6 or 7 miles with minimal weight.  Then he started increasing both values in order to prepare for the real thing.  However, for this long walk he said that he isn’t doing anything abnormal.  “I am fearful about this event because I am walking a distance I am unfamiliar with, and a time frame I am unfamiliar with.  Physically, I am not as concerned because I am not running or carrying a sustained load.  I will be in a world of hurt. The point is to get to a point where you want to quit and then know that you are doing this for people who have already given everything, and keep pushing.”

The walk will take place on the Katy Trail on Sunday, May 26^th, and thankfully, there will be water and resting stations all along the course.  “I can roughly walk 10 hours at 3.5 miles per hour.  So I figured out that I can walk for 50 minutes and rest for 10 minutes.  During the 10 minutes of rest I can have a sock change, and foot elevation.”  Mr. Wester also presumed that he will get some kind of card that will log your time throughout the 4 mile lap system.  He is also very intrigued that this walking scheme will be taking place in the evening hours.  “It adds a very interesting sense of detachment by the fact it is dark.  You will feel tired, you won’t be able to see, you will be distracted by things you don’t usually see in the day.  It will provide an in-depth experience in turns of emotion.”  This is because in these night time hours people walking on the same path as Mr. Wester will be talking about their military involvements.

Overall, Mr. Wester said that there has been a vast amount of encouragement from the Class of ’98 and the current faculty at Jesuit.  Mr. Wester also asks students to participate not only through money, but by cheering on he and Patrick Dossett, or even volunteering at the Katy Trail tending resting or water stations.  If you would like to participate in this fantastic event, contact Mr. Wester at MWester@jesuitcp.org and you can visit http://carrytheload.kintera.org/sgtwester for more details on the walk.

After a nearly undefeated season, having lost only to Coppell and McKinney in regular season play, Jesuit’s varsity team made it to the state championship game on March 7, 2013 and won 4 to 2 over Plano West. As a result of this win, the team then traveled to the National Championship Tournament in Coral Springs, Florida and went 2 and 1, an incredible feat that highlighted an already amazing year. With the stellar performance, a select few of Jesuit’s players were selected to play in an even more elite game, the AT&T Metroplex All-Star Hockey Game.

Five of our own Rangers were selected to play in the all-star game on April 20, 2013 at the American Airlines Center, the home of the Dallas Stars. Forwards Hayden Meshell ’13, Nick Alexander ’13, and John Leflore ’13, defender Drew Brunts ’13, and goalie George McBey ’16 all received the honor of playing hockey against the best players in the state of Texas in the game that marked the end of the 2012-2013 season. On top of that, coaching the West All-Star team was Jesuit’s own Kevin Smith (affectionately dubbed Coach Smitty), head coach of the Ranger Hockey Team.

Unfortunately, the West All-Stars lost to East All-Stars 7 to 2. This did not disappoint the players too much, though. McBey ’16, who actually played the game on his birthday, said he “was just happy to be there.” After the terrific year Jesuit had, Meshell said that the all-star game “was just a chance to get on the ice and have fun, coming down from the amazing ride this year was.”

Meshell, winner of the 2012-2013 Texas offensive player of the year and three time All-Star forward, continued on to explain his opinion of the team before the season started, “Coming into this season, I wasn’t expecting much. We had several good senior players but I wasn’t expecting to have the amazing season we had. It’s not really easy to put into words. I’ve been blessed with many accolades this year. It’s going to take awhile to get used to the fact that it’s over.”

The team would like to thank all the fans who came out to support them throughout this stellar season, the parents who volunteered for driving and food, and all the coaching staff who led the team to the amazing accomplishments they had this year.

Ranger Hockey is sad to see so many talented seniors go, but we can all congratulate them for their many accomplishments, as they graduate May 25th. The class of 2014 has a big legacy to live up to, but until next season, we can look forward to the new faces who will take the places of the graduating class as new leaders who will step up to lead our team to victory.

Andrew Frank receives the St. Peter Canisius Award

After a brief reflection by assistance principal Mr. Fred Donohue on what it means to embody the ideal graduate at graduation, the award ceremony commenced with junior counselor Mr. Paul McDaniel, who announced the awards of excellence for an assortment of academic subjects and extracurricular activities. Notable awards in this category include the St. Peter Canisius Award, given to the Roundup Editor in Chief Andrew Frank for outstanding work as a member of the school newspaper, and the Brother Burt Rivet, S.J. Award, given to Jack White in commemoration for the hard hours put in as Editor of the yearbook.

Next came the Senior Magis Awards, merited “by those seniors who in daily life give the Magis, or ‘the more,’ to their community.” These students went “beyond the ordinary” in supporting the Jesuit community through their studies and relationships. The recipients of the MagisAwards were Drew Highlander, Ryan Pigeon, Bill Snyder, Steven Spieth, and Jordan Tabolka.

Magis Award Winners

Following the Magis Awards, the Athlete of the Year Award was given in recognition of “a senior’s [athletic]accomplishments and for the way that he has represented Jesuit during his four years [as a student].” Unsurprisingly, the award went to football team captain Jake Oliver, a Parade Magazine all American, recipient of the Tom Landry Award, US Army all American, and future player for the Texas Longhorns.

Next, the Joseph Thomas Wunderlick award, given in honor of Alumni Tom Wunderlick of the 1946 graduating class, was presented to “the graduate who has best combined athletic and academic achievement during his years at Jesuit.” Jesuit golfer Josh Radcliff received the award in recognition of his achievements.

After the Wunderlick Award came the Ad Astra Medals, merited by “students whose overall involvement and creativity in designing and leading new social justice initiatives have bettered their school and civic communities.” The first award was presented to Rob Giltner, who selflessly worked with Christian Community Action, the Notre Dame School of Dallas, Meals on Wheels, and contributed an incredible 452 hours of community service. The second Astra Medal was awarded to Michael Pratt, who volunteered his time to the “commit to Dallas” Educational Partnership, working as a weekly tutor, leading the Hunger Busters and American Heart Association Events.

Ad Astra Medal Winners: Robert Giltner and Michael Pratt

Following the Ad Astra Medals, the Aloysius Gonzaga Award for outstanding community service was merited by a student “who gives unselfishly of himself to his community.” Erik Eppig received this award for his selfless service in the community.

The next honor awarded, the Jesuit Man for Others Award, recognizes Jesuit seniors who “exemplify, in their words and actions, what is means to be a Jesuit student who has moved beyond himself.” Three Jesuit seniors received the award this year: Grant Hatzmann, Dennis Kamara, and Matt Yzaguirre.

Following the Man for Others Award, the JSEA Award, given by the Jesuit Secondary Education Association, honors a senior who “as a man for others, models the ideal profile of a graduate of Jesuit education.” The 2013 JSEA Award was presented to Jeff Ackles.

Lastly, the most coveted and noteworthy award for a Jesuit senior, the Bishop Lynch Award, named after the late Joseph Patrick Lynch, was awarded to a senior “in recognition of scholastic achievement, combined with character, leadership, participation in Extra-curricular Activities, and service on behalf of the school and the wider community.” This year, the Student Body President, Basil Sief, merited the Bishop Lynch Award.

Bishop Lynch Award for Basil Seif

Congratulations to the seniors who received an award at convocation through dedication and perseverance. The Roundup wishes all of the class of 2013 the best, as they advance to the next stage of their academic career and life.

ESD, whom Jesuit had beaten 8-7 earlier in the year, came out ready to play on Saturday, scoring two quick goals in the first quarter, while only allowing one Jesuit goal by Carson Buell ’13.  Then into the second quarter, ESD managed to score one more goal and hold Jesuit off from scoring any.  “We didn’t get going fast enough,” said attackman Jason Myers ’14. “We let them come out and push us around to start out the game, and we really didn’t get a sense of urgency until halftime, which hurt us.”

But Jesuit went in at halftime, down 3-1, and came out with fire in the second half, after Head Coach Chris Surran told the team that they needed to play more aggressively and hustle more.  “That was the worst I have ever felt during a half-time,” remarked Captain Zach Coker ’13, “it was like nothing we did was working for us.”  After Coach Surran talked, several senior players stood up and gave emotional speeches about not letting their Jesuit career end so close to the championship.

Myers took matters into his own hands by scoring a quick goal to start out the third quarter, and then Jackson Buell ’14 came in immediately after to tie up the game at 3-3.  After giving up one more goal, Jesuit once again had to respond, and they did as Coker scored just before the end of the third, to tie it up once more.

Finally back in an even game, the Rangers now had a more manageable task, and about midway through the fourth quarter, midfielder Garrett Van de Ven ’13 scored to finally put the Rangers ahead 5-4 with what seemed to be the winning goal.  However, with three minutes left ESD began to press the Rangers more, which made them try to pass the ball around to run out the clock.  After a few passes, the Rangers turned it over, and ESD managed to tie up the game once more.

With very little time left on the clock, the game seemed like it was definitely going into overtime, so the Rangers once more held the ball to try to get the final shot off before heading into overtime.  Once again, though, the Rangers turned it over and ESD’s Richy Loftus (a Dartmouth commit) scored with 11 seconds left in the game.  Sam Rosengarden ’13 won the ensuing face-off and took a good shot, but was not able to send the game into overtime, thus ending the Rangers’ season.

“I was heartbroken,” commented All-American Lee Belland ’14. “This was supposed to be the year we finally did it, and I couldn’t believe it ended like that.”  Though they were not able to bring Jesuit its first state title, this lacrosse team battled all year with high levels of commitment and intensity and managed to uphold the Jesuit lacrosse tradition of excellence.

As for next year, the Rangers are confident they can finally pull off the big win that has been so elusive in recent years.  “It will happen next year,” asserted attackman Will Carney ’14, “we’ve gotten too close too many times.”  All will have to wait and see if 2014 is finally the year that Jesuit lacrosse breaks its curse and brings a championship trophy home to the 28 acres.

As the summer begins to call the names of upwards of 1,200 students that attend Jesuit, that can only mean one thing – the school year is dwindling.  As for myself, that means my time at Jesuit is coming to an end.  Beginning May 25, 2013, my tenure as a Jesuit Ranger will, regretfully, be terminated as I walk across the stage at SMU and receive that coveted diploma.

As a co-sports editor of this wonderful publication – the other being my beloved colleague Davis Bittner ’13 – I got thinking about this year in sports.  Even more specifically, I got thinking about the past four years that I and 260 other young men have spent both playing for and supporting Jez Nation.

This idea of Jez Nation, to the best of my knowledge, was not existent when I came to 12345 Inwood Road in an August many moons ago in 2009.  “Jez Nation,” as we have come to know and love it, has evolved to be something bigger than it may have ever even been intended.  What may have started as a silly Twitter hashtag has exploded into a phenomena known all around the DFW metroplex.

Nonetheless, Jez Nation has become a figurative safe haven for thousands of young men.  To be part of Jez Nation is to be part of something bigger than you, something that stands for achieving excellence and success.  Jez Nation means so much to so many people that are associated with the Jesuit community.

I think, nay, I know, I speak on the behalf of my brothers of the Class of 2013, when I say it truly has been an honor to be a part of Jez Nation.

This year in sports brought expectations on expectations for all varsity level sports, as it was the Class of 2013, if I remember correctly, that didn’t lose a freshmen level sporting event until like the tenth baseball game in spring of 2010 (or something absurd like that).  This is the football team that went 10-0, the basketball team that dominated on the court, the crew team that wowed on the water, the cyclist that brought home the Texas state championship.  This class was expected to do BIG things the 2012-2013 school year.

In many aspects of sports, the Class of 2013 did exactly that.

Let’s go through this year in sports in a nutshell.

The football team opened the year in Ireland – yes, Ireland.  They pulled off a comeback for the ages, as Cody Wicker ’13 chipped in the last minute field goal to knock off Loyola Academy (IL).  They made the playoffs for another consecutive season, exhibiting a dominant performance against McKinney Boyd to garner only the school’s second UIL playoff win.  Not to mention, the team has nine players going to compete collegiately.

Swimming scored 86.5 points to finish in 4^th in the District Meet, only 1 point away from 2^nd Place. The Rangers had 3 silver medal 2^nd Place finishes and 4 bronze medal 3^rd Place finishes and sending eight swimmers to Regionals in nine events.  Also, Eric Futscher ’13 signed to swim at Xavier.

The bowling team backed up their 2011-12 District Championship by repeating in this year’s campaign.  In the past four years, the Class of 2013 seniors – David Portner and Jason Wolf – established a foundation for Jesuit Bowling to become a force to be reckoned with in Texas.

Our powerlifting team, which has exploded since Coach Jeremy Weeks arrived at Jesuit, sent two seniors, Preston Young and Matt Cortez, to Regionals.  Jesuit’s powerlifting team is improving year in and year out.

The wrestling team, as well, had an outstanding year led by the admirable Coach Ryan Menard.  Two Rangers competed at State in Austin.  Nick Barker ’14 and Shane Ross ’15 made Jez Nation Proud as Ross brought home 5th in the whole tournament.

As usual, the Jesuit crew team had an exceptional year, and at this juncture they are still competing.  The team has qualified to participate in the U.S. National Championships this June in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.  Also, four seniors will be continuing their crew careers in college.

The Jesuit Cross Country and Track and Field program enjoyed successful seasons as well.  Cross Country finished ninth place out of 24 teams in the Regional Meet.  The Track and Field team bagged their second straight district crown; furthermore, they placed third in the Area meet.  Ryan Mehl ’13 and Paden Gatlin ’13, who have both signed to join D-I track and field programs, also qualified to participate in State.

Jesuit Golf also had an exceptional season.  The team dominated at the 9-5A Championship to win district.  Moreover, all five seniors will golf in college.

Led by the man, the myth, the legend, Coach Paul McDaniel, the tennis team, too, had a great season.  Their final record stood at 11-3. Because of their recent success, McDaniel is excited about the direction of his tennis team next season.

Jesuit Hockey had quite possibly the most successful season.  The Rangers ran the table and won the 2013 State Championship.  This season was extremely historic, as the team broke numerous records and qualified for the National Championships in Coral Springs, Florida.  Also, five Rangers and the head coach were selected to the All-Star game.

Rugby had a season of ups and downs.  Nonetheless, the season can be looked at as a success due to the dedication and optimism all the players showed even in the toughest of times.  Sometimes it takes failures to see success, and the rugby team can be a testament to that.

Baseball displayed its diamond dominance once again getting the “fourpeat” as they won their fourth straight district title.  Despite an early playoff exit, the baseball team had an outstandingly successful season.  Five baseball players will play NCAA baseball.

Jez Lax continued their quest for a state championship, and even though they came up short in the semifinals, the season in a nutshell was widely successful.  The lax team cracked the national top-25 and spent the majority of the season as #1 in Texas.  Seven lacrosse players will continue in college.

The Jesuit soccer team, known as one of the best in Texas, again qualified for the playoffs.  The team took down Allen and our friends from Rockwall, but unfortunately fell to McKinney Boyd in a 9-8 shootout loss.  Led by Coach Charlie DeLong, the soccer team should be proud of all its accomplishments.  Two soccer players will play in college.

Finally, basketball had a phenomenal year.  This year’s basketball team truly brought the school together, but I’ll get to that in a moment.  The boys on the hardwood fought valiantly all year, amassing a 24-9 record before falling to Berkner in the Regional Quarterfinal.  Steven Spieth ’13 will play at Brown University for his college career.

All in all, Jesuit Athletics had a widely successful year.  One could claim that this is the best athletic year for Jesuit.  Ever.  Graduates from years and years ago will probably argue against that, but as a member of the Class of 2013, I’m going to say this was the best ever.

I can see it now, fifty years from now with my Jesuit brothers: “I remember when we were in Ireland, and we were down, and Cody nailed that field goal, and we all went crazy,” or, “I remember when Hayden Meshell got the empty net goal against HP in the state semifinals,” or, “I remember the Lakeview Centennial basketball playoff game.”

This year had memories unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed.

As a senior, I obligated myself to see as many Jesuit sporting events I could, before I couldn’t be a part of the senior section anymore.

That was the best choice I could’ve made.  This year saw so many amazing things happen.  The Brocke Stepteau ’14 buzzer beater to this day was one of the most intense experiences of my life.  Honestly, I still can’t believe that shot actually went in.  The Jesuit Yell after the hockey team won state is still ringing in my ear.  Witnessing Jake Oliver ’13 break a Texas high school football record was a surreal occasion.  These are all examples of such amazing things that happened this school year.

Everything Jesuit sports this year was downright wonderful.  I won’t ever forget the sports memories our school got to see this year.  It truly was inspiring.

We saw failures and successes.  We saw dreams come true and dreams shatter.  We saw victory snatched from the jaws of defeat and vice-versa.  We saw it all happen.  In the end, that’s what sports are, right?  Successes and failures?

Sports are one of the aspects of Jesuit that bring us together, calling us to become a bigger, stronger community that comes together even off campus to support one another in every single contest.  Thus, Jez Nation truly was born.  This video serves as tangible proof of the bond each and every member of Jez Nation shares with one another (WARNING: This video may or may not give you chills and cause the hairs on your neck to stand up):

To my peers, I will leave you with one thing: appreciate the sports that you have offered to you and make sure your brothers known your support for them.  To know you have hundreds of true brothers behind you in a dog fight is one of life’s greatest feelings.

Feel pride for your school, just like we showed at every sporting event this school year.

And, never forget – I believe that we will win.

Rangers fight and never quit.  Jez Nation until I die.

Yours truly,

Aidan Johnston ’13

Co-Sports Editor of The Jesuit Roundup 2012-13

Materka’s victory that afternoon in 1972 was one among many accomplishments that secured his election to the Jesuit Sports Hall of Fame this year.  Forty-one years after his graduation, Jan received his blue Jesuit coat, just like those who came before him at the Blue and Gold Induction Ceremony on May 11^th.

Jan was born in Dallas on December 21, 1953. He went to St. Bernard of Clarivaux School until 4^th grade. When his parents divorced, Jan, his mom, and his older sister moved to Farmers Branch, where Jan attended Hexter Elementary for one year. At Hexter in 5^th grade Jan recognized his gift for running during Field Day.

“I was able to outrun everybody else. Up until then, I never had any desire to compete in track.  I didn’t even know what track was! Looking back, I realize that this is where the seed was planted.” After Hexter, Jan attended DeWitt Perry Middle School through 8^th grade. As the end of middle school neared, Jan wanted to go to R. L. Turner High School; however, his mother had already decided upon Jesuit.

“When I came in my freshman year to Jesuit, I was a little behind the other kids. But, looking back, the whole Jesuit experience was so different from what I’d encountered.  The classes were  interesting, especially filmmaking. I loved being on the swim team, cross-country running, and killing time between classes playing ping pong, etc.”

Not until his sophomore year did Jan start becoming the cross country and track star of the school. He lettered in both cross country and track sophomore, junior and senior years.

Senior year was probably the best year for Jan. For track, he held or shared three school records in the 440, the 880, and the 4×440 relay and was state champion in the old Texas Catholic Interscholastic League (TCIL) in the 880 both his junior and senior years.

Jan was elected Captain and MVP for the cross country team and was also awarded with All-State. “As team Captain,” Jan explained, “[I] was almost like a policeman. You wanted everybody to do the right thing, to get to the field on time, and to want to get better at what we were doing. If I saw some of the guys messing around, I would get on them to give it their all, because [their actions] were not helping the team at all.”

Jan keeps many treasured moments close to his heart. One such event was in the last leg of the 4×440 relay against track rival Bishop Dunne. “The best thing that ever happened to me at Jesuit was during a track meet where I was running the last leg of a 4×440 relay. Bishop Dunne was our biggest rival, and for years, they owned that race.”

He continued, “Their star in that event was a guy named Tommy Parma. Parma, who also ran the last leg of the race, had a tradition of tying jingle bells on his shoes – probably to intimidate all the other runners.  Parma and I ran side by side until those jingle bells got the best of me.  Instead of intimidating me, they energized me, and I was able to cross the finish line first!”

Towards the end of his senior year, Jan had a decision to make. He vacillated between New Mexico State University, where he was offered a scholarship for both track and cross country, and his parents’ alma mater, SMU. In the end, Jan decided to go to SMU where he received his B.B.A in Business. He was then involved in mostly intramural sports such as track, swimming, ping pong, and flag football.

But what does a high school running star do after his years of fame?  Ever since he graduated from college, Jan has been interested in sales. “My first real job was at a corrugated box plant that my father worked at. After I graduated from SMU, I was offered a job at their location in Houston.  I stayed in the industry for quite a few years, broadening my knowledge to include the graphic display business.  Eventually I bought my own corrugated box/graphic display plant and built the business to a point where a large corporation noticed me and bought me out.  I’m still working in the box/graphic display business to this day.”

Jan still gets tremendous satisfaction from staying involved with Jesuit. For the past 20 years, he has stood at the finish line for the Sheaner Relays. In addition, Jan has participated in the Jesuit Phonathon. Reminiscing about his days as a Jesuit student, Jan said that “Jesuit isn’t just a school; it’s a way of life,” a fine choice of words that describes any person’s experience at Jesuit.

Although Jan has given up his running career, he admits that he is unable to shake the athlete from himself. “I’ve been riding in 40- to 60-mile bike rallies for a couple of years and last summer I was able to achieve the pinnacle of cycling success – completing the Hotter ‘N Hell Hundred (in Wichita Falls).”

Can you teach an old dog new tricks?  You betcha!

The best ever.  Three words, at the forefront of every’s athletes theoretical goals sheet. The ultimate accomplishment for any athlete, to be included in the same sentence as those three magical words. For one former Jesuit athlete this dream became a reality in the Terry Center on Saturday May 11, as Michael Hollimon ’01 was inducted into the Jesuit Sports Hall of Fame as possibly the greatest baseball player to ever put on the Jesuit Ranger uniform. Not only his accomplishments on the field will be recognized, but also his accomplishments off the field, as a mentor, a Christian leader and a true Man for Others.

Hollimon’s whirl wind journey started on a warm, muggy June 14th night in 1982 in Dallas, TX , welcomied into the world by his father, Stuart, and mother, Jan. He was born into a family of athletes; his uncle played college football for the University of Minnesota. Hollimon attended Greenhill in Addison from 2nd-8th grades where his athletic and academic careers began. Throughout his middle school years he played football, basketball, and baseball, kept busy by the constant games and practices coupled with his school work.

Hollimon, at the end of his 8th grade year, decided to continue his schooling at Jesuit. He made his impact early in his career as a Ranger, playing on the JV basketball team, and then making the varsity baseball team as a freshman, a very rare feat. He instantly started at shortstop and gave the Rangers some needed pop from the top of their lineup. He played so well that as a freshman he was named TCIL first team All-State.

After another season on the hardwood, this time for the varsity squad, he returned to the ball field for his sophomore season with high expectations, so high that his teammates voted him a team captain. This season was also important as it was the first for newly hired Coach Kevin Williamson. Riding the hot bat of Hollimon and the powerful arm of Kevin Hart ’01 at third base (who played professionally for the Chicago Cubs), the Rangers went all the way, winning the 1999 TCIL state championship, the program’s first in over 12 years. After the championship, he was named to the TCIL first team All-State team for the second time. During the time in between his sophomore and junior years, he also played for the 16U United States National Team, traveling around the world competing against the world’s best competition.

Entering his junior year following the state championship in baseball, Hollimon wanted to take his success from the diamond and duplicate it onto the hardwood. With Michael running the point, the Rangers made a run through the TCIL state tourney, finally reaching the state championship game against their cross-state rivals, the Crusaders of Strake Jesuit of Houston. In a game dubbed by longtime Jesuit sports enthusiast Tom Walsh ’85 as “one of the best high school games he has seen,” the Crusaders held a “8 or 9 point lead with about 55 seconds left,” but the Rangers mounted a furious comeback and tied the game fueled by Hollimon’s pure outside shot and lockdown defense.

In overtime, they overwhelmed Strake and won the 2000 state basketball TCIL championship. After the season Hollimon was also named TCIL All-State and TCIL defensive player of the year. Returning to the baseball field after this exciting season, he was again named captain and put up huge numbers being named All- State for the third time, and a Baseball Collegiate High School All American for the first time.

As he entered his final year at Jesuit, he was again chosen to represent his country, this time as a member of the 18u National Team competing in the Pan- American games. He played well and led the US to a bronze medal finish at the tournament. Then it became time for his last year putting on the blue and gold, deciding not to play basketball but instead to focus solely on baseball, again being named captain and again being named All-State. He put in a huge year, hitting .446 with 12 doubles, 5 triples, 8 home runs, and 28 RBI’s, and earning numerous accolades, including being named a Baseball Collegiate All- American, Baseball America third team All- American, and talked about by scouts as one of the top Prep school players in the 2001 major league draft, and the number one shortstop available.

These impressive numbers and numerous awards attracted the Cleveland Indians, who were supposedly going to take him in the first round to be their shortstop. However, it wasn’t only major league scouts who had been keeping their eyes on him but also numerous college coaches who came knocking on his door. One of these was college baseball legend and Texas Longhorns head coach Augie Garrido, who convinced Hollimon to sign a scholarship to play baseball for the Longhorns. This commitment, and the fact that it would probably take a 7 digit signing bonus to convince him to dishonor his signing, discouraged most Major League teams, and so Hollimon fell all the way to the 36th round where the Los Angeles Dodgers decided to take a chance on him. Their fears turned into a reality, when Hollimon decided to honor his commitment and attend the University of Texas at Austin for his freshman year

While Hollimon certainly made his mark on the field, he also left his mark in the hearts and minds of his classmates and teammates in his time at Jesuit. Coach Michael Martinez ’02, the current freshman baseball coach for the Jesuit Rangers, played with Hollimon for three years in the baseball program. He remarked how amazing it was “that along with his athletic accomplishments, Mike had straight A’s,” and a profound “humbleness and character.” Chach Martinez, remarked that through his years with him, Hollimon became a “model” for him, “showing me how to successful yet remembering his roots at the same time.”

After one of the best high school careers in Jesuit athletic history, it was time for Hollimon to take his skills to the next level, as a member of the Texas Longhorns. Hollimon was entering a 2002 team that contained 21 future MLB draft picks, 8 players who would eventually play in the Major Leagues, and a future 2005 AL Rookie of the year in Huston Street (now playing for the San Diego Padres).

Surrounded by such immense talent, some might have fallen into the shadows of their intimidating presence, but not Hollimon. Instead he rose to the occasion and played well enough to convince the coaching staff to start him at shortstop for opening day. He played well throughout the regular season, hitting  262 with a .375 OBP with 4 HR’s and 37 RBI’s, being named to the Big 12 second team, and the Big 12 All-Freshman team.

Hollimon celebrating with teammates after hitting a home run in the College World Series

However at the end of the season he began to struggle, eventually losing his starting spot to Brandon Fahey (former member of the Baltimore Orioles). With all this talent on their roster, the Longhorns played well and reached the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. During the World Series, Hollimon only got one at-bat but provided moral support from the dugout. The Longhorns made it through the World Series and took on South Carolina in the national championship game, crushing them 12-6 to win the 2002 NCAA Division 1 National Championship.  Reminiscing on this incredible accomplishment, Hollimon said it is “something he will never forget,” and commented that he “had never been on a team with so much chemistry.  We all just gelled.”

Although his team achieved the ultimate goal of being named National Champions, Michael wasn’t happy with his overall performance in his freshman year and spent the summer working hard getting stronger, both mentally and physically. To his dismay however, this constant wear and tear on his body got the best of him as he suffered a labrum injury in his right hip.

After surgery he returned to the ball field at UT but never could get back into the whole swing of things, hitting a .225 in his sophomore year. He entered the off season disappointed in his performance and determined to change things for the better in his upcoming junior year. However the lingering injury and a sour relationship with Coach Garrido prevented him from making many adjustments as he hit .236 in his junior year.

He realized that the game he once loved to play, was “no longer enjoyable to him . . . it just wasn’t fun anymore,” and he realized that maybe it was time for a change of scene. He made the difficult decision to transfer to Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Instantly comfortable in his new environment, he got back to his incredible work ethic that once made him so successful, prompting then Oral Roberts head coach Rob Walton to say that he was “one of the hardest workers I have ever seen.”

The decision to transfer paid dividends with his senior year being his best year as he played shortstop, hit lead-off, and produced a season in which he hit .304 with 14 bombs, 55 RBI with 26 stolen bases. He was named the Mid-Continent Conference Player of the Year and the newcomer of the year.  The once- top prospect whose numbers had sat his way through two years on the bench in college had returned, putting himself on the map in the world of baseball.

Hollimon rediscovered his love for the game at Oral Roberts

His fantastic final season caught the eye of Detroit Tigers regional scout, Steve Thomas, who convinced the Tigers to draft him in the 16th round of the 2005 MLB amateur draft. After signing the day after the draft, he was sent down to short season Oneaota, in the New York Penn League. In his first season in professional ball, he held his own, hitting an impressive .275 with 13 HR’s and 56 RBI’s against some of the best prospects in baseball. The struggles of college were behind him, as he was playing with confidence, heart, and maturity. He was named a Baseball America Short season All- Star for his performance.

The next year in 2006, he was assigned to the Western Michigan Whitecaps, the low A minor league affiliate for the Tigers. After a huge coming out party in short season, Hollimon was ready to take the next jump up the minor league ladder. Again he had a phenomenal season, almost matching his numbers from the previous year, finishing with a .278 avg, 15 homers and 57 runs batted in. He played well enough to be assigned to the Double A Lake Erie Mud Wolves at the beginning of the next season.

Everything really came together for him during this 2007 campaign as he hit .278 with 14 bombs, 34 doubles and 58 RBI’s in double A until he got called up to the Triple A team, the Toledo Mud Hens, at the end of the year to reward him for his fantastic season. This was Hollimon’s best year in professional baseball, as he was a Post- Season all star as well as a Baseball American Double A all star. His performance also caught the eye of the U.S. national team, who for the third time invited him to don the Stars and Stripes to represent the U.S. in the Baseball World Cup in China. He played shortstop for the U.S. as they proved victorious winning the gold medal.

With huge expectations, Hollimon then entered the 2008 campaign.  He was assigned to the Mud Hens for the beginning of the season, one rung standing between him and the holy grail of baseball, the major leagues. However he struggled through the first half of the season, till he finally caught his big break, Tiger’s utility infielder Ramon Santiago got injured and got placed on the 15 disabled list.

The Tigers officially called up Hollimon, at the tender age of 25, to their major league team on June 6, 2008, as he flew to Detroit for the start of a three game series vs. the Cleveland Indians. In his first interview after being called up, he said this about the promotion: “This is something that you work for. And when you get the call, it’s a special opportunity. And now that I’ve gotten that call, I want to perform.” He didn’t receive a start during that series however, though he got his big league debut in the 9th inning of an 8-2 loss to the Indians, the same team that had thought of drafting him 7 years earlier, playing an inning of shortstop and receiving an at-bat popping up to third base. Since he wasn’t on the team as a starting role, he didn’t receive a lot of playing time, but soaked “every single second of it, because you never know when it’s going to be over.” He had his first career RBI on June 13 and collected his first major league hit on June 26 against the St. Louis Cardinals. He also made a fantastic play at shortstop on June 27 that landed him a spot on ESPN’s Sportscenter’s Top Plays the next day.

Hollimon making plays in the bigs

Then 6 days later, he hit his first career home run off the Seattle Mariner’s Mark Lowe on July 3. Four days after his first home run, the Tigers brought Santiago off the DL and there was no longer a roster spot available for Hollimon on the big league club, so he was sent back down to Toledo to finish the year at Triple A. Hollimon’s major league stat line looked like this: played in 10 games, starting 6 of those, 5 at shortstop and 1 at second base. He hit .261 in 25 appearances, with one walk, 2 singles, 2 doubles, a triple and a home run. Defensively he only made one error out of 14 chances sporting a fielding percentage of .950 for his short major league career. He had his made his mark on the biggest stage possible. When asked what he remembers most from his first days in the major leagues, he offers a short anecdote about his favorite memory: “We were playing in Detroit on my first game of the year, and we were all sitting in the dugout and Pudge Rodriquez [former Texas Ranger catcher then playing for the Tigers] comes up to me and goes ‘hey you want to go throw in front of the  dugout,’ so we are throwing in front, and I look up in the stands and I see my parents who had flown out for the game, and they just had the biggest smiles on their faces.”

praising The Lord after first ever Big League home run

While his current stint in the big leagues was over, no one ever thought those games  would ever be his last in the majors. After his departure, legendary manager Jim Leyland was asked about Hollimon and his performance.  He responded, “We think he’s eventually an everyday player.  He was doing really well in Triple A offensively, obviously, and has a ton of talent.  He will be back up here soon.” A very promising blessing from the manager of the Tigers, it looked like even though he had been sent back down, things were still looking up for Hollimon. Then disaster struck.

Hollimon batted .183 in 22 games in July with two homers and seven RBIs. Then in August Hollimon hit .145 in 25 games with only one home run and five RBIs. Hollimon chose not to make an excuse for his struggles, but there was an explanation: He had a torn labrum in his left, or non-throwing, shoulder. “First it felt a little weak, then I felt a pinch,” Hollimon said. “But two weeks before the end of the season, I felt as if I couldn’t go. And that’s not me, because I [always] feel I can go.”

In September he had surgery to repair the labrum, having 10 pins stuck into a muscle that Hollimon said had a “270 degree” tear. The fear after the surgery was that he would not be able to make it back for the 2009 season, but in typical Hollimon fashion he worked and worked to get it ready for the next year.

Kindly spoken, 2009 and 2010 were forgettable years for Michael Holllimon, baseball wise.  After working so hard in the offseason to repair his arm, he was assigned to Triple A Toledo at the beginning of the year in ’09. He struggled mightily and was eventually sent back down to the Double A squad, at Lake Erie where he sadly suffered another injury, this time to his right arm, his throwing shoulder.

He missed the rest of the season with this injury and at the end of the 2009 season, the Tigers released him. Hollimon had been on top of the world, hitting a home run in the big leagues, to all of a sudden finding himself without a job. 2010 didn’t get much better for Hollimon, as in the spring no major league team picked him up.  So, he went around shopping for work. He found it here, back in Texas, where he was offered to play for the Grand Prairie Air Hogs of the independent leagues in June of 2010. He played well enough to, at the end of the year, receive a minor league contract from the Minnesota Twins in December of that year.

Back in Dallas, or at least close to it in Grand Prairie, for the first time since he was a senior in high school gave him a chance to return to Jesuit and the baseball program. In the fall of 2010, Hollimon would show up after practice and hit ground balls to students for hours, then stay and give them hitting tips in the cage. Then after all the players would leave, he would stay and hit in the cages by himself for an hour or two. While he got paid for some of the hitting lessons he was giving, the rest was completely voluntary, even coaching the freshman fall team for two games during their season.
When asked why he gave so much of his time back to Jesuit, he said, “This school has given me so much, I want to try to give it back tenfold.” One of those kids who Hollimon really helped was Jordan Lee ’14, then only a freshman. ” I just thought it was so cool how a former major league player was coming and helping us every day to get better. For all of us Jesuit baseball players, he was our idol, the perfect example of what being a student athlete really means, it was like having your favorite player ever come and personally coach you every day. He showed me what perseverance really means.”

He also got to spend a lot of time with some of his old classmates, Coach Sean Gavin ’00, assistant head coach at Jesuit and Kevin Hart ’01. Coach Gavin was the main reason Hollimon got so involved back in the Jesuit program. Hollimon refers to Coach Gavin as “one of his closest friends,” and the respect is mutual as Coach Gavin has this to say about his friend and former teammate: “I count myself lucky to have him as a friend, one of my best.  You don’t often find someone with that much talent that is so humble.  He always took the time to talk to everyone, in high school and in the pros.  His work ethic was a great example for all of those around him, and his talent was unmatched.  Michael is the rare type of player that steps on a high school campus and day 1 is one of if not the best player in the program. He was a special player, and is an even more special person!”

As his homecoming ended, it was time to go back to his real job, as a professional baseball player for the Minnesota Twins. He was assigned to the Double A New Britain Rockcats where he played well enough to be promoted to the Triple A squad for the Twins, the Rochester Red Wings. He played 126 games in the 2011 season, most of them at third base, because a lot of his injuries prevented him from being able to take on the physical demands of shortstop.

Hollimon then became a member of the Twins organization

He hit only .231 but provided bursts of power, hitting 18 home runs and driving in 62 runs. But at the age of 29, he was much too old to be considered a true prospect, and after three different surgeries his body was wearing down. Therefore he was not given another contact by the Twins; they thought his career was pretty much over. Yet, they decided to give him one more shot, inviting him to the spring training in 2012 as a non-roster invitee, which means you have to play your way into a contract with the team. Hollimon thought this was his last shot to prove what he could do; it was now or never.  If he didn’t make the majors this year, this might be his last year in baseball. He came out swinging in spring training going 9-18 in his first 18 at bats. He continued his torrid streak throughout the spring, finishing with a .340 average in Grapefruit League. The decision was left up to the Twins as to put him on the Major League roster or option him to Triple A; the decision was between him and top prospect Brian Dozier.

Hollimon hitting against the Yankees in 2012 spring training

The front office decided to go with youth over experience as they choose Dozier for the spot. Hollimon was disappointed to say the least at this decision as he would again suffer another year at Triple A Rochester. He only played 29 games, before he sadly suffered another injury, this time to his knee, putting an end to his baseball career. For Hollimon this was such a hard decision, deciding to hang up his spikes after a life filled with baseball.

Though his career is over, the memories, friendships and experiences he gained will never be over. “Extremely blessed, not a day goes by that I am not appreciative of the opportunities I have been given” is how he feels about his life. One of the positives from retiring is returning to Jesuit and visiting and becoming involved again in the community. He couldn’t be happier with this opportunity as he just loves “everything about it, the sense of community, the brotherhood.  It’s the one school that I can attach my name to my school and feel confident about.” Hollimon is currently finishing his degree and taking classes at University of Texas, but eventually he “wants to get back in the game somehow.”

Overall Hollimon’s story is one of perseverance, being knocked down by life and getting back up stronger than before. As his classmates, coaches, and friends have made clear, he exemplified this impressive character at every stop in his life:  Jesuit, Texas, Oral Roberts, in the minors, and in the majors. Michael Hollimon is truly deserving of being the newest member of the Jesuit Hall of Fame and of the title of the best baseball player in Jesuit history. The Roundup would like to congratulate Michael Hollimon on an amazing career.

“Being elected to the Jesuits Sports Hall of Fame is a true blessing and I’m definitely humbled by it.  I’ve been blessed enough to partake in events and play in games that had it not been for the coaches I grew up playing for and the teammates I played with I never would  have experienced them.  It’s an incredible feeling to be recognized by the high school that I have the utmost respect for, as now one of their HOF members.  But in all honesty, I think more than being a HOF inductee, I’m even more proud to say I’m a Dallas Jesuit alum.”

Michael Hollimon, Class of 2001

Growing up in a household with two older brothers, Hever was already exposed to Jesuit by the time he stepped onto campus in the fall of 1978.  Determined to prove himself, he lettered in football, golf, and wrestling, but his main focus was on his passion, football.  Giving up his wrestling career after his junior season, Hever was able to excel in football, eventually becoming all-district and all-state in his senior season.

While Jesuit was in the TCIL (Texas Catholic Interscholastic League), battling rivals like Bishop Lynch and Strake Jesuit, Hever played under Coach Pasqua, who ran the “old-school” power trap offense, which entailed a heavy run-game and a relatively light pass game as opposed to today’s game which relies mostly on a team’s ability to air out the ball. However, Hever made his name on the defensive side of the ball as a shut-down defensive back.

Interestingly enough the quarterback of that team was David Adamson ’82 who went on to play at SMU and now coaches wide-receivers and special teams at Jesuit.  Adamson described Hever as “a hard-nosed football player, a leader on the field, and a great teammate,” one who always put the team before himself especially in the “rocky” ’81 season when the team finished under .500.

After his senior year, Hever signed to play at Rhodes College, which was called Southwestern at Memphis when he first attended.  In fact, Hever was on the school’s first team to wear the “Rhodes” name and was inducted into the Rhodes Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.  Once at Rhodes, Hever discovered another area of the game where he could dominate–place kicking.

Once again raking in the accolades, Hever was named a Kodak All-American and a Pizza Hut All-American in 1984.  “I would’ve liked to keep playing defense at Rhodes, but I was a better place kicker,” Hever told Jesuit’s Shea Stine ’13 in an interview for the Roundup.  In fact, he was such a great place kicker that he was drafted into the USFL (United States Football League) and played on the “Memphis Showboats” until the league was disbanded in 1987.  “It was weird to get a paycheck for something I loved,” he said; and although his professional career was short-lived, he still remains one of the few Jesuit alumni ever to play a professional sport.

However, Hever’s development at Jesuit was not limited to the athletic arena.  One of his best memories is a community service activity during his senior year in which he and a friend took 24 kids from the Notre Dame School of Dallas on a camping trip for a weekend.  “We didn’t expect the letters we got from their parents saying this was the first weekend they had had free for 16 to 17 years… these types of things make this place special,” he explained. “It all revolves around the community service.”

Now that his sports career is over, Hever continues to support Jesuit and its athletic program and has sent his two sons to Jesuit:  Joey Hever ’12 who started at the center position his junior and senior years, and Matt Hever ’15 who will be playing defensive end in the fall.  “I was really glad to see the boys play football here,” he said, “seeing [them] excel here was unbelievable.”  The Jesuit Sports Hall of Fame is lucky to add such a great man into its ranks.

However, one former Jesuit soccer player excelled not only as a player, but also as a student at Jesuit and Stanford, a lawyer, a father, and a Man for Others.  This year, Chris Helling ’86 has been inducted into the 2013 Jesuit Sports Hall of Fame.

Helling found his passion for soccer when he was just 5 years old. According to Helling, his first coach, “one of [his] best friend’s fathers,” helped introduce him to the game. “I remember vividly that [our team] would pile into the back of his old pickup truck that he painted blue and gold because they were our colors and we would ride to the games.” Helling joked and said, “I don’t think we’ll ever see that happen again today, but it was pretty cool back then.”

In addition to playing, Helling enjoyed watching professional soccer, especially the Dallas Tornado.  Oddly enough, Coach Charlie DeLong, Jesuit’s head soccer coach, played for the Tornado during this time. However, Helling had no clue that DeLong would one day be his coach at Jesuit.

Born on May 23, 1968, in Wichita, Kansas, Chris Helling was Con and Molly Helling’s first child. Little did they know that their first-born son would possess such superb soccer skills, because after all, “Neither of [them] played soccer.“ Just 5 weeks after his birth, the Helling family moved to Dallas where Chris would spend the rest of his childhood. His brother, Troy, was later born in 1970.

Helling attended James Bowie Elementary School and then Westwood Junior High in the Richardson ISD.  In addition to playing club soccer around the Metroplex, Helling played baseball until 8^th grade, and he also played football in 4^th and 8^th grades. Once enrolled at Jesuit in 1982, Helling decided to focus on soccer, especially playing goalie, which he would play for the rest of his career. Helling decided to apply to Jesuit, versus attending a Richardson ISD high school, because his father attended Jesuit Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, so “Jesuit had history” in his family.

Helling with DeLong & Teammate

While at Jesuit, Helling and the Rangers won three consecutive state championships under Coach DeLong, a rare feat. In addition, Helling served as the team co-captain his senior year. When asked what it was like to win state three different times, Helling said, “Well, it was a long time ago, but we had a great program and a great coach. We had a ton of great players, too, so it was just a ton of fun. To make it to state and then to win that many times was a huge achievement for us.” Not only was Helling a 3-time state champion, but he was also named a 1^st team All-State player.

When asked if he had a favorite memory or story about Jesuit, Helling recalled, “It’s not a specific story, but it’s a story about one of my fellow classmates, Sam Bloom ’86. He and I were both goalies playing fairly competitively in and around Dallas at the same time for our club teams, and it just so happens that he came to Jesuit [his] sophomore year. We became very fast, supportive friends, although we were fierce competitors. It served as a great testament to what Jesuit is all about because we were incredible competitors; both of us wanted to play and be the starter, but we became very close friends and great supporters of each other’s soccer career.”

Although players are the ones on the field winning the games, the coaches must be given credit, too. Coach DeLong, who is still at Jesuit today, has brought Jesuit many, many state championships. Helling believes that Coach DeLong “is the best coach I’ve ever had and he really is a very special man. He really shines as an incredible coach: the school’s first UIL championship, how involved he is; it’s incredible. He was a great role model, a great mentor, and a great coach. Jesuit soccer is an elite program, especially today. The program really helped me enhance my skills.”

Helling also played for the North Texas state team, a team that consisted of the top high school players in North Texas. In addition, he was “one run away from making the U. S. national team.” Helling elaborated, “The state team would train all summer long, and then we would play against Southwest teams, like Florida, South Carolina, Mississippi, South Texas, and others. The purpose of these games was to select an even more elite group to play for a regional team, which would ultimately travel each year to Colorado to try out for the national team.”

1987

“The summer after my junior year at Jesuit,” he continued, “I was selected for the regional team. I trained with the team through my senior year with guys from all over. The summer after graduation, the head coach of the U.S. national team contacted me and asked if I would consider trying out for one additional goal-keeper spot. I flew out to California that summer, but unfortunately, I was injured on the very first day of the tryouts. I then had to have knee surgery back in Dallas to repair torn cartilage, so that ended my chances of playing for the national team. I don’t know what would have come of it had I made the team, but I’m just happy to have had that experience.”

Although an injury kept him away from the national team, Helling was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship his senior year to play goalie at Stanford University. While at Stanford, Helling was a 4-year letterman, and he was also honored as an “All-Tournament” player in various tournaments.

Helling @ Stanford University

“The overall experience was incredible, not only athletically, but academically,” Helling recalls. “The people there are great and I have life-long friends there, similar to Jesuit. Athletically, it was neat. We traveled quite a lot all over the nation. We had a competitive schedule, and it was great to play in. Stanford was the ‘next level’ for my playing career, so it was very memorable.  Jesuit was very instrumental in helping me prepare for that next level.

Helling believes that Jesuit prepared him for the rest of his life, “not only athletically, but academically.  I have to attribute all the hard work that the teachers, coaches, and administrators put in at Jesuit to model the programs and athletics for the students and it really is a great segue way to not only Stanford but any college.”

Helling & Family

After earning his B.A. in economics at Stanford, Helling moved back to Dallas where he would later earn his J.D. at SMU Law School. While studying at SMU, Helling coached goalies of all ages around Dallas for various club teams. Eleven years after earning his law degree, Helling married Ann-Marie Munin ’87, an Ursuline graduate whose brothers also attended Jesuit. Together, Chris and Ann-Marie have two children: a daughter, Audrey age 6, and a son, Charlie, almost 4. Helling joked and added that he has used his soccer skills to coach Audrey’s pre-K soccer team to victory.

Today, Helling lives in Austin and enjoys spending time with his family, working out (even though “old age prevents [him] from running too much”), playing golf, and being outside. He has “a few other partners” in the Lancaster-Helling law firm which has offices in Austin and Dallas. Helling also serves as president of the Austin Humane Society, a community resource that promotes compassion toward animals as they help find them homes and educate others on how to take care of pets.

When Helling found out about his induction into the 2013 Jesuit Sports Hall of Fame, he was truly stunned. “I got the call when I was in Austin when I was running from client to client, and I saw I had a voicemail on my phone. I immediately called back, didn’t get a hold of the caller, and then he called me back. I was flabbergasted and humbled and honored and floored, and I got to tell you, it was one of the best days of my life.”

One final noteworthy fact about Helling is that he was a part of the group that introduced the idea of having a homecoming concert at Jesuit. “I was on the alumni board back when I lived in Dallas. We came up with a crazy idea and said, ‘Let’s see if we can turn this alumni homecoming party into a really big event and maybe even triple the size.’ We convinced the school to allow us to do it and then we put on the first concert with Jerry Jeff Walker in the gym. I’m proud to see that the folks after us have expanded it and grown it and it’s just an incredible event now. It’s professional now!”

Helling has experienced a life that many cannot say they have. From excelling on the field and getting so very close to making the US national team to running a successful law firm and raising a beautiful family, he has represented Jesuit in some of the best ways possible. Chris Helling truly is a Man for Others and a great addition to the Jesuit Sports Hall of Fame.