From July 22nd- July 28th 2023, 16 Jesuit students traveled to Emory University for the NJCL’s 70th convention. Students competed in academic, creative arts, and sports contests throughout the week. The students who competed this year were Samuel (Sam) Carley ’25, Teddy Matthews ’26, Massimo Caruso ’25, Lucian Matula ’25, Brandon Gibson ’24, Luke Nettune ’26, Michael Hasenfratz ’25, Charles Odegard ’25, Flyn Hughes ’25, Nestor Resendiz ’25, Greg Kimatian ’25, West Rodgers ’26, Tony Kohler’ 26, Jackson Schutze ’24, Miguel Mancilla ’25, and Royce Szarzynski ’25. Also, Mrs. Hudec, Ms. Jones, and Mr. Erickson chaperoned the trip to make the experience unforgettable.
Why go to JCL nationals?
NJCL is a place where students of common interests in the classics can compete against each other and create friendships around the country. Also, no Latin teacher is able to touch on all of Roman and Greek history, mythology, literature, and more. Even if students do not enjoy taking academic tests, JCL has something for everyone. It might be art contests, Olympia (sports competitions), certamen (quiz bowl), or just hanging out with friends in different activities. JCL allows all Latin students to have fun over the summer. Anyone who is not part of Jesuit’s JCL club should definitely join, to try something new and enjoyable for everyone.
Sam Carley ’25 said, “I had a great time at JCL nationals, and I was happy to see that others had a similar experience.”
This Year’s Jesuit State Officer
This year, Luke Nettune ’26 will be serving as TSJCL’s state treasurer. During the National Convention, Luke with other state officers from other high schools conducted meetings and helped run Texas-related activities at the competition. Keep an eye out for outstanding leadership from Luke during his term!
Mrs. Jones’ Thoughts
“Our students had a really good time this year at Emory University, in Atlanta GA for the National Junior Classical League convention. We were there six nights and got there a day early because we had a of a bunch of kids who wanted to do the Olympia swimming events. Also, Luke Nettune is the state treasurer who is on the board and helped lead all of the Texas delegates at the nightly fellowship. The students had a really fun time experiencing what dorm life would be like.”
“Additionally, it helps them have the confidence to navigate a college campus and what it’s like to have to wake up and walk to breakfast; then get to your class at a certain time; experience what it is like living in a room where you have to share a bathroom with three other people or maybe even a bathroom that’s down the hall. I think that solidified the group, with the shared experiences and one of the things that National JCL is great for is building friendships.”
“The toga parade is always a nice highlight to end out the week, and the boys learned how to tie their togas and they carried the Texas flag for our delegation. We also got two medals, which is pretty big deal, and in Jesuit’s national JCL history I think this is only the 4th and 5th medal we got. The medals went to both Flynn Hughes’ 4th place in Olympia and Tony Kohler’s 5th place the creative arts category.”
“Overall, everybody had a really good time. We are looking forward to another robust year of Jesuit JCL successes, and we’re really excited about welcoming the new 9th graders to our team!”
Contests Results
Olympia top Overall Sweepstakes
4th Place- Flyn Hughes
Creative Arts top Overall Sweepstakes
5th Place- Tony Kohler
Sweepstake awards are determined on how many wins you get in a contest category.
Academic
Mottoes
7th Massimo Caruso
Latin Reading Comprehension
8th Luke Nettune
12th Lucian Matula
Greek Life and Literature
9th Royce Szarzynski
Hellenic History
11th Royce Szarzynski
Academic Heptathlon
14th Luke Nettune
Greek Derivatives
12th Luke Nettune
13th Michael Hasenfratz
13th Brandon Gibson
15th Nestor Resendiz
Latin Derivatives
15th Lucian Matula
Luke Nettune said, “JCL nationals was a great way to learn about the Classics and make friends with similar interests all across the country.”
Graphic Arts
2nd – Lucian Matula
Traditional Photo
Grade 10
5th – Jackson Schutze
Weapons and Armor
Grades 10-12
9th – Lucian Matula
Computer Photo
Grade 10
Creative Arts
Latin Oratory
Latin 2 2nd Tony Kohler
Slogan Contest
Lower Division
1st Luke Nettune
3rd West Rodgers
4th Teddy Matthews
Middle Division
2nd Lucian Matula
4th Miguel Mancilla
6th Royce Szarzynski
7th Sam Carley
7th Massimo Caruso
7th Greg Kimatian
8th Michael Hasenfratz
Upper Division
2nd Jackson Schutze
5th Brandon Gibson
Essay Contest
9th grade
2nd – Tony Kohler 3rd Luke Nettune
5th Teddy Matthews
10th – 12th grades
2nd Brandon Gibson
5th Michael Hasenfratz
Sight Latin Reading Latin 1
8th Teddy Matthews
Sight Latin Reading Latin 2
6th Miguel Mancilla
7th Lucian Matula
7th Luke Nettune
Open Certamen
1st Place Team
Tony Kohler
Ludi (sports)
Track & Field
200 m Track
5th Charles Odegard
400 m Track
4th Flyn Hughes
5th Jackson Shutze
Long Jump
1st Flyn Hughes
4th Royce Szarzynski
Discus
4th Royce Szarzynski
5th Flyn Hughes
Swimming
50 yd Freestyle
2nd Flyn Hughes
5th Massimo Caruso
100 yd Freestyle
2nd Flyn Hughes
4th Massimo Caruso
200 yd Freestyle
2nd Flyn Hughes
50 yd Backstroke
2nd Flyn Hughes
3rd Michael Hasenfratz
5th Massimo Caruso
50 yd Butterfly
2nd Flyn Hughes
4th Sam Carley
50 yd Breaststroke
4th Massimo Caruso
5th Teddy Matthews
Marathon
3rd Place
Jackson Schutze
Volleyball
1st Place team
Greg Kimatian
and
West Rodgers
Mrs. Hudec’s Thoughts
“The great thing about NJCL is it feeds that desire that we have to know a little bit more ourselves, about humankind, about all language, or about any other topic. I think more than that, is it really is an education in realizing the variety of communities that [we] have even in the classic’s world. We’ve kind of have our own school culture that we live in and immerse in, but when we go to nationals for a week we are living among a whole bunch of other students who all bring their own school’s culture in. So, it’s so much more of a university feel and experience. NJCL is more than what most students get to get to experience when they’re in high school, and it’s really an education in understanding the value of connection because we meet people that we will know forever.”
“It makes me think of whenever in the first month of college, graduates have gone off and in the first three weeks I keep getting emails of: “Oh my goodness a state officer from Tennessee or whoever that I met at nationals is now here with me at college!” So, it’s a connection that students never lose, and I think at nationals students gain an appreciation for those connections.”
“I hope that students gain an appreciation for the value of connectionism and whatever they decide to do in the future. It doesn’t just happen in JCL. We have the Jesuit connection where for instance Ms. Jones and I go to the Jesuit Latin colloquium every other year and we get to meet up with all the other Jesuit Latin teachers and hang out. Sometimes people don’t understand the value of connections and they never truly get to enjoy doing those kinds of things because they don’t understand like how huge it is to get to join with someone who has the same passions as you.”
“I think that going to NJCL or doing any of the JCL activities, either area, state, or nationals teaches you the value of what it is to connect with other people that share something in common with you. I hope that students continue the love for group gatherings and for congregating like that in the future.”
Just the Beginning…
JCL nationals are the best way for Latin students to spend their summer and get ready for the school year. As nationals are the biggest convention for JCL, this school year is still filled with the next area and state convention that will be just as fun as nationals and easier to get to. All Latin students should join!
Stay tuned to The Roundup for more coverage on JCL!
