B&G Alumni Magazine ~ Spring 2024

editor

Patty Holmes patty.holmes@bvhs.org

principal

Suzie O'Grady suzie.ogrady@bvhs.org

director of development x x

asst. director of special events, donor & alumni relations

Crystal Melton crystal.melton@bvhs.org

athletic director

Greg Coleman greg.coleman@bvhs.org

sports editor

Ryan Murphy ’10 mtxemurphy@gmail.com

creative/art direction

April Bordeaux

advertising information

Patty Holmes patty.holmes@bvhs.org

Black & Gold Magazine is published quarterly; fall, winter, spring, and summer by Bishop Verot Catholic High School, Inc. More than 6,500 copies are provided to alumni, parents, students, and friends.

Every effort is made to keep our database up to date and accurate. If you are a parent receiving this magazine at home in the name of your child, please contact us so we may update our database. All address updates should be made by emailing Patty Holmes at communications@bvhs.org.

Copyright© 2023 Bishop Verot Catholic High School. All rights reserved.

MISSION STATEMENT

Rooted in Catholic tradition, Bishop Verot educates the minds and hearts of all students in an innovative and community-centered learning environment, preparing them for lives of faithful service to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

On the cover: 2024 School Board

Photo credit: Mr. Craig Davis, Bishop Verot Marketing Coordinator

Viking Creed

As members of the Verot family, we will always support our fellow Vikings, defend our traditions, honor our legacy, and Bleed black and gold. We are Verot!

Another school year is drawing to a close and we will soon welcome another class to the long list of Verot alumni. This spring has been packed full of great events – Catholic Schools Week celebrations, the Diocesan Robotics Competition, NHS and CIA trips, Mary Poppins, Live Jesus Retreats, and plenty of athletic competition. In this edition of the B&G, discover how our faith inspires as we live out the Bishop Verot mission.

Beginning on page 10, learn how the Community/House System is living out the Verot mission through service to others. Many of our athletic teams have stepped up this school year by offering their time and treasure to our community. On page 51, see how the soccer teams blessed those at the Ronald McDonald House.

We are always inspired by the number of alumni who continue to support the Verot mission. The Bishop Verot School Board has a number of alumni serving (on the cover and page 14) and contributing to the future of Verot. The 12th Annual Gala and Auction was well-attended by alumni (page 7) and the 2024 Alumni of the Year – Scott and Chris Lyons – were honored during the event (page 9). And on page 48, check out all the alumni who presented at this year’s Career Day.

Please be sure to share your good news with us! The Alumni News section (page 49) is a great way to share with your fellow alumni. We also want to help promote your reunion plans on the alumni calendar.

Wishing you the very best,

Mission Statement G

Rooted in Catholic tradition, Bishop Verot educates the minds and hearts of all students in an innovative and community-centered learning environment, preparing them for lives of faithful service to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

As we approach the end of another academic year, I want to take a moment to reflect on our shared accomplishments and express my deepest gratitude for your support, which has made this year a tremendous success.

The 2023-2024 school year has been filled with remarkable achievements from our students whether in the classroom, on the field or court, or on the stage.

As the Winter Athletic season came to a close, the Vikings had once again secured 6 District titles. The Spring season is looking equally promising with several teams on track to clinch District wins as well. Mrs. Clark and her troupe of amazing actors, singers and dancers wowed audiences with outstanding performances of Mary Poppins. And just last weekend, the Verotbots, Verot’s Robotics Team, won the 3rd Annual Lions Cup Tournament hosted in the Nevin’s Gymnasium. I would like to thank our students, coaches and teachers for their dedication to the many extra-curricular programs that enhance the Verot experience.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our School Board for their exceptional leadership and dedication to our school’s mission. Their commitment to our community and their tireless work behind the scenes have been invaluable in helping us navigate another year successfully. Their guidance and vision have allowed us to grow as a school and continue to provide a faith-filled, high-quality education.

As we prepare for a well-deserved summer break, I encourage everyone to take this time to rest and recharge. Let us keep our faith strong and take the time to reflect on the blessings we have received throughout the year.

On behalf of the entire Verot family, I extend my warmest wishes for a joyful and peaceful summer. May God bless you and your families.

Blessings,

Mrs. Suzie O'Grady

Mrs. Suzie O’Grady, Principal

Letter from the Director of Development

“We will not fail.”

–

St. Francis de Sales –These words from our patron saint are a reminder that we are called to live and love like God. We, too, must never quit. Never give up on one another or on ourselves. Above all, we must remember that God will never abandon us and His love never fails.

Viking Family -

I write this letter to you today with a heart full of excitement and gratitude as I share some bittersweet news. After an incredible past year as your Director of Development, I am embarking on a new adventure, stepping into a new role at my Alma Mater.

First and foremost, I want to express my deepest appreciation for the unwavering support, boundless passion, and genuine camaraderie that have defined my time here. Working with incredible alumni, passionate parents, and an incredible staff has been nothing short of inspiring, and I am profoundly grateful for the memories have been made and the milestones we’ve achieved together.

As I prepare to transition to this new chapter, I want to assure you my commitment to our shared goals remains unwavering. I am fully dedicated to ensuring a seamless transition, working diligently with administration to guarantee our ongoing growth and success continues to flourish.

Moreover, I am bubbling over with excitement about the possibilities that lie ahead. This transition isn’t just about bidding farewell; it’s about welcoming change with open arms and embracing new opportunities for growth, innovation, and collaboration. I am confident the exceptional leadership at Bishop Verot will continue to exceed expectations and deliver excellence in all aspects.

While I may be moving on to a new opportunity, please know that my passion for our shared vision remains as strong as ever. I am committed to staying connected and supporting our community in any way I can, and I am excited to watch such an incredible place continue to climb to new heights.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being a source of inspiration, friendship, and endless possibilities. My time here has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for all of the Bishop Verot Community. Once a Viking, Always a Viking!

scan code to make your gift today!

The 2023-2024 Bishop Verot School Board

The Bishop Verot School Board is comprised of current and past parents, alumni, and community leaders bringing years of personal, professional, and educational experience to this advisory board. The School Board works with school administration in an advisory role on matters pertaining to school policy and planning for the continued growth and success of Bishop Verot Catholic High School.

2023-2024 School Board pictured below: Back Row: Frank Aloia ’89, Kevin Pfleger, Adam Hall ’94, Bill Stejskal ’71, Patrick Hartig. Front Row: Monica Hartman ’08, Suzie O’Grady, Dr. Judi Hughes, Lisa Muench. Not pictured: Fr. Robert Tatman and Eric Baxmann.

In addition to their work on the school board, members also chair or participate in the many subcommittees as well. These subcommittees include Marketing, Curriculum, Facilities, Student Life and Catholic Identity, Technology, and Finance. While we are grateful to all who serve, the alumni who work to secure the future of their alma mater is a testament to our mission.

This year’s Chair, Dr. Judi Hughes, and Vice-Chair, Mr. Bill Stejskal, are currently seeking new members for the 2024-2025 school year. Board terms are three years, with the availability of up to three additional one-year terms. The commitment is approximately three hours a month during the

school year and attendance at special events is encouraged. Each Board Member must serve on one or more Board Committees. Candidates should have at least one year of committee service for consideration as a Board Member by the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee is also actively seeking individuals who would like to serve as Committee Members. Backgrounds in finance, development, and academic affairs are a plus. Candidates do not need to be current parents or alumni, we seek anyone willing to serve and support the entire BV family. Candidates should send a letter of interest along with a brief bio or resume to Mrs. Suzie O’Grady at suzie.ogrady@bvhs.org. BG

James Bond Style 12th Annual Gala

The James Bond themed Gala – An Evening Shaken Not Stirred – was one of the largest attended yet. For the first time in over eight years, the event was held off campus at the Hyatt Regency at Coconut Point. Guests were treated to a red carpet entrance and photo-op with time for mingling while perusing the many Silent Auction packages ready for bidding.

Once in the ballroom, guests were seated and the evening began with the blessing by Fr. Steven Clemente from St. Francis Xavier Catholic School. Mrs. O’Grady thanked the Gala Committee for all their hard work from securing auction items

to decorating the venue, making it another fabulous, fun-filled event. Along with the Gala Committee, we would also like to thank Lisa Spooner who served as our Master of Ceremonies and Jim Severson for his Auctioneer expertise.

As always, we are incredibly grateful to all our guests – it is wonderful to see our current and past parents join alumni in support of Bishop Verot.

Lastly, this annual event would not be possible without the support of our many sponsors. Please consider joining the sponsor list next year! BG

Thank you to our Gala Sponsors

FBI Air

Ruotolo

St. John XXIII

D&G Building Contractors LLC

The Brian Family

DR Horton

Estate Landscaping

Owen Ames Kimball

Tomahawk Construction

St. Andrew Catholic School

Studio for Architecture

HYDR.ATE IV Nutrient Infusion

Coralwood Dermatology

Sanibel Captiva Trust

Gonczy & Associates, Inc.

SWFL Elevator

Landsberg Bennett

Private Wealth Management

St. Columbkille

Edison National Bank

Aloia Roland Attorneys at Law

St. Katharine Drexel

Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord

St. Francis Xavier School

FineMark

DocFords

Danis Insurance

GCG Construction

The Graziano Family

Introducing the 2024 Alumni of the Year Scott & Chris Lyons

Chris and Scott Lyons epitomize what it means to be leaders out in the world. Twin brothers, the two graduated Bishop Verot in 1996 and went on to play football at Bowling Green State University. They both later transferred to Florida State University to finish out their playing careers. After returning to Fort Myers, they set the foundation for Tomahawk Construction in

2004, as they began providing site preparation and grading services for their customers. As their company grew so did their services, adding underground utility, mass earthwork operations, roadway construction, and processing excavated materials and debris. It was this expertise, coupled with their problem-solving attitude and willingness to serve, that drove them in September of 2022. Hurricane Ian had just hit,

forever changing the landscape of Southwest Florida, wiping out roadways to Pine Island and Sanibel Island. The Lyons brothers and Tomahawk Construction wasted no time to jump into action offering their services. Tomahawk Construction partnered with others, working 24 hours a day to repair the washed-out stretch of Pine Island Road to allow access to the island. Chris and Scott even had their two sons, current

students at Verot, working to get the roadway back in operation.  Acts like this truly define what being a Verot Alumni means –extending their community support and leadership in times of need. Throughout their time as alums, Chris and Scott have consistently shown their support of their alma mater through sponsorships, event attendance, financial support and

now as parents of current students. They are engaged and care about continuing to grow this incredible school and the Verot family. And they also believe in helping and supporting this community.

Mrs. O’Grady awarded Chris and Scott Lyons the 2024 Alumni of the Year during the annual Gala in March. Chris Lyons accepted both awards in Scott’s absence. BG

Mrs. O’Grady with Chris Lyons – Alumnus of the Year

Bishop Verot’s Community –House System

6 Communities... 1 Family We are Verot!

“Community is at the heart of all Catholic education, not simply a concept to be taught, but as a reality to be lived.”

– St. John Paul II –

Compassion, Kindness and Blessings Abound!

Here at Bishop Verot, our mission statement reminds us we are to “Educate the minds and hearts of all students in an innovative and community-centered learning environment, preparing them for lives of faithful service to the teachings of Jesus Christ.” Our House system is an innovative way to build a strong sense of community and to fulfill the mission of the school. This semester in house, every community showed acts of compassion, kindness, and blessings to those around them or to those in need.

The Community of St. Cecilia showed compassion to those in need this semester and collected over 200 children’s books for the Ronald McDonald Charities at Golisano Children’s Hospital. House members made fleece tie blankets for foster kids, and students collected and donated money to the Make a Wish Foundation. They shared their faith during worship and supported each other by attending sporting events and drama performances.

The Community of St. Augustine saw so many blessings this semester. The Senior Leaders stepped up and were enthusiastic for every house meeting. They epitomized the idea of what House is all about and led with honor and integrity. The quote, “Home is where the heart is”, originally thought to be from Pliny the Elder, a Roman author and philosopher, is true here at Bishop Verot as well. Our House system is where the sacred heart of Jesus pumps life into Bishop Verot faculty and students alike.

The Community of St. Francis de Sales had their last community gym day recently. The students all played different games and had a great time! Walking around and seeing the smiles on all the kids’ faces made the work from the Community Mentors worth it this year. The students had fun, smiled and laughed with their friends, and built relationships, which is the core mission of House.

The Community of St. Teresa recently spent an entire House period writing beautiful sympathy cards, including Bible verses, to their Community Mentor, who suddenly lost her mother. Students lifted her up in prayer and shared many hugs and kind words. The comfort and compassion shared by the students touched her deeply. The kindness was genuine and was the most profound example of family.

The Community of St. Clare had a member who also had a sudden death in the family. His house, led by the student leaders, wrote out little prayers and well wishes, and put them in a prayer jar to deliver to him. They then made him “weeples,” which Coach Gill recommends giving to someone to show concern and compassion. These students want him to know he is being prayed for and they are concerned for him. The love shown for this student was incredible!

The Community of St. Francis of Assisi was blessed having both Heads of Family for the 2024/2025 school year selected from this community. When Maddon McDonald was asked why she wanted this position she said, “I want to make house a positive and beneficial time for everyone.” One of the goals Sonny Tokotaha has as a leader next year is to foster the enthusiasm and student morale that has developed during house to after school events and activities.

While all 6 communities participated in most of the above-mentioned events, each community has its own uniqueness and dedication to seeing house thrive. The previous things couldn’t have been accomplished without the help from all our Core 8 Seniors and our Senior House Leaders! They did an amazing job this year with our inauguration of the new and improved House system! House is what quintessentially makes Verot a family.

#ItsJustDifferentHere BG

Christ the Teacher 2024 Mrs. Mary Dakin

This year’s Christ the Teacher recipient has been a part of the Verot family for 25 years. The current English Department Chair started out as a substitute teacher before accepting a part-time teaching position. Mrs. Mary Dakin has made a huge impact on countless Vikings, evidenced by the numerous times she has been the recipient of the Drexel Award for Teaching Excellence at graduation. Like the Christ the Teacher Award, the Drexel Award is also voted on by students.

“I love teaching because every day is different. I love teaching because with a word or a phrase you can open doors in young minds to think, to question, to create, to believe in themselves and to embrace faith. The beauty of teaching at Verot is the freedom and liberation to openly incorporate God and spirituality into the lesson one is teaching.”

Mrs. Dakin also serves as the National Honor Society Moderator organizing numerous service projects benefitting the community. One of her favorite projects is the monthly gatherings with Special Populations. She has also been able to share her love of art, literature, and travel with her students by attending annual Leadership Conferences in Washington D.C. with NHS students and trips with students and their families to explore the many museums in New York City.

When asked what inspires her each day, Mrs. Dakin shared, “The joy of being in the classroom with the interaction, discussion, and growth that takes place. I love that the job of teaching is live and real.” She truly is a blessing to the Verot family and an inspiration to all who know her.

The annual Christ the Teacher Award is given to the teacher who the students see as a living example of Christ, making the Verot family stronger, whose faith in God is evident, and who sacrifices their time and talent for the good of others. BG

�e Original Yucatan Shrimp

Catholics in Action

Catholics in Action, or CIA as it is referred to around campus, continues to be one of our most popular and well-attended clubs. The group meets weekly, planning events to grow in faith and inspire others to do the same.

Once again, a record number of students traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the 51st Annual March for Life, celebrating life. This year’s theme, “With every woman, for every child” focused on the need to care for both mother and child during pregnancy and beyond. Students were able to participate in the many events leading up to the Rally and March as well as visit sites in our nation’s capital including the Bible Museum.

Bishop Verot students joined parishioners and students from throughout the Diocese of Venice for this year’s Catholic Days at the Capitol in Tallahassee. Wearing red, the Catholic community gathered together in our state capitol to learn about the legislative process, advocate for policies promoting human life and dignity, and to pray for our elected officials. BG

Athletic Guide Spring2024

Baseball

2024 Varsity Baseball Team

2024 Varsity Baseball Roster

Brody Baxmann

Jason Bello – Senior

Cameron Berrios

Grayson Carpenter

Carter Chalder

Curtis Couillard – Senior

Brett Flock – Senior

Maddix Goldsberry-Simpson – Senior

Blake Lavenia

Joseph Lawson

Matthew Moreno – Senior

Owen Rardin

Anthony Reitler

Kayson Sands

Braylon Sheffield

Tyler Wyman

Head Coach

Casey Scott

Baseball

Assistant Coach

Coach Casey Scott enters his 5th season at the helm of Bishop Verot's Baseball program. Coach Scott has served as a member of the USA baseball task-force as a scout for the 15u and 17u National teams for the past several years. Coach Scott has also served in every capacity at the college level, beginning as a volunteer, climbing to associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, and then head coach. His collegiate experience includes SUNY Cortland, the College at Brockport and Ave Maria University. In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Coach Scott was named the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL) Coach of the Year after leading the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs to the league title. Scott resides in Fort Myers with his wife, Nicole.

Steve Cunningham

Assistant Coach

Rick Flock

Assistant Coach

Bryan Marotta

Baseball

2024 Varsity Baseball Seniors

Jason Bello

Curtis Couillard

Brett Flock

Matthew Moreno

Maddix Goldsberry-Simpson

Baseball

2024 JV Baseball Team

Head Coach

Dan Tufariello

Assistant Coaches Not Pictured: Pasquale Evangelista, John Petito

Softball

2024 Varsity Softball Team

2024 Varsity Softball Roster

Paige Bettermann

Payton Breadmore

Abigail Goff

Crimson Lawrence

Lillie Layne – Senior

Melanie Moreno

Rosalie Riley

McKenna Robbins

Gianni Torres

Alexalys Torres

Tianna Wolfson

2024 Varsity Softball Senior

Softball

Lillie Layne

Softball

Softball Head Coach

Chris

Chris Gatewood is in his fourth year as Head Softball Coach. Coach Gatewood’s coaching career began in 2008 as a volunteer Coach in the local Little League programs, of which he continued dedicating his time and knowledge through 2014. Since then, Coach Gatewood has successfully Managed an Elite Softball travel organization, most recently placing second in the 2020 USA Softball Junior Olympic Cup and placing first in the 2020 USA Elite Select Softball Southeast National Qualifier. Coach Gatewood also previously served as the Assistant Varsity Softball Coach at Fort Myers High School (2017-2019) where he helped lead the team to 7A-State Champions his first year, and back to the final four the following two years. Coach Gatewood has four children, Hailey, Aubrey. Kinsley and Cambrey and a granddaughter, Harper. Coach Gatewood and his wife, Jessica, reside in Cape Coral.

Gatewood

Assistant Coach Not Pictured: Justin Robbins

Softball

2024 JV Softball Team

2024 JV Softball Roster

JV Head Coach

Mike Curtis

JV Assistant Coach

Craig Norling

Boys Lacrosse

2024 Boys Varsity Lacrosse Team

2024 Boys Varsity Lacrosse Roster

Cabot Brooke

Nicholas Constantino – Senior

Brendan Cronin

Hayden Dahl

Brody Evanoski

Dylan Feeney

Lucian Freshwaters

Kyler Genrich

Mason Hart

Harrison Kaminsky

Alexander Kidd – Senior

Joshua Knight – Senior

Robert Leckler

Mason Mangold

Kasen Mapes

Broderick Norris – Senior

Daniel O’Hara – Senior

Renato Pantoja-Malaga – Senior

Landon Parker

Malachi Rafacz – Senior

Weston Rardin

Paul Reilly – Senior

Owen Rodriguez – Senior

Drew Schmidt

Trenton Stejskal

Kenneth Swartz

Nathan Swartz – Senior

Bennett Sweitzer

Richard Swift

Trey Toscano – Senior

Boys Lacrosse

Tony Ventiquattro is in his fifth season as Head Coach for the Boys Lacrosse team. He has spent more than 15 years working in lacrosse at all levels. A high school All-American for Carthage (N.Y.) High School, he played collegiately at the University of Massachusetts and SUNY Cortland. He has developed and coached high school programs, club teams, and made his mark internationally as a catalyst for the Israeli National Team and the Philippines National Team. Most recently, Tony served as Associate Head Coach for the Philippines National Team at the 2018 FIL World Championships in Netanya, Israel. The nation won its first ever international game and ended the tournament with four wins over ranked teams and a No. 10 world ranking.

Head Coach

Tony Ventiquattro

Assistant Coach

Assistant Coach

Dave Manzi

Colin Manzi

Assistant Coaches Not Pictured: Brian Ray, Kirk Ventiquattro

Boys Lacrosse

2024 Boys Lacrosse Seniors

Lacrosse

Lacrosse

Lacrosse

Lacrosse

Lacrosse

Lacrosse

Lacrosse

LaCrosse

Lacrosse

Nicholas Constantino

Paul Reilly

Alexander Kidd

Renato Pantoja-Malaga

Owen Rodriguez

Joshua Knight

Malachi Rafacz

Broderick Norris

Trey Toscano

Not Pictured: Daniel O’Hara, Nathan Swartz

Boys Lacrosse

2024 Boys JV Lacrosse Team

2024 Boys JV Lacrosse Roster

Cole

Charles

Thomas

Patricio

Brady

Damian

Magnusson

Tyler

Hudson

Abraham

Nicholas Velez

Alexsander

Head Coach

Dave Manzi

Coach

Colin Manzi

Girls Lacrosse

2024 Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team

2024 Girls Varsity Lacrosse Roster

Sami Albert

Ava Byrd – Senior

Francesca Donalisio – Senior

Ava Dusold – Senior

Bridget Horlbeck – Senior

Piper Kelleher – Senior

Lily Lockard

Sofia Maitz – Senior

Clare Murnane

Lilly Murnane – Senior

Betty Nolan

Daphne O’hara

Sophia Pina – Senior

Brianna Ray

Jane Reilly

Olivia Schilling

Liz Schlager

Lilee Simons

Kendall Sullivan – Senior

Maggie Swift

Lydia Whalen – Senior

Girls Lacrosse

Lauren Lockard '16

Coach Lockard is in her first season as Head Coach of the Girls Lacrosse team. A 2016 graduate, she was a 4-year varsity member of the golf, soccer and lacrosse teams at Verot. After graduation, Coach Lockard attended Saint Anselm College and was a defender for the Hawk's Lacrosse program. Coach Lockard played a vital role in the Hawk’s defense as a top leader in ground balls and forced turnovers, as well as landing a spot in the Saint Anselm Athletics Record Books for most ground balls in a single game as well as for total career caused turnovers. Coach Lockard was selected to the 2017 Northeast -10 Conference All -Rookie Team and was selected to multiple Northeast -10 Fall Commissioner’s Honor Rolls during her 4-year career. After graduating college, Coach Lockard spent the last three years as Girls lacrosse coach at Suffield High School. At her time at Suffield, Coach Lockard helped lead the team to two state playoff berths.

Head Coach

Assistant Coach

Natalie Kaufman

Girls Lacrosse

2024 Girls Varsity Lacrosse Seniors

Lacrosse

Lacrosse

Lacrosse

Lacrosse

Lacrosse

Lacrosse

Lacrosse

Lacrosse Lacrosse

Lacrosse

Ava Byrd

Lilly Murnane

Francesca Donalisio

Sofia Maitz

Piper Kelleher

Sofia Pina

Lydia Whalen

Bridget Horlbeck

Ava Dusold

Kendall Sullivan

Girls Lacrosse

2024 Girls JV Lacrosse Team

JV Head Coach

Justin O'Hara

2024 Girls JV Lacrosse Roster

Dylan Cobian

Amanda Dente

Ghia Donley

Chloe Gelman

Dylan Kendrick

Maria Kramer

Brooke Metcalfe

Aubrey Murnane

Ela Vatthyam

Chloe Vigneault

Weightlifting

2024 Boys Weightlifting Team

2024 Boys Weightlifting Roster

Jack Benaitis

Dwyer Camron

Alejandro Carbonell

Justin Davis

Dennis Forte

Aaron Fountain

Ryan Gadson – Senior

Matthew Galdames

Matthew Graziano

Connor Greer

Noah Hegi-Jones

Renn Horton

Noah Keating

Mikhail Keenan

Ty Martinez

William Meyers

Edward Nolan – Senior

Tiago Passos

Henry Phillips

Griffin Pipkins

William Reese

Ethan Swanson

Hudson Sweitzer

Senita Tokotaha

Vaughn Ulm

Weightlifting

Head Coach

Brett Berry

Brett Barry ’03 is in his fourth season as Head Coach of the Boys Weightlifting team. Coach Barry has a bachelor’s degree in sports Management from Valparaiso University. Coach Barry is also an assistant coach for the Football program.

2024 Boys Weightlifting Seniors

Weightlifting Weightlifting

Ryan Gadson

Edward Nolan

Track & Field

2024 Boys Track & Field Team

2024 Boys Track & Field Roster

Mason Alleva

Adam Aung Og

Eric Avin – Senior

Alexander Barnum

Luke Bauer

Mark Brazley

Dwyer Cameron

Jadrien Carmo

Ethan Jacob Carter

Peyton Carter

Rafael Casillas

Anthony Cedeno Cayden Clark

Manuel Colon Ira Dale

Thomas Eichten

Zachary Engel

Brayden Fairchild – Senior

Nicholas Gaeta

Ayden Gonzalez

Brandon Hall

Ismael Hernandez

Benjamin Juhasz

Jaiden Jones – Senior

Alec Kent

James Little IV

Andrew Marino

Dominic Maxwell – Senior

Shane McCarty – Senior

Luke Mounts

Dutch Nolan

Dennis Olsen

Ryan Peterson

Joseph Polsinelli

Connor Roach

Leroy Roker – Senior

Alexander Sergi

Ethan Swanson

Macrae Thompson

Andrew Torres

Dominic Torres

Felipe Trelles – Senior

Matthew Turner – Senior

Parker Turner – Senior

Marquan Young

Marquis Young

Zachary Zielke

Head Coach

Track & Field

Martin Byrd is entering into his fourth season coaching Track and Field at Bishop Verot. Martin comes from Cypress Lake High School where he also taught and oversaw the Track and Field program. Making his focus areas sprinting and field events, the entire track program has seen great growth in involvement and success under his leadership. In 2023, the Boys team brought home the Private 8 championship, District Championship and its first ever Regional Championship in school history. Coach Byrd is focused on bettering himself as a coach and person in the off-season to ensure continual growth for the overall Program health.

Martin Byrd

Assistant Coach

Assistant Coach

Tyler Stowell

Richie Rode

Track & Field

2024 Boys Track & Field Seniors

Eric Avin

Dominic Maxwell

Felipe Trelles

Brayden Fairchild

Shane McCarty

Matthew Turner

Jaiden Jones

Leroy Roker

Parker Turner

Track & Field

2024 Girls Track & Field Team

2024 Girls Track & Field Roster

Devin Archibald

Sara Barrise – Senior

Elise Bolgiano

Ally Buckley

Anabelle Calvo

Daphne Dalton

Mackenzie De Lisle

Sarah Engel

Chyna Fain

Anabella Garibay

Gianna Gyurich

Grace Illum

Caroline Juda

Aliza Litvak – Senior

Mia McMasters

Caroline Muddell

McKinley Parker – Senior

Gwen Pfleger

Grace Riley

Sofia Roman

Dominyka Romero – Senior

Jocelyn Sweeney

Savannah Truax

Head Coach

Rehm

Track & Field

Coach Jeff Rehm is in his second season leading the Varsity Girls Track & Field program. Coach Rehm also served for six years as a Viking assistant coach specializing in jumps and sprints, a position he also held at Lakeland High School (IN), Portage Central High School (MI), and Oasis Charter High School in Cape Coral. Coach Rehm was also head coach for track & field at Oasis for both men and women in 2017. During his tenure, Rehm has coached numerous Regional champions and several All-Staters, including several current Lady Vikings who earned similar honors last season. Additionally, Rehm has coached basketball for most of his 23 years in education, and now heads the

Verot JV boys team. Coach Rehm and his wife Michelle live in Fort Myers and have four children, all of whom were high school athletes.

2024 Girls Track & Field Seniors

Sara Barrise McKinley Parker

Aliza Litvak

Dominyka Romero

Jeff

Assistant Coach

Michael Courville

Assistant Coach Not Pictured: Lisa Nolan

Tennis

2024 Boys Tennis Team

Head Coach

Mark Latell is in his 13th year as the Varsity Boys Tennis Coach. Mark is a 1983 Verot alumnus with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech. Mark moved back to his hometown of Ft. Myers 13 years ago joining the Verot faculty as a teacher in the Math department. Mark and his wife Deanna, also a Verot graduate, have five children, Danielle ’20, Anna '22, David ’24, Matthew ’26, and Andrew '28.

Mark Latell

2024 Boys Tennis Seniors

2024 Boys Tennis Roster

Christopher Carranza

Lucas Coronel

Ryan Gordon

Colin Hill – Senior

Kevin Johns – Senior

Nicholas Jorgenson

Alexander Jorgenson

Nolan Leef

Jacob Mast

Michal Nawalany

Gabriel Negrich – Senior

Andrew Pino – Senior

Julien Rodriguez

Colin Hill

Kevin Johns

Gabriel Negrich

Andrew Pino

Tennis

2024 Girls Tennis Team

Anne Kearns is in her third season as the Varsity Girls Tennis Coach. Coach Kearns is a graduate of the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. She continues to take her place on the court as a 4.0 tennis player. Coach Kearns is also the parent of two Verot Alumni tennis players, Thomas ’16 and Christian ’20.

Head Coach

Anne Kearns

2024 Girls Tennis Roster

2024 Girls Tennis Seniors

Ava Aloia

Isabelle Buhain Olivia Kushner

Lia Wade

Ava Tedesco

Beach Volleyball

2024 Beach Volleyball Team

Kelly Corr is in her seventh season as the Beach Volleyball Head Coach. Coach Corr teaches physical education at St. Francis Xavier Catholic School and is the middle school volleyball coach. Her passion and dedication to the sport has included her playing at the collegiate level and coaching for over 18 years.

Head Coach

Kelly Corr

Assistant Coach

Troy Hayes

Beach Volleyball

2024 Beach Volleyball Roster

Nicole Blackwood

Kasey Corr

Maya Dix

Sophia Fay

Caroline Hathaway

Camryn Hedge

Taylor Hedge – Senior

Isabella Higby

Charlotte Hildebrand

Carley Himschoot

Ava Irion – Senior

Madeline Knaak

Dakotah McClaran

Marissa Peck – Senior

Analia Perry – Senior

Julianne Schwartz – Senior

Jane Smith – Senior

Lindsey Walsh – Senior

Madelynn Wells

2024 Beach Volleyball Seniors

Beach Volleyball

Beach Volleyball

Beach Volleyball

Beach Volleyball

Beach Volleyball

Volleyball

Taylor Hedge Ava Irion

Marissa Peck

Jane Smith

Lindsey Walsh

Analia Perry

Julianna Schwartz

Alumni Sports

MICHAEL BEVINS ʼ23

western carolin golf

Bevins has immediately seen time in competition for Western Carolina in his first season of college golf. The freshman has competed in four events during the 2023-24 season, including two in the fall season and another two in the spring. During the spring season, he aided the Catamounts in match play competition, winning both of his matches at the Sweetens Cove Intercollegiate, hosted by Miami University.

CARSON BEISNER ʼ21

polk state basketball

Beisner played in 23 games during his final season at Polk State College. He was named a team captain prior to the 2023-24 season, and was both an FCSAA and NJCAA All-Academic team selection. He had a career game in a Polk State win in January over Rising Stars Academy, scoring 16 points and making six of his seven shots, including four three-pointers on five attempts.

ROBERT FLANNERY '21

niagra swimming

Flannery had a successful junior season swimming at NCAA Division I Niagara University. While swimming for the Purple Eagles, Flannery qualified for the conference finals in two events at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships, including a bronze medal finish in the 200 yard breaststroke. The junior was at his best at the end of the season, setting a personal best in eight of his nine swims at the conference meet.

CONOR CRANFIELD ʼ21

navy swimming

Cranfield’s third year at the United States Naval Academy saw the junior specialize in freestyle events, where he has won two bronze medals in the Patriot League during his career. The 2020 state champion at Verot placed in the top ten in both the 200 yard and 500 yard freestyle races at the Patriot League Championships, where he recorded four swims that were either personal or season bests.

CHRISTIAN KEARNS ʼ20

eckerd tennis

Kearns has been a mainstay in the lineup for NCAA Division II Eckerd College, playing in both singles and doubles throughout the 2024 season. He excelled especially in doubles play, where he is one half of Eckerd’s top doubles team and has posted an 11-5 record as of press time. He also played at the third singles position throughout the season for Eckerd, adding another five singles wins.

ANDREW SHEPHERD ʼ19

mississippi university basketball

Shepherd concluded his college basketball career at Mississippi University for Women, playing for former Verot coach and staff member Dean Burrows. The senior started in 24 of the Owls’ 25 games, spending more than 600 minutes on the floor. Shepherd knocked down 33 three-pointers during his senior season, and scored a season-high ten points in a January game against Eureka, where he made four of his five shots.

SAVANNAH NIPPA ʼ20

lenoir rhyne

track

In her final season of collegiate track and field, Nippa has competed in nearly every throwing event for NCAA Division II Lenoir–Rhyne University. During her senior season, she has competed in the shot put, hammer throw, javelin, discus, and weight throw events. Her throws have consistently improved throughout her senior season, with Nippa setting three personal records at the Aggie Classic in North Carolina, the final event before press time.

SANTIAGO CORREDOR ʼ17

tampa swimming

Corredor’s collegiate swimming career ended on the highest of notes, as the Colombian won the NCAA Division II national championship in the 500 yard freestyle. Corredor also earned podium finishes in three other events - the 200 yard backstroke, 200 yard individual medley, and 400 yard individual medley. The senior also won three Sunshine State Conference championships during the season, and was named the Sunshine State Conference Swimmer of the Year.

CHRISTIAN KEARNS '20

Christian was recently honored at Eckerd College’s Senior Day for the tennis team. In addition to celebrating his senior year, he has also served as the team’s Captain for the past two seasons. Making the event more special, he was joined by six fellow Verot alumni – Hunter Stevens, Jack Nolan, Sean Middleton, Will Galloway, AJ Sarlo, and Derrick Erickson - to celebrate his athletic accomplishments.

LAUREN LOCKARD '16

Lauren and Connor Fewster ’16 were married in February 2024. Lauren is a member of the Verot faculty as a teacher and coach. Connor works for Fidelity Investments in Naples. The couple resides in Ft. Myers with their beautiful golden, Birdie.

AMY BASINGHAM ROHDE '07 and SHANNON GOFF JOHNSON '99

Aubrey Lynn Rohde, daughter of Amy Blasingim Rohde ‘07 and William Duval Johnson, son of Shannon Goff Johnson ‘99 and Matt Johnson were crowned as The Edison Festival of Light 2024 Junior King and Queen of Edisonia.

Alumni Association - Staying Connected

We welcomed some of your fellow alumni to campus to present to current students for Career Day. This is such a great opportunity to give back to your alma mater and help educate today’s students on the opportunities available to them. If you have never participated, we invite you to consider it! Career Day is organized by our Counseling Department every March.

As classes begin planning for the 2024 Class Reunions, we would invite you to consider Homecoming Weekend for your events. It is a great way to reconnect with your high school and kick-off the weekend celebrations. Next year’s Homecoming Game is set for October 18, 2024.

Please also be sure to follow the new Bishop Verot Alumni Association Facebook page (even if you have already done so – the page has been updated). Our new Assistant Director of Special Events, Donor and Alumni Relations is working hard to connect with our alumni and Facebook is a great resource. Please also consider updating your contact information at bvhs.org under the Alumni tab. BG

What is enough? Will I have enough? Lower your

Simply put, we are here to help.

Model United Nations Club Hosts VikingMUN

The Bishop Verot Model UN Club hosted the VikingMUN Conference this spring on the Verot campus. This conference was attended by delegates not only from Verot, but also from Fort Myers High School and the Canterbury School’s Model UN Clubs.

As a training conference, the purpose was to enhance delegates’ problem solving, negotiation, writing, and debating skills. Students from our Model UN Club

(Bennett Calvo, Samantha Traiger, Isabella Mparaganda, Tyra Voltaire, Ryan Gordon, and Savannah Truax) acted as committee chairs responsible for training the delegates from the other schools.

Everyone who attended had a lot of fun and made some new friends as well. This was the first Model UN conference that Bishop Verot hosted since 2019! We hope to continue the tradition next year by inviting more schools to participate!

Athletic National Signing Day

In February, another group of athletes signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. The Class of 2024 has 21 athletes who have committed to the next level of competition so far this year. Congratulations to the following students.

Trissa Babcock – Cumberland – cheer

Peyton Bender – Trinity College of Florida – soccer

Chloe Brown – Mars Hill – soccer

Jeremiah Dean – West Florida – football

Ryan Gadson – Lafayette – football

Eddie Nolan – Ithaca – football

Parker Turner – Navy – football

Charles Watts – Saginaw Valley – football

Neal Wheeler – Spalding – golf

Dance Team Makes History

The Bishop Verot Dance Team made history this February. They attended the Dance Team Union National Championships in Orlando. This is the first time in school history they have gone to a national competition. There were about 200 teams representing 40 states at the competition. In their division, the team earned 13th in the nation for Small Varsity Hip Hop.

Soccer Teams Support Ronald McDonald House

The Boys and Girls Soccer teams worked together to gather donations for the Ronald McDonald House in Ft. Myers. The house has an ongoing Wish List of items needed which is now a little shorter thanks to these players!

Verot Arts

Building “Soft Skills” in the Digital Arts

Spring has sprung, and our Verot art teachers are not only teaching our young creatives how to sow the seeds of creativity, but they are also helping them develop real world “Soft Skills” that potential employers’ value. The worlds of publishing, broadcasting, and the digital arts favor resilience and reflection. Psychosocial skills such as effective communication, active listening, ability to express oneself, and the ability to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life are now championed in work environments that require more than technical skills.

Under the direction of Mr. Clayton Atkins and Mrs. Liz Kroll, dedicated yearbook staffers develop the skills and habits that have direct applications to almost any career. In the Journalism class, students capture photographs, generate creative ideas, bring those ideas to life using digital skills and tools, work together as a team, step out of their comfort zones, and—most importantly—meet deadlines! Of course, every student worries about due dates and upcoming tests, but Journalism students must publish a book each year! Missing the monthly deadlines could possibly jeopardize the timely arrival of the book, but nothing beats seeing a year of hard work produced, printed, and distributed to a mass of thankful students who appreciate sharing treasured memories.

While yearbooks allow Vikings to reminisce about the past, Verot Live captures our talented Viking athletes in real time, covering school sports throughout the academic year. In addition to mastering the detailed technical skills it takes to run a broadcast, Verot Live students must work as a team, collaborate, problem solve, sharpen communication skills, demonstrate critical thinking, and adapt to challenges. Teachers Mrs. Kelly Metevia and Mr. Tony Ventiquattro prioritize the need for their students to think on their feet and communicate solutions in high pressure situations as this will prove critical when working in the real world. Even if students do not pursue a career in sports, these soft job skills are highly transferable across industries in the working world.

Vikings with an eye for graphic design create real-world projects under the tutelage of Mr. Eric Riemenschneider in his Digital Arts classes. Students work with industry standard design tools in Adobe Creative Suite. While focusing on Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, students learn about the design cycle and the creative process. As they continuously plan and problem solve,

Verot Live - Henry Phillips (11) and Ryan Gordan (10)

Students using Adobe Dimension to create professional Package Designs L to R: Zachary Engel (11), Flavia Hernandez (10), and Malachi Rafacz (12)

digital design students gain soft-skills and important technical skills which will help them in any college or career path they plan on for the future. In this class, students are also introduced to the capabilities and responsible use of AI in the design process. Students in upper level design courses can work to create a portfolio for increased opportunities in internships, college scholarships or future careers.

In Advanced Placement 2D Art and Advanced Placement Drawing, our students are encouraged to reflect on their processes and content while perfecting their portfolios for submission in May to the College Board. While many students prefer pencil, paint, and brush, a handful of our AP artists enjoy the flexibility of

creating with procreate on the iPad. Junior Samantha Mitchell is exploring the connection between bird species and environmental influences while senior Taylor Greenwood is researching cultures around the globe and the meaning behind particular customs of dress for her portfolio concentration.

Communication and expression take center stage in our Photo 1, 2, and 3 classes as students learn how to create photographs that affect or move their audience. Photography students learn integral composition skills that will help them succeed in marketing, social media, photojournalism, general communication and more. Mr. Stephen Hayford incorporates his experience in photojournalism and creating art for entertainment companies into his courses. The photo skills students learn at Verot elevate their knowledge base to give them a better understanding of the world around them. Students also learn critical skills in interpersonal communication while working with photo subjects. BG

Drawings by Taylor Greenwood and Samantha Mitchell

Photography by Francheska Linenberg and Emma Pease