B&G Alumni Magazine ~ Spring 2024

SPRING 2024 Bishop Verot Catholic High SchoolAlumni Magazine

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 2023-2024 School Board Alumni of the Year Christ the Teacher Spring Athletic Guide

Table of Contents MISSION STATEMENT

editor

Patty Holmes patty.holmes@bvhs.org

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.

principal

4

Letter from the Editor Patty Holmes

5

Letter from the Principal Suzie O’Grady

6

Letter from the Director of Development Jordan Harmon

Suzie O'Grady suzie.ogrady@bvhs.org

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The 2023-2024 School Board

director of development

8

x x

12th Annual Gala

asst. director of special events, donor & alumni relations

Alumni of the Year

10 12

Crystal Melton crystal.melton@bvhs.org

House News

athletic director

14

Greg Coleman greg.coleman@bvhs.org

Christ the Teacher

16

sports editor

Catholics in Action

Ryan Murphy ’10 mtxemurphy@gmail.com

17

creative/art direction

Spring Athletic Guide

advertising information

Alumni Sports

46

April Bordeaux

48

Patty Holmes patty.holmes@bvhs.org

Alumni News

49

UNDERWRITTEN BY

Alumni Association

50

School News

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.

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Verot Arts

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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.

Black & Gold Magazine • 239.274.6760 Bishop Verot Catholic High School, Inc. 5598 Sunrise Dr., Fort Myers, FL 33919

BV Athletics Summer Camps

On the cover: 2024 School Board Photo credit: Mr. Craig Davis, Bishop Verot Marketing Coordinator

Recognized by Apple as a distinguished school for continuous innovation in learning, teaching, and the school environment.

BVHS.org | 3

Letter from the Editor

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.

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!

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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,

Letter from the Principal

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.

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.

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

BVHS.org | 5

Letter from the Director of Development

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.

“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.

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!

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The 2023-2024 Bishop Verot School Board

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he 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

BVHS.org | 7

12th Annual Gala

James Bond Style

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he 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 8 | B&G Spring 2024

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.

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

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

DocFords Danis Insurance GCG Construction The Graziano Family BVHS.org | 9

Introducing the 2024 Alumni of the Year Scott & Chris Lyons

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hris 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 10 | B&G Spring 2024

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

BVHS.org | 11

House News

Compassion, Kindness and Blessings Abound!

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 –

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H

ere 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.

House News 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 BVHS.org | 13

Christ the Teacher 2024

Mrs. Mary Dakin

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his 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.”

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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.

Sanibel Island • Ft. Myers Beach St. Pete Pier • Jungle Terrace St. Pete

�e Original Yucatan Shrimp

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

“For the sun-kissed & sun-desirous alike, a vacation on a plate.” www.DocFords.com

AN ORIGINAL

FLORIDA FISH HOUSE!

Mary was awarded Christ the Teacher during the Catholic Schools Week Mass. She was joined by her family – grandchildren Mary, Luke, and Samantha and their parents Vanessa and Richard Akin. BG

www.DixieFishFMB.com

BVHS.org | 15

Catholics in Action C

atholics 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

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g n i r Sp 2024

c i t e l h t A e d i Gu BVHS.org | 17

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 18 | B&G Spring 2024

Baseball Head Coach

Casey Scott

Assistant Coach

Steve Cunningham

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.

Assistant Coach

Rick Flock

Assistant Coach

Bryan Marotta

BVHS.org | 19

Baseball 2024 Varsity Baseball Seniors Baseball

Baseball

Curtis Couillard

Jason Bello

Baseball

Maddix Goldsberry-Simpson

OWN ED

BY

BV HS

Baseball

Brett Flock

Baseball

Matthew Moreno

AL UMN A

TIME FOR A NEW ROOF? 20 | B&G Spring 2024

Baseball 2024 JV Baseball Team

Head Coach

Dan Tufariello

Assistant Coaches Not Pictured: Pasquale Evangelista, John Petito BVHS.org | 21

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

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2024 Varsity Softball Senior Softball

Lillie Layne

Softball Softball Head Coach

Chris Gatewood

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.

Assistant Coach Not Pictured: Justin Robbins

BVHS.org | 23

Softball 2024 JV Softball Team

2024 JV Softball Roster Kane Archibald Maddie Brady Paige Ellis Ava Kipp Hailey MacNeil Isabella Munoz Maggie Norris Rebekah Miller Gianna Perry Emma Trojanowski

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JV Head Coach

Mike Curtis

JV Assistant Coach

Craig Norling

Boys Lacrosse 2024 Boys Varsity Lacrosse Team xx Head Coach

Sport

Assistant Coach

Name Name

Name Name

Name Name

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

BVHS.org | 25

Boys Lacrosse Head Coach

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.

Tony Ventiquattro

Assistant Coach

Colin Manzi

Assistant Coach

Dave Manzi

Assistant Coaches Not Pictured: Brian Ray, Kirk Ventiquattro 26 | B&G Spring 2024

Boys Lacrosse 2024 Boys Lacrosse Seniors Lacrosse

Lacrosse

Lacrosse

Alexander Kidd

Nicholas Constantino

Joshua Knight

Lacrosse

Paul Reilly

Broderick Norris

Lacrosse

Renato Pantoja-Malaga

Lacrosse

LaCrosse

Malachi Rafacz

Lacrosse

Owen Rodriguez

Lacrosse

Trey Toscano

Not Pictured: Daniel O’Hara, Nathan Swartz BVHS.org | 27

Boys Lacrosse 2024 Boys JV Lacrosse Team

JV Head Coach

Dave Manzi

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Assistant Coach

Colin Manzi

2024 Boys JV Lacrosse Roster Leo Barbato Jett Berning Nicholas Blackwood John Boddison Vance Byrd Peter Ciano Colt Crawford Cesar Diaz Jorge Diaz Pedro Fernandes Dwayne Garcia Dylan Gehrs Connor Greer Ryan Holter Zane LeBoutillier

Cole Leslie Conrad Morris Charles Muddell Thomas Picco Patricio Rodriguez Brady Sackman Damian Snyder Magnusson Stejskal Tyler Swartz Hudson Sweitzer Abraham Vasquez Nicholas Velez Alexsander Vu Andy Webb

Girls Lacrosse 2024 Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team xx Head Coach

Sport

Assistant Coach

Name Name

Name Name

Name Name

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

BVHS.org | 29

Girls Lacrosse 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 Lauren Lockard '16 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

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Assistant Coach

Natalie Kaufman

Girls Lacrosse 2024 Girls Varsity Lacrosse Seniors Lacrosse

Lacrosse

Lacrosse

Ava Byrd

Ava Dusold

Francesca Donalisio

Lacrosse

Piper Kelleher

Lacrosse

Sofia Pina

Lacrosse

Lacrosse

Sofia Maitz

Lacrosse

Kendall Sullivan

Bridget Horlbeck

Lacrosse

Lilly Murnane

Lacrosse

Lydia Whalen

BVHS.org | 31

Girls Lacrosse 2024 Girls JV Lacrosse Team

JV Head Coach

Justin O'Hara

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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 xx Head Coach

Sport

Assistant Coach

Name Name

Name Name

Name Name

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

BVHS.org | 33

Weightlifting Head Coach

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.

Brett Berry

2024 Boys Weightlifting Seniors Weightlifting

Ryan Gadson

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Weightlifting

Edward Nolan

Track & Field 2024 Boys Track & Field Team xx Head Coach

Assistant Coach

Sport

Name Name

Name Name

Name Name

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

BVHS.org | 35

Track & Field Head Coach 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

Tyler Stowell

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Assistant Coach

Richie Rode

Track & Field 2024 Boys Track & Field Seniors Track

Eric Avin

Track

Brayden Fairchild

Track

Dominic Maxwell

Track

Felipe Trelles

Track

Shane McCarty

Track

Matthew Turner

Track

Jaiden Jones

Track

Leroy Roker

Track

Parker Turner BVHS.org | 37

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

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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

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 Jeff Rehm 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.

Head Coach

Assistant Coach

Michael Courville

Assistant Coach Not Pictured: Lisa Nolan

2024 Girls Track & Field Seniors Track

Sara Barrise

Track

Aliza Litvak

Track

McKinley Parker

Track

Dominyka Romero

BVHS.org | 39

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

40 | B&G Spring 2024

Tennis 2024 Boys Tennis Seniors Tennis

Colin Hill

Tennis

Kevin Johns

Tennis

Gabriel Negrich

Tennis

Andrew Pino

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

BVHS.org | 41

Tennis 2024 Girls Tennis Team

Head Coach

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.

Anne Kearns

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Tennis 2024 Girls Tennis Roster Berkley Parker Ava Rathur Cayla Rhodes Sophie Rodriguez Ava Tedesco – Senior Lia Wade – Senior

Ava Aloia – Senior Isabelle Buhain – Senior Leah Chung Olivia Kushner - Senior Hannah Manibo Laila McCullers Kelsey Parker

2024 Girls Tennis Seniors Tennis

Tennis

Ava Aloia

Tennis

Isabelle Buhain

Olivia Kushner

Tennis

Ava Tedesco

Tennis

Lia Wade

BVHS.org | 43

Beach Volleyball 2024 Beach Volleyball Team

Head Coach

Assistant Coach 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.

Kelly Corr

44 | B&G Spring 2024

Troy Hayes

Beach Volleyball 2024 Beach Volleyball Roster Ava Irion – Senior Madeline Knaak Dakotah McClaran Marissa Peck – Senior Analia Perry – Senior Julianne Schwartz – Senior Jane Smith – Senior Lindsey Walsh – Senior Madelynn Wells

Nicole Blackwood Kasey Corr Maya Dix Sophia Fay Caroline Hathaway Camryn Hedge Taylor Hedge – Senior Isabella Higby Charlotte Hildebrand Carley Himschoot

2024 Beach Volleyball Seniors

Beach Volleyball

Analia Perry

Beach Volleyball

Beach Volleyball

Beach Volleyball

Taylor Hedge

Ava Irion

Marissa Peck

Beach Volleyball

Julianna Schwartz

Beach Volleyball

Beach Volleyball

Jane Smith

Lindsey Walsh BVHS.org | 45

Alumni Sports

MICHAEL BEVINS ʼ23

ROBERT FLANNERY '21

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.

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.

CARSON BEISNER ʼ21

CONOR CRANFIELD ʼ21

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.

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.

western carolin golf

polk state basketball

46 | B&G Spring 2024

niagra swimming

navy swimming

Alumni Sports

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.

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.

ANDREW SHEPHERD ʼ19

SANTIAGO CORREDOR ʼ17

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.

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.

mississippi university basketball

tampa swimming

BVHS.org | 47

Alumni News

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.

SAINT COLUM)3KILLE , I

I

Loovee Briings Peeoplee Toogether - Chariity Briings Chriisttians Toogether As Catholics, we are called to live our Christian faith every day.

Good education is an essential part of learning to live our faith.

Catholic churches and Catholic schools work together for the Kingdom of God.

Father Lorenzo Gonzalez For anyone looking for God, they are welcomed, accepted, loved and respected here at St. Columbkille Catholic Parish.

12171 Iona Road, Ft. Myers, FL- 239-489-3973 - www.stcolumbkille.com 48 | B&G Spring 2024

Alumni Association - Staying Connected

W

e 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.

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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

Proud to support Bishop Verot High School Securities offered through Triad Advisors LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Capital Cities Investments. Capital Cities Investments and Paul Harris Financial are not affiliates of Triad Advisors.

BVHS.org | 49

School News

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

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.

50 | B&G Spring 2024

(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!

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

School News

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! BG

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BVHS.org | 51

Verot Arts

Building “Soft Skills” in the Digital Arts

S

pring 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.

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)

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, 52 | B&G Spring 2024

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.

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.

Drawings by Taylor Greenwood and Samantha Mitchell

Photography by Francheska Linenberg and Emma Pease

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

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

BVHS.org | 53

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