IT WAS A DECISION THAT RAISED EYEBROWS ACROSS THE STATE: THE CREIGHTON PREP WRESTLING TEAM — ONE OF THE TOP PROGRAMS IN THE REGION — OPTED OUT OF THE NEBRASKA STATE DUAL TOURNAMENT.
SJ
On February 3, 2025, a senior leader of Creighton Prep’s first-ever state champion wrestling team, Adonis Bonar II '25, posted on X (formerly Twitter) to defend his team’s choice to opt out of the Nebraska high school state dual tournament so the freshman wrestlers on the squad could attend Freshman Retreat instead. “It changed my life,” he wrote, “and I know it’ll do the same for my lil bros as well.” Head wrestling coach Andrew Fisher ‘08 said much the same in a quote he gave to the Omaha WorldHerald: “Some things at Prep go beyond sports.”
Prep has a long and proud history of competitive excellence, and our students added several new chapters to that story this year. Our wrestlers not only won the school’s first-ever team state championship in wrestling, but they did so in dominating fashion. One of Prep’s robotics teams, The Indubitables, not only qualified for its first world championship but seized the moment and finished in the top four globally.
On their own, these achievements rank among the great moments in Prep’s history. But the stories behind them are even more important than the achievements themselves.
Behind wrestling’s historic title was a team that invested in prayer, faith formation and service as they piloted an all-new sports chaplaincy program. Behind a world-class robotics performance was a team that used resilience, innovation and teamwork to overcome numerous setbacks on the way to greatness.
In short, the real stories were less about what our students did and more about who they became.
In this edition of our magazine, there’s much to celebrate. Beyond the teams mentioned above, you’ll read about the return of a beloved former president of Prep, a historically successful BASH and the grand opening of our beautiful athletic track and field facility.
Each of these is celebration-worthy in its own right. Together, they are essential to our mission of forming Graduates at Graduation and Men for Others.
AMDG,
Fr. Matt Spotts, SJ President
Creighton Preparatory School
VOLUME 69 NO. 1
SUMMER 2025
PUBLISHED BY
Creighton Prep
7400 Western Avenue
Omaha, NE 68114-1878 (402) 393-1190
CreightonPrep.org
President Fr. Matt Spotts, SJ
Executive Assistant to the President Crayton Noe
Assistant to the President for Mission Fr. Nick Albin, SJ
Interim Head of School
Jackie Schulte
Chief Financial Officer
Alex Zimmerman
Chief Communications Officer
Kellie Wostrel, APR
Communications Specialist
Pat Neary ‘78
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Caitlyn Thomas
Vice President of Advancement
Sarah Schmitt
Advancement Coordinator
Brandis Adams
Director of Major and Planned Gifts
Brad Burks ‘00
Assistant Director of Annual Giving
Sammie Emsick Becker
Director of Advancement
Operations
Nick Osborn
Director of Alumni Relations
Mike Beacom ‘85
Director of Events
Amy Knight
Events Coordinator
Hannah Pray
Director of Prospect Development and Database Management
Niall Norney ‘91
Donor Relations Coordinator
Jennifer Jones
Cover Story: More Than a Match — Wrestling & Whole Person Formation
In a powerful demonstration of mission over medals, the Creighton Prep wrestling team chose to forgo the state dual tournament so their freshman teammates could attend Freshman Retreat.
An Update on Creighton Prep’s 2029 Strategic Plan
More on Whole Person Formation at Prep and the plans for it going forward from Emily Taber, Creighton Prep's new director of campus ministry.
Celebrating the Class of 2025
Honoring excellence.
A Creighton Prep Robotics Team Takes 4th at Worlds
A major milestone for advanced STEM achievement at Prep.
A Return to Creighton University and Prep Fr. Tim Lannon, SJ, Ed.D., who was president at both schools, is back in Omaha, serving them in new roles.
Reunion Recaps
How the “0” and “5” classes from 1980-2020 and the jubilarian class of 1975 celebrated their time together in the spring.
Supporting Prep
Your gifts to the AMDG Fund help make the dream of a Prep education a reality.
BASH 2025: A Nautical Night Anchored in Brotherhood
See the story of this recordbreaking BASH.
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Higher Heights 2025: A Senior Decision Day Celebration
The second annual event honored the class of 2025, their college choices and the scholarships they received
How Well Did Prep Prepare You For College? Young alumni from different graduating classes answer the question.
Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Future
The grand opening of the new athletic track and field facility. Prep News Highlights from campus
Alumni Updates Here & There
The Second Annual Scholarship Appreciation Breakfast
A look back at the event that, once again, brought together scholarship donors and the students impacted by their support.
Winter & Spring Athletics
The latest successful chapters in the book of Prep’s rich athletic history.
In Memoriam
Please Remember
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2025
Men for Others Golf Classic
Omaha Country Club
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2025
Creighton Prep Sports Night
The Heider Center at Creighton Prep
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2025
Mother-Son Mass and Breakfast
The Heider Center and Sullivan Center at Creighton Prep
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2025
Loyola Dinner of Honor and Distinction
The Sullivan Center at Creighton Prep
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2025
Open House for 5th-8th Grade Students and Their Parents
Creighton Prep
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2025
Grandparents Day
Creighton Prep
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2025
Alumni Memorial Mass
The Sullivan Center at Creighton Prep
DECEMBER 17-20, 2025
Operation Others Preparation, Setup, Packaging and Delivery Days Creighton Prep
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2025
Christmas in the Cage
The Heider Center at Creighton Prep
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2025
Advent Family Mass
The Sullivan Center at Creighton Prep
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2026
8th Grade Scholarship & Entrance Exam
Creighton Prep
SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2026
6th/7th Grade Pre-Entrance Exam
Creighton Prep
SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2026
Father-Son Mass and Breakfast
The Heider Center and Sullivan Center at Creighton Prep
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2026
Creighton Prep Trivia Night
The Sullivan Center at Creighton Prep
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2026
Scholarship Appreciation Breakfast
The Sullivan Center at Creighton Prep
It was a decision that raised eyebrows across the state: the Creighton Prep wrestling team — one of the top programs in the region — opted out of the Nebraska State Dual Tournament.
The Omaha World-Herald covered the story, and social media fired up as to why Omaha’s Class A No. 1 team was backing out of the competition.
According to head wrestling coach Andrew Fisher ‘08, the reason for missing the tournament was simple: It fell on the same day as Creighton Prep’s Freshman Retreat, and when it was time to decide between community or competition, the team chose brotherhood and formation.
“The natural instinct is to always compete with these guys and take them to the highest levels, which is part of the job, but at the end of the day, we are living the mission and building men for others,” said Andrew. “Cura personalis (care for the whole person) is not just something we say. We do it. Freshman Retreat is a vital part of the experience that should not be missed.”
Weeks later, the team would go on to win the NSAA State Wrestling Championship, a historic first win for the wrestling program. The Junior Jays finished with 251 points, 81 points above second place Lincoln East, and had four individual state champions and seven finalists. However, many say that their greatest victory came way before they even stepped onto the mat.
This is not the first time that the team has chosen the path of formation. They have been participating in Bible study for years with the guidance of
Adonis Bonar, a pastor and whose son Adonis Bonar II ‘25 wrestled for Prep and graduated in May. It was Adonis II who stood up for the team and quickly defended their choice to attend the Freshman Retreat over the Nebraska State Dual Tournament when social media went a-storm about it.
“Freshman Retreat changed my life,” said Adonis II. “It opened up new perspectives for me, not only as an athlete and a student, but as a person in general. I wanted my younger teammates to understand that. It’s a very important experience to have while you’re at Prep.”
Dave Kirchofer ‘85 knows the Freshman Retreat from nearly every angle. His memories of the retreat date back to the early 80’s, when he first experienced it as a student. Starting in the early 90’s and year after year thereafter, he has volunteered to help with various aspects of the weekend-long event, which his sons have also attended. In addition, Dave is a Prep freshman football coach and understands the importance of incorporating faith into all aspects of life — including athletics. He noted that he was proud of Coach Fisher and the rest of the wrestling team for choosing Freshman Retreat over the state dual tournament.
“Freshman Retreat opens the eyes to the entire Prep community and makes one realize that there’s so much more out there than athletic glory, academic glory or whatever glory you’re chasing,” said Dave. “We’re not going to be wrestlers for the rest of our lives. We’re not going to be football players for the rest of our lives, but we are going to be expected to be men for others, to take care of others and to be that light in the world that people need to see.”
In addition to the decision to attend Freshman Retreat this past year, the wrestling team benefited from meaningful spiritual formation under the guidance of Fr. Bob Tillman, SJ. As part of a pilot program during the 2024–2025 season, Fr. Tillman was assigned as the team’s chaplain, offering spiritual support during practices and competitions. His role, he said, was to be a companion, someone who could walk with the athletes on their journey. Over time, he witnessed a growing openness to God among the team members.
“Yes, we want them to win tournaments. We want them to win medals. We want them to have victories, but the most important thing we’re concerned about is the men that they are becoming,” said Fr. Tillman. “We want them to achieve in wrestling, but more importantly, we’re concerned about what wrestling makes of them. That’s our whole focus.”
Fr. Tillman’s presence during practices and competitions had a meaningful impactful on the team. He attributes the success of the chaplaincy program to meeting students where they are — connecting spirituality to the sport they love and the experiences that matter most to them. Throughout the season, he asked questions that encouraged personal reflection, such as “What do you want to be asking God to help you with?” and “We’ve got two weeks of the season left. What do you need from God during these last two weeks? What do you want to take with you at the end of the season?”
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“Spiritual formation is what happens because you make time for it,” said Fr. Tillman. “Athletes listen because it’s involved with something that they value: the sport. It calls them to more openness to the spiritual aspect of their life.”
Coach Fisher noted that Fr. Tillman’s presence had a tangible impact. “They thought it was the coolest thing that he was always around,” he said. “I’m so grateful for him. These guys are always hungry — hungry to get better at wrestling, at sports and at faith. I truly believe the success we’re having stems from their willingness to be open to growth.”
Andrew added that in addition to the chaplaincy program, the alignment and dedication of his coaching staff have been just as essential. “I’ve got great coaches who believe in the mission, and we all have to be pulling in the same direction,” he observed. “It doesn’t work if we’re not united in that purpose. I rely on them to help push this mission forward — and they do an incredible job. It’s a true team effort.”
To build on the success of the chaplaincy program with the wrestling team, six additional Creighton Prep athletic teams will be assigned chaplains next year.
The chaplaincy program and the team’s decision to participate in Freshman Retreat weren’t just isolated experiences. They reflect intentional efforts to support the spiritual and personal growth of each student. And it’s through opportunities like academics, athletics, clubs and activities, service and retreats that students come to truly understand who they are, how they are being called to live and what it means to become a man for others.
“Whole person formation showed me that God’s in all things,” said Adonis II. “The biggest thing I learned is that there are going to be times when you feel like you can’t keep going. But God will be there for you. If you have faith and keep pushing, you can do anything. Your faith can move mountains. Winning a medal is cool, but the ultimate goal is to get into heaven. You do that by growing your relationship with God and doing what He asks of us.”
More on Whole Person Formation at Prep and the plans for it going forward from Emily Taber, Creighton Prep's new director of campus ministry.
As mentioned in the last issue of the Creighton Prep magazine, the five-year strategic plan was built around four key pillars: Academic Excellence, Accessibility & Belonging, Whole Person Formation and Infrastructure for Mission. It launched in the spring of 2024, following approval by Creighton Prep’s Board of Trustees.
Grounded in mission to form young men and supported by the community, the plan sets smart but achievable goals that position Creighton Prep to thrive well into its 150th anniversary.
Among the 2029 Strategic Plan’s key areas of focus is Whole Person Formation, a reflection of Prep’s long-standing commitment to develop students not just intellectually, but spiritually, emotionally and socially. This is where the Jesuit ideal of cura personalis (care for the whole person) truly comes to life.
Emily Taber, Creighton Prep’s new director ofcampus ministry, said that the success of a Jesuit institution isn’t just about what students are able to write on their résumés one day. It’s about how they are searching for God in their experience and how they are responding with radical love and inclusion toward other people. “I think our Jesuit tradition has given us a really strong tradition and examples of heroic leadership in that regard,” said Emily. “We have examples of Jesuits and other people who have lived that out and who we can look up to. My goal is to really live the fullness of that Jesuit mission with our students.”
In the coming months, the focus will include expanding opportunities for encounter, including retreat offerings, intentional community-building activities, increased peer ministry involvement and deeper service-learning integration across all grade levels. New initiatives will also address mental and emotional well-being, equipping students with tools for resilience and lifelong personal growth.
“I think part of ‘encounter’ is saying to another student, ‘Tell me your story,’ and then sticking around to listen to it and really take it in,” Emily added. “We’re already doing that now as teachers, campus ministers and administrators. There’s opportunity to be intentional about what that looks like and making sure that we accidentally don’t miss a moment of encounter. We need to make sure that students’ well-being is on our radar.”
The success of Creighton Prep’s 2029 Strategic Plan relies on continuous evaluation and community support. Please consider joining us in shaping the future of Prep by engaging in our strategic plan and contributing to a legacy that will endure for generations to come.
Visit www.CreightonPrep.org/ strategicplan to view the full plan and more information on how to get involved.
On Tuesday, May 6, the Heider Center was filled with excitement and pride as senior students and their parents gathered for the second annual Higher Heights: A Senior Day Celebration. The event, hosted by Creighton Prep President Fr. Matt Spotts, SJ and Head of School Bill Gotch ’91, honored the class of 2025 and their next steps after graduation.
Seniors were recognized on stage as their college decisions or other post graduation plans were announced, along with any scholarship offers they chose to share. Wearing shirts from their chosen colleges, they brought
energy to the gathering of more than 400
A highlight of the morning was a video presentation featuring messages from Prep alumni now attending colleges across the country. These included greetings from Creighton University, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Marquette University, Texas Christian University The University of Kansas, University of Mississippi, University of Nebraska Omaha, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Notre Dame.
After the program, families enjoyed breakfast and refreshments together, taking a moment to reflect on their journeys through Prep before the seniors headed off to their last day of classes.
Higher Heights continues to serve not only as a celebration of achievements but also a reminder of the strong and lasting connections within the Prep community, where the bonds of friendship continue well past graduation.
Congratulations to the members of the class of 2025 who concluded their formative journey at Creighton Prep with graduation on Sunday, May 18 in the Heider Center.
Salutatorian and master of ceremonies Oliver Troshynski ’25 welcomed the audience to the event and served as master of ceremonies. He was followed by a performance of our national anthem from the chamber choir and an opening prayer by Fr. Bob Tillman, SJ.
In his opening remarks at Prep’s 146th graduation, Head of School Bill Gotch ’91 congratulated the seniors on “reaching this major milestone of your life journey.” He also thanked their parents for choosing to send their sons to Prep and for “entrusting them to us these last four years.”
After jubilarian class diplomas were presented to members of the class of 1975, valedictorian Josh Mammen ’25 delivered the commencement address. In his remarks, he thanked the administration, the faculty and staff, and the “vibrant Jesuit community” for their work with the class of 2025. He also asked his classmates to “remember to think boldly and act humbly for the greater glory of God.”
Following that, Creighton Prep President Fr. Matt Spotts, SJ, presented the Jesuit Schools Network (JSN) Award to Diego Gómez-Zamora ’25. The award is given to a Prep senior who exemplifies the values outlined in the Profile of the Graduate at Graduation shared by all 91 JSN schools: open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving and committed to doing justice.
Fr. Spotts then presented the Henry L. Sullivan, SJ Award, the highest honor given to a Prep senior, to Jack Van Moorleghem ‘25. This award is given to a senior who exemplifies the characteristics of the Graduate at Graduation.
Fr. Spotts noted that Jack is known for being naturally inquisitive and intentional, for throwing himself into whatever he’s doing, and for using "these gifts and traits to elevate those around him.”
After the student award presentations, Mr. Gotch presented the annual Michael Hindelang, SJ Award for Teaching Excellence to math teacher Andrew Fisher ‘08, describing him as a teacher, coach, colleague and mentor who brings “an unmatched dedication to everything he does, particularly his work in the classroom, especially calculus.”
Fr. Spotts then handed diplomas to each member of the class of 2025 and led the audience in prayer to close the ceremony.
The performance by Team 20077 The Indubitables was incredible and marked a major milestone for advanced STEM achievement at Prep.
The story of success that was completed on Saturday, April 19 by Team 20077 The Indubitables from Creighton Prep, and their fourth place finish at the 2025 FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston, is a fantastic one long in the making.
It’s the story of a team that learned through cycles of success and failure how to be resilient in the face of adversity after doing everything they could to be the best. It’s also about the culture of community and the Jesuit core value of “magis,” the constant work of how to do what’s being done better.
They have been part of the ToMorrow Labs since it opened at Prep eight years ago. Guiding it as director for most of that time has been Rich Mansfield, who estimated that when he started in 2018, he had “six students who did robotics.” Today, that number is nearly 70, scattered among six very competitive teams. And though he is quick to deflect credit for what ToMorrow Labs and Prep robotics have become, those close to the lab and the robotics program see just how valuable he’s been to that development.
“The way that Rich runs the lab and the robotics teams, and encourages the teams in so many different ways, it is so dynamic,” said Chris Morrow, who volunteers in ToMorrow Labs and whose family provided the vision and lead gift to create it. “Our teams are just operating on a different level, and that’s a credit to Rich and the Jesuit traditions and environment at Prep.”
Of course, like many ventures that find uncommon success in life, it took hard work and time to get there.
“In 2019–2020, we had two or three teams of three or four guys,” Rich said, when discussing the all-virtual meets held at the height of COVID-19. “You would basically time and score the performances yourself, then submit a videotape of them. But no one actually went.”
During the 2021–2022 school year, most of the freshmen who would eventually become senior leaders on The Indubitables joined up. Forty-five to 50 students were spread among six Prep teams, and three of those competed at state in Iowa (since Nebraska did not have state competition at that time for FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robots).
The next year, the now-sophomores on The Indubitables helped the squad win the Colorado state title, but they fell just short of qualifying for the world championship meet. It would not be their only disappointment on the road to greatness.
In fact, just last spring after The Indubitables had achieved a world ranking, they missed qualifying for the 2024 world championships by an even slimmer margin. Rich recalled, “At state, there was one paper airplane shot by the robot that missed its landing zone, and that was it.”
Undaunted, Rich and the team accepted an offer to compete against other teams from around the world at the Maryland Tech Invitational, which took place that June at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. They finished in the top 16 out of 40 teams, and most importantly, realized they could compete on a world stage.
When the 2024-2025 school year got rolling, four sophomores joined the team, including Baron Henderson '27 and Kuek Kuek '27, whose skills in coding and robotic design, respectively, would prove important in getting The Indubitables to that next level.
With their assistance, the team’s excellent performances in regular season meets — and their continued practice of breaking down the robot after practically every meet to try to add one new feature — helped The Indubitables find themselves ranked monthly among the top 25 FTC teams in the world.
From there, they went on in March to win the 2025 Nebraska state title and the Inspire Award, and finally qualified for worlds in Houston. (Also at state: Space Blankets, a team of freshman and sophomores, won the Innovate Award; Shadow Wizard Money Gang, a sophomore team, won the Control Award; and Bullfrogs, composed of sophomores and juniors, won the Design Award.)
In Houston the following month, The Indubitables had a “rough, rough start” in qualifying rounds, according to Rich, who described how they needed to take the entire robot apart to discover and fix a problem with a power wire before putting it back together again and returning to competition.
During that time, Rich, Chris and fellow team moderators Mr. Greg Okumu, SJ and chemistry teacher Abby McCaslin stayed in the background, letting the students figure out everything on their own.
“The way the team bounced back was impressive,” Greg said. “The way they cooperated and collaborated with each other — the drivers, the programmers and those who were in the pit — it was just amazing. They didn’t even want to have dinner. They wanted to compete, and they wanted to win.”
After winning the Jemison Division and reaching the double elimination finals with their alliance partner, Team 18270 RoboPlayers from Irving, Texas, The Indubitables finished fourth in the world and won the Motivate Award, given to the squad that best represented what “team” and “culture” mean in FIRST Tech Challenge robotics.
“It was great,” said recently graduated senior Shawn Wascher '25 “Most of us had been on the team together for a while, so we used all that experience to go as far as we could.”
FR. TIM LANNON, SJ, ED.D., WHO WAS PRESIDENT AT BOTH SCHOOLS, IS BACK IN OMAHA, SERVING THEM IN NEW ROLES.
When you talk with former Creighton Prep president Fr. Tim Lannon, SJ, Ed.D. it’s clear that the wisdom of years has given him great insight into the role that God has played throughout his life.
From his youth in Mason City, Iowa to his nearly full circle journey that has returned him to Omaha as superior of the Omaha Jesuit Community and part-time to Prep in the advancement office, Fr. Lannon speaks with immense gratitude about all of it.
As a second-semester high school senior in 1969, he was “all set” to go to the University of Iowa for college, but a campus visit in April left him wondering if it was the right fit. So he discussed it with his mother, who had attended St. John’s High School for girls in Omaha, and his father, who had gone to Creighton University, and they said, “Why not Creighton?”
“That was a major turning point in the direction of my life,” Fr. Lannon remarked. One of many where he felt accompanied and led by God through the guidance of other people.
As a Creighton student, Fr. Lannon was impressed by the Jesuits, including Fr. Jim Hoff, SJ (later, the president of Xavier University), Fr. Don Doll, SJ and Fr. Dick Hauser, SJ (at whose vigil service Fr. Lannon presided in 2018). Like his parish priest in Mason City, he saw them as “terrific men,” but he wasn’t sure early on in college that he himself was “holy enough” to be a priest.
Yet, after graduating in 1973 and working as a Chicago-based representative for Creighton Admissions, he entered the Jesuit order. He would go on to work as assistant principal for academics at Marquette University High School, and after theology studies, was ordained in 1986 and served as the 28th president of Prep from 1988-1995.
“At those turning points — becoming an administrator at Marquette High and president of Prep — I did not feel fully prepared to take on those positions,” noted Fr. Lannon. “But the Jesuits who asked me to do so saw leadership qualities in me, for then and now, when I did not think I was ready.”
Fr. Lannon went on to a sterling career in leadership, first in administrative roles at Marquette University then as president at both Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and Creighton University. After that, he directed formation efforts for the Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus and was treasurer for the organization before returning to Omaha last summer.
“It’s such a privilege to be back,” he observed. “While most of my time is spent serving my fellow Omaha Jesuits while living at the new Jérôme Nadal, SJ Jesuit Residence at Creighton, I am glad to be of help at Prep, too — another place that has meant so much to me and another community where I truly have friends for a lifetime.”
Prep was outstanding in challenging me to be ready for college, especially in the science area. My chemistry teacher Mrs. (Sara) Smith and my ecology teacher Mr. (Patrick) Poskochil pushed me a lot but were always super supportive.
Also, the friendships you get from Prep are outstanding, very genuine and strong. Everyone really enjoys talking to each other and caring for each other, and I think that makes Prep super special.
My older brothers (Nathan Sitti ‘14 and Michael Sitti ‘19) went to Prep, and once I learned more about the brotherhood and how close everyone is, I was pretty excited to go there for high school.
A lot of my classes at Prep prepared me very well for college, like my math classes with Mr. (Andrew) Fisher (‘08), including honors algebra. I wasn’t a star student in that class, but he helped me a lot, and I thought it was great.
Much of college for me was making sure I did my assignments on time, and I was beyond prepared to really go through every assignment and do things on time.
I felt very, very prepared for college because of my time at Prep. One class in particular that really set me straight was AP U.S. History with Mr. (Tom) Haindfield.
It was a class where complete attention was required at all times. And the way I developed my note-taking and just paying attention during a lecture are skills
I had some teachers at Prep who really forced me to become a better student. It had to be Prep’s standard, which is nothing but your best. That prepared me for college, because now when I write an essay for my college English class, I know what it means to be an A student and put in that effort.
We were also bonded by this really unique, niche experience through stuff like Freshman Retreat and Junior Encounter, which get you connected with people you never thought you’d be connected with. And the staff really cares for you.
An unforgettable weekend for the 5-to-45-year reunion classes began on Friday, June 6 with golf for many at the Benson or Johnny Goodman courses and lunch for others in the Carta Hall of Fame Room at Prep. As the afternoon turned to evening, the classes then met at a number of separate locations around Omaha for stag parties.
On Saturday, the alumni were treated to a Campus Celebration at Prep, complete with pancakes from The Pancake Man, the 5th Annual Creighton Prep Car Show, activities for their kids if they brought them, and school tours. Late afternoon Mass in the Skinner Chapel then dinner in the Sullivan Center put the exclamation point on their class reunions.
“Thanks to the CP alumni team for putting our recent reunion together,” said Marty McCaslin ‘80. “It’s fun to reconnect with a group of people with whom we have a unique and noteworthy connection. Prep has had far-reaching impacts on our lives, and reunions allow us to remember and give thanks for that.”
His classmate John Sealey ‘80 added, “I am already encouraging some classmates who weren’t able to come this year to mark their calendar for CP ‘80’s 50th.”
The work by Director of Alumni Relations Mike Beacom ‘85 to help plan and follow through on his own reunion also drew rave reviews from classmates Sam Billig ‘85 and Tom McGargill ‘85, who used “great” and “fantastic” to describe it.
While passing along his thanks for the work that went into making the weekend happen, Rich McGowan ‘95 noted, “I feel blessed to have gone to such a wonderful school with good people. Fr. Spotts’s homily was impactful for me and reminded me of why I liked Jesuit spirituality so much. Also reconnected with a lot of my classmates. Everyone seemed to be doing well, and some of that undoubtedly is due to our time at Prep.”
Next year, Reunion Weekend for the alumni classes with graduation years ending in “1” and “6” is scheduled for June 5-6, 2026. See you there!
A big Creighton Prep thank you goes out to everyone who planned and participated in the jubilarian reunion for the class of 1975 that took place May 16-18. It was a great turnout and a truly memorable event from start to finish.
On Friday, May 16, the reunion started for some on the Miracle Hills golf course and, for others, at a lunch and well-received tour of the newly expanded Joslyn Art Museum, guided by fi ne a rts teacher Jeremy Caniglia ‘88. Later that day, the guys headed to west Omaha for their stag party.
As he and his classmates were gathering at the stag party for a class photo, Bill Jurgensen ‘75 graciously gave thanks to Director of Alumni Relations Mike Beacom ‘85 for the work he did to plan their reunion, which drew a round of applause from all in attendance.
“The chance to reconnect with my fellow classmates that night and learn about their journeys these past 50 years was truly inspiring,” said Gerry Tomka ‘75. “While I’m not quite sure how these past 50 years have gone by so quickly, I do know that I will be forever
grateful that I was blessed to have received a Jesuit education at both Prep and Creighton. I want to thank Mike Beacom and the entire Prep team that made our 50-year reunion so incredibly remarkable.”
The schedule on Saturday included a walk through the newly renovated RiverFront in downtown Omaha followed by a return to Prep that afternoon for an open house, school tours, a class Mass and dinner in the Sullivan Center for the guys and their guests.
On Sunday, a light breakfast reception in the Lannon Learning Commons was held before the ' 75 class members walked the stage in the Heider Center to receive their jubilarian diplomas at Graduation 2025.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the reunion,” Steve Powell ‘75 remarked. “I think the planners did an outstanding job of providing a variety of venues for us to reconnect, which was the best part of the event.”
Attention, class of 1976! Your jubilarian reunion is coming up fast on May 15-17, 2026. Mark your calendars now!
On April 26, Creighton Prep’s BASH 2025 set sail on an unforgettable voyage, anchored in brotherhood and powered by the unwavering support of our community. The evening brought together friends, alumni and benefactors for a celebration that raised vital funds for tuition assistance and educational opportunities. Thanks to the generosity of those who participated, more than 1,000 young men will continue to benefit from the transformative experience of a Jesuit education at Prep.
Over the past three years — 2022, 2023 and 2024 — BASH has consistently surpassed $1 million in gross revenue. This year, for the first time in the event’s 55-year history, BASH 2025 netted over $1 million for tuition assistance at Creighton Prep.
"We made history,” said Amy Knight, director of events at Creighton Prep. “I'm so thankful for our BASH 2025 Executive Committee, our dedicated volunteers and the incredible generosity of our community. Their continued support makes this achievement possible."
Fr. Matt Spotts, SJ, opened the evening with three stories that captured the missiondriven excellence at Prep: fine arts students earning over 25 percent of state awards while representing less than 1 percent of the state’s high school population; the wrestling team winning its first state title and choosing to skip
a key competition so team members could attend Freshman Retreat; and the robotics team — already ranked in the world top 10 — rebuilding their robot to place fourth at the world championship, driven by a desire to grow and strive for the magis.
Phillip Ofafa ’25 then took the stage to share his personal journey at Creighton Prep. He spoke about the critical role tuition assistance has played in making his education possible, emphasizing that without the generosity of donors and events like BASH, Prep may have not happened for him. Phillip also reflected on the lasting friendships that he has formed, his memories from the soccer field, winning state championships and playing basketball with his friends at lunch. His words moved the audience to a standing ovation as he exited the stage.
The evening continued with bidding and an enthusiastic wave of raised paddles, propelling Prep’s mission forward. The night wrapped up on a high note with a performance by the beloved faculty and staff band, The Retakes.
The remarkable success of the 55th annual BASH was made possible thanks to our generous sponsors, auction donors, attendees, families, friends, underwriters and volunteers. Thank you once again for being part of BASH 2025 and helping Creighton Prep students stay on course toward a bright and promising future.
It was a picture-perfect Sunday afternoon on April 6, as the Creighton Prep community gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the newly renovated track and field complex. Under a clear sky and warm spring sun, generations of track and field athletes and Prep fans honored a program rich in tradition and welcomed in a new era of athletic excellence.
Alumni, families, students and supporters from across Omaha attended not only to see the upgraded facility but to be part of a milestone moment in Prep’s track and field program. The new track stands as a symbol of the athleticism, grit and hard work that have defined the program for decades.
“This track holds so many memories,” said Myles Jackson ‘24 . “The wins, the losses, the grueling practices … I’ll probably be finding sand in my socks for years. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Young athletes and future Jr. Jays had the opportunity to participate in a variety of fun, family-friendly activities, including soccer, lacrosse and timed track events tailored for the little ones. A bounce house added to the
excitement, while a Jay Mart pop-up shop and ice cream and coffee trucks gave everyone plenty to enjoy.
One of the most touching moments of the day was the chance for guests to take home a unique piece of Prep history. Small bottles filled with cinders from the original track were given out — a symbolic gesture blending the legacy of the old with the promise of the new.
“The greatest thing about track and field is how it brings everyone together and gives every student a place to belong,” said Fr. Matt Spotts, SJ, president of Creighton Prep. “It’s a huge part of what makes the Prep community so special.”
Creighton Prep’s new track and field facility isn’t just an upgrade in infrastructure; it’s a tribute to all those who came before and a commitment to the next generation of athletes.
Head coach Dan Tietjen spoke to the future: “I want to host meets, build our community and bring even more people to our campus. This is just the beginning.”
29, 2025
On Wednesday, January 29 about 70 students gathered for the Unity Breakfast, an event aimed at bringing together diverse groups within the school community. The goal was to build relationships, promote collaboration and foster a sense of understanding and respect. Students played games, engaged with a guest speaker and connected over the themes of history, hope and unity. The breakfast served as a meaningful reminder of the importance of working together to create a more inclusive and equitable environment for all.
JANUARY 31, 2025
Congratulations to the following Jay Journal staff members who were honored in the Journalism Education Association's Winter Contest:
Drew Balus '26 received a Superior Rating in Feature Photography and Action Photography.
Nate Feldman '27 received an Honorable Mention Rating in Column Writing.
Xander Jochim '25 received an Honorable Mention Rating in Feature Photography.
Hank McGill '25 received a Superior Rating in Column Writing.
Ethan Steele '26 received an Excellent Rating in Action Photography.
Creighton Prep students participated in the prestigious Harvard Model Congress in Boston from February 20-23, joining over 1,500 delegates in the world’s largest congressional simulation. Our students represented Prep with distinction in policy debates and government simulations.
Congratulations to Jay Anthony ‘25, Daniel Ayoub ‘27, Michael Ayoub ‘25, Gavin Balanay ‘27, Christian Bowman ‘25, Tony D'Agosto ‘25, Tomas Elvir ‘25, Lincoln Frankenfield ‘25, Diego Gómez-Zamora ‘25, Baron Henderson ‘27, Ethan Holzapfel ‘25, Connor Juracek ‘25 , Kuek Kuek ‘27, Raan Kuek ‘25 , Owen Limpach ‘25 , Alastair Mansfield ‘25, Cameron Mathis ‘25, Alex Miller ‘25, Nolan Mueller ‘27, Carson Mumby ‘25, Beckett Navratil ‘25, Matthew O'Meara ‘25, Charles Petro ‘27, Isaac Smith ‘25 and Noah Weber ‘25
MARCH 7, 2025
Three Creighton Prep Students Accepted into the Growing Home 2025-26 Cohort
Three Creighton Prep students were selected for the prestigious Growing Home 2025-26 Cohort: Diego Gómez-Zamora '25, Ezekiel Lam '25 and Joseph Resendiz de Alba '25 Growing Home is a mentorship program through the Greater Omaha Chamber designed to help students that identify as
Black, Indigenous or a Person of Color (BIPOC) build a professional network, find internships and explore careers in Omaha while they earn their degrees, either in or out of state. Through this program, students build a strong network in Omaha, connecting with professionals and opportunities that can help launch their careers.
APRIL 14, 2025
Congratulations to Gavin Balanay '27 and Andrew O’Connor '25 on being recognized by the Nebraska Department of Education for their achievements in the Spanish language. Both were nominated for awards by their world language teacher Mrs. Gwen Fisher.
Gavin was recognized with the Student Language Spotlight Award for his project that creatively combined his cultural identity, outstanding Spanish language skills and passion for art, and Andrew was recognized with the Distinguished World Language Scholar Award for being a leader in language learning, the commitment to the study of that language, competence in communicating it and appreciating cultural diversity.
APRIL 14, 2025
Congratulations to Jake Brock '27 (football), Logan Burchfiel '25 (baseball), Thomas Kelley '26 (golf), Cam Newton '25 (swimming) and Joe Novero '26 (wrestling) on being named All-Americans by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
“All of the student-athletes earning the NSCA All-American honors have demonstrated their dedication and hard work through our strength and conditioning program to elevate their athletic performance,” said Director of Strength and Conditioning Trent Clausen.
APRIL 14, 2025
Congratulations to Joshua Mammen '25, Lochlann Noble '26 and Anthony Wellwood '27 of the Creighton Prep speech team on qualifying for the National Individual Events Tournament of Champions (NIETOC) in Kansas City on May 16-18.
NIETOC is a national speech competition that brings together tournament champions from high schools across the country. Joshua, Lochlann and Anthony all earned their bids to nationals by placing as finalists in at least two speech competitions throughout this season, with Joshua qualifying in the Extemporaneous Speaking event and Lochlann and Anthony qualifying in the Persuasive Speaking event.
APRIL 14, 2025
Ethics Bowl Team Finishes in the Top Eight Nationally
Congratulations to the Creighton Prep National High School Ethics Bowl (NHSEB) team, which completed a super season at nationals. They finished in the top eight out of the 24 teams that qualified for the event and the more than 400 teams that competed for the opportunity to go to nationals from regional competition. They were also the first team from Nebraska to qualify for nationals. The Prep team at nationals included seniors Diego Gomez Zamora '25, and Alex Miller '25, junior Jacob Feuerbach '26, sophomore Samuel Shakir '27 and freshmen Kody Kody '28 and Jeremiah Reed '28
APRIL 25, 2025
Prep Wins Two State Titles in the Nebraska Economics Challenge
Three teams from Creighton Prep qualified for and competed in the Nebraska Economics Challenge state competition at the Omaha Branch of the Kansas City Federal Reserve.
More than 1,000 Nebraska students took the qualifying exam. There were two divisions: Adam Smith (students who have taken an AP economics class) and David Ricardo (students who have not taken an AP economics class). Prep won state in both divisions.
Leo Owen '25, Thomas Pedersen '25, Jacob Ruby '25 and Oliver Troshynski '25 earned the State Champion title in the David Ricardo division.
Michael Ayoub '25, Giuseppe DeGeorge '25, Daniel Wessling '25 and Eli Whitcomb '25 earned the State Champion title in the Adam Smith division.
Jack Plambeck '25, Hank McGill '25, Luke McGill '25 and Evan Schalley '25 also competed in the Adam Smith division. Congratulations, gentlemen.
MAY 3, 2025
Academic Decathlon Team is 11th at Nationals
Congratulations to the Academic Decathlon team on their 11th place finish in Division III at nationals, where they completed a great season also highlighted by a January win at regionals and the Nebraska state title in February. Medalists at nationals included Patrick Bosilevac ’25, Julius Bovick ’27, Ryan Eichele ’25, Cameron Mathis ’25 and Burke Wissman ’28
MAY 9, 2025
Concert Band and Jazz Collective Shine at Kansas City Festival
Congratulations to the CP Concert Band and the CP Jazz Collective on their Excellent ratings at the Music in the Parks Festival held at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City.
The Jazz Collective placed second in their division, and the Concert Band was first place in Class AA High School Bands.
MAY 9, 2025
Congratulations to the following students on earning the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy, which recognizes their high level of proficiency in English and at least one other language, in this case Spanish:
Gold Award: Christian Bowman '25, Diego Gómez-Zamora '25, Andrew Lawler '25 and Gavin Liewer '25
Silver Award: Luke Decher '25, Joseph Marar '25, Colton Nelson '25 and Andrew O’Connor '25
In addition, these students were also the first Prep students to earn the Global Seal of Biliteracy, which is symbolic of their great proficiency in both languages.
MAY 16, 2025
Mr. Bill Kleber ‘98 Wins Athletic Trainer of the Year Award!
Congratulations to Creighton Prep Athletic Trainer Mr. Bill Kleber ‘98 on winning the 2025 George F. Sullivan Athletic Trainer of the Year Award.
The George F. Sullivan Athletic Trainer of the Year Award is given to an athletic trainer in Nebraska who has excelled in the promotion and improvement of the athletic training profession while working as an athletic trainer.
Mr. Kleber was recognized at the Summer Education Conference for the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers’ Association on Friday, June 6.
MAY 16, 2025
Fine Arts Students’ Work in 2025 Omaha Catholic High Schools Art Show
Congratulations to the following 12 student artists whose work was selected for display in the 2025 Omaha Catholic High Schools Art Show that took place in May in the hallway gallery at Hot Shops Art Center at 1301 Nicholas Street:
Gavin Balanay '27, Michael Dixon '25, Thatcher Gibson '25, William Hogan '26, Nathaniel Kramer '25, Joseph McKernan '25, Sebastian Mendick '25, Paschal Moo '28, Jeremiah Morrissey '26, Andrew Tran '25, Caleb Weeks '25 and Oliver Wong '27.
Denmark-based Mellemgaard Publishing has released the book “Kamchatka Khronicle: A Tale of Two Natural Scientists on the Vitus Bering Expedition of 1741-42,” authored by Allan Vorda ‘66. During the expedition, both scientists made important discoveries that contributed to the understanding of plant life in the Bering Sea area. The book is available on Amazon and Kindle.
Creighton Prep was well-represented at the 7th Annual Omaha Sports Commission Awards Show on Thursday, May 29 as former Prep, Notre Dame and NFL great Junior Bryant ‘89 and former Prep, Stanford and MLB star Kyle Peterson ‘94 were inducted as part of the Omaha Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025. In addition, current math teacher and head wrestling coach Andrew Fisher ‘08 was nominated for Male Coach of the Year after a season in which the Prep wrestling team won the Class A state wrestling championship for the first time in school history.
Vince Vigneri ‘94 is the chief development officer for Cordova and is responsible for creating a network of franchisees for the company’s work in technical staffing and custom IT software solutions.
Michael Sloan ‘95 has written the book “Unlocking Talents: The Hidden Strengths that Build Extraordinary Teams and Cultures.” It discusses the intangible characteristics in people that can be critical to the success of organizations, and it is available on Amazon. Michael also reports that his time at Prep has always shaped the path of his “life and career,” and that he still considers his 1995 classmates his “best friends and family.”
On February 7 of this year, the Dallas Cowboys announced the hiring of Conor Riley ‘98 as their new offensive line coach. Before his appointment to the Cowboys, Conor was the offensive coordinator for the Kansas State Wildcats and, prior to that, the offensive line coach at North Dakota State University.
Mike Knockenhauer ‘98 is a founding partner and the chief executive officer at V/SPEED, a leading provider of advanced, high-speed aerial cinematography. V/SPEED’s rise to prominence in the film business was also the subject of a feature story in the May 2025 issue of Omaha Magazine.
Mike Addy ‘99 works in sales for Great Plains Communications and is a fourthgeneration member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the international association of Irish Catholic men. Mike reports that there are many Prep alumni involved in the Omaha-based Fr. Flanagan Division, which focuses its charitable work on the underserved, especially those experiencing food insecurity.
Correction: In the Alumni Updates: Here & There section of the Winter 20242025 Creighton Prep magazine, Tariq Khan’s class year was listed incorrectly as ‘19 when it should have been ‘91. We apologize for the error.
Joe Wall ‘00 works as a managing director and head of U.S. government affairs and public policy for BlackRock, one of the world’s largest investment firms. He was also profiled this year in a special issue of Washingtonian magazine that featured “The 500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy.”
Jim Huerter III ‘07 was recently promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer at Security National Bank. In his new role, he will retain his position as the organization’s Nebraska market president
Brett Berger ‘15 received his Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with honors from Bellevue University and is working at Omaha Insomnia and Psychiatric Services.
David Brown ‘15 is the director of operations for a member of Congress and is the lead staffer in the office for the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy and Regulatory Affairs. He also coached at the annual Congressional Baseball Game for charity held on Wednesday, June 11 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
Brian “Bee” Kelly ‘16 won the 2025 Lightning 100 Music City Mayhem competition in Nashville, an event that spotlights rising musical talent.
John Bullock ‘19 signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent following a standout career at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Broc Evitch ‘22 is an assistant powerlifting coach at Prep and recently won first place at the International Powerlifting Federation World Bench Press Championship in Drammen Norway. During the competition, Broc completed a 501.5 lb. bench press in the 265 lb. weight class.
Alex Martinez ‘22 is studying classical guitar performance at the University of
Nebraska Omaha and had a recital in the Skinner Chapel at Prep on Thursday, March 20 that honored the works of great composers such as Fernando Sor, Johann Sebastian Bach, Heitor Villa-Lobos and Enrique Granados.
CharMar Brown ‘23 is heading to the University of Miami to play football as a running back after transferring from North Dakota State University. As the freshman player of the year in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision, CharMar received the 2024 Jerry Rice Award and earned spots on multiple freshman allA merican teams.
Kade Sammons ‘23 was recently named president of Sigma Phi Epsilon at The University of Kansas.
C OLIN MAHONEY ‘21 ON LIFE AS THE NOTRE
As the Notre Dame Leprechaun, Colin Mahoney ‘21 brought energy to football games, pep rallies and national TV. But before he was rallying 80,000 fans, he was leading the Birdcage at Creighton Prep.
“Prep doesn’t hold back,” Colin said. “Academically, it prepared me really well for Notre Dame. The teachers genuinely cared and pushed me to grow.” He pointed to TJ Fyfe ‘99’s honors biology, Greg Glenn ‘70’s U.S. history and his theology courses as standouts. “Rita Hermann was incredibly supportive,” he added, noting that Freshman Retreat had a lasting impact on his preparation for college.
Mark Bausch ‘24 is studying in the College of Science at the University of Notre Dame. On February 22 of this year, a paper he co-authored that is titled “A Comprehensive Review on Utilizing Human Brain Organoids to Study Neuroinflammation in Neurological Disorders” was published in the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology.
Dillon Claussen ‘24 is a student-athlete at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas and helped the basketball team reach the national semifinals of the 2025 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament. Covering the Ichabods for the Topeka Capital-Journal has been sportswriter Liam Keating ‘17.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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Leading spirit events at Prep gave him early experience with crowd engagement. “Notre Dame is actually similar to Prep, just bigger," Colin remarked. “At Prep, we figured out how to get students to games and build culture. Now I do the same, just on a national scale.”
The role of Leprechaun goes beyond game day hype: it includes practices, lifting and community service. “We’re ambassadors for the university,” he said.
His favorite moment? “This year’s Orange Bowl,” he replied without hesitation. “Down to the wire, the kick to win it. Unreal.” But what made it even more special was sharing it with his younger brother Riley Mahoney ‘23. “He was there for all the home games as one of the Notre Dame cheerleaders. It was like being back at Prep again football, basketball, Habitat for Humanity. Watching him grow, sharing that experience, it’s a whole other bond.”
Outside of the stadium, Colin served as president of the Notre Dame Investment Club, managing more than $1.4 million and organizing a national stock pitch competition. He also served on the Student Athlete Advisory Council and led community service efforts.
Now headed to Chicago for a career in credit investing,
Colin said Prep laid the foundation. “You pick up real skills like public speaking, leadership and thinking on your feet. And it all started by putting myself out there both at Prep and Notre Dame.”
His advice to current Prep students: “Don’t wait. Make it known you want to be involved and show people you care.”
What started as a Christmas gift turned into a fullblown business for Andreas Katsaounis ‘2 4 When his family got an expensive pickleball paddle, it sparked a simple question: Why so expensive? That curiosity, mixed with his entrepreneurial spirit, led Andreas to create Alpha Omega Pickleball, a brand he launched in December 2023 as a senior at Prep.
“I started doing research on paddle materials and design,” Andreas said. “I realized there was a space for high-quality gear that didn’t cost a fortune.”
He spent his junior and senior years at Prep testing paddle prototypes and building his brand, starting right in photography class. “I shot my first product photos at Prep,” he said. “We set up lights in the studio, and those photos became my first Instagram post and the images on my website.” He also designed the logo himself. “I drew it on my school iPad during Mr. Caniglia’s art class. It’s based on the Alpha and Omega, which connects to both my Greek heritage and my Christian faith.”
Now a business administration major at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Andreas balances classes with running Alpha Omega. He’s part of multiple entrepreneurship programs, including Clifton Builders, and serves as president of the UNL Pickleball Club. “People think being an entrepreneur means freedom, but it’s a lot of
responsibility. I check emails, ship orders and go to class. It’s nonstop.”
He recently placed third in UNL’s New Venture Competition, winning $10,000. “That was one of my proudest moments,” he noted. “Pitching in front of a big audience and seeing the judges respond to my work was surreal.”
Outside of product development, Andreas sponsors pickleball tournaments and even owns a pro team, the Vipers, that competes at the Midwest Pickleball Club. “Meeting pros and getting Alpha Omega paddles into shops has been really rewarding,” he said. “I even met University of Nebraska-Lincoln head football coach Matt Rhule at a concert and gave him one of my paddles.”
His advice to Prep students thinking about starting a business? “Start with something you actually enjoy. It’s still hard work, but it makes the grind worth it. And when things don’t go as planned, trust that God’s plan is even better.”
Former Creighton Prep President Fr. Tom Merkel, SJ, ‘03-‘12 is pictured here, presenting the St. Ignatius Medal to Pope Francis in October 2024 as part of the Gregorian University Foundation Colloquium in Rome. Also presented to Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda and Monsignor William Millea, the St. Ignatius Medal is given in recognition of the support shown for the Pontifical Gregorian University’s role in educating the future leaders of the Catholic Church
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WE ARE CP!
On Wednesday, April 2, Creighton Prep welcomed donors and students to the second annual Scholarship Appreciation Breakfast in the Henry L. Sullivan, SJ Campus Center. The event provided a meaningful opportunity for donors to see firsthand the lasting impact their generosity has on the lives of Prep students. For many who have established endowed scholarships, the commitment goes far beyond financial support. It represents a legacy of love, remembrance and purpose.
“Meeting the students makes this impact come to life for our donors,” said Fr. Matt Spotts, SJ, president of Creighton Prep. “They get a glimpse of what we see every single day at Prep: talented young men who are growing into the gifts God gave them and ready to set the world on fire."
“Our donors aren’t just supporting a scholarship; they’re investing in the life of a student,” said Fr. Spotts. “This breakfast gives them a glimpse into the transformative growth we witness daily as students uncover their God-given talents and begin to discern how they will use them in service to others.”
Throughout the morning, donors and students engaged in heartfelt conversations and shared stories over breakfast, forming connections that brought to life the purpose behind each scholarship. Fr. Spotts opened the event with a message of gratitude, followed by senior Daniel Wessling '25, who shared how scholarship support helped shape his Prep journey.
“Prep has provided me with countless opportunities to grow in confidence, service and leadership,”said Daniel, who will attend Vanderbilt University in the fall. “Your generosity allows students like me to focus on learning and giving back without the weight of financial stress. You’re not just helping us attend Prep, you’re helping us become the people we’re meant to be.”
“I'm constantly inspired by the conversations I have with our scholarship benefactors,” said Sarah Schmitt, vice president of advancement. “Each one has a unique story or reason for giving, and hearing those motivations reminds me just how meaningful their support truly is.”
In 2025, 200, students were impacted by the support of endowed scholarships, making a preparatory education possible for all of them. Endowed scholarships are essential because they keep the legacies of the Creighton Prep community strong while ensuring that the future of a Prep education is within reach for generations to come.
The Scholarship Appreciation Breakfast is a reminder that every endowed scholarship changes a life. Behind each one is a story of hope, love and belief in a young man's potential, and the transformative power of a Jesuit education.
ANOTHER GREAT CHAPTER IN CREIGHTON PREP SPORTS HISTORY WAS WRITTEN BY OUR COACHES AND STUDENTATHLETES IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR. Highlights included the first ever team state wrestling title for Prep; state runner-up finishes for the hockey, swimming & diving and trapshooting teams; district titles in golf, soccer and wrestling; and Metro Conference championships in soccer, swimming & diving and wrestling.
1ST // METRO CONFERENCE
2 ND // STATE (27th Top 2 state finish since 1993)
State champions:
200 Medley Relay (1:32.40 - All-American consideration time): Mason Collier ’26, Cam Newton ’25, Evan Niemeyer ’25, Ryan Mendlick ‘25
400 Free Relay (3:06.53 - All-American consideration time): Ryan Mendlick ’25, Tommy Sewell ’25, Henry Grosshans ’27, Austin Lewis ‘25
200 IM: Ryan Mendlick ’25 (1:50.46 - All-American consideration time)
100 Freestyle: Ryan Mendlick ’25 (45.19 - All-American consideration time)
All-State: Charlie Dombrowski '26, Zack Hill '25, Liam Smithberg '26
State Player of the Year: Zack Hill '25
Individual state qualifier: Alex Stohler ‘29 State Runner-Up 24-2-2
Metro Conference
New school weight class records: 123 lb. deadlift, 132 lb. deadlift, 132 lb. squat and 148 lb. squat New state weight class record: 132 lb. deadlift
Adonis Bonar II '25 (190 lb.)
National-level tournament titles: KC Stampede Wrestling Tournament (Missouri), Rumble on the Red Wrestling Championships (North Dakota) and the Rocky Welton Invitational (Kansas)
TRAPSHOOTING
PREP BLUE: 2nd place in high overall state competition
PREP WHITE: 5th place in high overall state competition
Individual
All Conference: John
State qualifiers: Fifteen student-athletes qualified for state
State champion: Ethan Laux '26, 110-meter high hurdles
School records broken: 300-meter intermediate hurdles, long jump VARSITY | RECORD
John F. Bartek ‘54 brother of Methodius ‘51, father of Daniel ‘92, Thomas ‘92, grandfather of Joseph McCaslin ‘15
Fielding W. Beeler ‘51 grandfather of John Huerter ’05, great-grandfather of Nolan Mueller ‘27
James L. Bennett ‘64
John C. Bjelland ‘63 brother of Andrew ‘57
Daniel P. Blair ‘86
Charles R. Caniglia ’63 brother of Robert ‘72
Robert J. Carmichael ‘67 brother of William ‘63, Richard ‘65†
Jack R. Cavaleri ‘64 (03/28/2024)
James E. Cobry ‘49 (03/19/2024)
Robert N. Conklin Jr. ‘57 (02/21/2024)
Dennis R. Connor ‘65 brother of James ‘54†, Terrence ‘57†
Charles F. Convery ‘51 brother of Daniel ‘65
John J. Daly ‘51 (08/26/2022)
William L. Dasovic ‘57 brother of Joseph ‘54
David J. Flynn ‘60
William H. Fogarty ‘50 son of Hugh ‘24†, brother of John ‘55, James ‘63
James E. Fuller ‘66 (12/05/2023) brother of Thomas ‘70
Raymond F. Gehringer ‘52, brother of Robert ‘40†, Donald ‘54
Thomas J. Goodman ‘59 (02/28/2024)
Matthew W. Gress ‘87 brother of John ‘90
William J. Guinan ‘66 (05/16/24) brother of James ‘82
David D. Haney ‘59 brother of Russell ‘56†, Ronald ‘57†, Gerald ‘60
Michael F. Hansen ‘64 brother of John ‘58
Thomas J. Hazuka ’56 brother of Bernard ‘51†, David ‘62
Richard M. Hobza ‘70 brother of James ‘66, Matthias ‘71, Jude ‘73
Michael F. Kelly ‘64
brother of Robert ‘58†, grandfather of Noah Meysenburg ’19, Samuel Meysenburg ’21, Ben Meysenburg ‘25
Steven W. Ketteler ‘65 brother of Gary ‘66
John R. Klein ‘85 son of Robert ‘51†
Clyde D. Knoblauch ’64
father of Clyde ‘89, Matthew ‘90, grandfather of Royal Jaymeson ‘26
Thomas J. Kocarnik ‘61 grandson of Frances 1899†, son of John ‘32†, brother of John ‘66†, father of Jay ‘88
Dale J. Kuker ‘55
John O. Lieben ‘62 brother of Peter ‘61
Michael E. Liebentritt ‘63
brother of Arthur ‘52, Richard ‘56, George ‘63
Richard A. Lombardo ’65 brother of William ‘59†, Thomas ‘66
Donald J. Mangan ‘49
brother of Richard ‘45†, father of Christopher ‘81, Craig ‘88, grandfather of Maxwell ‘22, Charles ‘24
Leo J. McCarthy ‘57
Dennis D. McGonigal ‘62
Richard G. McGuire, OSCO ‘44 (05/24/20)
brother of Terence ‘45, Michael ‘49†, Lawrence ‘48†
Michael A. Montello ‘63
Thomas L. Moran ‘57 (04/19/2024)
brother of Donnell ‘55†
James E. Murphy ’66 (12/09/23)
son of Daniel ‘33†, brother of Daniel ‘64, John ‘71†, Robert ‘73
John L. Murphy ’71 (07/11/2022)
son of Daniel ‘33†, brother of Daniel ‘64, James ‘71†, Robert ‘73
James F. Novotny ‘56 brother of Joseph ‘55†, Thomas ‘63†
Carl John Nussrallah Jr. ’79 brother of Thomas ‘85
Thomas J. O’Connor ’78
brother of William ‘68, Michael ‘74
Mark S. O’Neill ‘72, brother of Robert ‘77†
John D. Pistillo Jr. ‘61
brother of Michael ’68, Donald ‘73, father of Matthew ‘90†, Thomas ‘94
Rodney J. Pfeifer ‘66
George E. Pongruber ’65 (06/10/23)
Edward L. Powers ‘74 brother of John ‘65, Daniel ‘67†, Vincent ‘71, James ‘76
Michael J. Pritchard ‘60 father of Brian ‘92
Kevin J. Purcell ‘73 brother of Thomas ‘67, father of Sean ‘99, Kevin ‘03, Brian ‘05
Richard G. Raymer ‘67
Robert E. Ringo ‘71 (04/10/2024)
J. Thomas Rogers ‘72 brother of Richard ’75, Timothy ‘78
Cletus A. Roh ‘46
Robert E. Rohling ‘78 son of Robert ‘46†, brother of Thomas ‘81
George T. Ryan ’57 brother of James ‘55†, John ‘63
Daniel F. Schafer ‘66
Robert J. Semin ‘56 (04/16/2024)
brother of Frank ‘51†, Harold ‘61
John F. Smolen ‘64 father of James ‘00
Edward C. Snawerdt ’62 son of Peter ‘33†
Matthew C. Snow ‘87 (04/03/2024)
Clarence W. Stessman ‘57, brother of Theodore ‘48†
J. Jerome Stoner ‘67
Robert F. Sutter ‘50
Donald F. Sutton ‘45 father of Michael ‘67, Daniel ‘76
Charles F. Tvrdik ‘50
James E. Vlach ’55 brother of Charles ‘53†
David A. Wesely ‘75
Theron M. Williams ‘65 (09/12/2024) son of Theron ‘40†
Mary Virginia Bruning wife of Phillip ‘66, mother of Brian ‘87
Angelita Conant wife of Thomas ‘67
Mariellen Costello widow of Stephen ‘54†, mother of Timothy ‘78, Brian ‘79, Michael ‘79, Mark ‘81, Christopher ‘87, grandmother of Anthony ‘03, Stephen ‘06, Michael ‘11, Daniel ‘17
Julie S. Cunningham wife of William ‘78, mother of Dustin ‘11
Virginia Fischer wife of Daniel ‘61
Shirley M. Good wife of Lawrence ‘69
Carol L. Houlton widow of James ‘50†, mother of Donald ‘79
Linda L. Jankowski wife of James ‘67, mother of Matthew ‘91, Mark ‘96
Mary V. Kelly widow of Gerard ‘48†, mother of Thomas ‘82, Paul ‘85, grandmother of Peter ‘18, Joseph ‘25, Leo ‘27
Shirley B. Kenney widow of Emmett ‘48†, mother of Emmett ‘78
Sally J. Kiper wife of John ‘62
Jean Krejci widow of John ‘55†
Virginia J. Little widow of Aloysius ‘37†
Judith M. McDonald wife of Thomas ‘62
Mary A. McDonnell widow of Joseph ‘49†
Corilee C. Meidlinger wife of Charles ‘59
Deborah L. Mitilier wife of Terry ‘68, mother of Jared ‘93
Katie A. Mullen
daughter of Dennis Hogan Jr. ‘40†, wife of Sean ‘74, mother of Tyler ‘02, Connor ‘06, Parker ‘08, Peter ‘12, Foster ’13, Spencer ‘16
Rose Ann O’Donnell wife of James ‘47, mother of Timothy ‘76, Gregory ‘84
Susan E. Rensch wife of Sean ‘95
Judith A. Sanders wife of Thomas ‘70
Deborah A. Sledge wife of Joseph ‘91, mother of Nicholas ‘23, Matthew ‘25, Michael ‘27
Dorothy F. Snook (08/06/2024) wife of Roger ‘59
Karen K. Steffen (06/22/2024) wife of James ‘61
Diane M. Stroh wife of Mark ‘75
Myrtle Quinn widow of John ‘44†
Allison A. Welch wife of Lawrence ‘84
William R. Barna brother of George ‘45†, father of William ‘80, Thomas ‘82
Paul F. Blum father of Michael ‘86
Jerry J. Boulay
father of Gregory ‘79, David ‘81†, Mark ‘84, James ‘85, grandfather of Vincent ‘03, John ‘11, Thomas ‘15, Matthew ‘17, James ‘20, Joseph ‘20, Henry ‘21, Peter ‘23, Charles ‘25, August Cripe ‘25, Griffin Cripe ‘27
Michael R. Brown father of Anthony ‘05, Aaron ‘07
Robert G. Campney father of Nicholas ‘98
Lawrence J. Cannon father of Andrew ‘05
Daniel E. Carney father of Thomas ‘82, Daniel ‘85, grandfather of Adam ‘04
Hugh P. Cowdin father of Hugh ‘73, Daniel ‘79, Peter ‘81
William D. Cox father of David ‘06
Britton S. DeWeese father of Gabriel ‘21, Joseph ‘25, Samuel ‘28
Michael A. Donohue father of John ‘02, grandfather of Finn ‘28
John R. Douglas
brother of Richard ‘64†, father of Daniel ‘92, Patrick ‘94, grandfather of John McGill ‘25, Leo McGill ‘26, Edward McGill ‘28
Keith R. Feilmeier father of Matthew ‘05
Jeffrey R. Funke father of Connor ‘18
Thomas G. Grandy father of David ‘93
Paul J. Halbur father of Daniel ‘12
Stanley J. Hale father of Andrew ‘90, grandfather of Wilson ‘24
Howard L. Hawks father of Troy ‘90
Thomas Y. Henry (10/16/24) father of Thomas ‘88
Lawrence G. Holtzman father of Robert ‘95
David M. Hoppe father of Jason ‘11
Darrell D. Huss father of Matthew ‘88, Michael ‘91, Travis ‘95
Walter E. Husten father of Paul ‘83†
Lester W. Kardell father of Frank ‘78, Robert ‘84
Courtlund T. Kellogg father of Telund ‘27
Wolfgang F. Maennle father of Abraham ‘89†
Nosrat A. Massih father of John ‘98
Carl A. McCormick (03/01/24) father of Mark ‘79
Patrick T. McGinnis father of John ‘83†, Jeffrey ‘87, Michael ‘93
George R. Mills father of Aaron ‘06, Michael ‘08, Adam ‘12
Donald E. Reiner
father of Jeffrey ‘86, Kevin ‘95, grandfather of Jacob ‘09, Nathan ‘17, Henry ‘28
James A. Reinhardt
father of James ‘83, John ‘95
Joseph Ricceri
father of Joseph ‘75, grandfather of Adam ‘04
John C. Robbins father of Christopher ‘79†, Steven ‘83
Kenneth D. Roth father of Jeffrey ‘72†
Michael H. Sketch father of Michael ‘76, Peter ‘79, James ‘83
Henry F. Sterba father of Christopher ‘79, grandfather of Evan ‘15
Jim W. Tosoni
brother of Daniel ‘63, father of Joseph ‘00, grandfather of Sean Manning ‘27
David L. Warren father of Joseph ‘20
Jeanette Alexander mother of Terrance ‘81, Timothy ‘86
Margaret E. Berger mother of Michael ‘80, grandmother of Christian Butts ‘97
Elizabeth A. Blake, mother of Anthony ‘84, Kevin ‘89, grandmother of Alec Short ‘13
Ida J. Bonofede, mother of Sam ‘65†, grandmother of Joseph Garnett ’10, William Garnett ‘10
Kathleen A. Carlisle mother of Jordan ‘01, David ‘05
Mary Ann Clemens mother of Richard ‘74, grandmother of Ryan Martin ‘12, William Martin ‘14
Mary A. Daly mother of Michael ‘91
Sherry L. Forrest mother of Ryan ‘91
Louise F. Franco mother of James ‘77, grandmother of Joseph Zadina ‘99, Phillip Zadina ‘02, Thomas Laughlin ‘05, John Laughlin ‘07, Joseph ‘09, John Paul ‘11, Michael Laughlin ‘10, Stephen ‘13, James ‘16, Michael ‘24
Joyce E. Fuxa mother of Edward ‘94†
Jeanne Giordano-Smith mother of Spencer ‘18
Ruth A. Harrington mother of Thomas ‘70
Connie L. Heinrich mother of Kevin ‘88, Kenneth ‘91, Korey ‘97†
Patricia J. Jackson mother of Thomas ‘78, Timothy ‘81, grandmother of Christopher Kestel ‘03, Timothy Kestel ‘05
Rozanne M. Kenney mother of Kevin ‘83, Daniel ‘93, grandmother of Isaac ‘21, Jude ‘22, Brendan ‘24, Daniel ‘25
Grace G. Kuhl mother of Steven ‘84, Vincent ‘88
Janet A. La Malfa mother of Alfred ‘98
Rita M. Lohaus mother of Jeffrey ‘74†, Gregory ‘76†, Bernard ’78, Daniel ’80, grandmother of Jeremy ‘07
Ruth E. Lubischer mother of Kevin ‘93, Kyle ‘99
Marilyn J. Mailliard mother of Donald ‘82, Daniel ‘85, grandmother of Andrew Drazdys ‘12
Mary Pat Mockler mother of Richard ‘78, Thomas ‘80, James ‘91
Maria Elena Mora mother of Henry ‘92
Marjie L. Murphy
mother of R. Patrick ‘63, Mitchell ’74, grandmother of Mathieu Lamoureux ’96, Alexander ‘09
Sharron A. Noll mother of Michael ‘85, Eric ‘88
Annabelle Ohlinger
mother of Thomas ‘86, grandmother of Nicholas Grennan ‘00, Dave Grennan ‘01, Stephen Grennan ‘03
Elizabeth A. Priborsky
mother of Robert ‘71, Jeffrey ‘81
Earlene M. Sterba
mother of Christopher ‘79, grandmother of Evan ‘15
Lorraine Stuva
mother of David ‘74†, Glenn ‘80†, Bruce ‘83†, grandmother of Bradley ‘00, Brent ‘03
Bessie J. Svehla
mother of Jeff ‘75, Lance ‘84
Suzann P. Tierney mother of Brent ‘96
Constance W. Tooher
mother of Mark ‘85, Matthew ‘85
Carol A. Walsh
mother of John ‘82, Dennis ‘85, Jeffrey ‘87, grandmother of Timothy Buechler ‘03, Patrick Buechler ‘14, Carter Deras ‘14, Samuel Buechler ‘17, Daniel Deras ‘20, William Buechler ‘21
Kimberly A. Ward
mother of Christopher ‘02, Travis ‘06
Wendy M. Wright mother of Charles Bergman ‘03
Frank J. Batko
son of Frank ‘33†, father of David ‘99, Michael ‘01
Frederick B. Farrell
son of Johnny and Lindsay Farrell, brother of Marcus Hurtz ‘25
Michael Y. O’Brien Jr. (11/27/19)
son of Megan and Michael ‘81, grandson of Thomas ‘53
Sara J. Orsi
daughter of Barbara and Peter ’74, granddaughter of Martin Cannon ‘44†
John K. “Jack” Chedester
Joseph O. Raymer Jr. brother of Richard ‘67†
Mary Anne Vieregger
daughter of Jerome ‘42†, mother of Thomas ‘91, Carl ‘93
To notify Creighton Prep of the passing of a Prep community member, contact Brandis Adams at BAdams@CreightonPrep.org or (402) 548-3804
7400 Western Avenue
Omaha, NE 68114-1878
CreightonPrep.org
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