Odyssey
Spartan Country
Spartans
Climb the Ranks SCHOOL SPIRIT AND ATHLETIC WINS CONTINUE DESPITE LACK OF SPRING SEASON What began as a record-breaking year with three state championships in 2019 concluded with even more accolades despite a global coronavirus pandemic that led to the cancellation of the spring sports season. Winter sports added two more state champions with wrestlers Jacobi Jackson ’21 (285 pounds) and Colton King ’21 (106 pounds), and Spartan basketball (22–7) went undefeated at home with back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in 18 years. With a 6–2 MCC record, the Spartans defeated all four teams at least once in league play. The De Smet Jesuit athletic program was ranked No. 5 in the nation by MaxPreps in February, and named the large-school program of the year by STLhighschoolsports.com in May. “As we closed in on spring and a chance to defend our baseball state title, the only thing that was able to slow down the Spartan train was a global pandemic,” said Athletic Director John Pukala, recollecting soccer and football state championships in the fall. “It was heartbreaking for our athletes to end the school year without competing, especially for our seniors, but we have great hopes for even more success next year. 2019–2020 was DEBBIE HIGGINS
WRESTLING, WITH SUCCESS Two State Champions…and More
4 Odyssey
SUMMER 2020
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STLHIGHSCHO
When Jacobi Jackson (right) won his state title for the Class 4 285-pound weight division, he proudly joined the ranks with his father, Brian Jackson ’85 (above), who won state for De Smet Jesuit in 1985 in the 185-pound weight division.
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Spartan wrestling claimed not one, but two Class 4 state titles at Mizzou Arena this February: Colton King ’21 (right) at 106 pounds (34–1 record), and Jacobi Jackson ’21 (center) at 285 pounds (31–3 record). Jacobi’s victory put him in the record books with his father, Brian Jackson ’85 (far left), who won state for De Smet Jesuit in 1985 in the 185-pound weight division, making them the first father-son pair to win individual state championship titles in the school’s history. With back-to-back seasons boasting state champions, returning seniors Jacobi and Colton, and this year’s seniors (John Fotouhi, Jacob Perez, and Ian Warren) all earning GPAs of 4.0 or higher, Coach Cox looks forward to continued success. “Being able to observe the leadership within our wrestling this year was truly special,” said Dr. Cox. “I was extremely proud of our team both on and off the mat.” State Champion Colton King ’21
