Spartan Country

Spartan Competitors, Spartan

Champions

OVERCOMING SHORTER SEASONS, SMALLER CROWDS, AND QUARANTINES

DEBBIE HIGGINS

Wrestling

Head Coach: Aedryan Cox, @DeSmetWrestling Wrestling finished its season with five state qualifiers, three state placers, and back-to-back State Champion Jacobi Jackson ’21 — who is also the first three-time state finalist in Spartan history and the All-Metro wrestler of the year! Led by Jacobi and fellow seniors Tanner Jackson and Colton King, the team prevailed through a very difficult season. Despite many opportunities being cut short because of COVID-19, our wrestlers had several consistent team and individual showings, including a second place team finish at districts and a fifth place team finish at state.

STL HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

WINTER

Basketball

Head Coach: Kent Williams, @KentWilliams33, @DeSmetBBall Winning De Smet Jesuit’s 33rd basketball district championship — the first in eight years — the Spartans were a mainstay in the top five for STLToday.com’s Top 10 Area Large Schools in a COVID-shortened 22-game season. Winning the Circle 7 Showdown for the third straight year and competing in one of the state’s toughest schedules, the Spartans averaged just under 60 points per game while holding their opponents to 47 points per game. Notable accomplishments included Brian Taylor ’22, first All-State selection since 2013; Jeremiah Walker ’21, 17th player to join our 1,000-point club; Sekou Gassama ’21 setting school records (makes and attempts) scoring 24 points while shooting 17–20 from the free-throw line against Chaminade; and Justin Duff ’23 setting a school record with eight steals vs. Lafayette.

Racquetball

Head Coach: Brendan Giljum, @DeSmetRball The Spartan racquetball squad was young and hungry this year. Thankful to be able to play safely with the pandemic, the young men out-performed even their own expectations against a very tough MOHSRA schedule. Senior leadership set the tone of hard work, and the entire roster grew because of it. Joseph Hartrich ’21 made the 2nd Team All-State while teammates Chris Beason ’22, Cole Schelling ’21, and Drew Weber ’21 earned Honorable Mention All-State.

KEVIN JEFFRIES ’21

Head Coach: Dan Likos ’94, @DeSmetGolf Spartan golf brought home its fifth state championship this year, for the first time since 2003! Led by Drew Hollman ’21 and Blake Skornia ’22 (left), golf had an outstanding season, finishing third at the Bantle, second in Columbia, and first in the district. The team graduates three of its starters and seven of its players, but has players eager to fill the openings and looking to defend their title next year.

Hockey

Head Coach: Chris Durso, @desmethockeystl As the Municipal Division champions and the top seed heading into Mid States Hockey Playoffs, the Spartans advanced to the semifinals, ending their season with a record of 17-4-2. Nick Salthouse ’23 made 1st Team All-Metro and Vito Biondo ’22 (below) made 2nd Team All-Metro.

SPRING

Baseball

Head Coach: Dave Stewart, @DeSmet_Baseball Led by 16 seniors defending their state title, Spartan baseball came on strong at season’s end to make a run in districts, losing in the finals against CBC in extra innings. In MCC All Conference, Kevin Korte ’21 made 1st Team with Sam Cardwell ’23 and Justin Keuss ’21 on 2nd Team.

DAN WATKINS

Inline Hockey

Head Coach: Conrad Deneault ’87, @DeSmetInline The inline program continues to grow, and all three teams had very successful 2021 campaigns! For starters, De Smet Jesuit fielded a team and took home the championship in the Missouri Inline Hockey Association pre-season tournament! A young varsity team finished the regular season 8-6-0-0 and lost an overtime heartbreaker in the playoff quarterfinals. JV had a tremendous regular season at 11-2-1-0, reaching the championship game with a banged-up team and losing an overtime thriller to finish second overall. The C team also had a very strong regular season at 10-3-0-1, losing a hard-fought semifinal playoff game 1-0. The future is bright with all of the returning players!

KYLE STOCKMANN ’21

CHARLIE MATHEWS ’21

JACOB LORIMIER ’22

Lacrosse

Head Coach: Joe Douglas, @DeSmetLacrosse On their run to the state championship, lacrosse finished 12-5, losing to just three opponents by only nine goals. A complete team with no glaring weaknesses, Spartans broke a state streak with their season victory over MICDS (see page 21) before falling to them at state. Seniors like Harry Nardini (above), and captains Nolan Ruder, Connor Clancy, and George Lane commanded the team with their leadership, along with All Conference seniors Jack McCook and Carter Edwards and juniors who stepped up coming off only having a freshman season in 2019. Congratulations to U.S. Lacrosse All-Americans Nolan Ruder ’21 (defense) and Gavin Bomstad ‘22 (attack).

Track and Field

Head Coaches: Michael Russo and Bryan Traughber ’97, @DeSmetTrackXC Returning to competition after a lost season in 2020, the track and field team boasted an exciting group of talented young athletes who turned in one of the most successful seasons in recent history. As one of the smallest schools in Class 5, De Smet Jesuit still finished third in districts (highest finish since 2012) and fifth in sectionals (highest finish in more than 20 years), and it qualified seven different events to the state meet (the most in at least 20 years as well). The team was led by Connor Pohl ’21 and Brendan Harter ’21 (ninth in state high jump), and juniors Curtis Mayes, Caleb Key, Khalid Stewart, and Peter Hentges. Athletes with notable individual state meet performances also include Christian Gray ’23 (10th in 200 m), Sherodd Tate ’23 (13th in discus), and Ray Cloud ’24 (13th in 400 m). Freshman Mike Phillips earned All-State honors by placing seventh in the shot put, and the 4x200 m relay team of Gray, Hentges, Key, and Elijah Thomas ’23, also earned All-State, placing eighth. More important than any of these accomplishments, however, is the culture of commitment and competition that these athletes brought each day to the team. We are excited to see what this young squad can accomplish in future years.

JACOB LORIMIER ’22

KEVIN BERNS ’87

Tennis

Head Coach: Mike O’Brien, @DeSmetTennis Led by captain Dillon Trembath ’21 (above), the varsity tennis squad finished the regular season with a 5-5 record, with victories over CBC, Vianney, Francis Howell Central, Duchesne, and Principia. Every member of the MCC tournament line-up earned medals, and the team finished third overall at the conference tournament. The majority of the varsity line-up should return next spring, along with some promising underclassmen. Lastly, after 13 years of exceptional service to our players, JV Coach Gene Bender is stepping away from the program. Thank you for everything, Coach Bender!

JACOB LORIMIER ’22 STEPHEN WEN

Ultimate Frisbee

Head Coach: Peter Lenzini, @ DeSmetUltimate Two years ago, Priory brought the De Smet ultimate Frisbee team’s 11-year run as state champs to an end. COVID deprived the Spartans a chance at redemption in 2020. This year, the team committed to bringing the hardware back to Spartan Country. After a dominating season with a 7–0 record, in the final match against Priory, Andrew Hermann ’21 (right) caught a 50-yard throw from Leo Fiordelisi ’21 to bring an end to a 6-2 run by the Ravens and change the game’s momentum. Playing a stifling man-to-man defense, Spartans went on a 7-1 run, then finished off the game 14-9. Special thanks to our 10 seniors: Brendan Butler, Rhys Costello, Leo Fiordelisi, Joe Hood, Andrew Hermann, Nick Hubert, Andrew Insco, Matt Kohm, Braden O’Shea, and Kyle O’Shea.

STEPHEN WEN

Volleyball

Head Coach: Timothy Haffner, @DeSmetJesuitVB Led by Tyler Zippay ’24, James Zippay ’22 (left), Logan Irby ’21, and Cole Hemmen ’21, the Spartans finished third in the MCC and fifth in the state tournament, dropping a hard-fought, five set-battle in the state quarterfinal. Though the team graduates half its squad, there are several key returners and promise from the JV squad that will help the team next year.

Water Polo

Head Coach: Taylor Swyers, @PoloDeSmet The Spartans ranked seventh in the Missouri Water Polo Coaches Poll after a tough start that ultimately led to a 4-8 overall record. Playing a reduced schedule because of COVID, the team lost five games by one goal but later found redemption by beating CBC and Parkway Central, two prior losses. Michael Dolan ’21 (right) and Caleb Dunbar ’22 were both named 2nd Team All-Conference and All-District.

ETHAN BECHER ’21