New Bolts, Cana Provincials announced

By Nick Nye ’25

A surprise announcement was made during R-Time on May 2. A boxing match between Cana and Bolts Provincials – Chris Fern versus Leo Magnaye ’05 – would put an end to the six-year rivalry between the two with a boxing match to determine “whoever loses must resign as provincial.”

Before the match on the morning of May 3, Fern clarified, “I’m not going to lose… Cana can’t lose. It was fun beating you all these years Leo [Magnaye], looking forward to doing it one last time.”

Johnny Berdichevsky ’25 believed the opposite would happen, expressing, “The fight needed to happen. I think Mr. M is going to bodyslam Mr. Fern.”

The boxing match commenced with real gloves, then using inflatable gloves, for about 15 seconds until the lights cut out and a series of loud hits were heard before the lights returned. The lights revealed both Fern and Magnaye on the floor, with the Pilar and Russi Provincials, Melissa Nagar and Van Whipple, in the center of the stage holding crutches. The referee, Benny Willers ’08, declared that both Fern and Magnaye had lost and therefore both would be stepping down from their roles.

The contestants and provincials gathered in the center of the stage and announced the new provincials for Cana and Bolts house. Riordan English instructor, Michael Vezzali-Pascual ’88, now is the Provincial of Bolts House. The House of Cana will have STEM coordinator Colleen O’Rourke as their provincial.

Vezzali conveyed his excitement. “I think the previous provincials and those involved in the house system have done a great job building up all of this in six years... it all comes down to the students, the work that they put into these events and the spirit they show is what makes this all so special.”