Sports Hall of Fame Classes Inducted

Alumni Accomplishments (cont.) Alumni Births

spot on Jeopardy! Stubblefield competed on the July 6, 2021 airing of the show and placed 2nd. Stubblefield completed his undergrad at the University of Oklahoma where he earned a Bachelors in Economics, followed by a Masters in Biostatistics. He is currently working toward his PhD in Economics at Michigan State University.

Cole McLagan '16 signed with Sporting KC II for the team’s first season in the MLS Next Pro, a new professional league that kicked off in late-March 2022. After successful careers at Rockhurst High School and Furman University, he began his professional journey in 2021 with the Greenville Triumph where he logged nine appearances in USL League One.

Christian Franklin '18 was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 4th Round (#123 overall) in the 2021 MLB Draft. Franklin was a three-year standout in the outfield at the University of Arkansas. Over his three seasons, he batted .289 with 134 hits in 136 games. In 2021 he was a pre-season All-American for the Razorbacks, which held the #1 ranking in the country for much of the season.

JACOB SYKES

Jacob Sykes '18 earned a spot on the 2021 FCS ADA Acearned a spot on the 2021 FCS ADA All-Academic All-Star Team for his performance on Harvard University football team while majoring in Applied Mathematics. In addition to his work in the classroom, Sykes was a 1st Team All-Ivy League selection after he started all 10 games and finished with 27 tackles, 7 sacks, 8 TFL and a forced fumble. In January 2022 he announced he will be joining UCLA as a grad transfer.

WES PORTER

Wes Porter '20 had a historic freshman track season in 2021 at the University of Virginia. He was named 1st Team All-ACC in the 1500, finished 2nd at the ACC Championships with a PR of 3:41.98, good for the second fastest ever for a UVA freshman. He also holds the fastest outdoor mile (4:00.08) in UVA history at the Virginia Grand Prix.

Evan Verhulst '21 signed with TSMFTX as a professional Apex Legends video game player in January 2022. TSMFTX is the largest and most successful Esports organization in the world. In January, Verhulst won the Apex Legends Global Series Split One Playoffs, a $250,000 tournament.

Alumni Marriages

Kevin Ward '00 and Sara Peppes Derrick McKinney '04 and Adriane Coburn Kevin Morris '04 and Annie Williams Quinn Damon '08 and Brooke Torres John Martucci '08 and Sam Miner Tom Sorrentino '08 and Victoria Godfrey Mitch Briggs '09 and Raelynn Rockwell Andrew Euston '09 and Hannah Quillec Jack Faerber '09 and Courtney Watkins Nathan Foster '09 and Lena Houfaidi Robbie Haden '09 and Ashley Stout Michael Reintjes '09 and Hadley Burnham Adam Ungashick '09 and Victoria Ambrosio Cooper Beckett '10 and Carly Gutierrez David Belpedio '10 and Molly Meek Matthew Stacks '10 and Bailey Barry Travis Leinenbach '11 and Bridget Pederson Brett Ungashick '11 and Callie Fernandez Alex Bales '12 and Olivia Lanier Nick Deatherage '12 and Kiley Donaldson John McCaffrey '12 and Paige Huber Isaac Wilmot '13 and Kaitlin Walters

**Announcements included have been received since February 2021. Any future announcements can be sent to Robbie Haden '09, Director of Communications & Branding, at rhaden@rockhursths.edu.

Mark Blanck '98 and Natalie, a son, Christopher Dominic Eric Munninghoff '99 and Molly, a son, Matthew Thomas and a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Josh Polsinelli '00 and Janney, a daughter, India Kathleen Mike Day '01 and Jamie, a daughter, Rhema Galilee Mark Euston '02 and Laura, a son, Daniel Kevin Daniel Shouse '02 and Natalie, a daughter, Sophia Brynn Drew Switzer '02 and Leslie, a son, Rex Andrew Mike Comiskey '03 and Elise, a son, Sam Richard Brian Fagan '03 and Ashley, a daughter, Sonny Jane Timothy Kratofil '03 and Kate, a daughter, Margaret Nadine Joseph LaScala '03 and Michelle, a son, Gabriel Michael Matt Gotschall '04 and Molly, twin sons, Wyatt Howard and Felix Oliver Michael Hinck '04 and Katie, a daughter, Harper Judith Brian Illig '04 and Michelle, a son, Aiden Francis Lindsey Prestia '04 and Amanda, a daughter, Audra Leigh Joshua Karlin, MD '05 and Alyssa, a son, Lucas Robert John Nagle '05 and Callie, a son, John Rodney Jack Shuler '05 and Maggie, a daughter, Poppy Louise Cary Silverman '05 and Becca, a daughter, Amelia Ann Thomas Staab '05 and Gina, a son, James Wolfgang Matt Murphy '06 and Emily, a daughter, Mallory Elizabeth Louis Groff '07 and Kara, a son, Cameron Henry Spencer Hardwick '07 and Phyllis, a son, Lennox Carter Frank Reardon '07 and Lucy, a son, Otto Jeffery Conner Teahan '07 and Alyssa, a son, Lincoln Michael Drew Arensberg ’08 and Kara, a daughter, Birdie Jane Will Boesen '08 and Ann, a son, Peter James Alex Cowan '08 and Abigail, a son, Charles Hugh Patrick Doyle '08 and Mary, a daughter, Rose Elizabeth John Fitzpatrick '08 and Julia, a son, Sullivan Mark John Fryer '08 and Lucy, a daughter, Arlie Eloise Rex Redlingshafer '08 and Beth, a son, Rex Andrew, III Terry Smith '08 and Courtney, a son, Henry Morrison Joe Tulipana '08 and Maggie, a son, Charles Davis Daniel Brocato '09 and Lindsay, a daughter, Sophia Grace Chris Castelluccio '09 and Ally, a daughter, Charlotte Bea Luke Clifford '09 and Sammy, a daughter, Hadley Lynn Matt Fagan '09 and Kenzie, a son, Jameson Desmond John Hoefer '09 and Marisa, a son, Graham Thomas Tommy Keenan '09 and Jenny, a daughter, Heidi Elizabeth Brett Kreikemeier '09 and Brittany, a son, Henry Michael Joe Rasmussen '09 and Melanie, a son, Leo Joseph Luke Schneider '09 and Elly, a daughter, Lydia Claire Tim Schulte '09 and Kylie, a son, John Patrick Stephen Westhead '09 and Anna, a daughter, Olivia Jane Matt Winterhalter '09 and Ariel, a daughter, Agnes Rose Preston Elder '10 and Stevie, a son, Theodore Edward Jack Evans '10 and Rosie, a daughter, Mary Maureen Nick Gard '10 and Katherine, a son, Charles Pierson Evan Lang '10 and Margaret, a daughter, Elsie Montgomery Jalen Montgomery '10 and Shirley, a son, Noah Jay Jacob Wolf '10 and Laurel, a daughter, Grace Elizabeth Travis Leinenbach '11 and Bridget, a son, Grayson Allen Ryan McAnany '12 and Moira, a daughter, Beatriz Marie Dolores Luke Eckley '15 and Riley, a son, Lake Brian

Alumni Deaths

Dick Connor '48 Rev. Thomas Wheeler, SJ, '48 Mike Mulligan '49 Jerome Burke '50 Richard Enna, Sr. '50 John Martin '50 Thomas Daly '51 Donald Donnelly, Sr. '53 Clarence Sloan, Jr. '53 Dennis Pleimann '54 Thomas Purcell, DDS '54 Bernard Dierks '55 James Kenworthy '55 The Hon. Victor Rocha '55 Charles Schorgl, Sr. '55 Michael Wiley '55 Joseph Kenny '56 Salvatore Cerniglia '58 Michael Chiappetta '58 Thomas Klein '58 Michael Crawford '59 Larry Houlton '59 James McMullen, Jr. '59 Michael Hurley '60 Richard Witthar '60 Mark Carney '61 Victor Kauzlarich '63 Patrick Ervin '64 Kenny Marx '64 Michael Frechin '65 Stephen Heavey '66 Donald Winkler '66 Robert Menadier '67 James Morgan '67 Col. Richard Nelson, III '67 Robert Runnels '67 Terry Hanje '69 William Schoonover '69 Jeffrey Peakes '70 Lawrence Burchett, III '71 William Baldwin '72 Gregory Muleski '72 Terence Connealy '73 Christopher Davis '74 Dennis DeCoursey, CPA '74 Timothy Maggard '74 Timothy McGovern '74 Robert Redman '74 Paul Garner '75 Tim Morris '75 Brian Gepford '75 Richard Feierabend '77 Stephen White '77 Patrick Cooper '78 Anthony Daniel '79 David Baughman '82 Shawn Travis, Ph.D '87 John Connelly '88 Erik Michaelson '90 Genaro Ruiz '92 Kyle Slater '93 Brian Lewis '96 Kevin Knopke '99 Patrick Rhea '05 Andrew Soloducha '07 Mick Corless '14 Matinn Miller '14 William Dennis '17

Friend Deaths

John L. Adams Kathleen Andrew Fred Arbanas Robert Atchity Frank Biondo, Jr. Patricia Brewster Terrance Buckman Daniel Caffrey Michael Carroll Norma Jean Chaddock Edwin Cone Graziano Cornolo Michael Curran Bonnie Jean Darby Gerard Degnan Polly Donnelly Rick Downey Kathleen Dunn Jerry Fabac Paula Fitts Pamela Donovan Fowler Anna Marie Franke Peggy Freeman Henrietta Garner Pamela Gates Kathryn Giacabazi Trudy Graves Joan Hamilton James Hartzfeld Mary Kay Heili Eugene Holewinski Richard Huff Edward Hughes, III Paul Illig, Sr. Vicki Iwai Bruce Lackey Francis Josephine Lillig Anthony Lozano Mary Beth Lundak Mary Ann Mason Scott McGee John McMeel Judy Miniace Josephine Mirabil Jack Morris Michael DeDuzman Navato, MD Leonard Passantino Rev. Paul Pilgrim, SJ Janet Powell Sarah Pruett Elizabeth Root Louis Sojka, MD Joseph Soloducha Rev. Paul Stark, SJ Chuck Sullivan Sally Teahan Joseph Vowells Adelaide Ward Arden Sickman Weis Br. Michael Wilmot, SJ Michelina Yarnevich Gary Zancanelli

SCHOOL ENJOYS CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS

PROUD TO SIT ON THE BEAUTIFUL GREENLEASE MEMORIAL CAMPUS SINCE 1962, ROCKHURST HIGH SCHOOL CONTINUES TO UNDERGO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.

The Jack Nestor ’34 Outdoor Lab & Classroom in its current state. The entirety of the project will be finished by the end of 2022. During the current school year, the Rockhurst community has witnessed the progress of the Jack Nestor '34 Outdoor Lab & Classroom, immediately south of the school’s main entrance. The space is named for Nestor by his daughter, Colleen Enna, married to Rockhurst alumnus Salvatore (Sam) Enna '61.

“My dad was proud of his Rockhurst High School education, which his mother managed somehow, despite the absence of his father,” noted Colleen Enna. “Rockhurst’s theme of ‘men for others’ fit my dad well.”

The space is already being utilized by classes and co-curricular groups, and the rest of the project will be completed by the end of 2022. This includes the Class of 2021 Discovery Pond that will feature an aquatic ecosystem; the Deb and Larry ('74) Krissek Regional Native Grassland Area; and a Hawklet statue gifted by the Class of 2022.

Despite living in central Ohio and not having returned to Rockhurst’s campus in some 25 years, Krissek was still excited upon hearing of the Outdoor Lab & Classroom. Krissek, an earth scientist and professor at The Ohio State University, is a strong believer in experiential learning and wanted to help offer opportunities for students at his alma mater.

“I had a very positive experience at Rockhurst and if we can do something to try to make a similar experience available to others, then in our minds that’s a good investment,” remarked Krissek about his and his wife’s financial commitment to the new space on Rockhurst’s campus.

The Hawklets Center, which replaced the Al Davis, Jr. Fieldhouse, was completed in 2017. It features a lower level equipped with two large locker rooms, a cutting-edge trainer’s room, and small conference rooms for individual player review. The upper level holds a multi-purpose space for 120 used for team and alumni gatherings and a spacious coaches office space.

In October 2021, the exterior of the Hawklets Center received an upgrade in the form of a beautiful crucifix from Italy, given by an anonymous donor (see photo on the back cover). The crucifix overlooks the stadium field, and students have started a tradition of touching Jesus’ feet prior to competitions.

Also at Rockhurst’s Vincent P. Dasta Memorial Stadium, the track surrounding Severino Field was torn out and replaced over summer 2021. It is a high-quality Beynon track, producer of the tracks at Power Five programs such as Kansas, Colorado and Oregon. The new material is softer than Rockhurst’s previous track, which allows for better training. Rockhurst’s new track, besides sporting the Hawklet royal blue, has gray exchange zones that makes judging relay handoffs easier. An additional long/triple jump pit was also added, so Rockhurst now has the ability to host larger meets, such as Districts and Sectionals.