UNDEFEATED GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TEAM WINS IHSAA 3A INDIANA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Forming Disciples of Jesus Christ through the intercession of St. John XXIII.
Update Magazine is published by the Office of Institutional Advancement under the direction of Terese Carson, Hon’18, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. Its intent is to be a vehicle to inform alumni, family and friends of recent and upcoming happenings and achievements at the school, as well as showcase the talents and gifts of its students, faculty and alumni.
Editor-in-Chief: Terese Carson, Hon’18 | Deputy Editors: Jeen Endris, Tina Hayes and Brandi Young | Design Director: Jeen Endris | Photographers: John Smith, Phil Anderson, Hon’20, Allie Ross R’04, Jeen Endris, AJ Ablog, Julie Albertson, Katie Hibner R’10 | Inquiries/Correspondence: Fran Davey, Hon’21, Roncalli High School, 3300 Prague Road, Indianapolis, IN 46227, (317) 787-8277 ext. 238 fdavey@roncalli.org. Website: www.roncalli.org. Circulation: 13,037 Email: update@roncalli.org FOR EDITORIAL INFORMATION, CONTACT TERESE CARSON AT (317) 787-8277, EXT. 240 OR TCARSON@RONCALLI.ORG
VISION STATEMENT
Forming disciples of Jesus Christ through the intercession of St. John XXIII
ADMINISTRATION
PRESIDENT: Charles Weisenbach R’79
PRINCIPAL: Kevin Banich R’09
VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT: Terese R. Carson, Hon’18
VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE: Wendy Lawrie
VICE PRESIDENT OF FACILITIES: Nathan Miller
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR ACADEMICS: Beth Reel
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR STUDENT LIFE: Michael Wantz
DEAN OF STUDENTS: Tim Crissman
GUIDANCE DIRECTOR: Lisa Beckwith R’01
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL SERVICES: Michelle Roberts, Hon’24
CAMPUS MINISTRY DIRECTOR: Katie Hibner R’10
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: David Lauck R’94
CHAPLAIN COORDINATOR: Rev. Robert Robeson, VF, Ph.D., M.Ed.
POINT OF VIEW
The National Eucharistic Congress
Chuck Weisenbach R’79, President
What a blessing!
What an honor it was for our city and archdiocese to host the National Eucharistic Congress this past summer. A special thank you to all in our Roncalli family who were a part of the huge corps of volunteers who were instrumental in making it such a remarkable week.
There were so many highlights to the week with so many emotions attached. Here are some of my favorites:
The church - There were people of all ages and from all parts of our countrythousands of lay people, hundreds and hundreds of priests, seminarians, bishops and religious women from so many different religious orders.
The music - It was all there regardless of your preference; contemporary, Gregorian chant, praise and worship, traditional; even the Indianapolis Symphony provided music for the final liturgy.
The speakers - The number of highly acclaimed speakers was incredible, including Bishop Cozzens, Bishop Barron, Fr. Mike Schmitz, Sr. Bethany, Sr. Josephine, Matt Maher, Chris Stefanik, Fr Dave Pivonka, Dr. Edward Sri and countless others.
The liturgies - It was exhilarating to have 50,000 people in Lucas Oil Stadium participating in beautiful celebrations of the liturgy.
Jonathan Roumie (The Chosen) - His in-person appearance, during which he delivered a spellbinding version of Jesus’ “Bread of Life” discourse, was an instant hit on social media and was talked about for weeks following the congress.
Adoration - There were many special moments throughout the week, but words cannot come close to expressing the intensity and the beauty of 50,000 coming together in reverent silence for Eucharistic Adoration.
Bishop Andrew Cozzens (Diocese of Crookston, MN) was the chairman of the National Eucharistic Congress. His comments following the congress provide all of us with the challenge we must meet as we move forward.
The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith; or another way to say it is, the Eucharist is the heart of the Church. You think about the heart: it’s the heart that pumps blood to the body, and if your heart is weak it doesn’t matter how strong your muscles are, right? It doesn’t matter how smart your brain is; if your heart is weak, the body’s not going to be any good. We are strong as a Church when we are united to the Lord in the Eucharist.
Come Holy Spirit!
REVELATIONS Looking to Mary
Rev. Robert Robeson, VF, Ph.D., M.Ed., Roncalli Chaplain Coordinator
“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” ~Luke 1:30-31
With these words to Mary, the entire course of human history was forever changed. God entered the world through Mary, and Mary is the one who constantly leads us ever deeper into the love of her Son, Jesus. This is why Mary should have a very special place in our hearts and our lives as followers of her Son. She guides us by her example and her intercession, and we trust her to help us, with her prayers, to grow in our knowledge and love of Jesus.
Do not be afraid. These are the words of the Archangel to Mary, who had much to fear. Fear can be such a powerful human emotion. In a world where there is so much uncertainty, so much confusion, division and pain, we can sometimes be paralyzed by fear. We can be afraid to fail, or afraid to succeed; afraid to love, or afraid to receive love; afraid to speak up for what is right and afraid to proclaim and live the message of Jesus.
But Mary’s courage allowed her to trust in God; to receive the power of the Holy Spirit and the child he gave her, despite the fact that she had never been with her husband; despite the fact that she could have been stoned to death as an unwed mother; despite the fact that she was to bear the Son of God and Savior of
the world. Mary overcame her fear. She is, for us, a model of courage and an advocate to overcome our fears. Pope St. Leo the Great (d. 461) once wrote:
Just as the Devil always goes in search for someone to devour, so Mary is looking for someone she can help in any way.
As we celebrate the seasons of Advent and Christmas, our Roncalli family can look to Mary, who is our example of courage to trust in God, to overcome our fears, and to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in a world of uncertainty.
RONCALLI HIGH SCHOOL
On Saturday, August 3, Roncalli High School kicked off a new school year with a Summer Social following the freshman orientation and mass. Over 780 people attended the celebration.
The Summer Social was a family-friendly, fun-filled event that featured a variety of bounce houses, face painting, outdoor games and a live performance by “The Woomblies.” Food trucks fed the large crowd, and everyone enjoyed a great night with their Roncalli family.
“It was an incredible day of energy, faith and community to begin our school year! We are blessed with a phenomenal school and community,” said Kevin Banich R’09, Roncalli High School principal.
ADVANCEMENT ANGLE We Love Our Alumni!
Terese R. Carson, Hon’18, Vice President for Institutional Advancement
I always tell people that I have the BEST job at Roncalli. I love so many aspects of my job, and I am blessed to cross paths with so many of our alumni daily. I am always amazed to hear their stories and learn about their post-graduation lives. Remarkably, every time I meet with an alum, they convey that their current lives were profoundly changed and positively affected by their time here at Roncalli.
Having two daughters who are both alumni gave me a first-hand look at how Roncalli prepared them for college and their careers. I have also witnessed how Roncalli assisted in their faith formation while also preparing them for life and their own families. My son-in-law, who is also a Roncalli alum, started in the trades and eventually furthered his education, and he, too, would tell you that he was very prepared for all of this. It is equally powerful when I am meeting with an alum of Sacred Heart, Bishop Chartrand, Kennedy Memorial or Roncalli to hear their personal stories. I find it interesting to hear all the different paths. Some knew when they graduated exactly what they wanted to do and are still doing that many years later. Yet, others thought they knew what they wanted to do and found a different path that they never saw themselves taking as an 18-year-old, but have found fulfillment and joy in that new path. As you might imagine, the stories are sincere, emotional and riveting --- and they credit Roncalli for being a part of their success.
Today, I had the pleasure and privilege of meeting with one of our alumni from the class of 2009, Aaron Smith. After graduating from Roncalli, Aaron attended The Catholic University, where he began studying architecture. He then felt a true calling towards political science and government. He worked at the Capitol and rose quickly through the ranks as correspondent and director to U.S. Senator Dan Coats before moving back to Indiana with his wife. He is still active in politics while running his own company. Aaron is just one example of our alumni making an impact in our community, our state, our nation and our world. (You can read more about his story on page 55.)
You can see a sampling of some big life events of many of our alumni in the Class Notes. Getting married, having babies and starting new jobs are just a few of the things that we love to celebrate with our alumni. Please stay in touch with us here at Roncalli! Our alumni are the foundation of our school and have paved a path for many future generations.
Forever Roncalli,
Terese R. Carson, Hon’18 Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Students hold the total amount raised in last year's annual fund campaign.
CIRCLE OF FAITH DISTINCTION DINNER & ANNUAL FUND
On Thursday, September 19, Roncalli welcomed approximately 500 guests to the Ascension St. Vincent Gymnasium to celebrate with our Roncalli family. Guests enjoyed a performance from our Royal Rhapsody show choir, an alumni testimonial by Cole Toner R’12 and videos honoring our award winners. They also learned about the this year's Circle of Faith Annual Fund campaign.
Award winners:
Diane and Joe Hollowell - St. John XXIII Award
Dr. Chris Browning R’94 - Alumnus of the Year
Sister Susan Reuber - Honorary Alumna
Michelle Roberts - Honorary Alumna
Shea McMahon R’07 - ROYAL Award
Jason Greene R’90 - Volunteer of the Year
Projects for our Circle of Faith Annual Fund campaign are:
• FINE ARTS CENTER HVAC
• TUITION ASSISTANCE
• FACULTY AND STAFF ENRICHMENT
• ENDOWMENT
A convenient way to donate to Roncalli’s Circle of Faith Annual Fund is online at GiveToRoncalli.org Or use the QR code above.
Cole Toner R’12 sharing his experience and introducing the Dave and Angie Toner Sportsmanship Award Endowment
Dave and Angie Toner Sportsmanship Award: The Dave and Angie Toner Sportsmanship Award is a scholarship presented to a senior student-athlete who demonstrates exemplary sportsmanship, leadership and a commitment to their team and community. This award recognizes an individual who not only excels in their sport but also shows respect for opponents, coaches and officials, embodying the true spirit of Royal competition. The recipient is someone who inspires others through their dedication, positive attitude and ability to uplift their teammates, both on and off the field. The first $1,000 scholarhsip will be awarded this spring at the all sports banquet.
MCMAHON RECEIVES ROYAL AWARD
Shea McMahon R’07 was awarded the ROYAL Award. This award stands for the Roncalli Outstanding Young Alumni Legacy. Shea graduated from Roncalli in 2007 and then attended Indiana University. He grew up in St. Jude Parish, but he and his family are now members of Notre Dame Parish in Clarendon Hills, Illinois.
Shea is married to Mickel, and they have two children, Augustine and Ruth. His parents, Jeff and Cathy McMahon, have four children, all Roncalli graduates. Shea is the oldest with Brendan R’08, Julia R’11 and Mary R’11.
Shea has worked with FOCUS Missionary at Fellowship of Catholic University Students. FOCUS is a lay Catholic missionary where he primarily works with college students winning them over for a relationship with Jesus to build them up as disciples through fellowship, prayer, sacraments and then equipping them to go into the world to evangelize. Five men he has worked with have gone on to the seminary, and two have
President Chuck Weisenbach R’79 and Shea McMahon R’07
become FOCUS missionaries themselves. He has served in locations at the University of WisconsinLa Crosse, the University of Southampton in England, Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland and Notre Dame Parish in Illinois.
Congratulations to Shea McMahon R’07, Roncalli’s ROYAL Award recipient!
SISTER REUBER RECEIVES HONORARY ALUMNA AWARD
Sister Susan Reuber was awarded this year’s Honorary Alumni award.
We proudly recognize Sister Susan Reuber as one of our honorary alums. She is one of four children born to Paul and Linda Reuber, and she is a triplet! Her siblings are Shelley, Eric and Sister Jill. She also has many nieces and nephews!
Before becoming a Sister of St. Benedict, Sister Susan taught for one year at Switzerland County Middle School and then taught in the English Department at Roncalli for 15 years. She is currently the Development Director at Our Lady of Grace Monastery for the past three years.
Sister Susan attended Northeast Dubois High School, Franklin College and Indiana Wesleyan University (Masters in Education).
When she was employed at Roncalli, she was not only a teacher but also participated in Senior Retreat
SCAN TO WATCH VIDEO
ROYAL AWARD
and the Appalachia Service Trip. She also served as a Student Council moderator, Spell Bowl coach and a member of the Campus Ministry Team and the Euchre Club. In her spare time, she also worked as a ticket-taker for athletic events, all because she wanted to know her students outside of the classroom.
Roncalli officially welcomes Sister Susan Reuber into the Roncalli family as an Honorary Alum.
President Chuck Weisenbach R’79 and Sister Susan Reuber
ROBERTS RECEIVES HONORARY ALUMNA AWARD
Michelle Roberts was awarded this year’s Honorary Alumni award.
We are pleased to recognize Michelle Roberts as one of our Honorary Alumnae. She and her husband, Greg R’86, have two daughters, Hannah R’16 and Mia R’19. Michelle is a 1987 graduate of Bishop Chatard High School, and her family has a long history of Catholic education. Michelle’s mom, Irene Thrasher, is a 1964 Scecina alum. Her father, Chris Thrasher, is also a 1964 Scecina alum, and her
stepmother, Carolyn, is a 1960 Our Lady of Grace alum! After Bishop Chatard, Michelle attended Indiana University and then obtained her Master's of Education from IWU.
Michelle has been serving people with disabilities since 1990, when she worked in a group home during college. She has taught in Washington Township Schools and at St. Roch. She was a stayat-home mom from 2001-2009 and began her career in our Roncalli STARS department in 2009.
Michelle volunteers at her home parish of St. Barnabas. As a Roncalli parent, she was the Show Choir Parent Coordinator, Performing Arts Booster Club volunteer and board member for six years. During her professional tenure at Roncalli, she has been the Life Academy Coordinator, Director of Special Services, Unified Bocce and Bowling coach, Royal Buddies coordinator, Cooking Club moderator, Appalachia leader (five trips), Senior Retreat leader, Italy Pilgrimage leader and volunteer for St. Vincent de Paul.
Roncalli officially welcomes Michelle Roberts into the Roncalli family as an Honorary Alum.
GREENE NAMED VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Jason Greene R’90 was awarded this year’s Volunteer of the Year award.
Jason Greene is the Volunteer of the Year. Jason is married to Ellen, and they have three children, Max R’21, Drew R’23 and Luke, a current senior at Roncalli. They are members of St. Barnabas Parish. Jason’s wife, Ellen, teaches at Little Royals Daycare.
Jason attended St. Roch for grade school and is a 1990 graduate of Roncalli. He then received his degree in communications from Indiana University. He has been employed at Elements Financial for 31 years, where he currently serves as the Vice President of Payments. Jason has been a CYO coach at various levels throughout the years. He also volunteers at Damar Services, the YMCA and Gleaners Food Bank.
Remarkably, Jason started as the "Voice of the Rebels" as a Roncalli senior in 1989. He was asked by then-head basketball coach Chuck Weisenbach
to voice the games in the gymnasium, and every year, he just kept saying ‘yes’ and coming back. He has spent the last 35 years as the voice of boys basketball, and CYO Night is one of his favorite nights! He also has subbed when needed for a variety of other athletic events (baseball, football, girls basketball) as public announcer or scoreboard operator.
President Chuck Weisenbach R’79 and Jason Greene R’90
Thank you to Jason Greene R’90, our Volunteer of the Year, who has made a significant impact on the students, families, faculty and staff of Roncalli.
Michelle Roberts with President Chuck Weisenbach R’79
BROWNING RECEIVES THE ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR
President Chuck Weisenbach R’79 and Dr. Chris Browning R’94
Dr. Chris Browning R’94 was awarded this year’s Alumnus of the Year award.
Our Alumnus of the Year Award recognizes an individual who has taken the lessons from the classrooms of Sacred Heart, Kennedy Memorial, Bishop Chartrand and Roncalli and lives them out in the world.
Chris married Amy Crews, his 1994 high school sweetheart (since their freshman year), and they have three children, Grace R’22, Luke R’24 and Mark, a current Roncalli sophomore. Chris’ younger brother Michael is in the class of 1995, along with his brother-in-law Jimmy Crews.
After he graduated from Roncalli in 1994, Chris received his BS in biology with a minor in history from Indiana University in Bloomington. He then attended the IU
School of Optometry and graduated in 2002. Chris has worked as a Doctor of Optometry for VisionQuest Eyecare since graduating in 2002. He has been the owner of that practice since 2004.
Chris and his family are members of Saints Francis & Clare of Assisi parish, and his volunteer work includes the St. Vincent dePaul Food Pantry and the SSFC Food Pantry. His practice performs multiple school vision screenings throughout Central Indiana. When his children were younger, he served as a Cub Scout leader and coached them in baseball, basketball and football. Chris currently serves on the Roncalli Board of Directors and is the Chairperson of the Advancement Committee.
Throughout his career, Chris has served as President, Chair and Board Member of a multitude of associations and boards. In addition, he was awarded the Young Optometrist of the Year in 2011 and the Service Award by the Indiana Optometric Association in 2023. For all his honors and positions, Chris is most proud of the title of husband and dad.
We are proud of Dr. Chris Browning R’94 and honored to recognize him as our Alumnus of the Year!
HOLLOWELLS RECEIVE SAINT JOHN XXIII AWARD
Diane and Joe Hollowell were awarded this year’s Saint John XXIII award.
The Saint John XXIII Award is considered the most prestigious award that is given to a person who best exemplifies the nine traits identified in the halls of our school as encompassing the life, legacy and spirit of Saint John XXIII. Those traits being: Welcoming, Simple, Kind, Peaceful, Humble, Humorous, Servant, Holy and Inspired Change.
As we honor Diane and Joe Hollowell with the St. John XXIII Award, it is impossible to speak about one of them without the other. Everything they have done as a couple or individually can be attributed to their love and support of each other, our faith and Catholic education. They are the parents of 11 children, all Roncalli alumni: Father John, Matt, Father Tony, Dan, Aaron, Melissa, Emily, Sara, Laura, Nate and Maria. They have four daughtersin-law Kari, Jacqueline, Jenny and Jessica and four sons-in-law Jim, Adam, Mack and Matthew. The Hollowells currently have 29 grandchildren, and there are usually a couple more on the way at any given time!
Diane and Joe are both graduates of Scecina High School and Butler University. Joe obtained his PhD from Creighton University in Interdisciplinary Leadership in 2016. They have been parishioners at Nativity parish for 35 years where Joe currently teaches middle school science as his ’retirement job’. Diane is occasionally a long-term math substitute teacher. At the beginning of their careers, Diane taught math in Wayne Township and then homeschooled all their children for grades 1-5 for 23 years. She also taught math at Scecina and Warren Central. She has covered eight long-term maternity leaves at Roncalli, St. Jude and Nativity.
Joe had a long and illustrious career at Roncalli. In his early years, he was a chemistry teacher, coached football and baseball and was the dean of students. He founded the ever-popular Summer Field Studies program. In 1990, Joe was hired as the Principal and became the firstever President in 1995. After 41 years at Roncalli, Joe retired in 2020. In addition to his retirement job teaching at Nativity, Joe consults for Catholic School Management and the Institute for Parish and School Development, and he serves on two boards of directors for schools.
Most importantly, Joe and Diane love spending time with their families, especially their grandchildren.
To these two persons who have a servant’s heart, congratulations to Diane and Joe Hollowell, our Saint John XXIII Award recipients.
President Chuck Weisenbach R’79 with Diane and Joe Hollowell
APPRECIATION RECEPTION
On Friday, August 30, the Roncalli Advancement Office threw an appreciation reception before the highly anticipated home football game against Franklin Central! The celebration took place at the brand-new Kennedy Memorial Pavilion, where a group of corporate sponsors, generous donors and dedicated volunteers gathered to cheer on the Royals!
Guests were treated to dinner, an exclusive Roncalli insulated cup to keep and a great view of the game! Thank you to everyone who has supported the Royals throughout the year - your enthusiasm makes all the difference!
WELCOME NEW FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS
Roncalli High School welcomed eight new faculty and staff to kick off the 2024-25 school year:
New teachers left to right: Greg Jansen - Science Department, Sam Otley R’11 - Advanced Physical Conditioning & Head Varsity Football Coach, Amy Garro - Theology Department, Reece Milligan - Social Studies Department and George Purdy - Personal Law Teacher
New staff left to right: Brandi Young - Director of Alumni Services and Special Events and Hope Golden R’13Administrative Assistant for Guidance
(not pictured: Mike Sundell - Franciscan Health Athletic Trainer)
SIX RONCALLI NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS
Roncalli announced that six members of the Class of 2025 have been named National Merit Semifinalist and National Merit Commended Scholars by The College Board. The National Merit Semifinalist is awarded to the top one percent in the nation, and the commended student status signifies that from the over 1.5 million seniors who took the PSAT last year, these students scored in the top 3% of the country’s brightest seniors.
National Merit Semifinalist Mya Galbreath and National Merit Commended Scholars Joey Evans, Aiden Hill, Claire Nettles, AJ Richardson and Maya Skartvedt make six members of this Roncalli Class of 2025 who were recognized in what is the most prestigious, competitive academic honors program in the country.
Lisa (Klaiber) Beckwith R’01, Roncalli's director of guidance and school counselor, shared, “We are so proud of our National Merit Semifinalist and Commended Scholars. All six of these students have demonstrated a great work ethic in their academic endeavors while also being outstanding young citizens among our student body. This recognition is a testament to their passion for learning.”
Roncalli is proud of these outstanding students and extends congratulations to their families and elementary schools who prepared them so well for the vigor of a Roncalli High School education.
Seniors Mya Galbreath, Joey Evans, Claire Nettles, AJ Richardson, Maya Skartvedt and Aiden Hill
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTEES OF 2024
Congratulations to the Class of 2025 National Honor Society inductees, who were honored on September 4 at Roncalli!
Henry Adams
Simon Alba
Lilian Bauman
Logan Bell
Jacob Blandford
Caroline Bohn
Lauren Brown
William Buchmeier
Joseph Buckel
Benjamin Buechler
Hailey Bullock
Rose Chin
Makena Combs
Grace Daming
Madeline Daming
Michael Dexter
Matthew Dial
Jaclyn Diersing
Clare Diez
Kennady Dougherty
Callie Elrod
Joseph Evans
Courtney Fahringer
Molly Feldman
Ivan Figueroa
Summer Fishel
Rachel Flick
Mya Galbreath
Claire Gallagher
Ashlynn Gilmore
Elijah Goers
Christopher Griffin
Aiden Hill
Eliana Himes
Joshua Hinson
Rachel Hollcraft
Maren Hupp
Eva Hurrle
Far Iang
Conner Johnson
Jacob Johnson
Carley Keller
Hau Kim
Sydney Kirkhoff
Mackenzie Kruer
Noah Kurz
Eli Lauck
Sophia Lewis
Josephine Lezon
John Malan
Ava Maled
William Manship
Van Mawi
Audrey May
Theresa May
Elizabeth McCoy
Amelia McCullen
Mia Michalak
Gianna Miller
Abby Moll
Mary Motyka
Claire Nettles
Mia Nettles
Thomas Och
Elizabeth Ohime
Lucas Oskins
Seth Owen
Joseph Pacholski
Maria Paynter
Robert Phelps
Alex Plahitko
Addison Poe
Mary Renshaw
Molly Resler
Anthony Richardson
Anna Rosario
Daniel Rosario
Keegan Rund
Sophie Schneider
Patrick Schoettle
Scarlett Shell
Anthony Sherman
Tamanna Singh
Maya Skartvedt
Margaret Smith
Christopher Stanley
Natalie Summers
Isabella Traylor
Thomas Tual
Tomas Vecchio
Austin Walker
Laylah Waugh
James Woodburn II
GRANDPARENTS DAY
We welcomed over 1,000 grandparents on Friday, September 1 for our annual grandparents day celebration. Grandparents gathered in the Ascension St. Vincent Gymnasium for a day that included an allschool mass, a short program led by Roncalli president Chuck Weisenbach R’79, speeches by senior Isabella Traylor, young alumna Mia Roberts R’19 and Roncalli principal Kevin Banich R’09, a pep rally and the opportunity to tour the Roncalli campus with their grandchild.
“What an incredible day to share our faith and school spirit with our grandparents! Our grandparents are the foundation for our family and a pillar of our faith formation!” said Kevin Banich R’09, principal of Roncalli High School.
President Chuck Weisenbach R’79 welcomed our grandparents
Senior Isabella Traylor spoke to the special guests before mass
Young alumna Mia Roberts R’19 shared her story
Fr. Bob Robeson, Roncalli chaplain coordinator, celebrated mass with all students and grandparents in the filled Ascension St. Vincent Gymnasium
LUGAR SYMPOSIUM
In late November, Roncalli juniors Olivia Bodrick, Caroline Crews and Marygrace Rykowski attended the annual Richard G. Lugar Symposium for Tomorrow’s Leaders at the University of Indianapolis. Our juniors, selected based on their outstanding academic achievement and completed service hours, represented Roncalli among high schools from across the state for important conversations about public issues and world events.
HOMECOMING ROYALTY
During the week of September 16 through 20, Roncalli High School celebrated Homecoming spirit week with themed dress-out days such as PJs Day, Cartoon Day, Rhyme Without Reason, Country vs. Country Club and Red, White and Blue Day. Friday’s school day ended with a spirited pep rally, which featured faculty/staff and student duo dances and class competitions.
Friday night brought the football game, and on Saturday, Roncalli crowned its Homecoming queen, senior Sophie Schneider and king, senior Sean Stahl, during the Homecoming dance at Roncalli.
left to right: Marygrace Rykowski, Caroline Crews, Mr. Steve Inskeep (keynote and moderator of NPR’s ’Morning Edition’) and Olivia Bodrick
Queen nominees (left to right): Summer Fishel, Josie Lezon, Ellie Ohime, Sophie Schneider, Jaclyn Diersing, Sophia Lewis and Eva Hurrle
King nominees (left to right): Joey Evans, Noah Irwin, Sean Stahl, Ben Buechler, Aiden Hill, Will Manship and Eli Lauck
Homecoming royalty Sophie Schneider and Sean Stahl
ACT PERFECT SCORES
Seniors Grace Daming and Mia Michalak achieved a perfect score on the reading portion of the September ACT exam. This is the second time Daming scored a 36 on reading. She also did it in February of 2024. Also, seniors Clare Diez, Mya Galbreath, Claire Nettles and Mia Nettles achieved a perfect score on their ACT exams in April and June. The ACT is a standardized test that determines a high school student’s preparedness for college. The test covers five areas: math, English, reading, writing and science. Congratulations to Roncalli’s latest ACT superstars who scored the highest possible score on a section of their tests.
EAGLE SCOUT - NATHAN LOVE
Congratulations to senior Nathan Love who earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Love’s project was to build and fill a media center for Riley Hospital for Children. This project had three phases and will benefit the children visiting Riley’s Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) facility. When a child who is 17 years or younger goes to the hospital, it is a serious matter. Hospitals are scary places, and there are many unknown things children experience. This project will allow them to control at least one small thing: what they watch while having an MRI. During an MRI, you are strapped in with a helmet-type stabilizer to keep movement to a minimum while the scanning is being done. This is a long process, and adults often have difficulty with this procedure. Riley has a DVD player available to watch a movie while the procedure is happening. However, there was no media area with enough movies to choose from.
The first part of Nathan’s project was supplying and building a bookshelf to store videos for viewing while in the MRI machine. Part two was conducting a DVD drive to collect either new or gently used DVDs for the shelf. Part three was cleaning and organizing the DVDs in the media center.
Nathan would like to thank his family at Roncalli for helping fill the shelves with their generous donations of videos. Additional DVDs were donated, filling the bottom two rows on the bookshelf. The MRI operators were very impressed with the project.
What an important and impactful project - thank you, Nathan!
Senior Grace Daming
Seniors Clare Diez, Mya Galbreath, Claire Nettles and Mia Nettles
Senior Mia Michalak
ROYAL MARCHING BAND EARNS GOLD
The Royal marching band earned the top rating of Gold at the ISSMA (Indiana State School Music Association) Festival Band Contest in late September. Not only did they earn a gold rating, but they also received an award for visual distinction. This is the first time the band has received this award. Only bands with the highest score in the visual component of the competition receive this distinction. Outstanding job, Royal Band! Congratulations to band director Laura (Horcher) Gottman R’10 and the Royal marching band!
CANNED FOOD DRIVE
During the week of August 18th, Roncalli held its annual Canned Food Drive with great success! Thank you to all in the Roncalli community who supported this year’s event. Students, faculty and staff collected a total of 3,100 food items along with $33,632.75 in cash donations. The total of money and cans collected would equal 70,365 cans. An amazing 89% of the student body participated in the drive. These donations were distributed to local food pantries that serve the Indianapolis community.
Receiving checks at the Homecoming pep rally on Friday, September 20 were Dave Certo of David Moore Food Pantry, Phil Christie of Hunger, Inc., Michelle Gudger of Catholic Charities, Connie Merkel of St. Anthony/Holy Trinity Food Pantry and
Sister Kathleen Yeadon, OSB of St. Vincent De Paul.
Sophomore and student council officer Cecelia Schoettle shared her thoughts about the Canned Food Drive, “The canned food drive always proves Roncalli’s devotion as a school to serve and provide for those in our own community!”
Sarah Rose, Roncalli chemistry teacher and student council moderator, shared her thoughts on the success of the Canned Food Drive, “I am always amazed at the outpouring of support by our student body. Time after time, they rise to the occasion and show us the amount of love and care they have for the community around them. I am very proud of our Royal family and their effort to help out those in need.”
OPEN HOUSE 2024
Campus was bustling for the 2024 Roncalli Open House! This year’s event took place Thursday, November 7. The Ascension St. Vincent Gymnasium was set up to explore all Roncalli has to offer.
Faculty, staff and coaches were all on hand to meet our future Royals, and tours were given by current students. Rowdie even made a special appearance for the night. We were so excited to see so many future Royals on campus for the event!
ROYAL FOR A DAY PROGRAM
The Royal for a Day Program continues to flourish at Roncalli! This semester, we welcomed over 200 future students to campus to see what it is like to be a Roncalli Royal. Guests spend an entire day with a student of their choosing, or they are paired with someone who matches their areas of academic abilities and interests. Not only do shadows get to experience life in the classroom, they get to enjoy lunch with all grade levels, participate in elective classes and so much more! Do you have an 8th grader or transfer student interested in Roncalli for high school? Contact Allie Ross R’04, director of admissions and marketing, to get signed up for a visit. The program will run until April 30th, so don’t delay. Let’s go Royals!
Freshman Bella English and Makkie Dilk from Nativity
From St. Barnabas London Kidwell and sophomore Olivia Kidwell
From Beech Grove Middle School Bella Rickets and sophomore Peyton Cole
RONCALLI CHOIRS PERFORM SACRED SOUNDS CONCERT
On September 26th, the Roncalli choirs performed their fall concert for an eager audience. Under the direction of choral director Shannan Masten, the Sacred Sounds concert consisted of the Beginning Mixed Choir, Intermediate Mixed Choir, Advanced Women’s Choir and the Royal Rhapsody Show Choir.
“This year’s Sacred Sounds concert was centered around worship. I believe that we connect with Jesus on an entirely new and AWESOME level when we worship. I programmed music that represents an array of vocal genres and worship styles. My goal was for our singers and audience members to have a genuine worship experience, and I think they achieved just that. I hope our program continues to grow in musicality, community, faith and love,” said Masten.
Beginning Mixed Choir, Intermediate Mixed Choir, Advanced Women’s Choir and Royal Rhapsody Show Choir
On November 14 – 16, the Roncalli Performing Arts Department presented Matilda the Musical. Based on the quirky and beloved Roald Dahl novel, Matilda the Musical is a story about a little girl with extraordinary wit, intelligence and imagination. It was performed before sold-out audiences at all performances. Everyone involved enjoyed putting together this production!
A special thanks to the production team: Phil Anderson, Hon’19, Erin Bohn R’94, Jennie Dixon R’04, Melanie Eakman R’06, Barb Hatfield R’78, Miki Lewinski, Shannan Masten and Laura Gottman R’10 who helped make the production a success.
WALKATHON 2024
Roncalli held its annual Walkathon fundraiser on Friday, November 8. This year, over 83% of the students, faculty and staff participated in the fundraising effort with a brisk walk, which raised nearly $96,000. Walkathon is Roncalli’s only all-school fundraiser with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the Circle of Faith projects.
Roncalli senior Abby Moll submitted the winning Walkathon theme, and freshman Simon Inkenbrandt’s design was chosen for this year’s t-shirt.
“This year’s Walkathon theme, "Nationally Blue, Walking for You," is a proud reflection of Roncalli’s achievement in receiving the National Blue Ribbon School Award from the U.S. Department of Education for the fourth time. Our students, faculty/staff, alumni and corporate sponsors really stepped up to the challenge this year, and we raised $10,000 more than last year’s Walkathon! Way to go, Royals!” said Terese Carson, Hon’18, vice president for institutional advancement at Roncalli High School.
Thank you to our corporate sponsors who helped make the event a tremendous success.
Title Sponsors:
Sponsors:
All Trades Staffing, Inc.
Cahill’s Lawn & Landscape
Central Psychological Services, LLC
Community Ford of Mooresville
Edgewood Feed & Seed
Landscape Supply
Franciscan Health Indiana Colon & Rectal Specialists
Jahnke Painting Co.
Jockish Flowers, Inc.
The Kennel At Arbor Lane
Quality Supply & Tool Company
VisionQuest Eyecare
O’Riley Branson Funeral Service & Crematory
Play It Again Sports
Kara Bastida
Stephanie Blair
Barbara Fahringer
Amy Gandolph
Jamie Harper
Wolf Family Dentistry
Ancient Order of Hibernians
Piazza Produce
Special thanks to all of our volunteers including IMPD and IFD:
Robin Johnson
Sarah Knight
Beth Koleszar
Victoria Meinerding
Missy Mendoza
Brittany Miller
Susan Oslos
Kristin Petty
Lynn Phelps
Elizabeth Rodriguez
Pic Russell
Dyan Schoettle
Gretchen Schoettle
Devon Scott
Jenny Smith
Diane Stafford
Dione Taylor
INKENBRANDT PRINTS FIRST WALKATHON SHIRT
In late October, the designer behind this year’s Walkathon shirt, freshman Simon Inkenbrandt, took a visit to 4 Marks Printing by Catholic Concepts to make the first shirt himself. Catholic Concepts is locally owned and operated on the southside of Indianapolis.
CLASS OF 2028 STUDENT COUNCIL CO-PRESIDENTS
Congratulations to the newly appointed Class of 2028 Student Council Co-Presidents!
Kaylee Summers
Co-President of Public Relations
Lola Morelli
Co-President of Service
Ava Stone
Co-President of Spirit
Sabina Paw
Co-President of Web Promotion
THANK A THON
Just before Thanksgiving, 20 student volunteers gathered in the Roncalli Student Life Center for one reason - to say thank you to the donors who are making a difference at Roncalli.
The students called nearly 1,000 individuals who contributed to Roncalli through the Circle of Faith Annual Fund Campaign. The Circle of Faith Fund supports a variety of projects, including needs-based tuition assistance, teacher enrichment and training, safety and security improvements & upgrades, the fine arts center HVAC, repairs to the Bishop Chartrand gymnasium floor and Roncalli’s endowment.
Thank you for all you do for the students, families, faculty and staff of Roncalli. Our donors are an essential part of our family, and that ongoing support makes Roncalli what it is today and what it will be in the future. If you did not receive a call, please let us know as we may not have a good phone number for you.
GIFT FROM THE CLASS OF 1984 BY ARTIST HORSMAN
In late November following the Class of 1984 reunion, artist Chuck Horsman R’84 and his class officers Veronica (O’Connor) Kindley R’84 and Pat Spencer R’84, presented their class gift, Horsman’s painting of St. John XXIII, to president Chuck Weisenbach R’79 and Roncalli High School.
Horsman graduated from the University of Indianapolis with a degree in Fine Art. He paints out of his studio in Greenwood, Indiana and has a studio in the Stutz Building and the Factory Arts District where he is open on the first Friday of each month.
His inspiration is the human form and, specifically, the face. "I love to explore the skeletal and muscular structure beneath and how that ’creates’ each unique feature. Using bright colors, I explore the shadows and highlights that add drama and character," said Horsman.
Throughout his work, you will find subtle (and sometimes, not so subtle) icons, text and images that build the narrative of that person's life. He strives to tell a story that is compelling from a distance and reveals more as you get closer.
For more information and to view his work, you can visit his website at ChuckHorsmanArt. com or follow him on Instagram and Facebook @chuckhorsmanart.
left to right: Chuck Weisenbach R’79, Veronica (O’Connor) Kindley R’84, Chuck Horsman R’84 and Pat Spencer R’84
ATHLETES TO COMPETE COLLEGIATELY
SPIRIT OF FAMILY TRADITION AWARD
On Friday, September 20, between quarters of the Homecoming football game, Roncalli High School presented senior Lily Bauman with the 2024 “Spirit of the Family Tradition” Scholarship award. She was escorted by her parents, Julie (Rohrberg) and Doug Bauman, and Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events Brandi Young.
To be eligible for this scholarship, the $1,500 scholarship winner must be a child of a Sacred Heart Central, Kennedy Memorial, Bishop Chartrand or Roncalli alumna, must be a senior who has attended Roncalli for three years and must prepare a 500-word essay sharing their feelings and experiences about the “Spirit of the Family Tradition” at Roncalli. Lily’s mom Julie (Rohrberg) and dad Doug Bauman were both members of Roncalli’s Class of 1995.
Logan Bell, University of Oregon, Women’s Volleyball
Eva Hurrle, DePaul University, Women’s Volleyball
Mackenzie Kruer, Michigan State University, Women’s Soccer
Sophia Lewis, Marian University, Women’s Soccer
Sophie Young-Neawedde, Spalding University, Women’s Soccer
Lily’s family attends Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Church. She is a four-year member of the Roncalli girls tennis team, Linus Club and choir. She is manager of hair and makeup for theatre productions. For two years, Lily has been a member of the Campus Ministry Student Leadership Team and Anna’s Celebration of Life Board. She is also the French Club president and a member of the National Honor Society.
Senior Lily Bauman with parents, Julie (Rohrberg) R’95 and Doug Bauman R’95, and Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events Brandi Young
(left to right): Logan Bell, Eva Hurrle, Mackenzie Kruer, Sophia Lewis, Sophie Young-Neawedde
CLASS OF 2024 SAT SCORES
2024 STUDENT ATTENDANCE
INDIANA ACADEMIC ALL STARS
A TRADITION OF RECOGNIZED EXCELLENCE
The facts and stats celebrating 56 years of educational accomplishments
Roncalli has earned eight major distinctions and awards at the national level for the success and achievements of our academic and service learning programs.
National Exemplary Board Leadership Award
Natiional Blue Ribbon School Award Recipient Set A Good Example Award
1993, 1998, 2003, 2024
Roncalli was awarded the Nationl Blue Ribbon School Award given by the U.S. Department of Education on four separate occasions.
2003
One of only ve high schools in the nation honored for its outstanding Service Learning program by the U.S. Department of Education
One of ve Catholic school boards throughout the country to win Outstanding Board Leadership Award given by the National Catholic Educational Association. 8
Innovations in Education Award
2004
Selected by the Concerned Businessmen’s Association of America as the top school in the country in its Set A Good Example Award program.
2012
One of 12 Catholic schools throughout the country to win the Innovations in Catholic Education Award presented by Today’s Catholic Teacher at the Harvard Club in Boston, Massachusetts.
Award-winning Roncalli faculty include the Indiana Association for Health and Physical Education Educator of the Year; World Languages Teacher of the Year; Indiana Physics Teacher of the Year; Prelude Award Fine Arts Teacher of the Year; Indiana espian Hall of Fame Inductee; Indiana Non-Public Education Administrator of the Year; Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Finalist; Archbishop O’Meara Pro-Life Award; Indiana Special Education Administrator of the Year; Indiana Special Education Teacher of the Year; Saint eodora Excellence in Education Award; Angel Gabriel Award; Ivy Tech Indianapolis Campus President’s Award for Excellence in Dual Credit Instruction winner.
RONCALLI NAMED 2024 NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL
On Monday, September 23, Roncalli High School was recognized as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Roncalli becomes only one of forty high schools in the country to have earned this prestigious distinction four times, having won in 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2024.
Roncalli High School’s vision is to form disciples of Jesus Christ through the intercession of Saint John XXIII. We believe God has a unique plan and purpose for every student, and our commitment is to assist in seeing this plan fulfilled. Combining a faith-filled, values-based curriculum with instruction from some of Indiana's most accomplished and respected teachers, we are committed to our students’ success - success in the classroom, success in co-curricular activities and success in life.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award honors public and private K-12 schools that are academically superior in their states. “The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of students and educators at each of these schools,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools are raising the bar for our nation’s students, serving as models for effective teaching and intentional collaboration in their schools and communities. As we celebrate their achievements, let us look to these schools for inspiration as we champion education as the foundation of a brighter future for every child.”
VISIT THE RHS SPIRIT
OPEN DURING LUNCH PERIODS (11am-1pm M-F) UNIFORMS & SPIRIT WEAR SHOPPING FOR FALL, WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER - WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!
(https://www.facebook.com/RHSspirit)
CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE STORE & FACEBOOK PAGE FOR NEW ITEMS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, OPEN DURING LUNCH PERIODS (11 AM-1 PM M-F).
Contact Julie Gantner, director of Roncalli spirit store, jgantner@roncalli.org
The Roncalli Spirit Store is the only place to buy Roncalli Spirit Wear. Shop online or come in for an even larger selection.
NEW - Sports specific made to order apparel!
This shirt comes in three colors, three styles (t-shirt, crewneck and hoodie) and youth t-shirt. Available for Band and Choir (Fine Arts) and 16 Sports... Made to order, approximate 2 week turnaround.
2024 STATE THE GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
TEAM CAPTURES STATE TITLE AFTER AN UNDEFEATED SEASON
The Roncalli girls volleyball team accomplished the perfect season, topped off with the Class 3A state championship! The Royals went 35-0, only dropping five sets all season. The team defeated the Angola Hornets in the championship match 25-16, 25-18, 25-21 in front of a rowdy Roncalli crowd at Worthen Arena at Ball State University. Thank you to the four seniors, Logan Bell, Eva Hurrle, Mack Kruer and Josie Lezon, who led this team to a momentous, magical season. During the championship game, Bell ended her time as a Royal on a high note with 14 kills, 13 digs, 3 assists and 1 ace, and Kruer wrapped up her volleyball career with 7 kills.
Head varsity volleyball coach Christina (Dawson) Erazmus R’01 had this to say about the season, “The 2024 volleyball season was astounding! Going undefeated with the talent within
CHAMPIONS
Indiana was no small feat. Dominating performances in the postseason earned us a state championship, which was our primary goal after losing in semi-state in 2023. I am proud of the effort each player gave day in and day out throughout the season. We truly grew together as a team and volleyball family. What we did this season is historic, and we will be forever grateful for the excitement and success we experienced.”
Roncalli athletic director David Lauck R’94 added, “Congratulations to our girls volleyball program, Coach Erazmus and her staff on capturing the school’s fourth state volleyball championship! From start to finish, they competed and carried themselves as not only the best high school volleyball team in the state, but in the country. Job well done!”
FOOTBALL 2024 REVIEW
Head Coach:
Sam Otley R’11
Assistant Coaches:
Chris Belch R’85
Brian Lauck R’95
Roger Dodson
Brock Dodson
Luke Scifres R’10
Dave Burton
Scott Houser R’93
Kellen Schreiber R’18
Devon Belcher R’17
Will Kiesel R’11
Jake Eagan R’11
Sam Sedgwick R’18
The Royals went 7-5 this season under new head coach Sam Otley R’11. The team was led by great defense all season. They were a relentless group who played fast and physical all season. Toward the end of the season, the offense found their rhythm and were able to establish themselves during games. They ran the ball with greater success and made explosive plays when given the opportunity. Special teams developed greatly at the end of the season as well, and they played a significant role in key wins and the Royals’ playoff run. For their strong performance on the field, the following Royals were recognized as AllCircle City Conference players: seniors Robert Houser, Eli Lauck, Sam Neu, AJ Richardson and Rudy Schoettle, junior Brody Heidelberger and sophomore Will Hegwood. Lauck, Neu, Richardson, Schoettle and Hegwood were also all named All-County Honorable Mention. The Kiwanis Club honored Richardson as an All-Academic Nominee and Schoettle as a Great Player Nominee.
Although the team was disappointed to lose when they did, in the sectional championship game, there was much to be proud of all season. The Royals were ranked in the Top 25 in 4A to start the season, and by the end, they were ranked 3rd in 4A and in the Top 25 in the state. This had much to do with the senior leadership. They attacked the season and
fought through adversity together. They set a great example of attitude, effort and doing things the right way for future classes. It is no surprise that seniors took home all of the end-of-season awards: Rudy Schoettle was named MVP, Marty Babcock took home the Mental Attitude Award, Johnny Jaffe was given the Leadership Award and the Sportsmanship Award went to Henry Adams and Peyton Sisk.
Coach Otley had this to say about his first year as head coach, “The most memorable moments from this season were taking the field late at night after the lightning delay versus Guerin, beating Brebeuf in hurricane conditions, winning a hard-fought game at East Central and watching how much our team developed as strong, Catholic young men. There were countless examples of Roncalli football at its finest this season, and I am excited for the future. Go Royals!”
For the first time in 18 years, the Roncalli girls volleyball program ended the season as state champions! On top of that, they were Circle City Conference and Marion County champions. It was a historic season for sure, as the team went 35-0… perfection!
The team started the season with the motto “R Time”. They returned the majority of the playmakers from last season, and the goal was to make it to the state match. The team stayed focused on each opponent, and the Royals beat a number of really good teams. They knew they had something special as the season continued to roll on, but they never imagined they would go undefeated and be ranked #4 nationally. Coach Erazmus R’01 said, “Watching all the players and coaches walk across the stage to receive their blue medals and hoisting up the state trophy in front of our Royal fans was my favorite memory from the season! A close second would be beating topranked Hamilton Southeastern in three sets at home in front of 2,000 fans. The atmosphere in the gym was nothing we’d ever seen before.”
With a successful season like this, awards and accolades were abundant! Players receiving All-Circle City Conference recognition include seniors Logan Bell and Mack Kruer and juniors Addie Haberthy and Reagan Turk. These Royals, along with junior Lydia Stahley, were also all named IHSVCA All-District. Haberthy and Stahley were also named Junior Max Prep All-American. Bell and Kruer were also named South Senior All-Stars, while Haberthy, Stahley and Turk were all named South Junior All-Stars. AllState honors went to Bell, Haberthy, Kruer, Stahley and Turk. Senior Eva Hurrle was 2nd team All-State, and she
was also recognized as an AVCA Best and Brightest and Academic All-State. Kruer and senior Josie Lezon joined Hurrle in that Academic All-State recognition as well. All-County honors went to Bell, Kruer and Turk. The ACVA All-Region team honored Bell, Haberthy (who recorded her 1,000th career assist this year), Kruer and Turk.
For Bell, the future Oregon Duck, the recognition did not end there. She recorded both 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs this year. She was also named the ALL-USA Central Indiana volleyball 2024 Player of Year, an AVCA AllAmerican, 2nd team Academic AllState, Max Prep Player of the Year, Max Prep 1st Team All-American, and she is also a Ms. Indiana volleyball finalist. All this very much warrants her as the Royals MVP for the season. Additional Royals earning end-of-season Roncalli awards include Eva Hurrle with the Mental Attitude Award, senior Josie Lezon with the Leadership Award and Mack Kruer with the Sportsmanship Award. Coach Erazmus was also named the Class 3A Coach of the Year. This was truly a season that will never be forgotten.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL 2024 REVIEW
Head Coach: Christina (Dawson) Erazmus R’01
Assistant Coaches:
Jessica Bell
State Champions
Regional Champions
Sectional Champions
Circle City Conference Champions
Marion County Champions
BOYS TENNIS 2024
REVIEW
Head Varsity Coach: Rich Lord
Assistant Coach:
Lindsay (Squillace) Perry R’04
Chris Stanley - 1st Place Sectionals
The boys tennis team found themselves with a young roster this year, but that didn’t stop them from having a successful season. They finished the season with double-digit wins at 11-9, more than doubling last year’s win total. The team also played four teams in the Top 25 all season.
Coach Lord had this to say about the season, “I would say we exceeded expectations, always playing to the best of our abilities, increasing focus and intensity as the year went on. The team improved daily. Even though the team was so young, they were very coachable, and that’s all a program can ask for. I’m proud of the boys.”
Senior Chris Stanley had another fantastic year. He got a win at number one singles against North Central, won the sectional championship and was named All-Circle City Conference. He also got MVP for the season. Other
Royals taking home individual awards were freshman Brody Daeger with the Mental Attitude Award, junior Charlie Baker won the Leadership award and sophomore Brian Moreno took home the Sportsmanship Award.
The girls golf team had a very successful season, highlighted by freshman Ava Wenzel winning the Marion County Tournament and being awarded the team MVP. Wenzel was the first freshman to win this tournament for the Royals. Wenzel had this to share about her first season as a Royal golfer, “I am so proud of myself and the team for all of the accomplishments that we achieved this season. I am so excited for next year to see how the team develops and how I do in my sophomore season.”
Coach Waugh said, “Competing as a freshman on varsity is never easy, but Ava showed incredible determination. She inspired our entire team, and her future in girls golf is bright.”
Junior Kaelyn Taylor was given the Sportsmanship Award. Senior Tabitha Yoho was given the Mental Attitude Award this year, while senior captain Sami Fuller earned the Leadership Award. Reflecting on her senior season, Fuller shared, “ I have loved every golf season. I looked forward to each match and practice, made friends that I normally wouldn't have and learned a lot about myself. Golf has helped me
GIRLS GOLF 2024 REVIEW
Head Coach: Eunsun Waugh
Assistant Coach: Sophia Egold R’18
Ava Wenzel
- Marion County Champion
grow as a person; it hasn't just helped me stay active. Golf isn't the most popular sport, but it was definitely one of the highlights of my time at Roncalli. Being team captain has been an honor. It helped me in sorting out my future. I loved that everyone trusted me, and the leadership role gave me a new sense of maturity. My favorite part about being team captain was probably being assigned to drive the girls to golf matches. We would all get in my car and sing to music. We even made a playlist in memory of it.
One more moment that was very special to me was during senior night; all the girls wore their craziest socks, since throughout the years, I have worn novelty socks as a way to make the stress of competition more relaxed.”
BOYS SOCCER 2024
REVIEW
Head Varsity Coach:
Maurice Schilten
Assistant Coaches:
Daniel Ablog
Omar Khairy R’01
Tyler Uffelman
The boys soccer team finished their season 5-9-2. Despite the toughness of the schedule, more losses than wins, more disappointments than excitement, the team kept their heads up high and figured out how to be pretty competitive and pick up some solid wins along the way. The team had a great win against Columbus East 4-2, and they also beat a tough Perry Meridian squad 1-0. The best games of the season were against Heritage Christian, a decisive 3-1, followed by a 3-0 win over Bishop Chatard on senior night.
“The most memorable moment of the season was the Chatard win on senior night! We were on fire that game, and we handed Chatard their biggest loss of the season that night. The Trojans ended up having a record-breaking season, ultimately going on to win the Class 2A regional championship,” said head coach Maurice Schilten.
Although the season proved to be a difficult one, a lot of athletes were recognized for their hard work. Junior Cole Huff was named the team MVP,
and he also was named ISCA 2nd Team All-District 3, All-Circle City Conference, All-County and ISCA Academic All-State. Senior Andrew Curry also took home a number of awards this season, Roncalli Mental Attitude Award, Leadership Award and Sportsmanship Award. He was also recognized as ISCA Academic All-State. Joining him in that recognition were seniors Conner Johnson and Tomas Vecchio and juniors Anthony Litz, Logan Neyenhaus, Sam Purdy and Corbin Sejas.
Senior William Laker was named ISCA Top Team Player, and freshman Tanner Miller was recognized as All-Circle City Conference. Junior Jonny Harlow rounded out the accolades with an All-Circle City Conference and ISCA Academic All-State recognition.
The girls soccer team spent the early part of their season adjusting formations and finding how to organize their lineup to bring about the most success. They played in a variety of formations and players took on a number of different positions, and they finally hit their stride about halfway through the season. They made a deep run in the Marion County Tournament, as well as a deep run into the state tournament. The Royals were ranked in the top 10 for 2A girls soccer across the state, and they were also members of the Elite Eight. Varsity finished 11-8-2, scoring 74 goals and earning 9 shutouts. An impressive note, they only scored 32 goals as a team last season. The season’s schedule featured nine ranked teams between 1A, 2A and 3A.
This young team stepped up to the challenge and played against some steep competition. They had a nail-biting, 1-1 tie against Cathedral that truly changed the mentality of the team. It was in this game that the girls proved to themselves that they were capable of competing with the top teams and that they were a threat in 2A. The Royals swept the sectional bracket without conceding a goal, and every player on the sectional roster earned solid minutes in the postseason tournament. Of the 19 field players, 12 found the back of the net, and eight different players registered at least one assist this season.
Senior Summer Fishel had a breakout season scoring 36 goals and breaking the single-season school record. Additionally, she broke the career goal record with 70 goals, and this is with missing her entire junior season due to injury. This earned her the title of MVP, along with a number of additional accolades: ISCA 1st Team All-District, 2024 All-American, ISCA Academic All-State, All County, All-Circle City Conference, 1st Team All-State and
Regional All-American. She was also selected to play in the East vs West Game.
Joining Fishel with postseason recognition is senior Sophia Lewis. She earned ISCA 2nd Team All-District, All-County, All-Circle City Conference and ISCA Academic All-State. Senior Sophie Young-Neawedde was named ISCA Top Team Player, All-County and ISCA Academic All-State. Sophomore Demi Goss got All-County, and she earned the Roncalli Leadership Award. Junior Becca Engel received All-County and ISCA Academic All-State recognition. The following Lady Royals were recognized as ISCA Academic-All State, juniors Chelsy De La Cruz, Sammie Kegerreis and Micaiah Pierson, along with seniors Maria Paynter and Laylah Waugh, who also earned the Roncalli Mental Attitude Award. Senior Nathalie Grounds wrapped up the post-season awards, as she received Roncalli’s Sportsmanship Award. Coach Hersman said, “I am most proud of our Marion County run. We drew a tough path to the finals and played four games in six days. The girls played through varying field conditions and hurricane winds, but they earned the right to fight for a Marion County Championship. Although the final game didn’t give us the result we wanted, I am thrilled with how far we made it in the tournament.” She added, “The most memorable moment was hosting the first round of regionals though. The Royals had a dynamic crowd led by our parents, families, friends and students. The energy that night was contagious, and that is the first time in my eight years at Roncalli that we have made it past the first round of regionals. These ladies should be so proud of the season they had and it is such a joy to coach them!”
GIRLS SOCCER 2024 REVIEW
Head Varsity Coach: Lacey Hersman
Assistant Varsity Coaches: Romie Hersman
Mike Bishop
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
2024 REVIEW
Head Coach:
Jeff Buckley
Assistant Coaches:
Daniel Buergler R’13
Logan Wong R’20
George Purdy
Circle City Conference Champions
5th Place Sectional Finish
11th Place Regional Finish
State Finalist - Sam Vaught
The Royals completed one of the best-ever boys cross country seasons. The season began with a fifth-place finish at the Marion County meet. An undefeated September (27-0) followed, during which the Royals won their first-ever All-Catholic title and a Gold Division win at Shelbyville. They then closed out the month with the program’s first-ever Circle City Conference championship! The Royals advanced out of sectionals with a fifth-place finish, and closed out the season with an 11th-place finish in the challenging Shelbyville Regional.
Senior Sam Vaught led the way for the Royals. In seven meets, Vaught won twice, finished second four times and added a third-place finish to his resume. He was also the individual champion in the All-Catholic meet. His finishes in the Circle City Conference, Marion County and sectional meets earned him all-meet honors in the four starts. He capped off his season by becoming only the fourth runner in program history to
compete in the state finals. His personal best of 15:54 ranks second on the alltime school list. All of this contributed to him being named the team MVP.
The trio of junior Owen Lewis and sophomores Will Lewis and Jim Buchmeier worked together to provide a strong team with Vaught. Owen Lewis earned All-County, All-Circle City Conference and All-Sectional honors, and Will Lewis and Buchmeier earned All-Circle City Conference honors. Will Lewis continued his climb in the record books. His season-best time of 16:39 is the program’s second-fastest ever by a sophomore and the 18th-best on the all-time list. He also earned the team’s Mental Attitude award. Seniors John Wagner and Joe Buckel rounded out the Roncalli individual awards with Wagner taking home the Leadership Award and Buckel being recognized with the Sportsmanship Award.
Several young Royals also contributed to the successful season. Sophomore Thomas Mallers competed on varsity in every meet, and freshmen Luke Senac and Chris Jerry competed with the varsity in the state tournament. Senac also earned Freshman All-County honors.
The girls cross country team had another great season with one of the best teams in school history! During the regular season, the Royal ladies won titles at the Pike Hokum Karem and Southport dual meet and placed second at the All-Catholic Meet. The girls continued to work hard throughout the season culminating in winning a sectional title for the first time in school history! The girls now hold 9 of the 10 fastest team averages in school history.
Junior Charlie Fletter broke the school record this season with a time of 18:41! The previous record was held by Elissa Mason R’08 with a time of 18:50. Sophomore Tessa Mize ran the fastest time by a sophomore in program history and currently ranks #3 on the all-time top 20. Junior Ava Shirley ran the second fastest time by a junior and currently ranks #5 on the all-time top 20. Junior Madelyn Kitchens ranks #8 on the all-time top 20. Senior Rachel Flick ends her cross country career at Roncalli ranked #13. Junior Marygrace Rykowski broke into the top 20 list this year and is ranked #15.
Mize earned All-Circle City Conference honors. Fletter, Mize and Shirley earned All-County honors. Shirley, Mize, Fletter and Marygrace Rykowski all
earned All-Sectional Honors, and Mize was a state qualifier!
Madelyn Kitchens was given the Leadership Award this year, while junior Claire Meinerding earned the team’s Mental Attitude Award. Tessa Mize and Charlie Fletter were named the team’s MVPs for the season. Sophomore Clara Kazmierzak was given the Sportsmanship Award.
Senior Ellie Himes and juniors Shirley, Rykowski and Meinerding were named Academic All-State by the Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches (IATCCC).
Thank you to our seniors for a fantastic four years…we will miss you, Rachel Flick, Ellie Himes and Hannah Kazmierzak
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY 2024 REVIEW
Head Coach: Cathy (Howard) Kitchens R’01
Assistant Coach: Jenny Garro
Barry Howard
Team Sectional Champions
State Qualifier - Tessa Mize
RONCALLI FOUR TIME U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL
On Monday, September 23, Roncalli High School was recognized as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Roncalli becomes only one of forty high schools in the country to have earned this prestigious distinction four times, having won in 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2024.
Roncalli High School’s vision is to form disciples of Jesus Christ through the intercession of Saint John XXIII. We believe God has a unique plan and purpose for every student, and our commitment is to assist in seeing this plan fulfilled. Combining a faith-filled, values-based curriculum with instruction from some of Indiana’s most accomplished and respected teachers,
we are committed to our students’ success - success in the classroom, success in co-curricular activities and success in life.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award honors public and private K-12 schools that are academically superior in their states. “The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of students and educators at each of these schools,” said U.S. Secretary of Education
Miguel Cardona. “The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools are raising the bar for our nation’s students, serving as models for effective teaching and intentional collaboration in their schools and communities. As
we celebrate their achievements, let us look to these schools for inspiration as we champion education as the foundation of a brighter future for every child.”
Roncalli students, faculty and staff celebrated this great honor with a special ’Blue Day’ on Tuesday, September 24. All were out of uniform and dressed in blue! Administrators dyed their hair blue, blue cake pops were served at lunch and music featuring the word ’blue’ played during passing periods.
BLUE
RIBBON FAMILIES: Parents with current students who were also at Roncalli when we received our first Blue Ribbon in 1993.
ROYAL REASONS Meet Brandi
Brandi Young, Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events
There’s a new face roaming the halls at Roncalli High School! Brandi Young joined the Advancement team in July in a newly created position that merged existing roles to help grow the mission and vision of Roncalli High School. As Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events, Brandi holds responsibilities that are critical for the growth of our Roncalli community. She will be laser-focused on building relationships with our alumni by connecting graduates within and beyond their own classmates, building a stronger network of alumni.
Brandi’s role also includes the execution of Roncalli special events. Many may have already experienced some of those events over the football season or if you attended the Circle of Faith Distinction Dinner. Brandi brings in vast experience in strategy
and execution of educational, donor and stakeholder events. Her influence will bring a unique perspective and growth opportunity to all events from donors and alumni, to Walkathon and ROAR.
Brandi’s professional experience includes 20 years+ experience as a fundraising and special event executive at Simon Youth Foundation and retail marketing and management with Simon Malls throughout the U.S. Before coming to Roncalli, she worked as a sales and marketing professional for a brand management and marketing company. Brandi holds a bachelor’s degree in sports marketing from Indiana University.
Terese Carson, Hon’18, vice president for institutional advancement shared, "We are super excited to have Brandi join our
advancement team! She brings over 20 years of experience in the fundraising sector and event planning space. Her knowledge, creativity and drive will be an asset to advancing the mission of Roncalli for our students and alumni. Brandi loves metrics and her desire to make every event the absolute best it can be will benefit RHS for years to come! Please join us in welcoming Brandi!"
Brandi is married to Wes Novak and is a mother of two daughters. Her oldest, Khloe, is a Senior at University of Dayton majoring in social justice and anthropology with a law concentration. Her younger daughter, Sophie, a Roncalli senior and the varsity girls soccer goalkeeper, who will attend Spalding University as a soccer commit next fall. Brandi is often heard saying, “there’s a special sauce at Roncalli, and when I saw the position posted, I knew where I needed to be. I can’t wait to be part of that special sauce.”
In her free time, Brandi enjoys gardening, hiking, refereeing soccer and serves on two not-forprofit boards - Circle City Futbol Club as Vice President and Deeply Ingrained as President and Founding Board Member. Fun fact: Brandi’s home has 7 animals: 2 dogs (Parker and Bailey), 2 kittens (Bean and George), Guinea Pig (Pebbles), Bunny (Marshmallow) and a Bearded Dragon (Arlo).
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS
Aaron Evans R’09, Source: si.com
Aaron Evans R’09 is the new College Park Skyhawks general manager, the 4th in franchise history.
“I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity, and want to thank Landry, Kyle, and the rest of the front office for their belief in me. I’m thankful for the numerous people in the Hawks organization that have helped me grow over the last couple of years and continue to support me daily. Having started with College Park as a basketball operations assistant, this is a full circle moment and one that I couldn’t be more excited for,” said Evans. “I look forward to working alongside Coach Klei and the Skyhawks staff, as well as with the entire Hawks staff to build upon the vision of both player and staff development on and off the court.”
Aaron enters his third season with College Park, having served as the assistant general manager of the Skyhawks during the 2023-24 season.
He played a key role in helping to construct the roster of the best defensive team in College Park history, which saw the Skyhawks finish atop the league in multiple defensive categories and break numerous franchise records. He began with College Park as a basketball operations seasonal assistant in 2022-23 before his promotion to assistant general manager.
During his playing career at Marian University, Aaron was a two-time NAIA All-American, earning those honors in 2011-12 and 201314. He was also a three-time All-Crossroads Conference performer, a two-time team captain and a Capital One Academic All-District Team member. Before transferring to Marian, Evans earned All-CCAC first team honors and was named CCAC Newcomer of the Year at Purdue University Calumet. He also holds the singlegame scoring record at Purdue-Calumet with a 51-point performance.
Taylor (Wong) Melangton R’14, Source: IBJ
Taylor (Wong) Melangton R’14 is recognized as one of Indiana Business Journal’s 2024
Top 20 in their 20’s. As Visit Indy’s event and communication manager, Taylor creates and coordinates stake-holder events such as the ROSE Awards, State of Tourism, Hotel Symposium and many of Visit Indy’s year-round customer activations and trade shows. She also plans, executes and curates events for visiting VIPs to influence meeting decision-makers to book major conventions and events in Indianapolis. Melangton went to school expecting to be an athletic trainer for a professional sports team, but senior year decided that, while she loved sporting events, she didn’t enjoy the medical side. That realization led her to hospitality and tourism. She started at the Indianapolis Zoo, planning fundraising events such as Zoobilation and Zoolala, then went to the NBA All-Star Game staff. When the 2021 game was postponed due to COVID, she was hired by the College Football Playoff staff, where she helped plan and execute various parts of the event the city hosted in 2022. She joined Visit Indy after that. This year, the 32nd annual ROSE Awards, which she
coordinated, won the Event of the Year award from the Meeting Professionals International Indiana Chapter. "This event has been something that Visit Indy has had for many years," she said. "One thing I was told is that it could be improved each year and to continue to find new and innovative ways to make positive changes to make the event unique each year."
Hometown: Indianapolis
Education: bachelor’s degree in studio art/ drawing, Ball State University
Givebacks: board member/programs and education director, International Live Events Association Indiana chapter; member, Education Committee, Meeting Professionals International Indiana Chapter; founding member, Women’s Initiative for Self Empowerment
Something surprising: Growing up, she was terrified of mascots. "Now, being involved in sports, I am always around them—facing my fears."
Aaron Smith R’09, Source: IBJ
Aaron Smith R’09 is one of 40 individuals to be recognized as Indiana Business Journal’s (IBJ) 2024 Forty Under 40 for his leadership and accomplishments.
Aaron proclaims he has two jobs, and in both roles he’s "a problem solver, connector of people and a number cruncher." As a Noblesville city councilor, he’s been part of bringing more than $1.5 billion of private investment to the city, including the move of the Indiana Pacers’ G-League team from Fort Wayne to central Indiana. He was the city’s lead negotiator with PulteGroup to build a 603-acre development on the east side of Noblesville, and he wrote and helped pass an ordinance unique to Noblesville that protects buildings around downtown without hindering new development or personal property rights. The business Smith founded and runs, MTCHBX, is a creative and strategic communications firm that serves municipalities and the hospitality and tourism industries. It has seen revenue growth year over year, most recently closing out 2023 at a 45% rate of growth.
His nominator states: "He is a high-competence, high-character human being, mature beyond his years. He’s a foxhole guy, someone I would trust implicitly to have my back, professionally or personally, which is just one of many reasons why he is deserving of this recognition." - Brad Rateike
Roncalli High School is also proud to name Aaron as its newest member of its Board of Directors.
Years with organization: City of Noblesville, 4; MTCHBX, 7
Getting here: Smith started as a legislative correspondent for U.S. Sen. Dan Coats and advanced to digital media director. His job "was to ensure Sen. Coats was prepared, on time and ready to roll." When Coats retired in 2017, Smith started MTCHBX doing the same thing, just on the private-sector side. In 2019, he defeated a two-term incumbent to represent the downtown Noblesville district on the City Council.
First job: Food service (Jonathan Byrd’s), retail (Staples) and physical labor (farm)
Givebacks: Board, Noblesville Main Street; committee member, White River Vision Plan; treasurer, Advancing Noblesville Chamber Foundation
Influential moment: Wearing out a pair of shoes running for and winning a seat on Noblesville’s city council. "I spent months going door-todoor trying to convince my neighbors to adopt my vision for the future of Noblesville and met so many people along the way. It was tough but incredibly rewarding."
Advice: When possible, opt for in-person work and seek out mentors.
Gabriella R’22 and Nicholas Conjelko R’22, Source: IBJ
Gabriella R'22 and Nicholas Conjelko R’22 recently founded Strides for Sarcoma, a nonprofit organization to help fund research for sarcoma. They started this in honor of their cousin, Maia Amador R’34 who is currently battling Ewing Sarcoma.
The group had their first annual Strides for Sarcoma fundraising event this July that had over 500 attendees and collected over $12,500 in donations. These funds were given to three different research labs focused on finding a cure.
Other alumni involved in the organization include Cathy (Williams) Huebler R’85,
Jane (Williams) Pollard R’87, Julie (Williams) Conjelko R’89, Ann (Williams) Schneider R’94, Sarah (Williams) Amador R’96, Lauren Huebler R’14, Alexis (Conjelko) Mercuri R’17, Hannah Pollard R’21, Evan Koch R’22 and Sophie Schneider R’25.
You can follow the group at www. stridesforsarcoma.com or on Instagram @stridesforsarcoma for upcoming events and ways to connect.
CLASS NOTES
Amy (Crews) Browning R’94 joined Saints Francis & Clare of Assisi Catholic School teaching 4th grade. This year is Amy’s 19th year as an elementary teacher in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Amy has taught grades 1-6 over the years at St. Charles Borromeo, Our Lady of the Greenwood, St. Barnabas and now in her home parish of Saints Francis & Clare of Assisi. Amy is a 1998 graduate of Marian University and earned her masters in elementary education in 2003 from Indiana University.
Andrea and Kyle Stephenson R’03 welcomed their third son, Crew Wilder, on June 18. Crew’s siblings Fletcher Patrick (3) and Navy James (2) keep a watchful eye on their newest family member. Kyle is a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon at Riverview Health and the team physician for Westfield High School.
Father Tim Wyciskalla R’06 received a new assignment as episcopal vicar for clergy, religious and parish life coordinators.
Father Tim’s ministry history includes: 2014, associate pastor, St. Malachy, Brownsburg; 2015, associate pastor, Saints Francis & Clare of Assisi, Greenwood and chaplain coordinator, Roncalli High School, Indianapolis; 2016, granted permission to pursue a licentiate in canon law in Rome; 2019, administrator, St. Mark the Evangelist, Indianapolis, part-time metropolitan tribunal defender of the bond; 2020, pastor, St. Mark the Evangelist, Indianapolis.
Ali Rojas R’07 and Will Theodoros welcomed second child, Isla Alexandra, on August 22.
Ali (Carson) R’08 and DJ Coffey R’08 welcomed their first son, Matthew Alexander, to the family on August 1. Matthew will be well supervised by his older sisters, Tessa and Leah.
Kathryn Delacruz-Wright R’08 and Nathan Wright R’08 welcomed Isaiah into the world this last spring. Isaiah is in good company with big brother Jayden (3) and fur baby, Rocco, an Australian Shepherd. Kathryn is a dentist, practicing on the northwest side of Indianapolis, and Nathan is a senior director on the Business Transformation Team at Lilly.
Alyssa Beaman R’09 married Matthew Fortney on Sunday, September 1 at Newfields. The following Roncalli graduates were in the wedding: Stephanie (Gartrell) Behlmer R’09, Kelsey (Davis) Cranfill R’09 and Jessica (Beaman) Shugg R’06.
Eric and Amy (Broughton) Matthews R’09 expanded their family with son Gavin on April 20. He joined his two big brothers Byron (5 years old) and Travis (3 years old). Amy is in her 10th year of teaching and currently teaching 5th grade in Pike Township.
CLASS NOTES
Ashley (Holmes) R’09 and Drew Oeschle R’09 added number four making the Oeschle family a party of six! Vivian Grace was welcomed with open arms on August 15. Ashley is working for her brotherin-law’s concrete foundation company as an estimator and staff accountant. Drew is coming up on 10 years working for the city of Indianapolis, Indy Parks and Recreation of Golf Courses and recently promoted to finance and compliance analyst. Ashley and Drew have three children at St. Roch Catholic School.
Adam and Stephanie (Gartrell) Behlmer R’09 welcomed their second son on June 4. Stephanie is currently working as a clinical pharmacist and Adam is a PA in the Emergency Department, both at Franciscan Health. They are members of St. Jude Church, and Jake was recently baptized there.
Patrick Heckman, DO, R’10, has joined Franciscan Physician Network Oncology and Hematology Specialists. Patrick received his undergraduate degree from Hanover College and received his MD from the Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency training at Ascension St. Vincent and his fellowship at Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky.
Joey and Holly (Hartnett) Masur R’10 had a baby girl, Lainey Rose, on September 17. Lainey has two proud older siblings Lyla (3) and Joseph III (2).
Nick Jennings R’11 married Emily Deubelbeiss on June 29, 2024.
Brandon and Hannah (Hartnett) Sherman R’11 had a baby girl, Stella Irene, on September 12. The family resides on the southside and just celebrated their first anniversary in September. Hannah is as a physician assistant with the hospitalist service at Community North.
Lexi and Danny Rojas R’12 welcomed a baby boy, Leo William, into their family on October 13.
Mark and Casey (Corsaro) Hatfield R’12 welcomed their third daughter, Teagan Rose, on August 14. Teagan is well watched over by her big sisters, Paisley (10) and Addison (6). Casey is an occupational therapist with Beech Grove City Schools.
Joel Morgan R’13 married Madeline Rosado on Saturday, August 3 in Colorado. Roncalli graduates in the wedding included Ben Morgan R’21, Tyler Halter R’13, Michael Clements R’13 and Sal Ray R’13.
CLASS NOTES
Barry McGinley R’13 and Lily Fillenwarth tied the knot June 1 at the Biltwell Event Center. Roncalli graduates in the wedding included Mason Nickell R’13, Daniel Ferry R’13, Joe Kieffer R’13 and Patrick McGinley R’23.
Lucas Jacob R’13 married (Victoria) Tory Blackwell on October 5, in Holland, Michigan, at her family’s lakeside cottage, a place that holds so much meaning for both of them. Lucas spent four years living in Holland after college, and Tory’s family has owned this cottage for over 100 years. The couple currently lives on the northwest side of Indianapolis with their two dogs, Luna and Stella. Lucas is currently pursuing his law degree at IU McKinney.
Kylie (Schreiber) R’13 and Joe Wolf R’13 welcomed their baby, Nicholas Joseph on September 24.
Brooks and Maria (Van Auken) Weszely R’14 welcomed their baby girl Sophia in January 2024, she was six weeks early and spent four weeks in the NICU. In July, the two were wed in an intimate ceremony surrounded by immediate family. In October, they purchased their first home together in Greencastle, Indiana. Maria recently was promoted to senior coordinator of VIP Services for Penske Entertainment and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Brooks is an employer consultant for Ivy Tech Community College.
Shelby and Christopher Fey R’14 welcomed Grayson Paul to their family on August 19.
Taylor (Wong) Melangton R’14 and her husband Cameron welcomed Samuel Kennedy Melangton on May 29.
Emily Green R’15 married Alexander Trono in Fort Worth, Texas on August 31 in a Catholic Ceremony performed by Father Matthew of St. Andrew Catholic Church. The reception was hosted at The Hotel Drover following the ceremony. Roncalli
graduate Kathya Perez R’15 was a bridesmaid. Emily and Alexander met at Purdue University and now live in Fort Worth. Emily graduated from Purdue University in 2019 with a degree in industrial engineering. In 2023, she completed her Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a concentration in systems engineering management. Emily currently works as a systems engineer for Lockheed Martin on military fighter aircraft.
Matthew and Maria (Hollowell) Krach R’16 welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Lily Jane on August 16.
CLASS NOTES
News from Alumni
Anna Marie Lawrie R’16 was married to Matthew Moore on Friday, October 4 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. Roncalli graduates in the wedding included Emma (Lawrie) Goldenberg R’15, Grace Lawrie R’18, Judson Lawrie R’23 and future graduate Xavier Lawrie R’26.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
Bishop Chartrand eventWednesday, March 12
Sacred Heart/Kennedy Memorial event - Wednesday, March 19
Adrian Daves R’18 married Dalton Titzer on July 13 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
Grace Armbruster R’19 graduated Purdue University in 2024. Grace was recently commissioned to the Air Force as second lieutenant.
Logan Wong R’20 graduated from the University of Indianapolis this past May with a Communications degree and, a minor in Photography. His focus is on Sports Photography. He can be found working video cameras at some Indianapolis Indians and Indy Eleven games as well as shooting photos at many high school and college cross country and track & field meets. He is also assisting Coach Buckley with the Roncalli Boys Cross Country team.
UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION
It is so easy. Simply scan the QR code and fill-in the form!
Are you looking for help planning a reunion? Contact Brandi Young, director of alumni relations, at 317-787-8277 ext. 242 or online at byoung@roncalli.org.
Homecoming - Honoring Classes of ’75 & ’00
Each year at Homecoming, the Alumni Association honors the Golden Anniversary class. We also welcomed back the 25-year anniversary class of ’00. Due to a quick change in the weather, the majority of the 2000 class relocated before the group picture.
Save the Date for The Greatest Show on Earth
"ROAR"
Saturday, April 26, 2025
Roar is our premier annual fundraiser that supports our annual fund projects including tuition assistance, student enrichment, teacher development and school improvements.
The night consists of food, drinks, silent and live auctions, raffles, live entertainment and much more.
We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers for our planning committee to help make ROAR The Greatest Show on Earth!
We are also seeking items for our auctions (vacation rentals, tickets to local sporting events, behind-thescenes experiences, home improvement services, gift cards, etc.).
Make a tax-deductible donation to our silent and live auctions. Please contact Brandi Young, director of alumni relations and special events, at 317-787-8277 ext 242 or byoung@roncalli.org.
Yearbooks
Missing yearbooks: Chartrand 1966, Roncalli 1971 and 1973
Need additional yearbooks for years (we only have one):
• Sacred Heart - 1960
• Chartrand - 1969
• Kennedy - 1967, 1968 & 1969
• Roncalli - 1972, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1999, 2020
Please contact Brandi Young, director of alumni relations and special events, at 317-787-8277 ext 242 or byoung@roncalli.org.
50 Year Class of 1975
25 Year Class of 2000
Gathering at the new Kennedy Memorial Pavilion for fellowship, food and football
THE IMPACT OF THE NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS
Katie (Groves) Hibner R’10, Director of Campus Ministry
The last few Update articles I have written have been about the National Eucharistic Revival and the Congress. Now that the Congress has come and gone, it is only fitting for me to write about the experience. I was fortunate enough to attend all five days of the congress alongside high school students from around the country, including our own Roncalli students. I want this to be in writing:
The National Eucharistic Congress made a profound impact on my life.
Even months later, I am still processing the fruits of attending and I truly can’t wait to see what it does for our city after hosting such a momentous event. I want to share with you three of my highlights and include some of my own personal thoughts over the past three years of this revival.
The first night of the congress was entering into the unknown. We had no idea what to expect. The first general session was getting to see the four Eucharistic Procession groups that had traveled from the four corners of the country enter Lucas Oil Stadium. That gives me goosebumps just thinking about it even now! Seeing them and what their journeys took them throughout the country was beautiful, then to see them be united (in Indy of all places - proud Hoosier right here) was a sight. We started the evening with a holy hour. One hour of kneeling, and I have to tell you that my first thought was “what have I gotten myself into? I am not prepared for this.” I’m not sure why I didn’t think we’d be in Adoration at the National Eucharistic Congress, but for some reason, I didn’t. My knees hurt so bad and it was so hot in there! I tell this story, to first admit that my human flaws were loud and clear that night, but secondly to admit that the cliche is true: practice makes progress. Much like working out, you get stronger, in holy hours, the more you do them, the stronger you get. By the end of day five, my knees weren’t buckling anymore, I wasn’t worried about getting hot… it was like they had something in mind when doing a holy hour every day. Every
time you do it, it gets easier. I was amazed at the devotion to the Eucharist of those around me, my mind being quiet, the ability to actually just sit with God. It was unreal.
This whole revival got started over three years ago because a study revealed that most Catholics don’t actually believe in the “real presence” of the Eucharist. That’s a problem as this is the source and summit of the Christian life. I started to reflect on my own beliefs. Do I believe that the Eucharist is the real body and blood of Jesus? Yes I do. Do I feel it? Not necessarily. So what did I do? I started praying for Eucharistic Miracles. Every Mass at my parish of St. Mark, every Mass at Roncalli was just me thinking “Come on, God, you can do this!” You’d think that after studying how God works that I’d know that this is exactly how he does NOT work. God works in unexpected and quiet ways, and a Eucharistic Miracle isn’t the only way to figure this whole thing out. Turns out, I needed the congress before I even knew I needed it. I was praying one night in Adoration at the congress about how I just wanted to “feel” the Eucharist and its power in my life. I got the sense of God’s overwhelming love for me at that moment and began to sob. It’s pretty bad when the teenager from Texas who is in your group pats you on the shoulder and says “it’ll be okay.” The ugly cry was what was happening at this point. I realized in that moment that maybe that’s all the Eucharist is about - it’s about remembering that every time you go up to receive it, you just need to remember that God loves you so much that he literally died and gave up his body for you and even now, you get to receive him. Three years of praying for me to feel the Eucharist and all I had to do was put myself in front of it. God is just too good.
Another unexpected gift of the congress was the fact that no matter what age you were, you were going to be greatly affected by it. I’ve been to youth conferences focused on youth, I’ve been to events for teachers and campus ministers, I’ve been
at things for parents - this was the only conference I’ve been to that was truly for everyone. I, alongside our own students, experienced powerful times of prayer, the great Catholic speakers of our time and celebrated Mass with thousands. I saw it change my life and change theirs, too. It makes sense that the only place where every person - from infant to elder - could experience this type of community is in Jesus’ Church. One of the speakers commented that at the last Eucharistic Congress 80 years ago, there were some pretty notable people in attendance - people like Venerable Fulton Sheen, Mother Teresa, Dorothy Day. How cool is it to think about who we will be pointing out at the next congress?! Sister Miriam James, Fr. Mike Schmitz, our own students?! Saints in the making.
My favorite Bible story is in John chapter 6 when Jesus is teaching on the Eucharist and people are telling him the teaching is too hard. Does Jesus back down? Nope. He doubles down so much so that he allows the people who do not believe it to walk away.
Life will be hard at some point. Don’t walk away. Lean in. There’s no doubt about it - God is at work in the Church. The Holy Spirit is working.
“As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, ’Do you also want to leave?’ Simon Peter answered him, ’Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” -John 6:66-69
Student Testimonials:
“It was so powerful being able to experience the gift of the Eucharist with thousands of other Catholics from around the country in our backyard. This Congress has allowed me to more fully recognize Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist, which I encounter at Mass but also Adoration on Wednesday mornings.”
- Senior Lily Bauman, Saints Francis & Clare of Assisi
“The National Eucharistic Congress was an experience like no other. Nothing was more beautiful, powerful or moving than being surrounded by 65,000 people who were so in love with Jesus through the Eucharist, and were praising Him in the ways they knew best.”
- Senior Isabella Traylor, St. Mark
“The Eucharistic Congress showed me the power of prayer through silent Adoration, daily Mass, and incredible worship music. The experience allowed me to meet people from around the United States and enjoy new ways to worship our God. I am forever grateful for the experience.”
- Senior Molly Resler, St. Jude
“The Eucharistic Congress made me aware of how we are not alone as individuals; we are all united as a giant family, created to love each other and worship God together. The Congress reminded me of how much Jesus wants to be with me in the Eucharist.”
- Senior Clare Diez, Holy Name
Roncalli students and Mrs. Hibner with senior Ava Maled (center, yellow) who was chosen to speak on the power of the Eucharist in her life at the Congress in the Exhibit Hall as a part of Marian University’s Speak All Ways Initiative.
THE LAST WORD
The Continuity of Excellence
Kevin Banich R’09, Principal
For the fourth time in school history, Roncalli High School has been named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Every year since 1983, The U.S. Department of Education recognizes public and private elementary, middle and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has presented more than 10,000 awards to over 9,700 schools across the country. Fewer than 40 other schools in the country have earned this prestigious award four or more times. This places Roncalli as one of the premier educational institutions in the country.
My career in education started as a social studies teacher. One of my favorite historical questions to ask students was to analyze the continuities and changes that have taken place over a period of time. For Roncalli, it is important to look at what has remained the same and what has changed between winning our first Blue Ribbon in 1993 to winning our most recent this year. For simplicity’s sake, take a look at the chart comparing Roncalli in 1993 compared to 2024.
In summary, a significant amount has changed at Roncalli since 1993, which begs the question: what has stayed the same? Yet there is an even more important question that exists: if so much has changed, how can Roncalli remain excellent? I think the answer to both of those questions is critical in understanding the excellence that is Roncalli.
What has remained unchanged at Roncalli is the mission, commitment and the foundation of our community.
At Roncalli, we remain laser-focused on our vision statement of “Forming disciples of Jesus Christ through the intercession of Saint John XXIII.” While that statement did not exist in 1993, it has remained a part of our DNA since the foundation of the school in 1969. When you make the turn down Prague Road, you are greeted by the overwhelming scene of Calvary and our beautiful Sacred Heart Chapel. Those are not just facades; they represent who we are at our core. Because of our mission, we have been able to stay focused on what is most important in our curriculum, extracurriculars and daily life as Royals.
Every day at Roncalli, we have the opportunity to walk into a building where every single person has made a decision and sacrifice to be a part of this community. This commitment has been made by the students, parents, guardians, faculty and staff. Each person has given their time, talent, treasure and prayers to be a part of this family. Because of that, we are
surrounded by people who are on fire to provide a transformational educational experience.
Finally, it is always important to recognize that while Roncalli is a tremendous high school, it is only four years of a child’s journey. We do not build the foundation for the child but instead build upon that strong foundation. Our students are blessed with an incredible foundation that has been established in the home. When I have the opportunity to speak to our parents, I always remind them that their dinner table is more important than our cafeteria table. In addition, the vast majority of our students come from the 14 parishes of the South Deanery and 10 feeder schools. Those parishes and schools have played a vital role helping the parents and guardians construct a strong faith and academic foundation for us to cultivate even further. Without the support of the home, parishes and grade schools, Roncalli could not thrive.
All three of these factors - our mission, commitment and foundation - have remained constant not just from 1993 but from 1969. In fact, these three pieces of continuity go back to our days as Bishop Chartrand, Kennedy Memorial and Sacred Heart. Nearly every aspect of our school and community has changed, but the excellence, and the reason for that excellence, has remained constant and consistent. It is for those reasons that Roncalli can stand proudly as a four-time National Blue Ribbon School!
Well done, our good and faithful Royals!
If you are receiving multiple copies of this publication and wish not to, please contact Fran Davey, Hon’21 at 317-787-8277 x238 or via e-mail at fdavey@roncalli.org. Visit our website at www.roncalli.org or e-mail us at update@roncalli.org
