55+ donors and life-saving impact: biannual Blood Drive a success BY Sam Kappel and Ethan Heavey Staff, reporter
aint Louis U. High has always emphasized that you should give 100 percent of what you have into everything you do. Unless, of course, you’re giving blood. On Tuesday, SLUH held its biannual Blood Drive in the Danis Theater Lobby. The room was packed with student volunteers, donors, and doctors — all working together to support those in need. Science teacher Tim O’Keefe was behind each facet of the planning and logistics that went into producing the results. As O’Keefe is also the moderator of the Medical Careers Club, the club’s members and other student volunteers were responsible for the basic setup and take down, making sure that the area was prepared for student donations. “Having the Medical Careers Club do the Blood Drive is great,” said O’Keefe. “It gives us a mission. It gives us an opportunity to do a
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Sophomore Evan Tuffli giving blood. community service project and get the guys thinking about medicine.” “We kind of helped out with scheduling, and they don’t need a whole lot of guys there,” said junior Dominic Grebel, a member of the club. “But still, they do need guys helping out.”
photo | Henry Willers
Grebel said it was easy to volunteer. “Mr. O’Keefe will send out signups,” said Grebel. “You sign up when you’re available. This time I did it during Activity Period. … Then you can just eat some snacks, do your homework, and help out.”
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SLUH hosts diocesan immigration convention BY Logan LaVear and Everett Duffy Core Staff, reporter
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he St. Louis U. High campus recently hosted “Witness to Hope: Care of Immigrants from a Catholic Perspective,” an event sponsored by the Archdiocese of St. Louis to address the pressing issues of the treatment of immigrants nationwide. Taking place last Saturday, the conference hosted representatives from archdioceses across the country to determine ways to help their respec-
SLUH welcomes German and French students in annual exchange BY Jack Case and Charlie LaBarge Staff
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sluh.org/prep-news
St. Louis University High School | Friday, October 30, 2026
Volume XCI, Issue IX
tive immigrant communities. “I think it’s very important to keep these issues alive in the minds and hearts of us here in the building — our students, faculty, and our staff,” said President Fr. Matt Stewart, SJ. “There are people in our immediate community whom this affects, these policies and things. So, I think the more we can keep our minds and hearts open to this issue the better it is.” The planning for the all-day meeting began in June when Catholic IMMpact, a joint committee between
the Hope Border Institute and the Center for Migration Studies of New York, contacted St. Louis Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski to host an event in St. Louis regarding immigration following the call for the affirmation of the dignity of immigrants by the USCCB (US Conference of Catholic Bishops) “I think it’s really important, and I think it really sends a positive message about the archdiocese because we are one church at the end of the day, and so we need to care for all of
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ver the past two weeks, St. Louis U. High School has welcomed exchange students from partner schools in Rambuillet, France and Berlin, Germany. The German school, Canisius Kolleg, has just recently partnered with SLUH. The French students have already been in contact with their respective SLUH families. Over this past summer, a group of French SLUH seniors took an immersion trip to France, staying with their families from across the pond. So to continue the transaction, the French students came over to the United States to stay with their SLUH brothers. The SLUH seniors have made sure that they feel welcomed, and have been giving them a truthful immersion into St. Louis. “I do know that our families are doing an amazing job of making sure that they are experiencing lots of different American activities, like pumpkin carving. They had a bonfire and I think some of the boys told me that they went to a Halloween party.” said French teacher Annie Hilmes. “They have been trying to do a lot of things to keep the French students engaged and experiencing whatever our boys are doing. So I have to hand it to our host families. They’re doing an amazing job of taking care of the boys, especially since they don’t have a teacher here with them.”
“We went to the soccer and hockey game and have been trying all these different foods, like Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, and Canes,” said senior Jack Kilcullen. “We traveled around a lot. We shopped a bunch, went to a museum, worked out a lot, and pretty much just hung out together.” The students are coming to SLUH to build their experience with American culture and how an American student goes through their day. Both groups have been going to classes, and immersing themselves with the SLUH brotherhood. “What they do is they come to school, and they might shadow, and sit in another class so they just can kind of observe how an American classroom is. And then Mr. Chura has excursions planned for them,” said Hilmes. “In these shorter two-week language immersion programs, the kids visit classes just to see what life is like at SLUH, and to see what a physics class looks like, and what a theology class looks like, and things like that,” said Director of Global Education Rob Chura. “I do an American culture and English class with them most days of the week, and then after lunch, we go see some of the major sites in St. Louis. They’ve been to the Arch, they’ve been to the zoo, the Art Museum and the Science Center last week.” This marks the first year that SLUH has had a connection with a German school. The German
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Jed Foundation’s impact on mental health within SLUH
BY Tommy Pitlyk and Alex Pingleton Staff, reporter
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ne can almost never know right away when a friend is struggling with mental health issues. Fortunately, St. Louis U. High has taken steps towards addressing this issue through collaboration with the Jed Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose aim is to provide mental health tools and services for schools
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around the country. The Jed Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was founded by two parents who lost their son to suicide in 1998. Jed’s parents, Phil and Donna Satow, created and launched the foundation in 2000, dedicating it to the awareness and prevention of suicide on school campuses. While the program was initially focused on universities and high education centers, it has since expanded into high school programs as well.
news Spirit of KEEN Award Kids Enjoy Exercise Now awards PE teacher Patrick Zarrick with the Spirit of KEEN award after more than two decades of close collaboration. Page 2 feature Pham Vietnam trip Biology teacher and ASA moderator Nham Pham traveled to Vietnam, looking into possible Global Ed sites. Page 3
When the world seemingly shut down during the Covid pandemic six years ago, mental health was often put on the back-burner when it needed the most help. Once everything began to return to normality around 2023, the need for mental health support was still present, but the awareness was severely lacking. That is why Director of Student Health Scott Gilbert and Assistant Principal for Student Wellness and
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news Wilson art at Lambert Art teacher Kevin Wilson was selected to be a part of the “Calls from a Bank” exhibit at Lambert Airport. Page 4 sports Hockey With a new season comes new captains. Varsity Hockey made a strong start, playing for charity and winning their three first games. Page 5
Rambuillet students with Jr. Bills.
photo | Courtesy of Annie Hilmes
sports AOTW Fourth year on varsity, captain, and now Athlete of the Week, Senior Jack Hoehn reflected on his love for SLUH hockey and his goals for the season. Page 6
entertainment Acrostic Puzzle A Halloween Special! Puzzle it up with this week’s crossword from Mr. Baud! Page 8
sports Football The rivalry continues. Football travelled to Kansas City to play, once again, to play against their Jesuit Rival, Rockhurst. Page 7
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News
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Features
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Sports
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Prep News
October 30, 2026
Volume 91, Issue 9
AMDG
Zarrick recognized by KEEN for two decades of dedication BY Lucas Nolan and Warner Cole Staff, reporter
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fter nearly two decades of providing opportunities for children and young adults with disabilities, St. Louis U. High PE teacher Patrick Zarrick was recognized with the Spirit of KEEN Award at the organization’s annual gala, held at SLUH. The award recognizes individuals or organizations whose generosity and dedication have played a significant role in the success of KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now), a nonprofit organization providing recreational and athletic opportunities for youth with disabilities. Around 2006, KEEN was searching for a new location to host its athletic programs. After struggling to find a facility in St. Louis, the organization asked SLUH about using the Field House. Zarrick brought the request to the school administration, which was approved. As KEEN’s programs have expanded over the years, SLUH began providing additional access to facilities including the wrestling room and dance studio.
The relationship between Zarrick and KEEN grew beyond providing space for KEEN activities. After witnessing the impact KEEN had on its athletes, volunteers, and families, Zarrick became increasingly more involved with the organization, eventually joining its board of directors. “Part of the reason that I stayed is because just witnessing the work that KEEN does,” said Zarrick. His continued involvement helped to establish a lasting relationship that continues to provide SLUH students with service opportunities and, more importantly, to make an impact on the lives of KEEN athletes. Assistant Director of Admissions Jennifer Thomas, who assumed responsibility for the school’s relationship with KEEN following Zarrick’s stepping down from the board, emphasized the importance of Zarrick’s contributions to the organization’s growth. “Mr. Zarrick is probably singlehandedly the individual that has been most impactful to KEEN and the opportunities that we’ve had to grow our programming here in St. Louis,” said Thomas. One of the most significant aspects
of the relationship with SLUH is SLUH’s willingness to provide their facilities for no cost. According to Thomas, this generosity has allowed KEEN to direct its limited funds to equipment, programming, and additional opportunities for its athletes and volunteers. “Mr. Zarrick consistently says yes,” said Thomas. “And so does SLUH.” That willingness to support KEEN made Zarrick the perfect choice for the Spirit of KEEN Award, which is presented annually to someone who has made an exceptional contribution to KEEN. “We couldn’t think of anybody better to celebrate this year than him as he’s retired from our board,” said Thomas. Beyond providing SLUH’s facilities, Zarrick believes KEEN has played an instrumental role in helping SLUH students fulfill SLUH’s mission of becoming men for others. Because KEEN activities take place on weekends, students who are busy with sport or other extracurricular activities during the school week still have opportunities to participate in this meaningful service through KEEN. “They look forward to KEEN on Sundays, and for some, that’s the high-
light of the week,” said Zarrick. Zarrick also emphasized the importance of the program for the parents, many of whom spend most of their time caring for their children. “For some of these parents, who are basically 24/7 caregivers, KEEN is the only break they get,” said Zarrick. Although the relationship between SLUH and KEEN has remained strong over the years, the organization itself has faced significant challenges. During the Covid-19 pandemic, KEEN’s in-person programming came to an abrupt halt, creating financial difficulties that threatened its future. With inperson activities stopped and donations declining, the organization’s board considered closing KEEN altogether. However, several staff members and volunteers stepped up to save the organization, rebuilding its leadership and restoring the programming. Thomas, who has volunteered with KEEN for more than a decade now, serves as president-elect of its board. The board has expanded to nine members, and KEEN has strengthened both its financial situation and volunteer base. According to Thomas, this year’s KEEN Gala was among the most successful in the orga-
nization’s history. Thomas credits the organization’s recovery to its volunteers, community supporters, and longtime leaders such as Zarrick. “To see the evolution from what KEEN was before Covid, to the almost closure of KEEN, to where we are now in just five short years is really a testament to the volunteer base and the support we get in our community,” said Thomas. For Zarrick, the recognition represents nearly two decades of involvement with an organization that has become an integral part of the SLUH community. Although he has retired from his position on KEEN’s board, the partnership he helped establish continues to provide meaningful experiences for athletes, families, and SLUH students alike. Zarrick encourages students who have not yet volunteered with KEEN to consider getting involved, emphasizing the relationships they can build with athletes and the impact they can have on families. “Working directly with an athlete, one-on-one, and establishing a relationship, that’s very valuable for those kids,” said Zarrick.
School takes steps to promote positive mental health environment (continued from page 1)
Discipline Brock Kesterson coordinated with Brad Richmond, the main point of contact from Chicago between SLUH and the Jed Foundation, to begin integrating these tools into daily SLUH life. There are many important steps that must be taken in order to implement this program into the St. Louis U. High community. “First, we needed the money to afford the Jed program,” said Gilbert. “We were so blessed to be recipients of some grant money from the Boniface Foundation, a private foundation that looks to support wellness, well-being, education, and health
services for students right here in St. Louis.” While the money is crucial to begin the process, a program administrator is what brings the program to life. So, Gilbert and Kesterson began a search for faculty members who were both willing and fitting to help run it. “We had to organize what we call a steering committee around the school,” said Gilbert. “Dr. Kesterson and myself, we identified people around campus that might be good fits to be on the steering committee. We needed input from everybody. That is something we found to be very valuable.”
After selecting these special data collectors, they were then stationed around the school in major places where students usually spent their free time: campus ministry, athletics, administration, etc. Through this, the collectors could identify problems with mental health for students in all areas of their schedule. The next step, after collecting, is directly going to the students, instead of just observing them. This is where the survey came into play. “Several years ago, when we first started, there was a survey to see where we were as a school,” said Gilbert. “And basically what it showed us was: what were our strengths,
SLUH hosts diocesan event for care of immigrants (continued from page 1)
our neighbors, regardless of where they’re from,” said Nerinx senior and intern at the Office for Peace and Justice Harper Searcy. “So the fact that so many people from so many different places around the Midwest — people from Nebraska, Kansas, all over Missouri — I think it just really speaks to our Church being a church of love as we are trying to care for our neighbors.” It wasn’t until July that the Director of the Office of Peace and Justice Marie Kenyon contacted Stewart to host this event on SLUH’s campus. “That we are partnering with the Archbishop of St. Louis on things that are important to him and that the archdiocese feels not just good, but is excited to be here to do things like this — I think is a great thing for our school, right?” said Stewart. “So I think our school partnering with the archdiocese is incredibly important.” Starting with a light breakfast, the event featured a multitude of different speakers and panels from different organizations. For example, one speaker talked about Catholic social teachings and immigration enforcement; another about knowing your rights in immigration enforcement situations. “Sixty-three percent of the people (in our dioceses) that are eligible for deportation are Catholic,” said Kenyon. “And so we have to figure out how we can support them and talk a little bit about why it’s important for the church
to support them. So we started the day hearing from impacted families.” After a morning of panels, the congregation convened for Mass around midday, centered around the care for the marginalized and displaced. The Mass was presided over by the bishop of Jefferson City Fr. Ralph O’Donnell, and it was assisted by Stewart. “Jesus identifies Himself with the stranger and calls us to welcome Him in those we might otherwise overlook,” said Stewart in his remarks during the Mass. “In Jesuit education, we want our students to learn to recognize Christ in the migrant and the refugee, and to allow that encounter to shape how they live.” Following the Mass and lunch, the group ended the day with multiple small group discussions where participants discussed how to bring what was learned from the talks to their own dioceses. This discussion topic consisted of how the church could best help treat the immigrants to the best of their abilities. “Care for migrants and refugees is as old as Scripture. Care for people who are on the move is as old as the Covenant with Abraham and older,” said Stewart. “Jesus himself had to flee for his safety when he was born; there’s something about being displaced and searching for a home that is something that is true about all of us. There’s a sense that earth is not our homeland, but God’s kingdom is.”
and what were our weaknesses? And, obviously, we were proud of our strengths that we already had in place, but we had several areas of deficiency that we needed to tidy up.” All of this work isn’t just to reduce or avoid suicide and emotional discomfort; the program works to ensure that the factors causing such issues are also dealth with. Factors like peer pressure and social media are driving mental anguish for those with mental health issues. “I love SLUH because instead of just sitting here watching things happen, we are aware of what’s going on around us,” said Gilbert. “We aren’t going to run away from the
problems; we are going to run towards them and address them.” Outside of the survey, students can become involved with mental health awareness and support. At the Wellness Center, students who are struggling with mental wellness and being overwhelmed can come to meditate or just talk to someone about what’s bothering them. “There are two social workers on rotation for us,” said Kesterson. “If you guys need anything beyond the scope of what happens in the hallway, we have people for that. We need to hold ourselves accountable for what we haven’t done in the past.”
Mental Health Minute Self - Compassion
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know a man who is a multi-millionaire. He’s miserable. He thinks that bad things always happen to him. As one example, on September 11 th , 2001, he had a ticket to board one of the two planes that were destined to crash into the Twin Towers in New York City. In an incredible turn of fate, he got permission from his boss to extend his business trip another day. That extra day in New York saved his life. What asked about it all, his first reaction was to say “It was such a pain trying to drive home to California!” As one more example, a friend of mine recently had dinner with him on Malibu Beach in California. Though their ocean-front restaurant offered a stunning vista, he complained because he “couldn’t find anything on the menu that he wanted to eat.” Psychologists speak of something called “Attentional Bias.’ It can be defined as: The psychological tendency of the brain to focus selectively on specific environmental stimuli while ignoring others. It acts like an internal filter shaped by emotions, memories, and survival instincts. So, what’s your attentional bias? Like my
friend, do you expect things to always go badly? Or, do you tend to look for the good in life and celebrate it? I don’t want to gloss over serious mood issues. I really believe that my friend is suffering and that he needs great counseling and/or medication to help him change his attentional bias. In the meantime, I wish that he could at least begin to “notice” his pattern – so that he could interrupt his thoughts enough and choose to savor some of life’s little joys. For the rest of us, here is a mindful journey of questions (an examen of sorts) that might help shift our fields of focus:
throughout your day? - Can you take a breath as you move between your classes – appreciating the hustle and bustle of students shuffling down the hallowed hallways of our venerable school? - If you’re a nature lover (and walking down a crowded hallway between classes is not your thing), can you head outside and relish the fresh air and the trees that surround this beautiful campus?
- As we wrap our school day in prayer, can you appreciate that a SLUH student took the time to find a prayer to remind you of - Can you appreciate (whether God’s love for you? you like dogs or not) that Serena is outside at the turn-around ev- When you leave SLUH for the ery morning to welcome you to day, can you stop to appreciate the SLUH? parent who picked you up – or the fact that you have a reliable car- Can you savor your time in pool or even that you have your class – appreciating that there is own car to get you home? a teacher in front of you trying to help you learn challenging mateBe well, SLUH. Know that your rial? School Counselor is happy to talk/ listen if you’re struggling. - Can you appreciate your friends and the smiles they bring
FEATURES
October 30, 2026
Prep News Volume 91, Issue 9
AMDG
Pham returns to Vietnam, explores potential Global Ed sites BY Brendan Hunt News Editor
Global Education Robert Chura and Assistant Director of Global Education Maria-Paz Erker, Pham found his past summer, for the first that a service-focused trip would be time in over 30 years, biology particularly impactful. teacher and Asian Student Alliance “We talked about it, and I said moderator Nhan Pham returned to ‘Sure, by all means, let’s see if we his home country of Vietnam, seekcan provide the work on the front ing to find a site for a potential Globend to put something together that al Ed trip. Further, Pham caught up is going to fit the way that we like with many of his old classmates and all our programs to be structured,’” returned to his old neighborhood, said Chura. allowing him to reexplore the place Having met with the Global Edand people he grew up with. ucation team, Pham finally traveled When Vietnam was taken under over 24 hours to Ho Chi Minh City. communist control in 1975, his faConsidering he didn’t have any parther, a member of the South Vietticularly close relatives in Vietnam, namese Army, was blacklisted from he had reached out to his former work, and his older sisters were unhigh school classmates. able to go to college. Thus, the fam“They gave me a welcome,” said ily requested permission to leave the Pham. “It’s unbelievable. They came to get me at the airport, and we had not seen each other for almost four decades. I didn’t expect anything along those lines, and it was such a nice surprise.” Ho Chi Minh City would serve as his home base for the trip. There, he caught up with many of his classmates. “When I was over there, I felt like I really experienced community,” said Pham. “It’s very very different from here in the sense that a lot of people live in close physical proximity to each other, so it’s a lot easier for them to see each other. You can’t go anywhere without bumping into the people that you know. You can’t afford to go home, pull into your garage, and not say hello to anybody.” Thus, he and his friends, in large groups, spent a lot of time together over various meals. Pham with former high school classmates in Ho Chi Minh City. photo | Courtesy of Pham “It was refreshingly different that
people would not hesitate to sort of waste time for each other.” Pham also had to reconcile the Vietnam of today with the place he grew up in. While the infrastructure and quality of life is generally better today, the area he used to live in right outside Ho Chi Minh City had been greatly altered. “The physical landscape had changed beyond my imagination,” said Pham. “They basically tore down areas that used to be much more wild. For example, the church that I used to go to all of the time, I didn’t recognize it at all.” “Growing up, riding the bicycle was basically everyone’s means of transportation,” said Pham. “If you’re a little more well-to-do, then you had a motorcycle. Nowadays, nobody rides the bicycle anywhere.” Furthermore, he noted that the gap between the poor and rich had grown significantly. However, he did find the country to be beautiful and improved in many ways. Part of the way into his trip, he left Ho Chi Minh City for around a week to visit potential service sites. He was looking for places where students could do service by teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), which was particularly up his alley because he has taught it to Vietnamese seminarians and nuns over Zoom for several years. “I was amazed at how much of an emphasis they put on learning English when I was over there,” said Pham. “It’s now a requirement to graduate from high school and college.” The first place he visited was in a southern region of Vietnam near the border of Cambodia, and he traveled with two sisters from the organization. However, the area is politically and militarily sensitive, so he found that the people there tend to be suspicious of foreigners as a whole. “In order for a program like what I am imagining to work, the people there have to have really good working relationships with the local governments, so they have a mutual understanding and respect for each other.” Pham also researched and Pham (bottom and 3rd from left) celebrating 36-year reunion with former high school classmates and homethought through housing arrangephoto | Courtesy of Pham room teacher (Pham’s right).
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country, and, eventually, Pham — at the age of 17 — moved to the United States with his family. Around 30 years later, the idea for the trip itself began with a simple conversation between Pham and theology teacher Diego Navarro. “I was talking to him a few years back, and he said, ‘Hey, have you ever thought about going back to explore that side of you?’” said Pham. “Because he and I were talking about the topic of straddling the two cultures — growing up in a different culture and being here.” Pham was led to the trip by his desire to understand and explore Vietnam again, and his idea to establish the foundation of a potential trip for St. Louis U. High students. Introducing the idea to Director of
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ments. He wanted to ensure that, wherever the students end up going, it is thoroughly planned so that students can immediately get to work rather than haphazardly searching for service to do. Further, Pham knew the selected volunteer site would need a good working relationship with the government. The second potential site was much more promising in this regard. Phonh Y is a Catholic parish run by a well-respected pastor with much experience in the province of Thanh Hoa. While Pham was there, the pastor was meeting with the local officials for a party to celebrate that the government was returning land to the parish that they had once taken. “I could see with my own eyes how well they get along,” said Pham. “The fact that he was socializing, he knew (the government officials) by name. That’s what I was hoping for, to have that working relationship so that when, whatever we do or how many people we’re going to bring, it’s not going to be an issue at all.” The pastor showed Pham around the city and got him in touch with the people of the parish. Pham also had the opportunity to teach the students, who were around the fourth and fifth grade. On the service trip, SLUH students would likely teach English as a Second Language daily, working with the school children in two-hour morning and afternoon sessions. Pham then returned to Ho Chi Minh City and headed back to St. Louis for the start of this school year. When the project is further researched and thought through, the Global Education program will determine how to move forward and will gauge student interest. “I’m curious as to how it will play out (at Phong Y parish),” said Pham. “I think it’s going to be a very good fit. But without having done it, we don’t know.” Pham ultimately looks to provide an opportunity in which students can come to better understand what service means — that the students of SLUH and those being served are more alike than different through a global and Christian kinship.
A school steeped in history: inside the SLUH Archive BY Mark Boeckmann reporter
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ucked away within the walls of the Anna F. Backer Memorial on the St. Louis U. High campus, a quiet but monumental effort is constantly underway to preserve the physical memory of SLUH. Under the leadership of school archivist Abbey Metzler, the SLUH Archive serves as the official deposit for over two centuries of Jesuit educational history, ensuring that the legacy of every Jr. Bill remains intact. Starting off just as a collection of a few alumni pieces, today the archive holds an incredibly diverse collection of school documents, vintage athletic jerseys, old demerit cards, programs, and countless multi-generational photographs. It is a living, breathing history book of SLUH’s evolution — from its early days in the city to its near-century-long footprint on Oakland Avenue. For many students rushing down the hallways to class, the history of SLUH feels like something locked away in textbooks or forgotten in trophy cases. Yet, the 200-year heritage of the school occasionally catches the
attention of those walking through the older sections of campus. Freshman William Hoff noted that the history becomes tangible in everyday spaces. “Occasionally, in the M wing, if you look down at the floor, you can kind of see some old style floorboards in the wallpapers s... kind of the colors and the style of it,” said Hoff. Behind the closed doors of the archive, the day-to-day operations are remarkably hands-on, involving a constant influx of local history that needs sorting, cataloging, and safeguarding. “(We have) old yearbooks, I get stuff from teachers that have material just lying around that they don’t want anymore,” said Metzler. “I bring it all over here, and the first thing I do is make an inventory and a spreadsheet that says ‘this is everything that’s in this box.’” This systematic approach is critical for managing a collection that spans from 1818 to the present. Without proper data tracking and physical maintenance, the fragile papers, old athletic wools, and decaying film reels of past generations would be lost to time. Metzler’s dedication ensures
that everything from 19th-century administrative records to 1980s student pamphlets are meticulously accounted for, building a resource that future researchers, historians, and alumni can readily access. The work of the archive actively shapes how current and future generations of Jr. Bills experience the school. Rather than letting historical assets gather dust on metal shelving units, the department searches for ways to re-integrate vintage artifacts back into the modern campus aesthetic. In a recent tour of the archives during the first quarter of this school year, senior John Comerford explained that some of the design art for the new Campus Ministry office had been tucked away in the archives. This cross-department collaboration demonstrates how the school’s physical memory is being recycled to inspire current students. When prospective families walk the halls during Open House, or when a student steps into the new Campus Ministry space for reflection, they are directly interacting with visual art and structural designs rediscovered by the archive team. It provides a tactile bridge
across generations, ensuring that the visual identity of SLUH remains rooted in its classic traditions while evolving alongside modern campus expansions. The student tour not only showcased different artifacts but also educated students on the realities of archiving. “A lot of people think that in the archive you wear gloves,” Metzler explained. “That’s actually a myth, and if you see a movie where they’re wearing gloves, they are only doing it for movie magic. I don’t wear gloves for anything because you’re actually more likely going to tear things if you have something on your hands rather than just using your fingers.” As SLUH advances through another bustling academic year, the sustainability of the archive relies heavily on the generosity and awareness of the broader community. The room is not a static museum; it is a growing ecosystem that requires continuous input from students, faculty, and alumni alike. Members of the community are highly encouraged to look through their own attics, basements, and old storage boxes for pieces of school his-
tory. The archive department is currently searching for a wide array of historical materials. “Instead of splitting up pieces, especially when I get a full collection from someone or from a teacher, it becomes that person’s collection, so it stays together with that history, that person,” said Metzler. For those looking to explore this heritage from home, students and parents can access a virtual, interactive historical tour online. Developed in collaboration with faculty and student researchers, the digital tour allows users to trace 100 years of the Backer Memorial’s unique architectural and social footprint. Anyone interested in making a donation or coordinating a physical drop-off can contact the department directly via email. By preserving donations as complete, personal narratives, the archive ensures that individual human stories are never fractured or separated from the larger web of school history. Every box on a shelf remains distinct to a specific life lived in service, keeping the spirit of the brotherhood alive today and for centuries to come.
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Prep News
October 30, 2026
Volume 91, Issue 9
AMDG
Drawing by art teacher Wilson on display at Lambert airport BY Tyler Roach and Eamonn Duffy News Editor, reporter
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ine Arts teacher Kevin Wilson had one of his pieces chosen for an exhibit at the Lambert St. Louis International Airport. The piece, a drawing called “Serpentine Justification of Naught,” is now up on the walls of Terminal 2. The exhibit, titled “Calls from a Bank,” was organized by Brian DePauli, a St. Louis oil painter and friend of Wilson’s. DePauli curated pieces from 21 St. Louis artists, with the only theme being that they were all from the St. Louis area. The purpose was to represent what St. Louis has to offer the broader art scene. “He was just trying to pick what he felt were the best artists who are still making work in St. Louis right now,” said Wilson. Wilson’s piece began as a demonstration of two-point linear perspective for his Drawing II class. He used the sketch to teach students how to draw rectangular prisms and cylinders. “At some point, you’ve got to show people how to draw a box, and make it look like it has depth,” said Wilson. “I do those all the time, but, sometimes, it feels like a waste to have done this on paper and then recycle it or throw it away. So if I can, I try to find a way to make it into something else. Gradually, as Wilson expanded his original sketch of boxes and cylinders, it became one of the few he’d
consider to be successful pieces of art. “Sometimes these (drawings) work, sometimes they go nowhere.” Wilson said. “But I liked the form of it, and I kept expanding on it, and it gradually transformed from just being a demonstration into being an actual work of art.” The piece is about two by three feet, and depicts a Rube Goldberg device — a chain reaction machine famous for overcomplicating simple tasks. Wilson’s drawing of the device features pulleys and belts, along with a small bird sitting upon the machine. The bottom of the drawing contains writing that shows the piece’s subject: humankind’s fixation with artificial intelligence and quantum computing. “The subject is related to our current obsession with AI and quantum computing and all that kind of stuff, and what we might be ignoring in our peripheral vision with our fascination with those things,” said Wilson. Wilson and DePauli have been friends since college, for over 20 years. DePauli has not only admired his painting and draftsmanship, but also his drawing abilities. When picking the right piece from Wilson, DePauli wanted to find the balance between drawings and paintings for the exhibit. Wilson provided a couple of options to DePauli, and he picked the one that he thought would be best integrated in the show. “It is not that the piece that is in the show is better than the other ones
that he has, but it fits with some of the other works better,” said DePauli. The title of the show, “Calls from a Bank,” comes from two main factors of the exhibit. The first is the idea of “calls.” Artists usually have to submit their work for exhibits in what is known as an open call. DePauli, however, did it a different way, in which he picked the artists instead. The second is the idea of “bank,”
which connects with the banks of the Mississippi, tying the exhibit in with an identity of St. Louis. “Instead of the normal way where a gallery or an arts organization will put out an open call for you to submit, the call was coming from the bank,” said DePauli. “The call was coming from me inviting people to participate in the exhibition.” Although Wilson doesn’t take
very much pride in his work being praised by others, he still feels honored to be among some of the best artists in St. Louis. “It’s great to be included in a show like this that demonstrates that St. Louis has a broad range of skilled visual artists,” said Wilson. “I’m very proud to be a part of something that is intended to demonstrate the range of talent that exists in our city.”
Wilson’s art on display pictured in the lower middle of the exhibit.
photo | Courtesy of Brian DePauli
First Blood Drive a success! SLUH community gives of itself to help others (continued from page 1)
helped sign in participants and ran the snack table, aiding the donors as they recovered. After a participant’s blood was drawn, they were required to stay and sit down for ten minutes before they could leave. Typically, there would be a student volunteer who would give the participant any snacks or drinks that they wanted, including Gatorade and candy. Participants in the Blood Drive most likely got involved through O’Keefe himself. In the weeks leading up to the Blood Drive, O’Keefe would walk the Commons, asking
people if they wanted to be involved. Many students, including senior Matthew Conte, felt a call to participate in the Blood Drive simply because he knew he was available and ready to do good for the community. “Yeah, I didn’t think too much about it,” said Conte. “I just know my parents do it and a lot of other family members do it. So why not?” According to Conte, the process of actually getting blood taken was quick and organized. The doctors there helped with the smoothness of the overall event.
Senior Alex Kean having his temperature taken.
photo | Henry Willers
“I thought it was great,” said Conte. “Everyone was really nice. It was really easy to get signed up. They had everything structured really well. And I just went and sat in the chair, and somebody came and was really helpful.” The efficiency of the Blood Drive was not easy to accomplish, especially in a room designed as a common space, not a clinic. The success and fluidity of the operation was a result of the hard work of all students, faculty, doctors, and donors involved. “It took me probably 10 minutes to get into a chair and then only seven or eight minutes once I was actually in a chair,” said Conte. Student donors like Conte left the theater lobby with a sense of pride, knowing that they did good for those in need. The Blood Drive was a success, bringing in 42 units (pints) of blood from over 55 donors. The collective 42 units of blood will help up to 120 patients in need this week. “We like to teach the guys to see the benefits of donating blood and maybe encourage them to donate in their adulthood,” said O’Keefe. “Really, you’re doing good for others, and it’s not that difficult.”
Junior George Rynasiewicz on Tuesday.
photo | Henry Willers
European exchange students experience American culture, St. Louis (continued from page 1) students come from Canisius Kolleg, which is a Jesuit partner and a private Catholic school. Coming to SLUH is new to them, but they do know how the general Jesuit curriculum works. “I’ve enjoyed learning about being at an only boys school, and in general, how public life is. I’ve been to several ice hockey matches, which were very good, and to the MLS soccer match yesterday, which was very cool too.” said German ex-
change student Mateo. “I’m mostly trying to learn something about American culture, but also trying to improve my English skills while speaking and learning some new vocabulary.” The students come here for growth and learning. They are trying to leave their comfort zone into a new environment, on a whole different continent. It’s hard to not admire their confidence and courage, coming into a new school where almost everything is different from
their environment back home. “Different is exciting. Different is the reason why we go outside of our community to discover other parts of the world, and it’s fascinating,” said Chura. “It motivates us to do other things, and drag ourselves out of our typical comfort zones, and there’s no better example than these living examples of kids who live the same reality as we do, as students at Jesuit high schools or Catholic high schools, all over the world.”
The group of French exchange students proudly holding up their pumpphoto | Courtsey of Annie Hilmes kins.
SPORTS
photo |Andrew Hammond
Hockey opens undefeated
SLUH dismantles Eureka, follows it up with win over CBC BY Jack Powers and Charlie Oster Sports Editor, reporter
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he road to the Challenge Cup has begun. The St. Louis U. High hockey team started the season by taking down Edwardsville in a preseason “Hockey Fights Cancer” game for charity, dismantling Eureka in a 4-2 win, and clobbering MCC rival CBC in a packed Barn 3-1. SLUH stands at 2-0 on the season and looks ahead to Monday night where they will face Vianney at 8:30 in the Affton Ice Rink. The Jr. Bills open up the season with high expectations led by captains John Burke, Ryan Hill, Jack Hoehn, and Nathan Vogl. “I’m extremely honored to be named team captain this season,” said Burke. “We have a lot of experience on this team and are looking forward to the rest of the season to build on our momentum.” Eureka The Jr. Bills beat the Eureka Wildcats last Thursday night 4-2 at the Queeny Ice Rink. SLUH dominated the whole game, totaling 48 shots. The Jr. Bills came in on the attack, keeping it in the Eureka zone right away and being
rewarded with a 1-0 lead from senior Jack Hoehn goal on a rebound in the crease. SLUH continued to keep pressure but the Wildcats built a counterattack that Jr. Bill goalie Xander Schoenholz couldn’t stop, allowing Eureka to tie it up 1-1. Heading into the second period both teams remained at a stalemate, failing to capitalize on power plays with SLUH continuing to outshoot Eureka. Finally, junior Thomas Caplin broke the tie with a Michigan-style goal, wrapping it around the post behind the crease to give SLUH a 2-1 lead. Goalies on both sides proved to be dominant forces, each stopping 3-on2 and 2-on-1 situations to keep it tied going into the third and final period. This period would prove fatal for the Wildcats as their luck finally ran out. As the Jr. Bills continued to pour shots on the net and chase rebounds, they put two goals on the board to extend their lead. Senior Evan Stahlman put a rebound into the back of the net to give the Jr. Bills a 3-1 lead. Shortly after, senior captain Ryan Hill lit up the top corner for SLUH’s fourth goal and a 4-1 lead. “My linemates were going hard all night so it was great to break the seal
and have me and Thomas score two big ones,” said senior captain Ryan Hill. Eureka scored late but it wasn’t enough and the Jr. Bills skated off with a 4-2 win against a talented team. CBC After their win over Eureka, SLUH faced off in their first MCC match-up against the CBC Cadets at the Barn. Even before the puck was dropped, both student sections were filled with energy. “The fans packed the stands 30 minutes early and got our guys pumped up,” said coach Steve Walters. “They brought a lot of energy.” In the first minute, captain John Burke laid a massive hit to set the tone for the game. SLUH controlled the puck for a lot of the first period which resulted in a lot of shots on net, but SLUH couldn’t get one past the Cadets’ defense. The game was very chippy early on as both teams traded hits and many shoves after the whistle throughout the period. As the period progressed SLUH continued to control the pace of the game, but just couldn’t find the back of the net. Then, with five minutes left in the period, senior Jack Hoehn ripped a shot, and it was originally saved, but
junior Wyatt Gula buried the rebound to make it 1-0 SLUH with five minutes left. Throughout the rest of the first, both teams traded shots back and forth. Towards the end of the period, SLUH got a fast break but couldn’t capitalize. As a result, SLUH ended the first period with a 1-0 lead. In the second period, SLUH picked up right where they left off with many hits and trading possessions. SLUH continued to bury pucks on net but nothing came of it. Five minutes into the period, Gula picked the puck up off the boards, stickhandled through two players, and sniped it into the corner. The whole student section erupted as the team jumped into the boards. But CBC scored 15 seconds after SLUH’s goal to make 2-1 with 9 minutes left. After this goal, SLUH seemed to lose their momentum as the game seemed to return to a back and forth game. “We owned the first period and set the tone but they came back and took the tone from us midway through the second period,” said Walters. They climbed back throughout the rest of the period, both teams traded shots back and forth but nothing came
of it. By the end of the second, SLUH was out-shooting the Cadets by 10 shots. In the third period, the game’s physicality seemed to take a turn; there were many huge hits along the boards. “It was a hard hitting game, and if you wanted to carry the puck you paid the price,” said Walters. The third went the exact same as the first as both teams were trading possession and very heavy hitting. As the time ticked down the arena got louder, the hits got harder, and the stakes got higher. After about ten minutes of constant pressure from both sides, SLUH got control in the Cadets’ zone and senior Nathan Vogl sent a pass to junior Thomas Caplin, who stickhandled around the goalie and a defender and tucked it into the back of the net to make it 3-1 with five minutes left. Vianney The Jr. Bills will return to the Barn next Monday to face off against the Vianney Griffins hoping to improve to 4-0. “We’re excited for Vianney on Monday night,” said Hill. “It will be a tough opponent. If we continue to do what we know how to do, we should take care of business.”
Soccer wraps up regular season, claims top spot in district BY Jack Powers, Colt Amann, and Jack Freeman Sports Editor, reporters
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he St. Louis U. High soccer team extended its win streak to four following a 3-0 win over rival De Smet in the MCC third place game and a 3-1 victory over Lindbergh on Senior Night. The Jr. Bills wrapped up their regular season 16-1-4 and will face Parkway South tomorrow at 10 a.m. in the District Quarterfinals as they begin their quest for a three-peat. De Smet Last Thursday evening, the Jr. Bills headed to CBC to face rival De Smet in the MCC third place game. This was the first year the MCC adopted a round-robin tournament. The tournament unfortunately ended with SLUH missing out on the championship game by one goal, even though they finished conference 2-0-2. However, the Jr. Bills didn’t let their misfortune get to them as they looked forward to playing the Spartans after enjoying a week off. SLUH came out firing on all cylinders, dominating the possession and taking an early 1-0 lead on a goal from sophomore Tommy Moehlenbrock. Senior Andrew Hammond delivered a stellar cross for Moehlenbrock to put it into the back of the net for only his second goal of the season. The Jr. Bills continued to dominate on the De Smet side of the field — winning headers, chasing after loose balls,
and minimizing turnovers in the midfield. Halfway through the first half junior Noah Medina capitalized in the box to give the Jr. Bills a 2-0 lead, making him the second defender on the team to score their second goal of the season. “I don’t think that goal was the defining factor of our dominance, we moved the ball around great and were clinical enough in front of goal,” said Medina. “I hope to keep this momentum going forward.” In the following minutes, senior Teddy Cotton chased down a ball and chipped it over the head of the De Smet goalie from outside the box to give the Jr. Bills a 3-0 lead going into halftime. “We still have a lot to learn but everyone was playing well,” said senior midfielder Luke Schuman. “Getting a couple early goals really helped us.” To start the second half, the boys were very confident that they would win the game, but they were hungry for more and wanted to show how great they were. Unfortunately no goals were scored during the second half, but many chances were made, which was impressive, considering that the subs played most of the second half. Even when SLUH’s subs were put into the game, they took control and didn’t let the level drop. The second half was a clear example of the team’s willingness to work even from the reserves. Sophomore Griffin Dunker has
been in the net for the Jr. Bills throughout the season and he produced a shutout against De Smet. “From the perspective of a goalkeeper going into big games like that I think it’s important to find motivation to get fired up, and we knew De Smet would be highly physical, so finding that confidence to claim every ball and dominate in your box is huge,” said Dunker. “Going into districts means the stakes are high, so the biggest thing is taking care of the small details and gaining more confidence in practice that you can carry into the games.” Lindbergh The Jr. Bills wrapped up their regular season on Monday night against the Lindbergh Flyers, celebrating the seniors before the game. Following a year where SLUH had an unprecedented 20 seniors on the roster, this year’s group was tasked with replacing seven starters and Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year Henry Sanders. This year the Jr. Bills celebrated 10 seniors: Paddy Byrne, Teddy Cotton, Andrew Hammond, Gabe Khazen, Layton Pfeuffer, Kole Schnitzmeier, Luke Schuman, Jackson Seeber, Colin Thole, and Caleb Villmer. “I always admired celebrating the seniors,” said Schuman, “so to have it be me was sad knowing I don’t have too much time left but really cool to have a ceremony.” All of the seniors started the game, and after a struggling first five minutes where the Flyers got one into the back
of the net, the Jr. Bill regular starters were subbed in. Dramatic change quickly escalated and the boys took most of the possession. Our varsity worked the ball very well and eventually it paid off when junior Tagen Jonsson scored an outstanding goal off of a cross from sophomore Bobby O’Connell. The half ended 1-1, and after head coach Bob O’Connell gave an encouraging, but demanding half time speech, and the boys were back on the pitch to start the second half. The Jr. Bills got right to work and it was too much for the Lindbergh Flyers to handle, as seen when Byrne scored a powerful shot from outside the 18-yard box just five minutes into the second half. “I would say to lead this team through districts is to keep the team calm but also hungry since we have a younger side,” said Byrne, who was selected for the High School All-American game in Baltimore to represent the West side. “But I also need to bring the energy and the values that we hold as a program.” The game ended 3-1 for a SLUH win after senior Gabe Khazen scored a defeating goal with 10 minutes to go to send Lindbergh away for good. Districts As the regular season comes to an end, the team is preparing for what could be its toughest challenge of the year, the district playoffs. They will begin their postseason tomorrow against
Parkway South, a team they defeated earlier in the season. SLUH enters the district tournament as the No. 1 seed but the road ahead will not be easy. They find themselves in what many consider one of the hardest districts in Missouri, featuring eight teams ranked among the top 22 in the state. Along with SLUH and Parkway South, the district includes Marquette, Ladue, Lafayette, Vianney, Kirkwood, and Eureka. Parkway South has an overall record of 7-7-1, but has looked better as the season has gone on, and recently lost a close battle with Marquette. The Jr. Bills will need to continue relying on their defense to limit scoring opportunities and keep offenses under control. One of the biggest challenges for the Jr. Bills this postseason will be the team’s relatively young roster. With lots of sophomores on the team, SLUH will need to rely on guys who have been here before like Schuman, Byrne, Journagan, Medina, and Khazen. The Jr. Bills have been playing some of their best soccer lately, and really have been getting hot at the right time. SLUH will need to carry on this momentum through the districts. The team also received a boost with the return of junior Conor Duggan, who recently came back from injury. He gives the Jr. Bills an extra layer of depth. “It’s great to be back, and I’m excited to see what we can do in the postseason,” said Duggan.
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SPORTS
Prep News
October 30, 2026 AMDG
Volume 91, Issue 9
BY Henry Hassenstab Sports Editor
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he most electric atmosphere in Missouri high school hockey is back, and it’s being led by senior Jack Hoehn. With one goal and two assists in his first two games, Hoehn is primed for a standout season on one of the most stacked teams in the state. In the team’s first win against Eureka, Hoehn scored the first goal of the season in the second minute of the first period.
Athlete of the Week: Jack Hoehn high school hockey is more about energy and love for the game than anything else. Obviously, you want to win, but it’s more about having fun out there than focusing on wins and losses. HH: From my understanding, SLUH hockey only has about two practices a week. How do you build that brotherhood and team chemistry with only two practices a week, especially as a captain?
I go to another practice each week because we have our club practices during that time, and a bunch of other kids do, too. It’s difficult to build team chemistry during practice, especially with all the power plays. and everything else. But I think it’s more about what happens outside the rink. We had a team dinner before the CBC game, and we’ve had other bonding activities. I think it’s more about spending time together outside the rink. We’ve had such an experienced team for so long that we all know what the job is.
man year to senior year, making varsity and becoming the player you are today? JH: Our team now is a lot like the team I had when I was a freshman. They had around 17 seniors, too, so it was difficult for underclassmen to get spots on the team. When I got the opportunity as a freshman, it was really about preparing for the older years. I got to see how the older players led and how they acted. That helped me mature and understand how to carry myself. I think the journey from freshman year to senior year is really about learning how to play SLUH hockey and what it means to HH: You’ve played two play for SLUH. games so far, do you have a favorite moment from HH: Do you have a hype song, your first two games? ritual, or anything else you do to get locked in for a game? JH: Yeah. This last game JH: I don’t really have many songs. I don’t have the best aux, but I just listen to whatever people put on the speaker. I tape my stick before games, which helps me get mentally prepared. High school hockey is more about being energized, being ready to play, and having fun. Being energized is a big thing for me before games. HH: When you talk about that energy, does it come from being well-rested, or is it more about excitement?
Henry Hassenstab: Okay, so, Jack, can you explain how you first got into hockey?
JH: It’s definitely about being wellrested and fueled up, but I think it’s more about coming out here and knowing you only have around 20 games in your senior year. You’ve got to be amped up and ready to play. I think that’s what it’s really about.
Jack Hoehn: Growing up, my sisters started playing hockey before me. They learned to skate and got into the sport, and then we all learned to skate together. I just kept going from there. They inspired me. HH: Did you join a youth team before high school? JH: Yeah. I started with the Blues’ Learn to Skate program, and from there, you move on to your local team. For me, that was the Rockets. I played for the Rockets for a while, and then I moved on to play for CarShield, and I’ve been there ever since. I started there when I was around 11 years old.
was wild. The student section was really big, and I think my favorite moment so far has been coming out for warmups with the lights out. That was probably my favorite moment from the two games. HH: Do you have any expectations or goals for the season going forward?
HH: With the skill set you developed, you then came to SLUH hockey? JH: Yeah. From there, you play high school and club hockey, so I had to step u p. Ry a n Hill and I played on the same team, so we came in pretty good, and we just kept going from there. HH: What do you think your role in SLUH hockey is? JH: My role, I would say, is to lead the team and do what our coaches want from us. I just have to do my job and keep the energy up. I think
JH: Yeah. I think our team goal is really just to win the J-Cup this year. There’s been a drought for as long as I can remember, so that’s something we really want to bring back to SLUH. Obviously, winning state is another big goal. Those are the two things we’re looking forward to.
photo | Andrew Hammond
JH: Yeah, we practice on Mondays and Wednesdays. For the club kids, those are two practices a week, but even if you play club hockey, you can go to additional practices. Ryan Hill, Xander Shoenholz, and
HH: What do you want people to know about SLUH hockey, especially this year? JH: I think that, over the past few years, we’ve definitely been a younger team that people haven’t really talked about much. But this year, I think we’re the top dogs. We’re one of the top contenders, and I think we have a good chance of winning state. We say it every year, but I think this really should be the year. We’re looking forward to it. HH: I know you had an unfortunate first-round exit against Marquette last year. How do you plan on adapting and making a strong run in the postseason this year? JH: I think it starts with every game. We have to approach each game like a playoff game because we need to win these games to earn a high seed. Then, when we get to the tournament, there’s a new format this year. It’s a round-robin format followed by sudden-death games. That means we only get one opportunity in those elimination games. I think that could be better for us because we’ll understand that there’s only one game. There aren’t two games anymore, so we have to play our best in that one game. I think that’ll help us this year.
HH: People describe SLUH hockey HH: Is there a professional or as having one of the best atmocollege hockey player you think spheres in Missouri high school you’re similar to or try to emulate? sports. How grateful are you for everyone who comes out and supJH: Yeah, I like Brad March- ports the games? and. A lot of guys know him, but I like how JH: I think it’s really amazing. he gets down Coming out for warmups and low and seeing all those guys out there is go e s great for the sport and great for t o the school. It’s pretty much insane. work. He When I go to other games, like gets in peofootball games, I look around ple’s heads, too. and think, “Yeah, this is I like his play and his really cool.” Being style. It’s fun to watch. able to play in a game where HH: You talked about team goals. so many What are some personal goals you have for yourself this season?
JH: Obviously, I want to get more points than I did last year. I’ve already done that, but beyond that, I’d like to become a better leader. I don’t think high school hockey is really about goals and assists. It’s more about developing yourself before college and everything that HH: How’s the competition look- comes with it. I want to become a ing this year? Are you confident in better leader before my freshman SLUH hockey? year of college. JH: I think that, with such an experienced team, we have a fair shot at it. CBC lost some guys, but Chaminade is still pretty strong. I think we’re up there and have a good shot at winning one of the state championships.
someone’s day is going, and talking about whether they’re going to practice. I think it’s really about building that genuine connection. It’s not just about saying, “Yeah, we’re teammates.” It’s about becoming real brothers.
HH: How do you plan to develop your team’s chemistry, synergy, and brotherhood? What are your plans for that?
people come out to watch you is really special. HH: Final question: How do you want to carry on the legacy of SLUH hockey this year? JH: I want people who come into the program after us to remember us as the 2026-2027 team that was really good. I think that’s something that can inspire future freshmen coming in to play hockey. When I was a freshman, I remembered teams from 2019 and 2022. Those teams were really good, and I remember looking up to them. I want our team to leave that kind of legacy this year.
JH: As captains, we’re really trying to get everyone to become brothers, not just teammates who say, HH: You mentioned that the team “I’ll see you at the rink.” HH: Thank you Jack, the school is experienced. Can you talk about It’s more about seeing each other and I will be looking forward to your personal journey from fresh- at school, saying hi, asking how the season!
SPORTS
October 30, 2026
Prep News Volume 91, Issue 9
AMDG
Football falls to Rockhurst, turns eyes to playoffs BY Henry Fitzpatrick Core Staff
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fter traveling four hours across the state last Friday, the St. Louis U. High football team took on the Rockhurst Hawklets, Jesuit and cross-state rivals, in a Class 6 heavyweight bout. The Jr. Bills were unable to come away with the victory, as they fell 16-10 in a hard fought ground battle to the No. 18 team in the state. The Jr. Bills loaded into two buses last Friday morning, split up by offense and defense. After two hours of travel, they stopped at Battle High School outside of Columbia for a walkthrough. “If you historically look at the scores of our games, the team that has to travel usually struggles in the first half,” said head coach Adam Cruz. “We had a good walk through at Battle High School, you really noticed it in the second half.” The team then finished out the rest of the journey to Kansas City, arriving at Rockhurst in perfect time to start their normal game day schedule. Come game time, the Jr. Bills were set to receive the opening kickoff, which
sailed out of bounds. Senior Pat Stein and the SLUH offense took the field at the 35-yard line, and seemed to be unstoppable. The Jr. Bills rolled down the field, getting four first downs on the first drive, both through the air and on the ground. “The Rockhurst defense was definitely one of the better ones we faced. They were really big. They had good size, good strength, and they were pretty aggressive too,” said senior offensive lineman Jay Green. “Being consistent and working as one unit was important for us to be able to move the ball against them and just beating them with our scheme.” But the Jr. Bills stalled out at just the 10-yard line when they failed to convert a fourth-and-1, despite sending out Hellcat, and turned the ball over to the Hawklets after eating up the first 10 minutes of the first quarter. The Rockhurst offense is unlike any that the Jr. Bills had seen all season, as they run their entire offense primarily out of wildcat, with at least 9 blockers in on every single play. After losing their quarterback midway through the season, Rockhurst has turned to senior
Cruz addressing the team from week 4.
running back Cash Lewandowski to take the direct snap. Going into the game, Rockhurst was 2-0 with their new offense. Additionally, SLUH’s defensive line had to go up against an offensive line for the Hawklets which averaged 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, by far the biggest that SLUH has seen all season. “They’ve got three guys on their line committed to play college football, so we knew they were gonna run the ball,” said Cruz. Despite this intimidating size, the SLUH defense quickly quelled the Hawklets first drive, forcing a punt after Rockhurst had gained just 30 yards. Taking over back at their own 32-yard-line, Stein and the offense went straight to the run game and started working their way down the field. With a big pickup from junior Tyler Kozminske to start the drive, Stein started doing what he does best, lowering his shoulder and running the ball. Getting consistent gains of three, four, and five, SLUH slowly but surely made their way down the field. After crossing midfield, the offense seemed to be stopped when Stein’s third down run was measured short of the line to gain by the officials. SLUH left the offense on the field, and Stein took the fourth down snap, faked a pitch to Kozminske, then leapt over the line for the first down. Continuing their roll down the field, completions to Kozminske and sophomore Tristen Johnson put the Jr. Bills at the 4-yard line. Stein took over again, and taking the ball up the middle, got hit immediately but refused to go down and bounced off multiple hits as he spun into the end zone. photo | Vic Lewchenko “Offensively, we moved the ball re-
ally well. It’s hard because we didn’t have many possessions because they ran the clock out a lot,” said Stein. “But there are just some plays that we want to have back.” SLUH attempted an onside kick, but failed to recover it, giving the Hawklets a short field with five minutes remaining in the first half. Rockhurst put together an efficient drive, finding the end zone in just three minutes, running the ball nine times out of wildcat. “We just got to shore up little things,” said Cruz. “The playoffs are all about the margins, so we’ve got to make sure that we’re very sound in our scheme.” With two minutes left in the first half, SLUH subbed in sophomore quarterback Patrick Ramella to construct a successful two-minute drill. After the Jr. Bills made it to midfield, Ramella’s pass attempt to Johnson was intercepted by a diving Rockhurst defender. Rockhurst took over with 0:44 remaining, and completed two big passes to get into field goal range before time expired. The kick was good, giving Rockhurst the 10-7 lead going into half. SLUH kicked off to the Hawklets to open up the second half, and Rockhurst’s rushing attack continued to prove to be hard to stop. The Hawklets exploited holes in the usually-dominant SLUH defense, getting gains of 35 and 26. Facing a third-and-14 in the red zone, Rockhurst’s Lewandowski hurled the ball towards the end zone, and his pass was completed for a touchdown, extending their lead to 16-7 after a missed extra point. The ensuing drive for the Jr. Bills was a short three-and-out. The punt from senior Will Rainey was downed at the 35-yard line, and the Hawklets’ en-
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suing drive also ended in a punt, giving the SLUH offense the ball at their own 16-yard line. With the fourth quarter ticking closer and closer to zero, the offense worked their way down the field. Just shy of midfield, Stein completed a pass to Kozminske, but a well-placed hit on Kozminske popped the ball out, being recovered by a Hawklet. The Hawklets started yet another drive in SLUH territory, and looked as though they would continue to rush through the SLUH defense, making it all the way to the 25-yard line. The Jr. Bills defense, however, refused to give up, employing their bend-don’t-break mentality, and forced a turnover on downs thanks to a big hit from John Ramella on fourth down. Pat Stein and the offense were able to construct a two-minute drill, thanks to Ben Bartell’s five catches on the drive. Getting to the 14-yard line, SLUH settled for a field goal, which senior Jackson Seeber nailed. After cutting down the lead to just 6, the Jr. Bills attempted an onside kick, but were again unable to recover it. The Hawklets kneeled the remainder of the clock out, securing their 16-10 win over the Jr. Bills. Looking Ahead After the Jr. Bills’ 6-3 finish to the regular season, they clinched the No. 2 seed in the Class 6 District 3 tournament, and will have a bye this week. They will return to action on Nov. 6, as they take on the 6-3 Ritenour Huskies at home. “Everybody’s a little beat up, so it’s really good for guys to kind of physically get a break,” said Cruz. “We’ll turn the page to Ritenour next week, who is a very well-coached team, and we’re gonna have to be well-coached ourselves.”
XC dominates local competition despite racing V2 squad BY Owen Williams and Ryan Kindschuh Core Staff, Staff
O
n the flattest course of the season, and on a refreshingly cool day, the St. Louis U. High JV Cross Country team took on its last meet of the season last Saturday, competing against the other teams around the region in one final showdown to prove which team in St. Louis really is the deepest. It was the perfect time to race: cool weather, a great course, and a fiery spirit of determination in the air all helped these runners run great races during the last meet of their 2026 season. As the fog lifted, the V2 team took to the line to take on a competitive field. Their strongest opponent was CBC, who had three runners around 16:05 heading into the race. When the gun went off, the Jr. Bills quickly established themselves in a strong position with around five runners in the lead pack of the race. The pack was out hot on a very flat course setting the Jr. Bills up for a quick race. Throughout the first mile, the lead pack separated, and at the mile mark, it was clear that the Jr. Bills were in first place. Junior Jonah Ebenhoh and sophomore Carter Wagner were positioned near the front, running a 5:02 split, and senior Joe Talleur and junior Clarence Nowak were close on their tails. A few seconds later, the chase pack led by junior Owen Williams — which also contained senior Edmund Reske and freshman standout Connor Helbig — came through the mile at 5:05. This position was a good demonstration of the Jr. Bill’s strong pack running and the team’s ability to work together during races. “One of my goals was to change the way I race by racing with other people, and not overthinking race strategy,” said Ebenhoh. “I just blocked out all the
other thoughts and focused on staying with that group, and it really paid off.” Going into the next loop of the course, the front pack stayed close together. The chase pack laid off the heat a little, and dropped back significantly. Nowak also fell back from the lead pack after an aggressive first mile. At the two- mile mark, Ebenhoh and Wagner were still up with the lead pack, splitting a 10:20. Talleur had also dropped back, coming through in 10:26, followed by Nowak (10:36) and the previous pack of Williams, Reske, and Helbig (10:39). At this point, the individual victory could go to any of the seven runners in the lead pack. Despite the drop in pace, the Jr. Bills were still positioned to win. “I was halfway through the race, and I had noticed that I was up there with that top group,” said Ebenhoh. “That was exciting for me and made me want to stay up there longer and see how long I could stick up with that top group.” In the final mile, the front pack stayed tight. Even coming into the home stretch, there was no clear separation. In a very aggressive move, Ebenhoh started his kick 400 meters out from the finish. Was it too early? Or had Ebenhoh broken the field? The final straight was a fight to the end. Ebenhoh edged out all three of CBC’s runners by less than a second to take home his first ever varsity win with a time of 16:01. Due to his impressive performance, Ebenhoh was selected to be featured in Missouri Mile Split’s Performer of the Week vote. As of Wednesday evening, Ebenhoh had a whopping 91 percent of the votes, and will most likely be bestowed with the honor. “I think it’s very important that the rest of the team, on all levels, has somebody to look up to,” said Ebenhoh. “There have definitely been other people on the team who have done similar
things for me, so it definitely felt good to be an example for other people.” For the rest of the team, Wagner finished not far behind Ebenhoh, with a time of 16:04. Next to the line was Talleur in 16:24. Williams was the Jr. Bills’ fourth (16:30), followed closely by Helbig (16:33). This elite scoring 5 easily won the meet with 33 points, beating second place CBC by 22. Additional finishers were Nowak (16:43), Reske (16:46), strong sophomore prospect Andrew Yoffie (16:46), senior Luke Hartweger (16:54), and senior Cullen Wenger (16:55). With all 10 athletes under 17:00, it truly shows that even SLUH’s V2 squad can beat any team in the St. Louis area. “(I am) just really excited that guys got to see 11 weeks’ worth of work kind of come to fruition,” said head coach Joe Porter. “We had a flat course and guys were able to go out there and compete.” Seventy-five minutes later, a wall of navy blue jerseys stepped up to the line to compete for the win and show the other schools which team was the best. This was the final race for many of SLUH’s JV runners, and the course was extremely flat and fast, so stakes were high for many runners to run PR’s and season bests. The race got off to a fast start, with junior Gibby Fyvie and sophomore Tyler Matthews taking the lead by the first turn and guiding the 82 SLUH runners and the rest of the field down the main straightaway. Because of the fast course, they were able to separate themselves from the main pack quickly and find their optimal speed. After a mile of running stride for stride with each other, Fyvie and Matthews came through the mile mark in 5:09, still trying to push each other to go faster. Junior Ryan Kindschuh came through next in 5:15, and another pack of five SLUH runners wasn’t far behind,
running through around 5:22. “Without (Tyler) I wouldn’t have anybody to push me at all,” said Fyvie. “The race just ended up in (our) hands at 800.” As the boys entered the second loop of the course during the second mile, the flatness of the course created a huge opportunity for them to put themselves out there and run fast. Fyvie broke away from Matthews, using the
Ebenhoh crossisng the line. course to his advantage to speed up and stay ahead. As the SLUH pack thinned out behind them during the second mile, the runners who stayed strong knew they would be in for a good race and finishing time. Fyvie came through the two-mile mark in 10:44, now running on his own ahead of the rest of the race. Matthews wasn’t that far behind with 10:51, and nine more scattered SLUH runners soon came through, one after another, before any runners from other schools. The last mile, though, would be a challenge, as the temperature was beginning to heat up a little. Fyvie continued to attack the race, however, and ran his last mile strong to finish the race as the individual champion, running 16:58. “It was a great confidence boost to go out there and have fun,” said Fyvie.
“To finally win a race after having a bumpy season … means a lot.” Matthews wasn’t far behind, running 17:03, and then bringing it home for SLUH, sophomore Anderson St. Clair (17:28), junior Liam Farroll (17:36), and Kindschuh (17:37) finished in third, fourth, and fifth, giving SLUH JV a perfect score on the day. As this was the last race for many JV runners on the team, spirits may
photo | Dave Ebenhoh
have been down, but were brought back up by the annual post-race feast, where team members and families enjoyed food and played games to celebrate the end of a great season. Now, the varsity squad looks to this weekend, where they will compete at the Class 5 District 3 Championships in Hannibal. This race is a preview and qualifier for state, and the top 7 are looking to have a calm but dominant race. ”I think the team is in a really good spot,” said Ebenhoh. “We had 10 guys plus Gibby all under 17 minutes, so that’s 18 guys under 17 (including the top 7), which is pretty amazing. And that’s a sign of hope for next season when we lose a lot of seniors; we’ll have a deep enough team that will still be pretty great.”
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SPOOKY STUFF
Prep News
October 30, 2026
Volume 91, Issue 9
AMDG
PN ACROSTIC PUZZLE: Halloween
INSTRUCTIONS: For each clue on the left, write the corresponding letter from the right side onto the line to reveal a hidden message. ____ Puns about German sausage ... ____ “I bought you an elephant for your room.” / “Thanks!” / ____ The past, present and future all walked into a bar. ____ I broke two fingers. ____ An old lady at the bank asked me to check her balance, ____ Of all inventions, the most remarkable has to be ... ____ I refuse to work with compost. ____ Once you’ve seen one shopping center, ____ Shout out to anyone who doesn’t know ... ____ To whoever invented zero: ____ RIP, boiling water. ____ All the toilets in the police department were stolen. ____ I stayed up all night to see where the sun went. ____ I’m obsessed with speed bumps, but ... ____ I fired my masseuse. ____ Thank you for defining the word “many.” ____ Are glass coffins a good idea? ____ To be frank ... ____ “Doctor, I’ve shrunk!” / “Take this, and you’ll grow. ... ____ I have the heart of a lion! ____ In my free time, I like to help blind people. ____ I wanted to watch the orchestra, but I turned it off — ____ I, for one, like ... ____ “I don’t understand cloning.” ____ A Spanish magician performed a trick. “Uno, dos, ...” ... ____ “Doctor, there’s a patient that says he’s invisible.” ____ I held tryouts for a hide and seek team, but ... ____ A hamburger walks into a bar. The bartender says, ____ I can tell when you’re lying just by looking at you. ____ A sign read “Free TV, stuck on max volume.” ____ Einstein discovered an amazing theory about space ... ____ A beehive without an exit? ____ I rented a limo, but it doesn’t come with a driver, ____ Butterflies ... ____ I glued myself to my autobiography. ____ The Devil is upset that he’s going bald. ____ I still miss my ex-girlfriend, but ... ____ A man enters a bar carrying a slab of asphalt and says, ____ I fell into an upholstery machine. ____ I’m addicted to brake fluid, but ... ____ 6:30 is the best time on a clock, ____ I have some jokes about unemployed people, but ... ____ I can’t trust stairs. ____ I wasn’t planning to get a brain transplant, but then ... ____ I accidentally swallowed some small plastic horses. ____ Broken pencils ... ____ I decided to sell my vacuum cleaner. ____ A girl said she recognized me from Vegan Club, but ... ____ A sign read “Falling Rocks.” ____ A good pun ...
A I changed my mind. B are the wurst. B too much sax and violins. C the opposite of in! C That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. C are pointless. D “A beer, please, and one for the road.” E so I pushed her over. E good players are hard to find. E my aim is starting to improve. E So I gave it a try, and no, it doesn’t. F He just rubbed me the wrong way. G Then it dawned on me. G Unbelievable. H On the other hand, I’m fine. H For now, you’ll have to be a little patient.” H I can also tell when you’re standing. H I can stop at any time. I you’ve seen the mall. I You will be mist. I I thought, “I can’t turn that down.” I are not what they used to be. I hands down. K Thanks for nothing! K There’s gonna be hell toupee. M It means a lot. M Adjective, not verb. M “Tell him I can’t see him right now.” M I’d never met herbivore. N The cops have nothing to go on. N and it was about time, too. O I’m slowly getting over them. O and he disappeared without a tres. O It was just collecting dust. P the dry erase board. R It’s degrading. S Roman numerals. S “That makes two of us.” S none of them work. S is its own reword. T It was tense. T I’d have to change my name. T “We don’t serve food here.” T Now I’m fully recovered. U I also have a lifetime ban from the zoo. W so I have nothing to chauffer it. W They’re always up to something. Y “Don’t mention it.” Y Remains to be seen. Y Doctors describe my condition as stable.
Puzzle | Paul Baudendistel criticisms, compliments, and ideas welcome at pbaudendistel@sluh.org
91.08 Answers
Crossword Winners Congrats to Brady Carpenter, Lucas Bonk, and Dominic Benoist for winning the eighth crossword of the year! Submit your completed acrostic puzzle to the Media Center to enter next week’s raffle.
Prep News Credits Volume 91, Issue 9 “What’s your Halloween costume?” News Editors Brendan “Bilbo Baggins” Hunt Tyler “Kenneth Walker” Roach
Conor “The BIG NANAR” Schilling Andrew “the clawwww” Yoffie
Sports Editors Henry “gargoyle pledge” Hassenstab Jack “Omarion Hampton edit” Powers
Staff Artists Henry “Spider-Man” Riggan
Core Staff Henry “zombie quarterback” Fitzpatrick Logan “Scooby-Doo” LaVear Owen “ leprechaun” Williams Jack “Socrates” Williamson
art | Henry Riggan
Staff Timmy “Green Little Alien” Barrett Jack “Fennec” Case Charlie “Nacho Libre” Hugo Sam “True-form Verity” Kappel Ryan “ask Mr. Lally” Kindschuh Jack “Mr. Schulte” Klein Charles “the guy from Fortnite” LaBarge Luke “lizard person” Nolan Tommy “THE ROOK” Pitlyk Finn “compost bin” Rose
Reporters Colt “Ceedee Lamb” Amann Mark “Sofia the First” Boeckmann Warner “a sunburned zebra” Cole Eamonn “Mbappe photo” Duffy Everett “Napoleon Dynamite” Duffy Jack “Richie Rich” Freeman Ethan “formal attire” Heavey Alex “Texas Instrument” Pingleton Photographers Dave “MO MileSplit” Ebenhoh Annie “bowling coach” Hilmes Vic “Mike Wazowski” Lewchenko Henry “Taco Bell wrap” Willers Moderator Steve “Kirk Ferentz” Missey