the World Series

BREAKING TACKLES Barry Newell ‘05 (below) escapes the opposing tackle to run for the first down. After his time as a Lion, Newell played football at Princeton University.

Editor’s note: The original story was written prior to the Tampa Bay Rays advancing to the World Series. As of Oct. 25, the Rays trail the LA Dodgers 2-3 in the series.

Coming out of high school, Matthew Silverman and Brian Auld had no idea what was in store for them. After years of walking through these very halls, the two were ready to move on to bigger things.

They went to college, went to business school, but just like anybody else, they could have never predicted what was soon to come. While working at Goldman Sachs with his bud Stu, Matt was offered an opportunity to run an entire Major League Baseball franchise with no real experience.

Although this was daunting at the time, Matt knew exactly who to call: his good pal from high school, Brian. He knew if he was going to take on this challenge, there was no one better to accompany him than a fellow Marksman.

Now, as they finish up their 15th year working together, Brian and Matt have the opportunity to return to the World Series and bring home their very first title.

All coming out of 10600 Preston Road, the trio of Marksmen joined forces in the MLB with the Tampa Bay Rays. Spearheading this squad is Silverman ‘94, president of Baseball Operations, and Auld ‘95, team president. Teaming up with them is VP of Business Operations and Analytics Barry Newell ‘05 who joined the team in 2017.

Although at the time Silverman and Auld were still getting their feet wet in the business world, Rays owner Stuart Sternberg, also known as Stu, had the confidence to give them control over the franchise.

“Our owner, Stu, was happy to turn the team over to, at the time, a couple of 27, 28-year-old kids who had zero experience, watch us lose 100 games two years in a row and trust us when we said we were about to turn the corner here,” Auld said. “Most people lose their jobs before that even happens.”

Not only did Sternberg feel confident enough to hand over the keys to the franchise, By the numbers but he allowed them to be creative pioneers in the game of baseball. “Stu appreciated us in a way 1 that gave us the confidence to try a bunch of stuff that other general

Rays’ seed in managers would never even think the AL about doing. So when we started pitching with our relief pitchers ‘08 to start the game in what is now called the ‘Opener’ strategy,

Last Rays’ everybody thought it was insane.”

World Series As pioneers of an oldappearance fashioned industry, the Tampa Bay 12 Rays are the only team with two presidents, Silverman and Auld. “When Brian was coming

Pitchers to record a save this season out of business school, a lot of sports teams were run like small family businesses like the [Dallas]

ALUMS MAKING STRIDES Pioneers of baseball

With the Tampa Bay Rays entering the World Series, a trio of alums takes on the Los Angeles Dodgers using their unprecedented strategies in the old-fashioned world of pro sports.

Cowboys,” Newell said. “People have now started to run sports organizations like large corporations. They started thinking about numbers, analytics and culture, things that the big companies have always thought about. When Matt, Brian, Stu and Andrew [Cader] were with the Rays, they were at the forefront of that and thinking about doing things differently than a lot of people did before.”

While Silverman and Auld have been with the franchise for over a decade, a younger Marksmen, Newell, joined the team three years ago.

“After my freshman year in college, I worked in the development office filing papers, so I got to know [Headmaster] David Dini really well up on the second floor of Nearburg,” Newell said. “I was looking to get into sports,’ and he asked if I’d reached out to all these Marksmen. He said, ‘There are these two really smart guys at the Rays. I don’t know them very well, but you should reach out to them.’”

Newell, alongside both Silverman and Auld, had a successful athletic career himself, playing football, basketball and baseball on campus, which inspired him to pursue a career in sports. Of his many achievements, he won three SPC championships, two in football and one in basketball. Not only was he a member of these historic squads, but he was also the football team MVP and went on to play at Princeton University.

“I was a three-sport athlete my entire time at St. Mark’s and was able to play [football] in college,” Newell said. “I did investment banking for a while, and I was just like, ‘I’m not enjoying this.’ I had a friend sit me down at one point who said, ‘Why are you doing a job you hate? Why don’t you go work in sports?’ I was like, ‘That’s a pipe dream. Nobody actually gets to work into sports.’ They told me to look into it, so I went back to business school, and now I’m here.”

For Newell, 10600 Preston Rd. was vital in making connections and setting himself up for success.

“I tell people in no uncertain terms that going to St. Mark’s was the biggest pivot point and biggest benefit that I’ve ever had,” Newell said. “I went to a really good college, a really good business school and had some really good experiences after, but I think getting that trajectory and having the people here that care about you so much is unmatched.”

Silverman hopes in this time of uncertainty baseball can bring us all together.

“Ever since I was a kid, I dreamt about working in sports,” Silverman said. “I love how sports can bring together a community. There’s a bond and connection that unites fans. It’s one of the few things that cuts across the divisions we see in today’s society.”

After placing first in the American League, Auld, Silverman, Newell and the Rays hope to pull together a deep playoff run.

“We all want to win a World Series. I mean it’s half the reason you get into this,” Auld said. “I always remind everyone every staff meeting that it can’t just be about wins and losses. We’ve got to do a lot of great work in the community, or what’s the point of any of this. But when you win the World Series, and your players show up in hospitals, it’s a lot cooler for the sick kids than when your last place team does.”

STORY Peter Orsak, SeMaj Musco PHOTOS Courtesy Barry Newell, Abe Echt

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October 29, 2020 Sports The ReMarker

FOR IT ALL Inside the brand new Globe Life Field in Arlington, center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (below) and the Tampa Bay Rays take on the LA Dodgers in the World Series.

Upcoming GAMES

Football

Volleyball

Oct. 30 vs. ESD (no spectators; stream available) Nov. 6 @ Greenhill (two parents allowed per athlete) Home games will be streamed at: https://events.locallive.tv/school/st-marks-tx

Nov. 3 vs. FWCD (no spectators; stream available) Nov. 5 vs. Greenhill (no spectators; stream available) Games are streamed on the St. Mark’s Athletics Youtube Page

BIG STAGE

Inside of American Airlines Center, home of the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars, the 2019 Lions basketball team takes on nationally ranked Prolific Prep in front of a crowd of Marksmen.

CHAMPS

While hoisting their state championship trophy, the 2013 Lions’ lacrosse team celebrates their 8-7 win over the ESD Eagles.

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Sports

October 29, 2020 LOOKING BACK Witnessing history With many sports in question this year, we reminisce on some of the best games in school history.

1997 Wind propels Lions to victory

In Frank Jordan’s 51 years at 10600 Preston Rd, the 1997 SPC football championship stood out as the single best athletic event he ever attended. In this game, the Lions squared off against arguably the best private school team in the state at that time, the Dallas Christian Chargers.

“It was the year 1997. Dallas Christian had gone undefeated in the year 1996 and they were considered the number one private school football team in the state of Texas,” Jordan said. “They had three players on their team who ended up playing pro ball.” Many Lions players were nervous for this matchup, and when the game finally began, the Chargers picked up right where they left off a season ago. Losing 14-0 at the end of the half, the Lions were determined to score before heading to the locker room.

“St. Mark’s didn’t get their first first down until the second quarter, but right before halftime, St. Mark’s scored to make it 14-7,” Jordan said.

After this moment, the team was filled with confidence that carried over into the third and fourth quarter; the Lions came out in the second half and dominated the Chargers for the rest of the game. After trailing 14 points to begin the game, the Lions stunned the defending state champs and went on to be the only team to beat Dallas Christian in 1997.

2013 State champions over rival ESD

In 2013, the Texas High School Lacrosse League State Tournament consisted of four Dallas area teams as the top four teams in Texas: Jesuit, ESD, Highland Park and St. Mark’s; however, in the regular season leading up to the tournament, the Lions experienced many ups and downs.

What made this season particularly unique was the vast improvement the team had as the season progressed. In the first match versus ESD, the Eagles beat the Lions at home and stormed the field moments after the final buzzer went off. This moment sparked the Lions’ grit and determination for the remainder of the season.

Almost a month after that game versus ESD, the two teams rematched for a second time in the SPC championship. From the moment the game began, the Lions proved to be a completely new team and crushed the Eagles 16-7.

As the regular season CONFERENCE CROWN After a win over the Kinkaid School in the 2020 SPC Championship, the came to an end, Lions celebrated their first championship in seven years. the Lions were set to square off versus however, Prolific Prep prevailed and came out ESD for the third and final time in the biggest game of victorious 57-44 by the end of the game. the year, the State Championship. After going down The loss was disappointing, but Guiler believes 7-4 heading into the fourth quarter, the Lions made a this SPC championship winning team needed an late push to tie the game and force overtime. On the experience like this to instill confidence for the team’s second possession of overtime, the legend of remainder of the season. Evan Chang-Tung ‘13 was born. “I realized that our program had gotten to

“We were down 7-4 going into the fourth period a place where our players had surpassed my and came back to tie the game at 7 and then Evan expectations, and I knew I needed to change my Chang-Tung hit the game-winner in overtime to win goals and expectations for the program,” Guiler said. the state championship,” Browning said.

Winning 8-7, this marked the first and only state 2020 Sophomore leads Lions to victory champion lacrosse team in school history. Going into the 2020 SPC Championship tournament, the soccer team had an uphill battle 2019 Guiler coaches versus top ranked team to climb if they wanted to win. To make matters

Last year, the Lions varsity basketball squad had worse, Billy Lockhart ‘20, the starting goalie, was the opportunity to go head to head against the thrown out of the semi-final game with a red card. fourth ranked high school basketball program in the With a veteran senior goalie ejected, all hope country, Prolific Prep Academy hailing from Napa seemed lost for the Lions, but then, sophomore Stefan Valley, CA. Moren0 stepped up and made three crucial penalty

Led by captains Andrew Laczkowski ‘20 and kick saves. Harrison Ingram ‘21, the Lions were invited to “For a little sophomore to go in and save the participate in the annual Thanksgiving Hoopfest game for the Lions was huge,” Milliet said. “Everyone hosted at the American Airlines Center, which was playing so great and for him to be the goalie and included teams from across the nation. help win the game [3-2 against the Casady School]

In front of several thousand fans, the Lions was awesome.” kept the game close and even had the lead mid-way In the championship game, the Lions continued through the third quarter. According to head coach to fight without their starting goalie and were able Greg Guiler, Harrison Ingram was the MVP of the to get a victory in the end over Kinkaid School 3-1 entire event which featured top ranked players from thanks to contributions from the whole team. across the country. “We had multiple guys come in and play

“I thought he played incredible basketball,” amazing for us in that championship game,” Milliet Guiler said. “Harrison was making plays off the said. “The energy everyone brought to the game was dribble and really put us in a position to compete electric and it was so great to see them win.” going into the second half.”

After making two three-point shots to start the STORY Luke Nayfa, Rajan Joshi third quarter, the Lions took an eight-point lead; PHOTOS VisualsbyDre, Courtesy Jan Forester

Thirty-fifth percentile by Robert Pou

I’m 5’8” and 145 pounds as a senior. In the 35th percentile in height and weight for boys my age, I am small. This isn’t particularly problematic except for the fact that my favorite sport is football. I’ve been playing since middle school, but at that age everyone is small. Or at least the differences in size aren’t quite as pronounced. What I lacked in size, I made up for with speed and toughness.

But, after playing my freshman year as a running back and safety, I was sick of being small, constantly outmatched and physically battered.

So I quit, rationalizing it as “retiring” to soften the blow to my ego. Looking back, I made a purely emotional decision: fearful I wouldn’t get bigger, doubtful of whether I could contribute, and upset that I hadn’t lived up to my own expectations.

When the next football season rolled around, I didn’t suit up. Instead, I found myself in afterschool P.E., and each Friday night, I stood in the bleachers while my former teammates played on the turf under the lights and took part in the great tradition that is Texas high school football.

When one of my good friends snagged an interception in his very first varsity game playing my position, I felt a pang of jealousy.

That could’ve been me.

Following every minute detail of college and NFL football, one of my greatest passions, made me even more upset. I realized I missed the game. And since I knew college football probably wasn’t in my future, I only had two years left to play organized tackle football.

So the next year, my junior year, I rejoined the team. But not because I thought my size would no longer be an issue. In fact, it still is an issue. In my mind, my size limits what I can accomplish, which is difficult for me since I am extremely competitive, but physical limitations have forced me to rely on my intellect, to study film more than anyone else, to diagnose offensive schemes faster and to react quicker than my opponents.

So, while missing that year is a mistake I truly regret, only by missing it do I now know how much I value playing football.

I learned that when you may not have the obvious traits you need, you can find other ways to perform at a high level. I’ve realized Robert that excelling at Pou something isn’t Editor the only goal. Just being on in Chief the team and contributing as I can may be sufficient.

So now each day out on that field I soak in every drill, every snap, every touchdown. No longer do I hold myself to a standard that’s not realistic for me. No longer do I let the 35th percentile affect me. Just being in the game is a win, and if you don’t play, you can’t win.