Issuu

From the President

As you will see in this edition, this time of year is when we express gratitude for your generosity. In working on this edition, I reflected on the Prayer of Oscar Romero and was struck on how it helps frame our current strategic plans.

A Prayer of Oscar Romero

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.

The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work. Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith.

No confession brings perfection. No pastoral visit brings wholeness. No program accomplishes the Church’s mission. No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.

We plant the seeds that one day will grow.

We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.

This enables us to do something, and to do it very well.

It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future that is not our own.

Thank you for the support that makes “a fruitful future” possible. Nearly 12,000 donors listed in this report are evidence that we have a strong company of companions building a hope-filled future for the next generations. Let’s go!

A St. Xavier Reflection

The St. Xavier Strategic Plan and Capital Campaign helps us plan for the next 200 years.

At times it seems to be a daunting task and more than we can dream to accomplish.

What can we do that will benefit future generations of the Long Blue Line?

We accept that no matter how many concepts we create, how many fundraisers, how many curriculum revisions, how many building projects, how many X-Travaganzas, we will never be completely ready for what the next 200 years may bring.

As Saint Oscar Romero said, we water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We have the power to strengthen this legacy by planting seeds, watering them with our dedication, and taking bold steps to help them flourish into a new reality.

The work we do now to build this foundation will create a lasting

We stand on the shoulders of those who paved the way before us. It is now up to us to continue to forge that path. We are the workers

ADMINISTRATION

Mr. Timothy J. Reilly ’76, President

Rev. William L. Verbryke SJ ’71, Rector

Mr. Daniel J. Lynch, Principal

Mr. Robert G. Bollman ’86, Vice President for Operations & CFO

Mr. Anthony E. Schad ’81, Vice President for Advancement

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Mr. Gregory G. Achten ’82, Chair

Mr. G. Jeffrey Berding ’85

Mr. Eric M. Breissinger ’85

Mrs. Stephanie Bruemmer

Mr. Robert E. Carroll ’76

Ms. Melanie M. Chavez

Mr. Michael E. Dahm

Mr. Brian J. Fitzgerald ’91

Mrs. Amy M. Garrett

Mr. Lee P. Geiger ’93

Dr. Colleen M. Hanycz

Rev. Paul A. Lickteig, S.J.

Dr. Patricia Y. McAlpine

Rev. Gregory J. Ostdiek S.J.

Mr. Andrew N. Recker ’97

Mr. Timothy J. Reilly ’76

Mr. Mark M. Ryan ’91

Rev. Matthew C. Spotts, S.J. ’04

Mr. Timothy J. Steigerwald ’83

Rev. Eric M. Sundrup, S.J.

Mr. Karl Thomsen

Mr. Nicholas J. Vehr ’77

Rev. William L. Verbryke, S.J. ’71, Vice Chair

Mr. Madhu Vrishabhendra

CONTRIBUTORS

Altesse A. (Michael) Bahala ’25

Joyce A. Bowman

Mary Beth Bruns

David V. Clapp

Kathryn S. Dierckes

Heidi B. Eveleigh

Edmund L. Franchi

Julie A. Goshorn

Cara L. Hester

W. Matthew Keith ’93

Nicholas B. Kemper ’06

Wayne Box Miller

Ralph A. Nardini ’77

Jennifer M. Reilly

Aleth B. Rhoades

Anthony E. Schad ’81

John A. Schrantz ’96

Britan A. Shriner

Stephen R. Specht ’86

Gavin A. Vargas ’19

Omar A. Velazquez

EDITOR

Becky Schulte DESIGNER

Jon Enia ’97, makercreative.com

PRINTING

Joseph Berning Printing Company

St. Xavier Magazine is published three times a year by the alumni, advancement and communications offices.

St. Xavier High School

600 W. North Bend Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45224-1499

Phone: (513) 761-7815 ext. 121 http://www.stxavier.org

e-mail: bschulte@stxavier.org

ALUMNI HOT LINE

1-800-572-5340 ext. 116

Direct all Letters to the Editor, address changes, or other correspondence to the above address.

Postmaster: Send address corrections to:

St. Xavier Magazine, 600 W. North Bend Road, Cincinnati, OH 45224-1499.

Cover Photo: Carrying in the flame of the Holy Spirit at Mass.

Above Photo: The Grotto of the Holy Companions features a prominent statue of the Blessed Mother and a young boy by artist Tom Tsuchiyaa.

We are St. Xavier

First Day of Classes — Welcome Class of 2028

On August 14, St. Xavier welcomed the Class of 2028 to the Long Blue Line with the beginning of classes for the 2024-25 school year!

New Employees of the 2024-25 School Year

St. Xavier welcomed 17 new employees to the community this year!

Back row pictured L to R: Cameron Ridolfo (Athletics), Kevin Brady ’94 (Makerspace), Rey Trester (Makerspace), Claire Weisbrod (Athletics), Julie Ahrnsen (Biology), Matthew Curoe ’17 (English), Matthew Reilly ’09 (Math), Phillip Roebuck (Math), Melissa Craig (Human Resources).

Front row pictured L to R: Andrew Westerbeck ’12 (Social Studies), Jimmy Menkhaus ’99 (Religion), Aaron Cashman (Computer Science), Joey Pace ’16 (Music), Lisa Burke (Administration), Madyn Sullivan (Social Studies), Juan Pablo de Legarreta (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), Jessica Dempsey (Social Studies).

Ireland Trip

The Men in Black (strings students) were given the opportunity to perform in Ireland this summer. They visited Dublin, Belfast, and Edinburgh. The students had a vigorous itinerary: two workshops, two collaborative performances, and one solo performance. These included: collaboration with Music Generation at the South Dublin Arts Center, a performance at EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin, a workshop with traditional Irish Fiddlers Maria Ryan and Lucia Mac Partlin, a collaborative performance with the Haver String Quartet at Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh, and a workshop with Brianna Berman, violinist of the Haver String Quartet from Glasgow. The students also learned about the cultures of the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland throughout their trip.

Scotland Trip

This summer Theatre Xavier (TX) performed Parents, a newly devised play, in Scotland at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest performing arts festival in the world. When not performing, students were treated to numerous new theatrical works at the Fringe. TX also spent three days in London where they were treated to performances at the Globe Theatre and the National Theatre of London, as well as a stirring performance of “Matilda” in the West End.

Grotto of the Holy Companions

St. Xavier has been truly blessed to announce the opening of the Grotto of the Holy Companions. On August 14, St. X students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families, along with representatives of the construction and design teams, joined for the Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The community used this time to bless the new Grotto. St. Xavier thanks those for their prayers and support during the construction period. A special thanks to the artist, Tom Tsuchiya and Kevin Brady ’94 and to all of our generous donors, whose support made this entire project possible.

Mass of the Holy Spirit

On August 30, the St. X students celebrated the Mass of the Holy Spirit. This marked the first all-school Mass of the year, commencing with the traditional carrying of the flame—a symbol of inviting the Holy Spirit into the hearts of everyone present. Fr. Tom Manahan SJ was the celebrant of the Mass and called the school to go into this school year with joy and courage.

Spirit Day

Vice President’s Message

Following the Mass of the Holy Spirit, students participated in Spirit Day! They played games inside and outside, pickleball, soccer, spikeball, tennis, video games, basketball, etc. They enjoyed snow cones, lunch, and lots of laughs!

Upcoming Fine Arts Performances

The St. X Fine Arts department will hold the annual Theatre Xavier Fall Performance, You Can’t Take it With You, November 15-17, and 21-23, 2024. The Theatre Xavier Spring Performance, She Loves Me, will be held on April 4-6 and 10-12, 2025. This year’s Illuminations Show will take place on January 31, 2025!

Parents Across Cultures Annual Ice Cream Sunday

On a picture-perfect Sunday August afternoon, Parents Across Campus (PAC) welcomed hundreds of families, friends and guests to the annual Freshman Family Welcome Ice Cream Social held in the Ellis gymnasium.

Not only were guests treated to a variety of ice creams and toppings, but they had the opportunity to speak with members of PAC and get many of their most pressing questions answered. They could also scan QR codes to get additional information and connect with other incoming freshman families to start building community. In addition, President Tim Reilly, Principal Dan Lynch, and Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Wayne Miller, each shared some of the core values of St. X. that align with our Graduate at Graduation.

So often the Ice Cream Social provides families a way to connect to carpool, build on existing relationships and in many cases learn that they are already connected through work or personal interests. In addition, incoming freshmen connected and interacted with current Bombers to start building valuable relationships through recreation and conversation. As always, the day was highlighted by a group photo of incoming freshman, current students, alums, and St. X team members.

Tony Schad ‘81

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

Anthony E. Schad ’81

National Merit Semifinalists

Congratulations to the 13 young men named to this year’s list of National Merit Semifinalists.

Vice President’s Message

Liam Bien, Walker Boylan, Caleb Chang, Kyle Goertemoeller, Ryan Kos, Nicholas Kroger, Henry Leuenberger, Evin Lodder, Benjamin Manfroy, Joseph Rusnak, Jonas Thomsen, Andrew Voelkerding, and Tyler Zevallos.

Message from Vice President.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

Career ConneXions

Anthony E. Schad

Vice President for Advancment

The Career ConneXions program started out its eigth year strong! In the first weeks of school, the program joined the Club Fair, which is designed to help students understand the many co-curriculars in which they can choose to participate. Joining the Fair allowed Career ConneXions Student Leaders to inform their peers of the program’s mission: Provide opportunities for career exploration and professional development so they have confidence in their college major and future career path. Andrew Policastro ’26, a member of the Career ConneXions Student Leadership Team, shared this about the Club Fair: “Our table was polished, marketed well and created such a buzz that people could barely see our table! It was crowded with Bombers for the entire Club Fair.” A record number of 83 freshman and sophomore students signed up at the Club Fair to join the upperclassmen members of the Career ConneXions Student Leadership Team.

“I’m grateful every day to have the Student Leaders. These Bombers choose to be on the team despite their priorities in academics, to community service, and more.” shares Aleth Rhoades, Career ConneXions Director. “Their role has been the primary reason why there is a ‘buzz’ around the program. The hour or so each week they contribute to craft the student experience and to be the ‘face’ of the program has made a huge impact for all Bombers.” While students do not get academic credit for their commitment to be a Student Leader, they are building skills like project management, branding, marketing content and promotion, and strategic planning. “We work together so that they build professional skills outside the classroom and employ them in a safe space. My hope is that they have hands-on experiences that they can talk about in college essays and job interviews.”

The “buzz” around the program continued even after the Club Fair. Nearly 160 Bombers filled the Reynolds Room to learn from several Student Leaders and volunteers about what the program can do for them with a small investment of time. One of those volunteers was Bill Maltbie ’88 and owner/CEO of WiseHive Promotions. Maltbie is one of the 112 volunteers who supported students through the program last school year. “I truly enjoy hosting Bombers for internships each Summer,” says Maltbie. “Interns shadowed my employees and were asked to write operations manuals, which is so necessary for new employee onboarding and succession planning. I’ve also volunteered to help students build their resumes and conduct a mock interview; I’m amazed at how well prepared these young men are to work with me.”

Volunteers like Maltbie are as vital to the program as the Student Leaders. The program calendar is planned for the entire academic school year thanks to the support of parents, the community and members of the Long Blue Line. With their time and dedication to our mission, along with the value the Student Leadership Team brings, student engagement is high and is why Career ConneXions is a differentiator for the school – one of many reasons prospective families want to enroll at St. X.

To learn more about the program and to get involved, visit stxavier.org/careerconnexions

’81

excerpts from the ARCHIVES

Nicholas Kemper ’06, Archivist

Something magical happened on a chilly damp Sunday in November 1957. It was the final football game of the season, and the underdog Bombers were scheduled to take on the Cavaliers of Purcell in front of 6,500 rambunctious fans at Xavier University’s Corcoran Field. Led by Roger Staubach, Purcell was undefeated and seemingly invincible. In fact, the last time the boys from Sycamore Street had managed to beat the “Hackberry Assassins” on the gridiron was during the fall of 1948.

On top of that, St. Xavier was without its star senior quarterback and co-captain, Tom Jorling ’58. Tom was a three-year varsity starter who had come down with a case of rheumatic fever early in the school year. At the time, rheumatic fever could be deadly, and treatment often involved months of absolute bed rest. Consequently, Tom had been out for the entirety of the season. Things did not bode well for the Bombers.

But fate had other ideas. Early in the game, St. X senior Steve Apking ’58 caught a Purcell punt and sprinted 60 yards for the touchdown. The extra point attempt by Jack Green ’59 was blocked, and St. X took a precarious 6-0 lead. The Cavaliers responded with their own touchdown, secured the extra point, and seized a slim 7-6 lead in the second quarter.

St. X fought back to within 15 yards of the Purcell endzone, but the drive stalled. Jack Green, having had his extra point blocked earlier, pressed Coach Tom Ballaban to let him attempt the field goal. Green lined up, kicked the pigskin through the air, and split the uprights. The Bombers took a 9-7 lead going into halftime and never looked back. No points were added in a hard-fought second half, and a stunned crowd saw X High emerge victorious. With the win, St. Xavier claimed its first outright GCL Championship since 1943 during the legendary days of George Ratterman ’44 and Charley Wolf ’44.

And yet, the real magic actually happened after the game. Immediately following their triumphant conquest, Jack Green, henceforth known as “The Toe,” was given the game ball by Coach Ballaban. But Green felt that someone else was more deserving of the keepsake: his bedridden quarterback, Tom Jorling. And if Jorling could not be on the field with his team to celebrate their first GCL Championship in 14 years, then they would bring the celebration to Jorling. At that moment, the entire St. Xavier football squad, still wearing their uniforms and pads, took off running for Tom’s house on Ledgewood Drive, just a few minutes from Xavier University.

At some point amidst the revelry, the photograph below was snapped, and a fleeting yet beautiful moment in time was captured: the 1957 St. X football team, including Coaches Ballaban and Berning, celebrating a GCL Championship in Tom Jorling’s bedroom. Jorling, wearing a t-shirt, holds the game ball while Jack Green flashes a “Victory” sign at bottom left. It is a poignant reminder that the brotherhood of St. Xavier goes beyond the classrooms and hallways and beyond the stadiums and fields. It goes even beyond high school itself, for we truly are Xavier Men Forever.

Special thanks to Josh Green ’02 for his assistance with this article.

Join us for X-Travaganza 2025!

The 51st annual X-Travaganza will be held on March 8, 2025 at St. Xavier High School, culminating a year-long effort of events, raffles and auctions supported by parents and friends of The Long Blue Line. X-Travaganza proceeds collectively generate funds to benefit all St. Xavier students!

Your support of X-Travaganza helps fund many educational and extracurricular opportunities for all students, from Academics, Athletics, Music, Theater Xavier and Mock Trial to Community Service, Mission Trips, Campus Ministry, Tuition Assistance and many more.

SAVE THE DATES:

Holiday Online Auction: opens November 27, 2024

Grand Raffle: ticket sales start January 2025

Trivia Night: January 25, 2025

X-Travaganza: March 8, 2025

X-Travaganza Golf Outing: May 19, 2025

Visit www.stxavier.org/xtravaganza for updates and registration links.

Join X-Travaganza 2025 Chairs

Gina and Ryan Kyte, parents of Will '22, Alex '23 and Tyler '25 for these upcoming events!

MANY THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS 2024 SPONSORS:

PRESENTING SPONSOR ($20,000)

Jeff Wyler Eastgate Automall

PLATINUM SPONSOR ($15,000)

Lisanne and Mike '84 Thompson

GRAND RAFFLE SPONSOR ($15,000)

Chavez Properties

DIAMOND SPONSORS ($10,000)

Stephanie and Steve '87 Kastner

Merrill Lynch

Meghan and Matt '91 Olson

Prolink Staffing

SAPPHIRE SPONSORS ($5,000)

Harris Periodontics and Implant Dentistry

KMK Law

MIKE’S CARWASH

Northpoint Foundation

Priority Insulation

CJ Zimmer & Sons Inc.

PEARL SPONSORS ($2,500)

Abercrombie & Associates, Inc.

Cindy and Keith Bricking

Lucy and Bob '76 Carroll

Forward Edge

Green Farm Juicery

Jake Sweeney Automotive

Paper Products Company

Recycling Alliance

Strauss Troy

WesBanco

TOM MEYER CIGAR BAR

The Howland Family

Shaune and Michael Rueve

GOLF PRESENTING SPONSOR ($5,000) Forward Edge

GOLF MAJOR SPONSOR ($2,500) Saxon

SPECIAL THANKS

Aero Fulfillment Services

Jackie Schaiper

Second Look Proofreading & Editing, LL

Vice President’s Message

A St. Xavier education is a gift that transforms lives.

In this magazine, St. Xavier High School recognizes those that have made a financial gift or gifts to support the young men of St. X as well as the mission of the institution. It does not seem like thank you can be said enough. The impact that you have made with your unyielding support cannot be measured. But it is real!

The educational experience at St. Xavier High School is rooted in the powerful vision of the Jesuits. This vision prioritizes service to others, personal reflection, discernment, prayer and finding God in all things. These tools ground our students in strong Catholic, Jesuit values and assist them in their formation as leaders and Men for Others through rigorous academic and formational college preparation. With your support, St. Xavier students are poised to make a profound impact on the world.

I have seen up close and personal what a St. X education means for our young men. I have heard from parents how thrilled they are in the impact St. X has on their sons and the changes they see from freshmen year to senior year.

I have the honor to coach at the freshman level through the freshman football program. At the freshmen football level, our goals are to instill the values of the school and the program every bit as much as teaching football. We encourage our players to give their absolute best in all aspects of their life day to day. Coach Ed Nardini asks after practice each day for our players to discern if they gave their best on the field, as a teammate, in the classroom, as a friend, student, brother, son and more. He asks them to look at themselves in the mirror each night and to ask themselves how they have done in those areas that day and what can they do to be better. It is a wonderful way for our young men to begin being “Contemplatives in Action.”

What is also wonderful are the people whose names are in this magazine because our students get to see that so many believe in this school and in them. They get to see that there are many people that they will probably never meet who have faith and belief in them and are willing to invest in them now with the knowledge that it will make a difference in their future.

So again, and with a sincere heart, THANK YOU! Your financial support is a very real message to our young men of the faith you have in them and is a real message to our community that you have belief in our mission, our faculty and staff and even more so in the young men being educated here at St. Xavier High School.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,

Anthony E. Schad ’81 Vice President for Advancment

Tony Schad ’81

Head Freshman Football Coach Ed Nardini ’81 gathers the team together.

Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024

FY 2023-24

St. Xavier 200 –Xavier Men Forever

Ralph A. Nardini, ’77

Two years ago, St. Xavier High School published the St. Xavier 200 Strategic Plan for Continuous Improvement. The plan was created to be a living document that would guide the school through the celebration of our bicentennial in 2031.

One of the cornerstones of the plan, and a driving force behind it, can be found in the Vision statement: At St. Xavier High School, a Catholic school in the Jesuit tradition, we are committed to being the rigorous college preparatory school in Greater Cincinnati where exceptional boys from diverse backgrounds transform into academically accomplished Men for Others who are prepared to discern and successfully carry out God’s plan for their lives and to serve as leaders in our rapidly changing world.

The Objectives and Goals of the strategic plan are designed to be continually monitored against established measurements for progress and accomplishments, allowing the plan to evolve as needs and opportunities arise.

One of the pillars of the strategic plan is titled “Providing Exceptional Facilities”, and the objective of that pillar says: While caring for our common home, create and maintain a campus masterplan to ensure exceptional facilities for current and future generations. This part of our plan calls for developing a holistic campus wide masterplan, contemporizing classrooms to improve the learning experience, exploring the expansion of student commons area to improve collaboration and cafeteria options, among other strategies. We have taken the most critical aspects of the master facility plan and developed a five-year plan.

Much like our forward-thinking leadership 70 years ago, the school administration and stakeholders of St. Xavier High School are at a precipice from a facility standpoint. In 1955, the school leadership

and committed alumni made a bold decision to build a new school “up the road” in Finneytown. Those leaders knew that to serve future generations of students they needed to create a learning environment to meet the school’s mission.

Today, St. Xavier High School serves 1,400 young men from diverse backgrounds in an academically rigorous college preparatory education.

As the school approaches its 200th anniversary, we are called to be just as bold and target improvements in education programs, affordability, facilities, and operations to further the mission for the next generations. After going through an extensive campus facility’s audit, it became clear that we need to prepare our current school for future generations of students who will become leaders in our Church, city and nation. Learning and teaching have changed dramatically over the past 65 years and to effectively and efficiently fulfill the mission, we must also adapt our classrooms and facilities as well.

During this school year, we invite your reactions and will be reaching out to many of our alumni, parents, and friends as we begin to formalize funding plans for vitally needed renovations and additions. We value the input, expertise, and support of the entire St. Xavier community and will be looking forward to connecting with many of you.

As we get closer to the bicentennial of our school, we continue to ask ourselves, “What do we need to do to be the best at getting better?” The approaching 200th anniversary of St. Xavier High School is a chance for us to ensure our mission will continue for future generations of the Long Blue Line.

Honoring our Veterans

In February 2025, St. Xavier High School will host the "Eyes of Freedom" traveling memorial, a powerful tribute to those who have served our country with courage and honor. Images of St. Xavier Alumni Lance Cpl. Michael Cifuentes ’98 and Sgt. David Kreuter ’97, as well as twenty-three other images representing Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment are represented in a traveling memorial dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of all who answer our Nation's call.

St. Ignatius offered profound testimonial to the sacrifice and dedication Lance Cpl. Michael Cifuentes, Sgt. David Kreuter, and other brave Americans showed in the spring/summer of 2005 in and around Fallujah, Iraq.

Love ought to show itself in deeds more than in words.

Ignatius reminds us that true service lies in action, sacrifice, and commitment. Ignatius was no stranger to the life of a soldier. It was his initial profession, and after being gravely injured in battle, underwent a spiritual transformation that led him to dedicate his life to God. His experience as a soldier instilled in him the values of discipline, courage, and selfless service—values that he later infused into the Jesuit tradition.

As we prepare for this important event, we recognize the need to honor the alumni of St. Xavier who have answered the call to serve, both in the past and present. Our aim is to create a comprehensive and respectful tribute to these heroes, and the involvement of our community is essential to this mission.

These Ignatian principles guided countless St. Xavier alumni to serve our country. From past wars to current deployments, these men have lived out the Ignatian ideal of Men for Others. They have

gone beyond words, embodying love through their deeds on the battlefield, in humanitarian missions, and in the defense of freedom. Their contributions, and the contributions of all who serve, are a testament to the values of leadership, service, and faith that St. Xavier instills in all its students.

In conjunction with the arrival of the "Eyes of Freedom" memorial, St. Xavier is planning a special event to honor our veterans and active military alumni. This gathering will be an opportunity for our community to come together in gratitude, reflection, and respect. However, to make this tribute truly meaningful, we need your help.

We are currently gathering updated information on St. Xavier alumni who have served or are currently serving in the military. If you are a veteran or active-duty member, we ask that you please fill out a brief form to share your information with us. Additionally, if you know of a fellow alum—whether a friend, relative, or classmate—who has served, we encourage you to share this request with them.

Your participation is crucial in helping us recognize and honor the service and sacrifices of our alumni. Their dedication to our community, country, and world is precisely what St. Ignatius envisioned when he urged us to act as Men for Others in a community of faith.

As we look forward to the “Eyes of Freedom” memorial and the opportunity it brings, we ask for your support in making this tribute as comprehensive and respectful as possible. Together, we can ensure that the deeds of our alumni veterans are remembered, celebrated, and honored for generations of St. Xavier students and families to come.

For more information or to submit your information, please visit https://www.stxavier.org/alumni/veterans

Student Spotlight

Altesse A. (Michael) Bahala ’25

Michael Bahala ’25 played on the soccer team freshman and sophomore year, and was involved in Model UN, Student Council, X-Act Team, Senior Chairmen, Career Connections Student Leadership Team, Campus Ministry, Pickleball Club, Spike Ball Club, and Backpacking Club. He is a student leader of community service at Xavier Jesuit Academy.

Are any other members of your family part of the Long Blue Line?

I am the first member of my family to go to St. X. My little brother has also fallen in love with the school just as I have, and he hopes to attend one day.

Where did you go to grade school? Why did you decide to attend St. Xavier?

Growing up I moved around a lot. I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and then I moved to Uganda at the age of one. In 2011 I came to the United States, and I moved to Lexington, Kentucky. After moving back and forth from Louisville, I eventually came to Cincinnati and attended Reading Elementary. Then I went to John Paul II for the rest of grade school. I chose to come to St. X due to the brotherhood the students at the school share. Many of my friends from grade school went to different schools but I knew that the men at St. Xavier were the men that I wanted to surround myself with. I needed brothers who were going to call me to be my best and challenge me but also pick me up in times of struggle. That was the best decision I have ever made on my own.

What advice would you give to a freshman?

My advice to freshmen would be to get involved as much as possible. St. X has so many opportunities from the football team to mock trial to community service to pickleball club. There are countless opportunities to get yourself into. One of my favorite quotes is one that a teacher told me about St. X. He said, “If every day you leave

school at 3:05 p.m. and go home then you are truly missing out.” This quote emphasized the importance of being open to growth and getting involved in new things. Not only does getting involved give you experience but it will also make you new friends or even help you discover something you did not know you were passionate about. An example for me was when I signed up for the spike ball club freshman year. I had only just recently been introduced to spike ball and I loved it, so I decided to join the club. From there I was able to have fun and make friends while doing so.

What is your favorite memory/experience at St. X?

One of my favorite memories at St. X was my junior year service and immersion trip to Wheeling, West Virginia. We spent five days doing service work, learning about Appalachia, making our own meals, and bonding. My favorite moment was when we met a coal miner, and he told us about the struggles of what he does for work. I never knew that being a coal miner in the present day was still dangerous until I met him. The entire trip helped broaden my perspective on the everyday struggles people in that region must face, especially when we volunteered at the soup kitchen.

Another one of my favorite moments was being part of the Companion Scholars program my junior year. I was paired up with the most energetic and lively eighth grader of all time. He was awesome. The members of the program were fortunate to spend lunch and class time at various grade schools. I was paired with Dante at the Academy of Multilingual Immersion Studies (AMIS). There we would tutor or go play games in the gym. On special occasions the grade school guys would get to come to our school. My favorite moment is when I gave Dante a tour of the school. His awe helped me remember how blessed I am for going to this school. There are times I would take it for granted but Dante reminded me how much this school really has to offer.

What is the St. Xavier Advantage?

The St. Xavier advantage is that this school not only has a focus on academic success, but it also focuses on turning its students into good men. From Morality class to the various service opportunities to the Graduate at Graduation characteristics, St. X emphasizes how important it is that we become good men. I have come to know who I am and the man that I ought to be just by attending St. X.

Faculty Focus

Omar Velazquez

Omar Velazquez joined the St. Xavier baseball coaching staff in 2022. In 2023 he joined the staff full time and now serves as the Auxiliary Clerk/Financial Analyst and Varsity Assistant Baseball Coach.

Omar was born and raised in Queens, New York by his parents, who had recently relocated from Puerto Rico to have a better life for their family. After graduating from Long Island City High School, he was offered a scholarship to play baseball at Caldwell College, where he earned an Accounting Degree and various conference basebalI awards. He had one year of eligibility remaining due to a hand injury, so he attended Adelphi University to pursue his MBA. While at Adelphi, he won the conference championship and was named 1st Team All-Conference and Team MVP. He also still holds the record for Most Stolen Bases in a single season. While finishing his MBA, he met his wife, Bree, who was playing volleyball at Adelphi.

The two dated for three years, while she finished her Master’s Degree and coached college volleyball and he started his career in finance at JP Morgan Chase and M&T Bank, located in New York City. Bree, a native Northern Kentuckian, was struggling to adapt to the fast paced New York City lifestyle. After one year of a long distance relationship, he followed her down to Kentucky and started a new career as an Account Executive at Verst Group Logistics. He was also an instructor/coach with the Reds Urban Youth Academy and coached the Y’alls Elite travel teams. In 2022, he made a change to be an Account Executive at Thomas, a Xometry company. The flexibility working at Thomas provided him the opportunity to take on a coaching position at St. Xavier High School. Through his coaching experience he was amazed by St. Xavier and hoped to land a full-time position in the school building to better connect with his players. After a year he was offered a full time position as the financial analyst in the business office, as well as an auxiliary clerk in the library. Since 2022 he has coached the freshman and JV baseball teams and will now be joining the Varsity staff as an assistant coach focusing on defense, base running, and college recruiting.

Since joining the staff Omar quickly realized all the opportunities for faculty and staff. He started attending BSU meetings, and also assists with the new Hispanic affinity group, H.O.L.A.

When he is not at St. Xavier, he is at home with his wife, Bree, and two sons, Easton Crosley (3.5) and Brooks Bennett (1.5). As a family, they love to travel, play sports, and go to sporting events. Their family goal is to make it to every baseball stadium. They are also Halloween fanatics and enjoy decorating and dressing up each year – they start in August!

Why did you decide to bring your gifts to St. Xavier?

Although I am not originally from this area, while I was coaching baseball, I had heard nothing but great things about the legacy of St. Xavier. Even today when I am wearing my St. X apparel at the airport, at a park, or even out of the tri-state area, someone will comment, the great St. X community. This past summer I was stopped by a former Cincinnati native in Reno, Nevada, and he had nothing but great things to say about St. X. Somebody always knows somebody who went to St. Xavier and will talk about the opportunities the school gave them. When I had the opportunity to join such a prestigious place, I knew it would give me the opportunity to help the next generation grow in their faith and a bright future. Being from New York City, I grew up differently and have seen different parts of the world. I hope that I can bring the knowledge and diverse sense of thinking to our students to help them grow and reach their dreams.

What is the most rewarding thing about being part of the St. Xavier community?

The St. Xavier family is such a welcoming place. I didn’t know a single person here when I joined the baseball coaching staff in 2022; however, everyone has been so inviting and friendly. I enjoy coming to work every single day because of the students and people who work here. Being in an environment that pushes our students to excel academically, spiritually, and athletically is an opportunity that I wish I had growing up. Students take pride in their school, their academics, and their athletics, and to help foster their growth in those areas is such a reward.

One thing I was not anticipating was making a spiritual connection here. As a Christian with Catholic family members, I would attend church on holidays. Being at St. X, and listening to the Daily Examens, being a part of the all-school Masses, and learning about Jesuit tradition through Ignatian Formation has renewed my desire for a deeper spiritual connection.

You are heavily involved with the baseball program. Why is this so important to you?

Baseball has always been a huge part of my life and it started out with my Abuela playing baseball with me at the age of three. Since then, I cannot remember a time that I wasn’t working on my pitching, batting, or defense. Baseball gave me the opportunity to attend college and earn both my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I have forged some lifelong friendships through the game of baseball. I didn’t know it at the time, but baseball was very instrumental in teaching me life skills that I strive to instill in all my players. The hope is to create an environment where we are molding our players into great baseball athletes, but more importantly better human beings. Baseball has now become a staple in my house with my wife and two boys. The boys ask to bat every single day and it has created such a fun bonding experience to share with them.

How would you describe the St. Xavier Advantage?

The St. Xavier Advantage is the community and culture. It was a little intimidating when walking up to St. X for the first time, but

the moment I walked through the doors, I could immediately feel the love and energy. The faculty and staff are upbeat, smiling, and genuinely happy to be here. These individuals, day in and day out, push our students to think critically, and strive for the Magis! I love roaming the hallways and watching how the adults uniquely engage and motivate our students to shape them from young boys to men.

The culture at St. X is the best I have ever encountered. It is amazing to see the pride that the whole community takes in being a part of The Long Blue Line and to live up to the mission. There isn’t a day that goes by where you don’t hear “Be a Man for Others.” What’s more impressive is that the whole community not only says it, but lives by this principle. This creates not only a welcoming environment, but a competitive one that pushes students to be their best selves. Consequently that becomes a contagious ripple throughout the halls.

X-tra Notes (anything else we should know about you?)

I am very proud of my Puerto Rican heritage. My parents moved to New York City in their 20s and gave birth to me shortly after, with the hopes of providing a better life for their family. I have two brothers, Adolfo Jr, and David, and also one sister, Tania. New York City pizza and my mom’s Puerto Rican cooking are my favorite things.

St. Xavier Baseball Coaches

Pictured from L to R: Omar Velazquez, Denny Ehrhardt, Don DiGiacomo, Chris Mahon, Brandon Duvall, Mike Haskins

News from the Long Blue Line Alumni X-Cerpts

80’s

David W. Burleigh ’86 authored the recently released book, Take Ownership of What You Own, about trusts and family enterprise ownership. The book’s intro profiles Karl Hauck, who started teaching at St. X in 1962 and worked there for over 40 years.

00’s

Dr. Bruce Ross, Ph.D., AFC(R), CFT(TM) ’06 was promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure at the University of Kentucky. He is the Director of the Family Financial Counseling undergraduate program and the Director of the Family Financial Therapy Graduate Certificate Program. Congratulations!

20’s

Marshall Lang and Noah Taylor, both Class of 2020, played four years of football for Steve Specht; Marshall, a tight end and Noah a linebacker. After graduating from St. X, Marshall went on to play at Northwestern, and Noah to play at Cornell. Both graduated at their respective schools this past June. As luck would have it, Northwestern recruited Noah to come play a 5th year and pursue his Master’s Degree in Evanston and Marshall is also playing a 5th year and pursuing his Master’s Degree at Northwestern. Both are back together playing football again.

BIRTHS

VAN SANT

Congratulations to Science faculty member Meghan Van Sant and her husband, Patrick, on the birth of their daughter, Nora!

James Radley ’04 and his wife, Emily, welcomed their son, James William, Jr. on April 3, 2024. James weighed 6 lbs 14 oz and was 20 inches long.

Andy Kaminski ’06 and his wife, Jillian, welcomed a new addition to their family, Bennett Andrew Kaminski.

Congratulations to Golf Coach Nick Paxson ’13 and his wife, Elizabeth, on their newborn Allen Joseph ’43.

RADLEY

KAMINSKI

PAXSON

IN MEMORIAM

1938 Edward BURKE

1942 Paul GRIMME

1947 William BECKMEYER

1949 Andrew FOGARTY

1951 George BAUER

1951 John SCHWIERLING

1955 Gerald ROLFES

1956 Charles CORNELIUS

1956 Thomas FRANK

1956 J. Kuehn FREDERICK

1956 James VON BENKEN

1957 Jerome FLESCH

1959 R. Dennis EGBERS

1961 Daniel CONNAUGHTON

1962 Paul LECTURE

1963 James IASILLO

1963 J. Brendan RYAN

1967 Stephen RUSSELL

1968 John GRUBER

1968 Kevin KEEGAN

WEDDINGS

MCLEAN

On June 1, 2024 Mark McLean ’10 married Ashley Marshall in a small ceremony in College Hill. Pictured from L to R: John Linneman ’67; Eric Woll ’10; Paul McLean ’02; Mark McLean ’10; Gordon Ferguson ’10 and Tom McLean ’71.

FRYER

On June 15, 2024 Conor Fryer ’13 married Mary Kate Connelly in North Carolina. Pictured from L to R: Kevin Hurley ’99, Brian Linz ’94, Joe Linz ’69, John Linz ’80, Conor Linz Fryer ’13, Max Savarese ’13, Jake Grace ’13, Artie Fehr ’83, Alex Caldwell ’15. 2nd row: Matt Mersman ’13, Tom Fogarty ’13, John Jacob ’13, Nathan Caldwell ’13, Willis Pensyl ’13, Brian Torbeck ’13, Sam Reilly ’13. 3rd row: Nick Linz ’99, Rob Ries ’13, Matthew Mooney ’13, Garrett Campbell ’13, Sam Johnson ’13, Rob Rankin ’13, Jack York ’13, Joe Huhn ’13, Tom Callahan ’13, Mike Doll ’82, Bill Caldwell ’87.

1968 Richard SPENCER

1969 Richard BONDI

1970 Gregory DAVIS

1970 Joseph FELDHAUS

1972 Fred SCHAEFER

1973 Paul COLLOPY

1973 Gregory MAGIN

1994 Kevin SCANLON

BOEMKER

Mark Boemker ’12 married Ada Pariser on August 2, 2024. St. Xavier Graduates from L to R: uncle Tom Bove '73, father Tim Boemker '83, Joey Bruns '12, Danny Gates '12, James Brill '17, Mark Brockman '12, Mark Boemker '12, Mike Brill '12, Ray Huber '12, Chris Hecht '12, Steven Brill '12.

X-Peditions

On the globe, the Long Blue Line is the equator. In St. X parlance, the Long Blue Line of alumni and student body appears all over the globe. Bomber blue turns up all over the map and we want the evidence. Send us your pictures wearing St. Xavier High School gear or hoisting a copy of a St. Xavier magazine at an exotic locale or local landmark. Maybe a picture of Bombers at the Pyramids of Egypt or posing at the Pit. Either way, let us know where you’ve been displaying your X pride. Send your high-resolution digital images to Britan Shriner at bshriner@stxavier.org, fill out the online form at www.stxavier.org/xpedition, mail the form to St. Xavier High School (Magazine), 600 W. North Bend Road, Cincinnati, OH 45224, or scan the QR code on page 20.

1. St. Xavier Alumni traveled to the 124th US Open to cheer on Jim Herman ’96 who competed in his 6th US Open. Pictured: Brian Staarmaan ’98, Pete Fehring ’96, Joe Coffarro ’96, Matt Staarmann ’96, John Schrantz ’96 and Erin Schrantz. 2. Faculty member Ron Weisbrod holds the X up with his daughter and Athletic Communication Coordinator Claire Weisbrod. They toured Lambeau Field in support of Packers’ Quarterback Sean Clifford ’17. 3. Jonathan Sagel ’28 celebrates his confirmation at St Susanna Parish in Mason, Ohio with his dad, Jay Sagel ’94 and family friend Steve O’Connell ’69. 4. Team Reilly & Cox hit Norris Lake over the 4th of July! Pictured: Henry Sweeney ’24, Jackson Cox ’29, Nick Reilly ’95, Ty Reilly ’24, James Cox ’95, Brayden Reilly ’26, and Ryan Cox ’25. 5. Todd Cassini ’82, Program Manager at DAV National Headquarters, along with Moore Media and City Gate Entertainment, was awarded a 2024 Bronze Telly Award for DAV: The Journey and a 2024 Bronze Telly Award for DAV: Worth Fighting For. The Telly Awards annually showcases the best work created within television and across video, for all screens 6. On July 24, 2024 the Indianapolis Alumni Chapter hosted a Networking Social at Sun King Brewing in Carmel, Indiana. Two special guests attended, Coach Steve Specht ’86 and Dave Eby.

1. Brothers Mark ’80, John ’76 and Joe ’74 Wenker hiked the Laugavegur Trail in Iceland in July 2024. 2. Peter Daroczy ’73 visited his native home, Budapest, with his wife. Peter is in front of the statue of Matthias Corvinus in the Fisherman’s Bastion overlooking the Danube River. 3. Brian Pope ’94, w/ son Alex Pope ’28, nephew Grant Hester ’26 and Ben Schmidt ’26 vacationing in Hilton Head this summer. 4. Martin Dechering ’73, Joseph Macke ’77, Michael Kalthoff ’77, David Hackman ’77, Charlie Busam ’77 and their wives got together at Michael Kalthoff’s new house in San Antonio, TX on July 27th! 5. Recently, six members of the class of ’73 went on their 17th annual golf trip.This year, they enjoyed the best courses in Minneapolis. Pictured L to R: Ed Zenni, Jack Kortekamp, Tom Bruns, Mark Ahern, Pat McCafferty and Keith Trautmann. 6. Nick Rotsching ’16 traveled to India for one month with the Global Health Organization to provide medical care to people living in remote parts of the Himalayas. Dr. Rotsching received his MD from Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine in April of this year! He is currently a resident in neurology at Wright State / Miami Valley Hospital. 7. Ted Mechley ’89, art teacher, and his wife Donna Mechley walked in the footsteps of St. Ignatius with the Jesuit Midwestern Province. They are pictured at the castle where St. Xavier was born. 8. The Bombers were victorious in the Ed Heimann Men’s Golf Championship at Hyde Park Golf & Country Club! Congrats to First Place Nolan Schuermann ‘21 and Runner-Up George Rohde III ’11.

1. Noah Beck ’24 and Michael Whitehouse ’21 after the Navy vs. Bucknell game on August 31. 2. Celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary on an Alaskan cruise are Andy Felger ‘97, Dick Felger ‘66, Michael Felger ’00. 3. In August, St. X Class of 1975 alumni gathered at The Filson for a luncheon. If you are interested, call Tom Lindeman at (513) 484-3095 to be added to the text chain. 4. Johnny Waldeck ’21 (left) and Joey Waldeck ’23 (right) pose with their uncle Mark D. Motz ’87 (center) on the iconic 18th green of the Harbour Town Golf Links, where Scottie Scheffler won the 2024 RBC Heritage tournament in April, during a family vacation to Hilton Head, South Carolina, in August. 5. Bombers gathered together in Northern Wisconsin at the wedding of Mike McGraw’s daughter, Sadie. From L to R: Terry Horan ’69, Rob Heidt ’69, Dick Haglage ’73, Mike McGraw (wearing his ancestral Kilt), ’73, Mike Keating ’73, and Jim Ellerhorst ’73. 6. The Seattle Alumni Chapter Networking Social (June 21) was hosted by Salil ’97 and Nicole Gupte at their home. A fun time was had by all!

X-Peditions

What's up? You can let us know in a variety of ways–send a photo for our X-Peditions feature or tell fellow Bombers about your wedding, a recent move, your latest promotion, a family addition, your retirement or other news via the Alumni X-cerpts pages. Just fill out and send in the form below. We’re looking forward to hearing from you soon…

HOW TO SUBMIT PHOTOS

• Scan the QR code

• Email your submission to Britan Shriner at bshriner@stxavier.org

• Fill out the online form at www.stxavier.org/xpeditions

• Mail the form to St. Xavier High School (Magazine), 600 W. North Bend Road, Cincinnati, OH 45224

1: First Friday

12: Class of 1987 lunch at the Rusty Bucket in Rookwood at noon

15: TX Fall Performance 'You Can’t Take it With You' begins 17: St. Xavier Open House

27: X-Travaganza Online Auction begins (auction ends 12/8)

4: Christmas Concert

6: First Friday Mothers’ Club Christmas Celebration

7&8: Christmas Dinner featuring Ensemble X

8: X-Travaganza Online Auction ends

10: Class of 1962 Christmas Lunch at the University Club. More information to follow

12: Class of 1964 Luncheon at the Metropolitan Club

13: Class of 1968 Christmas luncheon at the Morelein Lager House 3: First Friday 25: X-Travaganza Trivia Night

26: Senior Grandparents’ Mass and Breakfast at St. Xavier High School at 10:00 a.m. 31: Illuminations Performance 7: First Friday 13: Athletic Hall of Fame

19: Strings Winter Concert

23: Junior Grandparents’ Mass and Breakfast at St. Xavier High School at 10:00 a.m.