

FORWARD
As “Iron is sharpened by iron, one person sharpens another.” This line from Proverbs (27:1) came to mind when considering the role of our activities at St. Mary’s Colgan. Holy Scripture describes how a person with great abilities, by competition, can incentivize others to rise to similar levels of greatness. My older brother, for example, pushed me to be better because of his height, strength, and experience. I had to be faster to dribble around him and get to the basket!

I see the same here, except across classes--seniors and juniors with each other--and building up freshmen and sophomores. Although it is not always perfect, there is a kind of family atmosphere here we call “Colgan,” which helps kids to excel through humility, collaboration, courage, persistence, and self-sacrifice. Let us enjoy the seasonal activities to come and continue to celebrate God’s gifts in each other. May Faith, Excellence, and Tradition shine during this new year of ‘22-’23, and may SMC competitive activities live-on, sharpening and strengthening our kids into being all God has called them to be!
Father Jerome Spexarth Pastor
Special Credits
Editor: Julie Hamilton
Sales:
McKain

Design:
Wilbert
Photo:
Design:
VanBecelaere
Ad Site
WELCOME
Dennis Burke President of Schools/SMC Principal
Panther Fans!
I’m sure you are as excited as I am to see a new school year get started. We are looking forward to another great season for our football, volleyball, cross country, girls golf and boys soccer teams. It is always gratifying to see our students involved in a variety of sports and our spirit squads of dance and cheer.
Let’s pack the stadium and gyms this fall to support our student athletes. As they strive to give their best both on and off their competitive arenas, let us do our part in supporting them and their efforts as we model the best of sportsmanship to our fellow fans and visitors.
There is nothing better than a fall evening of high school activities. We are blessed to have these opportunities for our students and the excellent adults who give of their time and talent to coach them. Pray for our students and staff as we kick off another season of Panther traditions.
God bless.
Cody Spencer SMC Assistant Principal/Athletic Director


Panthers,
Being a Colgan Panther and being a part of St. Mary’s Colgan athletics/ activities is a special opportunity. There are few schools in the nation that match the faith-filled traditions we hold and the track record of success that we’ve been blessed to experience. As we launch into another year of Panther activities our coaches and student-athletes have shown through their hard work that they are ready to rise to the standard of excellence that has been established by those that have come before them.
I would like to extend my appreciation for the display of stewardship by Colgan families and parishioners that make these activities possible. Hosting regular season and postseason events calls for an all-hands on deck approach. I am grateful for our community and how consistently we answer this call.
Finally, it’s time to dust off that favorite stadium chair, break out your favorite Colgan shirt, and make sure you have everything you need before heading to the courts, fields, and courses. We are in store for a special year and I can’t wait to see the success of our Panther activities.
Go Panthers!
Father Andrew Labenz School Chaplin

"Good and Gracious God, You are the giver of every good gift. We thank you for the great gift of St. Mary's Colgan Catholic Schools. We ask you to send your Holy Spirit upon our student-athletes. Enliven them with your grace, allow them to glorify you and honor you through their athletic talents, protect them from injury, keep them strong in their faith, and guide them to their heavenly home where they will see you face to face in all your glory!
Mary, Queen of Victory, Pray for Us!"

BOOSTER
Booster Club Board Members -

Back row (l-r): Mike Potusek, George Yaghmour, Kyle Fleming, Tim Voss, Megan Simmons, Julie Hamilton, Melinda Goetting, & Sean Torrance.
Front row (l to r): Chris Jacquinot, Chris Farris, Kati Karleskint, Robyn Harrell, Bonnie Crossland, Amy Hite, & Paul Piccini.
- Our Mission -
promote school spirit
provide for the financial needs
St. Mary’s Colgan athletic programs.
- We Need You To Get Involved -
Attend the kickoff
a Booster Club member
Purchase an ad in the Fall Sports Program
Attend the annual fundraiser
tickets at sporting events
up to take a concession stand shift
Cheer for our teams
the school at
contact a Booster Club Board Member
- Where Your Money Goes -
Uniforms
Travel &
provide
Spirit
Rental
provide financial support
Junior High and High School athletic
State
Cheer and Dance Teams
athletes
Fr. Jerome Spexarth- Pastor
Fr. Andrew Labenz- Chaplain/Religion
Sr. Mary Agnes Wasinger, IHM- Religion
Sr. Maria Jacinta Weide, IHM- Religion Dennis Burke- President of Schools/ 7-12 Principal Debbie Butler- JH English/Social Sciences Scott Cichon- Math Wayne Cichon- Math Tom Compton- Counselor/PowerSchool Coordinator Annie Dellasega- Special Education Audrey Dickey- English Melissa Glover- Paraprofessional Mary Graham- Paraprofessional Clint Heffern - Social Studies Janet Holden- Art Kristi Johnson- Administrative Assistant
Brent Kennedy- Social Sciences Kyle Kerschen- Science Alisha Krusich- 7-12 Counselor
David Main- Spanish Donna Maus- Science Cristen McKain- Paraprofessional
Bev Mitchelson- JH English Cathy Oplotnik- JH Science/PE
Wendi Piccini- Library Media Specialist
Lisa Russell- English
Shawn Seematter- Math/PE Debbie Smith- SMC Secretary Cody Spencer- 7-12 Assistant Principal/AD Angela Suarez- JH Music Lola Wade- Theatre/Communications Cassie Weber- Technology
GILL








































































































































choose career! your



a path &






















DAY/DATE LEVEL OPPONENT L OCATION TIME
Tues. 08/30 V/JV Jayhawk-Linn, Humboldt
SMC 4:00 PM
Tues. 09/06 V/JV Riverton (League) SMC 5:00 PM
Thurs. 09/08 JV (C) Girard Riverton, Frontenac, Girard 5:00 PM
Sat. 09/10 V Frontenac Tourney Frontenac 9:00 AM
Mon. 09/12 V/JV Open TBD
Thurs. 09/15 V/JV Anderson Co., Girard
SMC 4:30 PM
Sat. 09/17 V Webb City Webb City 9:00 AM
Sat. 09/17 JV Galena, Frontenac SMC 9:00 AM
Mon. 09/19 9th Riverton, Baxter, Frontenac Riverton 5:00 PM
Tues. 09/20 V/JV Galena, Baxter (League) Galena 5:00 PM
Sat. 09/24 V Cherryvale Tourney Cherryvale 8:30 AM
Tues. 09/27 JV Baxter, Riverton Riverton 5:00 PM
Thurs. 09/29 JV St. Paul, Girard SMC 5:00 PM
Tues. 10/04 V/JV Girard Frontenac, Girard Girard 5:00 PM
Thurs. 10/06 V/JV Baxter, Riverton, Colgan, Galena Riverton 5:00 PM
Sat. 10/08 JV/V Heritage Christian, Riverton, Pitt. Riverton 10:00 AM
Sat. 10/08 JV Pittsburg HS JV Tourney
Mon. 10/10 JV Girard, Riverton
PHS 9:00 AM
SMC 5:00 PM
Thurs. 10/13 V/JV Baxter, Oswego Baxter 5:00 PM
Sat. 10/15 V SMC Classic
SMC 8:30 AM
Tues. 10/18 V/JV Columbus (League) Columbus 5:00 PM
Sat. 10 V Sub-State TBD TBD
Fri. 10/28 State Tourney - United Wireless Arena (Day 1) Dodge City TBD
Sat. 10/29 State Tourney - United Wireless Arena (Day 1) Dodge City TBD
VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
VOLLEYBALL COACHES

CATHY OPLOTNIK Head Coach
Coach Oplotnik enters her 18th season as the Panthers head volleyball coach. Most recently, Coach Oplotnik has guided the Panthers to first place finishes in the CNC four of the past five seasons. Also, she has taken her teams to the State tournament 10 times in her career, including finishing fourth at state in 2018 and third at state in 2015. Also, the Panthers were awarded with the class 2A Program of the year in 2015. Her overall record at SMC is 460-211 entering the 2022 season. A three sport athlete at Girard High School, she went on to play basketball at Ft. Scott Community College prior to graduating from Pittsburg State University. Coach Oplotnik currently teaches Junior High and High School PE and Junior High Science. In addition, she serves as the head track and field coach at SMC.


JENELLE MARIETTA
Assistant Coach
Coach Marietta is back this season to help the Panthers volleyball team. Jenelle and her husband Mick have three children, Madison, Kash and Banks. Madison and Cash graduated from Colgan and the youngest, Banks, is a sophomore at SMC this year. Coach Marietta is looking forward to the season and is glad to be back helping coach the sport she loves.
BRENT KENNEDY
Assistant Coach
Kennedy is in his first year of assistant coaching for the Panther volleyball team. He spent the previous year as the school's assistant athletic director. Kennedy did his undergraduate work at Kansas State University, earned his teaching credential at California State University-Chico, and is entering his third year of teaching high school/junior high social sciences at St. Mary's-Colgan. He is looking forward to the opportunity to help students not only achieve inside but also outside the classroom.












































VanBecealere
Schremmer
Schremmer
Garner
Harrell
Lomshek
Naccarato
Hite
Adamson
Noah Duncan 10 RB/LB
Carter Jacquinot
Alex Beasley
Tristan Voss
Michael Westhoff
Jade Tenry
Anthony Marji
John Potusek
Ethan Hoagland
Cory Dickman
Konnor Ware
Hamilton
Greyson Wofford
Gavin Carson
Christian Morris
Brock Radell
Alex Carson
Brody Kannarr
TE/LB
OL/DL
OL/DL
OL/DL/TE
OL/DL
OL/DL
OL/LB

OL/DL
OL/DL
OL/DL/LB
OL/DL
OL/DL
OL/DL
OL/DL
OL/DL
OL/DL
OL/DL
2022 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
VARSITY
DAY/DATE OPPONENT
L OCATION TIME
FRI. 0 8/26 ALL JAMBOREE PIT TSBURG STATE 7 :00 PM
FRI. 0 9/02 FR ONTENAC FR ONTENAC 7 :00 PM
FRI. 0 9/09 GIRARD GIRARD 7 :00 PM
THU. 09/15 R IVERTON H OME 7:00 PM
FRI. 0 9/23 CHER OKEE-SE ( Homecoming) HOME 7:00 P M
FRI. 0 9/30 NOR THEAST-ARMA NOR THEAST-ARMA 7 :00 PM
FRI. 1 0/07 C OLUMBUS HOME 7 :00 PM
FRI. 10/14 E RIE E RIE 7:00 PM
THU. 1 0/20 UNIONT OWN HOME 7 :00 PM
FRI. 1 0/28 PLAYOFFS TBD TBD
FRI. 1 1/04 RE GIONAL TBD TBD
FRI. 1 1/11 SE CTIONAL TBD TBD
FRI. 11/18 SUB-STATE T BD T BD
SAT. 11/26 1 A STATE T BD T BD
JUNIOR VARSITY
DATE/DATE OPPONENT
L OCATION TIME
TUES. 09/06 FR ONTENAC HOME 6 :00 PM
MON. 09/12 GIRARD GIRARD 6 :00 PM
MON. 09/19 RIVER TON RIVER TON 6 :00 PM
MON. 09/26 CHER OKEE-SE CHER OKEE-SE 6 :00 PM
MON. 10/03 T BD T BD
MON. 10/10 C OLUMBUS C OLUMBUS 6 :00 PM
MON. 10/17 E RIE H OME 6:00 PM
SCHEDULE
FOOTBALL COACHES
SHAWN SEEMATTER Head Coach Defensive Coordinator, Offensive Line, & Linebackers
Coach Seematter begins his sixth season as the Head Coach of the Panthers. The Panthers have amassed a 37-18 record in his five seasons as head coach. He graduated from Royal Valley High School in Hoyt, Kansas, and received a degree in Secondary Education from Kansas State University. He served as the Defensive Coordinator at Halstead High School prior to coming to Colgan. Coach Seematter and his wife, Kaylyn, have been married for two years.
MATT KARLESKINT Assistant Coach Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks, & Defensive Line

Coach Karleskint is entering his second year coaching Colgan Panther football. He played quarterback for Kansas Wesleyan where he earned his bachelor’s of arts degree in health, physical education and recreation in 2002. Coach Karleskint earned a master’s of education from Northwest Missouri State University in 2005 and Iowa State University in 2011. He has coached football at several different colleges, most recently serving as Pittsburg State Univesity's wide receiver coach from 2016-2020. Coach Karleskint and his wife, Kati, have three daughters: Alli, Lilli, and Graci.



NICK DELLASEGA Assistant Coach Wide Receivers & Defensive Backs
Coach Dellasega is entering his second season coaching the Panthers. After graduating from SMC in 2003 he played football for Pittsburg State, graduating in 2007. Since then, Coach Dellasega has lived in a few different spots around the country before coming home in 2018 where he now works for the family business, US Awards. Nick and his wife Ruthie will be celebrating their first anniversary on December 31.
JOE CASKEY
Assistant Coach Offensive Line & Defensive Line
Coach Caskey is entering his third season coaching Colgan Panther football and works with the offensive line and defensive line. Coach Caskey played football at Friends University in Wichita, KS from 1996-98 and has coached many youth sports throughout the Pittsburg community for over 10 years. He is a Veteran of the U.S. Army. He holds degrees in business management and marketing and is employed as a Pricing Analyst at Pitt Plastics. He and his wife Miranda have four daughters – Brooklyn - a Freshman at Benedictine, Haylee, Leah, and Aubri -who are all students at SMC.
CLINT HEFFERN Assistant Coach Running Backs & Defensive Backs


Coach Heffern is entering his first year back as a coach for the Panthers after being at Colgan from 20172020. He graduated from Iola High School and went on to play baseball and basketball for two years at Allen Community College. He then went on to graduate from Pittsburg State University and has spent the past two years at Fort Scott High School as the Head Boys Basketball Coach. Coach Heffern and his fiance, Marci VanBecelaere, are getting married in June of 2023.



VIRGIL WINN General Manager



For the 34th season, Virgil will assist this year’s Panther football team. Coach Winn’s multiple duties range from head statistician to quarter-eagles coach. Coach Winn has been involved in all of the athletic programs at SMC for many years. His contributions to the programs are invaluable and the impact that he has had on the lives of the student athletes is immeasurable.


















































CROSS COUNTRY COACHES & SCHEDULE
SCOTT CICHON
Head Coach
Coach Cichon serves as cross country coach in its seventh year at St. Mary’s Colgan. Coach Cichon is an SMC alum and received a BSED degree in Mathematics from Pittsburg State University. He played basketball while attending PSU. Coach Cichon also serves as the assistant track and field coach. A dedicated runner himself, he has qualified and ran in the Boston Marathon the past 13 years.

BRANDON NGO
Assistant Coach
Brandon Ngo is serving as cross country assistant coach for his sixth season. Coach Ngo is an SMC alum and is currently studying Graphic Communications and Computer Information Systems at Pittsburg State University.

RYAN HUGHES
Assistant Coach
Ryan Hughes is serving in his first year as an assistant cross country coach. Coach Hughes is an alumnus of Girard High School and is currently studying physical education at Pittsburg State and is completing his student teaching at St. Mary's Colgan this fall.

SCHEDULE
DAY/DATE MEET
Thurs. 09/01
Thurs. 09/08
Sat. 09/17
Thurs. 09
Sat. 09/24
Thurs. 09/29
Thurs. 10/06
Thurs. 10/13
Labette County Invitational
Girard Invitational
Southern Stampede
Southeast Invitational
Rim Rock Farm Classic
JV Columbus Invitational
Independence Invitational
LOCATION TIME
LabetteCounty High School 2:00 PM
Greenbush 5:00 PM
Missouri Southern 11:05 AM
Weir Baptist Church Camp 5:00 PM
Rim Rock Farm 11:45 AM
Columbus Golf Course 4:00 PM
Independence CC 4:00 PM
CNC League Columbus 4:30 PM
Sat. 1/22 Regional
Sat. 10/29
State
TBA TBD
Wamego Country Club TBD















SCHEDULE
DATE
Thurs. 08/25
Tues. 08/30
Thurs. 09/01
Thurs. 09/08
Fri. 09/09
TIME
Baxter 3:00 PM
Emporia 1:00 PM
Columbus 1:00 PM
Girard 3:00 PM
Galena - Rookies (@ Columbus) 3:00 PM
Tues. 09/13
Tues. 09/20
Thurs. 09
Mon. 09/26
Wed. 09/28
Thurs. 09/29
Mon. 10/03
Tues. 10/04
Mon. 10/10
Mon. 10/17
Tues. 10/18
Galena 3:00 PM
Frontenac - Rookies (@ 4 Oaks) 1:00 PM Thurs. 09/15
Erie 1:00 PM
Crestwood (Colgan/Frontenac) 1:00 PM
Countryside (Baxter) 3:00 PM
Wichita Sim Park 1:00 PM
Girard 3:00 PM
Independence 1:00 PM
Baxter 3:00 PM
Regionals TBD

TBD
TBD



200 E. Centennial Drive
Suite 8
PHONE: 620.231.2530


200 E. Centennial Drive
320 Geneva Avenue
Pittsburg, KS 66762
FAX: 620.231.2537
Suite 8 • Pittsburg, KS 66762





620.231.2530
Suite 200 West
417.625.1755
200 E. Centennial Drive
Suite 8
320 Geneva Avenue
620.231.2530










FAX: 620.231.2537
Joplin, MO 64801
417.625.1745
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Suite 200 West
417.625.1755
320 Geneva Avenue
620.231.2537
Joplin, MO 64801
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Suite 200 West
Joplin, MO 64801

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DAY DATE LEVEL OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Tues. 8/30/22 V/JV Louisburg Home 4:30pm Thurs. 9/1/22 V/JV Parsons Away 4:30pm Tues. 9/6/22 V/JV Columbus (Varsity 1st) Away 4:30pm Thurs. 9/8/22 V/JV Ft. Scott Away 4:30pm Tues. 9/13/22 V/JV Chanute Home 4:30pm Thurs. 9/15/22 V/JV Coffeyville Home 4:30pm Tues. 9/20/22 V/JV Ft. Scott Home 4:30pm Mon. 9/26/22 V/JV Carl Junction Away 4:30pm Tues. 9/27/22 V/JV Independence Away 4:30pm Thurs. 9/29/22 V/JV Joplin Home 5pm Mon. 10/10/22 V/JV Coffeyville Away 4:30pm Tues. 10/11/22 V/JV Chanute Away 4:30pm Thurs. 10/13/22 V/JV Columbus Home 4:30pm Tues. 10/18/22 V/JV Parsons Home 4:30pm Thurs. 10/20/22 V/JV Independence Home 4:30pm


10/24/22 Varsity

























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WE. ARE. COLGAN. FAITH & TRADITION Good Night, Irene THE WALK tailgating

Congratulations St Mary's










ABT (Advanced Bulk Transport)
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Bath-Naylor Funeral Home
Beauty Bar, The
Brenner Mortuary
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Back Cover Pittsburg State University 70
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