Xaverian Magazine Summer 2022

The Magazine of Xaverian Brothers High School |

Summer 2022

The Living Legacy

Xaverian

THE MAGAZINE OF XAVERIAN BROTHERS HIGH SCHOOL

All of the stories you will read in this magazine reflect our mission, a mission that would be impossible without the support of our community.

To help keep our mission strong, consider making a gift to the Fund for Xaverian at www.xbhs.com/support today!

THANK YOU.

Xaverian Magazine 800 Clapboardtree Street Westwood, MA 02090 781-326-6392 www.xbhs.com ADMINISTRATION Head of School Jacob A. Conca ’94, Ph.D. Principal Michael G. Nicholson, Ed.D. Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning Stephen W. Dacey ’95, Ed.D. Assistant Principal for Academics, Grades 9 – 12 Lauren R. Hill, M.Ed. Assistant Principal for the Francis Xavier Division, Grades 7 & 8 Joseph D. McGilvray, III, Ed.D. Assistant Principal for Student Life Joshua M. Tranfaglia, M.Ed.

OFFICE FOR SCHOOL ADVANCEMENT Chief Administrator for School Advancement Christopher J. Vasta ’00, Ed.D. Advancement Services Manager Linda M. Calabrese, P ’20 Director of Data Management and Operations Pamela J. Fothergill, P ’07 Advancement Office Assistant Marissa A. Gelso, P ’19, ’21

From the Head of School

Director of Annual and Leadership Giving David J. Nelson ’02 Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement James J. Scholl ’03

OFFICE OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS Director of Strategic Communications Ann E. Alsfeld Assistant Director of Strategic Communications Kathryn E. Hickey Digital Marketing Coordinator Heather M. Schnabel Graphic Design Margaret Galeano © 2022 Xaverian Brothers High School.

All rights reserved.

Dear Friends of Xaverian,

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averian Brothers High School first opened its doors in 1963 and celebrated its first graduation ceremony in 1967. This spring, now 56 graduating classes later, we celebrated another first. It was the first time in Xaverian history that we had a graduate who is both the son and the grandson of Xaverian alumni. Joseph “JB” Gilmore ’22 is the first third-generation graduate of Xaverian Brothers High School. His father, Joseph Gilmore, Jr., was a graduate from the Class of 1988 and his grandfather, Joseph Gilmore, was a member of Xaverian’s third graduating class, the Class of 1969. That makes JB a double-legacy!

As our school marches on through the decades, change is inevitable. Last year we marked a far less celebratory first here at Xaverian; it was the first time there were no

Xaverian Brothers working at our school. Whether as teachers, coaches, counselors, administrators, or trustees, the Xaverian Brothers worked together for nearly six decades to build and run our beloved school. They steadfastly served the young men in their charge and diligently cared for the campus. Today, the legacy of the Brothers lives in each young man educated in the Xaverian tradition, and in the women and men who are dedicated to carrying on the Brothers’ powerful mission.

Throughout this magazine, you’ll see how the Brothers’ legacy is being richly embodied today. It’s in each member of the Class of 2022, as they embark on the next chapter of their lives, bringing the gifts of Xaverian education with them (page 2). It’s in our faculty like Ms. Jenna Vona, our Ryken Award winner (page 4), and Mr. David Palmieri ’93, P ’23, winner of the National Catholic Educational Association’s prestigious “Learn. Lead. Proclaim. Award.” (page 13). Their legacy lives in our athletes, as they take to the ice and field (page 10). It lives in our performers, as they sing the National Anthem at Fenway (page 6) and light up the stage during the spring musical (page 16). And it’s present in our alumni, as they lead in their communities and professions, and return to Xaverian to share their experiences with our young men (page 24).

Whether we are graduating our 1st, 56th, or our 106th class, with or without the presence of the Brothers on campus, we continue to honor the original mission and vision of our founders. Over the past 59 years, our campus has grown and improved with the times; our demographics have shifted dramatically; and our curriculum has evolved to meet the needs of present-day students. But what holds true no matter these changes is our mission. The Brothers gave us a mission to educate young men in the Xaverian tradition in order to help them identify their God-given gifts and talents so that they can share them with a world in need. We continue to do just that today with the support of our dedicated and talented faculty and staff, and the generosity of our alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends.

Working together, we will continue to carry the Xaverian mission into the world, because we are the living legacy.

Respectfully yours,

Jacob A. Conca ’94, Ph.D. Head of School Summer 2022

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elebrating THE CLASS OF 2022

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n Saturday, May 14, Xaverian Brothers High School celebrated the Commencement of the Class of 2022. Diplomas were conferred to the 187 graduates by Head of School Jacob Conca ’94, Ph.D. and Principal Michael Nicholson, Ed.D. The Class of 2022 hails from 55 cities and towns and comprises the 56th graduating class since Xaverian opened its doors in Westwood in 1963.

Collectively, these young men have enrolled at 94 different colleges and universities. They have committed to continue their academic careers at top institutions such as Harvard, New York University, Notre Dame, Brown, Boston College, Cornell, West Point, Syracuse, Holy Cross, Providence College, Northeastern, Tulane, Baylor, and many more.

Krish Shah is the Class of 2022 Valedictorian. Krish will attend Brown University in the fall. He was an important member on Xaverian’s Speech and Debate Team, earning a State Champion title in Group Discussion this year. He is an AP Scholar with Distinction and was the recipient of the Harvard Book Award. He is a member of the National Honor Society and was a NHS Scholarship Semifinalist. He served as a Hawk-to-Hawk mentor to younger students at Xaverian, and worked as a math tutor at Mathnasium in Walpole. He also contributed to Xaverian’s literary magazine, The Concordian, co-founded a new student club called X-Ploring the World of Modern Science, and worked on the daily student bulletin.

Zachary Usher is the Class of 2022 Salutatorian. Zach took 11 AP classes during his time at Xaverian and is an AP Scholar with Distinction. He held multiple leadership positions within Xaverian’s Model UN, including Head of Underclassmen Recruitment, Junior Chair, and Senior Chair, and also served as Co-President of the PolitiX Club. Zach led the student bulletin news team as Editor-in-Chief, helping to compile daily news to share with the Xaverian community. In addition, he was an active member of Speech and Debate and the Student Council, serving as Student Council Secretary his senior year. Zach is a member of the National Honor Society and

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Dr. Nicholson, Zachary Usher (Salutatorian), Krish Shah (Valedictorian), and Dr. Conca was the recipient of the Rensselaer Medal. He will attend Northeastern University.

Every year at commencement, one senior is selected for the highest honor bestowed to a graduate – the Xaverian Award. The members of the graduating class, in concert with the faculty and staff, nominate a senior for this special honor and the recipient isn’t revealed until the graduation ceremony. The Xaverian Award recipient must have distinguished himself by living the mission and core values associated with Xaverian. This year’s recipient is described by Dr. Conca as someone who is “seen by many as a true giver, who believes deeply in service to others. It is not uncommon to find this young man volunteering his time in support of worthy causes and charities, leading a campus ministry retreat, or assisting our youngest students as they begin their Xaverian experience.”

The winner of the 2022 Xaverian Award is Tyler Stearns. Among many extracurricular activities, Tyler is a four-year track athlete, a member of the Business Club, the Entrepreneurship Club, a singer with the chorus and a capella group, a performer in

Xaverian’s theater program, a member of the Mock Trial team, and lastly, a member of both the National Honor Society and the Tri-M Music National Honor Society. He will be attending Bates College in the fall.

This year’s “Loyalty and Service Awards,” another high honor, were bestowed to the following graduates: •

Christian Bonadio, who will attend McGill University

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Brendan Colin, who will attend Loyola University Maryland

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Christopher “CJ” Curtin, who will attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute

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Joseph Cucinotta, who will attend The College of the Holy Cross

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Owen Kidd, who will attend Tulane University Michael Parent, who will attend The University of Notre Dame

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Outside of the academic and character awards, members of the Class of 2022 have made their mark at Xaverian in many ways.

Nicolas Gill, for example, is a National Merit Finalist. Nick will attend Worcester

Tyler Stearns, the 2022 Xaverian Award Winner, with Dr. Conca and Dr. Nicholson Polytechnic Institute in the fall. A National Honor Society member, Nick was very involved in Xaverian’s theater program and sang with the a capella group, the X-Men. Michael Karshis is a talented pianist on an international scale. His accomplishments include taking first place at the 33rd International Young Artist Competition, Grand Prix winner of the Young Promise International Piano Competition, six-time first-place winner at Bay State Competition, third prize winner of the 2020 Chopin International Piano Competition, winner of the Outstanding Performance Ruth Fish Memorial Award from Keys Music Challenge 2021, first-place winner of the 2021 Steinway Competition, and being selected as 2021 Steinway Young Artist of the year. He is also an avid runner with the Xaverian track program.

Michael is proud to be headed to the United

Joseph “JB” Gilmore with his father, Joseph Gilmore, Jr. ’88, and his grandfather, Joseph Gilmore ’69

States Military Academy at West Point, following in his uncle’s footsteps.

Student athletes from the Class of 2022 at Xaverian have made some exceptional college commits. Jack Funke will play football at Boston College. Michael Bobola will wrestle at Harvard. Joey Lenane will play golf at North Carolina State. Jake Gilbert will play lacrosse at Fairfield University, joined

by Henry Novicki who will compete in the Stags’ rugby program. Of note, Jake Gilbert was named Xaverian’s 2022 Athlete of the Year as a two-sport athlete in both football (quarterback) and lacrosse (attack). Matt Brinker will play baseball at Northeastern University. In addition, 17 other talented Hawks have committed to continue their athletic careers at various competitive D2 and D3 programs.

Joseph “JB” Gilmore, son of Joseph Gilmore, Jr. ’88 and Alyssa Gilmore, is the first third generation graduate of Xaverian Brothers High School. His grandfather, Joseph Gilmore ’69, was a member of Xaverian’s third graduating class. JB will attend Louisiana State University.

In his Commencement remarks, Dr. Conca, Head of School, noted that throughout their Xaverian experience, the Class of 2022 witnessed the power of community, the power of relationships, and the power of compassion.

“No one is better positioned to bring these gifts to the broader world than you,” he said. “I challenge each of you to bring your Xaverian experience to a world in need. Make sure your future communities are healthy, and rooted in mutually respectful relationships, where compassion for everyone abounds.”

Colton Graham, Liam Baker, Patrick Donegan, Samuel “Sammy” Sanchez (President of the Class of 2022), Thomas “T.J.” Bridwell, and Owen Dorian

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XAVERIAN’S RYKEN AWARD WINNER

Ms. Jenna Vona M

s. Jenna Vona has been lighting up the Xaverian hallways and classrooms with her smile and her dedication to fostering a positive student experience since 2009. Now 12 years later, she carries the title of 2021 Ryken Award recipient, the highest honor bestowed each year to one faculty or staff member at Xaverian Brothers High School (and at each Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School).

Ms. Vona is a theology teacher, currently teaching grades 7 and 9. Though Xaverian was her first teaching position, she didn’t set out to become a teacher initially. She holds dual master’s degrees, one in theology and one in mental health, which is how she started out her career as a behavioral therapist. However, it didn’t take long for her to realize that her true passion was sharing her love of theology in the classroom, and that is how she came to be a teacher at Xaverian.

Known for her ability to make students and colleagues alike feel seen and valued, Ms. Vona has been active in the community working to ensure a positive student experience and to promote a healthy atmosphere of respect. Along with Ms. Mary Briody, she co-founded Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) in 2013. Additionally, in 2017 Ms. Vona and Mr. Jim Conley, Director of Campus Ministry, founded a club dedicated to accompanying LGBTQ students and their allies at Xaverian.

It’s called Without X-Ception, which pays homage to an excerpt from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 478) stating, “The Sacred Heart of Jesus...is quite rightly considered the chief sign and symbol of that…love with which the divine Redeemer continually loves the eternal Father and all human beings without exception.”

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The Ryken Award is bestowed each December as part of Xaverian Brothers High School’s Founder’s Day liturgy, which celebrates Theodore James Ryken, founder of the Congregation of St. Francis Xavier (more commonly known as the Xaverian Brothers). It signifies an exceptional commitment to Ryken’s vision and dedication to the core values of a Xaverian Brothers education. Each year, Xaverian faculty and staff nominate colleagues to win the award. Ms. Vona says this makes it all the more overwhelming that she was chosen. “I still feel like a baby here, even after 12 years. I am surrounded by talented colleagues — those we call ‘the giants’ — who have been here 20, 30, and 40 plus years. To be recognized among a group of people who are so excellent at their jobs is truly overwhelming.” For Ms. Vona, “the giants” she gratefully mentions as her mentors at Xaverian include previous Ryken Award winners, Mr. David Palmieri ’93, P ’23, Mrs. Catherine Douglas, P ’21, ’24, Mr. Alexander Salachi, P ’18, and Mr. Garrett Bowers ’87, P ’21, ’24.

As the Ryken Award celebrates those individuals who embody the Xaverian mission, it seemed only appropriate to ask Ms. Vona how she believes one lives out the mission each day. She says, “Brother Ray (Brother Raymond Hoyt C.F.X., ’70) made such a strong impression on me, because he made it a point to know kids and know their names. When someone comes into our center, it’s so important to say ‘hello’ using their name.

Those small moments of recognition are meaningful to kids, and it makes them feel like there is somebody here who knows them. Being known and being seen is at the heart of what we talk about when we say every person has dignity and every person has value. Being able to make those connections, even in really small ways, that’s mission.”

The Living Legacy

RECORD-SETTING GALA In Honor of the Xaverian Brothers

Gala 2022 Honorees (Standing l to r) Brothers Joe Pawlika, Paul Feeney (Antoninus), Paul Murray, Richard Lunny, Tom Puccio, (Seated l to r) Brothers Richard Mazza, Ed Rice, Richard Cook, General Superior Dan Skala, and Tim Paul

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aturday, April 30 was a truly incredible evening at Xaverian! Nearly 600 alumni, parents, trustees, faculty, and staff joined us as we celebrated the 25th Xaverian

Gala, paying gratitude to The Living Legacy of the Xaverian Brothers. It was phenomenal to have so many in attendance to honor the work of the Brothers here at Xaverian. And we simply could not let the opportunity pass us by to finally present Brother Daniel Skala, C.F.X., General Superior of the Xaverian Brothers and former headmaster of Xaverian, with the Xaverian Medal he was scheduled to receive in March of 2020. It was so affirming to gather as a community in celebration of our history, tradition, mission, and values.

Thanks to the generous support of the Xaverian community, the 2022 Gala brought in $657,800.

That makes this gala our highest grossing event in history! Proceeds will benefit the scholarship fund, helping to ensure that all qualified young men who want to attend Xaverian are able to do so, regardless of their families’ finances.

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Words of Encouragement

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n May 20, Xaverian enjoyed three truly special guests! Our own Matt Hasselbeck ’93 came back to campus with his friend, the one and only GARTH BROOKS, to speak to our rising juniors. The talk was put on by Garth’s “Stay in the Game” program. It’s part of his Teammates for Kids Foundation, through which Garth partners with local pro athletes to speak to students (usually at the college level) about the importance of certain values such as character, respect, and discipline. Later that afternoon, Maurice “Mo” Hurst ’13 (of the San Francisco 49ers) Zoomed in to continue the conversation on the importance of hard work and finishing the year strong.

His presentation was open to all grades and was sponsored by Xaverian’s Office of Community, Culture, and Equity.

Thank you so much to Mo, Matt, and Garth for inspiring our young men to put in the hard work and be the best teammate possible, whether on the field, on the stage, in the classroom, or in life.

Maurice “Mo” Hurst ’13 joined students in grades 7-12 via Zoom

Garth Brooks addresses the Class of 2023

Garth Brooks and Matt Hasselbeck ’93 connect on stage at Xaverian

The X-Men Make Their Major League Debut

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s the thermometer crept up to 88°, 14 Xaverian students tied their blue and gold “XB” ties and donned their navy blue sport coats, preparing to take the field at Fenway Park. This was Sunday, May 22, and the X-Men, Xaverian’s a capella group, had the once-in-a-lifetime honor of singing the National Anthem at the afternoon Red Sox game. It was the final performance of the year for the ensemble, who served pivotal roles at a variety of Xaverian events, from the fashion show in the fall to the gala in the spring. As a hush fell over the crowd at their introduction, the X-Men’s voices swelled out over the ballpark. With a round of applause and the rallying cry of “Play Ball!”, the game began. What followed was a dramatic Red Sox vs. Seattle battle that went into the 10th inning, when the Sox finally clinched the win, 8-4.

Congratulations to the X-Men and Mr. Murray Kidd, Xaverian’s Choral Director, for an exceptional year of performances!

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Pictured here (l to r) are: Back row: Joe Cucinotta ’22, Benjamin Chan ’22, Tyler Stearns ’22, Thomas Melly ’24, Thomas Hogan ’22, Francisco Viana ’22, Nick Garland ’23, Nicolas Gill ’22, Bren Cueco ’23 Middle row: Owen Kidd ’22, Tarun Kancharla ’25, Matthew Bobola ’23, “Wally the Green Monster,” Michael Thekaekara ’24. Front Row: Nicholas Napoli ’25

Congratulations, Dr. Dacey and Dr. McGilvray!

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tephen Dacey ’95 (left) and Jay McGilvray (right) both joined the ranks of the “doctors” on campus this spring. Dr. Dacey, our Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning, earned his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Boston College in March. Dr. McGilvray, our Assistant Principal for Grades 7 and 8 (FXD), earned his Doctor of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership, as well as a certificate in Catholic School Leadership — both from Creighton University. Way to go, Dr. Dacey and Dr. McGilvray!

Pictured here (l to r) standing outside Boston Dynamics are Colin Teahan ’24, Thomas Ricci ’23, Michael Lachut ’25, Donald Hicks ’23, Matthew Lopez ’24, Paul Fischer ’24, and Joshua Miller ’22

Hawk Robotics—The Ryken Force

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averian’s first-ever FIRST® robotics team was formed in the spring of 2021, preparing for its initial competitive season in winter 2022. With Mr. Chris Roche (computer science teacher) and Mr. John Tassinari (science teacher) at the helm, the team quickly got to work researching, designing, building, and refining a robot to compete in the FIRST® Tech Challenge. Their first step? Deciding on a team name. While every team competing has a number (Xaverian is team #19460), having a compelling name is important. That’s how team #19460 became known as “Hawk Robotics — The Ryken Force.”

The Ryken Force gathered multiple afternoons a week and throughout vacations from May 2021 into the winter in order to build their robot for competition. This year’s FIRST® challenge, “Freight Frenzy,” required teams

to build a robot that could navigate a playing field, picking up game pieces (“freight”), and depositing them into specific holders. From coding, to 3D design and printing, to robot building and mechanics, students worked in the robotics lab and in the X-Ploration Center to perfect their robot. They had a great first season of competition despite cancellations and delays due to COVID-19. On Saturday, February 19, the team traveled to Canton High School to compete in the FIRST® “Who Let the Bots Out” robotics competition. In a field of 25 teams, the Ryken Force performed extremely well and made it to the playoffs, an honor reserved for the top 12 teams. In a tough competition, the Ryken Force team lost to the eventual winners of the tournament, but the team’s robot showed impressive power to get over barriers and score points. It was a great start for the inaugural

season of FIRST® robotics at Xaverian.

A programmer’s work is never done! Despite the season ending, the Ryken Force went right back into meetings to create even better robots so they’ll be ready for competition next year.

This May, they had the opportunity to visit the production and testing facilities at Boston Dynamics—the renowned robotics company known for its robots, such as “Atlas,” “Spot,” and “Big Dog.” It was a thrilling day for the students as they toured the facility, seeing how the robots were built and tested. According to Mr. Roche, the students asked good questions and watched with amazement as the Atlas robot balanced, cartwheeled, walked, and ran. He says they returned with new ideas and excitement for robotics!

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ALL REVVED UP Brendan Colin ’22, Communications Corps, Reflects on the Car Club’s Trip to the Audrain Automobile Museum

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he word “exotic” within the term “exotic cars” gets its name because they are a completely alien phenomenon to most. But for a lucky few, the most exotic of cars, the ones that trump the performance and value of any other road-going vehicle, hit the heart in a special place. In March, Xaverian’s Car Club visited Audrain Automobile Museum in Newport with their moderator, Mr. Joe Sotelo (theology teacher), to feast their eyes on the museum’s recent exhibit, “What’s the Super in Supercars?”

Whether it’s reviewing recent automotive developments, learning about the maintenance and mechanics of car modifications or ownership, or just debating the pros and cons of the most specific corners of the industry, Car Club is a place of conversation for Xaverian’s automotive enthusiasts. And for the dozen students who attended the trip to Audrain, it was our good fortune to experience some of history’s most fabled cars.

From the $20+ million 1994 McLaren F1, a car whose owner has trekked the three-seated, 618 horsepower, six-speed manual hypercar between Florida and Montana numerous times, to the Lamborghini Reventon Roadster, an ultra-rare (one of 12), carbon fiber bodied menace of a car owned by Ralph Lauren, the students in Car Club took in an array of machines that they will most likely never experience in the same place again. In all, the exhibit featured 16 cars and one bike, representing a

variety of manufacturers and eras in automobile history from the 1960s to today—a collection worth more than $100 million. Getting up close and seeing these vehicles in the flesh is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people, and many of my fellow students were left speechless.

The stories behind each vehicle made for interesting conversation and they gave perspective to how these cars are maintained and owned. Take the black 2003 Ferrari Enzo for example. It’s a car that is older than most of the Car Club’s members but still has less than 60 miles on the odometer.

Shameful, I know. But that number is somewhat justified by its rarity, being just one of 12 black Enzo’s ever made and only one of the remaining six which haven’t been totaled. Or take the ultra-limited 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG. There’s a car where only 100 were ever produced, whose owners were on a VIP invite-only allocation list, paying roughly $300,000 for the original purchase. The CLK DTM packs a 5.5 liter supercharged V8 producing 574 horsepower through a five-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. It’s electronically limited to a top speed of 200 mph, a number that could undoubtedly be much higher without the restriction, and a 0-60 mph time of just 3.9 seconds. Audrain also featured the infamous Porsche Carrera GT, the idolized Ferrari F40, a more modern McLaren, the 620 R, and of course a certain Xaverian-colored 2019 Bugatti Chiron Sky View.

In short, the exhibit was performance car nirvana, and I consider myself lucky to have seen it.

The Xaverian Car Club was particularly impressed with this Xaverian-colored 2019 Bugatti Chiron Sky View at the Audrain Automobile Museum.

PHOTO BY BRENDAN COLIN ’22

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Ferrari F40

PHOTO BY BRENDAN COLIN ’22

MORE THAN A HOBBY Written by Declan Little ’24, Communications Corps

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ecent graduate and former president of Xaverian’s Car Club, Brendan Colin ’22, is in for an amazing summer. He’s combining his love of cars with his passion for photography as a photographer at Aston Martin of Boston. Brendan is spending plenty of time around some of the most luxurious cars in the world, serving as one of Aston Martin’s marketing directors. He gets to drive their cars to the perfect locations to get just the right shot. How’d this 18-yearold high school senior land such a prime gig? Persistence. Brendan’s enthusiasm for cars and photography brought him to local dealerships on a regular basis simply to look at the vehicles in stock and take photos of them. He saw a position posted for “inventory / social media photographer” at Aston Martin

Brendan Colin ’22 poses in front of an Aston Martin of Boston and he applied. Months went by without a word. Then suddenly he received a message from the dealership saying they wanted to speak with him. One thing led to another and Brendan got the job. Since then, his role has expanded and he also now manages marketing and events.

“I’ve been a car enthusiast for my entire life, and somehow I’m lucky enough to live out every enthusiast’s dream at 18 years old,” says Brendan. “I don’t know where this job will lead me, or what the future holds, but as my time at Xaverian ends, I can already see the next chapter in my life taking shape.”

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sports Winter & Spring 2022

Pictured here, the Hawks pose for a photo after the January 30 Hockey Fights Cancer game vs. BC High. Overall, more than $200,000 has been raised in support of the Reo Todesca Memorial Foundation to honor the late mother of Xaverian’s assistant hockey coach, Paul Todesca Jr.

A Record-Setting Season

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averian’s varsity hockey team had an incredible run this season, finishing with a record 20 wins, four losses, and one tie. It was the first year that the MIAA incorporated six divisions and a statewide tournament. The Hawks secured four incredible wins in front of sold-out crowds and Coach Dave Spinale, P ’21 says that the community played an important role this season. “The Xaverian community had a positive and dramatic effect on our players and coaches. The energy from them was infectious!”

As the number-2 seed heading into the tournament, the Hawks defeated number 31 Andover High School in the first round 4-0. In the round of 16, they took on a scrappy 15th-seeded St. Mary’s team, and soundly defeated them 4-2. In the round of 8, number 7 Belmont High School brought

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their high-powered offense in to take on Xaverian at New England Sports Village. A late goal sent the Hawks to a 2-1 victory and the sell-out crowd went home happy. The semi-final round was an intense 5-4 doubleovertime win against Arlington High School, which propelled the Hawks to the State Championship.

On March 20, the Hawks took the ice at TD Garden in front of 9,000 energetic fans in a Catholic Conference battle for the state title. In the end, the championship came down to the Hawks versus the St. John’s Prep Eagles, a fellow Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School. Though they fought hard, the Eagles took the top prize leaving Xaverian with the number two spot in the state this year. The loss hasn’t darkened the optimism of Aiden Rodriguez ’22, a Xaverian defenseman.

He said, “The most important lesson I have

learned at Xaverian is that everything won’t always go your way, but with patience and hard work those good things will happen at the right time.” We can’t wait to see what’s in store for our Hawks next year!

Congratulations to the Hawk seniors who earned a number of accolades for their strong performances this season: Catholic Conference All-Stars: Braden O’Hara ’22, Max Lockwood ’22, Aiden Rodriguez ’22, Nolan Dion ’22, and Jack Silva ’22. Silva was also named the Most Valuable Player for the Catholic Conference.

Boston Globe All-Scholastics: Jack Silva ’22 and Braden O’Hara ’22 Boston Herald All-Scholastics: Jack Silva ’22, Braden O’Hara ’22, and Nolan Dion ’22

The Road to the Elite 8

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Pictured here is Co-Captain Jake Gilbert ’22

he Xaverian lacrosse team, under the direction of third-year Head Coach Daggett Morse, had a standout season in the most competitive conference in the state, the Catholic Conference. This year’s Catholic Conference turned out four teams seeded in the top 10 of the Division 1 tournament, an exceptional showing. With a number 5 seed, Xaverian entered postseason action after closing out the regular season 11-7 overall. They started out hot with a 20-3 win over Methuen High School followed by a decisive 11-6 victory over Winchester High School. It wasn’t until the Elite 8 that they met their season-ending match in Hingham High School who advanced with a hard-fought 13-8 victory.

Four Hawks earned Catholic Conference All-Star status: Captains Jake Gilbert ’22, Ben Ryan ’22, and Nolan Dion ’22, as well as Hunter Molway ’24. Additionally, Jake Gilbert has been named a USA Lacrosse All-American, and has earned Boston Herald and Boston Globe All-Scholastic distinctions.

According to Coach Morse, “The 2022 varsity team battled through adversity due to some major injuries with our seniors, but still they made their mark on and off the field. I’m incredibly proud of their dedication and hard work. From their successful fundraising efforts for the Ellie Fund in support of breast cancer research, to their grit and determination on the field, this year’s Hawks set the tone for our program going forward.”

Hawks Leave It All On the Pitch

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fter not having a full rugby season since the spring of 2019, the Hawks were extremely excited to rebuild the program and put Xaverian rugby back on the map.

With his expertise and ability to connect with his players, Coach Mike Sullivan ’12, led the hawks to their first-ever playoff game in his first year as the head coach. “Coach Sully” had been working with the Xaverian rugby team since 2013 as an assistant coach, and was eager to get back on the field competitively with his Assistant Varsity Coach, Anif McDonald ’12, this spring.

Led by senior captains, Henry Novicki ’22 and Nick Thibault ’22, the Hawks had a strong season with a 6-1 record, earning them 4th place in the Division 1 regular season. The team had a

Pictured here (l to r) are Pat McEachern ’22, Ian Jacob ’22, and James Allen ’23

38-man roster, including 15 return players.

This allowed the Hawks to have two full sides for the first time since 2018. Exceptional performances from first-year players Matt Orphanos ’22, Frankie Agostino ’22, and Luke Bell ’25, as well as captains Henry and Nick, helped leverage the Hawks to an average of 43 points per game! According

to Assistant Coach McDonald, “Rugby is the ultimate team sport and each player on this year’s squad had a huge hand in helping the team find overall success regardless of a tough loss in the playoffs. The winning season brought joy and passion to the game of rugby, and we are extremely excited to push for a playoff season again next year!”

Class of 2022 Athletic Commitments CROSS COUNTRY AND/OR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD Daniel Jutras - Stevens Institute of Technology Thomas Skerry - Worcester Polytechnic Institute Tyler Stearns - Bates College FOOTBALL Jack Funke - Boston College Oliver Waddleton - Trinity College Aiden Lovelace - University of Rochester

GOLF Joey Lenane - North Carolina State University ICE HOCKEY Nolan Dion - Babson College LACROSSE Jake Gilbert - Fairfield University Ben Ryan - Hamilton College Will Souza - Stevens Institute of Technology

BASEBALL Matt Brinker - Northeastern University Jack Haynes - Rollins College Nico Lambros - Union College TJ Dimitriou - Babson College Dominic Mariani - Clark University Anderson Hart - Curry College RUGBY Henry Novicki - Fairfield University WRESTLING Mike Bobola - Harvard University

Summer 2021 2022

Xaverian Magazine

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ESports Explode at Xaverian Written by Brendan Colin ’22, Communications Corps

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he world changed at the turn of the century when video games like The Sims, Counter Strike, and Doom came around.

From then to now, the world of gaming has been revolutionized into one of the most lucrative, fastest growing industries in the world. For just over two decades, Generation Z has ignited that change. Games like Minecraft, Fortnite, Call of Duty, and League of Legends are just some that have dominated the Esports scene. In fact, Minecraft has been at the top of the video gaming mountain for nearly a decade and it doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon.

Microsoft, and subsequently XBOX, have sold more copies of Minecraft than Ford has sold F-150s, Toyota has sold Corollas, Volkswagen has sold Golfs, and Honda has sold Civics… worldwide…combined.

Today, video games can and

often do encompass all aspects of real life; they’re just formatted down into a 2-D visualization.

But many of these games can feel nearly as real as the physical life we live. Take professional car racing for example. The world’s top drivers turn to racing simulators, one form of competitive Esports, to get a feel for upcoming races and tracks.

Such simulations feel so realistic that they can transfer the results of the virtual race to the real one, with many of them seeing significant improvements in the real world because of simulator practice.

In July of 2019, Fortnite was climbing to its peak. At the time, the game had over 250 million players and now has over 350 million players worldwide.

Such widespread popularity allowed for the Fortnite World Cup. This was an invite-only tournament comprising the world’s top Fortnite players–

Matthew Caffyn-Parsons ’22 (left) and Nicholas Elias ’22 (right) PHOTO BY BRENDAN COLIN ’22

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Matthew Gay ’24 PHOTO BY BRENDAN COLIN ’22

young and old, from all corners of the globe–meeting in New York City to compete for a grand prize of $3 million. The stakes have never been higher and the audience has never been greater.

On YouTube and Twitch (the leading video game streaming platform) on the final day of the tournament alone, over 2.3 million concurrent viewers were reported. These few hours took the crown as the most-watched competitive gaming event of all time, and that doesn’t count other platforms or non-live viewership. That Sunday ended with 16-year-old Kyle Giersdorf, known online as “Bugha,” as the crowned winner of the grand prize and the coveted title.

Now imagine you’re Bugha’s age, you see him reaching Esports nirvana, and video games are your mojo. Let’s also imagine that your high school is starting an Esports club, and a soon to be team. Wouldn’t you join? Think of it this way: sports are to an athlete as Esports are to a video game lover. Enter Xaverian’s new Esports club! New to campus in the 2021-2022 school year, Esports provides an opportunity for gamers to embrace their passion and

talent and compete against others like them at surrounding Massachusetts schools. Led by Bryan Corbett ’11, practices are held twice per week. The games offered include Valorant, League of Legends, Rocket League, Overwatch, Apex Legends, and Super Smash Bros. Each game has multiple lines of players based upon competitiveness, similar to starters on a basketball roster or lines in hockey. This year, few matches took place between Xaverian’s Esports group and that of other surrounding schools, but the future looks to be more competitive with matches happening on a regularly scheduled basis. Throughout the year, the club met biweekly at Helix Esports in Foxboro. Some weeks, because of the versatility that a completely digital-oriented club offers, the group opted to meet virtually with members simply logging on to the Discord server, loading up their games, and playing from their homes.

Senior Nick Elias was thrilled to have the opportunity to join the program in his final school year at Xaverian. “I never thought I’d see the day that Esports would come to Xaverian. There’s not many schools with an Esports program yet, but it’s getting popular on the collegiate level. It’s awesome to see Xaverian embracing the gaming world.” Coach Corbett echoes this sentiment: “I’d play hours of games when I was a student at Xaverian, but never got to do it competitively and definitely not with the school. As soon as it was advertised that Xaverian was looking for a coach, I immediately put in my name. I envision a program that offers students what wasn’t available when I was their age.” His vision became reality with nearly 60 students in grades 7-12 taking part in Xaverian’s Esports program in its inaugural year.

Mr. Palmieri Honored As Standout Catholic Educator Written by Sopuru “Godson” Ofonagoro ’23, Communications Corps

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r. David Palmieri ’93, P ’23 has been an iconic and beloved figure at Xaverian Brothers High School since 1999. That’s when he returned to campus as a teacher, not long after graduating as a Hawk himself. Always eager to learn, Mr. Palmieri obtained his B.A in Religious Studies from Colby College, M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School, M.Ed. from Boston College, and is currently pursuing his D.Min. from The Catholic University of America. Perhaps his love of learning is part of the reason that he’s such an excellent teacher and coach. Mr. Palmieri was recently honored by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) for his dedication both in and out of the classroom with a prestigious Lead. Learn. Proclaim.

Award. These awards highlight the outstanding work of select Catholic school educators, and it was given out to only 13 teachers across the country this year.

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Palmieri to talk about this incredible achievement, his motivation as a teacher, and his future in Catholic education. Here’s what he had to say.

What drives you to continue being the best version of yourself?

I truly believe that we should do good work so that it deserves praise, but we shouldn’t expect it. What I mean by that is we should have an inherent sense of pride in what we do, and we should always want to perform our best, do our best, and be at our best. Whether or not the world recognizes or praises you for it is irrelevant. I feel that way about this Lead.

Learn. Proclaim. Award., too. Being nominated and being a recipient is an honor because of the hard work I’ve invested, but in no way do I ever expect to be recognized—nor is it my motivation to be recognized. I’m just doing what I do; teaching is what I do.

What then, is your motivation for doing what you do?

It’s for others. I want to help carry the cross for other people, brighten the day for other people, share wisdom with other people, laugh with other people. I want to accompany people along this journey of life. That’s what motivates me. The content I teach is important, but it’s

I want to help carry the cross for other people, brighten the day for other people, share wisdom with other people, laugh with other people. I want to accompany people along this journey of life. That’s what motivates me.”

MR. DAVID PALMIERI ’93, P ’23

less important than just forming meaningful relationships.

How will you use being the recipient of this award to influence others?

I think my teaching philosophy is that it’s all about the students. We exist for our students. So, while I’m not going to wear a button that says, “Lead. Learn. Proclaim. Recipient,” in a more subtle way, it’s a reminder that I can influence others to put their students first, too.

What do you look forward to accomplishing next within Catholic education?

I want to find a way to create a dialogue with kids that helps them understand theology isn’t a subject in your head; it’s a subject that exists in your heart and in your hands. Theology should help you find some meaning, purpose, and value in life. But also, it should cause you to ask if you’re willing to take that faith into the world and do something with it. Faith is relevant in the modern world. It’s not something you do for one hour a week when you go to Mass, if you go at all.

It’s a reality to be lived, and we need to do a better job in Catholic education of making it relevant to the lives of the kids who sit in front of us. That’s a challenge in contemporary culture because religion doesn’t seem to hold the same value as it has in generations past. But kids still believe. I see it. The Holy Spirit is very much at work in their lives. It’s real, it’s present, but it’s unrefined. Our job is to help them make sense of it and challenge them to share it with the world.

Summer 2022

Xaverian Magazine

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Congratulations To Our Retirees!

With over 80 years of collective Xaverian experience, the retirements of Mr. Alexander Salachi, Mrs. Elaine Webber, and Mr. Francis Fleming will certainly be felt by all in our community. Here’s a look back at their decades of service to Xaverian, as we wish them all the best on their next endeavours.

Written by Alexander Giannacopoulos ’23, Communications Corps

Student Life, and has the necessary supplies to keep students safe and healthy.

One day that Mrs. Webber will never forget at Xaverian was Friday, March 13, 2020, when the school was forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s rising infections throughout Massachusetts.

It was a time of immense uncertainty as she and the administrators had to rapidly brainstorm ideas for a situation over which they had little control. “Being a school nurse during the pandemic has often felt like being in the wild west,” Mrs. Webber said. “We had to hold on for dear life as the COVID bronco kicked up its heels!” Though campus was closed for the remainder of the spring of 2020, when students returned for the 2020-2021 school year, new safety protocols were implemented, including requiring the completion of a daily health survey on the AUXS safety app, as well as mask-wearing, social distancing, and testing. These practices were particularly time consuming for the nurses, as they engaged in conversation with families of students and with faculty and staff, navigating COVID exposures, positive test results, and outreach with close contacts.

However, through their diligence, Xaverian was able to ensure a safe community and to provide the best care possible for the students during the worst waves of the pandemic.

Mrs. Elaine Webber, P ’02, ’06

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hen it comes to keeping the school community healthy and well, no one does it better than the nurses. For Mrs. Elaine Webber, Xaverian has been as much of a career as it has been a close-knit family. Starting in the 2002-2003 school year as a substitute volunteer nurse, Mrs. Webber became a part-time nurse with Mrs. Joni DeCenzo, P ’05, ’06 after the current nurse became ill. In the beginning, the nurse’s office was drastically different and significantly smaller than it is today. “There was no bathroom or even a sink. It could only accommodate one student at a time,” said Mrs. Webber. In fact, there was no office in the beginning. The nurses had the small space of a closet where the copying machine sits today. They had nothing but a desk, a cot, and a cabinet. Despite the difficulties encountered with a lack of supplies and adequate space, Mrs. Webber and Mrs. DeCenzo made the best of it, and were happy to be able to see and cater to the needs of the students. Things changed quickly and for the better, however, when they were moved to a larger room that has a bathroom and is more accommodating for ill students. Today, that space is known as the Maureen Iannoni Health Office. It sits right next door to the Office of

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Be considerate and kind to all you nurture, show compassion in what you do, always pay attention and listen, and strive to make a difference in the lives of others.

With all of the challenges of COVID and the usual “headaches” from the flu, coughs, sniffles, and upset stomachs, Mrs. Webber has been one of the essential frontline heroes of Xaverian. No matter her role, whether here at Xaverian or prior to this position, she says that at the end of each day as a nurse, she knows that she has actively impacted the life of someone. “Nursing has taught me gratitude and humility,” she says. Now she’s preparing for retirement, and she’s looking forward to many things!

She hopes to enjoy each day and make the most out of it, and she’d like to do that while spending time with her family and traveling. Before she departs though, she offers some words of wisdom to future Xaverian nurses: “Be considerate and kind to all you nurture, show compassion in what you do, always pay attention and listen, and strive to make a difference in the lives of others.”

Mr. Alexander Salachi, P ’18

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hether seen acting on the stage, organizing books in the library, coaching from the sidelines, or walking in the halls, Mr. Alex Salachi has been a friendly face to Xaverian for 40 years. Originally teaching English and coaching basketball at his alma mater, Mansfield High School, Mr. Salachi found himself entering the doors of Xaverian in the 1982-83 school year. In the beginning, he served as an English teacher, focusing on American and British literature. Since then, Mr. Salachi has taken on several roles, including being the chair of the Academic Leadership Council (now Xaverian Leadership Council, or XLC), coaching varsity volleyball, freshman cross country, all levels of basketball, and serving as moderator of the Speech and Debate team. In addition, Mr. Salachi has performed roles in several of Xaverian’s theatrical productions, including Newsies and

Mr. Francis Fleming

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r. Fran Fleming is an unlikely world language teacher. By his own admission, he struggled learning languages. However, his desire to be able to view the world through more than one lens gave him the determination to persevere. Since 1997, he has brought that determination with him to his role at Xaverian as a Spanish teacher.

In high school, Mr. Fleming says he studied French but never advanced to any “serious level” of fluency. He graduated and went on to Boston College without giving it much thought until his senior year when he learned about a two-year teaching position in Peru that required Spanish language fluency. Having never studied the language, he certainly didn’t meet that requirement. However, Fr. Fred Green, SJ, founder of Colegio Cristo Rey (a school in Tacna, Peru), took his recruits from BC and placed

Fiddler on the Roof.

Out of all the roles Mr. Salachi has held, his most important one was serving as Xaverian’s Library Director. He runs a tight ship in the Ruth M. Kennedy Library, maintaining a quiet hush in the common space to promote individual studying. However, in this role he also oversaw the addition of collaborative learning spaces to the library to allow for group study and hands-on learning. Mr. Salachi met with architects in biweekly 7:00 a.m. meetings for close to two years to execute the current layout and design of Xaverian’s modern library, including the four glass collaborative learning spaces equipped with whiteboards, charging outlets, air conditioning, and group work tables.

Mr. Salachi reports that he has several exciting plans for retirement.

He hopes to get back into swimming and running as he is a former triathlon competitor. He also plans on attending more auditions in Boston and Fort Lauderdale (where he hopes to spend a few months during the winter). Although, he noted the difficulties that come with professional acting: “You learn how to deal with rejection, that’s for sure.” He’s been involved in productions where he’s had to memorize anywhere from 800 to 1,000 lines, but he still aspires to the roles of some of his favorite literary works, including The Death of a Salesman and The Merchant of Venice. He also hopes to find a theater that will produce the Civil War play he wrote with a friend, bringing it to the stage. Mr. Salachi will continue to serve as an analyst for the boys and girls basketball broadcasts for Mansfield High School and King Philip High School. And, he says, he looks forward to spending a lot more time with his family.

Before we could let him go, we had an important question to ask: Who is your favorite author and why?

My favorite author is a lesser-known American poet named James Wright. He mainly writes short poems that in a handful of lines relate some profound message or question about the meaning of life.

them in Lima for a few months of intensive language study before they arrived in Tacna. Then they traveled for a month in Peru for more language immersion, followed by three more months of classroom learning before they were ready to begin teaching their own classes. With a new language under his belt, Mr. Fleming started his teaching career in Peru. “I enjoyed the work culture with its mixture of faith and community,” he says, and he sought something similar when he came home to the states.

When he returned, he began teaching at Catholic Memorial and served 12 years there, earning his master’s in Spanish from Middlebury College in 1992. By 1997, Mr. Fleming and his family were considering a move to New York. He found a job there he was interested in and wanted to be prepared to apply, so he lined up what he called a “practice interview” for a position at Xaverian Brothers High School. Instead of moving to New York, he ended up being offered the job at Xaverian, and he accepted.

His first four years at Xaverian were spent in dual roles teaching Spanish and working with the campus ministry team. He calls those some of his most memorable years on Clapboardtree Street. “The dual aspect of the job offered a variety of rewards and personal satisfaction. From XLI to X-CEL service experiences to travel and shared cultural experiences with students on the Spanish Exchange, life was good!”, he says. “I have some great memories of relationships forged with shared challenges that helped all of us to learn together and grow together.”

While Mr. Fleming will be retiring from teaching, he does not plan to fully retire just yet. He hopes to do some form of part-time work to maintain structure during the day, but looks forward to a job that is less demanding, one that he can leave behind when clocking out. Or as he says, “Translation: no lesson plans to prepare or assessments to correct!” He looks forward to family weddings this summer, including that of his own daughter, Madeleine. Closing off over two decades of teaching at Xaverian, Mr. Fleming says, “I won’t look for things to do, and will look forward to the freedom just to be.”

Summer 2022

Xaverian Magazine

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XAVERIAN Musical Theater

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here was nothing rotten about the return of Xaverian musical theater to the stage this March. After a two year hiatus due to the pandemic, Xaverian actors and actresses from Ursuline Academy, Montrose School, Mount Alvernia, and Westwood High School wowed audiences with their stunning costumes and show-stopping tap dancing and musical numbers.

Something Rotten! follows the story of two brothers, Nick (Owen Kidd ’22) and Nigel Bottom (Francisco Viana ’22) who set out to write the next “big thing” in theater…a musical! Their rival,

Photo by Mike McMath ’69 16

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local rock star, William Shakespeare (Matthew Martucci ’22), is the only thing standing in their way.

The 2015 Tony Award Nominee for Best Musical saw roughly 900 tickets sold and a filled theater for each performance.

Xaverian fine arts teacher and theater director, Ms. Julianne O’Connor, says that early on she could tell there was something that set this particular cast and crew apart. “I remember telling my mother that something was different about this group. It became a typical occurrence to walk into the theater prior to rehearsal and see a stage

full of students rehearsing,” she recalls.

“Something Rotten! wasn’t just an afterschool activity for everyone involved, it was a passion.”

Matthew Martucci ’22 agrees, saying it was an honor to work with this particular cast and crew. He says, “They did a good job knowing when to work hard and when to have fun. No matter whether they had a big or small role, everyone gave 110% into their performance and it showed.”

The tight-knit cast of 24 put in significant rehearsal time, over 100 hours in fact, carving out additional hours from their day wherever they could to make sure the show was a success. According to

IS BACK & Better than Ever!

Ms. O’Connor, Xaverian seniors led the way in going the extra mile. “Our seniors set an incredible bar. They would show up during free periods or for an hour-and-a-half before rehearsal began in order to work on their dances or lines. Our younger actors saw this and, very quickly, began doing the same. Everyone in the room knew this wasn’t an easy show. And it was because of that why we wanted to get it right.”

A number of adults in the community stepped up to ensure students had the tools they needed in order to succeed. Producer and costumer, Mrs. Lisa Marie Stearns,

P ’20, ’22, drove to and from the Cape to retrieve costume pieces. Mr. Chris Gollnick, former computer technology administrator, spent hours creating the lighting design. Mrs. Christina Sheridan, P ’22 handmade an array of costume pieces. Mr. Michael Dornisch, school counselor, and Mr. Ryan Howard, Director of X-Ploration Center, worked with our student builders to help create the set. And Mr. Frank Monaco, GP ’22, ’24, ensured that everyone’s costumes properly fit. This was a full team effort onstage and off.

When looking back on the show, Ms. O’Connor describes a moment that she’ll never forget.

“The cast and crew have a tradition that they run out onto the back field after the show is over as a way to celebrate their performance. Saturday night I decided to join them, as I felt that night showcased perfectly everything we had been working toward for the last three months.” she says. “I reached the field, threw my arms up, and everyone erupted in cheers.”

Summer 2022

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ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE FOR

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ast November, Xaverian Brothers High School junior, Rishu Nevatia, saw a casting call for extras in a feature film called The Holdovers. It’s a story about Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), a teacher at a New England boarding school who is very much disliked by everyone — students and grownups alike. Having no family to go home to, Hunham remains at school over Christmas break with a trouble-making 15-year-old student named Angus, and the head cook, Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph). Rishu felt that the movie was a perfect fit so he submitted his acting resume. That very same day he received a response saying he was being considered for the project. He waited eagerly until January, when he found out he was invited to be an extra in the film.

Rishu’s love of acting began in eighth grade on stage with the Walpole Children’s Theater’s production of The Wizard of Oz. He played a fighting tree, an ensemble character, and found himself instantly drawn into the camaraderie and community of the cast and crew. “I didn’t have a big part or anything,” he says, “I just liked the people and the whole environment at the theater company.” From there he started doing more shows and building his repertoire. “As I kept acting, I started getting bigger and better parts. I realized it wasn’t just about the people and the fact that it was fun, it was being able to take on a new character and explore different personalities.”

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Rishu Nevatia ’23 Rishu has played a number of intriguing characters, including the Father in James and the Giant Peach, an Apple Seller in Rumpelstiltskin, Jester in Bottle of Joy, Giant in Jack and the Magic Beans, Paraffin in The Wizard’s Crystal, Roy in Xaverian’s production of The Odd Couple, and most recently, Peter Quince and part of the ensemble in Something Rotten! He says he likes the idea of taking on a new character and being able to explore different personalities and mannerisms, but it isn’t all about memorizing lines. “A lot of acting takes place when you’re not speaking. When you’re not the main person you can’t just be standing there waiting for your next line.

You have to be completely immersed in what the character is doing.”

It may be this very reason why, after filming his first scene for The Holdovers in March, he was chosen as one of the seven (out of 250) extras who would get to film a

featured classroom scene with some of the major stars of the show. Although Walpole Children’s Theater put together two films during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rishu says it was nothing compared to a real movie set.

“You have the director and cinematographer behind the camera,” he describes animatedly.

“They sometimes spend 30 minutes trying to find the right shot. They figure out the angles, get the lighting just right, and get people situated where they need to be.” That’s why, he says, a 30-second film sequence can end up taking more than an hour in real-time.

When asked whether he would want to act in a movie again, there’s no hesitation before his response. “I would absolutely love to do this again; I love the idea that I’ll get to watch myself on the big screen when it comes out in theaters. It’s probably a high I will never feel again…unless I’m involved in another one!”

Fun Facts

• Favorite Actor/Actress: Dylan O’Brien • Favorite Show He's Been In: The Odd Couple • Favorite Character He's Played: Giant in Jack and the Magic Beans • Favorite Movie Soundtrack: The Greatest Showman

CLASS NOTES

CLASS OF 1968

Jordan Hegedus will be attending his 50th class reunion at Georgetown University. He wonders how many others will be going to reunions, and yes, that is his daughter, Heather Hegedus, the Boston 25 news reporter/anchor!

CLASS OF 1969

Tommy Matchett works at Keystone in the winter as a snowboard instructor and in the summer as a players assistant at the Keystone golf courses. He would love to meet up with any classmates who might be visiting Colorado and can be reached at tommymatchett@yahoo.com.

CLASS OF 1970

CLASS OF 1971

Mark Whitty is currently the CEO and President of an IT consulting company, Enhanced Veterans Solutions, Inc. in Fairfax, VA. He and his wife, Susan, have two children, Megan and William, and both are married.

Megan has three children, Alexis, Lucas, and Caroline. Mark and his wife reside in Springfield, VA.

CLASS OF 1972

Bob McHale has retired from the Air Force and now spends his time giving private flying lessons and operating drones for a research company. He and his wife, Trudy, are living in central NY, and enjoy time with their three children and three grandchildren.

CLASS OF 1974

James Arena-DeRosa, who worked for Oxfam, Peace Corps, and led Northeast USDA Food and Nutrition during the Obama administration, is running for an open state representative seat to the Massachusetts Legislature in the Holliston-Hopkinton-MillisSherborn area. James shares, “The Brothers at Xaverian taught me a lot about social justice and caring for others - it has been most of my life’s work.” He would love to hear from friends, classmates, and any and all fellow Hawks, at arena-derosa@msn.com.

Bill Callahan’s grandson and future Hawk, Gideon, enjoys playing with his Xaverian football.

Ed Ristaino has been practicing law for over 30 years, after a 26-year career with the U.S. Coast Guard and USCGR. Ed lives and practices in Florida representing sports teams, including the Dolphins, Panthers, and Marlins.

He enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, traveling, and running marathons. He looks forward to running the Falmouth Road Race in August.

Lyndon Virkler is a grandfather again, welcoming granddaughter, Rosalyn Maeve Miller, who joins big brother Lukas (9), and cousins Ellen (6) and Fern (2). Lyndon retired from New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier three years ago and had a great winter skiing at Sugarbush. He is looking forward to a summer of gardening. He and his wife, Joanne, live in Waitsfield, VT and both are active in the Mad River Valley Food pantry.

Chris Carney and his wife, Donna, reside in Franklin. He is the brother of the late Thomas E. Carney, Jr. ’69, father of Chris Carney ’99, and proud grandfather of six.

Joe Horan has retired from the practice of family medicine after 34 years in the Foxboro/ Wrentham area. He has enjoyed all the relationships he has made over the past years but looks forward to riding his bicycle more, skiing mid-week, and spending more time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. His son, Patrick ’08, is getting married this July in Fryeburg, ME. Mike “Fat Cat” Murphy is still enjoying life in San Diego! He is looking forward to the Class of 74’s 50th reunion, having reached out to fellow classmates to hopefully get a good attendance!

CLASS OF 1975

Jim Boyle and his wife, Annmarie, excitedly share that two of their six daughters, Anna and

Elizabeth, graduated from Merrimack’s Masters of Education program on May 20. Their two eldest daughters are well established in their careers and their two youngest daughters attend Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH. Jim and Annmarie’s three sons, one of whom will celebrate his 40th birthday this year, are also doing well. Jim shares that his four grandchildren are awesome! Jim works for Club Benchmarking from his home office.

Mike Murphy spends much of his time at his two restaurants, Cru on Nantucket and Nautilus Pier 4 in the Seaport Boston. Mike previously owned Viti Automotive Group, worked in automotive consulting, and plans to open a retail cannabis store in Worcester.

Mike continues to be close friends with fellow classmates, Brian Holland, John Mariano, and Mike Papagno.

CLASS OF 1976

John Forte was inducted into the Ursuline Academy Athletic Hall of Fame Inaugural Class of 2022. John has been Ursuline’s varsity soccer coach for 17 years with a record of 186106-32.

CLASS OF 1977

Jack Reardon recently published his second novel, Swimming Backwards. The story, set in contemporary New England, transcends the narrow intersection of gender identity and bluecollar employment. In 2020, Jack published Rebuild: The Economy, Leadership, and You. A Toolkit for Builders of a Better World. The book spans the disciplines of economics, physics, psychology, art, and management. Jack shared that Xaverian educated him for life, inspired him to help make the world a better place, and gave him the intellectual tools to write both nonfiction and fiction. He especially would like to thank his English teachers, Brother Joe Girard and Miss Schofield. Jack is living in Eau Claire, WI, teaching economics at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

CLASS OF 1978

Bill Clough is serving as Sr. Director, Global Financial Planning & Analysis at Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading publisher of medical and nursing educational content, and deep medical research solutions. He currently resides in Raynham. He enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, continuing to learn German (vielen dank, Herr Lewis!), and when time allows, riding his Harley Davidson Fat Bob.

Summer 2022

Xaverian Magazine

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CLASS NOTES

LEGACY FATHERS AND SONS - CLASS OF 2022 The Class of 2022 had 19 legacy families who were celebrated at Commencement with a special “Dads and Grads” photo. Pictured here are the father and son pairs. From l to r - Mr. John L. Bolger ’88 and John L. Bolger, Jr. ’22, Anthony M. Bonanno, Esq. ’86 and Michael A. Bonanno ’22, Mr. Kevin M. Brady ’85 and Daniel P. Brady ’22, Mr. Carlo A. Crocetti ’94 and Carlo J. Crocetti ’22, Mr. Matthew Cross ’93 and Andrew J. Cross ’22, Mr. Michael W. Duggan ’91 and Liam M. Duggan ’22, Mr. Edward J. Fleming ’84 and Aidan R. Fleming ’22, Mr. Michael M. Gardner ’91 and Michael M. Gardner ’22, Mr. Michael J. Gilboy ’91 and Liam M. Gilboy ’22, Mr. Joseph A. Gilmore, Jr. ’88 and Joseph B. Gilmore ’22, Mr. Ervin L. Hooks ’00 and Jordan L. Hooks ’22, Dr. James A. Ierardi ’93 and Michael J. Ierardi ’22, Mr. Brian J. Kilduff ’91 and Christian J. Kilduff ’22, Mr. Paul C. Longo ’89 and Ty C. Longo ’22, Mr. Patrick M. Mungovan ’89 and Finn Mungovan ’22, Mr. Mark J. Parrish ’79 and Kevin B. Parrish ’22, Mr. Ralph W. Richardson ’89 and Michael Richardson ’22, Mr. Jeffrey J. Scannell ’82 and John C. Scannell ’22, and Mr. Joseph W. Traut ’89 and Derek W. Traut ’22

CLASS OF 1984

Gregory Barry is a Senior Facilities Engineer working at DENS Facility Services in Somerville.

CLASS OF 1985

Steve Tomaselli is a mortgage professional managing a team for Cardinal Financial in Walpole. Steve and his wife, Gina (Malacaria), currently reside in Franklin and take frequent trips to Texas to see their children, Chris and John ’18. John recently graduated from Southern Methodist University and will be working in Austin.

CLASS OF 1979

Scott Frasca was recently named a TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry) Fellow, for his extraordinary technical and service contributions. Last fall, Scott ran the Yeti 100 trail race in Virginia, finishing the distance in 28 hours and 7 minutes. Scott and his wife, Lynn, live in Maine along with their two sons, Tom and Jeff.

CLASS OF 1980

Jack Curran and fellow classmates, Ted Lynch, Jack Totino, and Bobby Walsh, got together to play golf at Dennis Pines on the Cape in May. After golf, Jay Donahue ’81 met up with the golfers at Jack Curran’s house in West Dennis. Lots of laughs and stories were shared and, of course, the 1980 Xaverian yearbook was broken out to help with the memories.

CLASS OF 1981

Robert Kramer shares that although he retired as an electrician with IBEW Local 915 in Tampa, he is now certified to install, commission, and certify electric vehicle charging stations. He says he might just come out of retirement for this!

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CLASS OF 1982

CLASS OF 1986

Bryan Delaney owns two bars, The Blind Tiger and The Spring Lounge, both located in Manhattan. He has owned both establishments for over 25 years. He recently partnered up to open a fish market and grill in Haines City, Florida where he splits his time. Brian proudly shares that his son recently graduated from Yale Law School.

Paul Fitzgibbons shares that he picked his daughter up at Frankfurt Airport in Germany in May. This is the first time in over two years the family is together!

Sean Fahy and Fr. Michael Zimmerman ’07 randomly encountered one another on the streets of Santa Maria Di Trastevere in Rome, Italy in May. Sean and Fr. Michael took their photo in front of one of the holy doors of the basilica. You never know where you will encounter a fellow Hawk in the world!

How’s it going?

Stay in touch and let us know what you are up to. You can reach us at

notes@xbhs.com.

REUNION

2022

CALLING ALL HAWKS FROM CLASSES ENDING IN 2 OR 7!

Your reunion is coming up on Saturday, November 26, and you won't want to miss it! Join us to see all that has changed and all that remains the same at Xaverian. Whether it's your 5th, 20th, or 45th reunion, come back to catch up with old friends, tour the campus, and enjoy the party!

WHO: Classes of 1967, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017 WHERE: Xaverian Brothers High School

WHEN: Saturday, November 26, 2022

CLASS OF 1988

Jim Joyce was profiled in The Times, highlighting his hi-tech syringe disposal bins at HealthBeacon. Jim is the founder of HealthBeacon located in the UK.

CLASS OF 1994 Dennis Crowley, CoFounder and Co-Chair of Foursquare, Zoomed with Mr. Donovan’s AP Statistics and Mr. Hawley’s Pre-Calculus classes about geospatial analytics in April.

CLASS OF 1989

Pat Mungovan, senior vice president and general manager of North America Government and Education business for Oracle Public Sector, was named as a 2022 Wash100 Award recipient.

CLASS OF 1973

Your 50th reunion will be celebrated in the spring of 2023. More information will be shared soon!

Rob Mariano, also known as “Boston Rob,” hosts a new digital series, “Boston Rob Does Beantown,” which premiered in April.

CLASS OF 1990

Col. Rick Martin and family will be relocating this summer from the UK to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he will take command of a headquarters detachment responsible for installation and mission support of bases across Europe and Africa.

CLASS OF 1996

Mark Resnick had his first book published, Ten Days With Dad, in March. It’s available on Amazon and at www.markjresnick.com. He’s pictured here with his son, Sean ’24.

CLASS OF 1992

Scott Souza is currently a middle school math teacher at Dexter Southfield in Brookline. He and his wife, Hillary, have a daughter and reside in Mansfield.

CLASS OF 1993

Dave Palmieri was the recipient of the NCEA’s Lead. Learn. Proclaim. Award in March 2022.

David was selected from a national pool of Catholic school educators. Read more about it on page 13.

Michael Burke, a Boston Police Officer assigned to the Explosive Ordnance Unit, is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserves. He was deployed to the Kingdom of Bahrain in May 2021 to coordinate the evacuation of US citizens and at-risk Afghans from Afghanistan.

In July 2021, as the Taliban made significant military gains, Mike forward deployed to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul and served as the Deputy J3 of Joint Task Force-Crisis Response evacuating over 124,000 people from Afghanistan. Mike left Kabul and returned to the US at the end of September 2021 to a very warm welcome from his family.

Pictured here (left to right) are Kevin Burke, P ’96, ’99 with his granddaughter (Kailyn oldest child of John ’99), Mike ’96 with his son (Brian Thomas), John ’99 and his son (Jack) and wife (Erin), and Linda Burke, P ’96, ’99 with Mike’s daughter, (Liv). The second photo shows Mike with his wife, Kelly, and their children, Liv and Brian Thomas.

CLASS OF 1997

Andy Meyer is currently the president of the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sport Studies and in June will play host for their annual conference at Baylor University, where he is an Associate Professor in Sport Foundations.

CLASS OF 1998

Jon Thomas is currently the Executive Director of Tap Cancer Out, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that hosts philanthropic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments across the country. Tap Cancer Out was able to donate a total of $1.2 million to 20 cancer-fighting beneficiary organizations in 2021 alone, bringing their overall total to $3.5 million raised and donated. Jon and his family currently reside in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

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CLASS NOTES Class of 1998

Mike Malvesti and his wife, Katie, shared the birth of their son, Nico James, on February 13.

(Continued)

Pat Walsh, co-founder of Classy, has signed an agreement with GoFundMe for the acquisition of his leading modern nonprofit fundraising software company. Classy is a rapidly growing giving platform that enables nonprofits to connect donors with the causes they care about.

CLASS OF 1999

Nick Levis has accepted a position as the Patient Access & Reimbursement Manager at Amgen in Tampa, FL.

Jim Moran and his wife, Cece, welcomed baby boy Xavier into the world on December 15. He is already excited to join the Class of 2040!

Mike O’Connor and his wife, Allie, announced the birth of their second daughter, Emma Ruth, on November 9. Emma is welcomed home by big sister, Sophie, and proud grandparents, Mike O’Connor ’72 and his wife Donna, Xaverian’s former Special Projects Manager.

Paul Lynch and his wife, Megan, welcomed their third child, Chloe Rose, in September.

Chloe joins big brother, Aidan (5), and big sister, Kayla (3).

CLASS OF 2000

Matthew Beninghof and his wife, Gabriella, welcomed their first born son, Thomas Daniel in May.

Patrick Burke was named to Sports Business Journal’s 2022 Forty Under 40. Patrick serves as Senior Director of Player Safety for the National Hockey League and previously co-founded the You Can Play Project, which, according to Outsports.com, “aims to end homophobia and anti-gay language in sports.”

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Lincoln Burrus is currently a Program Management Analyst for Peraton LLC in Warner Robins, GA. He is involved in his community as the past president of the Middle Georgia Auburn Alumni Club and as the Sergeant at Arms for the Procurement Toastmasters Club.

He spends his free time working on career development activities such as certifications and enjoys traveling throughout the United States.

CLASS OF 2003

CLASS OF 2005

CLASS OF 2001

CLASS OF 2002

Zack Asack is currently a TV Producer working for FOX Sports in Charlotte, NC. He produces shows covering NASCAR, college football, college basketball, and the NFL. He and his wife, Jaime, have three kids; Chase (5), Charleigh (3), and Blake (4 months), and reside in Matthews, NC.

Tom Carroll is currently working at Fidelity Investments as a UX Content Designer. He and his wife, Geri, along with children, Charlie and Elouise, moved to Omaha, NE last year.

Rob McCabe is heading to the Harvard Kennedy School this summer (after 15 years of operational work on ships and helicopters), for a Master’s Degree in Public Administration to help prepare for Coast Guard duty overseas.

CLASS OF 2004

Tom Harkins joined Xaverian students on campus in March as part of the Alumni Speaker series. Tom, who currently serves as a Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer at Northrop Grumman, spoke about the recently launched James Webb Space Telescope - the most powerful space telescope ever built.

Class of 2005

(Continued)

Greg Leslie and his wife, Nikki, welcomed their third child, Liam, in December. Liam joins his big brother, Cameron (5), and sister, Teagan (2).

BROTHERLY LOVE

Kyle Metcalf ’05, if he accepts, will be the best man at his brother’s wedding in October 2023. “K Bone, I’ve always looked up to you (of course I mean figuratively, not literally) and now I have a huge ask of you...will you be my Best Man? You’re the best brother and friend that I could ask for and it would mean a lot to have you by my side. - Your significantly bigger brother, Dylan ’13.

brother, Steve Pineda ’04, is also at Mass General Brigham completing his residency. Dan shares, “I love what I do and can thank Xaverian for an amazing education that I wouldn’t trade for anything!”

Sean Matthews and his wife, Sara, are now the proud parents of Garret Orlando, born in February. Sean introduces baby Garret as the newest member of the Class of 2040!

Joe Stieb will begin working as an Assistant Professor of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport this summer.

CLASS OF 2007

Joe also serves on the Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation’s Advisory Board.

Dan Danckert was recently promoted to Reliability Engineering Laboratory Manager at Waters Corporation in Milford. He concurrently holds the position as Sr. Reliability Engineer with the System Readiness Group at Waters Corporation. His wife, Maria, is in her first year as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Western New England University.

They currently reside in Whitinsville.

Andrew Nemeth visited the X-Ploration Center in March to share his experiences and how his Xaverian education helped him in his journey. Andrew is a wet bench biochemist specializing in the characterization of plasmids and enzymes used in making mRNA. His work at Moderna Therapeutics has supported the development and manufacture of an mRNAbased novel coronavirus vaccine.

Mike Stanoch and his wife, Adrianne, welcomed their first two children, having twins Lynden and Logan, on March 16. Mike and his family currently reside in Wilmington, DE.

CLASS OF 2006

Dan Pineda has been married now for nearly five years and he and his wife, Bridgit, are living in Haverhill. Dan works for Mass General Brigham Home Health Care. His wife works in healthcare at Mass General Brigham and Dan’s

Joe Coliflores returned to Xaverian in November 2021 to speak a little bit about Filipino history and culture in celebration of Filipino-American History Month. The event was coordinated by X-Represented, a student club moderated by Xaverian’s Director of Community, Culture, and Equity, Anif McDonald ’12. Joe serves as an Assistant District Attorney in the Hampden District Attorney’s Office in Springfield. He graduated from Northeastern University School of Law in 2014 and from Suffolk University in 2011.

Tyler Ramrath was promoted to the rank of Major in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, where he serves full time as the State Force Protection Officer.

CLASS OF 2008

Tyler Murray recently joined the Worcester Red Sox broadcast team. Prior to joining the WoSox, he was the lead broadcaster of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats for six seasons.

Tyler is also the primary voice for Hockey East on NESN and contributes on NESN college sporting events throughout the year.

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CLASS NOTES Class of 2008

(Continued)

Dan Doherty ’13 and Sean Matthews ’05, both employees at Moderna, returned to campus to speak to current students about their career paths.

Kevin Raferty and his wife, Victoria, welcomed their daughter, Stevie Jane, in August and are currently living in Winthrop. He will be pursuing his MBA at Columbia Business School in New York City this coming fall.

Alumni Speakers

T

he only thing better than welcoming a Hawk back to campus is when that Hawk is here to inspire the next generation! We were thrilled to welcome so many alumni speakers in the second half of the school year. Whether they were talking about finance, football, aeronautical engineering, the music business, or vaccine creation, we are grateful to the following alums for coming to speak to our young men. Sharing your real world experiences helps our students to chart their own path forward. You have provided wonderful context for them as they explore their hopes for the future. Thank you!

January ������JP Wilkinson ’10 (Business Club) February ����Dan Doherty ’13 and Sean Matthews ’05 (Alumni Speaker Series), and DJ Pagliuca ’13 (Community, Culture, and Equity Office Speaker) March ��������Tom Harkins ’04 (Alumni Speaker Series), Amir McDonald ’14 (Community, Culture, and Equity Office Speaker), and Andrew Nemeth ’07 (X-Ploring the World of Modern Science)

April ����������Mark Macdonald ’09 and Joe Young ’08 (Alumni Speaker Series) May ������������Maurice “Mo” Hurst ’13 (Community, Culture, and Equity Office Speaker) and Matt Hasselbeck ’93 (Junior Class Call to Leadership Assembly) Joe Young, along with fellow alumnus Mark Macdonald ’09, spoke to students about cybersecurity and sales as part of the Alumni Speakers Series this past spring.

CLASS OF 2009

Scott Gorman just finished his postdoctoral research fellowship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and is moving to Newton to start a job as a biophysics scientist at Arrakis Therapeutics. His wife and two cats are looking forward to living in Massachusetts and being closer to family.

Mike Pappano is a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Realty in the Greater Boston area.

Mike Zoppo is currently an Associate Design Director at Superfly in New York City. He lives on the Upper West Side in Manhattan.

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If you would like to be considered as a speaker for the 2022-2023 academic year, please reach out to Mr. Jim Scholl ’03, Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement, at jscholl@xbhs.com.

Class of 2009

(Continued)

Mark MacDonald wed Erin Marie Young on January 1. Posing with the newlyweds are Joe Young ’08, his fiance Jess Guisti, Joseph Young, Susan Young, and Danny Young. Joining the celebration are classmates Chris Wagner ’09, Jameson Lee ’08, Matt Brennan ’09, Ted Amendola ’09, Tom Caruso ’09, Mark MacDonald ’09, Pat Keating ’09, and Don Biscoe ’09.

CLASS OF 2010

JP Wilkinson spoke via Zoom with students involved with Xaverian’s Business Club this past winter. JP is a Vice President of Equity Sales at Goldman Sachs. He talked to the club about his career path and offered insights and advice to the students in the club.

is considered one of the world’s top academic journals. The research article was titled “Diversification of aliphatic C-H bonds in small molecules and polyolefins through radical chain transfer” and it falls under the organic chemistry subject area.

Jack Fadel has shared that he is engaged to Nicole Matellian.

CLASS OF 2011

CLASS OF 2013

Dan Bireley is currently a second year neurology resident at the Cleveland Clinic. He and his partner, Haley, live in Cleveland Heights, OH with their dog and cat.

Ryan Forte currently serves as the Military Intelligence Company Commander in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, GA. He resides in Richmond Hill, GA with his Alaskan Husky, Shiloh.

David Hastie graduated with honors from Tufts University School of Medicine in May 2022 in medical research. He is currently a resident intern physician at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Jamaica Plain, which serves economically and socially disadvantaged patients in the community. After his internship, he will complete a residency in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He resides in Hopkinton with his wife, Elyse, who is also a resident physician serving patients at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.

Rohan Vakil graduated from Northeastern University School of Law in 2021 and has been admitted to practice in Massachusetts and Maine. He currently works with start-ups that are accelerating through Techstars and other incubator programs on their corporate needs.

Dan Doherty and Sean Matthews ’05 came back to campus in February to speak with students about their time at Xaverian and the paths that led them to working at Moderna, as part of the Alumni Speaker Series.

Conor Glasheen was appointed Director of Personnel & Administration at the Office of Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker. Conor began working in the Office of the Governor in February 2019.

Bryan Corbett proposed to his fiance, Líli, on April 24 at the Keukenhof Flower Gardens in Lisse, Netherlands. A 2023 wedding is planned.

CLASS OF 2012

Tim Fazekas, who defended his Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill a few months ago, recently had a research article published in Science Magazine. This is the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s peer-reviewed academic journal. It

Maurice “Mo” Hurst, defensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers, joined students via Zoom in May to talk about his time at Xaverian, his journey to the NFL, and to give advice on how to finish the school year strong. The talk was sponsored by the Office of Community, Culture, and Equity.

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CLASS NOTES Class of 2013

(Continued)

Mike Mezzadri married Lindsay Tanis on January 7 at the Lowndes in Charleston, SC. Celebrating the happy occasion are 2013 fellow classmates Tom Glynn, Ray Gobbi, Paul Dean, Hunter Taute, Mike Mezzadri, and Stephen Cesso.

Brandon Mediate works at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters in Washington, D.C., as an Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education (ORISE) Researcher.

ORISE is a fellowship program for recent graduates within STEM fields to get connected with federal positions relating to their respective studies. Brandon graduated from the University of Maryland (UMD) with a degree in environmental science and technology, so the EPA was a natural next step in his career path.

Brandon’s current fellowship position involves providing oversight for the EPA’s drinking water program by ensuring projects address specific drinking water violations, in addition to addressing capacity development and other long term drinking water concerns. Brandon is currently furthering his education by pursuing a master’s degree at UMD in geospatial intelligence, which involves using computer software to analyze geospatial data.

Chris O’Mara is moving to Fort Hood, TX to start training as a family medicine physician in the Army with his wife, Kael.

DJ Pagliuca was welcomed by X-Represented to campus in February. DJ was a dual-sport athlete in track and field and football, and still holds the record for the triple jump at Xaverian!

In a packed classroom, he discussed his journey at Xaverian as a student of color and his experiences after graduation.

DJ is currently the Assistant Vice President of Outsourcing Advisory at State Street bank and a Suffolk Law Juris Doctorate candidate for the Class of 2024.

CLASS OF 2014

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CLASS OF 2015

playing shows throughout the country. In June 2021, Matt got married to his wife, Dr. Chiara Michienzie, whom he met at Boston College.

They reside in West LA, with their two dogs, Flutie and Verne.

Matt Peterson, Assistant Manager of CRB, was recently profiled by the Massachusetts Bankers Association as part of their #MABankersUpwardBound initiative.

Matt Michienzie received his MFA from the University of Southern California in August 2020. Matt studied production and is currently producing in Los Angeles. Likewise, his band (including drummer Patrick Kelleher ’12) has been gaining momentum, and they have been

Amir McDonald was welcomed back to Xaverian in March to discuss his journey at Xaverian as a student of color, navigating through the music industry, and beyond.

In addition to being an Operations Support Associate at Public Partnerships LLC, Amir is also a rapper, podcaster, and music producer.

His talk was sponsored by the Office of Community, Culture, and Equity.

Joe Imbriani accepted a position at MGM Resorts in Las Vegas as a business operations analyst and researcher. He just made the 2,700 mile move in early May. Pat Keenan married Kaylee Paquin on September 5. The couple live in East Boston, and Pat works for PwC.

Ryan Hicks received a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac University this spring.

He was recently interviewed by Xaverian about his journey, and you can find that story at www.xbhs.com/news.

Brian Thomas is excited to share that he is now licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania. Brian is a Trust Solutions Senior Associate at PwC.

CLASS OF 2016

Coby Tippett received an invitation to participate in the Patriots’ open minicamp in June. He recently completed his senior season at the University of Rhode Island.

CLASS OF 2017

Ryan Hult joined Daley and Associates as an IT recruiter post graduation from Seton Hall University. Ryan also suited up as an assistant basketball coach for Scituate High School this past winter.

Ethan Rioux recently worked the ski season in Big Sky, MT, and accepted a job in Dallas, TX as a mechanical engineer for Henderson Engineers.

LUCKY TO RUN

Mr. MacDonald Completes the Boston Marathon, Fundraising for a Cause Near to His Heart Written by Declan Little ’24, Communications Corps

A

t just 19 years old, Xaverian’s Assistant Director of Admissions, Kyle MacDonald ’10, found himself down on the ice in the middle of his hockey game. All in attendance looked on in horror at the sight that every hockey player, coach, and fan fears the most: a severe neck injury. Mr. MacDonald had suffered a burst fracture of his fourth cervical vertebra and a crack to his fifth, injuries that can often leave a person paralyzed for life. He was rushed to the hospital where he received a spinal fusion that removed bone fragments from around his spinal cord—a successful procedure which allowed him to make a full recovery.

Damage to the spinal cord can often be irreversible with the medical treatments available today, and it seems too few are able to get full movement back. While Mr. MacDonald was lucky his cervical burst fracture didn’t leave irreversible damage to his spinal cord, many others are not as fortunate. One such case is Travis Roy. Roy was a Boston University hockey player who, during his first collegiate shift in 1996, suffered an injury not unlike the one Mr. MacDonald sustained. However, the bone fragments of Roy’s bursted fourth cervical vertebrae had deeply severed his spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed. While Roy was not as fortunate as Mr. MacDonald, he did not let his situation keep him from making an impact. He started the Travis Roy

Foundation, dedicated to raising money for the research of spinal cord injuries and to help pay for wheelchairs, home modifications, and anything else necessary for those who are paralyzed. Altogether, the foundation has earned over $20 million since it was started in 1996. Sadly, Roy passed away in the fall of 2020.

Every year, the Travis Roy Foundation has had a team run the Boston Marathon on behalf of the foundation to raise money.

As it was Roy’s wish that the foundation would be shut down after his passing, this year was the final race for the organization.

This made it all the more poignant for Mr. MacDonald when he learned that he was one of the applicants welcomed onto the team for Boston 2022.

Over several months prior to the marathon, Mr. MacDonald trained by running daily to prepare for the April 18 race. He had prepped for a marathon before (one that was canceled due to COVID-19),

so he was no stranger to the training required. He put in a nearly 20-mile run each weekend with a couple shorter runs ranging from two to eight miles each day during the week. Mr. MacDonald also tried to either bike or swim weekly to mix up his training. “The hardest part of the experience was staying disciplined in terms of training,” Mr. MacDonald said. “There were certainly times when I didn’t want to go for a run or a training session, but my motivation was the organization I was running for and all of the generous people who had supported me and the Travis Roy Foundation.”

His hard work paid off in the end, as Mr. MacDonald crossed the finish line with a time of 3:40:31. He completed the 26.2 mile run and raised $7,886 for the Travis Roy Foundation, calling the experience “incredible.” He said, “All of the training and fundraising felt worth it when I grinded through the final stretch on Boylston Street with hundreds of people cheering me on.”

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CLASS NOTES Class of 2017

Nick Calabrese ’20, Alex Di Martino ’20, Thano Kazis ’21 and Quinn Wilson ’19, spoke to the Class of 2022 seniors about their college experiences.

They reflected on their Xaverian experience and how it prepared them for higher education.

(Continued)

Angel Salcedo, a dayside reporter for KOAT Action 7 News in Albuquerque, NM, was excited when he recently saw his report on individuals trapped on a tramway in New Mexico being replayed on Boston’s WCVB Channel 5. As he notes, “It’s hard for me to process what just happened. On the first day of 2022, after slamming through breaking news with my @ koat7news family, I find this on the station I’ve watched my entire life!”

Liam Sullivan graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in May 2022 and is currently pursuing his master’s degree at Fordham University where he is studying real estate finance.

CLASS OF 2018

experience has meant to him and how it has shaped him into the man he is today. Sam is a rising senior at Providence College. He is majoring in biology with a minor in business innovations.

CLASS OF 2020

Nick Calabrese is a rising junior at Fairfield University majoring in accounting and finance and minoring in Spanish. He is currently interning at Fairfield for the Office of Student Engagement as co-student head of the orientation programs and new student leaders.

For the summer of 2023, he is looking forward to working as an audit intern at Deloitte in the Boston office.

Aidan Gordon is currently working at Stop and Shop in Hyannis. He is studying for an English degree at UMass Dartmouth and hopes to write Hollywood movies someday...particularly those involving a certain speedy hedgehog.

Shawn Hardiman will be attending Marine officer candidate school in Quantico, VA in July to start the first half of his training to become a Marine Officer.

John Roper returned to campus to play the organ during the 50th Reunion Alumni Mass in the Josephine M. Noble Chapel. John attends Assumption College where he is a Pipe Organ Scholar, double majoring in music and computer science.

CLASS OF 2021

Spencer Daniszewski is currently working as campaign manager for James ArenaDeRosa’s bid for Massachusetts state representative. James is a fellow Xaverian alumnus, Class of 1974.

Ryan Achille is currently studying criminal justice at Quincy College and was appointed as a Hingham police officer in December 2021.

Mason Fish graduated from High Point University in High Point, North Carolina in May with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He was inducted into the Sigma Nu Tau Entrepreneurship Honor Society.

Jackson Tamer-Mahoney presented his findings, “3D Bioengineered Neuron-like Culture Platform Enhances Dopaminergic Phenotypes for Parkinson’s Disease Modeling,” at the Tufts Chemistry Department Fall 2021 Undergraduate Research Symposium and the Tufts NeuroNetwork Fall 2021 Open House.

CLASS OF 2019

Sam Gelso spoke to students, parents, and faculty and staff at the 2022 Senior Awards Night in May about what his Xaverian 28

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Emmett Roy completed the Boston Marathon on April 19, with a time of 3h 15m. He raised over $10,000 in support of Beth Israel Lahey Health in memory of his dad, Robert Roy, who passed away in 2019.

Emmett thanks his former XC coach, Dr. Brian Dunn, who remotely trained Emmett for this successful run. Emmett is studying finance and marketing at the University of New Hampshire and in the summer can be found lifeguarding at Hampton Beach.

Garrett Fish, a freshman majoring in sport management at Syracuse University, recently welcomed fellow Hawk, Cole Martinez ’22, to campus. Cole will be joining Orange Nation in the fall. Garrett and Cole played on the varsity basketball team together under Coach Sheehan.

Ben Lepper ’19 and Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots

MAKE-A-WISH COME TRUE

O

n April 29, 2022, Ben Lepper ’19 took the stage alongside New England Patriots defensive tackle Lawrence Guy, to announce the Patriots’ selection of Baylor Bears wide receiver, Tyquan Thornton. It was Round 2, the No. 50 overall pick. “I had always loved the Draft. Not only is it an exciting time for any NFL fan, but it was part of what got me through my first month in the hospital,” Ben says. He’s referring to when he was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2019. At the time, his doctors advised him to register with the Make-A-Wish Foundation right away, as he would be turning 18 soon and would be ineligible as an adult.

Ben, who has always been interested in sports broadcasting and journalism, decided he would like his wish to be the chance to announce a Draft pick for the New England Patriots. “In 2020, the Draft was one of the biggest rays of hope during the opening months of the pandemic,” he explained. “I loved watching (Commissioner) Roger Goodell announce the picks from his basement, and all the players spending time with their loved ones. It brought a human aspect to the Draft, but also made me feel as if the world wasn’t going to end because of COVID-19.”

When Ben received an invitation to tour the New England Patriots facilities, he had no idea that his wish was about to come true. “I got the call on a Monday afternoon. I had done outreach work with the Patriots previously, and they offered me a backstage tour of the facility.

When I got there, I had literally no idea it was Make-A-Wish.” The cameras and boom mic that were following Ben as he walked into the Kraft Foundation waiting room could have been a giveaway, but as he remembers it, he didn’t think much of them and assumed they were documenting his tour for the organization’s social media pages. Even when Robert Kraft joined them, Ben says, “I still had no idea, because he just likes to show up at these things.” It was only after Ben and Kraft finished their conversation about the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and began to talk about the Draft did Ben realize that Make-A-Wish was involved. “He asked who I thought the Patriots should draft, and then pulled out a Lepper jersey. The second Kraft said the word ‘announcing,’ I knew it was Make-A-Wish.”

When the day came, Ben took the stage in front of almost 100,000 people in the audience, and many more watching from home. He reflects on being nervous, but appreciative of all the support that surrounded him in the green room while he waited for his turn to announce.

“Commissioner Goodell was outstanding. He was successfully able to calm me down, and walked me through the entire process. He even let me throw in the Super Bowl champions line, and told me to pause after it because we both knew what was coming.” Ben’s favorite part about the whole process, he says, was helping to make someone else’s dream come true. “The biggest thing about the nerves turning to confidence was the actual

Ben Lepper ’19 at the NFL Draft name on the card. I was glad we were drafting a wide receiver, and it was even better that we were drafting a speed demon. I was able to put a name to whose dream I would be making come true, and right then, the nerves went away. I was thrilled to be able to welcome Tyquan Thornton to the greatest organization in sports, and I wanted to do it in a way that neither he nor the fans would ever forget.”

Ben Lepper is currently in remission, and is studying English and French at The College of Holy Cross in Worcester. He keeps his broadcasting skills sharp by calling sports games for their radio station, WCHC, and is looking forward to being a commentator from the booth for football and hockey games next year.

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In Memoriam

(as of May 24, 2022)

We regret to inform you of the passing of these beloved classmates, friends, and family members.

Mission Church High School Alumni

Thomas G. Riley ’70

Paul K. Conley

Brother of William J. Riley ’68

Mary A. Groden ’42

John I. Saunders, Jr. ’75

Father of David K. Conley ’84, Christopher M. Conley ’87, and Gregory P. Conley ’91

Mother of Edward F. Groden ’71

Robert P. Schneiders, Sr. ’84

John T. Quinn ’48 Grandfather of the late Michael Gillespie ’07

Xaverian Alumni

Father of Robert P. Schneiders, Jr. ’13

Philip P. Sheridan ’68 Brian J. Sullivan ’91 Brother of the late Gregory M. Sullivan ’89

Joseph R. Asiaf ’81

Paul F. Whalen ’68

Kevin M. Biggins ’82

Colin C. Wissmar ’06

Brother of Steven P. Biggins ’81

Cousin of Sean C. Reilly ’09

Sean M. Brophy ’83 Bryant D. Burnard ’87

Relatives of Current Students

Michael D. Collett ’99

Helen A. Conrad

Kyle M. Connors ’97 Stephen I. Devine ’74 Mark J. Donadio ’90 Brother of Domenic C. ’95, Philip A. ’94, Peter J. ’97 and uncle of Thomas Donadio ’26

Paul F. Dugan ’70 Father of Patrick L. Dugan ’99 and Timothy P. Dugan ’01

Mark J. Flaherty ’77 Father of Jeffrey B. Flaherty ’14 and brother of Frederick R. Flaherty ’79

Peter Gerritson ’67 Michael J. Lynch, Jr. ’83 Michael D. Mahoney ’87 William S. Maloney ’69 Stephen D. Mazzeo ’82 Shawn D. McDonald ’85 John McGonagle ’75 Ronald W. Pacella ’70

Grandmother of Justin W. Conrad ’23

James L. Cremins Father of James G. Cremins ’92

Leo P. Dauwer Father of Paul J. Dauwer ’79 and grandfather of Joseph P. Motchok ’14

Mary M. Dever Mother of Terrence P. Dever ’87 and grandmother of Christopher S. Barry ’12

Barry M. Dorion Father of Owen T. Dorion ’22

Michael T. and Lynne B. Evans Parents of Adam C. Evans ’02

Brendan F. Feeney

Grandmother of Owen Bogumil ’26

Father of Brendan T. Feeney ’78, grandfather of Michael F. Collins, Jr. ’03, and father-in-law of Michael F. Collins, Sr. ’73

Edith M. D’Alessandro

Dennis F. Finn

Christine S. Cramer

Grandmother of Christian A. Serani ’24 and the mother-in-law of Anthony J. Serani, Jr. ’86

Father of Dennis P. Finn ’00

Michael F. McGrath

Father of Robert J. Finn ’09

Father of Michael F. McGrath ’25

Joseph F. Morgan Grandfather of John Cucinotta ’24 and Joseph G. Cucinotta ’22

Chester C. Stevens, Jr. Grandfather of Maxwell W. Damon ’23

Jerome W. Finn Pauline H. Foley Mother of James R. Foley ’89

Merle A. Fornaro Mother of Allan J. Fornaro ’78 and Timothy N. Fornaro ’86

Marguerite Garvey Mother of Sean R. Garvey ’94

Relatives of Xaverian Alumni

Alma C. Giovaniello

Gerard X. Amirault

Mother of Robert Giovaniello ’85 and Andrew J. Giovaniello ’89

Father of Mark G. Amirault ’07 and Michael J. Amirault ’10, and husband of former administrative assistant Mary H. Amirault

Steven C. Balasco Father of Christian R. Balasco ’14 and brother-inlaw of Director of Campus Ministry James Conley

Janet B. Kane Grandmother of Luke C. Walsh ’12

William J. Kates Father of Gerard J. Kates ’72, Kenneth F. Kates ’74, the late Thomas J. Kates ’78, James R. Kates ’80, and the late Joseph M. Kates ’83

Brother of Joseph A. Pacella ’74, uncle of Nicholas J. Pacella ’10, and cousin of Philip M. Hunt ’03

Ann M. Britt Mother of David M. Britt ’79

Richard Reardon ’71

Bertha A. Keating

Steve Carrasco

Grandmother of Andrew J. Keating ’15

Brother of Neil J. Reardon ’69 and Brian F. Reardon ’74

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Father of Jason S. Carrasco ’99, Justin M. Carrasco ’02, Joshua R. Carrasco ’05, and Jared L. Carrasco ’06

James W. Klimas, Sr.

Christopher P. Postler

Father of James W. Klimas, Jr. ’85 and David A. Klimas ’86

Father of Luke J. Postler ’13

Relatives of Xaverian Faculty and Staff

Louis J. Pumphrey

Kevin M. Canniff

Gardner E. Lakin, Jr. Grandfather of Eric M. Velasquez ’05

Norman W. Lavoie Grandfather of Jonathan P. Ewanchuk ’22

Grandfather of John A. Cassani ’98, Christopher R. Cassani ’03, Richard F. Cassani ’07, and Thomas C. Healy ’15

Walter B. Rogers

Grandmother of Daniel F. Mason ’05

Grandfather of Sean M. Rogers ’12, Kyle J. Rogers ’16, Ian M. Murphy ’09, and Cameron T. Murphy ’12

Paul T. McCready

Leo E. Stokinger

Josephine M. Mason

Father of Thomas P. McCready ’85 and James M. McCready ’87

Paul F. and Elizabeth McDermott Parents of Michael P. McDermott ’86 and Samuel P. McDermott ’90

Nicholas P. Nionakis Grandfather of Liam D. Stephanos ’18

Ann O’Flaherty Mother of Raymond O’Flaherty ’15

Mary J. Pope Grandmother of Mackenzie P. Baratta ’17 and Roman C. Baratta ’19

Ann Nancy Popsuj Mother of Scott A. Popsuj ’89

Father of Gregory J. Stokinger ’09 and Daniel C. Stokinger ’07, and spouse of former assistant librarian Patti Stokinger

Paula Tassinari

Brother of receptionist and Assistant to Campus Ministry Kerryanne Diehl, uncle of Christoper J. Diehl ’12 and Jacob M. Diehl ’14

John J. Puclowski Father of campus minister Chad W. Puclowski ’98

Henry J. Skala Brother of General Superior Brother Daniel E. Skala, C.F.X.

Allen Whear Brother-in-law of fine arts teacher Timothy Roberts

Grandmother of Robert D. Dion ’09 and Thomas F. Dion ’13

Friends of Xaverian

Jane F. Terranova

Donald D. Colosimo

Mother of David M. Angelo ’12

Barbara M. Walsh Daughter of Mission Hill Alumni Barbara I. Walsh ’58

John B. Young Father of Richard M. Young ’80 and the late Thomas J. Young ’82

Vincent J. Del Zoppo, Sr.

Brother-in-law of former social studies teacher James E. Glinski

Rev. Antonio Lalli, S.X. Bro. William Lyons, C.F.X. Bro. J. Conal Owens, C.F.X. William J. Risio Husband of Trustee Mary Creeden Risio

Father of Vincent J. Del Zoppo, Jr. ’77 and Thomas V. Del Zoppo ’84

Summer 2022

Xaverian Magazine

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The First TRIPLE 50th Reunion

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n Friday, May 13, a beautiful summer evening, close to 80 members of the Classes of 1970, 1971, and 1972 gathered to celebrate their 50th Reunions. As the 50th Reunion for the Classes of 1970 and 1971 had been postponed due to the pandemic, this was the first triple 50th reunion celebration at Xaverian. Laughter and cheerful socializing could be heard from the Sarah M. Bisson Foyer and the illuminated Ryken Courtyard (formerly the courtyard of the Brothers’ Residence), as classmates swapped stories and reconnected.

Highlights from the evening included a 50th Reunion Mass, presided over by Fr. Hugh Burns, O.P. ’71, campus tours provided by current students, and some remarks from Jerry Kates ’72 before a delicious dinner. At the conclusion of the evening, members of all classes were provided with a special Xaverian swag bag and their 50th Reunion Golden Diplomas. Congratulations to the Classes of 1970, 1971, and 1972!

John Boutin ’70, Mike McSweeney ’70, Vincent Yakavonis ’70

Paul Cammarata ’70, P ’00, ’03, John Murphy ’70, P ’03, Bill Callahan ’70, Joe Iannoni ’70, P ’02, ’08, Jake Conca ’94 (Head of School)

Father Hugh Burns ’71 celebrates the Reunion Mass

Class of 1972: The ’72 Hawks who attended reunion were as follows: Martin Acquadro, John Begley, Paul Bishop, Dan Capobianco, Andy DeRoma, Bill Dowd, Tom Durkin, Joe Gallagher, Gerry Good, Kevin Gould, Robert Hanson, Paul Hurley, Jerry Kates, Brian Kelly, Jim Lynch, Bill Maguire, Brian Marcelonis, Scott McDermott, Bob McHale, Paul Mueller, Kevin Murphy, Tom Rodger, Joe Roth, Ed Sciaba, and Anthony Silvestri 32

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The Washington D.C. Alumni Chapter reception at Duvall House

Hawks Flock to Alumni Chapter Receptions

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uilding on its robust global network of 10,000+ alumni, this year Xaverian Brothers High School officially kicked off its new regional chapters in New England, New York, and Washington, D.C. with the return of in-person alumni receptions. The first, an Alumni Christmas Party, was held on Thursday, December 2 at the Dedham Country and Polo Club with 65 alumni in attendance. Special thanks to New England Alumni Chapter Leader Jared Kelly ’04 and other area alumni who supported this event.

A New York Alumni Reception took place on Thursday, March 31 at The Yale Club in Manhattan. Hosted by Rick Czaja ’67, Dan Lalli ’98, and Chris Tam ’98, the reception drew more than 40 alumni from the New York City metro area. The record attendance was due, in large part, to the efforts of Xaverian’s New York Alumni Chapter Leaders: Jared Kawadler ’07, Ben Key ’07, Steve Lacman ’13, James Pierre-Louis ’07, James Walsh ’15, and Evan Wilkinson ’16.

On Thursday, April 7, Chris Marzilli ’77 co-hosted close to 40 alumni at Duvall House, a historic tavern visited by George Washington, located in the heart of beautiful Old Town Alexandria, VA. Joining Chris as co-host was John Sullivan ’77, Ambassador to Russia, though John was unable to be there in person. Washington, D.C. Chapter Leaders include Tom Harkins ’04, Fabio Andrade ’00, Mike Brodo ’18, and Dan Conroy ’09.

Evan Wilkinson ’16 and Colby Lewis ’16 at the New York City reception

Dr. James A. Ierardi ’93 at the Alumni Christmas party

JOIN US!

Do you want to join our New England, New York, Washington, D.C., Florida, or California Alumni Chapters, or would you like to begin a chapter elsewhere? If so, please contact Jim Scholl ’03, Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement, at jscholl@xbhs.com. Plus, be sure we’re able to reach you! If you aren’t receiving our alumni e-newsletters twice a month, that means we don’t have an updated email address. Go to www. xbhs.com/alumni to update your contact information and stay connected to Xaverian. The next alumni event might be near you!

Summer 2022

Xaverian Magazine

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Xaverian Brothers High School 800 Clapboardtree Street Westwood, MA 02090 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Parents, if your son has finished college and you are receiving his Xaverian Magazine at your home, please notify the advancement office of his change of address so the magazine can be sent directly to him. Call 781-326-6392, ext. 6607 or email mgelso@xbhs.com.

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OUR GRADUATES ARE OFF TO

Incredible P laces!

MICHAEL KARSHIS ’22

KRISH SHAH ’22

MICHAEL BOBOLA ’22

U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY WEST POINT

BROWN UNIVERSITY

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Whether it’s the internationally recognized pianist headed to West Point, the valedictorian headed to Brown, or the top wrestler in the state headed to Harvard, there are great things in store for the Class of 2022. Learn more about Xaverian’s 56th graduating class on page 2.