Xavier Magazine: Summer 2014

Setting the Pace

Athletics at Xavier

Summer 2014

Xavier MOMENT

Xavier track and field participants come out in full force.

BORN TO RUN And catch, throw, kick, swim, jump…

More than 200 Xavier students participate in the school’s track program, which is the largest sports program at the school, by student participation. In all, 65 percent of Xavier students balance their academic responsibilities with at least one sport.

“Student-athletes at Xavier learn time management — a skill that is essential to success in life and at work. Just ask any boss!” said Track and Field Coach Patrick Dormer P’17. “Making the commitment to any sport at Xavier calls for a young man to be very mature. He needs to realize that work comes first, socializing and video games can wait until practice and homework are done. The kids who compete in all three sports seasons are among the hardest working in the school. That is why we have so many athletes on the honor roll at Xavier.”

Xavier’s Mission

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ounded in 1847, Xavier High School is an academically rigorous, Catholic, Jesuit, college preparatory school in New York City that educates intelligent, motivated young men of diverse backgrounds and means. Xavier teaches students to take responsibility for their lives, to lead with integrity, to act justly in service of others, to pursue excellence in every endeavor and to deepen their relationship with God. Ultimately, Xavier forms young men who will go forth to transform the world for God’s greater glory.

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From the PRESIDENT Dear Sons and Friends of Xavier, I can be boastful when it comes to Xavier, and I can be particularly so when it comes to Xavier athletics.

My boasting has less to do with wins and championships than it does with doing it right. In a day and age when fans, coaches and athletes often get it wrong with boorish behavior, misplaced priorities, substance use and abuse, outright cheating and an utter lack of accountability; and when organizations charged with insuring integrity like the NCAA and FIFA are often the best examples of the lack thereof, Xavier gets it right. Sport reveals our character. And what does it reveal? Hard work, hustle, a commitment to team, dedication of athletes and coaches, accountability. No scandals, no grade changes so students remain eligible, no flouting of transfer rules or eligibility requirements, and no complaining about facilities.

Our student-athletes and their coaches get the job done and get it done well. We are not perfect. There remains a bit too much whining about calls and officials, and occasional sloppiness on the field, but our problems would not get notice in most of the world. When a basketball coach sends home his nephew, a starter, because he arrived at the gym not wearing a tie, we are doing something right.

The character of our athletic programs has been a constant throughout the years. Sharing stories over lunch with George Kaftan ’45 and Joe McGrane a few months back made that very clear. From Bear Mountain to East River Park to Red Hook; against Fordham Prep on Thanksgiving Day or Regis on a Friday in January; at the national rifle team championships or the CHSAA hockey finals; under Leo Paquin, Frank McGuire, Jim Scott, Jack Galbraith ’61, Pat Rooney, Sports do not build Tom O’Hara ’69, Mike Tolkin ’85, Pat Dormer P’17 or Chris Stevens ’83, Xavier athletics has played its role in forming good Christian gentlemen; men character, they reveal it. of competence, conscience and compassion; men for others. For this, we can all – Heywood Hale Broun be grateful and proud.

There is a lot in this magazine. We celebrate our championships in hockey and basketball and introduce lacrosse as our newest sport. We highlight stellar student-athletes. We welcome Dave Anderson ’47, one of only two sports writers to ever win a Pulitzer Prize, to our pages, and we recognize alumni who make the world of sports at every level better by their work and character.

This edition of the Xavier Magazine would not have been possible without the extraordinary work of Tom Nugent ’09, one of our alumni volunteers. Tom stepped up when Mike Benigno ’00 moved to the Jesuit provincial staff, and, with diligence and dedication, shepherded all our communications efforts this year. I am deeply grateful.

This magazine arrived in your mailbox as our football and soccer teams head off to camp and as John Rice ’15, who graces our cover, leads our cross-country team into what may well be another championship season. May it be another great year in all we do at Xavier. Sons of Xavier keep marching.

God’s blessings,

Jack Raslowsky President 2.

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XAVIER

In this issue

Summer 2014

Summer 2014, Volume 17 Number 2 Xavier High School Jack Raslowsky President Michael LiVigni Headmaster Rev. John Replogle, S.J. ’51 Assistant to the President Joseph F. Gorski Vice President for Advancement Thomas Nugent ’09 Xavier Alumni Volunteer for Alumni Relations and Communications Editorial & Design Services Erbach Communications Group

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12. 8. CITY CHAMPIONS

Outnumbered and outgunned, the Knights bring a basketball championship back to 16th Street.

How to Reach Us Xavier Magazine Xavier High School 30 West 16th Street New York, NY 10011-6302 e-mail: editor@xavierhs.org To submit a Class Note, e-mail classnotes@xavierhs.org

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XAVIER KNIGHTS SCORE DIVISION TROPHY

Xavier skaters set goals beyond the scoreboard.

12. FINDING THE BALANCE Joseph McGrane on the role of teacher-coach.

15. XAVIER’S SCHOLAR-ATHLETES Meet 10 students whose academic and athletic accomplishments set an example for others.

DEPARTMENTS 1.

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Xavier Moment From the President News from 16th Street Q&A Class Notes Back Story

On the cover: John Rice ’15 is one of the many Xavier students who find Jesuit values fit the field as well as the classroom.

20. A SEASON FOR THE RECORD BOOKS In 1950, the Xavier Kaydets were undefeated under the leadership of Head Coach Leo Paquin.

22. RUGBY U.S.A. Xavier inspired a generation of U.S. ruggers.

25. ALUMNI IN SPORTS Sons of Xavier who have made their mark in the world of professional sports.

Setting the Pace

Athletics at Xavier

Summer 2014

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News from 16th Street

News from 16th Street

SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAM SENDS STUDENTS TO STATES AND NATIONALS

SPEECH

The Speech and Debate team has seen huge successes this year, including the qualification of 11 of its members for the New York State Forensic Championships in April and two of its members for the National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL) Grand National Tournament in May.

DEBATE

The team reached a high point when Malik Horton ’13 placed as a finalist at last year’s national tournament.

The students who went to the state championship combined for six big finishes: Joseph Rovito ’15 and James Gallagher ’14 were finalist and semi-finalist in the Student Congress

XAVIER DRAMATICS SOCIETY SHINES IN CLASSIC MUSICAL Hot off a successful run of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in fall 2013, the Xavier Dramatics Society performed a rousing rendition of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Directed by English and drama teacher Nicole DiMarco, the show featured a cast of 38 students from Xavier and neighboring girls’ schools and showcased plenty of spectacular dance and musical numbers. English teacher Martin Lopez produced the play, while language teacher Deena Sellers headed the stage crew to coordinate the lighting.

The show was a swan song of sorts for nine seniors who graduated in June — Conor Hurley ’14, Connor Siemer ’14, Justin Ragolia ’14, James Lavelle ’14, Nick Inglese ’14, Billy Cosgrove ’14, Chris Barcia ’14, Heath Carmichael ’14 and James Bruzzesse ’14.

“The students worked extremely hard. This was a challenging musical for them because the music was really difficult,” said Ms. DiMarco. “I was very pleased with the way the show turned out.”

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(Above and Right) Xavier performers give their all in a riotous performance.

The cast of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying was one of the largest ever in a production at Xavier.

category, while James Raleigh ’14, Malcom Queneau ’15, Adam Lyons ’15 and Joseph Papeo ’16 all placed fifth or higher in their categories.

Mathematics teacher and team coach Edward Walsh said, “In our third year, upperclassmen have been able to take more dominant leadership roles than before. Two years ago, everyone on the team was new to the activity. Now, students understand the need for practice and for hard work.” He also credits the team’s recent success to a few Xavier alumni who lent a hand — William Gallagher ’95, Don Hooper ’97 and Jeremy Norris ’98.

Mr. Raleigh and Mr. Gallagher both went to the NCFL tournament in Chicago. Mr. Raleigh placed as a national semi-finalist in the student congress division. The team as a whole looks to repeat this year’s success once classes start up again in the fall.

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ALLY WEEK AT XAVIER

Years Alumni Arts Gathering Celebrates Long-Time Arts Teacher

Arts teacher Denise Iacovone with former faculty member Brian Moroney.

Xavier alumni filled the arts studio on the 5L corridor on May 31 for an event in honor of Denise Iacovone’s 25th year of teaching the arts at Xavier. Graduates who had been on stage crew, played in Blue Night Band, participated in the arts or just wanted to say “hello” to the respected teacher shared stories, reconnected and recognized the arts at Xavier in an evening of celebration.

“I am proud to be part of this institution, to dedicate my career to her noble goals, to be part of a creative team that re-vitalized the arts at Xavier for our time here,” said Mrs. Iacovone.

“Mostly, I am proud to have met, mentored and cared for my amazing students, and for the opportunity to work with colleagues who share a vision.”

JROTC RETAINS GOLD STAR The JROTC regiment at Xavier took special care to be in fighting trim this April as the regiment prepared for an inspection conducted by the United States Army every three years. Inspectors visited the facilities and evaluated Xavier’s Army Instructors, while students fine-tuned their uniforms, made special trips to the barber and rehearsed their knowledge of all things military, from Army chain of command to military customs and courtesies, to the fundamentals of leadership. The extra preparation paid off — the Xavier JROTC retained its Gold Star and the title of Honor Unit with Distinction.

Colleen Rober, James Costa ’02 and Alex Lavy all lent their efforts to help Ally Week succeed.

Ally Week, a week of dialogue about working to become better allies to Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth, was commemorated at Xavier for the first time from April 7–11.

Ally Week is part of a nationwide movement by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network to combat bullying and harassment of the LGBT community. The group refers to allies as people who do not identify as LGBT, but support the community by standing against discrimination.

Xavier students signed pledge cards in support of the equal treatment of the LGBT community, held a day of silence and hosted a talk by Alex Berg, a frequent Huffington Post commentator on LGBT issues.

Alex Lavy, chair of the science department, helped spearhead the event, along with history teacher James Costa ’02, foreign language teacher Colleen Rober and Xavier’s Gay-Straight Alliance. Mr. Lavy said, “The goal is to show support for all of their peers regardless of sexual orientation. It’s a way for us as a community to recognize that we all have a role in creating acceptance.”

The success of Ally Week on 16th Street means it will be back next year.

The Regiment showed up Xavier Strong at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

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News FROM 16TH STREET A TIME OF CHANGE On June 12, Xavier celebrated its 172nd commencement at Riverside Church, awarding diplomas to 277 accomplished young men.

Commencement is also a time to recognize change, as four members of the Board of Trustees depart. Michael Ford ’63, Joseph Muriana ’71, Frank Tirelli ’70 and the chair of the board, Xavier’s longest serving chair, Richard Nolan ’83, have helped ensure that Xavier remains true to her mission and, through a dazzling number of strategic initiatives, have set the school on a path of success for years to come. Xavier, her students, alumni, faculty and staff all owe the board a debt of gratitude.

At commencement, Xavier also bid farewell to a beloved administrator, Janet Bonica, who is retiring after 23 years of faithful service. As the first woman and longest Janet Bonica was honored for 23 serving member of the school years of service to Xavier.

XAVIER STUDENTS ATTEND LEADERS SUMMIT Garrison Schwer ’15, Jack DeFuria ’15 and Francesco D’Angelo ’16, accompanied by religion teacher Christopher McCabe, traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, for three days in March for the Ignatian Solidarity Network’s Arrupe Leaders Summit.

The summit invited emerging student-leaders passionate about social justice issues to convene for a weekend of education and skill-building in effecting social justice and change.

“It was a great experience for two reasons,” said Mr. McCabe. “One, it asked our students to look beyond the many acts of service done at Xavier to the underlying social justice issues which create the need for this service work.

Two, it offered them realistic and practical ways to become student-leaders in responding to these justice issues. In short, it offered them the chance to better understand and live out what it means to be, as Fr. Pedro Arrupe says, ‘Men for Others.’”

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This year, 277 young men joined the 20,000 Sons of Xavier who have earned their high school diploma on 16th Street. Right: David Lohle ’14.

administration, Ms. Bonica has long been a proud champion of Xavier tradition.

Even after 23 years, “One thing that has always remained the same,” she said, “is the heart of Xavier. My Xavier has always been a united family, filled with compassion and love.”

HONING THE CRAFT Rarely do high school students get the chance to hone their creative writing skills at programs as prestigious as the University of Iowa’s Iowa Young Writers’ Studio, but that’s just what one Xavier rising senior did this summer.

Malcom Queneau ’15 spent two weeks in Iowa City in June at the nationally-known workshop.

Queneau became interested in writing during his freshman year. “My friend Maki convinced me to sit in on a meeting of the Cartooning and Illustration Club,” he said. “But I found I could not draw to save my life.”

So his friend, a talented artist, suggested Queneau do the writing for some of his illustrations, and a new passion was discovered.

English teacher William Martino was instrumental in encouraging Queneau to apply to the competitive program, which required a teacher’s recommendation and a 10-page writing sample. After the summer studio, Queneau will continue delving into the written word in AP literature and creative writing Malcom Queneau ’15 this fall at Xavier.

Bene Merenti (L to R) SFC Wayne Atherton, Gregory Dolan ’89 and Richard Duffell P’93 ’99

THREE TEACHER-COACHES ACHIEVE 20-YEAR MILESTONE Xavier High School has recognized a trio of teachercoaches, Sergeant First Class Wayne Atherton, Gregory Dolan ’89 and Richard Duffell P’93 ’99, with Bene Merenti awards for 20 years of dedication and faithful service to Jesuit education.

SFC Atherton serves as Army JROTC instructor as well as coach for the Raider Unit, the physical training unit of JROTC. “His stern demeanor provides cover for his deep care and concern for each and every Xavier Cadet,” said Military Science Chair LTC Roy E. Campbell, US Army (Ret.). “He loves those under his care with deep devotion, and he develops sterling qualities of toughness, mental agility and courageous persistence in all of them.” LTC Campbell added that SFC Atherton was instrumental to the Regiment’s success in maintaining its Gold Star and the title of Honor Unit with Distinction.

Prior to joining Xavier in 1994, SFC Atherton completed tours of duty with the United States Army in Germany with both the 509th Airborne and the 82nd Airborne, and served combat tours of duty in Panama in early 1990 and in Iraq during Desert Storm.

As an outstanding student-athlete at Xavier, Mr. Dolan led the varsity basketball team to the Archdiocesan Championship in 1989 and was named First Team AllCity. In 1993, he returned to Xavier to coach basketball and officially joined the Xavier faculty as a social studies teacher in 1994. As an assistant Varsity coach,

Mr. Dolan has been an integral part of Xavier’s seven division championships and four city championships in basketball.

“He has the reputation of being the best post position coach in the CHSAA,” said Physical Education Department Chairman and Head Basketball Coach Joseph McGrane.

“He always has time for each student in the classroom and each athlete on the team,” added social studies teacher and coaching colleague Patrick Dormer P’17.

Mr. Duffell served as a part-time basketball coach for four years before joining the Physical Education Department. He is a three-season coach, fall and spring baseball and basketball. He has coached basketball for 23 years and baseball for 24 years. Previously, he coached football for 13 years. As a baseball coach, Mr. Duffell led his teams to four division and one Archdiocesan championship. As Assistant JV Basketball Coach, he has led teams to two JV city championships.

Mr. Duffell is also the parent of two alumni, Brian Duffell ’93 and Justin Duffell ’99.

Fellow coach Christopher Stevens ’83 said Mr. Duffell “will drop everything to help out, whether it is to run a First Aid/CPR certification course or drive a team bus to a game for a sport that he doesn’t even coach! He does all this while teaching health, coaching all three seasons and acting as Xavier’s in-house EMT.” XAVIER MAGAZINE

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Maroon AND BLUE

City Champions

The 2013–2014 Varsity Knights won the CHSAA City Class A basketball championship for the first time since 2000.

Outsized and outnumbered at the start of the season, the Knights played as one, racking up the most wins in program history and bringing the championship title back to 16th Street.

The road to a 24–3 season, a shot at the state title and Xavier’s first Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) Class A basketball championship in 14 years was built on a pretty-old school strategy: share the ball.

Easier said than done for a lot of teams, but Head Coach Joseph McGrane said all of his players bought into a strategy of mutual support and unselfish play.

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“From the very beginning of the season you could tell they wanted to win,” he said. “They were willing to make those sacrifices in their game in order to achieve team goals, as opposed to their own individual goals.”

“We knew what we wanted,” said center Jason Pretto ’14. “We all played together as a team, and that really did make the difference. From Day One, Coach McGrane

stressed the same thing, ‘You’ve gotta play together, you’ve gotta play together.’”

Outsized by many varsity teams in the CHSAA, and with just six players at the start of the season because of injuries, returning seniors were especially determined, having fallen short in the semifinals in 2013 and 2012.

Team captains Kevin Crockett ’14 and Liam Monaghan ’14 set the tone for a roster that included veteran and younger players.

“Junior year, we weren’t really comfortable speaking out because we were the young guys,” said point guard Monaghan, who also grappled with a broken collar bone early on. “Coach McGrane told us we were the leaders, and if we really wanted to win, we had to lead the other guys.”

Crockett said having been voted captains by their teammates, “Definitely gave us confidence. These guys trust us, so we have to lead, do what they think we can do and exceed expectations.”

The Knights dominated the CHSAA, going 9–0 before their first loss, and ended up with 24 wins, the most in a season in program history. “When we beat Scanlan by three at home, that’s when I knew we could beat any team,” said Crockett, who scored his 1,000th point on February 14. He was the first Knight to reach the milestone since 1977.

“From Day One, Coach McGrane stressed the same thing, ‘You’ve gotta play together, you’ve gotta play together.’”

Crockett, who will attend SUNY Geneseo in the fall, is quick to credit his teammates. “I couldn’t have done it without Liam passing me the ball all the time. I just wanted to win the game. We had one goal this year, and that was getting to the state championship.”

The team got their shot after defeating Bishop Ford 83–68 in the CHSAA final on March 10 at Rose Hill Gymnasium at Fordham University. Ahead by five points at halftime, the Knights poured it on in the second half.

“I guess you could say we had butterflies,” said Monaghan, who is headed to Baruch College. “City championship. Fordham University. Big court. Coach McGrane said something very motivational and calmed us down. ‘If you miss a lay up and feel distraught, you

Jason Pretto ’14 launches a shot over Bishop Ford in the CHSAA city championship game.

make sure you look at me and I’ll be the one to pick you up.’ That was a big thing for all of us and we came out and shot 60 percent from the field.”

“Our biggest thing is getting open shots,” Crockett added. “If you’re going to go out there and just drive to the hoop, one-on-one, heavy play, you’re not going to win.” Monaghan continued, “And that’s the kind of play Coach McGrane preaches: unselfish. None of us really cared about how many points we scored; it was all about winning.”

The post-season ended with a loss to Holy Trinity for the state title on March 16, but graduating seniors will always remember the success and camaraderie of this championship season.

“It was nonstop work,” said Pretto, who will also attend Baruch College in the fall. “We worked extremely hard, but the connection that we built was incredible. We had freshmen who played, we had seniors who played. It didn’t matter what year you were, we were all really close.

We were like a family.”

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Maroon AND BLUE

Xavier Knights Score Division Trophy

Mike Flynn ’14 carries the trophy after winning the final game against St. Edmund Prep.

Xavier Ice Hockey Head Coach Al DiMauro recalled the unshakable optimism of this year’s team: “The seniors said, right from the first day, ‘We’re going to win it all this year.’ We won games we had no business winning. This team never panicked. They were very composed and maintained the flow of the game.”

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True to the prediction, the Xavier Ice Hockey Knights won two straight, 5–1 and 5–3, in a hardfought, best-of-three final series against St. Edmund Prep to capture the Catholic High School Hockey League (CHSHL) B Division trophy.

In the second game of the finals, the tighter of the two throughout, Tyler D’Agostino ’15 knocked in two goals and Mike Flynn ’14 followed up with a go-ahead goal, which St. Edmund’s answered with a goal of their own with 2:45 left in the game. Flynn then knocked in another one to give the Knights a 4–3 lead. George Clark ’16 scored an empty-net goal to secure the win.

“It was a very well-played and exciting series,” said Coach DiMauro.

discipline of hockey. “Hockey is a very skillful sport. Think about how many things the player is doing on a sheet of ice at tremendous speed.

He’s moving laterally and forward, with just a quarter-inch of blade connecting him with the ice. Hockey is very fast-paced, very physical.

There’s something about the game that creates self-discipline.”

He uses the 360-degree discipline of hockey as a metaphor for the wellrounded education of Xavier itself: “This is a game where you can’t look back, because that means you’re not moving forward. These kids set goals for themselves and walk out of here as young men. Like every Son of Xavier, they are polished and prepared to face life’s challenges.”

“This is a game where you can’t look back, because that means you’re not moving forward.”

“It was a good season from beginning to end. In every playoff game, we outshot our opponents. That was part of our strategy: Create those second and third opportunities.”

While a division championship is nothing to scoff at, Coach DiMauro sees deeper possibilities in the

The hockey team graduated nine seniors this year, but the coach is confident about next season. “We have ample support with our junior and sophomore players. We are very deep with ability and skill among our younger players,” he said.

XAVIER’S HAMMER

Meet Mike Martell ’15 Bowling is a sport Xavier doesn’t often get a lot of press for, yet 16th Street can celebrate one of the finest athletes in the state. Mike “The Hammer” Martell ’15 won the New York State Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) championship this year, making him the best bowler of all Catholic schools in the state for the second year in a row.

“It’s a great feeling, honestly,” said Martell. “To be named the Number One bowler in the state back-to-back years is an amazing honor. I can’t wait to defend my title again next year.”

Martell had his eyes set on even more competitive tournaments in the off-season. He went to Florida for the Teen Masters National Finals in Fort Lauderdale, where he placed 54th in the nation last year, then headed off to Buffalo, N.Y., to bowl in the North Pointe Junior Gold Championship in July, where he earned his entry to Junior Gold 2015 in Chicago.

Martell has nothing but good things to say about his teammates at Xavier.

Under the direction of Coach Christopher McCabe, the team had an outstanding season all-around. “Every single person on the team made amazing improvements throughout the season,” said Martell. “I can’t wait to see what next year has in store for this team.”

Below left: face-off against St. Edmund Prep; below: the B Division winners.

Mike Martell ’15 concentrates before throwing the ball.

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Finding the Balance The Role of the Teacher-Coach

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Many athletic coaches at Xavier are also dedicated and talented teachers who know just how integral sports are to Jesuit education and the mission to form Men for Others.

A faculty member and head coach for more than 20 years, Joseph McGrane spoke to Xavier Magazine about the fundamental role of the teacher-coach in education and how a truly Ignatian approach to athletics forms students into stronger players, generous teammates and better men.

You began your professional career as a CPA. Were teaching and coaching something you envisioned early on?

Not at all. I never expected to get into coaching. After my second year working as an accountant, my brother-in-law John Burpoe, who was the varsity basketball coach at the time and later became athletic director at Xavier, asked if I wanted to help out. So I used to leave work from 4 to 6pm to help out coaching and then go back to work.

Once I was coaching, I was really enjoying what I was doing. Although I did enjoy accounting, I didn’t see myself 10, 15, 20 years down the line being an accountant. I saw myself as a coach. When a position opened up teaching and I got to the classroom, I really enjoyed that, too.

That seems to be a familiar path for a number of educators who got into teaching by first coaching an athletic team.

There are a lot of parallels between teaching and coaching. Much of my style in the classroom is very similar to on the court; most coaches will say the same thing. The court has always been an extension of the classroom for me. We have lesson plans for the classroom and we have game-practice plans for all of our practices throughout the year. Everything is broken down into anywhere from 10 to 15 segments, similar to the classroom. I would say I’ve incorporated the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP) that we use in the classroom to the court as well.

How so?

The idea of IPP is an experience of reflection and action.

It was something I learned as a young teacher — to go through the experience, reflect on that experience and make changes. That’s vital in athletics and for teams to get better. I’m constantly looking at things that I do on the court and in the classroom and asking, “What’s the best way to teach this method? Is there an alternate way to teach it? I’m not getting through to this player; can I try this?”

At the end of this, you have to ask, “Did this work?”

If it didn’t, we’ll change it up where we need to in order for it to work. It helps that the boys understand this through their own learning processes in the classroom.

How would you say Jesuit values and ideals inform your teaching and coaching?

Pope Francis talked about Ignatian spirituality when he spoke in front of the European Olympic Committee Delegation before the Sochi Olympics and said, “Sport stimulates one to healthily overcome oneself and one’s own selfishness and to train oneself in the spirit of sacrifice.”

I enjoyed reading that because I often ask my players, “Are you willing to sacrifice part of your game for the good of the team? Are you willing to sacrifice individual goals for team goals? Are you a good teammate?” It’s great to hear what the Pope is saying about sports — how good sports can be for personal relationships and for lifelong lessons, because it is very similar to what we do here.

“You have to find a balance.

The main things... are preparation, time management and organizational skills.”

Teacher-coaches are under a lot of pressure for studentathletes to do well academically and perform in their sport.

How do you help students manage the two?

You have to find a balance. I think we do a great job early on with the freshmen. The main things we talk about are preparation, time management and organizational skills.

Those are key ideas, not just for students’ academic and athletic careers here at Xavier, but beyond. If these boys can manage their time and are organized and prepared, whether it’s for practice or the classroom, it’s going to put them in a great position to succeed. We set up study halls for student-athletes if needed, but we find that once they get those basics down, they move forward and it becomes easier. They need less and less supervision; they become independent learners. And the whole idea of a Xavier education is for students to be able to learn independently.

In your years of teaching and coaching, what would you say you have learned from Xavier students?

Students here are fiercely loyal. That’s one thing I’ve learned. I’ve also become a better listener from my earlier days in coaching. It all gets back to reflection. Our XAVIER MAGAZINE

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Maroon AND BLUE experiences are reflecting and taking action, so you listen to students and say, “You know something? Maybe what we’re doing in practice or this play we are running is not a good idea.” It really proved true with this year’s team because we ran a lot of plays when they were sophomores and juniors. This year, we cut back and ran one basic play.

It fit the students’ personalities and their understanding of the game much better, and that helped a lot, because now they have had input and feel more involved and engaged in the process.

Physical Education Department Chairman Joseph McGrane joined the faculty of Xavier in 1990 and has taught health and physical education for 24 years and algebra for five years. He has served as head basketball coach since 1991 and led Knights basketball to CHSAA Class A championships in 2000 and 2014. Prior to Xavier, Mr. McGrane played basketball for Adelphi University 1983-1986, and worked as a CPA for an accounting firm in New York City.

About the IPP The Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP) connects the dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and applies them to the classroom setting. The IPP sees a dynamic interplay between context, experience, reflection, action and evaluation as a tool for teaching and learning.

Former Xavier headmaster Rev. Vincent Duminuco, S.J., when Secretary for Education of the Society of Jesus in Rome, was instrumental in capitalizing the IPP for use in Jesuit schools throughout the world.

LACROSSE NOW A VARSITY TEAM First witnessed and given its western name in 1636 by Jesuit missionary Jean de Brébeuf, lacrosse has become a mainstay at nearly 95 percent of Jesuit high schools in the U.S. In 2015, the Xavier Lacrosse Club will compete as a varsity sport for the first time in the Catholic High School Athletic Association. Coached by Pat Drennan P’16 and Ed O’Donnell P’17, the team now has a full 14-game schedule, including a final match, playfully dubbed the “X-Cup Game,” against Xaverian. To maximize team play, the coaches also scheduled seven scrimmages for freshmen, sophomores and juniors.

The elevation from club to varsity has had a great impact on the players, the school and players’ parents, said Mr. Drennan. “Club expenses are paid directly out of parents’ pockets,” he said. “Lacrosse now receives support

The first Xavier varsity lacrosse team.

from the school for buses, fields and equipment.” The advantages are not all financial. “The administration and students support us. Lacrosse is huge on Long Island and in Westchester and New Jersey, but right now New York City is a black hole for the sport. Soon more lacrosse athletes will be coming to Xavier.”

Mr. Drennan has tremendous faith in his players. With the quality of the players coming to Xavier, he predicted that they will, one day soon, be a top contender state-wide.

NEW HEAD COACH SEES GREAT PROMISE IN XAVIER GOLF TEAM Head Golf Coach Jack Johnson ’12, a student at the College of Staten Island and former captain of the Xavier golf team, has been playing golf since he was four. He says he has always wanted to take up coaching, and was thrilled when Xavier offered him the head coach position last year.

“I’m humbled to be working alongside coach and NYFD firefighter Patrick Nash ’93,” he said. “He will try to tell you he’s the team’s bus driver, but we all know without his input, this year would have been completely lost.”

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For the Xavier golf team, a rough year is just a great opportunity to improve their game. Although they ended the season 1–10, the young players forced opponents in a very competitive division to fight for every win.

“These guys played their hearts out,” said Coach Johnson. “We pushed each of our matches down to the last few holes.” The coach sees tremendous potential in the team. “These guys have a lot of talent and it just needs time to show itself,” he said.

Scholar ATHLETES

XAVIER’S

Scholar–Athletes Xavier students strive for ever-greater personal excellence in all aspects of life — intellectual, emotional, moral and physical. We are happy to highlight a number of students who show exemplary accomplishment in balancing the intellectual demands of schoolwork with the physical challenges of athletic competition.

XAVIER MAGAZINE

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Scholar ATHLETES

Jordan Berka ’14

Vincent Bivona ’14

Christopher Cole ’14

Cross-Country, Track and Field; winner of the Rev. Edward J. Spinello, S.J. Award; Valedictorian

Wrestling; winner of the Rev. Russel J. Sloan, S.J. Award, Wrestling Block X

Cross-Country, Indoor Track, Baseball; winner of the Leo F. Paquin Award “Sometimes academics only reflect individual achievements, but being on a team definitely shows how a group of people can work together towards a common goal.”

While balancing academics with athletics proved challenging at times, Cole learned time management from the demands of both. A strong believer that everything should be done with passion, Cole sees the importance of versatility and credits his successes in the classroom and in athletics to hard work and dedication.

This Fall: G eorgetown University

“Success is not measured by just my own efforts and accomplishments.

Instead, it is a measure of the efforts and accomplishments of the team as a whole.”

The demands of running combined with Xavier’s rigorous academic expectations have given Berka the opportunity to see just how much he can accomplish.

Whether he is employing effective time management strategies in figuring out his schedule or feeling confident in stressful situations, Berka benefits from the results of his Xavier experience every day.

This Fall: U niversity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

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“Staying focused has been key to my being both a competitive wrestler and a successful student. Being a studentathlete involves making sacrifices and being willing to strive to perform to the best of my abilities both on the mat and in the classroom.”

Initially drawn to wrestling because of the intense, competitive nature of the sport, Bivona has grown not only as an athlete at Xavier, but also as a student and as a leader. His wrestling and academic achievements have made Bivona a true example for his peers, and his athletic involvement has given him a sense of self-control, dedication, humility, and pride.

This Fall: D uke University

FROM NAIROBI “STREET SOCCER” TO 16TH STREET

Kevin Fitzpatrick ’14

Eliot Kaufmann ’14

Football “I’ve learned what it is like to have to trust someone completely. I must believe in my teammates and trust that they will get their job done.”

When he was just eight years old, Fitzpatrick’s dad asked him if he wanted to try football. He tried it, loved it and never looked back.

Fitzpatrick often spends free periods and lunches on homework in order to maintain the balance between sports and academics.

This Fall: C ornell University

Cross-Country and Track; winner of the James J. Walsh Award, Indoor Track Block X “Being a student-athlete has taught me the value of balance. By working hard in the classroom and on the track, I’ve been able to enhance myself intellectually, socially, physically and spiritually. One of my main hopes for my future self is that I will maintain a well-rounded lifestyle, and being a student-athlete in high school has started me off on the right path.”

For Kaufmann, one of the most important aspects of his high school career has been being on a team.

Kaufmann truly values the team experience he has had at Xavier, from the lasting friendships to the solidarity of working together.

This Fall: C ovenant College

Andrew Kiarie Mumbi ’17 began playing soccer as a five-year-old in Nairobi, Kenya.

“I never played organized soccer until I came to Xavier,” he said. “I’d never played with a coach or a captain. In Kenya we played what I call ‘street soccer.’ Sometimes a game would be organized by a non-government organization like UNICEF. They would gather kids, give them a ball and just let them play.”

While the change in playing style from “street” to Catholic High School Athletic Association regulations has been a challenge, it’s one that Mumbi has embraced. “It wasn’t easy to play with a captain and coach telling me what to do,” he laughed. “I was used to making my own decisions and choosing what position I would play.”

Mumbi said the team’s chemistry improved after Head Coach Aidan Byrne changed up player positions mid-season, moving Mumbi from left wing to striker.

“After that, we won most of our games,” said Mumbi, who noted other big differences from the way he played in Nairobi: “At Xavier we have the right equipment, good coaches, good facilities. It makes the game more fun.”

Mumbi speaks four languages — English, Swahili, Kikuyu and a hybrid street slang known best to the children of Nairobi — and now he is learning Spanish. “Spanish is a challenge,” he said, “but I am doing pretty well at everything else!”

Andrew Kiarie Mumbi ’17 XAVIER MAGAZINE

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Joseph Shashaty ’14

William “Tre” Solomon III ’14

Eamonn Mathews ’15

Baseball

Football; winner of the Bernard M. Moynahan Award

Football and Rugby

“Baseball legend Lou Brock wrote, ‘Show me a guy who is afraid to look bad, and I’ll show you a guy you can beat every time.’ His words are a model for the way I approach real life opportunities. In order to reach your maximum potential, you must be willing to take risks and chances that your competitors will not take.”

Shashaty says the Ignatian Perspectives course showed him the importance of intentionality — the process by which individuals make decisions that directly move them into the future they want to be in — and credits the concept with helping him balance athletic and academic activities at Xavier.

This Fall: U niversity of Hartford

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“I can be a great leader while at the same time not knowing exactly where I’m going.”

A varsity player since his freshman year Turkey Bowl, Solomon has grown as a leader during his time on Xavier’s football team and found the right balance between sports and academics by understanding — and applying — focus during football season.

Solomon has the distinction of not only playing in four Turkey Bowls, but also being named Most Valuable Player.

This Fall: U niversity of Pennsylvania

“On the field, you learn to play for something larger than yourself. You push yourself harder than you thought you could and you know that if you’re not doing your best, you’re letting your teammates down.”

Mathews said one of the proudest moments in his life was being named a JV football captain during sophomore year. The role has taught him how to keep a calm head in tough situations, and how to work with a large group of peers.

His pursuit of excellence in both academics and athletics has revealed the value of responsibility and time management to him.

Right Side Scholar ATHLETES HEADLINE

FROM POOL TO PAYCHECK

Daniel McLaren ’15

Christian Raslowsky ’16

Football and Rugby

Basketball, Cross-Country, Outdoor Track; winner of the Rev. William T. Wood, S.J. Award

“Although balancing my responsibilities can sometimes take a lot of juggling, it is absolutely worth it.”

Communication is critical to successful teamwork, a lesson McLaren has learned over his three years (so far) playing football and rugby for Xavier. A firm believer that failure or disappointment should never lead to a lack of effort, McLaren has seen firsthand that persevering to the very end can — and often does — bring about success, regardless of the odds.

“Achieving goals with people who share common interests helps my emotions stay intact and allows me to focus on the task at hand.”

A lifelong athlete, Raslowsky has played basketball since the age of three and run since sixth grade.

Each day on his way home, he maps out a plan for the evening so he can stay focused and get his work done.

He cites his lasting friendships with teammates among the many benefits of his involvement in athletics, which also include teamwork and determination.

Xavier swimmers find their skills in high demand Should you find yourself in distress at any of the many pools and beaches in the tri-state area, don’t be surprised if your rescuer sports a Xavier High School ring. For many members of the Xavier swim team, the discipline and skill that led them to a 6–3 record this season is also opening professional doors as lifeguards before they even leave Xavier.

According to coach Dennis Murphy P’10, the swim team has not seen a losing season in at least the seven years he’s been coaching.

“And we swim in the most competitive league, the most difficult division,” he said. Some of the strongest swimmers in the tri-state area are on the Xavier team.

But swimming is not all about competition.

“Swimming has two unique pluses,” said Mr. Murphy. “First, being able to swim may one day save your life. Second, even if you don’t become a professional competitive swimmer, you can make some money at it.”

Team captain and Block X Award recipient Andy Raiola ’14 agrees. Raiola traveled to Italy at age 13 to demonstrate his skills for the Italian National Olympic Committee and has been recruited to swim for the Le Moyne College Dolphins. “Swimming has been a huge part of my life since I was eight,” he said. “It brought me to Italy, Texas and now to college on a scholarship.” But before he packs the car and heads for Syracuse in the fall, he’ll make some spending money at one of the best summer jobs imaginable: lifeguarding at Brooklyn’s beautiful Red Hook pool.

Darrin Dang ’16 exhibits potentially life-saving technique.

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A Season for the Record Books The undefeated ‘Kaydets’ of 1950

The practice field at Bear Mountain, N.Y., took a serious pounding in the summer of 1950. The moment the New York Football Giants finished up drills and walked off the field, the Xavier Kaydets walked on. The boys on the team were hired by the Bear Mountain Inn, at the urging of Head Coach Leo Paquin, to work as busboys, food stand operators and dishwashers, putting in long shifts serving burgers, scouring dishes and maintaining the grounds before heading out to the field to practice.

Striding past Giants’ recruits like Eddie Price every afternoon gave the Kaydets a boost. “We were playing on the same field as the Giants!” recalled Bernard “Bud” Feeney ’51. “We thought we must be pretty good.”

“Pretty good” turned out to be an understatement. The team of 1950 went undefeated, amassed six wins and one tie, and stands as the best season of Mr. Paquin’s 40-plus year career as head coach and athletic director.

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“It was a team that really came together,” said team manager Edward Hawkins ’52. “We were like a family.”

Before making his mark at Xavier, Mr. Paquin played left end on Fordham’s storied “Seven Blocks of Granite” team of 1936. Alumni remember a coach who cultivated leadership. “Leo let players lead themselves,” said Mr. Hawkins.

An English and Latin teacher, he expected players to run practice even if he was delayed in class. That selfdiscipline, said Mr. Feeney, “served us well during the season. We would wear down our opponents. We would keep it up no matter what the weather or temperature.”

The team’s talent also captured the attention of a city starved for high school football, due to a coaches’ stoppage in the public school league. Prior to a Brooklyn Prep match-up played in front of a crowd of 5,000 at Ebbets Field,

Brooklyn Eagle sportswriter Jim Murphy devoted a column to Xavier brother acts, including team cocaptains Joseph Savino ’51 and Vincent Savino ’51 and Francis Hourican ’51 and Eugene Hourican ’52 at center and left halfback respectively. Tackle Donald Cook ’52 (who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor in the Vietnam War) moved into his first year on varsity, while younger brother, Walter Cook ’55, took his former spot on J.V. The reporter also posited that Ronald Woukon ’52, John Shanahan ’51, Thomas Bohen and halfbacks Thomas Murphy ’52 and Rodrigo Alvarado ’51 played as if determined to outdo elder siblings who played for Xavier.

The newspaper later described the 46–7 final score as a “nocturnal fracas in which Brooklyn Prep took a fine thrashing from its arch foe, Xavier High School of Manhattan.”

The wins kept coming.

“We were a very mature bunch of self-starters,” said team cocaptain Donald Bianco ’51. “We were well conditioned, well coached and the result of that was winning.

That was the name of the game.”

Players also played both offense and defense, which created an unbeatable dynamic on the field. “You develop a stronger sense of community and dependence,” said Mr. Bianco. “We had to count on each other to do that job. That was an important factor in our success.”

Mr. Feeney described the motivation behind a particularly lopsided victory against Fordham Prep in November 1950. Xavier was being considered for a high school showcase game to be played before the 1951 Sugar Bowl. “We would have to have a very decisive victory over Fordham to be considered for the game in New Orleans,” Mr. Feeney said. “We went out with that incentive.” Despite a 60–6 blowout, another team got the nod to go to the Sugar Bowl.

There was no bitterness, only gratitude for the record-setting year, and for several graduating seniors, scholarships to Fordham, Notre Dame and Columbia University.

The daily grind of hauling football gear to practice on the other side of Manhattan, hitching rides home to Brooklyn and Queens, and the chance to prove what you were made of, served these Sons of Xavier well.

“It all led to dealing with experiences that were challenging and stayed with me my entire working life,” said Mr. Feeney, who attended Fordham University and served in the F.B.I for more than 25 years.

“I always remember Leo and the defining lessons he taught us,” said Mr. Bianco who played football at Notre Dame University. “He held us to a high ethical level and really meant it when he said we had an opportunity to live a good moral life with courage and character.”

Xavier 1950 Football Roster Front Row Team Manager Edward C. Hawkins ’52 Gerard A. Hale ’51 William E. Smith ’51 Francis Hourican ’51 Richard L. Weil, Jr. ’51 Joseph Savino, M.D. ’51 John B. Armstrong ’51 Wilbur Mattura ’51 Lawrence J. Berrill ’51 Robert Werthman ’51 William Tribert ’52 Assistant Coach Anthony Karpowicz Second Row Andrew J. Weigert, Jr. Ph.D. ’51 Joseph Fontana ’51 Eugene Hourican ’52 Peter Slattery ’51 James Bernard ’51 Col. Donald G. Cook, USMC ’52 Timothy Foley ’51 Ronald Wokoun ’52 Joseph McCaffrey ’51

Donald E. Kelly Peter Eckerson ’51 Bernard A. Feeney ’51 Third Row Team Manager James Kennedy ’51 Team Manager Rev. Edward Lynch, S.J. ’51 Michael Murphy ’53 Thomas Murphy ’52 John Halloran ’51 Frank DeScisciolo ’51 Donald Bianco ’51 Bernard Jennings ’52 Thomas Bohen Raymond Dukes ’51 Robert J. Hartig ’51 Rodrigo Alvarado ’51 Vincent Savino ’51 Francis Moore ’51 Emil Capobianco John Shanahan ’51 Head Coach Leo Paquin Rev. Ricardo Fernandez, S.J.

AN OFFICER, A GENTLEMAN AND A BALLPLAYER As a career Army officer, LTC Doug Levien ’90 is ready for anything — from commanding the 593rd Battalion, to working for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to his upcoming assignment at the Navy War College in Newport, R.I. And as an athletic Son of Xavier, he’s always ready for a baseball game. “My bat and glove are always in the back of my Honda CRV,” he said. “Wherever I wind up, I find out where a team is playing.”

LTC Levien creates greater cohesion among his men by encouraging team sports. “We do a lot of running, staying in shape,” he said. “But there’s a type of adrenaline, teamwork and agility you develop working with a team that’s different from just running.”

LTC Levien said that the baseball he played at Xavier instilled values that have helped him throughout his career. “It was challenging: a half-hour to the ballpark to practice, an hour and a half home, then school work. But that’s what life’s about — the challenges, the highs and lows. We saw that at a young age, and the lesson served me well in my military career.”

After Xavier, LTC Levien was an allconference baseball player for LaSalle University. Prior to his reassignment to the Pentagon, he regularly played a 20-game season with the Seattle Barons of the Puget Sound Senior Baseball League and he has already begun researching leagues in Rhode Island.

Mike Amoroso ’90 left, with Doug Levien ’90 following the 2013 Alumni Baseball Outing.

XAVIER MAGAZINE

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Rugby U.S.A. “ No school in America is a bigger ambassador for rugby than Xavier High School,” said Peter Seccia ’85.

He knows whereof he speaks. As a Xavier student, Mr. Seccia played for the national champion 1985 Xavier rugby team. Today, as a member of the Board of Directors of USA Rugby, the national governing body for the sport of rugby in the United States, he has seen what he calls the “Xavier model” applied to high school and college athletic programs throughout the nation.

Coast to coast, USA Rugby has helped build more than 1,200 high school and 400 youth rugby programs since its founding in 1975.

Mr. Seccia called winning the national championship a “credentialing” moment for Xavier rugby. It helped the game receive notice and respect as a varsity sport.

Xavier, he continued, adapted the sport, which has club roots elsewhere in the world, to a varsity model that American parents understand. “It now provides a pathway to intercollegiate play,” he said, a process that was born at Xavier. “Many young men leaving Xavier are being recruited at schools like Penn State and Saint Joe’s, and that’s because they are coming from an established varsity program with high academic standards.”

Xavier DNA runs throughout American rugby.

In fact, former Xavier rugby coach Mike Tolkin ’85 played on Xavier’s National Championship team and has coached the United States national rugby team — nicknamed The Eagles — since 2009. He led them to the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand as defensive coach and was named Head Coach in 2012. “It’s been an honor to get the national team head coaching position,” he said. “My Xavier experience certainly helped. At Xavier we wanted to build a program that was the equal to other mainstream sports programs. Kids loved it. Parents liked watching it.

And the kids worked just as hard as in any other game.”

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Peter Seccia ’85, Mike Petri ’02 and Mike Tolkin ’85 at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Seamus Kelly ’09 plays outside center for the U.S. national team, making his first start in June 2013 against Ireland. Playing for the University of California at Berkeley, Mr. Kelly won two national championships, was named to the Collegiate Rugby Championship AllTournament team twice, and Collegiate All-American four times. “Xavier is where I first fell in love with the game, because of the culture that surrounded it,” he said. “The coaches invested it with a sense of pride and tradition. Playing for the U.S. national team is something I set my mind to early on. I was fortunate to have coaches who could help make it happen.”

“Mike Tolkin is my mentor,” said Mike Petri ’02, who has played for the Eagles squad at two Rugby World Cups — 2007 in France as well as 2011, in which he scored the only try of the U.S.-Russia match. “He helped me develop as a player in transition years.” Mr. Petri, who coaches rugby and teaches physics and biology at Xavier, sees a parallel between his Xavier and rugby experiences. “Sons of Xavier understand what it means to be ‘a man for others.’

That camaraderie is similar to the rugby community.” It is rugby tradition to share a meal with your opponent after the game. “Hard work, discipline, integrity — be the best you can be,” he said. “But know when to switch it off. Be humble, social, sit down and show respect. It’s the same at Xavier as it is in rugby.”

Mr. Seccia concluded with a quote from Oscar Wilde: “Rugby is a game for barbarians played by gentlemen.”

The Value of Competition In his own words, Jesuit, coach and educator Dennis Baker, S.J., explains how sports are integral to learning to build relationships.

by Dennis Baker, S.J.

I

n every competitive athlete’s life, there comes a time when he or she stops playing a game “just for fun,” and begins playing it for the thrill of winning.

The effort expended to win, the accomplishment one feels when one succeeds—or at least knows he or she has exhausted every effort to win—is unparalleled.

It’s a feeling that encompasses more than playing to pass some time or get some exercise.

There is nothing like the feeling of the moments leading up to a Friday night basketball game in a loud, crowded gym, or the seconds before the biggest pitch in a baseball game. These are the moments that have had me addicted to these two sports since I was a boy. I love competition. I loved such moments when I played these games competitively, and I loved them when I coached those sports. It’s impossible to replicate the feeling we competitors get when it’s time to play and the spotlight is bright.

These moments, though, are more than just fun; they are instructive. They teach us how to handle pressure, and when our emotions can either help us or work against us. They have taught me the true meaning of sportsmanship, and how to accept loss and failure as part of life. They have been great lessons for me as I’ve hung up my cleats, peeled off my uniforms, and moved from youth into adulthood.

Beyond any personal lessons, though, competition has been a crucible in which I have formed some of the closest friendships in my life. Many of my closest friends are people with whom I shared some time on a team.

When we see one another, we might talk about a game we remember, or a standout performance. (None of which were mine.)

We end up talking about something funny that happened on the bus to one of the games or road trips, or something one of the coaches said during practice that has stuck with us many years later. As time has worn on, we recognize that the games we played were important, as they gave us something towards which to work—we

wanted to win and we worked hard to do so. But time has taught us that we were doing this work together, and our time competing has bonded us. This link has helped us find our vocations, seen us through many weddings, births of children, the death of loved ones, and plenty of other moments that make up the human experience.

These relationships have been reflective of God’s love for me, my friends, and our families. That’s where we find God most clearly: in the relationships we have with those we love.

As a coach, I have tried to stress that winning is important. There’s no reason to play the games if we are not going to try to win them. Even more important than winning, though, are the relationships we create as we compete.

Dennis Baker, S.J., was a scholastic at Xavier High School from 2009–2012 where he taught history and coached basketball and baseball teams. Mr. Baker recently completed his second year of studies for a Master of Divinity degree from Boston College and will be ordained to the priesthood in 2015. He is an avid fan of the New York Yankees, New York Knicks and New York Giants.

XAVIER MAGAZINE

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Alumni MaroonFEATURE AND BLUE

FRESHMAN STORMS THE WRESTLING MAT

Dylan Ebanks ’17 on the mat.

Dylan Ebanks ’17 was no stranger to wrestling before coming to Xavier. He had competed in meets during elementary school, so he fully intended on making a name for himself in high school. With the support of teammates and instruction from coaches, he more than established a name — he placed third in the 99-lbs. weight class at the 2014 Catholic High School Athletic Association State Wrestling Championships.

“It was a very close-knit team and everyone was selfless,” said Ebanks.

“Everybody contributed to the success of the team. There were moments when we struggled, but we always persevered. I believe this symbolizes Xavier’s wrestling team.” Though the team failed to make playoffs, several wrestlers qualified individually for the state tournament. Of them, Ebanks placed the highest.

“I can attribute most of what I’ve accomplished thus far to my parents’ care and dedication,” he said. “While I am the one on the mat, they go to the edges of the earth to give me the tools for success.”

Ebanks anticipates even bigger things for himself and the team in the future. “We have a dedicated group of underclassmen ready to fill up the roster and put in the work,” he said. “I personally believe that under the guidance of our coaches, we can become one of the best teams in the league.”

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The Regiment Shines on National Stage Often referred to as one of the top units on the East Coast, Xavier’s Regiment spent much of the past year proving it is also one of the best nationwide. In April, the Regimental Drill Team achieved historically high scores at the Army JROTC National Drill Classic in Louisville, Ky. “Our goal was to reach the top 10,” said LTC Roy E. Campbell, US Army (Ret.), Xavier’s senior army instructor. “We came in fourth in the nation, including first in Inspection.” This winter offered a particular challenge for the team: Since they drill on the roof, when it snows, they can’t practice until they’ve shoveled. “They all pitch in,” said LTC Campbell. “I’ve seen Lieutenant Colonels up there with shovels!”

The Xavier Rifle team upheld its near-legendary reputation (they beat West Point for a number of consecutive years in the late 40s), coming in second overall among 127 schools at the New York Military Academy Invitational Marksmanship Competition in March and have been invited to National Rifle & Pistol Championships at Camp Perry, Ohio.

The Raiders fitness team also performed well, coming in third in a field of 54 teams. “These are tough guys,” said LTC Campbell, “And like all of our Regiment teams, they are competitive at the national level. All of our teams bring great credit to their regiment, their commanders, their parents and Xavier High School.”

Above: Xavier’s Regiment marches in New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Left: One of the Regiment’s many rifle trophies.

Alumni in Sports Leader for the Ivy League 2013 was quite a year for Tim Williamson ’00. He was named director of athletic communications at Harvard University in May, and promoted to associate director of athletics just six months later. Mr. Williamson’s swift ascent in NCAA athletics began rather informally, when he was a graduate student at Boston College, where he had also completed his undergraduate studies.

“I began helping out at sporting events,” said Mr. Williamson. After earning a master’s in U.S. history, the Xavier alum landed the position of assignment editor at New England Cable News, but soon made a pivotal decision. “I realized I wanted to pursue sports journalism, so I made the move from a full-time job with benefits to a media relations internship at Boston College.”

The risk paid off. “They gave me some real responsibilities,” said Mr. Williamson. “I was a little older, so I was treated more like a full-time staff person than an intern.” He parlayed the internship into a stint as assistant director of media relations at Columbia University before joining the Harvard Office of Athletic Communications in 2007.

“Working in the Ivy League is an incredible opportunity,” said Mr. Williamson, who also worked for the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships for several seasons and led the public relations effort for men’s basketball during three Ivy League title-winning seasons and a trip to the NCAA tournament in 2012, Harvard’s first since 1946. In his current capacity, the former Cadet Colonel of the Xavier Regiment (and son of Art Williamson ’66) is the main media spokesperson for the nation’s largest Division I athletics program and is responsible for publicizing and promoting 42 Crimson teams. He credits Jesuit education from Xavier and Boston College for preparing him for a very rigorous and gratifying career path.

“It’s important to do what makes you happy at the end of the day,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to find that. Being able to promote our student-athletes and teams is pretty special.”

Tim Williamson ’00

Neil Olshey ’83 with Portland Trail Blazers LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard.

Blazing the Right Trail This year, Neil Olshey ’83 completed his second season as General Manager with the Portland Trail Blazers after being named the team’s 10th General Manager in franchise history on June 4, 2012. As General Manager, Mr. Olshey leads the organization’s Basketball Operations department, overseeing talent evaluation, player personnel decisions, contract negotiations and salary cap management.

Basketball has always been part of his life, despite being cut from the Xavier team his freshman year. “I was five feet tall and 100 pounds,” he said. His position went to a classmate well over six feet tall and 180 lbs. “When I coached high school basketball,” said Mr. Olshey, “I would have made the same decision. Maybe getting cut motivated me to move on and do something in the game of basketball I couldn’t do as a player.”

His love of sport undaunted, Mr. Olshey played varsity baseball and varsity tennis for Xavier, and kept his basketball game sharp by playing at the club and CYO level, as well as in summer leagues at Xavier.

“Whether or not I played basketball at Xavier, it was always my avocation. I was just lucky enough to turn it into a career.”

Mr. Olshey credits Xavier with setting him on the path to his current success. “I was part of a Jesuit institution in my formative years, and wanted to stay in that environment at the college level. I give credit to Rev. William McGowan, S.J., a college counselor at Xavier who guided me to attend Le Moyne College. Being at Le Moyne changed my life. It was the right environment for me. I had the opportunity to play lacrosse at a very high level. Those teammates are a part of my life today. The character building I received there helped me become the person I am today, but I don’t believe I would have wound up there if I had not gone to Xavier.”

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A Pulitzer Prize Winner Reminisces

Dave Anderson ’47 is an award-winning sportswriter who covered the Brooklyn Dodgers for the Brooklyn Eagle, before writing for the The New York Times and other publications.

In 1981, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. Here, he remembers two NCAA basketball greats he knew when he was a student on 16th Street.

by Dave Anderson ’47 My years at Xavier introduced me to two men who would earn noble niches in basketball history. One developed into the “most outstanding player” in the 1947 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament that Holy Cross won. The other coached the North Carolina team that won the 1957 NCAA title with a tripleovertime 54–53 victory over seven-foot Wilt Chamberlain and Kansas University.

The player was George Kaftan ’45, who at Xavier regularly wore a light-blue cord denoting a 90-plus average on the left shoulder of his ROTC uniform.

The coach was Frank McGuire ’33, who later guided St. John’s, North Carolina and South Carolina, as well as the Philadelphia Warriors of the NBA. My sophomore year, Kaftan was a senior, a 17-year-old, 6-foot 3-inch center who could outleap his taller teenage rivals, the captain of an unappreciated 1945 team because 26.

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Xavier was not then a member of the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA). Coached by Bill Rogers and with teammates Jack Byrnes ’45, Vin Leddy ’46, Nick Jackman ’46, Alan Keyes ’46 and Dominic Tortorice ’46, he led the Kaydets, their nickname then, to a 20–5 record that included winning the Knights of Columbus tournament and the Jesuit tournament.

In the months when World War II ended, Holy Cross alumnus Gerry Clark persuaded Kaftan and another schoolboy star from the New York area, Dermie O’Connell (Cardinal Hayes), to enroll there along with ex-servicemen Joe Mullaney (Chaminade), Frank Oftring (Brooklyn Tech) and Bobby McMullan (St. Ann’s). The next year, Bob Cousy, from Andrew Jackson in Queens, arrived.

With Kaftan, a pre-med student, the 1946–47 Crusaders rolled into the eight-team NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden with a 20-game winning streak and a 24–3 record. They dispatched Navy and CCNY, then dominated Oklahoma, 58–47, in the title game. Kaftan, carried off the court on the shoulders of his teammates, scored a total of 63 points for a 21-point average.

Kaftan went on to play for the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Baltimore Bullets before becoming a dentist and the longtime basketball coach at C.W. Post.

Kaftan’s role in leading Holy Cross to the national

championship touched everybody at Xavier, where I was a senior on the Review covering the varsity basketball team coached by Frank McGuire, who was also my civics teacher. The youngest of 13 children of a New York police officer who died when Frank was two years old, he grew up in Greenwich Village, starred at basketball for Xavier and St. John’s under legendary coach Joe Lapchick before serving as a Naval officer during the war.

My lasting memory of McGuire occurred late in that 1946–47 season before a game in the St. Cecilia High School gym in Englewood, N.J. As we walked into the gym, Frank said, “Dave, where are you going to sit?”

“Usually at the scorer’s table,” I said.

“Good,” he said. “Watch that clock!”

If the final seconds were ticking off in a close game, Frank McGuire, like every coach — high-school, college or pro — never trusted the home-team timekeeper. Not even when the home-team coach was Vince Lombardi. At St. Cecilia that season, Lombardi, one of Fordham’s “Seven Blocks of Granite” in 1936 as a varsity football guard, coached both football and basketball while also teaching Latin, chemistry and physics.

George Kaftan and Frank McGuire each earned a noble niche in basketball history.

Not long after that St. Cecilia game, Xavier’s basketball captain, Robert “Bob” Biggers ’47, got an urgent phone call from McGuire. “Frank,” Biggers told me later, “asked me to run our practice that afternoon because he had something to do.”

What McGuire had to do was interview at St. John’s for the varsity coaching job; Lapchick was leaving to coach the Knicks. McGuire got the job. He took St. John’s to the NCAA title game in 1952 before moving to North Carolina, where his imported New York area players won the 1957 championship. After three seasons coaching the Philadelphia Warriors and Wilt Chamberlain, his South Carolina teams went to four NCAA tournaments and three National Invitation Tournaments. And he went to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

George Kaftan and Frank McGuire each earned a noble niche in basketball history. And each was at Xavier when I was there.

An Athletic Scholarship that Rewards Participation, Not Competition Roy Van Brunt ’63 had never played a day of tennis when he arrived at Xavier in 1959. But when he saw an invitation to enter a tournament specifically Roy Van Brunt ’63 for students who had never played, he “bellied up to the bar and signed up,” he said.

“I was, am and always will be a cruddy player.” But after commuting to 207th Street to practice throughout the fall and sitting out the winter because of limited indoor practice facilities, Mr. Van Brunt was “flabbergasted” to be handed a junior varsity letter at a spring tennis meeting.

The coach handing out letters, John J. “Pat” Rooney, told the young athlete, “You did everything you were asked, everything you could.”

“I thought to myself, ‘This guy has just bought my participation for the next three years,’” said Mr. Van Brunt.

He became the team manager his Senior year, and received the Block X award for Tennis. “I was never more than a decent player,” he recalls. “Receiving the award was about participation, sportsmanship and building character.”

Mr. Van Brunt stayed involved with tennis even while he was busy with college, the Army, earning his CPA and working for the Securities and Exchange Commission. He became a tennis official, umpired professional tennis for fifteen years and served as national chairman of the United States Tennis Association Umpires Committee and Chief of Umpires at the 1989 U.S. Open.

“I wanted to keep Coach Pat’s memory alive.”

After monetizing a successful partnership, he found himself with the means to give back to Xavier. “I wanted to keep Coach Pat’s memory alive,” he said. So he pulled together a coalition of donors to found The John J. “Pat” Rooney Memorial Tennis Scholarship in 2004. The fullyear scholarship is given to one junior to cover tuition for his senior year. This year’s recipient was Vincent Tozzi ’15.

Mr. Van Brunt said, “I hope the recipients remember, when their careers are established, that someone went out of their way to help them. When they have the means, they should remember Xavier in their annual giving.”

XAVIER MAGAZINE

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Xavier PEOPLE

A Decade of

Richard Nolan, Esq. ’83 reflects on his years on the Board of Trustees

GROWTH Rich Nolan ’83 has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Xavier High School since 2004, and as Chairman since 2008. As he steps down after 10 extremely productive years, Mr. Nolan took some time for a Xavier Magazine Q&A.

Did you suspect, as a young student, that you would return to Xavier?

Like most graduating seniors, I assumed that Xavier was a wonderful part of my life that had reached its conclusion.

While in college, I served as class chairman for the Class of ’83, focusing primarily on the Annual Fund. As I concluded college, I was approached by Xavier’s director of development, who inquired if I had any interest in a position as his assistant. As a result, I worked at Xavier for two years as director of annual giving.

I left that position in 1989 for law school at Fordham University. Following law school, I worked on our Class of ’83 10th and 15th reunion committees, participated in the annual Phonathon and was asked to resume service as class chairman. Following several years of such work, I was invited to serve as a non-trustee member of the Advancement Committee of the board. Two years later, I was asked to join the board as a trustee.

What would you identify as the most important Xavier initiative of the past decade?

One of the most important initiatives of the board while I have been a trustee and chairman is the transition from the long and successful tenure of Fr. Dan Gatti to the tenure of Jack Raslowsky as president of Xavier. The board engaged in a full and comprehensive presidential search — the first of its kind at Xavier — and I think both the search process and the transition went remarkably well. In Jack Raslowsky, we found the precise candidate that the board sought, and the transition went very smoothly. Jack has achieved tremendous success as an outstanding steward of Xavier and a very effective leader.

When Jack’s first four-year term as president concluded last June, there was no question as to the board’s desire to re-appoint him. The Executive Committee wanted to send 28.

XAVIER MAGAZINE

Right Side HEADLINE a clear message of confidence in Jack as a transformational leader. We also wanted to give him a long tenure to complete the work he had commenced and to continue a very productive partnership with the Board. As a result, the Board appointed Jack to a second term of six years, subject to reappointment to further terms.

I felt it was important to announce our re-appointment of Jack to the entire Xavier community with an appropriate degree of clarity and prominence. When I met with Jack and discussed this with him, he was uncomfortable with such an announcement. Reluctantly, I deferred to his modesty. It occurred to me a few months ago that we had taken this decisive action and hadn’t told anyone! So, this Q & A is the first public disclosure, beyond the faculty, of the board’s commitment to Jack and Jack’s commitment to Xavier. The bottom line is that leadership at Xavier will remain in good hands for the foreseeable future.

Can you identify some other important milestones of your tenure?

During my six years as chairman, we tried to bring a very refined focus to strategic priorities related to our physical plant, financial sustainability and faculty issues, all of which are essential for Xavier’s evolution and advancement.

In the last two years, Xavier has made significant advances with its physical plant. We renovated our science labs, which was a high priority for the faculty. From a curriculum perspective, it was very important to have stateof-the-art laboratories.

The recent renovation of the Jesuit community was also tremendously important. The physical presence of the Jesuit community within our physical plant at our 16th Street location enhances our Ignatian and Jesuit identity and serves to advance our mission.

The most important initiative, as we look at the evolution of our physical plant, is the new 15th Street building. I saw this as the last opportunity Xavier might ever have to expand its physical plant contiguously. It’s hard to identify anything that could equal or exceed the 15th Street building initiative in significance for the growth of our academic and extracurricular programming.

How is financial stability a key factor in Xavier’s success?

A significant concern of the board has been ensuring that Xavier continues to serve families — from the full spectrum of economic means — that seek a Xavier education for their sons. That means doing everything we can to make certain that Xavier is affordable and that we continue to

provide appropriate scholarships and financial aid to those families that cannot afford our tuition, while at the same time ensuring that Xavier is appropriately funded and fiscally sustainable. The Access and Affordability Task Force engaged in a very effective exercise of strategic planning with respect to tuition pricing, affordability and access to sufficient financial aid and scholarship assistance.

The Compensation Committee also did outstanding work in ensuring that our faculty is appropriately and fairly compensated, in a way that positions Xavier to retain the best and the brightest among Catholic secondary school educators. Also, I think the work of the Finance Committee in strategic long-term financial modeling will serve our sustainability planning very effectively.

The Xavier board will continue to face the challenge of ensuring that we continue our trajectory of growth and continue to fundraise effectively. A troublingly high number of Catholic schools at both the primary and secondary level are closing, and that’s a tragedy. Fortunately, Xavier remains strong, and is doing outstanding work in furtherance of Catholic Jesuit education. We have an outstanding administration and faculty; we have engaged parents and committed alumni; and we have talented students, all of whom work collaboratively, recognizing the importance of what Xavier does.

Any final thoughts as you conclude your tenure as Chair?

Gratitude. A Jesuit once told me that service on the Board of a Jesuit high school should be as transforming an experience for an alumnus as was the experience of that alumnus while a student. For me, that has been the case. It’s been an incredibly rewarding and transforming experience to invest myself in the work of a Jesuit apostolate that means so much to me. My work on the Xavier board has been the most important work of my life. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with Fr. Dan Gatti, with Jack Raslowsky, with the administrators and faculty of Xavier and with my fellow trustees.

I often tell young alumni: Embrace the opportunity to remain an active, engaged member of the Xavier community — for the rest of your life!

Richard T. Nolan, Esq. ’83 is a partner at McCarter & English Attorneys at Law in Newark, N.J. He has more than 20 years experience in the area of public finance law and was recognized as a New Jersey Super Lawyer for the 2008–2010 editions. He is married to Jennifer Mussi Nolan.

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Sons of Xavier 1954

Celebrate Xavier Gala 2.

Ed McCarthy is enjoying retirement in Florida and Chautauqua Lake, N.Y., and was at this year’s Xavier lunch at Naples, Fla.

1955 1.

Ronald Lofaro, Ph.D., retired in 2012 from his associate professorship position at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He had retired from 27 years of government service (FAA) in 2004, so he is actually able to enjoy Gulf Coast living now.

Classmates Rick Mink, former faculty member Larry Pesce and Ed Sullivan had dinner on May 6 to bid auf wiedersehen to former faculty member Hank Woehling.

Hank is moving to the west coast of Florida, about 10 miles from Venice.

3.

Wilbur Ross was honored by the St. George’s Society of New York, a British charity, at the organization’s annual dinner dance.

1956 Joseph Basta writes that all is well with the Basta family including eight grandchildren; four boys and four girls.

Tom Schmitt and wife Hedi are still in their Park Slope brownstone after 42 years.

4.

5.

6.

Rescheduled due to the storms of February, Celebrate Xavier was no less gala when it was held on April 10.

1. Dennis Muentes ’14. 2. Jennifer Kennedy-Orlando, Mark Orlando, Ian Lennard P’17, John Piccard ’88 P’17.

3. Thomas Bruno ’06, Zachary Tesoriero ’07, Will Fallon ’07. 4. Xavier President Jack Raslowsky, Patrick Bisogno P’16, Bob Robotti ’71 5. Kevin McVeigh P’14 ’17, Dennis Klejna ’64. 6. Barry Cherwin, Auctioneer.

1944

1952

Tom Kennedy is enjoying friends and family while fishing in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

Thomas Conniff, Esq., received a Doctor of Laws degree honoris causa from St. Francis College in Brooklyn for 43 years of service as outside counsel to the College. One week later Tom and his wife, Margaret, celebrated 50 years of marriage with a mass in the Student Chapel at Xavier, accompanied by their four children and 10 grandchildren.

Tom and Margaret were engaged in the Student Chapel on Holy Saturday, 1963.

1949 Frank R. Reilly took first place in the 2014 Chesapeake Whistle and Whittle Contest held in Timonium, Md., in April.

1950 Joseph Brostek prepared the 100 Year History of St. Andrew Avellino Parish in Flushing, N.Y. ,where he has lived for more than 40 years. It is the home parish of many priests, laypersons and a very large number of Xavier families. The Centennial History can be viewed online at standrewavellinorcchurch.org.

Paul Rollins is keeping in touch with Harry Hill and Bill Kane. All three are looking forward to their 60th Holy Cross Reunion.

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Rev. Robert E. Lauder is in his 30th year of teaching philosophy at St. John’s University, Jamaica, N.Y. His book Pope Francis’ Spirituality and Our Story has just been published by Resurrection Press, 2014 Totowa, N.J.

1953 John Spizziri and his wife, Alexandra, are expecting their sixth grandchild.

1959 Thomas Sullivan recently traveled to Goa, India, where he saw the preserved body of St. Francis Xavier in Bon Jesu Church.

1960 John O’Brien has retired from private orthopedic practice in February 2013 and was named “Distinguished Physician of 2013” by St. Francis Hospital and Medical Staff, Hartford, Conn.

1961 Rev. John J. Piderit, S.J., was appointed Vicar for Administration and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

Thomas Russo, Esq., works as general counsel at AIG as head of the Global Legal, Compliance, Regulatory and Government Affairs group. His legal department recently won an Outstanding Legal Department Award by the New York Law Journal.

1962 William A. Fife, P.E. was recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Metropolitan Section with the 2014 Metropolitan Section Civil Engineer of the Year Award on June 19 at their

Class NOTES annual dinner dance. The Metropolitan Section bestowed the award on Fife for his “character, professional integrity and years of outstanding service to the civil engineering profession.”

medicine. He recently celebrated his 40th wedding anniversary.

Bob Hubbard and his wife, Kathy, are owners of the Hubbard Family Swim Schools in Phoenix and in Ohio and celebrated 40 years of marriage in December 2013. They have eight children and 16 grandchildren. He still misses Breezy Point.

1971 Stephen Anderson is still forging ahead and looking forward to a trip to outer space. The Jesuit motto, ad majorem Dei gloriam, still motivates him.

William A. Fife, P.E. ’62 and wife Patricia.

1965 Luke Burke was recently invited to the University of Abomey Calavi in Cotonou, Bénin, to give a plenary lecture, “L’interaction de l’industrie et de la chimie quantique” (Quantum Chemistry) at the West African Regional Workshop on Chemistry and Modelization, sponsored by the West African Chemical Society.

He was joint author on six papers delivered at the workshop by doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers and faculty colleagues.

1972 Tom Healy celebrated his 25th anniversary as a Plainsboro, N.J. firefighter. Healy was recognized by the New Jersey State Senate and Assembly as well as the Plainsboro Township Committee at a ceremony that was attended by two classmates, Tom Driscoll and Nick Scerbo.

1969 Tom Kosten is looking toward retirement after 40 years of an academic career in

Tom Healy ’72

Reunion 2014 2.

1.

A FAMILY ON THE MOVE Athletics is the gateway to education,” said Sean Rice P’15, director of the Prospect Park Youth Running Club — one of the largest youth running programs in the country with more than 150 young runners.

That passion for running is shared by the entire Rice family, including Sean’s wife, Fi, and all three children. Their 11-yearold, Ethan, is a two-time-champion in the mile and half mile, while daughter Sydney recently won a state championship with her high school. And John Rice ’15 shatters Xavier school track records like they were made of glass.

In the 2013–14 season, John set new records for the 3,000 and 3,200 meter run, as well as the 5,000 meter Bowdin Park course. He’s also one of only two Xavier runners to post a time under 4:20 in the mile. In an effort to earn a college track scholarship, John is spending the summer before his Xavier senior year training for the fall track season, under the guidance of Xavier Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Patrick Dormer P’17. “Mr. Dormer has mapped out our whole summer of training,” he said.

“I never asked the kids to run,” said Mr. Rice. “Growing up in a running household, they saw what it could do. Running sets you against the clock. Against the weather.

Running builds character — which is something Xavier does better than any school in the city.”

“I don’t think I could have accomplished what I have at Xavier without the support of my family,” said John. “And running keeps us together.”

3.

Alumni enjoyed the 2014 Reunion on May 2 and 3.

1. Vincent Cleary ’64, Michael Catalano ’64, Edward Laurie ’64, Richard Zirpolo ’64. 2. Richard Monahan ’64, Robert Donnelly ’64, James Scott ’79. 3. Thomas Palmieri ’04, Mark Goreczny ’04, Jack Favia ’04. 4.

John Visconti ’84, William Gartner ’84, John Sottnik ’84, John Mastandrea ’84.

4.

John Rice ’15, Sydney Rice and Ethan Rice.

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31.

Sons of XAVIER

IT’S NOT THE YEARS, IT’S THE MILES

1973

1984

Rene Medina is proud to announce that his son, Marco, was selected to be a member of Xavier’s Class of 2018.

Classmates Alberto Roldan and Gregory McCartney recently met up in Waikiki, Hawaii for a class reunion. Alberto is an administrative judge in Sacramento, Calif., and Greg is the owner of Stars Above Hawaii. Aloha!

Victor Vallo is the chair of the Music Department of Newberry College in Newberry, S.C., where he is also the conductor of the Newberry Chamber Orchestra.

1975 “I had no athletic career at Xavier,” said Peter Canning ’63. Yet 12 years after graduating from the school, he found himself embarked on a demanding running regimen. He initially took up the sport to get into shape, and was soon running three days a week. After finishing a five-mile race in 1975, he says, “I was hooked.”

A comptroller at Chase Manhattan Bank at the time, Mr. Canning trained with the Prospect Park Track Club. He entered the New York City Marathon in 1976 — the same year the 26.2-mile course moved from Central Park out to the five boroughs.

Today, the famous marathon includes more than 50,000 runners, but in 1976, there were just 2,090 entrants. “You could sign up the day of the race,” he recalled. “That seems kind of quaint today.”

“Running is the only sport I know where you can run in the same race where the top dogs are competing,” he said.

“That’s what makes running a marathon extra special.”

The Xavier alumnus has since run 13 more marathons. He is especially fond of the Jersey Shore Marathon, which he finished in 2:59:11 in 1978, the same year he qualified for the Boston Marathon.

His most recent long distance race was the London Marathon of 1984.

Mr. Canning lives in Manhattan, where he runs nearly every day. He still enters a half dozen races annually, including the Celebrate Israel Run and the annual 5K Harry Murphy Cross Country Classic. Thinking about the miles of road ahead, he laughed, “The bug re-bit me. But today I’m happy in the four- to six-mile range.”

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Albert Gumbs extends his congratulations to Rt. Rev. W. Stokes on his appointment as well as his prayers and condolences to Chris Wenz on the passing of his mother.

He can be contacted at aeg713@msn.com.

On February 28, 2014, Richard Wefer retired after 25 years of firefighting with North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue, serving the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. He remains active with the North Hudson Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 3950, as treasurer. He says it’s nice to have every night and weekend off!

Peter Hyzak is now the Director of Wines and Spirits at the Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Estero, Fla.

1977 Paul Gugliermo is Director of Operations in the Peekskill, N.Y., School System.

1978 Michael Driscoll successfully defended his dissertation, Philanthropy and American Schools of Business, at the University of Pennsylvania and received his doctorate at the Penn graduation in May. Mike continues as a Clinical Professor and Senior Executive in Residence at the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business at Adelphi University. He is also a member of the Xavier Finance committee.

Edward Gooding received the Rev. William J. McGowan, S.J. Award at the 30th Annual Golf Outing along with recent graduate Kevin Crockett ’14. The two were honored for having scored 1,000 points in their Xavier basketball careers.

1986 Robert Suarez has moved to the Tampa, Fla., area to open a new law practice after recently retiring from the U.S. Army as a Military Police Officer.

1988 Frank Luongo is back in the U.S. after a year working in France. In June he will take a new position working in Angola, Africa.

1989 Christopher Spataro is a partner in the litigation team of Faegre, Baker, Daniels, LLP. He recently accepted a board position with the Volunteer Lawyer Network which promotes pro bono legal services in northern Indiana.

1990 Francis Creighton has started a new job as Executive Vice President for Public Policy at the Financial Services4.

Roundtable, a trade association representing the major financial services companies in the country.

1992 Michael Reardon was named Head of School at the Meadowbrook School in Meadowbrook, Penn.

1993 Thomas Giovatto is the head coach of the St. Francis College in Brooklyn, men’s soccer team. In the 2013 season the team went 12–6–1 and won the Northeastern Conference Championship, making it to the first round of the NCAA tournament.

1994 Dionis Rodriguez is founder and managing principal at Crimson Rock Capital, LLC. William Reidy was named Vice President for University Advancement at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn.

1995 Brian Colvin is the associate athletic director for finance & administration for Rutgers University.

Edward Gooding ’78 with Xavier President Jack Raslowsky.

RightClass Side NOTES HEADLINE 2000 John Lustig traveled to Paris, France, in early May to be awarded the Animation Prize at the Tres Court International Film Festival for his short animated film “Eye in Tuna Care,” with music by Juilliard composer Ray Lustig, III ’92. It was also screened on May 5, 2014 at the IFC Center in Manhattan and has recently been shown in 100 cities in 29 countries.

Dad Ray Lustig, Jr. ’64 is very proud.

2001 LT Owen Miguel J. Kavanagh, USN has been stationed at the Pentagon since July 2012. After four years on various ships throughout the Middle and Far East, and three years on land between Bahrain, Iraq and Afghanistan, he’s glad to be closer to home.

2003 Adrian Pohila is now Digital Media Sales Planner at Investopedia.

Shane Lavin received his Master of Public Administration from Villanova University in May 2014.

2004 1LT Petar Mostarac is currently serving in Afghanistan as part of the CENTCOM Materiel Recovery Element.

2005 Greg Goldberg completed the Brooklyn Half Marathon in May with his girlfriend, Regan Hillman, in 2:40. They both attended fellow Jesuit institution Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

2007

the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

He won Sportsman of the Year for the fall and winter sports for the University and was an academic all-conference player four years in a row. He also helped run the tutoring program for the football team.

Michael Potter is a Worcester Polytechnic Institute four-year NCAA Division III football letterman. He started middle linebacker, and was a four-year Academic All American. He was also four-year club rugby captain and led the team to its most conference wins in school history.

Dominic DeFalco plays rugby for Penn State University and recently played in the Collegiate Rugby Championship in Philadelphia. “Rugby, like all college sports, has been an awesome experience. It has allowed me to make great friends, test myself and my body. It has taken me to parts all over the world. I have made great friendships and memories with people that I will be able share in the future.”

2011 Daniel Haber completed his junior year at the University of North Carolina and is working for IBM as a Software Product Specialist Intern this summer.

Joe Corrado is starting eight-man and back row player for Penn State Men’s Rugby. He competed in the American Collegiate Rugby Championship championships last fall, eventually losing in the final to Kutztown University. Joe will return in the fall as a senior and team leader as PSU will compete in the D1A Rugby East Conference and, again, look to make a push at a national title.

1LT Michael Chiaia, USA is a UH-60M Blackhawk Pilot currently serving as a Platoon Leader assigned to Task Force Warhawk, Regional Command - West, Afghanistan.

Adam Duignan is captain of the St. Joseph’s University rugby team. Brendan Murphy ’10, Joe Wolfer ’11, Jimmy Wolfer ’13 and Dylan Bergstol ’13 are also on the team.

2009

Daniel Donahue is going into his junior year as the captain of the rugby team at Catholic University, and plays alongside several other Xavier alums. “In my year it is myself, Bailey Caliban ’12 and John Sciancalepore ’12. Next year we have two more Xavier men coming down to join us — Billy Collins ’14 and Sean Rivera ’14. Last fall we lost in our conference championship to Mount St. Mary of Maryland. We are excited to have the two recent Xavier grads coming down to play with us next year and continue the legacy of playing tough, disciplined, and highly skilled Xavier rugby. The future looks bright for Catholic Rugby.”

2LT Michael Cavanaugh, USA is stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., and will be reporting to the Mountain Division at Fort Dix, N.J., this fall.

Jose Miranda, Thomas Nugent and Steve Sanchez just finished a year working at Xavier as part of the Alumni Volunteer Program and want to thank all the faculty and staff at Xavier that made it so enjoyable.

2010 Patrick Nilsen started as a defensive end on a 6–4 Catholic University football team that was second in offense and defense in

BASKETBALL TOURNEY HONORS ALUMNI The Danny Pittaluga ’82 Memorial Basketball Tournament was held on March 29, honoring the alumnus who passed away in 2004 due to a heart attack while working as a firefighter in Colorado. Though the three-on-three tournament was originally attended primarily by Mr. Pittaluga’s classmates, the event has since shaped into a remembrance and celebration of the lives of many Sons of Xavier who have passed too soon. This year, attendees remembered Mike Andrews ’85, Jimmy Riches ’89, Chris Israel ’89, Chris Lawler ’95 and Larry McMahon ’97.

Chris Beauchamp ’07, Adam Elfassi ’10 and Tammer Farid, the Baruch College All-Stars, have long been stars of the tournament. Champions the past three years, they returned to the game and won their fourth consecutive trophy at the event.

Look for more in future issues of Xavier Magazine about the 2015 tournament.

2012 Chris Beauchamp ’07, Adam Elfassi ’10 and Tammer Farid are pictured with coaches Greg Dolan and Joe McGrane.

Corrections In the spring 2014 issue of Xavier Magazine in the “Sons of Xavier” section, Alexander Whiteaker ’10 was incorrectly referred to as “Andrew.”

We apologize for this error.

XAVIER MAGAZINE

33.

Sons of XAVIER 2013 Matthew Crockett is currently playing basketball for the State University of New York at Oswego. “Being a college athlete in many ways made my freshman year at Oswego great. Our team was composed of five freshmen, five sophomores, one junior, and one senior so we were very young. We managed to finish the season at 17–10 finishing fourth in our conference. I did not play much during the beginning parts of the season but towards the end of the season we had a few injuries so I started to play, and we had a great win over Brockport, who was Number 12 in the country at the time, and I helped contribute to that win, scoring 17 points.”

Scott Midgett competed on DePaul University’s Track & Field team, a Division I Big East Conference team. He competed in seven high jump competitions this year, placed top 10 in five out of seven. He also cleared a collegiate best of 6’1”, and set a new personal record in the 100 meter dash with the time of 11.44. His team placed third at the indoor conference champs and second in outdoors. Scott was named to the All-Academic team after successfully maintaining above a 3.0 GPA all year.

Andrew Waggoner sees big things in the future for Wheeling Jesuit University Rugby: “Having decisively beaten teams like University of Buffalo (34–0), Michigan State University (27–7) and Virginia Military Institute (66–12), we are ready for the more difficult obstacles that will emerge in the years to come. I often shift positions, mainly between flanker and center, so I am able to take what I have learned at Xavier and gain experience to learn and improve in all areas….The future looks bright for us down here in West Virginia.”

Jake DeFonzo wrote, “This year I had the privilege of playing and starting at hooker for the Loyola University Maryland rugby team. In the fall, our season ended with a playoff loss to Catholic University. A big win against Johns Hopkins University capped off a .500 spring season. At the end of the year, I received the Outstanding New Player award and was up for the Team MVP. One of the best things about playing at Loyola is the Xavier connection I share with many former players. At Loyola, playing with Xavier guys like Andrew Brosnahan ’11 and Phil Arvanitis ’12 really made the overall transition to college a breeze. Playing against colleges like Mount St. Mary University and Catholic University, who also field Xavier players, made me appreciate the connection I have with guys like Tim Steffens ’12, Dan Donahue ’12 and Bailey Caliban ’12. Also, one of the best parts about playing rugby at Loyola is living in the legacy of Sean Lugano ’91.

Early in the year, hearing stories from former Loyola rugby alumni about Sean, showed the type of player and person he truly was. Being able to practice and play at Sean Lugano Memorial Field is one of the greatest honors as a former Xavier rugby player. The connections and friendships I made playing football and rugby at Xavier will be some things I cherish for the rest of my life.”

Mileposts Engagements Neil Bucken ’00 is engaged to Lucy Orozco.

They will be married in the summer of 2014.

Bradley Gerardi ’03 is engaged to Pam Walsh.

Marriages Anthony Saporito ’97 married Rose Mazzella on February 16, 2014.

Guy Tardanico ’01 married Lauren DeMauro on May 25, 2014. Classmates Mark Morales ’01 and Sean Cullen ’01 were groomsmen.

Joseph Guster ’03 married Melissa Drobenare on May 4, 2014.

Thomas Lee ’03 married Samantha Bickerstaff in County Down, Ireland, on July 11, 2014. His brother, Patrick Lee ’16, served as best man.

Jacob Nicholson ’14 and Noah Nicholson ’16 with Arthur D. Cashin, Jr. ’59 at the New York Stock Exchange closing bell on May 8.

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XAVIER MAGAZINE

Adrian Santiago ’03 married Catherine Matthews on May 31, 2014.

Michael Mulé ’04 married Angela Chang on April 20, 2014.

Liam O’Hara ’04 married Lisa Rodriguez on May 9, 2014.

INSPIRING SUCCESS Zane Massey ’96 recently published Beyond the Statistics, an inspirational book that discusses the means by which young men of color from disadvantaged backgrounds can succeed. Mr. Massey grew up in Harlem and has enjoyed success in both the education and finance worlds.

In a recent interview at Yahoo! Voices, Mr. Massey said the book, “is a collection of short stories and interviews from eight young men of color including myself who had to overcome personal and professional obstacles in order to attain success.

The book highlights the journey of these inspirational men, as they deal with issues of poverty, racism, and a lack of a support system, to rise above the statistics that suggest men of color are destined for a life of crime or mediocrity.”

Zane Massey ’96 and Shane Lavin ’03

Births Bill Simpson ’47, welcomed his first great grandchild, Madelyn Elaine Griffith, on January 19, 2014.

Tony Miranda ’93 and his wife, Beth, welcomed son Rafael Seitz Miranda on May 7, 2014.

Matthew Scalzo ’95 and his wife, Victoria, welcomed their first child, Mary Clare, on April 7, 2014.

Tim Williamson ’00 and his wife, Christine, welcomed twins Breanna Elizabeth and Adam J on June 26, 2014.

Bryan Zabala ’02 and his wife, Alaina, welcomed daughter Olivia Marie Zabala on June 29, 2014.

Joseph Grasso ’03 and his wife, Chrissy, welcomed daughter Grace Elizabeth on May 28, 2014.

Claude Vella ’03 and his wife, Christine, welcomed son Ethan Michael Vella on April 2, 2014.

William Cahill ’06 and his wife, Sonja, welcomed son William Henry Cahill on June 22, 2014.

Class NOTES

In Memoriam Mr. Robert L. Victory ’39 5/3/2013 Mr. Charles F. Eisenhardt ’41 3/27/2014 Mr. Theodore P. Allocca ’44 1/26/2014 Mr. Leo J. Reilly ’44 9/23/2012 Alfred M. Zitani, Jr., M.D. ’44 2/15/2008 COL Myles H. Mierswa, Sr., USA (Ret.) ’45 11/24/2013 Mr. Alfred R. Turk ’45 4/23/2013 Rev. Matthew J. Flood, S.J. ’46 3/7/2014 Mr. Lawrence J. Seykora ’46 12/28/2007 Mr. Francis E. Gobes ’47 4/5/2014 Mr. John J. McDonald, Jr. ’47 6/26/2013 Philip E. Smith, Esq. ’47 1/15/2014 Joseph C. O’Connor, Jr., Esq. ’48 3/18/2014 Mr. Leonard J. Santoro ’50 6/13/2012 Prof. Maurice J. Cotter, Ph.D. ’51 2/8/2009 Dr. Joseph N. Savino ’51 2/13/2014 Mr. Erich W. Augustin ’52 11/9/2013 Mr. James Gallagher ’54 2/1/2014 Mr. John J. Lynch, Jr. ’54 10/6/2013 Mark Williams, Esq. ’55 6/24/2013 Mr. John P. McTague ’56 6/7/2013 Mr. Carl F. Nardone ’57 3/19/2014 John E. Russel, Esq. ’59 1/17/2014 William A. Brock, M.D. ’63 3/25/2014 Mr. Frank A. Lopez ’63 3/22/2013 Mr. Raymond K. Menendez ’75 5/4/2014 Mr. Jorge Hevia ’76 12/10/2013 Parents Grace V. Galbraith P’61, wife of John ’35†, mother of John ’61 5/3/2014 Mr. James P. Gildea P’70, father of James ’70, grandfather of James Amodeo ’14 5/21/2014 Mrs. Audrey Hawley P’75 ’71 4/2/2014 mother of Daniel ’75, Stephen ’71

Mr. Alfred E. Zampella P’76 ’73, father of Walter ’76, Edward ’73 2/2/2014 Mrs. Mary T. Sciabarra P’76 ’64, mother of Peter ’76, Joseph ’64 4/11/2014 Mrs. Helene Warren P’77, mother of James ’77 1/20/2014 Mrs. Caroline Angerame P’78, mother of Paul ’78 6/14/14 Mr. Renato Migliorini P’90, father of Peter ’90 4/19/2014 Mr. Donal Kidney P’12, father of Brian ’12, Daniel ’08 4/23/2014 Spouses Mrs. Evelyn Fitzpatrick, wife of William Fitzpatrick ’46 9/4/2012 Mrs. Theodora A. Devereux, wife of William Devereux ’40† 12/2/2012 Mrs. Judith Magrath, wife of Adrian Magrath ’43 3/5/2013 Mrs. Renee Scheil, wife of Thomas Scheil ’57 6/22/2013 Mrs. Susan Costello, wife of James Costello ’61 10/16/2012 Mrs. Katherine Stevens, wife of Richard Stevens ’64 9/23/2013 Siblings Miss Natalie Frankowski, sister of Patrick Frankowski ’12 6/3/14 Former Faculty Rev. John D. Alexander, S.J. 3/12/2014 Rev. Kenneth J. Caufield, S.J. 3/24/2014 Rev. Richard F. Timone, S.J. 3/23/2014

LITTLE FLOWER HONORS COMERFORDS Frank Comerford ’73 and his wife, Maura Manning Comerford, were honored at the Little Flower Monsignor John T. Fagan Awards Dinner on May 7.

The Comerfords were given Humanitarian Awards for their commitment to the not-for-profit charity, which serves children, families and developmentally disabled adults across New York City and Long Island.

Little Flower President J. Keith Fell, Esq., described the Mannings: “[They] embody Little Flower’s past and future. In spite of life’s other demands they continually make time

for the children and families we serve. For two individuals who know the importance of kindness and caring, charity and hope, and the importance of giving back and working for the greater good, they are an example to us all.”

Frank Comerford ’73, wife Maura Manning Comerford and Little Flower President J. Keith Fell., Esq.

REMEMBRANCE An Active Son of Xavier James J. “Jim” Gallagher ’54 passed away on February 1 in Vero Beach, Fla., after a brief battle with cancer. Mr. Gallagher was born August 29, 1936, in the Bronx and was raised in Elmhurst, Queens. He starred on the Xavier baseball team and attended the University of Mississippi on a baseball scholarship. Mr. Gallagher played professional baseball for the New York Giants, the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Athletics organizations, but fell short of making it to the major leagues.

After baseball, he began a 45-year career in advertising and founded his own firm, the Gallagher Group, which he led as president for 33 years. Retiring in 2008, he and his wife, Ann, moved to Vero Beach, Fla. Mr. Gallagher was very active in his class.

He attended reunions and served on the Xavier 50th Reunion committee in 2004.

Two weeks before his death he was rallying his classmates to attend their 60th reunion.

Mr. Gallagher was a longtime member of the President’s Council, attended Xavier receptions in Florida annually, and hosted the event several times. He was also an avid golfer.

Services were held in Vero Beach on February 6, and a funeral Mass was celebrated by his good friend and former Xavier President Rev. Daniel J. Gatti, S.J. ’59 at the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Manhattan on April 8.

Mr. Gallagher is survived by his wife, his three children, Maura, Matthew and Thomas, his sister, Maureen Vlack, and several grandchildren.

XAVIER MAGAZINE

35.

Back STORY

Meet Smackie Kennedy-Onassis Jennifer Kennedy-Orlando’s hobby is nearly as demanding as her day job. Nearly.

F

or sheer endurance, teamwork and toughness, few sports eclipse the demands of Roller Derby. Just ask Xavier English teacher Jennifer Kennedy-Orlando, who skates for Suburbia Roller Derby’s Backyard Bullies and The Indian Point Sirens under the Derby name Smackie Kennedy-Onassis.

Introduced to the sport by a friend, Ms. KennedyOrlando knew immediately she had found her game. “I didn’t know what was going on, but I loved it, and knew then I needed more Derby in my world,” she said.

A long-time fitness buff known for riding her bike between 16th Street and her home in Brooklyn, Ms. Kennedy-Orlando put in nearly a year of basic training to qualify for league play.

In addition to teaching freshman and junior English, Ms. Kennedy-Orlando has moderated the Xavier Dramatics Society, the Yearbook and the Photography Club, is a founder of the Book Club and is a devoted supporter of Xavier’s CFX programs. None of those activities have, fortunately, left as her bruised and battered as her newest passion.

Interested skaters are invited to contact Smackie personally for details.

Ms. Kennedy-Orlando noted that she is not the only Xavier Derby skater. Nick Favia ’06 skates for the men’s Roller Derby team, The New York Shock Exchange, under the Derby name Glittersaurus Rex. In her official Derby bio, Ms. Kennedy-Orlando offers young athletes the same kind of encouragement they would receive from a rugby or football coach: “Get up when you fall. Move forward when you fail. But most importantly — PLAY.”

“Roller Derby truly is an empowering and exciting sport, and it is great for women of all ages.”

“I was doing plow stop, drills in Basic 2 class and came down hard on my wheels,” she said. “I had the biggest, ugliest hematoma for weeks after that.”

Formerly an exclusively American sport, Roller Derby has seen an international revival, boasts more than 1,250 amateur leagues worldwide and was considered for the 2020 Olympic Games. “Roller Derby truly is an empowering and exciting sport,” said Ms. KennedyOrlando, “and it is great for women of all ages.” In fact, the Suburbia league plans to start a Junior Derby program for girls aged nine through 17 this summer.

“Smackie Kennedy-Onassis,” AKA Jennifer Kennedy-Orlando, eyes the competition.

36.

XAVIER MAGAZINE

Commonweal is turning

CNS Photo/Paul Haring

90!

For a free 6-month subscription: www.commonwealmagazine.org/xavier (Sign up today and get our special, expanded 90th Anniversary Issue)

More ways to stay connected: Follow us on Facebook Tweet at us @commonwealmag Download our digital app (www.commonwealmagazine.org/ commonweal-app)

COMING SPRING 2015

Larkin Legacy Society Speaker Series THE LARKIN LEGACY SOCIETY is composed of donors who have named Xavier as a beneficiary of a planned gift. These members have expressed their commitment to Xavier High School through a very special and important form of financial support. To learn more about the LLS, e-mail Director of Development Mark Mongelluzzo at mongelluzzom@xavierhs.org Speaker Rev. James Martin, S.J.

Calling All May 2015 College Graduates!

The Xavier Alumni Volunteer Program is looking for applicants for the 2015–2016 school year • Give back to Xavier and serve in a dynamic community while learning professional skills that will help advance your career • Positions available in Campus Ministry, Advancement, Alumni Relations and Communications and Admissions For those interested in applying, request more information from Shane Lavin ’03 at lavins@xavierhs.org.

XAVIER

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

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30 West 16th Street • New York, NY 10011-6302

Save the Date

2014

Upcoming Events

HALL OF FAME DINNER

Friday, November 7, 2014 Pier Sixty • New York, N.Y.

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1. E. Peter Corcoran ’46 3. Rev. Daniel J. Gatti, S.J. ’59

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4. Richard J. O’Reilly, M.D. ’60 5. Patrick J. Stokes ’60 6. Michael Wlach ’71 7. Rev. D. Michael Flynn, S.J. † 8. LTG Dennis P. McAuliffe, USA (Ret.) ’41 † 9. SSG Michael Rand, USA † 10. Rev. Joseph C. McKenna, S.J. ’35 † 11. Hon. Thomas N. Lyons ’67 † † Denotes deceased

Sept. 24, 2014

Parent Back to School Night

Sept. 25, 2014

President’s Council Dinner Oct. 9, 2014

For more information, please contact Helene Strong at strongh@xavierhs.org or (212) 901-5152.

2. Brig Gen Ruben A. Cubero, USAF (Ret.) ’57

Xavier Society/Loyola Associates Reception

Fall Open House

Oct. 18, 2014

Young Alumni Luncheon & Turkey Bowl Rally

Nov. 26, 2014

To register or for more information contact Shane Lavin ’03 at lavins@xavierhs.org or (212) 924-7900, ext. 1611 or go to www.xavierhsalumni.org/events.