November 2014.qxp - Jesuit High School of New Orleans

A. M. D. G.
J
The
Blue
ay
Volume 87, No. 3
Homecoming 2014
HOMECOMING
A winning week in every way
sium to finish the
race and to create
debris to inhibit
other bikers. Then,
the race began.
Some tricycles were
Jesuit’s celeflying around the
bration of Homeracetrack while othcoming Week iners skidded over the
cluded a slew of
banana peels or
Mario-themed
wrecked against the
activities, the presside walls.
entation of the eleThere
were
gant Homecoming
four
qualifying
Court, and the sweet
heats and the winvictory of the Blue
ners of each raced in
Jay football team
a school champiover rival East
onship.
Marcus
Jefferson
High
Fontenot
and
School.
Charles
Jackson
And
there’s Jesuit’s 2014 Homecoming Court gather on the track at Tad Gormley Stadium before the game between the Blue Jays and the came out of the race
still more to come Warriors of East Jefferson High School. The Court was presented during halftime, when each couple was greeted by the Rev. as school champiwith
the Anthony McGinn, S.J., Jesuit’s president. He presented a bouquet of roses to each of the maids. The members of this year’s ons.
H o m e c o m i n g Court were (from left) freshman Lawless Oubre and Erin D’Andrea Stewart; junior David Keller and Madeline Zimmer; junTuesday feadance, which will ior Francesco Pineda and Jennifer Madden; Kayla Noto and senior David Boh; Maddie Cvitanovich and senior Harrison Bond tured a videogame
conclude the festiv- (not pictured; standing in for Harrison as Maddie’s escort was Trent Forshag); Rebekah Besselman and senior Trey LaForge, tournament on the
ities on Nov. 8 at who was busy on the field that night as quarterback for the Blue Jays; standing in for Trey was his cousin, senior Jack Student Commons.
the Mercedes-Benz LaForge; and Sophie Millet and Michael McMahon, who also took to the field that night. His brother, freshman Christopher Students had a
Superdome.
choice of four difMcMahon escorted Sophie, who was later crowned Homecoming Queen. (For more photos from Homecoming, see Page 5.)
The week’s onferent games: Mario
format. Each tricycle had a two-man team:
campus events during lunch included a and the spectators.
Sluggers, Mario Kart, Super Smash
Taking its theme from the popular one man to push the bike as his teammate
Tricycle Mario Kart Race, a Super Smash
Brothers, and Mario Strikers. These games
Brothers Joust, a videogame day, and the videogame characters, Homecoming Week steered. (Or attempted to do so.)
Both team members had to consume a
Senior/Faculty football game. All were kicked off on Sept. 29, with the Mario Kart
See HOMECOMING, Page 5
very entertaining for both the participants Tricycle Race. The race had an interesting whole banana to give them enough potas-
By
William Fine
News Editor
Swashbuckling
Jays find agility,
wit in fencing
By Ethan Gilberti
Staff Writer
There are many organizations within Jesuit that are rarely
found in other high schools.
One of these is the Fencing
Club, celebrating the ancient
sport that has been described as
three-dimensional chess.
Fencing is a game of agility,
strength, and wit. Moderated by
Jason LaLonde, S.J., the club
meets every Monday after school
to play either sabre or foil after
quick warm-ups.
Club
of the Month
Saber is a form of fencing in
which one attempts to cut or slash
the opponent with his sword.
In saber, the entire body is
allowed to be hit; and one must
be strong enough to both withstand the opponent’s blows and
come back to deliver the winning
strike himself. With the intense
battle of speed and strength, it’s
about as close as you can get to
fulfilling one’s childhood dream
of being a pirate.
Along with saber, the mem-
Bo Bell, center, judges a foil match between Michael Riddick (right), captain of the Fencing Club,
and Joshua Duhon. The foil form of the sport involves precision and dexterity. The saber version
requires ore agressive physical moves.
Photo by Jason LaLonde, S.J.
bers may also play foil. This form
of fencing requires pinpoint
accuracy and stellar timing.
During foil, one must solidly
strike his sword into the upper
torso of his opponent, using
mainly the wrist to maneuver the
rapier instead of the whole arm
like in sabre.
During any game of fencing,
your stance is always an important aspect. Throughout the
game, you must constantly have
See FENCING, Page 4
Features
Volume 87, No. 3
Page 2
From golf to God,
Plough’s last year
going swimmingly
By Patrick Fine
Editor-in-Chief
Senior Francis Plough is a
busy man in the pool, flying
flags, chipping near the green,
and in the chapel. Plough is
involved in Student Ministry,
Varsity Swimming, Varsity Golf,
Pro-Life, Sodality, National
Honor Society, Peer Support, and
Academic Support. Plough is an
integral part of many organizations around campus and does not
seem to like slowing down.
Plough is a co-captain of the
Varsity Swim Team and has his
sights set high. As the team nears
the end of its season, the goals
are all looming at the end of the
pool.
“The practices are hard, as
they should be; but the guys are
putting in the effort, and we are
pumped for the three big meets at
the end of the season: District,
Metro, and State.” Plough personally aspires to “finish in the
top three” in one of the two individual events he swims.
“Golf is a little different. I
focus on swimming in the fall
and golf in the spring. This obvi-
Blue Jay
of the Month
ously leaves golf to the disadvantage right now but I am really trying to be there for my team.”
Francis wants to be on the roster
of five for the state tournament in
the spring, but the competition is
fierce as many young golfers are
also hungry for a strong state run.
“Campus Ministry is working out very well. We had two
extremely successful retreats in
early first quarter for the prefreshman and freshman, and
World Youth Day New Orleans
turned out to have a higher attendance than we expected, which is
fantastic. I feel that Campus
Ministry is doing a great job of
spreading the word that it is cool
to be faithful, especially when we
are at a Catholic school,” he said.
“Our goal is to help young
men become more comfortable
and confident with their faith.”
With these goals in mind, Plough
also strives to set quite the example. He is often seen around campus tutoring students, leading
retreats, or finding some quiet
time at Eucharistic Adoration.
In contrast to these humble
roles, Plough also can be seen
For Blue Jay of the Month Francis Plough, a busy senior year finds him pooling his time in participation in just about every aspect of life at Jesuit, working as a spiritual leader with Student Ministry,
amping up the spirit at football games, or being a key force on the swimming team, as well as onthe
golf course.
front and center carrying the “J”
flag during football games.
Plough notes that “Jay Spirit is
the highest I have seen it in the
past five years I’ve attended
Jesuit.”
“We had one of the biggest
Gizzard turn outs for the Holy
Cross game and we are thrilled
that guys are excited to go to
football games. We are trying to
think of ways to get all the guys
that are in the Gizzard to cheer
together and louder. I think once
we make it happen it will be the
coolest experience the Gizzard
has ever seen.”
Francis looks forward to
leading two teams to successful
seasons and taking Student
Ministry to a higher level than it
was before.
“I want to be able to look
back at my senior year at Jesuit
and say I wouldn’t have done
anything differently. I am looking
forward to giving every ounce of
effort I have to all the clubs and
sports I am a part of.”
Plough truly embodies the
Blue Jay Spirit and takes to heart
what it means to be a Man for
Others. In fact, he recalled his
favorite Jesuit memory as being
the trip for his junior service project.
“I went on the Appalachia
service project trip to Fries, Va.,
and it was the best choice I ever
made, he said. “I have never gotten closer to 12 other young men
in my career at Jesuit.”
In his final year at the
school, Plough has taken on quite
a job and is thriving, meeting
every challenge with a positive
attitude and a will to succeed.
When asked for his final words to
the student body, Plough
responded with the simple yet
emphatic, “Go Jays!”
Roso breathes life into stories in class, on stage
The Crucible
By Jason LaHatte
Features Editor
Autumn may be the time
when things cool down. But for
the Phililectic Society, it’s time to
get heated up.
The theatrical troupe is busily preparing its annual fall production, which will open Nov.
13. This year’s show is Arthur
Miller’s classic drama, The
Crucible. The 1953 Tony Awardwinning play is set during the
Salem witch trials of the 17th
century. It also is an allegory of
McCarthyism, the practice of
making unfair and unproven
accusations against suspected
Communists during the so-called
“Red Scare” of the 1950s.
But, of course, you knew
that already, if you’ve taken
English III, when most Jesuit students have read and studied the
play. In fact, you might recognize
one of the characters as being the
teacher who guided you through
the drama. For The Crucible, Bob
Roso returns to the stage, appearing in the featured role as
Thomas Danforth, the strict and
pretentious judge, who the playwright himself once described as
the true villain of the play.
Roso is no stranger to either
the classroom or the theater. He’s
been a teacher for more than 35
years, the past 13 here at Jesuit.
Shortly after graduating from
What: The Philelectic
Society stages Arthur
Miller’s classic drama
set during the Salem
witch trials.
When: Preview Nov. 13
at 6:30 p.m.
Opening night Nov. 14,
with additional shows on
the 15, 21 and 22,
all at 7:30 p.m.
A matinee also will be
staged at 2 p.m. Nov. 22.
He’s taught the play in dramatic fashion in his English class, but now Bob Roso, left, will tackle a
featured role in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, being presented this month by the Philelectic Society.
He is shown in rehearsal with castmates Sylvia Owens and Jared Larriviere. Photo by Charles Bourg
Teacher
Feature
Archbishop Rummel High
School in 1972, he would return
to his alma mater, where he
taught for 25 years.
The former Rummel Raider
is a committed Blue Jay today.
When asked about his experience
at Jesuit, his response is quick:
“What is there not to like
about Jesuit?”
Since
his
arrival
at
Carrollton and Banks, Roso has
instructed students in the art of
writing essays as well as interpreting fine American Literature.
Surprisingly, however, he didn’t
expect to be teaching English at
the start of his career.
“Interestingly, my original
goal was to teach American
History, which I did at J.S. Clark
for my semester of student teach-
ing,” he said. “But I thought that
I would have more of an opportunity to be more involved with the
students with English.”
That spirit of involvement
shows in his classroom, where he
is a dynamic force in bringing
novels and plays to life off the
page. His longtime love of acting
and the definitely gives his students a unique experience when
reading the classics. Roso’s
impressions of certain characters,
voice modulations – along with
the always recognizable laughs –
encourage students to be just as
invested in experiencing the play
as he is. Roso does not merely
focus on the deeper meanings but
also makes sure his students
enjoy themselves while doing it,
giving them new perspectives in
approaching drama and literature.
Roso has used his theatrical
talents in the past as the assistant
director of the Rummel’s drama
group, the Genesian Players.
Through the years, he also
appeared in a number of shows
both at Rummel and here at
Jesuit. His last appearance was in
See ROSO, Page 3
Features
Volume 87, No. 3
Page 3
Cozy bookshop
welcome addition
to Carrollton area
By Ethan Gilberti
Staff Writer
Around
the Town
At the heart of Mid-City, the
Carrollton Avenue neighborhood
is thriving, filled with a variety of
unique businesses that have have
real appeal for students.
Blue Jays are regularly spotted at the many eateries in the
new Carrollton Marketplace just
across Canal Street, as well as
longtime establishments from
Juan’s Flying Burrito to Angelo
Brocato’s bakery and ice cream
parlor.
One of the newest additions
to the landscape is a cozy and
welcome respite that makes the
neighborhood even more exciting: Tubby and Coo’s Mid-City
Book Shop.
Located near the Bean
Gallery, as soon as one walks into
the shop and breathes in that
woody, new book smell, it’s easy
to tell the difference between
such a local, independent shop
and a large national chain store,
such as Barnes and Noble.
For starters, where those bigger stores are large and crowded,
Tubby and Coo’s is small and
retains a homey atmosphere,
which is a nice contrast to the
detached chill the big stores
evoke.
Unfortunately, the small
independents face a hard road to
succeed, being outpriced by the
big stores, as well as such online
book sellers as Amazon.com.
Named for the oner’s grandparent’s, Tubby and Coo’s is
among the shops trying their best
to keep the spirit of smaller, local
stores alive by providing what
the big behemoths fail to offer:
Tubby and Coo’s
Mid-City Book Shop
631 N. Carrollton Ave.
Open 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Closed Wednesdays
504-598-5536
Roso
Continued from Page 2
tubbyandcoos.com
personal, friendly service and a
pleasant atmosphere in which to
browse.
The service at Tubby and
Coo’s is affable and unhurried.
The owner of the shop is always
there to greet you with a smile.
The atmosphere inside is
enlivened by murals by Skip
Nola, a well-known local artist,
whose work appears in several
other neighborhood stores.
What really matters, of
course, are the books. Tubby and
Coo’s specializes in several genres of writing, particularly sci-fi,
fantasy, horror, graphic novels,
and young adult fiction.
There is even a section of the
shop dedicated to local authors,
such as Jesuit’s own Gary Wyss.
With its primary focus on
science fiction and fantasy, the
shop also carries a plethora of
merchandise related to that literature, including T-shirts and
games.
As part of its mission to
encourage young people to buy
books instead of videogames, the
shop also offers a 10 percent discount to all students, as well as
teachers.
Influenced by popular shows
Tubby and Coo’s Mid-City Book Shop is a welcome addition to
the Carrollton corridor, and its stock will likely attract flocks of
Blue Jays.
and movies such as Doctor Who,
the Harry Potter series, and Star
Trek, there is a decidedly nerdycool atmosphere.
The shop has already
become a magnet and gathering
spot for geeks all around.
For those looking for fellow
avid readers to socialize with,
Tubby and Coo’s is definitely the
place for them.
There’s a reading room and
free Wi-Fi access.
For those looking for a trip
down memory lane or wanting to
bring their family, there is an
entire room dedicated to children’s books and painted to look
just like Andy’s room from Toy
Story.
At Tubby and Coo’s both
nerds and non-nerds will find
something of interest.
“I just wanted to make a
place where everyone can be
themselves and have fun,”
Candice Huber, the shop’s owner,
said.
Tubby and Coo’s will also be
presenting regular events such as
board game nights, Manga
(Japanese comic books) discussion sessions, and cos-play parties.
It’s just about a 15-minute
walk from Jesuit and promises to
become a popular hangout for
Blue Jays ready to further their
love of reading.
the Phils’ staging of the comedy
Noises Off five years ago.
A man of letters, don’t
expect to see him belting out
high notes in any musicals. He
freely admits that his song and
dance talents are limited. He
prefers sticking with comedies or
dramas with lots of dialogue and
the ability to shape a character,
his specialty that he employs in
opening up literature for his students.
Roso said he also realizes
that the stage or classroom isn’t
the only place where he can put a
smile on people’s faces or influence their lives. His participation
in service trips have been truly
life-changing, he said. On a
weeklong trip to Nicaragua, he
worked with an organization
called Amigos for Christ.
“This organization was
helping a village of about 500
rebuild after a devastating earthquake that destroyed their homes
and these people were literally
living in a dump. The first day, a
bus dropped the group off at the
dump; it was heart wrenching.
We saw emaciated dogs, horses
whose ribs were showing, and
people living in this dump. To
bring the story full circle, we
were building a school for the
people.”
Roso clearly loves to help
others and to bring a little joy to
someone in need. In living out
what he teaches, he shows that
mottos such as A.M.D.G. don’t
only take root in the hearts of
Jesuit’s students.
“This school definitely
makes people men for others,”
he said, recalling his own giving
experiences.
Come see Roso in The
Crucible, or if you happen to be
passing in the first-floor hallways, pause for a moment and
listen for that lively, distinctive
voice.
You won’t be disappointed.
Wakin’ Bakin’ offering best breakfast on Banks
By Felix Rabito
and Nick Slay
The Taste Buds
A few blocks down Banks
Street from Jesuit are several
cozy neighborhood dives. One of
these is Wakin’ Bakin’ which the
Taste Buds visited last week.
Wakin’ Bakin’ is small yellow building down Banks that
sprung up along with several
other places in recent years.
Wakin’ Bakin’ has been doing
good business recently; several
other Jesuit students and faculty
members have already discovered it.
The same day the Taste Buds
visited,
our
two
Jesuit
Scholastics, Julio Minsal-Ruiz,
S.J., and Jason LaLonde, S.J.,
were also there.
“The pancrepes were delectable to the palate, with a taste
even Plato would enjoy,” he
Though heavy on the layer of
cheese, the filling breakfast
bowl is a tasty treat at Wakin’
Bakin.’
declared with his customary flair!
The popularity of the restaurant is especially evident during
brunch. The restaurant follows a
code of independence that echoes
the spirit at Jesuit – direct and to
the point. Upon entering the dining room, you will not be coddled
by a waiter leading you to your
table. As soon as you walk in,
quickly claim a coveted table. If
someone beats you to it, it’s your
own responsibility to grab a
menu and order at the counter.
At the counter, the staff is
very helpful and polite telling
you what each dish is like. Also,
for the Taste Buds, undoubtedly
due to our dashing good looks,
the staff member served up pleasant conversation with our order.
It is also up to the patron to
get his own cup and fill it with
water or tea from a cooler on the
wall on the restaurant. I personally enjoy being able to get water
whenever I want it.
With the crowds comes a
long wait after ordering. But the
results are worth it. For the meager $6 we spent, we received
breakfast bowls that were the
most filling and delicious breakfast meals the Taste Buds have
ever had.
There are several options to
this bowl with the bottom layer
either being grits, hash browns,
The Taste Buds
Wakin’ Bakin’
4408 Banks St.
Open 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Closed on Tuesdays
504-252-0343
wakinbakin.com
The Taste Buds
give it:
*****
or black beans. No matter which
base you choose, it will be under
a thick layer of cheese and all the
bacon you could wish for.
Topping off this bowl are two
eggs cooked in any style you
wish. We chose the hash brown
bowl with two scrambled eggs on
top.
The hash browns were
cooked to perfection and the
scrambled eggs had a great texture. The bacon, which was
crushed into bits, was crispy and
plentiful. The only complaint we
had was the abundance of cheese,
which while essential to the dish,
overwhelmed the other flavors.
The overall experience of
Wakin’ Bakin’ was very good. If
you’re in the area – c’mon, it’s
just up the street! – you’ll likely
become a repeat customer. We
can’t wait to get back to sample
the joint’s famed breakfast burritos.
Taste Buds score
you a deal
In the previous issue of The
Blue Jay, the Taste Buds gave a
favorable report on Lakeview’s
Jaeger Burger Co. The owner
enjoyed what we had to say so
much that he’s offering a special
deal for anyone with a Jesuit ID:
Buy any burger and get the second at half-price. Those juicy
burgers are at 872 Harrison Ave.
Volume 87, No. 3
Opinions/Sports
Page 4
Trash talking
Let’s add an aspect of green
to our Blue and White
By Jason LaHatte
Features Editor
Freshman Grayson Glorioso blasts a fairway shot as a Brother
Martin golfer looks on. The Jays beat the Crusaders, 155-149.
Point of view
Call them young, but
golfers seek birdies,
eagles, to soar like Jays
“I only feel angry when I see
waste … when I see people
throwing away things we could
use.”
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
I have come to notice something peculiar since the year
started: we as a student body do
not recycle as much as we
should.
As a Catholic school, with
our motto being “Men for
Others,” Jesuit teaches its students to be stewards for creation.
In order to also become
“Men for the Earth,” the student
body should make a conscious
effort to recycle.
All too often, I see a fellow
student at lunch drink water from
a plastic bottle; he then proceeds
to throw the bottle away in the
garbage can.
Also, I have noticed the surprising lack of use of our classroom’s recycling boxes.
Paper is thrown into the
garbage cans where it will go to
the landfill and not be of anymore use. Paper waste equals one
thing: more trees cut down to
make more paper.
If a Jesuit education can garner a student a 30 on the ACT,
then it gives one the ability to
think before acting.
Now, I know that Jesuit’s has
a Green Club, has recycling
boxes in every classroom, and
has large recycling cans on every
floor and outside; but all of these
superb features of Jesuit’s envi-
Fencing
Continued from Page 1
your main foot facing the opponent and have both heels form a
right angle.
This form allows the fencer
to remain perfectly balanced and
maneuver easily. This part of
fencing takes both practice and
discipline and is a key element to
master.
Naturally, fencing requires
that players wear protective
equipment, for safety always
comes first. Some of the gear
includes helmets, gloves, sabres,
and your own ingenuity.
However, do not let all the
rules and restrictions dissuade
you; fencing is still a fun, passionate game that anyone can
enjoy.
“My favorite thing about
fencing is definitely the thrill of
the duel. The greatest rush you
can feel in fencing comes from
the victory of exploiting a weak-
By Nick Slay
Staff Writer
Victor Castellon brings one of the new recycling bins to a classroom.
Photo by Matthew O’Neill
ronmental commitment cannot
work without the student body’s
support and active participation.
The Green Club, Jesuit’s student organization that empties
the recycling bins into the recycling dumpster for weekly pickup, is larger than ever this year,
according to moderator Lori
Fasone.
This means that there are
more Blue Jays who are aware
that Jesuit needs to lessen its
environmental impact.
Jesuit started its recycling
program five years ago, and
every year it grows.
ness in someone else’s guard to
score a point,” said Michael
Riddick, captain of the fencing
team.
So how do you start?
“For people who are interested in taking up fencing, my
advice would be to never give
up,” Riddick said. “It takes a
while to develop a style that
works for you. So you will be
losing a lot of matches in the
beginning.
“While this may be disheartening, if you keep practicing, you
will eventually learn what works
best for you and will start winning,” he said.
Fencing is not solely about
the art of self defense with
swords. It also teaches one how
to be disciplined, set goals, and
make split-second decisions,
while dealing with the consequences.
Fencing can teach you many
lifelong skills and even translate
some of these mental strategies to
everyday life.
Because of the Green Club’s
commitment to saving the environment from unnecessary waste,
new recycling bins for every
classroom will soon replace the
boxes that sometimes go unnoticed for days.
This is the year that Jesuit
High School can become a model
for other schools who want to
know how a recycling program
should be done.
Utilize the new recycle bins,
recycle your lunchtime bottles
and cans, think before you act,
and be a man for the Earth.
Now that the long drive of
the first quarter is completed, it
might feel like the year is puttputt puttering along. But for most
fall sports, teams are now fully
into the swing of things. That
includes Jesuit’s golf team.
The Blue Jay golfers have
done very well in recent years,
ushering several star players into
college golf programs.
Although golf’s main season
peaks in the spring, the Jesuit
golf team has competitions and
tournaments in the fall to ensure
the athletes stay in good shape.
The captains for this year’s
golf team are senior Francis
Plough and junior Grant
Glorioso. Because of the loss of
six top players who graduated
last year, this might be seen as a
rebuilding year for the team, with
only one of last year’s starters
returning to the greens.
The team may be younger,
with the top five comprising one
senior, and a pair each of juniors
and sophomores, but it is a competitive group, having teed off
the season strongly.
The team beat Archbishop
Rummel, Archbishop Shaw,
Holy Cross, Brother Martin and
Country Day. The only loss so far
this preseason was a narrow one
against Isidore Newman, 165170. The players have been hitting very well and show much
promise.
“Every single one of us is
capable of starting for our district
matches, it’s just up to Coach
Owen [Seiler] as to who does and
who doesn’t,” Plough said.
Although district play has
not yet begun, the preseason
showings bode well for the Blue
Jays, who will be looking to
improve upon the team’s performance in last year’s state tournament where they finished
sixth. The biggest threats in state
for the golfers this year are St.
Paul’s and Barbe. Barbe is the
defending champion and St.
Paul’s was last year’s runner up.
Seiler is pushing his young
team hard this year. Despite constant rain delays the team has had
a match almost every weekend so
far this season trying to get the
golfers into shape. The golfers
also do a series of team workouts, which work to increase core
strength to help with swings.
Although the Jays have a
long road ahead of them before
they reach state, they are working hard to reach their goals.
The Blue Jay
Editorial Board
Editor-in-Chief
Patrick Fine ’15
Features Editor
Jason LaHatte ’15
News Editor
Photo Editor
Matthew O’Neill ’17
William Fine ’17
Entertainment Editor
Sports Editor
Layout Editor
Brady Stiller ’17
Jerry Spencer ’15
Adam Ledet ’16
Opinions Editor
Kevin Credo ’16
Moderator
Theodore P. Mahne
Volume 87, No. 3
Homecoming Special
Page 5
Wacky competitions, an elegant court,
a victorious team, and dance still to come!
Homecoming
Continued from Page 1
were played on six different television screens around the
Commons. Winners kept playing
until defeated; losers joined the
large crowd of spectators, which
reminded many of the Fifa-tournament atmosphere during the
Lenten Mission Drive.
The following afternoon
saw one of the games spring to
life as students brawled withing
an inflatable ring against some of
their closest friends.
Altough rain threw a wrench
into the proceedings, the battles
went on, with students simply
needing a change of clothes in
order to fight.
Donning headgear and oversized boxing gloves, bodies
slammed into one another on the
now-slippery mat. These conditions made for unusual techniques and many, many falls.
The annual and always
entertaining Senior/Faculty football game was on Thursday. The
seniors were led by quarterback
Cameron Guernsey while Coach
Chris Jennings captained the faculty squad. The seniors started
off with a flashy hook and ladder, which led to a touchdown by
the senior squad.
The faculty responded with
a touchdown run by Jennings.
The faculty then picked off
Guernsey and turned that into
aother touchdown.
The senior squad responded
with an impressive drive for a
touchdown. After tying it up,
however, it was downhill for the
seniors. The faculty scored twice
in a row to extend the team’s lead
to two touchdowns. The seniors
made a desperation comeback
and scored on a quick drive near
the end of the game; however, it
was not enough. The faculty won
by a touchdown margin,
although this makes no difference to the seniors who remain
under the impression that the
Class of 2015 was victorious.
The Blue Jay football team
played the homecoming game
on Friday. (See story and more
photos on Page 6.)
The student section, or
“Gizzard,” was out in full force
for the game, cheering the team
on to a 40-17 victory over East
Jefferson at Tad Gormley
Stadium.
At halftime, this year’s
Homecoming Court was presented. Senior Michael McMahon
and his date, Sophie Millet, were
crowned Homecoming King and
Queen.
The festive week came to a
close with Saturday’s Alumni
Mass, which honored Bill Babin,
Class of ’74, as Alumnus of the
Year. Hundreds of alumni attended the Mass, along with their
spouses and familie, showing
that Blue Jay spirit lasts long
after Homecoming Week itself.
The Jesuit football team roars out onto the field at Tad Gormley Stadium for the annual Homecoming game. With strong support from
cheers in ‘The Gizzard’ student section of the stands, the Blue Jays achieved a big win over the East Jefferson Warriors, 40-17.
Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J., crowns Homecoming
Queen Sophie Millet at halftime of the Homecoming
game. At right, Coach Gino Giambelluca chases an
overthrown ball as senior Garrett Perez chases him
in the annual Senior-Faculty football game.
Homecoming festivites took place throughout the week leading to the big game. Coach Chris
Jennings, left photo, proved that he is as comfortabe on the football field as he is leading his players
on the basketball court. As captain of their team, he led the faculty to victory, 27-20. against the seniors in the annual Senior/Faculty football game. Earlier in the week, fierce battles took place in the
Super Smash Bros. inflatable jousting ring. Above, the McMahon brothers, pre-freshman Robert
and freshman John, try to sock one another out.
And it’s not over yet!
The celebrations conclude on Saturday, Nov. 8, with the
annual Homecoming Dance,
beginning at 8 p.m. in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Sports
Volume 87, No. 3
Page 4
Football team sets sights on playoffs
after Homecoming, Rivalry wins
By Patrick Fine
Editor-in-Chief
Just how far will they go?
The Jesuit football team is
having one of its more spectacular seasons in school history.
Having dismembered nearly
every team in its division, the
team shows no signs of stopping
anytime soon.
Despite a heartbreaker of a
loss against Archbishop Rummel
in a hard-fought game, a playoff
spot still appears certain.
The Blue Jays recently
played two games that solidified
their position among the top
teams in Louisiana. The Homecoming game against East
Jefferson and the Great American
Rivalry game against Holy Cross
showed just how formidable this
year’s team is.
Adding to the joy of the
Homecoming celebrations, the
Jays routed last year’s state
champion, the East Jefferson
Warriors, by a score of 40-14.
Touchdowns were soon piling up as Jesuit’s offense, ranked
first in the state, marched up and
down the field at will.
Senior fullback Michael
McMahon was steamrolling tacklers unfortunate enough to hit his
shoulders. The three-headed
monster of running backs made
up of seniors Charles Jackson,
Chris Mills and Malcolm Ben
were shifty and hard to bring
down, running through gaping
holes made by a veteran offensive line.
The running attack is almost
outdone by the passing game.
Led by senior quarterback Trey
LaForge, the Jays continue to
cause headaches for defenses.
With big targets like receiver
Kalija Lipscomb and tight end
Foster Moreau, LaForge has no
problem putting the ball on target. This incredible offense con-
Welcome home! The Blue Jays
brought the trophy back home
after defeating the Holy Cross
Tigers 56-14 in the annual
Great American Rivalry game.
The adrenalin kicks in for running back Chris Mills, No. 25, after he scores his first touchdown of
the Homecoming game against East Jefferson at Tad Gormley Stadium.
tinued against Holy Cross in one
of the state’s most historic and
long-running rivalries.
The offense in that game
amassed 56 points, while
LaForge threw four touchdowns
to Lipscomb.
However, the team would
not be nearly as effective without
a stout defense. Led by brothers
Hunt and Zach Robert, and
anchored by safeties Dillon
Knight and Mark Beebe, the
defensive line didn’t allow much
to get by them. This defense
quickly gets the ball back to the
best offense in the state, not to
mention the field position often Junior wide receiver Malachi Hull makes a nice reception and
gained by returner Jakirai Wiley.
drags an East Jefferson Warrior for a few extra yards.
The perfect complementary St. Augustine coming up, fans victory.
football played by Coach Mark will truly see where the Jays
With student sections similar
Songy’s team doesn’t leave much stand as far as winning a state to the rivalry game, the team
of a game by the second half. In title. The team has all the compo- always has a welcoming sea of
most of Jesuit’s wins this season, nents necessary to make quite a blue and white to use for support.
the second strings were brought run in the playoffs.
Look for the team to make a
in to finish the game sometime
Now is the time for the fans strong appearance in the state
during the third quarter.
to up their game, as well.
playoffs.
The Blue Jays are just warm“The Gizzard” needs to be
All the pieces are set in
ing up to their full potential. With out in full force at all the remain- place; execution is the only part
big tests like Brother Martin and ing games to cheer the team on to left. Go Blue Jays!
SCOREBOARD
vs. Karr (Aug. 28)
WIN 17-15
vs. Ponchatoula (Sept. 5)
LOSS 24-21
vs. St. Paul’s (Sept. 12)
WIN 49-22
vs. Central (Sept. 19)
WIN 35-6
vs. Pensacola (Sept. 26)
WIN 49-17
vs. East Jeff (Oct. 3)
WIN 40-14
vs. Holy Cross (Oct. 10)
WIN 56-14
vs. Shaw (Oct. 18)
WIN 49-14
vs. Rummel (Oct. 25)
LOSS 10-7
Upcoming:
vs. Bro. Martin (Nov. 1)
vs. St. Augustine (Nov. 7)
Living up to winning
traditions is the goal
of swimming Blue Jays
By Jackson Scott
Staff Writer
Nearing the end of its season, the
swim team is approaching the metro and
state meets undefeated and hungry for
revenge after a disappointing loss to
Catholic High School of Baton Rouge last
year at the state meet in Sulphur.
In its 63-year history, the Jesuit swimmers have won 37 state championships,
and has placed as state runner-up 16 times.
Under the coaching of Bret
Hanemann (’85) and Tré Roux (’87), the
team has been training harder than ever on
a quest for the state title.
Jesuit swimmers started training in
early August with their eyes set on meeting
Catholic High at state this month. The
resulting competition this year has been
some of the fiercest ever, with the site
sheet projecting a narrow point spread
between Jesuit and Catholic.
The swim team practices on Monday
and Wednesday mornings from 5:15 to
6:45 a.m. The dedication and hard work is
not lacking for the team given the practice
schedule. The 2014 Jesuit swim team led
by its senior captains — Sam Johnson,
Francis Plough, and Chris Simmons – has
Junior Cade Fuxan, top lane,pulls ahead of a competitor in the 200 individual medley in a meet against Mandeville at the start of the season. Photo by Stewart Johnson
34 members, consisting of nine seniors,
eight juniors, eight sophomores, and nine
freshmen. Nearly 20 of these swimmers
have qualified for the state meet and will
compete in Sulfur for the state title. Not
only will the team be competing, but individuals also have the opportunity to bring
home titles and records in their respective
disciplines and races.
The 2014 metro meet took place over
Halloween weekend. Results were not
available at press time. Check
jesuitnola.org for updated results.
The state meet will be held in Sulphur
on Nov. 21-22. Preliminary heats begin at
4 p.m. on Nov. 21, with finals at 3 p.m.
Nov. 22. With Baton Rouge’s Catholic
High posing a major challenge, the swimming Blue Jays appreciate all the support
they can get. Even if you cannot make the
drive to Sulphur, offer the team encouragement beforehand.