23 minute read
Record Breaker
RECORD BREA KER
BY MYLES KUSS ’16
alking off the field, Jesuit senior quarterback Jack Larriviere ’22 looked up at the scoreboard one last time and thought his athletic contribution to Jesuit had come to an end.
Losing a championship always comes with a mix of emotions— especially for a team’s leader. The emotion of gloom from falling short transforms into gratitude for giving one’s all every step of the way.
“It was heartbreaking,” Larriviere said. “It was great to light the fire of hope into the football program, and there were definitely tears of sadness and joy. But, even through the sadness, we all joined together in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs immediately after the game and reflected on the whole season. That was pretty special.”
He did not know it at the time, but his prayers of thanksgiving would guide him on his Jesuit journey.
By this time in his career, Larriviere had constantly proven that he could tackle any challenge, and, even more impressively, he seemed to live outside his comfort zone. Whether it was climbing to get closer to achieving Eagle Scout or climbing the stairs to receive his first communion, he has always looked higher than himself and wanted to achieve more.
“As far as becoming Catholic goes, I was going to wait until college to fully convert,” Larriviere said until divine inspiration and some words of advice from Jesuit chaplain Fr. Kevin Dyer, S.J., propelled him. “Fr. Dyer played a huge role in the entire process and helped me decide that receiving my first communion at a school Mass would be a beautiful moment for me. He was right, and I was confirmed a week later to complete my initiation into the Catholic Church. Entering a new faith was truly inspiring for me.”
Leaning on that faith, Larriviere once again climbed outside his comfort zone.
“Up until sophomore season, I played baseball, so I was always busy,” Larriviere said. “I took some time off to reflect on myself physically and spiritually. My brother threw the javelin at Jesuit, and he said I should try it. I asked coach Rudy, and he gave me a shot.”
A shot was all he needed. From the first practice, head track and field coach Rudy Horvath ’86 knew he had a keeper, but he did not realize how unprecedented his journey would be.
“I am so glad that I met Jack,” Horvath said. “While I wished that I had met him earlier, he is an impressive kid. In the first meet, he unloaded a 195-foot throw, and his second was 194 and some change. That’s when I knew his first throw was not a fluke.”
Larriviere went from barely being
able to recognize a javelin to winning the district meet in only a few short months. While he does possess an athletic ability that seems truly aweinspiring, his adaptability, diligence, and determination are even more impressive.
“He beat me to practice sometimes,” Horvath said. “He was always on time and always wanted to be the best. I had to calm him down at practice because he threw every throw as hard as he could.”
After the district competition, Larriviere continued his journey in the only way that he knew how: remaining present and aware. He had totally “bought-in” to his new sport and felt as though nothing could stop him— until an occurrence did.
In addition to throwing the javelin, Larriviere was one of the fastest sprinters on the team. One day at practice, he felt something tighten in his hamstring and feared the worst. Luckily, the injury only sidelined him for a month, but that was another month Larriviere could not get comfortable with his new event.
This unforeseen occurrence could crumble even the mightiest of athletes, but Larriviere had more to lean on than his athletic ability.
“Becoming an Eagle Scout was one of the toughest accolades I have ever achieved,” Larriviere said. “Without it, I would not be in the same position.
“The same goes for Jesuit. This school has always taught me to continue to improve and transform and to adapt to overcome certain situations.”
With these lessons, he did not simply overcome his situation—he thrived through it. Unfortunately, Larriviere had to overcome one more unforeseeable obstacle: his javelin.
During practice a mere 24 hours before the state competition, Larriviere released another all-out throw that stuck in the ground, but the sound that followed this time was different.
“Jack and I made eye contact as soon as we heard the sound,” Horvath
said. “I knew immediately that the javelin weight inside the shaft had moved.”
“It was the same javelin that I threw 195 feet,” Larriviere said. “Coach Rudy and I started brainstorming, and we came up with a solution.”
Through mutual connections, Horvath found someone who was more than willing to assist. Dr. William Junius ’93 not only provided a javelin but also had an emotional connection to the Larriviere’s journey.
“I broke the state record myself when I was at Jesuit,” Junius said. “I got cut from baseball and threw the javelin for the first time as a senior.
“It was cool that he used my javelin. I heard that he broke his own, and he ended up with a javelin that was acceptable. I am just glad that I could be a part of it.” Junius can relate to Larriviere’s unprecedented story the most, and he, like most in the Jesuit community, expects greatness out of the rising star. “What Jack has done is nothing short of extraordinary,” Junius said. “He has such an athletic ability. At first, I thought it was a fluke, but he just kept throwing. It simply doesn’t happen like this.” Coming from a man that threw for Tulane University and qualified for the Olympic Trials in 1996, these words carry significant weight. Without his history and his javelin, Larriviere’s story might have had a different ending.
At the LHSAA 5A State Championship on May 7 at LSU’s Bernie Moore Track Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA, Larriviere stepped up with his new javelin and did not miss a beat. When the competition concluded, Larriviere not only secured the state title with his throw of 228-10, he bested the composite state record by a whopping 16 feet 3 inches and claimed the longest throw registered nationwide at the high school level.
“The tournaments are intimidating places,” Horvath said with a smile. “Jack had cameras in his face. I am never skeptical, but I did not expect him to throw 200 and 220.”
Yet he did that and more. Whatever step of his Jesuit journey, he always seemed to do more than expected. He could have waited until college to become Catholic, but he wanted to glorify God in front of his Jesuit family. He could have sat out and coasted through the rest of his senior year after accomplishing deeds inside and outside the classroom, but he knew that he had more in the tank.
“It was invigorating to know that I was not done yet,” Larriviere said. “I trained my butt off with coach Rudy and set the record at state, and knowing that my hard work can still pay off was one of my favorite moments.”
That hard work continues to pay off. Only a couple of months after picking up the javelin for the first time, Louisiana State University called and offered him a track and field scholarship. Shortly after that, he became Jesuit’s first Gatorade Louisiana Boys Track & Field Player of the Year.
“People saw what Jack was doing, and it sparked an interest to be the best,” Horvath said. “His success could also open the door for other athletes to give track and field a try. I can’t speak enough of him for the two months that I knew him.”
Everyone in the Jesuit community is excited to see him take the next step in his journey, and he knows that he possesses the necessary experience and lessons to help him continue to chase higher.
“I could not have been happier than when LSU called,” Larriviere said. “A new fire was lit inside of me. I know that I can lean on everything I’ve learned to transform and adapt. I cannot thank coach Rudy enough for letting me go out to practice that day.”
Baseball
It is often said that there is no crying in baseball, but more than a few tears of joy were shed during the 2022 Jesuit baseball season. The campaign demonstrated the resilience and culture of the Blue Jay program. As the team seemed down, it continually showed that it was never out.
The baseball team (23-14) followed up its 2022 state championship victory with another strong season at John Ryan Stadium. In a competitive Catholic League, the Jays swept St. Augustine, Shaw, and Holy Cross. In addition to in-state opponents, the squad defeated a top-tier Nolan Catholic squad in the Jesuit Invitational Tournament.
After struggling to find its identity early in the season, Jesuit continued to build on its strengths before entering the playoffs. Even when the No. 5 seeded Jays dropped the first contest against No. 4 Byrd in Shreveport, they did not back down. The Blue and White went on to win the next two games—thanks to superior pitching performances by senior Holden Hess and freshman Jake Moreci—and advanced to the semifinal round against Catholic of Baton Rouge. Standout Hess started on the bump and faced adversity early, but he constantly pitched around trouble to keep his team competitive.
In addition to Hess and Moreci, the team had numerous impressive individual performances. Senior infielders Oddie Aucoin and James Bendeck provided leadership at the plate and in the dugout, and senior pitcher Ryan Porche and catcher Luke Brandau controlled the pace of the game that provided impressive performances amongst others.
Two players will be moving on to the next level. Porche and Hess will be teaming up in Ruston as both plan to pursue their passion for baseball at Louisiana Tech University.
Even when a weather delay stopped possible momentum in the quarterfinal matchup, the Jays ran onto the field and competed until their last out. The seniors showed the underclassmen exactly how to act during times of both victory and defeat, and that culture ensures this team will be a formidable opponent for the 2023 season under optimistic head coach Kenny Goodlett.
Basketball
After battling on the hard court for over three months, the Jesuit basketball team concluded its season on Feb. 22 at the hands of McKinley High School. The Panthers pulled away late to cap an 8064 victory inside the Gayle and Tom Benson Arena.
While the season ended sooner than most Jesuit fans would have liked, the determination and chemistry could be seen until the final whistle as seniors Matthew Knight and Michael Britsch were subbed off to a standing ovation with mere seconds left.
The Jays never quit. Even when junior standout Josh Washington went down with an injury before the season began, Jesuit practiced even harder and won
close contests to open the season.
Even when junior guard Jack Lo suffered a season-ending injury midway through the year, the Blue and White continued to show up and won enough games to finish as the No. 6 seed and host a first-round playoff matchup against No. 11 McKinley High School.
The Jays never led in the second half of the McKinley matchup but cut the deficit to 55-48 going into the fourth thanks to superior passing by junior Will Sheridan and diligent defense by junior Kole White. While the battle continued into the final period, the Panthers closed out the win by taking care of the basketball and hitting from the charity stripe.
Knowing the future is bright, head coach Chris Jennings ’78 congratulated his squad on an impressive campaign.
“The perseverance that this team showed was tremendous and deserves a lot of credit,” Jennings said. “As for next year, every year brings a new team. I am always excited about moving forward and molding these men into a new squad.”
The 2021-2022 basketball season provided heart-stopping wins and significant milestones. Whatever the task was, this team handled any situation with grit. Whether it was the last-minute win against rival Brother Martin, defeating state-runner-up John Curtis twice in the regular season, or Knight’s scoring his historic 1,000th point, this team provided moments that will be remembered by more than the players and fans who witnessed them.
Bowling
A historic year for the Jesuit bowling program included winning the school’s first LHSAA district title and taking first place at the Louisiana High School Invitational in Baton Rouge. Jesuit’s 10-2 regular-season mark, consisting of several shutouts, earned the team a 9th seed in the postseason. After winning their first two playoff matches against Patrick Taylor Science and Technology Academy and higher seeded Dutchtown, the Jays bowed out to top-seeded Brother Martin.
The 2022 team was anchored by seniors Jonah Anderson, Josh Barraza, Collin Pearce, Gary Sims, and Luke Wood. Sims and Wood, who provided outstanding leadership throughout the season, served as cocaptains. Juniors Will Adams, Ethan Benoit, Will Carpenter, and Preston Roark, along with freshman Joseph Anderson will return in 2023 to keep the program coached by Todd Bourgeois ’88 rolling in the right direction.
Golf
Thanks to the combined efforts of seniors Taylor Boasberg, Morgan Hebert, Merrick Rotolo, Jacob Schorr, junior Bennett Ducasse, sophomore Owen Bourg, and the rest of the squad, the Jesuit golfers claimed a co-district regular season title that captured momentum heading into post-season play.
After winning the district tournament, the Jays traveled to Lafayette to participate in the state tournament against the stiffest competition the state has to offer. Once the two-day event concluded, Jesuit finished fifth.
Two Jays from the team will continue their athletic careers at the next level. Boasberg will stay close to home and use his impressive swing at the University of New Orleans, and Rotolo is heading to Jackson, MS, to play at Belhaven University.
As for the 2023 Jesuit golf season, veteran head coach Owen Seiler ’75 is proud of the combined effort that the 2022 team displayed and is ready to lead another Jesuit team on the links.
“The boys had a great year and were able to have a great trip to compete in the Palmetto National at Myrtle Beach, SC,” Seiler said. “We have a good group of golfers moving forward who just lack experience. They will now have a great opportunity to lead their team.”
Lacrosse
With a formidably deep roster from which players from every class made substantial contributions, the 2022 Jesuit lacrosse team finished its season as the LHSLL Division I state runnerup. While the team this year had strong senior leadership, sophomore and junior players also stepped up in head coach Zach Pall’s second season at Jesuit. From a tight 14-12 win against St. Paul’s to a memorable nailbiting 7-6 semifinal victory against St. Thomas More, each player on the team played with heart, tenacity, and resilience.
In the St. Thomas More semifinal game, the team trailed for most of regulation play, but the squad fought its way back to a tie game. From a 4-6 deficit with just minutes to go in the fourth quarter, senior David Martin fired a shot that tied up the game. The Jays then battled through an overtime period that was capped off with a sudden death goal scored by sophomore standout Jack Sutherlin, who put up four points over the course of the night.
“It’s honestly surreal—you’ve never understood that feeling until you’ve actually gone through it,” Sutherlin told Varsity Sports Now in reference to the game’s spectacular ending. “It’s just an incredible feeling, especially in the playoffs. We fought so hard to get here—we’re not stopping here.”
Despite a hard-fought performance in the ensuing final game, the team lost an 8-2 championship game to Catholic High School. While he likely had the championship game in mind, Sutherlin was nevertheless right: the team isn’t putting the brakes on any time soon. With a talented returning roster, coach Pall heads into his third season with an energetic optimism.
Pall will be looking to build on the year’s successes for next year— especially given the stellar performance of Jesuit’s “B” lacrosse team. The “B”
team, which acts as a JV program for the varsity lacrosse squad, won its own championship game against the Holy Cross Tigers.
Soccer
The juggernaut Jesuit soccer program had another stand-out season that garnered a 16-2-6 record and a quarterfinal finish in the state tournament. Throughout the whole season, the team benefitted from contributions from both offensive and defensive players.
Whether it was senior Zane Madi delivering a well-placed corner, junior Carter Dusang threading his way through a congested mid-field, or junior Aidan Couvillon and senior William Cain managing the back line, the Blue and White produced a competitive and thrilling season.
“While the 2021-22 squad had many fine qualities such as technical proficiency, tactical awareness, mental strength, and physical preparedness,” head coach Hubie Collins said, “the coaching staff felt the players were unselfish in their approach even with all these exceptional individual qualities.”
Another Jesuit season brings more challenges, but the veteran Collins
knows that the right culture is already in place and chemistry will be the mark of next year’s squad.
“As we set our individual and team goals and expectations for the 202223 season, the coaching staff is very confident we will have a balanced squad of hardworking individuals that understand that while alone we can accomplish very little, our potential together is vast.”
Tennis
In head coach Bill Jepson’s second stint on Carrollton & Banks, Jesuit tennis has made huge strides. When the 2022 season ended, the Jays captured a district title and finished tied for third at the state tournament in Monroe.
Following his tremendous play throughout the season, senior Connor Cain will be moving on to the next level. The three-sport athlete will further his tennis career at Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL. Coach Jepson could not be happier for his captain.
“Cain is a great teammate, a fierce competitor, and a natural athlete, and he continues to improve his already solid tennis skills,” Jepson said. “Most importantly, he’s a terrific young man—solid, mature, dependable, thoughtful, and confident. It’s been my pleasure to coach him these last two years.”
The camaraderie that this team showed will serve as an example for future squads. Members such as junior Nick Kapusta and sophomore Josh Verges will continue to advance the positive culture that has been set at Jesuit.
The 2023 season will return experienced starters from this past year, and Jepson could not be more excited for his squad to battle against the best that the state has to offer.
“Jesuit tennis is poised to continue to remain one of the strongest teams in the state,” Jepson said. “Our roster depth is impressive—the future is very promising.”
Track
The Jesuit track & field team had an incredibly strong season. At the 9-5A District Championship, the Blue Jays nabbed a second-place team finish and seven individual first-place finishes —sophomore Michael Vocke in both the 800m (1:56.29) and 1600m (4:42.45), junior Jack DesRoches in the 3200m (9:35.88), juniors Aeric Wender, Patrick Dowd, Robert Buisson, and freshman Brady Mullen in the 4x800m relay (8:19.11), sophomore Jody Barber in the long jump (20-5.25 PR), senior Logan Daigle in the discus (135-2.5), and senior Jack Larriviere in the javelin(186-6).
Seven of those Blue Jays managed to repeat their success at the Region 3-5A Championships with another round of first-place finishes—DesRoches with a 9:36.60 in the 3200m; Vocke with a 4:29.30 (PR) in the 1600m; Wender, Dowd, Buisson, and Mullen with a 8:14.62 (PR) in the 4×800 relay; and Larriviere with a 220-0 in the javelin. The team placed third overall.
Jesuit did not disappoint at the LHSAA 5A State Championship. With several standout performers, Jesuit (46 points) was able to cinch a third-place team finish, behind firstplace Catholic-Baton Rouge (90) and runner-up Ruston (75).
One of these standout performances was Larriviere, who not only secured the state title with his javelin throw of 228-10 but also set a new school record, bested the composite state record, and claimed the longest throw registered nationwide at the high school level. Larriviere looks to continue his success at LSU having recently accepted a track and field scholarship for the upcoming fall.
The other state champion of the day, for a second time in a row, was Vocke in the 1600m (4:20.28). Also in the 1600m was freshman Leland Crawford, who placed third (4:22.74). Two more podium-placers for Jesuit were speedsters DesRoches (9:21.59) and sophomore Lucas Sampedro (9:31.07) in the 3200m, placing second and third respectively. Breaking the school record and earning a third-place podium spot with a time of 8:04.15 was the 4×800 relay team—Wender, Dowd, Buisson, and Mullen.
With the close of the season, Jesuit looks forward to the next school year and to see how the returning Blue Jays will grow in skill and speed.
Wrestling
After a couple of rebuilding years, the Jesuit wrestling program is officially back on the map due to their success during the 2022 campaign. In his first year back at Carrollton & Banks, Jon Orillion ’01 wasted no time putting his wrestlers in a position to win.
Thanks to a total team effort, the Blue and White wrestlers edged Catholic High School to capture the state runner-up trophy. Senior Dennis Dougherty, wrestling in the 220-pound division, and sophomore Spencer Lanosga, wrestling at 285 pounds, responded to the pressure and delivered critical performances when they were needed most.
Going into the final two matches of the tournament, Jesuit trailed Catholic by six points for second place. Dougherty and Lanosga were the last two wrestlers who could change the tide.
Dougherty pinned his opponent, a Holy Cross wrestler who had beaten him earlier in the year, to win the state title and set the stage for Lanosga. The 285-pounder lived up to his national ranking by defeating his opponent 4-1, claiming his own state title and a runner-up finish for the Jays.
Orillion credits the immediate success of this team to a variety of factors and showed the entire Jesuit community the possibilities that lay ahead.
“Our team is a family in every definition of the word,” Orillion said. “It is our identity. A big part of our success is that each member of our team is willing to fight hard to make
his other teammates proud. We as a whole take pride in how we represent our team, school, family, and most importantly, God.”
The future looks bright for the wrestling program with a new coach at the helm. While he is excited about the current achievements, Orillion is constantly looking to improve every aspect of the Jesuit wrestling experience.
“Watching how motivated our Blue Jay wrestlers were after grabbing our first trophy since 2018, it only has me more excited for the future,” Orillion said. “We have a jam-packed summer of training and don’t plan on slowing down. We have set a goal to have Jesuit wrestling back at the top of the podium, and every wrestler, from rising seniors to our incoming eighthgraders, is excited for the opportunity to fight for a championship next season. We are proud of our secondplace finish, but we are excited for the opportunity for more.”
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REUNION TIME
The 2022 alumni reunion season produced another opportunity for classes to come together and celebrate the times they shared on Carrollton & Banks. While each reunion had its unique style, they all had the classic Jesuit camaraderie that will sustain each class until the next gathering. Photo galleries of each reunion event are available on the alumni section of the Jesuit website.
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