Fore! Jesuit Golfers Play Their Way Through District in Preparation for Post Season Tournament

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

          With one game left in district play, the Jays sport a 6-1 district record this spring.  Along with multiple wins over Rummel, St. Augustine, and Brother Martin, the golf team suffered their first loss of the season in a first round match against Shaw. 

           However, the Shaw loss is only a bump in the road, which the Jays redeemed with a ten stroke win later in the season.  Since the district format is match play and only requires each golfer to play nine holes per match, this system keeps each contest unpredictable.

Junior Myles Lewis

           Today, the Jays will wrap up a district season and a district title with a win over Rummel.

          This year’s squad consists of three returning starters, while the last two starting spots are up for grabs.  Returning starters are juniors Myles Lewis, Peyton Vitter, and sophomore Taylor Billings.  Lewis returns to the course this year seeking his third consecutive individual state title.  His powerful style along with his competitive spirit have earned him offers from many major universities around the nation, along with invitations to play in prestigious events such as Donald Trump’s tournament in New Jersey. 

          While Lewis is the headliner, teammate Peyton Vitter is constantly neck and neck with Lewis.  Both Lewis and Vitter are eyeing the individual state title.  However, Lewis said that he still has his work cut out for him if he wants to three-peat. 

          Besides Peyton, he points to Anthony Lacombe (Junior, Catholic High), Jason Noto (Junior, Hanville), and Evan Haile (Junior, Mandeville) as possible contenders for the individual title.  Miles also mentions that Anthony Lacombe would probably be his toughest competiton because of their similar size and styles of play.

          While Jesuit’s top three golfers are locks to start, two spots still remain open.  Junior Owen Seiler, senior Dennis Occhipinti, freshman Sean Flynn, and sophomore Austin Shillaci are all in the hunt to claim the remaining openings.  None of these players have started on the team previously, so no individual has a leg up over the others. 

          Owen Seiler and Austin Shillaci bring more power to the table, while Dennis Occhipintii and Sean Flynn usually take a more conservative approach to the course.

          With an assortment of golfers to choose from, Coach Chad Laborde will have a tough choice in filling out the lineup when the state tournament rolls around. 

          While last year’s tournament was held at Beaver Creek Golf Club in Zachary, this year’s finale will be played out at Atchafalaya Country Club in Patterson.  Why is this important?  Because Atchafalaya’s course plays longer than the previous venue.  This change could affect Coach Laborde’s strategy going into the event.

           Practice leading up to the season finale will be crucial for many golfers.  According to Lewis, most members of the team practice on their own; however, Myles said that as state draws nearer the team will be practicing more often to get every golfer on the same page going into the biggest challenge of the year. 

          All in all, Jesuit has a solid chance to compete for the state title.  However, Catholic of Baton Rouge, Barbe, Hahnville, and Shaw are all serious contenders.  Jesuit finished last year’s tournament tied for third place.  Yet, with last year’s state champion Mandeville returning only one starter, Jesuit should be favored over the defending state champions.

          For Blue Jays interested in seeing some of the best high school golfers in the state, the team is in action on weekdays at Lakewood Country Club on the Westbank or at City Park’s North Course.

Lacrosse Team Looking Sharp

Sunday, March 21, 2010

            Jesuit sports have enjoyed another strong year as the 2009 -2010 athletic calendar turns into the homestretch. One rising sport creating quite a buzz around Carrollton and Banks these days is lacrosse. 

So far this year, the Blue Jay lacrosse team is undefeated; and with a recent victory over the number one team in the state Loyola Shreveport, the Jays show no signs of slowing down.

            Arguably the fastest growing sport in the country, lacrosse is the latest athletic event gaining acceptance by state high school athletic organizations through the nation.  In Louisiana, lacrosse is currently a club sport; however, all signs point to the Louisiana High School Athletic Organization (LHSAA) adding the sport in the near future.  Regardless, whether the LHSAA officially accepts

Junior Jacob Jeanfreau (25)  makes a move on the ball.

lacrosse this year or a few years down the road, Jesuit has certainly made their mark in the sport. 

            After the Jays ended last season as state runners-up, the team has displayed an intensity and focus of a squad on a mission.  With returning all-state players seniors Louis LaCour and Roy Lambert leading the Jays well-rounded squad, their classmates, along with a few juniors, make up Jesuit’s starting lineup. 

Although Louis leads the squad’s offensive charge, juniors Mac Bulloch and Bryan Kitto play key roles in assisting in Jesuit’s scoring bonanza.  Against Loyola Shreveport two weekends ago, Bulloch led all scorers with four goals, while Kitto and LaCour each threw in a pair of their own. 

Alongside the attackers are Jesuit’s midfielders and defensemen.  Seniors Ian Diament and Kaleb Boudreaux lead an athletic group of midfielders, while hard-hitting senior defensemen Justin Baker and Jack Zeringue limit opponent’s shots on junior goalie Stephen Baay.  Baay still has had his work cut out for him.  At the Loyola game, Baay saved over 25 shots in the Loyola game and consistently makes incredible saves in front of the net.

            With Jesuit enjoying continued success on the pitch, the Jays look to return to the title game.  While North Louisiana teams present the greatest challenge to the Jays, the squad does not take either the local or the Southern Louisiana teams for granted as they work towards the playoffs which begin on May 1.

 All in all, Jesuit’s lacrosse team is building momentum as the season continues; and after last year’s disappointing loss in the championship, the boys in blue and white will not be satisfied with anything less than a state title.

Jesuit Soccer on a Roll

Thursday, January 28, 2010

          Jesuit’s varsity  soccer team has been pummeling opponents as of late, allowing no more than one goal in any game this year.  With district play in full swing, the boys in Blue and White are cruising by the competition.  The soccer team is undefeated thus far and shows no sign of slowing down any time soon.

            Blue Jay soccer is one of the elite soccer programs in the nation.  With a consistent top five national ranking and state championships in 2007 and 2009, the expectation to win every time they take the field is high. 

            Therefore, the Jays have to be prepared to see their opponents’ best game, day in and day out.  According to senior midfielder Jordan Schwartz, “We know that every team is going to play their hardest, so we have to take every game seriously.”

This attitude of not accepting a loss has kept the Blue Jays undefeated this season; but can they hold on to their hot streak? 

Why not?

The squad has not missed a state semi-final since 1998; and with a team loaded with talent, don’t look for the streak to end this year. 

            With players like junior midfielder Steven Cabos and senior forward Alexi Petrou leading the offensive charge, opponents’ goalies usually get a good work out. 

On the opposite side of the field, Jesuit sports one of the toughest defenses in the state.  The relentless efforts of senior goalie Joe Hart, along with senior defender Alex Brignac, who tracks down anyone in his territory, the Jays’ defense is superb at keeping the ball at the other end of the field.

            Along with the talent and great coaching, chemistry holds the team together.  For example, the night before district games, the squad gathers for a team dinner at a player’s home.  Jesuit Head Soccer Coach Hubie Collins believes that these types of events foster team unity.  Spending time as a team creates chemistry, which translates to success on the field.

            With this kind of momentum, expect the soccer team to make a strong run at another state title.

Side Lines:

·         With the basketball team (2-0 in district) taking on St. Augustine Friday night, look for the winner to have the inside track to take district.

·         The wrestling team is dominating district competition; and with a recent win over Brother Martin, the team seems to be stepping up their game in preparation for state.