February Alumni Newsletter

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Xavier Career Night A Success

 

As we approach the Lenten season, consider committing to a behavior, rather than abstention.  Perhaps become more involved with an organization that can benefit from your skill set. Reach out to someone with whom you have lost touch.  We more effectively grow and find meaning with people than without.

Some of our fellow alumni have done just that in participating in a revived and successful Career Night.  We engaged nearly the entire junior class on Feb. 10 with career breakout sessions followed by a time of networking in the gym. It was a great success because of the efforts of the Alumni Board, with support from our fellow alumni whose engagement made the event fantastic: Jeff Misenti ’86 and Dana Wilson ’86 (Finance and Accounting), Chris Dibble ’12 and Andrew Gonzalez ‘12 (Finance and Investing), Matt DeKoeyer ’12 and Alex Thongsythavong ’12 (IT and Computer Programming), Troy DeLeon ’12, Michel Edelson ’12, and Vincent Cervoni ’86 (Law),  Karl Van Bibber ’68 (Science/Tech/Engineering), Tom Hutton “83 (Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship), Joe Delaney ’86 (Arts and AV), Michael Spada ’97 (Health Services), Derek Puorro ’91 (Public Sector and Law Enforcement), Brian O’Looney ’86 (Architecture and Construction).

We accommodated “virtual volunteers” for the event, so wherever you are, you are never too far removed to provide or feel the support of your fellow alumni family.  Thank you to Greg Jaskot '00 of the Advancement Office who carried the logistics and oversight, making the event happen. Thanks to Associate Communications Director Jeff Otterbein '72 for his involvement and coverage of the event and to Director of Guidance Nick Grasso '05 and his department for their assistance.

Coming up in March we have the Virtual College Fair on March 14-16 where our young alumni provide insight to Xavier students making their final decisions for college. Also, on March 23, please join the Xavier Alumni Speaker Series featuring Headmaster Dave Eustis for the “State of School Discussion.”

Get involved; you are already invited. 

Brian Farrell '86, Alumni Association President

 

Raffle Tickets Remain But Selling Fast

What would you do with the money if you won the 25K Cash Raffle? We are down to about 200 tickets from the 800 that are being sold. Get yours now! Tickets are $100 each. It is winner takes all. The proceeds benefit the Annual Fund, which supports all aspects of the school. The drawing will be at 11 a.m. on April 1 at Xavier High School. You do not need to be present to win, but you must be at least 18 years old to purchase. All tax liabilities are borne solely by the purchaser. Tickets may be purchased by mailing a check (no cash) to Xavier High School, 181 Randolph Road, Middletown CT 06457. They also can be purchased HERE. 
 

Support Xavier, Get A Great Meal At Panizzo

Xavier is proud to partner with Panizzo in Rocky Hill, owned and operated by Fran DelMastro, Class of 1979. Beginning Sunday, March 6, through the end of June, 10 percent of gross sales to any Xavier alumni, current Xavier family or family of Xavier alumni who mention the DINE TO DONATE program will be donated to Xavier. That includes dining in, taking out, delivery, or catering. Join us for terrific Italian Street Food at Panizzo and help support Xavier! Here is the outstanding MENU.
 

Campus News

  • The Xavier Engineering Team came in second in the state in the Real World Design Challenge and received a wild card slot to the national competition to be held virtually on April 23. The team members: Henry Stearns ‘23, Rithik Kurup ‘23, Jiahao Chen ‘23, Darren Sengphachanh ‘24, Patrick Clements-Dolan ‘25, Oliver Snow ‘25, and Joshua Raj ‘25.
  • The Xavier robotics team won a state title with the FullMetal Peregrines getting the victory in the finals. The FullMetal Kestrels made it to the finals and the Full-Metal Merlins reached the semifinals. At the awards ceremony, the Peregrines were winners of the Motivate Award, recognizing the team's great outreach. The Kestrels were recognized as Innovate Award finalists for their outside-of-the-box robot design.
  • Nearly 40 seniors were honored during Catholic Schools Week for 100 or more hours of community service. The required amount is 65. Those in triple digits: Andre Abarientos, Christopher Beaudoin, Damien Bianchi, Marcelo Burno, Nolan Burn, John Carrozzella, Adam Chasse, Nate Correia, Nick Cusano, Ryan Gerry, Kevin Gilhuly, Isaac Gonzalez, Chris Jacy, Stephen King, Tristan Kolb, Shea Krassner, Liam Lawler, Andrew Liptak, Nate Lowry, Michael McCauley, Aidan Muldoon, Jack Nowosad, Matt O’Connor, Justin Patenaude, Aiden Pesce, Andrew Quintana, Matthew Reardon, Patrick Rigg, Jack Roy, Liam Sheeley, Spencer Thompson, Matthew Tracy, Sheel Vallam, Steve Wohlmuth, Mitchell Wollen, Nikita Zuev.
  • Liam Sheeley ’22 is an All-State vocalist with the Xavier Chorus, but that's not the half of it. He has learned to sing in different languages, and was one of 200 U.S. students selected for the All-National Honors Ensemble for Mixed Choir. The event, typically in San Diego every year, was held virtually from Jan. 22-24. Sheeley also was named the CAS Performing Arts winner from Xavier. Classmate Nicholas Cusano was named the CAS Visual Arts recipient. CAS (Connecticut Association of Schools) annually honors two outstanding seniors from each of the member schools in the state who excel in the performing or visual arts.
  • Aidan Higgins '22 has been named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began more than 75 years ago. About 1.5 million high school students enter the program each year. Of those only about 15,000 are named finalists. That represents 1 percent. Higgins is the editor-in-chief of The Kestrel, Xavier’s online newspaper. He is a member of the National Honor Society as well as four other honor societies and multiple clubs, including the Ryken Service Society. Higgins helped start a chapter of the Surfrider Foundation at Xavier. That organization works to protect and preserve the world's oceans, waves, and beaches.
  • Ten Xavier students participated in a service trip to Camden, N.J., Feb. 17-20. About one of every three people in Camden live in poverty, and the unemployment rate is about 15 percent. Students on the trip: Dario Adanti '23, Tyler Ferguson '23, Brian Malicki '22, Zach Myrick '23, Hunter Peckham '22, Mike Pitruzzello '22, Braden Pollack '22, Mario Pugliese '22, Jack Spilka '23, Jack Susca '22.  

Campus Sports

  • SCC record-setting performances: On Saturday, Feb. 5, Xavier won the SCC Wrestling Championships in its home gym with some mind-numbing numbers. Xavier had 264 points as a team, breaking the SCC record by 31 points, a record the Falcons set in 2015. The Falcons have won five consecutive SCC titles and nine of the past 10. And amazingly, Xavier sent 10 wrestlers to the championship matches and won all 10. Then on Sunday, Feb. 6, the indoor track team won the SCC Championship in New Haven, breaking a 13-year-old record for total points with 104.
  • Add three more state titles the banners in the gym: Then came three state titles: the indoor track team won the Class L title on Feb. 12, finishing with 86.5 points and easily outdistancing Hillhouse by more than 30 points. The Falcons now have 14 indoor track titles. The Xavier contingent of Owen Pestka '22, Owen Miller '22, Eamon Conneely '22, and Chase Vitale '22 won the 4x200 relay in 1:33.32 for a school record. On Feb. 19, the wrestling team won the Class L title with a record-setting 318.5 points. Simsbury was a distant second at 234.5. Xavier sent nine wrestlers to the finals and five won Class L titles: Raekwon Shabazz '24, Max Morse '25, Jackson Heslin '25, Dylan Levesque '22, and Thomas Lunt '22. GameTimeCT reported that the 318.5 points breaks the state tournament record of 311.5, set by Danbury in Class LL in 2005, according to the Connecticut High School Wrestling Record Book. The wrestling team then easily won the the State Open last weekend with Heslin and Lunt winning titles and nine wrestlers overall finishing in the top five in their weight classes..
  • Swimmers unbeaten: The swimming team is unbeaten as it heads into the SCC Championships on Wednesday (March 2). The Falcons have won the SCC team title two years in a row. ... The basketball team (12-8) awaits the Division II state tournament next week.  ... The hockey team (13-6-1) plays for the SCC Division I championships vs. Notre Dame Friday (March 4) at Bennett Rink. ... The rifle team finished fourth in the state high school championships at Blue Trail Range in Wallingford.    
For more detailed stories on our sports teams, as well as schedules/results and rosters, go to our athletic website, xavierfalcons.com
 

Class Of 1972 Reunion

The 50th reunion of the Class of 1972 is in the planning stages for the fall of 2022. More details to come when the date and details are set. Members of the committee include Frank Marsilli, Vin Rutledge, Paul Morello, Phil Zachary, Dick Augustine, Bob McMahon, Bob Bergan, and Ken Galanto. Contact information: Morello ([email protected], 860-635-7373); Zachary  ([email protected], 919-218-3148); Marsilli ([email protected], 860-550-3037);  Augustine ([email protected], 860-655-8825); Rutledge ([email protected], 860-983-3849); Bob McMahon ([email protected], 858-722-8036); and Bergan ([email protected], 603-770-3442).
 

Alumni Updates

  • Ryan Curley '04 is First Selectman in Portland. He was elected in November and had been the town clerk. In January, another Xavier grad and lifelong Portland resident, Michael Tierney '01, was appointed town clerk by the Board of Selectmen.
  • Ryan Walker ’05, who grew up in Higganum, is the founder of R.J. Walker & Co., a public relations firm. To see his interview with Authority Magazine, click HERE.
  • Stephen Caulfield '18 was elected Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus council at The Catholic University of America. He also is president of the campus Karate Club and Chess Club. He graduates in May with a major in Politics and minor in Intelligence Studies.

Remembering Our Brothers

Each month we remember a Brother who passed away that month and served at Xavier. The following is compiled from the Xaverian Menology. 

Bro. David Samuel Eddy, 1948-2010: He was born in Worcester, Mass., Feb. 19, 1948, and died in Arlington, Va., Feb. 15, 2010. Bro. Eddy transferred into Saint John’s High School for his junior year, somewhat against his will, but after six months there told his parents he intended to become a Xaverian Brother. He began his teaching career in 1972 at Malden Catholic, then was here at Xavier in Middletown for nine years starting in 1976, where he taught mathematics, managed the bookstore, and directed the school’s sophomore retreat program. He served in the church after his time as a teaching brother. His funeral was unique, says the Xaverian Menology. He had two funerals, one in Arlington, Va., where he last served the church, and one at St. John’s Prep. “In Arlington, Va. there were present a cardinal, seven bishops and over 100 priests, all of whom were there to show their respect for David’s devotion to the diocese.”
 

A Few Reminders

 
If you are looking for general information and news on the school, go to xavierhighschool.org. If you are looking for sports news, please go to our athletic website, xavierfalcons.com.
 
Alumni newsletters are archived on our website, xavierhighschool.org, under the Alumni & Giving section.
 
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