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WISDOM • COURAGE • FAITH PRIDE • FALL 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTSA Message From Our President ...............

Student Council Speaks ............................

Swing With Pride Enjoyed by All ............

High Tea Set for November 5 ...................

Alumni Spotlight: Hearing the Call ........

Reunions Keep Alumni Busy..................

Meet Our Wonderful New Staff Members..

RCHS Welcomes Father Matt .................

The Students Are Back ............................

Roncalli Teacher Publishes Book .............

Students, Staff Witness Rare Eclipse ......

Musical Will Open on November 9 ..........

Gym Gets Major Facelift ..........................

Football Team Celebrates 50th Anniversary .

Summer Baseball Wins State Title ..........PRIDE

is published by Roncalli Catholic High School, Omaha, NE. ©2017, All rights reserved. Materials in PRIDE may be reproduced provided prior permis-

sion obtained from the editor and credit is given.RONCALLI CATHOLIC PRESIDENT:

Ann O’Connor, 1978 Alumna RONCALLI CATHOLIC PRESIDENT EMERITUS:

Rev. Lloyd A. Gnirk RONCALLI CATHOLIC PRINCIPAL:

Dania FreudenburgRONCALLI CATHOLIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR:

Maureen IrishRONCALLI CATHOLIC COMMUNICATION COORDINATOR:

Derek SullivanCOVER DESIGN:

Aaron Goodrich

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Ninth-graders gather for a Freshman Retreat • Page 16

Roncalli Catholic eyes a winning season • Page 19

Roncalli welcomes a new Chaplain • Page 14

mailto:[email protected]



A word from

our PresidentWisdom, Courage and Faith is at the heart of everything we do

Dear Roncalli Catholic Supporters:As we begin another school year, I have had an opportunity to

walk the halls of Roncalli Catholic High School and visit with our wonderful staff and amazing students.

Thanks to amazing support from your community, in the past few years, Roncalli Catholic has consistently upgraded our wonderful school. Each donation is used to create a faith-based educational experience for every student who passes through the doors.

Even with all the updates, our mission has never changed. We are still inspired by the Holy Spirit and guided by Catholic tradition. We educate our students to develop their potential, thus preparing them to meet the challenges and opportunities of life with Wisdom, Courage and Faith.

Inside this magazine, you can see how Wisdom, Courage and Faith are on display every day, not just with our current students and staff, but also alumni, who serve as testaments to the value of a Roncalli Catholic education.

On pages 8-10, you can read about Roncalli Catholic graduates who furthered their faith at RCHS and now serve God as members of the religious. Local Priests Patrick Harrison and Rodney Adams said the Catholic culture of Roncalli Catholic strengthened their faith and helped them answer the call.

On the next page, you will hear from Maci Schott, our wonderful President of Student Council and Student Government. Maci and her classmates show courage as leaders of this school. Despite their busy schedules, Maci and her fellow leaders have events planned throughout the 2017-18 school year.

Starting on page 12, you will meet eight new staff members, who will share their wisdom with our students. The new hires will bring new ideas and lots of enthusiasm to the RCHS community. We are blessed to have them join our family.

With our amazing faculty, staff and a new chaplain, I believe we are off to what will be another great year at Roncalli Catholic High School. As always, the long-standing support of our entire commu-nity, from alumni and friends to current parents and staff, is what makes it all possible.

Thank you for your ongoing support of the Roncalli Catholic High School mission which enables us to continue educating our students to meet the challenges and opportunities of life with Wis-dom, Courage and Faith for many years to come.

Return To Table of Contents

3

Ann O’Connor • Class of 1978Roncalli Catholic President

Ann O’Connor (center) and RCHS Principal Dania Freudenburg welcome students on the

first day of hte 2017-18 school year.



Student CounCilLet’s kick off the school year

Every year brings new beginnings. This year is different for me because I ‘m finally a senior. After three long years of waiting to lead football cheers, be in charge of school events, cutting everyone in line for lunch and getting to post senior pictures, my senior year has finally arrived.

I wouldn’t be here without my family. My parents and sib-lings, along with my Roncalli family, have helped me grow into the person I am today.

And with their life lessons in mind, I have the wisdom and courage to accept the position of Class President of Student Government. This year, I’m thrilled to tell you that we have a great and committed group of students in charge of the events, which will provide a lifetime of memories for my fellow stu-dents! Right now, our focus is on the Pride Powder Run and Homecoming – two exciting ways we plan to kick off the year in style!

First, we have the Pride Powder Run. This will be held on Sunday, September 24. We are planning and hoping to have a bigger crowd than our past two years. In the past we have held this run in the spring, but this year Student Government decided to switch things up and plan it as a welcoming for all new and old students. One new and exciting element we have planned will be the surprise showing of what our homecom-ing theme is, and it is.... whoops I guess you will have to attend the run! We invite all students, faculty, middle school students, alumni and family to our Pride Powder Run; so we hope to see you all there.

Our second big occasion we are planning is Homecoming! Homecoming this year will be on October 7. Student Govern-ment met throughout the summer. We all came up with ideas and new plans for this eventful week. Our hard work has paid off and we’re now about to decorate.

We have a hard-working group of 24 on Student Govern-ment/Council, who will be planning all events. The Council consists of six sophomores, eight juniors, and ten seniors. All of which are hardworking and plan to make this year one to re-member. We also plan to add four freshmen later this year. Stu-dent Government/Council is a great group of kids who are my family within a family. Our teacher and advisor Madame Wolf, has helped us seniors all four years plan events and lead us. She is so committed and sacrifices so much time for us kids, in order for us to succeed. We all thank her for her time and leadership throughout the years. We also are thankful to Mr Laville who helped us last year and plans to help us again this year. We are excited and ready for this crazy year and we hope you are too!

– Maci Schott, Class of 2018

4

Maci Schott • President

This year’s RCHS Executive Board at summer leadership lock-in.


Under perfect skies more than 196 golfers par-ticipated in the 28th Annual A. Len Leavitt Swing with Pride Memorial Golf Open on July 31 at the Players Club at Deer Creek.

The fundraiser, Roncalli’s biggest of the summer, raised more than $42,000 to support current and future RCHS students.

Along with playing 18 holes of golf, participants received lunch and dinner from the amazing chefs at the Players Club, one of Nebraska’s top golf cours-es, according to Golf Digest.

While some foursomes played to win, many of the golfers just enjoyed the beautiful weather and the fun games along the way. Golfers competed to see who could hit a marshmallow the longest. There were numerous pin prizes, and RCHS and Players Club employees drove around offering every-thing from water to something with more kick. A silent auction featured fan-tastic items, including signed boxing gloves from world light welterweight champion Terence Crawford.

The A. Len Leavitt Swing with Pride Memorial Golf Open was started in 1989 by A. Len Leavitt (deceased) and RCHS President Emeritus Fr. Lloyd Gnirk as a means to raise funds to support educational opportunities for stu-dents. A. Len Leavitt, who died in 1997, was a long time chair of the event.



SWING W

ITH PRIDE5

Jason Gohr, Garrett Herber, Jack Earl, and Patrick Earl gathered together on July 31 for the 28th Annual Swing With Pride Memorial Golf Open at the Players Club at Deer Creek.

Golfers help raise over 40k for the Crimson Pride

Brent and Kathleen Hodgen wheel around the Players Club at Deer Creek on July 31 during the 28th Annual Swing With Pride Memorial Golf Open at the Players Club at Deer Creek.




SWING W

ITH PRIDE6Continued: Golfers help raise over 40k for the Crimson Pride

The foursome of Dan Vacek, Ryan Scott, John Gre-uniesen and Randy Conrad enjoy a day of golfing at the Players Club at Deer Creek.

Jean Stearns, Valerie Harrill, Ron Burns and Tim Mahonney take a break from golfing.

His family continues to assist with the tournament to benefit Roncalli Catholic students.Beardmore Chevrolet offered a vehicle as a hole-in-one prize on several holes. Event sponsors

included Weatherguard, Inc.; the American National Bank; Andrews Family; Burns Family Founda-tion; Control Management, Inc.; Catholic Mutual Group; General Service Bureau; Goldberg’s Bar & Grill; Dave and Mary Alice Laferla; McGrath North Mullin & Kratz; Ramm Construction; Security Equipment, Inc.; Senegal, Inc.;Taco John’s; Dave’s Auto Body, Egan Supply Co.; and Mama’s Pizza.


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HIGH TEA7

When: Nov. 5, 2017Where: RCHSCost: $40 individual $320 (Table of 8)

Join us for catered lunch, tea, desserts, entertain-ment and fun conversation.

Click Here for More Details

More than 200 Roncalli Catholic High School supporters packed the RCHS Student Center for the 16th Annual High Tea, which raises money for tuition assistance.

High Tea lunchset for Nov. 5

The 17th Annual High Tea will take place on Nov. 5 at RCHS. High Tea is a Roncalli Catholic tradition that encour-ages creativity and fun while raising funds for scholarship and tuition grant programs for our students.

Last year, more than 200 RCHS supporters sipped tea, ate a catered lunch and enjoyed musical enter-tainment. The fundraiser raised more than $14,000 for RCHS students and programs as attendance rose by more than 20 percent from 2015.

The event showcases the talent and personalities of Roncalli Catholic community members. Themes range from Disney to Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Guests decorate each table with their unique style from paper plates to China. We love our diverse family and none of our events exemplifies that more than High Tea. RCHS grad Ted Thompson of Pleasure Your Palate will cater the luncheon and local come-dian Mary Maxwell will entertain the room.

For more information about this fun event, visit the High Tea page on the Roncalli Catholic website or contact Joan Kowalski at [email protected] or at 402-571-7670 x 157


http://roncallicatholic.org/events/

http://roncallicatholic.org/events/high-tea/

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The culture of Roncalli Catholic High School was in-strumental for many graduates to pursue a religious vocation.

Faith education has always been important to the many leaders of Roncalli Catholic High School. There are all-school Masses and personal confessions. Religion courses seek not just to educate, but also to explore and grow a student’s faith.

Patrick Harrison, who graduated in 1980 and was ordained 11 years later, said it’s the Catholic culture of Roncalli Catholic High School he re-members most about his time with the Crimson Pride.

Harrison grew up in the Catholic church. He attend-ed St. Bernard’s Elementary School before entering Roncalli Catholic High School in the fall of 1976. He attended Mass ev-ery week and prayed often, but high school was more about playing basketball than partici-pating in campus ministry.

“When I was at Roncalli, I re-ally didn’t think about becom-ing a priest. I just didn’t think about it in high school,” he said. “I saw myself probably getting married and doing something in the business world.”

Even when Catholicism wasn’t on the top of his mind, it was in his everyday life.

“Throughout school, even at St. Bernard’s, I was part of

a very strong Catholic environment,” Harrison said. “There were a lot of school Masses. There was a strong Catholic identity in our religion classes. I remember taking religion classes regularly and enjoy-ing them. I went to Mass every Sunday. I guess when I was in high school my faith was more regular than intense.”

While Harrison didn’t consider a life with a collar until adult-hood, Father Rodney Adams, Class of 1983, said he knew he want-ed to be a priest in first grade. Catholic schools only strengthened his drive to lead a Catholic community.

“You can’t replicate the Catholic culture without a strong Catholic education,” said Father Adams, who is the Pastor at St. Mary Magdalene in downtown Omaha. “You can get the same academic programs, but you cannot replicate going to Mass or con-fession or being able to speak openly about God in class. I was blessed to be able to study my faith on a regular basis all four years.”

Father Adams said his time at Roncalli Catholic High School played a major role in

his decision to attend seminary at St. Thomas in St. Paul. Father Adams also started his career in education. One of his first assignments was campus min-istry chaplain at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul.

“Those (high school and college) are critical years in a person’s overall formation as a person, especially spiritually,” Father Adams said. “It’s a time of



ALumni Spotlight

8RCHS Grads Hear The Call

Fr. Patrick Harrison • Chaplain at Skutt Catholic

“At Roncalli, we had a very strong Catholic environment. There were a lot of school Masses. There was a strong Catholic identity in our religion classes.”




ALumni Spotlight

9Continued: RCHS Graduates Hear the Call“The biggest thing about

attending a Catholic school is the culture. You can replicate a lot of things, but not the Catholic cul-ture. You can have the same aca-demic programs, but you cannot replicate going to Mass. You can’t replicate gong to confession. You have the wonderful opportunity to study and share your Catholic faith on a regular basis for four years.”

Father Rodney Adams Pastor at St. Mary Magdalene

spiritual formation, religious for-mation and academic formation.”

While Father Adams’ calling came during those formative years, Father Harrison still saw himself as a businessman when he left Omaha to attend Peru State.

One of the reasons Father Harrison attended Peru State was an opportunity to play bas-ketball for the Bobcats. Sports have always been an important part of Harrington’s life. His first job was as a caddie at the Oma-ha Country Club. Along with being chaplain at Skutt, he also helps coach the girls’ golf team.

Even as he juggled academ-ics and athletics at Peru State, Harrison never forgot his faith. He attended church each Sun-day, even if the basketball team got back late the night before from a road trip.

“It was important to me,” Harrison said. “I came from a very Catholic family, but I went

for myself, not to keep my par-ents happy.”

While at Peru State, which was founded by Methodists, Harrison found a small, but committed, group of Catholics, which help him to grow his faith.

“There was a little church there, and we had a priest who would come from Nebraska City to say Mass,” Father Harrison said. “We had a small group of guys and girls that got together most Sundays to go to that little church.”

After graduating from Peru State in 1984, Harrison put his business degree to work, but he said a year after graduation, he heard God’s call. In the fall of 1986, he enrolled at Mount St. Mary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Two other contemporaries of Harrison also heard the call. Fr. Matthew Gutowski and Fr. Thomas Magnuson graduated together in 1979. Fr. Magnuson has retired and Fr. Gutowski is

the pastor at St. Patrick’s Catho-lic Church in Gretna.

Fr. Gutowski said he didn’t strongly consider the priest-hood until he went to college at the University of Nebras-ka-Lincoln. While he didn’t see himself as future priest during his time at Roncalli, a fellow student predict his future.

“While taking an archery class, a girl said I had the eye of a priest.”

Vocations are discussed often at Roncalli Catholic High School. The school offers an elective class on vocations. Just as when Father Harrison




ALumni Spotlight

10Continued: RCHS Graduates Hear the Call

“ It wasn’t until after high school that I strongly consid-ered the priesthood. But while at Roncalli, there was a sign. While taking an archery class, a girl said I had the eye of a priest.”

Father Matthew GutowskiPastor at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church

and Father Gutowski walked the halls in the 1970s and Father Adams in the 1980s, Roncalli Catholic High School continues to offer many opportunities for potential priests and ordained sisters to grow their faith. Tim Mueting, director of religious curriculum, said Roncalli Catho-lic High School continues to hold all-school Mass, offer confession, invite priests from other schools and churches as well as Archbishop George Lucas to celebrate with the students.

Notre Dame Academy, which merged with Rummel in 1974 to become Roncalli Catholic High School, had 64 graduates join a religious order. Of the 64, several joined the staff at Roncalli Catholic High School, including Sr. Agnes Ostry, Sr. Michelle Hayek, Sr. Dorothy Rolf, Sr. Mary Hlas, Sr. Margaret Hickey, Sr. Corona Humpal, Sr. Rosalee Burke, Sr. Stephanie Matcha, Sr. Marie Ostry and Sr. Margaret Proskovec.

Fr. Paul Zaccone graduated from Rummel in 1974 and is currently a Missionary Priest Teacher at Apifoou College in Tonga. Father Robert Scheiblhofer (Rummel Class of 1969) and Fr. Thomas Weisbecker (Rummel Class of 1971) also entered the priesthood. Weisbeck-er sits on the Roncalli Catholic High School Board of Education.

Priests who attended Roncalli said all-school Masses and the school’s chapel played big roles in growing their faith.


Share Your Big Event with Fellow Alumni• Getting Married• New Family Member on the Way• Big Promotion at Work• Finished College• Honored with an Award

Let Us Know And We Will Put It In Pride



reunions


11

The Class of 2002 gathered on June 10 at the Fox & Hound for their 15-year reunion.

The Class of 1997 returned to Roncalli Catholic High School on July 8 for their 20-year reunion.

Alumni NewsClass of 1969

Jim Preiner retired from the City of Omaha Police Department and enrolled at Creighton Univer-sity. In May, he earned his masters degree in Christian Spirituality.

Class of 2008Timothy Stevens and his wife

Sarah welcomed their first child, Addison, in January.

Class of 2014Diamyn Franklin -- Diamyn has

made the Dean’s List each semes-ter at VCU. Diamyn is studying Creative Advertisement.

Class of 2015Kimberly Nguyen -- Kimber-

ly attends Vassar College and is majoring in English. She recently published her third book, first in print, titled “I Am Made of War.”

Contact Joan Kowalski

Events and Alumni [email protected]

402-571-7670 x 157


https://www.amazon.com/Am-Made-War-Kimberly-Nguyen-ebook/dp/B01NASPADY

mailto:[email protected]

Please welcome Ms. McCuen to our English Department. Ms. McCuen comes to Roncalli Catholic after graduating from Notre Dame and spending a year teaching and assisting in music ministry in Ire-land. She says her goal this year is to bring her love of theater into the classroom. She already has students quoting lines from Richard III and Hamlet.



WELCOM

E TO RONCALLI12Roncalli Catholic welcomes new staff members

Coco Osborne • Religion

Please welcome back Ms. Osborne. After leaving us for a little while Ms. Osborne returned this fall and joined our religion department. Ms. Osborne is a graduate of Creighton University and earned her master’s degree from Boston College. She says her goal this year is to be of service to the students she has in class and to help them engage their faiths in critical and fruitful ways.

Daniel Szalewski • Religion

Megan McCuen • English

We are so thrilled that Mr. Szalewski has joined our Religion Department. Mr. Szalewski is a graduate of Creighton University and Conception Seminary College. He says his goal at Roncalli Catholic is to help his students grow in their knowledge and love of God. Along with teaching religion, Coach Szalewski will be assistant track and field coach. Please wel-come Mr. Szalewski to Roncalli Catholic.




WELCOM

E TO RONCALLI13Continued: New RCHS staff members

Elizabeth Hagan • FACS

Sharon Hostler • Math

Carol Kosmicki • Database Specialist

Carol Kosmicki has joined the Roncalli Catholic High School development department as a database specialist. Mrs. Kosmicki has two boys, Nolan, who graduated in 2016 from Roncalli Catholic and Carson who is a senior at Ralston High School. Mrs. Kosmicki enjoys hockey and high school football. She says she’s excited to be a part of the Roncalli Team!

Ms. Hagan is the new Family and Consumer Sci-ences teacher at Roncalli Catholic High School. Ms. Hagan graduated from Iowa State University in 2015. Ms. Hagan says her goals this year are to learn more about the strong FCS tradition at Roncalli Catholic and to get to know members of the RCHS commu-nity. She will also coach the award-winning Crimson Pride culinary team. Welcome Ms. Hagan to Roncalli!

Ms. Hostler has joined our team of wonderful math teachers. Mrs. Hostler comes to Roncalli Cath-olic High School after a long career in Omaha public schools. Mrs. Hostler taught for 33 years at Omaha Burke High School. During her time at Burke, Mrs. Hostler was also an adjunct instructor at Metro Com-munity College. Mrs. Hostler will teach mathematics to sophomores, juniors and seniors this year.




WELCOM

E TO RONCALLI14

Welcome Our New Chaplain - Father Matthew Niggemeyer

“My goal for the first year at Roncalli is to get to know the Roncalli family and learn how the school operates. I hope to be effective at Campus Ministry, but that requires relationships and an intimate knowledge of the students and staff. I’m excited to begin to build those relationship, and I am even more excited to journey with our students and staff as we work to follow the Lord together.”

Welcome Our Guidance Counselor - Mrs. Chris Clark

My goals for the first year include learning about and embracing the Roncalli Catholic Community. I am eager to implement college planning programs and career aware-ness activities. I want students and their parents to find me approachable as we work together to create the best secondary experience and post-secondary options for the students.

Education: Conception Seminary, Pontifical Gregorian University, Patristic Institute. Prior stops: Norfolk Catholic School, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in NorfolkFather Matt speaks five different languages.

Education: University of Nebraska-Kearney, Northern Illinois University Prior stops: UNK, Bethany College, Missouri Western, Elkhorn High School, Villa Duchesne/Oak Hill School, Nerinx Hall High School.



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back to school15

Roncalli upperclassmen offer some protection to incoming ninth-graders on freshmen orientation.

All Smiles for the Start of the School Year

Students head into Roncalli Catholic High School on the first day of the 2017-18 school year.

Roncalli Catholic Assistant Principal and RCHS grad T.J. Orr welcome students on the first day of the 2017-18

Freshman 95Soph. 79Junior 122Senior 89

From all over: Our freshmen come to RCHS from 18 schools.

STUDENT FACTS



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In thE SCHOOL16

Mr. Mueting posses with his book on teaching religion.

Mueting publishes book on teachingRoncalli Catholic High School Religion Teacher Timothy

Mueting has published a book on the vocation of teaching high school religion. Mueting’s book, titled “The Religion Teach-er’s Handbook,” offers a remarkably comprehensive manual for high school teachers of religion, says Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Mueting, director of religious curriculum, has taught reli-gion since 1991 at Roncalli Catholic High School.

Mueting said he wrote “The Religion Teacher’s Handbook” because there are many religion teachers who do not have a background in religion, teaching, or both.

“This book grew out of a desire to help people who are where I was over three decades ago. … For teachers who have little background in religion of theology, there are chapters that address issues helpful for teaching religion. For those who have little background in education, there are chapters that address issues helpful for being good teachers. Improving our knowl-edge of religion and education will go a long way to improving our teaching,” Mueting said.

For more information on “The Religion Teacher’s Handbook,” contact Timothy Mueting at [email protected].

Roncalli Catholic High School ninth-graders gathered on Aug. 31 for freshmen retreat at RCHS.

On Aug. 31, the Freshmen Class held the first retreat of the year. The focus of the freshmen retreat was “Class Bonding and Growing Spiritually.” Students will be given the opportunity to develop relationships with their classmates so as to fos-ter cohesiveness and unity in the class.


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In thE SCHOOL17

Musical Set for November This year, the RCHS Theater Department will perform “Shrek The Musical.”

Showtimes:Nov. 9-11 at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at 4 p.m.

Roncalli Catholic High School actors wait to try out for Shrek The Musical. The curtain rises for the musical on Nov. 9

Roncalli Catholic Students Witness Rare Solar EclipseOn Aug. 21, Roncalli Catholic students walked to Rummel Field to watch the solar eclipse. To make sure everyone en-joyed the event safely, glasses were provided by the school.

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GYM RENOVATION

18

June 2017 • The painting of the gym begins

Roncalli Catholic’s gym gets a major facelift

August 2017 • The new gym is ready for action with new paint, refinished floor and new banners.

August 2017 • P.E. classes are back in the gym

August 2017 •The volleyball team prepares to scrimmage

Last August, storms badly damaged the roof above Roncalli Catholic’s gym. Immediately, RCHS administrators and supporters got to work on not just fixing the roof, but also renovat-ing the gym with new paint, new banners and a refurbished floor.



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CRIMSON PRIDE FOOTBALL

19The Roncalli Catholic High School Crimson Pride prepare to play defense against South Sioux City on Sept. 1 at Rummel Field.

Football team eyes third straight state trip

Football Schedule

Aug. 25 vs. Nebraska CitySept. 1 vs. South Sioux CitySept. 7 @ Omaha GrossSept. 15 vs. GretnaSept. 22 @ BeatriceSept. 29 @ SchuylerOct. 6 vs. Omaha Skutt (H) Oct. 13 vs. BenningtonOct. 20 @ RalstonOct. 27 - State Playoffs

Roncalli Catholic High School football coach Tom Kassing barks out instructions during the Crimson Pride’s battle with South Sioux City.

Come celebrate 50 years of Roncalli/Rum-mel varsity football when the Crimson Pride face Bennington on Oct. 13 at Rummel Stadium. Players from the 1st team will be in attendance and hon-ored during the game.

50



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The Mainelli Mechanical Pride, made up of Roncalli Catholic High School students, got hot at the right time. The Pride rolled their way to the Class B American Legion Baseball title, capped off with a 10-1 victory over Nebraska City on Aug. 2 at Bower-Shanklin Field in Alliance.

The Pride played their best baseball of the season in the tournament. After defeating McCook 4-3 in the first round of the Class B State Baseball Tournament, the Pride won the rest of their games by a combined score of 42-2.

“The Pride (32-15) went of a tear to end the season,” said coach Jake Hoover. “The Pride put together an outstanding state tournament.”

It shouldn’t have surprised Roncalli Catholic baseball fans that the Pride won the title. They entered the tournament as one of Nebraska’s hottest summer teams. Hoover said the Pride won 13 of their final 15 games, outscoring their opponents, 115-28.

With hot bats, the Pride didn’t need a lot of pitching, but they still got some memorable moments on the mound. RCHS senior Nate Gorczyca pitched a no-hitter against Nebraska City in the opening rounds of the state tournament.

RCHS senior Tommy Alitz scattered five hits over six innings to pick up the win the title game.

At the plate, Tyler Kloewer, Alex Rodgers, Noah Rheinheimer, An-drew Gurnon, Creighton Silvain and Alitz all had multihit games as the team from Roncalli won state for the first time since 2008.

“Our team was led by our lone (graduate), Tyler Kloewer, who capped off a great career by recording the last out of the champion-ship game,” Hoover said.

Rodger’s performance was noticed by college scouts. In September, Rodg-ers was offered a scholarship to play baseball at the University of Nebraska.

“During the season we were able to capture the Rod Stuehm Wood Bat In-vitational and the Mainelli Mechanical Invitational as well as winning the Area B-2 Tournament and finally the State Championship,” Hoover said.



State champions

20The Pride wins the Class B Legion baseball title

The Mainelli Mechanical Pride celebrate after winning the Class B State American Legion title on Aug. 2 in Alliance.

The Pride huddle up for trophy pictures.

A banner celebrating the Pride’s summer baseball title was hung in the RCHS gym on Sept. 8.


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