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EAGLES’ PRIDE

/

2015-2016

/

35

INSIDE EAGLE ATHLETICS

Rhodes College), and pitcher Matt

George ’15 (Division III DePauw

University) all committed to their

respective schools earlier in 2015.

“I visited Princeton in the fall

and saw right away they offered

everything I was looking for

... rigorous academics, intense

baseball, very personable coaching

staff, great campus feel, school

spirit. It’s the total package. There’s

no way I saw this happening when

I came in as freshman. I couldn’t

be more excited,” Machiorlette

said.

George was in the same Headfirst

Honor Roll showcase camp in

California with Machiorlette

still “debating whether or not I

wanted to continue playing” when

he caught the eye of DePauw

coaches. He took an up-close look

in September and quickly opted for

a rising program in Greencastle,

Indiana.

“I did research on the school ...

great academic profile ... the pre-

law track I was already interested

in. Had a blast on my visit. Really

enjoyed my teammates. Great

rapport with the coaches. They

really value player development.

My family has deep Ohio State

connections in the area. It’s a

special opportunity,” George said.

Ganucheau and Winter continue

an already strong Rhodes pipeline

to Houston-area talent which

includes John Olive ’13 and five

other players from private high

schools in the city.

“There’s a huge Houston

community within the program

so there’s that comfort zone right

away. John and I have been best

friends since like the third grade,”

Winter said. “There’s a chance to

make an impact at my position

my freshman year. The campus

is unbelievable, the facilities are

first-rate. They offer the business

degree plan I was looking for. Just

a great combination.”

Ganucheau: “Rhodes is offering

the best of both worlds, great

academics and athletics, much

like St. Thomas,” Ganucheau

said. “I’ve worked really hard here

and to have the chance to pitch

at the next level is exciting and

satisfying.”

Champion arrived at STH as a

three-sport standout with every

reason to believe he had the talent

and ethic for the opportunity to

continue his student-athlete career

in college.

McCrory is a third generation

Eagle and self-described “late-

bloomer” who needed a sudden

surge in his golf game and series

of strong performances on the

2014 summer circuit to catch the

attention of college coaches and

recruiters.

McCrory’s opportunity with Lamar

University was sealed in August

while Champion was still sifting his

options until the UH offered 72

hours before he signed his letter of

intent in November.

“I always thought baseball

would be the ticket ... since I was

12-years-old,” Champion said.

“The other sports were fun and

I played because I was good,

but baseball has always been my

passion.”

Jake Brown ’15 was a two-sport

varsity performer for the Eagles,

playing for his father, Jeff, in the

greatest single season in the history

of STH lacrosse. But his future

athletic focus will be as a wrestler

at Division III Knox College.

“I’m not sure I saw this coming.

Certainly not that first day of

practice ... the hardest ever. But

I learned to love the sport, love

competing and the camaraderie

with my teammates. That’s not

something I wanted to see come to

an end,” Brown said.

Brown was the bronze medalist at

170 pounds in the Eagle third-

place finish at TAPPS State.

He was visiting colleges and

universities in the Midwest and a

face-to-face meeting with Knox

coach Matt Lowers during the

campus visit made a direct impact.

“That really peaked my interest,

convinced me that this (Knox)

could be part two of my

STH experience. It’s a major

commitment, along with the

academics, but I’m really looking

forward to it,” Brown said.

Midfielder Bryan Stieneker ’15 was

a two-time STH lacrosse captain

and catalyst behind the Eagles

jaw-dropping turnaround, seizing

the program’s first-ever district title

and reaching the quarterfinals in

the Texas High School Lacrosse

League playoffs. He’s attending

Washington & Lee University

with hopes of earning a walk-on

position.

Teammate Carlo Monacelli ’15

found a logical progression for that

“great St. Thomas brotherhood” at

the University of Dallas.

“The coaches said ‘you’re the guy

we’re looking for.’ And they’re

offering the exact fit I was looking

for. I really believe my Eagle

teammates are people I’ll know for

the rest of my life. And that’s what

I see at UD, that same kind of

fraternity,” Monacelli said.

Champion signing with University of Houston baseball in November 2014

Clarkson with sister Emma Kate, mother Penny and father/STH

Dean of Students Tim Clarkson

Brady, Dworak and Kaul continue STH connection with Millsaps College