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EAGLES’ PRIDE
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2015-2016
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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