Bouncing Back

By Eugene Lawrence, 12th grade

     When talking about Joel Pichon’s injury history and recovery time, one looks to medical mysteries and beyond, believing that the Creator is looking out for him and has blessed him with speedy recovery skills.

Last year during a football game in October, Pichon injured his ankle in a freak accident. The initial prognosis from his doctor was not optimistic: He would be sidelined for the remainder of the school year. Though many in the medical field are trained to give patients the worst-case scenario, Joel Pichon could not wait six months. Miraculously, he healed in half the predicted time and was ready to play basketball in early January, just in time for the historical opening of the Student Center in which the Tigers beat the Jesuit Blue Jays. That season, Pichon averaged 10 points per game in the Tigers’ successful run, helping an already productive basketball team, reaching the Top 28.

On March 3, Pichon was involved in a blindside car accident. When the bad news hit the school, many students were worried. This time it wasn’t an athletic mishap. It was far more concerning. Joel unfortunately cracked his vertebrae, broke his ribs, and even bruised his lungs. And according to his doctors, he wasn’t supposed to be fully healed until May. But word under the Oaks was that he was out of bed and at home watching TV. Assuming this was typical false gossip, I texted him to confirm. He responded that he was walking and felt no pain in his back. He also wrote, “I heal quick because my mindset tells me I’m not going to be down. I’m a solider, so I believe I’ll heal fast, so that’s what I do!”

Pichon’s unusually quick healing time has become a reference point for jokes among friends and fellow teammates: Pichon recovers faster than fellow senior Sherman Mushatt can run the 40-yard dash. Pichon heals faster than Wesley Pinera can text his girlfriend when she’s upset. These jokes became common in the Huddle.

While visiting Pichon in his room—which is filled  with trophies, athletic awards, and a shoebox of college letters from various schools—I asked him  how he felt about immediate family as well as HC family coming to visit him. “It makes me feel loved when people come visit me. It eases my mind to know that my school and family care. I feel that I’m not just an athlete or someone that just goes to HC.” Sure enough, the Holy Cross family prays that Pichon reaches full recovery, which we might assume, will be sooner than expected.

The Fab 5 of New Orleans

By Fred Minor, 12th grade

In 2004, Joel Pichon, nine-years-old at the time, and four of his future AAU basketball teammates met at a basketball showcase in Baton Rouge. They were selected to the New Orleans Panthers and they went on to the AAU national championship consecutive years as 7^th and 8^th graders. The last time we heard about these five seniors as a collective was when they were being recognized for the first time as the top freshmen in Louisiana high school basketball. Since 2004, two of them decided to play football as well, and three focused on basketball.

Joel Pichon has become a two-sport athlete in basketball and football and has excelled in both sports. In basketball he has reached a career total of over 1,000 points. Pichon plans on playing college football, but is still weighing his options.

Of the Fab 5, St. Augustine’s Javan Felix had his future settled the earliest by signing with the University of Texas in the beginning of his senior year. Clearing this big decision up helped him focus solely on attempting to win another state title. He fell short of his goal for this year and will graduate with one state championship and multiple metro, district, and state honors under his belt.

Riverside’s Ricardo Gathers made a verbal commitment to St. Johns, but shortly after, he decommitted and made another verbal commitment to Baylor. He plans to sign his letter of intent this April. Gathers finished his career at Riverside with two state championships and four playoff appearances.

Malik Morgan, John Curtis’ combo guard committed early this year to LSU to focus on winning the school’s first state championship in boy’s basketball. He achieved his goal with a 30-3 record for his senior year and started a winning trend for the program.

Sydie London, St. Augustine’s forward has used his basketball skills to become a prominent wide receiver and brought his edge from the football field back to the court. He plans to play college football.

The Fab 5 has earned state, metro, and district honors, and have all won a type of MVP award for tournaments. They lived up to the high expectations. After being in the AAU circuit, they handled the attention well. “It felt good to know people deemed me worthy enough to be in that five,” said Pichon.  “It was a huge title to live up to.”

The Fab 5’s recognition soon grew at their respected schools as they often played against each other. As a group, they earned four state championships; appeared in the semi-finals of the state tournament; made at least 12 playoff appearances; and won more than 100 games. “We left our mark on high school basketball in Louisiana,” said Pichon.

Star Products of HC Baseball

By Nicholas Person, 12th Grade

     Holy Cross has produced not only well educated men, but also some of the best athletes in the New Orleans area. Holy Cross has a strong tradition in many sports, but is perhaps best known for its baseball program. In the last ten years, Holy Cross has sent 30 graduates to collegiate baseball programs, ranging from junior colleges to division one universities. No matter the level, players are happy to extend their careers and proud to say that they are Holy Cross products. In recent years, pitchers Joe Broussard and Matty Ott have become the most visible alumni players.

Joe Broussard is known as one of the best ball players to come out of Holy Cross in a long time. While at Holy Cross, he climbed his way to the starting pitcher position and during his junior year, Broussard hit .478 along with 40 RBI’s. He was named to the First Team All-State and All-Metro New Orleans Player of the Year. To name a few of his other accolades, Broussard represented Louisiana at the Power Showcase International High School Homerun Derby and was picked second overall by LSU.

Broussard played on the Holy Cross varsity baseball team for three years and helped the team win the district title three times. When he wasn’t blowing it past people on the mound, he started defensively at third base. Not only was he a leader on the diamond, but also a member of Peer Ministry.

Broussard was the second pick by LSU, just behind Northshore High Schools’ Ryan Eades. He struggled during his freshman season and ended with a 5.19 ERA. This year he’s had multiple relief appearances including games against Alcorn, McNeese, Dartmouth and Notre Dame. He also led the team to victories against Grambling, Southern, ULL and Alcorn.

Matty Ott is considered to be one of the best pitchers in Holy Cross history, right alongside Broussard. Ott started his varsity career at Holy Cross in ’06 when he made the team his sophomore year. Ott would be picked to play for LSU following his senior year. During his first year at LSU, he became a regular closer, earning a record setting 16 saves. Among his many accomplishments, he was twice chosen as the SEC pitcher of the week and selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team.

Ott was picked in the 13^th round of the MLB draft in 2011 by the Boston Red Sox and is currently playing for the Greenville Drive, a farm team for the Red Sox. He’s made 14 appearances, in which he pitched 24 innings and has an ERA of 3.75. Assistant Athletic Director and Science Department Chair Ms. Lyons said, “I’m very proud of him, in fact he is playing single A ball and is doing extremely well and has the prospect of moving up to high A.”

Broussard and Ott played on the same teams for many years, and friends and teammates often say they are alike. Joe was always smiling and having fun, never taking things too seriously unless needed. He could easily have the same conversation with a sophomore that he could with a senior. Ott was also known for his sense of humor. He liked to stay loose and joke around, and was very helpful with younger players. However, when he went on the mound, he wore an intimidating game face.

These two men have definitely made a good name for themselves and for Holy Cross. It’s an honor to say that you have played on the same team as these two outstanding players for LSU, and that you were on the team at the same time as one of them. These two men are further proof that Holy Cross is bouncing back from losing its original home field.

Bowling Tigers Staying in the Lanes

Zachary Stoufflet, 11^th grade

                With a new moderator, Mr. James Ducote, and a few brand new players, the bowling team seemed to be headed into a rebuilding year. Last year, during the LHSAA bowling tournament, the Tigers placed fourth in their division. But the returning veteran bowlers are still confident that they will do better than last year.

               District competition has been challenging. All matches are held at All-Star lanes in Kenner. This season, the team has lost to Shaw twice in a row. They also lost to Brother Martin. The Tigers lost their first match against St. Augustine, but beat them in their second meeting before the Mardi Gras break. They have beaten Holy Rosary three times.

                Team captain junior Stephen Oalmann said, “I believe we can do better than last year.” Co-Captain Berkley Bristow has been providing full support to all the team members and lifting their spirits. Both captains have high averages over 180. Coach Turner, former moderator, believes that the team competitive.

               The team is made up entirely of juniors: Sean Marino, Stephen Oalmann, and Berkley Bristow are the top performers. They are supported by Bret Buckel, Jamal Dase, Wesley Schmidt, Donald Breaud, Robert Chehardy, and Jeffery Vaughn. Vaughn is out with a leg injury, but should return to the lanes soon.

               The bowling team will be heading to Kenner All Star Lanes March 26 and the 27 for Regionals. “Four teams from the New Orleans area will proceed to Bi-Regionals to be held Monday, April 2, and Tuesday, April 3 at the Circle Bowl in Baton Rouge,” explained Coach Susan Oalmann, mother of Stephen Oalmann. “The four winning teams will go to the State Final Four to be held on Saturday, April 14 in Baton Rouge.”

Keep it up Tigers!

Successful Soccer Season Ends

By Eugene Lawrence, 12th grade

     Wrestling and basketball usually share the spotlight of winter sports season, but it’s time we made room for another team after another successful season. For the past four years, the young soccer program has been a regular postseason contender.
     After a 1-0 victory in the first round of playoffs against Helen Cox, the Tigers then moved on to face the 2nd seeded Ben Franklin. The day before the match, I asked lone senior Car Burckel what he felt about the game, and he said that he and his team were confident.
     It was approximately 55 degrees with absolutely no wind which was fitting for a soccer game. More HC fans arrived than expected. Dr. Murry and Mr. DiGange were present and alumni such as Andrew Burnette ’11 came sporting his soccer gear in support of the team.
     The Tigers looked motivated as they warmed up. The first half began with an ambitious Tiger team playing aggressively against the Falcons. On a thrilling play, Nick Dale took the first shot at the goal. Burckel set up the shot with a great pass, but Dale missed the shot wide right. On the same play, the Holy Cross fans held their breath as Dale took a moment to get up from a hard fall. Even though the Tigers didn’t score, it signaled to the Ben Franklin fans that the Tigers had come to compete.
     The Tigers played great defense, against the offensive Falcons. On a breakaway, Reed Gravolet, made a great save, one of his many that night. Ben Franklin attempted many shots on goal in the first half, but the Tigers held strong for at least 12 minutes of that half until the first goal was scored by the Falcons. Early in the game, nothing came easy.
     In the stands Senior Taylor Wegman and sophomore Scottie Stearns yelled cheers as if they were part of Mrs. Gonzales cheer team. They joked about how they didn’t know when to celebrate when something good happened in soccer. As time progressed, midway through the first half, Ben Franklin converted on a goal giving them a 1-0 lead. The problem at the time, and throughout the game, was that Ben Franklin took more shots on the goal than the Tigers. They continued to apply to the pressure during the second half, and this led to Ben Franklin scoring two more goals.
     Overall the Tigers fell into a deep hole, but they did not give up. The Tigers fell short with a 3-0 loss. However, they had a great year placing 3rd in a Lafayette tournament, and even upsetting a highly ranked Bolton opponent during the year. Also, with the loss of only one senior, the Tigers are optimistic about the upcoming seasons.

Tigers Attempt to Spoil Blue Jays Opening Night but Fall Short

Photo courtesy of Ms. Lyons

By Eugene Lawrence,12^th grade

                The rivalry between Holy Cross and Jesuit is certainly not just fought on the football field. It extends to all playing surfaces including the baseball diamond. Just last year, the teams split their two meetings and advanced very far in their respective divisions.

               The 5-3 Tigers looked to play spoiler on the opening night of Jesuit’s new baseball facility just off of Airline Drive, but fell short losing 6-1. The game drew many Holy Cross fans, including senior Nick Person’s father, a Jesuit alum, who proudly wore a Holy Cross baseball shirt. Even Mayor Landrieu, also a Jesuit alum, was in attendance and spoke about the program and his years at Jesuit. An hour long dedication took place before the game, and after the Blue Jay honors, and the ceremonial first pitch by a former Jesuit player, it was time to play ball.

                Word spread that several of the umpires were Jesuit alumnae. Some fans were anticipating some controversy, but the players were not concerned. The first controversial play came on a delayed out-call on Kyle Gardner, lead hitter for the Tigers, and Tiger fans erupted in disbelief. Next, both Blake Toscano and Sammy Capielano, went 0-1 to cap the top of the first inning. On defense, senior Jonathan Billings, pitched fairly well in the first inning, striking out a Jesuit batter and exciting the crowd. Jesuit earned a run however and this gave them the 1-0 lead.

                In the 2^nd inning, the Tigers failed to get into a hitting rhythm. This was surprising as the Tigers were in the heart of their lineup. It was rare that both Brandon Herrera and Lance Licciardi went 0-1. At the bottom of the 2^nd inning, great fielding by the Tigers kept the game at 1-0. Billings also threw out a would-be Jesuit base stealer, which thrilled the crowd.

                Coincidentally, as soon as fan Martin Connell left for concessions, the Tigers began to perform. Junior Ryan Taylor rocked a shot to left field, got on base, and the momentum began. Jordan Fontenelle’s hit allowed Ryan to steal second and the crowd once again roared. Unfortunately, with the potential to score two runs and tie the game, they left a man on 3^rd and only scored one run. This came back to haunt the Tigers more than once during the game. Later in the 5^th inning, Junior Brandon Herrera crushed an obvious fastball and then senior Kyle Gardner sent Herrera in with an RBI for the first Holy Cross run.

                By the 5^th inning, the score was 3-1, and the Tigers were still in position to tie the game, but a triple was given up, which stretched Jesuit’s lead to 3. Senior Jordan Fontenelle came in as relief pitcher for one inning in response. Zach Cunningham closed the game and demonstrated fortitude by pitching some impressive strikes. In the end, the Tigers fell short, but their fielding was stellar. The Tigers’ bats never quite came alive and they did not capitalize when runners were on base. However, the season is still young and the team looks strong early in the year. The Tigers will have a chance to settle the score again when they meet at Delgado in April.

Baseball Tigers Looking Forward to Home Opener on New Diamond

Go get em Tigers!

By Fred Minor, 12th Grade

      The construction of the baseball stadium is one more step toward the completion of the Holy Cross campus. Most of the construction is now complete, and the stadium is ready for the team’s first scrimmage on Saturday, February 28^th at 4p.m. against  St.Charles Catholic.

      For the past six years, all Holy Cross baseball teams had to travel to Mel Ott on the Westbank for practices and home games. With all teams using the field, there were schedule conflicts. Coach Batt also had to take care of the field at Mel Ott during our time there. “Mel Ott was good to us,” said Coach Batt, “But it’s good to have home field advantage.”

      Work on the field began last year after the Student Center was complete, and the infield was finished on August 1st. Headmaster Mr. DiGange said it’s extremely important to have facilities on campus for the students so they don’t have to travel. Coach David Lindsey said, “It’s refreshing and exciting to not have to go to Mel Ott.” The team can also say goodbye to the long Mardi Gras season traffic jams that were a part of the daily routine of traveling back and forth to the Westbank.

         The stadium will have 500 seats behind the dugouts and home plate. There will be lighting for night games. The dimensions for the field down the right and left field lines are 315 feet, and 380 feet from home plate to center field.

     Varsity players have pitched in to work on the field in an effort to help speed up the process. There was no complaining, only excitement and anticipation to play ball.    “It feels great to work on the stadium, and to be able to give back to the school,” said senior Jordan Fontenelle.

     It’s another big step for Holy Cross and there’s a lot to be proud of. Make sure to be at the first home scrimmage on February 28th.

Wrestling Tigers Pin Down another Season

By Austin Doyle 11^th grade

            A young and determined Holy Cross wrestling team fought their tails off this past weekend at the State Wrestling Tournament at the Ponchatrain Center.  The team placed second in the tournament behind Teurlings Catholic. The battle was close between Teurlings, the Tigers, and Live Oak until the end when Teurlings held a 28-point lead over Holy Cross.

             Senior Nick Michael won his fourth straight individual state title and the Outstanding Wrestler Award. Junior Alex Nicosia won his second straight title, and Senior Dexter Bass won his first state title. Senior Taj Smith lost a tight match to Stephen Scardina of St. Michael the Archangel. Freshman George Benoit also placed second losing to Cody Hill of Live Oak.  Other results: 4^th place: Sophomore Michael Yeatman. 5^th place: Senior Frankie Jurisich and Freshman Dylan Soileau. 6^th place: Sophomore Marc Gibson, Freshman Nick Bonk, and Sophomore Porter Dazet.

            Sophomore Porter Dazet had a stand out performance at the tournament. He had some tough matches, but he “Kicked down the door”, as Coach Miller says, and picked up some key wins to put Holy Cross in a better position for overall team score.

            The Tigers had a solid season. Tournaments of note were the Las Vegas Holiday Classic where the team placed 16^th out of 75 teams, and the Louisiana Classic where they placed 6^th out of 64 teams. Holy Cross lost dual meets to Jesuit and Catholic of Baton Rouge, and also beat Thomas Jefferson in the Student center.

            The wrestling team also saw the addition of a new coach, Carlos Bertot. Coach Carlos was previously the head coach of the Jesuit wrestling team before he decided Holy Cross was the place for him. He primarily worked with the middle and lower weight classes.

            The Wrestling Tigers had a great season and are looking forward to next year with a renewed “eye of the tiger.”

Tigers Torture Riverdale Rebels

By Fred Minor, 12^th Grade

                On Friday night the Tigers traveled to Metairie and defeated the Riverdale Rebels 71-45 in another crucial district meeting. Seniors Chris Kennie and Joel Pichon led the team in scoring with 13 and 11 points respectively. The Tigers used their defense to create points for their offense, as they have been doing all season.

                In the opening minutes, the Tigers’ smothering defensive play created three turnovers, which were converted into three easy buckets. The Tigers finished the quarter with a 24-11 lead.

                The Tigers used fast break opportunities in the second quarter and utilized their prolific passing skills to help pad their lead to a solid 39-18 before the half.

                The beginning of the third quarter looked familiar—shots the team usually would make didn’t fall. After they settled down, however, the Tigers regained their touch and put up 18 points.

                Coach Lumas sent in the younger members on the team to finish the job in the fourth quarter. They played well and held their own. The Riverdale squad was filled mostly with members who played in a JV game right before the varsity game. So the Rebels saw the same familiar on the court in the fourth quarter and suffered a 71-45 loss, even though they outscored the Tigers by one point.

                To kick off the second round of district play, the Tigers will attempt to settle what has become a competitive series with the East Jeff Warriors at their gym on Tuesday night. The Tigers now 19-8 and 3-2 in district would like to sweep the rest of the competition in district to put themselves in a good position for playoff bracket seeding and to have home court advantage.

Tigers Dominate Warren Easton Eagles

By Fred Minor, 12^th Grade

     On Tuesday night at the Holy Cross Student Center, the Holy Cross basketball team (17-8) took on district opponent Warren Easton. The Tigers were led by junior guard Jordan Brookter who contributed 18 points and Senior Derrin James with 16 points. The Tigers leapt ahead of the Eagles in the first quarter and never let up.

     The Tigers started off strong and finished strong. At the end of the first quarter the Tigers led 22-10. In the first half, the Tigers did their best shooting making 15 of 26 shots from the field. They were a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line. The Tigers also won the rebound battle 38-17 and had more defensive rebounds, meaning the Eagles missed shots that the Tigers took advantage of and turned into points for their offense.

     The entire team played last night, which allowed for the younger players to get valuable experience against varsity competition. The young Tigers maintained the lead in the third and fourth quarters and finished the game beating the Eagles 69-43. In the fourth quarter, with the score 66-43, the student section was still hungry for one more score. Senior Joel Pichon delivered with seconds left on the clock and drained a nothing-but-net three-pointer which thrilled the students. The Tigers play an away game on Friday against Riverdale. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.