What’s recently happened?
As the warm weather rolls out and the autumn chill rolls in, the fall sports at Marquette Catholic High School (MQT) come to a close. The Blazer Boys and Girls Soccer, Cross Country, and most recently Girls Volleyball have all concluded their 2024 seasons.
Boys Soccer had a lasting season with a record of 10-6-1, but unfortunately falling short to the reigning state champions of Bethany Christian High School on its home field in the first round of Sectional 34. With a score of 3-1, the Blazers stepped off the field for the last time in the 2024 season on October 8, 2024.
Additionally, cross country had a great season as well. Two sophomore runners, Harper Kilroy and Andrew Pleasant, both advanced to the Regional rounds in their respective races. Kilroy, a returning member of the team, competed in her second consecutive Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) Regional race, where Pleasant, a first time member of the team, competed for his first IHSAA Regional race. Their final races were held at New Prairie High School on October 26, 2024.
Last in the sports category, Girls Volleyball won its third consecutive IHSAA Sectional Championship. In an unconventional season with numerous injuries and lineup changes, the Blazers prevailed over the Kouts High School Fillies in a 3-1 victory on October 19 in the Blazers’ home gym for the Sectional 49 championship. The following weekend, the Blazers fell to the Culver Community High School Cavaliers on the Cavaliers’ home court in a five-set thriller, ending 15-13. The Lady Blazers ended its season with a record of 19-14.
Congratulations to all the teams on all their hard work and dedication to their sports this season! Thank you seniors for all your efforts that went forth into shaping the programs into what they are today.
The fall sports banquet will take place on November 5, 2024 where teams will get together to celebrate all the accomplishments by the players, be recognized in special ways with awards, and a little extra team bonding.
On another note, the Blazers’ freshmen class got together for the day on October 25 for a retreat dedicated to learning about friendships with each other. Back in August, a total of 94 freshmen walked into the doors of MQT for their first day of high school. This retreat was a way for many of them to get to know others who they might not normally see or talk to. With the intimidating factors that a new environment brings, the number of classmates was also daunting.
The day was led by the Campus and Peer Ministry team made up of the Campus Minister, Anthony Holt, and peer ministers, juniors and seniors dedicated to spreading kindness and fostering a presence of friendship, service, and love in all that they do.
Small groups were broken into, talks were listened to, notes were taken, discussions were had, and laughs were shared. Priests and leaders of the retreat gave talks on friendship and the importance of being a true friend for others. The peer ministers led small group discussions where the freshmen students had the opportunity to talk and comment on what they thought was important. This was an experiential way of showing them how to be good friends to others and for each other.
What’s coming up?
With Thanksgiving coming up and school being off for break at the end of the month, MQT is partnering with Catholic Charities Food Pantry to collect food items from a selected list. Some items include canned meat, peanut butter, dry cereals, and holiday meal non perishables. The items collected will be transformed into a food sculpture!
This is the first annual Food Drive Sculpture Challenge that MQT will be participating in, and the opponent is Bishop Noll Institute. Giving back to the community by fighting food insecurity is a great way to show support for those around us who may not have as much as others do. The collection will end November 22, sculptures must be complete by November 29, and the winner will be announced on December 4, 2024.
National Honor Society (NHS) will be hosting two upcoming events at MQT. On November 9, there will be a movie night, hosted in the Scholl Center and gymnasium area of the school. Students will be able to relax, hang out with friends, eat snacks, and watch a fun movie! The featured movie will be “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”
Later on December 6, students are also invited to attend the annual NHS Cocoa & Crafts night. This year, attendees will be able to make ornaments from mixed/multi media materials. There will be hot chocolate and baked goods as well. Students are invited as well as teachers.
Staff spotlight:
Anthony Holt is the Campus Minister and Director of Student Life at MQT. Previously, Holt was an Academic Advisor for students for many years before rising to his current position this year.
Holt is the director of the Food Drive Sculpture Challenge taking place in November, pianist and organist for the monthly masses held at MQT and Sunday mass at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Michigan City, as well as leader of campus ministry. Holt also assists at the nearby feeder schools on weekdays, as well as MQT.
Recently, the first ever MQT freshmen retreat was held and organized by Holt, where the overall goal was to spread the news of Christ’s love for us and to build strong friendships with others. His favorite part of the retreat was mass and confessions held at Saint Mary’s Church.
“To form a community of compassionate, faith-filled student leaders who embody the love of Christ and inspire others to grow in their relationship with God, as well as serve as beacons of light and hope within our school and beyond is a great feeling,” Holt said.
Although this is the first freshmen retreat held, this is not the first retreat Holt has helped with. Holt has been involved in retreats for many years including the annual Kairos retreat. Juniors and seniors are invited to a four day retreat where they learn about themselves and gain a deeper understanding of who they and others are. Holt is a leader and organizer of the Kairos retreat, continuing this year with the Kairos 14 retreat in January.
Holt feels that the retreats not only impact the retreatants, but also the leaders.
“I was impacted by the leadership and skills of my student mentors! It makes me look deeper on how I can share the love of Christ! I hope that those who didn’t attend can see the change and love of those who did attend,” Holt said.
Additionally, Holt has been involved in the Theatre program at MQT, assisting with the lights crew and performing on stage.
Student spotlight:
Nikki Schenzel is an active member of MQT’s community. She is a senior at MQT with a younger sister being a sophomore. While attending MQT for four years, Schenzel has been involved in numerous activities and clubs. Some include volleyball, tennis, Academic Quiz Bowl, NHS Treasurer, peer minister, volunteering at her local elementary school, and working an internship at an insurance agency.
As a peer minister, Schenzel also was present at the freshmen retreat. There, she was a leader of a small group, organizing discussion and icebreaker activities.
“The retreat was chaotic but an experience where they could grow closer to each other and become more comfortable,” Schenzel said.
Schenzel has also attended Kairos 13 as a retreatant and plans to return to Kairos 14 to be a leader.
Schenzel not only participates in activities, but also absorbs major takeaways from them.
“Tennis helped me find happiness through sports. Quiz Bowl is a great community of people to be around. NHS teaches me leadership and responsibility. Work teaches me how to be an adult, and volunteering is my way of giving back!” Schenzel said.
Within her busy schedule, she also finds a little extra time for herself. She fills that with reading, watching television shows, listening to music, and painting her nails.
“Be empathetic! You don’t know what someone else is going through,” Schenzel said.
Schenzel plans to attend college next fall and earn a degree in Children’s Psychology, along with an interest in an Early Elementary Education program. She is currently unsure of where she will be attending college as her applications are being submitted and letters are being sent out.