In recent years, the University of Detroit Jesuit High School, athletic teams have earned their spots within the MHSAA leaderboard. As new students come to The High and students who currently attend gain exposure and experience, our sports teams continue to improve each year. Some prominent winter sports teams from UDJ are the swim and basketball teams, which have started from the bottom and fought for their funding and recognition at The High.
Evan Tack is a current senior and he has been swimming for as long as he can remember. Tack said that he loves being on the swim team due to the shared brotherhood, stating that their brotherhood helps them take down adversity and stay by the side of his fellow swimmers. Once on the topic of brotherhood, Tack showed how much he cared about the team, saying that the captains are the people who lead the team, but that every swimmer is responsible for bringing their unique talent and sense of unity to the team. “We’re all very close with one another,” he said, emphasizing that this tight-knit environment makes swimming a rewarding experience. This will be Evan’s final high school season before continuing his swimming career at Boston College. When asked about his goals for the season, he said, “My goal is to be the best captain I can be. I plan to achieve these goals by showing up each day and giving it my all. I plan on being persistent in my training and inspiring the younger kids on the team.” Tack made it clear throughout the interview that he was determined to leave a lasting impact on the swim team, hoping to inspire the first-year students to do the same
Matthew Love, another Senior at The High, loves hockey with a passion. Though he doesn’t intend to play in college due to his decision to continue his academic career, he has been a critical player on the UDJ Hockey team for the last three years. This year, Love is a captain and plans to lead the team and help younger players feel comfortable in the classroom and on the ice. Like Tack, Matthew believes that the hockey team’s best part is the brotherhood they share, which suggests that brotherhood is a prominent part of all winter sports.
Love stressed the importance of students attending their hockey games, saying that they always have a great atmosphere and are one of the things that bring life to the school. Like the swim team, the hockey team plans on winning a state championship, which they will attain by working hard in practice and supporting each other.
The winter sports season at UDJ is something special. Not only swim and hockey but all of the teams at The High need the support of all their fellow Cubs. We need to be there and rowdy, as each person who attends is one more person supporting our school. Our teams have high hopes, and each team is confident in their abilities. Let’s all be there for our brothers and bring some heat.
