Marmion Academy

Graduates in Class of 2020: 123

Valedictorians: Alexander Yakisan, Benjamin Riner, Dominic Diederich

Highest Honors Graduates: Alexander Yakisan, Dominic Diederich, Benjamin Riner, Jason Baker, Charles Rogers, Garrett Durian, Aden Morvice, Christopher Sowers, Maxwell Gorlich, James Tews, Patrick Desch, Carlos Liz, Matthew Woodford

Graduation Speakers: Alexander Yakisan, Benjamin Riner, Dominic Diederich

Class officers: Student Body President Carlos Liz; Student Body Co-Vice Presidents James Tews and Ben Okolita; Senior Class President Edwin Carey; Senior Class Representatives Andrew Auchstetter, Caeden Ayres, Jack Burke, Robbie Dzierzanowski and Josh Harris

Head of School Leadership Award Winners: Alexander Yakisan, Dominic Diederich, James Tews, Benjamin Riner, Charles Rogers, Maxwell Gorlich, Jason Baker, Aden Morvice, Christopher Sowers, Wyatt Holtan, Thomas Brown, Anthony Zangler, Carlos Liz

Summa Cum Laude Medal Winners (Perfect 4.0 GPA for all four years): Alexander Yakisan, Dominic Diederich, Benjamin Riner, Jason Baker

Top Academic Award Winners: Maxwell Gorlich (Science), Aden Morvice (English), Alexander Yakisan (English, Spanish, Social Sciences), Benjamin Riner (Mathematics), Diego Gutierrez (Italian), Elias Tamer (French), Charles Rogers (Latin), Jacob Tinajero (Art), Jason Baker (Engineering)

Perfect scores of 36 on the ACT: Alexander Yakisan and Benjamin Riner

National Merit Scholarship recipients: Alexander Yakisan, Benjamin Riner, Charles Rogers.

ROTC Scholarships and Service Academy appointments:

• Cadet Major Jason Baker has been awarded a four-year Air Force ROTC Scholarship

• Students awarded four-year Army ROTC Scholarships: Cadet Sergeant First Class Dominic Czerwinski, Cadet First Lieutenant Benjamin Hansen and Cadet Master Sergeant Connor Hollarbush

• Students awarded three-year Army ROTC Scholarships: Cadet First Lieutenant Zachary Eckstrom, Cadet Sergeant First Class Joshua Harris and Cadet Staff Sergeant Alexander Priester

• Cadet Sergeant First Class Robert Dzierzanowski is a finalist for an Army ROTC Scholarship

• Cadet Sergeant Joshua Pura is a finalist for both an Army and a Navy ROTC scholarship.

• Cadet Staff Sergeant Jake Black enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard last year and completed his initial training this past summer at Fort Benning, Georgia as a combat medic. He will be heading to Fort Sam Houston, Texas to complete his Advanced Individual Training prior to starting college.

• Cadet First Lieutenant Connor Jenig has received a congressional nomination to attend the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis and is also a finalist for a four-year Navy ROTC Scholarship

• Cadet First Sergeant Christian Nowak has received a congressional nomination to attend the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis and has also been awarded a four-year Navy ROTC Scholarship for Emery-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona, Florida.

• Cadet Staff Sergeant Christopher Llewellyn has enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard and will be shipping out in June to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to complete his initial training as a combat engineer.

• Cadet Staff Sergeant Armande Naseem and Cadet First Lieutenant Justin Suess have received appointments to the United States Military Academy at West Point and will be joining the West Point class of 2024 this summer.

Athletic achievements:

• Golf: Varsity hosted the first Cadet Invitational at Aurora Country Club; took fourth place at the Chicago Catholic League Championships at Cog Hill; tied for first at the IHSA regional; fifth at the IHSA sectional.

• Soccer: Varsity, 8-9-3; finished in second place in the Barrington tournament, best in nearly 10 years; Seniors Ian Swindle and Jason Baker earned All-Conference recognition; Seniors Ian Swinde and Tyler Laurich earned All-Sectional honorable mention.

• Cross Country: Second place at the "First to the Finish" race in Peoria; third at the Loyola University invitational; third at the Chicago Catholic League Championships at Lewis University; All-Conference runners - Anthony Zangler and Alex Carlson; second at the IHSA Regional at Kaneland High School; finished in seventh place in Class 2A; senior Alex Carlson, 30th overall.

• Football: Varsity - 7-4; Finished 1-2 in the White Division; qualified for the state playoffs; All-conference seniors - Major Haas, Garret Durian and Brandon Bryan.

• Hockey: Made the playoffs for the CCHL; Sam Greco was all-conference; Senior Henry Walton was nominated for all-state recognition

• Basketball: Varsity record 5-24; 2-5 in the CCL White division; program was recognized as the Sportsmanship recipients for the White division.

• Swimming: Took third at conference; 200 Medley relay team won sectionals and qualified for state; Junior Ryan Conner took second at sectionals in the 100-yard backstroke and qualified for state; Junior Ty Spillane won sectionals in the 100-yard breaststroke and in the process broke a school record and qualified for state; 10 of the 16 individual sectionals events ranked among the Marmion's all-time top 20 performances; three were in the top 20, four were in the Top 10, two in the top five and one new record; The 200 Medley relay team finished in eighth place at state

• Wrestling: Overall Dual record was 12-5; third at the Chicago Catholic League Conference Championships; second at regionals; four individual regional champions: J. Garcia - 106, D. Sotelo - 112, Senior Jacob Tinajero - 138, W. Green - 145; Nine sectional qualifiers - Senior Jacob Tinajero was the sectional champion at 138; Four cadets qualified for state: J. Garcia - 106, D. Sotelo - 113, Senior Jacob Tinajero - 138, Senior Charles O'Connor - 170; Two cadets placed at state: Senior Jacob Tinajero (138), fifth place, and D. Sotelo (113), second place.

Extracurricular achievements: Patrick Desch and Armande Naseem were awarded the National School Choral Award; Juan Camarillo was awarded the Distinguished Service in Choir Award; Andrew Auchstetter was awarded the John Philip Sousa Band Award; Maxwell Gorlich was awarded the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award.

Theater productions: "My Fair Lady"

Homecoming King and Queen: Michael Fazio and Kallista Capparelli

Homecoming theme: "Rumble in the Jungle"

What was new for the Class of 2020: "Water for Water" program

Principal's reflections on the Class of 2020: I recall the day we welcomed the Class of 2020, a beautiful day with lots of excitement, joy, and smiles. God brought each member of the class to our campus for a reason, each a blessing to the Marmion Community, with four years in front of them ready to make the most of their high school experience. Now, four years later they leave us as faith-filled Christian leaders leaving behind a legacy of service to others. Coupled with outstanding achievements and accomplishments both in and out of the classroom, they are a group of young men who exemplify what it means to be a "Man of Marmion" who have had an incredibly positive impact on our school community. Even in these very difficult times, these young men have provided support for one another, continued to be role models for the underclassmen in Zoom meetings, virtual ministry events, and have shown tremendous character despite the disappointment of how the school year is ending. God indeed blessed us when the Class of 2020 joined our Marmion Family. We will miss your great spirit, tremendous talents, unending dedication, and selfless service to others. I will miss passing you in the hallway and saying hello, sharing a laugh, joining you all for wing day in the cafeteria, Pride Assembly competitions, the loudness and laughter of the senior hallway, but most of all I will miss each of you as individuals, the outstanding young men of the Class of 2020. We are very proud of you, we wish you continued success and happiness, and ask God to continue to bless and watch over you. Never forget that the Marmion Brotherhood is forever, and the Academy is and will always be your "home."

- Principal Anthony Tinerella