TWO ATHLETES AND TWO TEAMS SELECTED FOR ATHLETIC HALL OF HONOR

Monday, June 18, 2012

Patrick Devine ‘78

The fifth class was recently selected for induction into the Strake Jesuit Athletic Hall of Honor. This year’s class includes two Individual Athletes, Patrick Devine ‘78 (Baseball, Football, Basketball), and Bill O’Brien ‘78 (swimming) and two Teams which include the 1977 Mile Relay Team and the 1998 Baseball Team. The group will be formerly inducted at the annual Night of Honor dinner scheduled for Saturday, February 9. They will share the spotlight that evening when this year’s winner of the Ignatian Award as the Alumnus of the Year receives his award.

Patrick Devine, was an outstanding all-around athlete for the Crusaders in the late 70’s. As a sophomore he was an All-District pitcher with a 702 record. As a junior he was All-State in football and baseball, and as a senior was again All-State in football and baseball. Possibly his more memorable moment, that alumni of the time still recall with great joy, was his winning field goal as a junior in 1976 that handed the Crusaders their first ever win over rival St. Thomas.

Devine’s classmate, Bill O’Brien was quite possibly the greatest swimmer in the school’s history. He was All-State as a sophomore, junior and senior and set the record for the 100 yard butterfly which stood almost 20 years until 1997 and the record for the 500 yard freestyle which still stands today. In 1980 he was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team which boycotted the Moscow Olympics.

Bill O’Brien ‘78

The 1977 Relay Team consisted of seniors Alan Bergeron, Tyrone Donahoe, Ira Lucas and junior Bryant Newbill. At the Texas Relays in 1977 they ran a 3:13:8 which was not only a new school record and a record for the Texas Relays, it was the best time in the nation. As a point of reference, some 35 years later that time would compete for the UIL title at the Texas State meet.

The 1998 Baseball Team won the TCIL State Title, their second in a row, with a record of 26-6, a record for wins in a season which still stands. The team finished with a club batting average of .393 with 28 home runs and 274 runs scored. The pitchers finished with a team ERA of 2.59.

CLICK HERE for the learn more about the Hall of Honor including a list of all current inductees.

1977 Relay Team - (l to r) Ira Lucas, Tyrone Donahoe,   Alan Bergeron,and Bryant Newbill	1998 Baseball Team (l to r) Back Row: Head Coach Bob Nottebart, Matt Pesek, Ryan Simms, Steve Rowe, Peter Walbridge, Coach Jeff Wallis. Middle Row: Matt Simpson, Chris Kimball, Steve Cabell, Eric Carter, Bryan Baralt. Front Row: Seth Flechsig, Greg Highberger, Dennis Stasio, Paul Emhke, Andrew Slania, Brian St. Aubin.