Connor Molyneaux ’26: Living the Grad at Grad Through Lacrosse & Leadership

Before a student becomes a Crusader, there are several options to consider before deciding to attend Strake Jesuit. If you ask around, “Why Strake Jesuit?” The most widely used answer is, “Being a Man for Others.” What they later come to embrace is that being a Man for Others comes with a sincere obligation of responsibility. It is through the five pillars of the Grad at Grad: Religious, Open to Growth, Loving, Intellectually Competent, and Committed to Doing Justice that each student is formed to share their gifts with people around them. Connor Molyneaux ’26 is one of these students.

Over the past four years, if you were to go and watch a Jesuit Lacrosse game, it would not take long for you to notice something special was happening on  the field. What you would have seen was #34 flying  around, taking charge, and commanding an offensive  attack. Connor Molyneaux was a four-year starter on the Strake Jesuit Lacrosse team and simply put, the kind of teammate every program hopes for. A natural leader, Connor elevated those around him through his work ethic, consistency, and accountability. He didn’t just strive to be his best; he expected the same from his teammates, and he inspired that effort not through pressure, but through his actions. Whether in practice or in a game, he played with discipline, humility, and a team-first mindset that helped shape the culture of the Lacrosse program. When asked, Head Lacrosse Coach Jason Brown had this to share about Connor, “What has stood out the most to me is Connor’s leadership. Even before being made a captain in his senior season, Connor was organizing off-season and out-of-practice work to assure the team was in position to succeed. As a captain this year, he took the initiative, asking the coaches if captains could address player attendance to better allow coaches to coach and preserve a solid team dynamic.” It is this type of innate leadership ability that Connor demonstrates effortlessly that his teammates saw in him to vote him Team Captain, but Connor’s recognition doesn’t stop there. This past season, he was also voted by the coaches’ poll as a High School All-American (only the fifth in Jesuit program history). 

In the classroom, I had the pleasure of having Connor as a student in Sports Literature his senior year, and what makes his story even more meaningful is how clearly he embodies the ideals of the Grad at Grad. Just listening to and watching Connor as a student (and around the field), it was instantly apparent that he is intellectually competent and always seeking to grow and improve. He is open to growth, embracing coaching, feedback, and challenges with maturity. He is religious and grounded in his faith, which guides his decisions and the way he treats others. He is loving, showing genuine care, respect, and kindness to teammates, classmates, and teachers alike. And he is committed to doing justice, leading with integrity and always choosing what is right over what is easy. 

Throughout these past four years, it is only fitting that Connor be recognized for both his high level of lacrosse play and his ability to tackle academic challenges, and that recognition has come in the form of him taking his talents to Jacksonville University, where he will be playing Lacrosse for the Dolphins and majoring in Business Finance. 

Students like Connor Molyneaux leave a legacy that lasts well beyond graduation. His impact on the lacrosse team and the broader Strake Jesuit community is a testament to who he is, not just as an athlete, but as a person of character and faith. Connor is, without question, a true example of the Strake Jesuit Grad at Grad in action.