BK News

In an exhilarating display of athletic teamwork, the Bishop Kenny Crusaders girls' cross-country team secured the FHSAA Class 2A State Championship Title on November 17, marking their first triumph since 2009. This remarkable achievement also marked the ninth team state title in the program's illustrious history, solidifying their legacy as one of the powerhouses in Florida high school cross country. 

Head Coach Jackie Hardin, beaming with pride, acknowledged that this victory was years in the making. She emphasized the collective effort that propelled the team to success, giving special recognition to the four seniors who played a pivotal role in mentoring their younger counterparts and fostering a sense of unity within the team. 

The depth of talent within the squad was truly extraordinary, with junior Tessa Massa, senior Emily Wheldon, and sophomore Alexis Wilson securing impressive placements inside the top 16. Their outstanding performances, combined with the efforts of teammates Stephanie Grden, Davis Johnson '24, Alexis Holmes, and Taylor Lawhon, resulted in a cohesive team effort that amassed 69 points for the Crusaders. 

Coach Hardin underscored the significance of the team aspect, emphasizing the commitment to practicing together five days a week. This dedication proved to be the winning formula, creating a strong team dynamic that ultimately led to their success. The Crusaders' journey to the championship title was marked by consistent excellence, clinching first place in their district with a team time of 19:27 and dominating the region with a team time of 19:10. Their crowning moment came as they triumphed over Bolles for the State Title with another impressive team time of 19:04. 

Not to be overshadowed, the Bishop Kenny Crusader boys' cross-country team also delivered a stellar performance, securing a remarkable second place in the state. The hometown rivalry with the Bolles Bulldogs added an extra layer of excitement to the competition, with both schools showcasing their excellence by securing top positions in both boys' and girls' categories. 

The Bishop Kenny community can take immense pride in the outstanding achievements of their cross-country teams, reaffirming their commitment to excellence and teamwork. The Crusaders have not only brought home titles but have also demonstrated the enduring spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie that defines the true essence of high school athletics. Congratulations to the Bishop Kenny Crusaders on this historic achievement! 

Pictured L-R: Coach Mike Curran, Olivia Lumpkin (10), Taylor Lawhon (9), Isabella Hutchins (12), Emily Wheldon (12), Davis Johnson (12), Alexis Holmes (12), Stephanie Grden (11), Tessa Massa (11), Alexis Wilson (10), Jillie Jakab (9), Head Coach Jackie Hardin, Coach Becca Kerr

Christus Vivit National Award Recipients

 

The Christus Vivit National Award recognizes young Catholics who have helped bring Christ to life in their parishes, schools, and communities.  These young people live and model what it means to be a missionary disciple in the world today through Christian service and stewardship, advocacy for those in need, modeling Christian life, and serving as a light to the world.   Congratulations to the following BK students: Thomas Cratem '25 Mary Elizabeth Harden '25 Emma Lawrence '24* Julia Marquez '26* Emily Rrukaj '25   *Not pictured

Matt Solomon ’92 has achieved success in various fields, including outdoor recreation, medicine, politics, and literature. During his time at BK Matt played football, and participated in wrestling, weightlifting, and track and field.  After graduation Matt went on to study Sociology at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC.   

His love of the outdoors took him to Colorado where he took up skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and kayaking.   Matt found himself getting hooked on white water rafting which led him to becoming a raft guide.  Matt’s friend, an EMT, invited him to work with him on his ambulance.  This new experience introduced him to a useful knowledge of emergency medicine that could be helpful on hiking trails and rafting expeditions.  Matt eventually obtained an associate degree in paramedicine from Colorado Mountain College.

In addition to his outdoor pursuits Matt is also an author. His book, Fortunate Accidents was the result of discussions Matt had over time with a man who worked for the FBI and DOE.  Their discussions about business and leadership philosophies, influenced Matt to write a book about mindfulness and resilience and how they both work together to build leadership.  He decided to take a humbler approach when writing his book and talk about the mistakes he made and the lessons he learned from those mistakes which all contributed to his leadership development and personal growth.  The book emphasizes that being mindful of ourselves and the events in our lives can help reach our full potential as an individual.  His leadership skills led Matt to run for Colorado State Senate District 8 in 2022 where he fell short to Democrat, Dylan Roberts.  Matt worked very closely with his opponent after the election to meet the energy needs of the state. When asked if he will run again, he is currently working with the congressional campaign and says his focus is on today and not planning for tomorrow.

Matt was recently appointed to the Colorado Broadband Deployment Board by the governor to help with the effort to get high speed internet statewide in unserved areas.  The board reviews the applications to give funding to companies that would like to build a network in rural areas of the state.  Matt also serves on the Judicial Performance Review Commission for his district which entails interviewing the judges and staff to see if they are meeting statutory requirements set by the district to determine reappointment.  Matt also serves as a project manager for the Northwest Colorado Energy Initiative.  The increase in regulation in the state of Colorado is pushing the coal industry out with no plan put in place for alternative options. The purpose of this committee is to educate the population and fill the gap with good energy as a more proactive approach to set up the state for success.

Matt was a pro kayaker for many years and fills his free time with kayaking.  He was an integral part as a member of the U.S. Freestyle Kayak Association and helped set up the foundation for the consistence in rules for the world cup and world champion rules that are in place today.  We look forward to Matt’s next adventure in life.

Congratulations on much success, Matt!