Strake Jesuit Unveils Tribute to Former Athletes

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory recently unveiled a new set of signs in the lobby of its Competition Gym, highlighting accomplished athletes from its recent past that are currently competing at higher levels of their sport. These large signs list all of the former Crusaders who are currently competing collegiately or professionally.

The display titled “Jesuit Athletes Competing at the Next Level” includes 63 athletes across 10 different sports, nine of which are Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) sports. Strake is one of only two private schools that competes in the UIL, but remains highly competitive in athletics despite its smaller enrollment size for a 6-A school. Categorized by sport, each listed graduate’s name is accompanied by the name and logo of his current team as well as the year he finished at Strake.

This new display honors past standout Crusaders and also inspires current student athletes to pursue their athletic goals. All of the recognized 63 graduates played college sports, with four of them are now playing pro sports (three in the NFL and one in the NBA). 

Football has the most players continuing in their sport after Strake, with 11 players competing at the college level and three more in the NFL. Baseball and track & field come next with 10 collegiate athletes each. 

Basketball follows with eight players competing in college and Tim Frazier playing with the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA. The 6-foot-1 point guard, who is in his fifth professional season after starring at Penn State, returned to Strake in August to conduct a two-day basketball camp for current students.

Other sports in which former Strake student athletes compete on the college level include rugby (five), soccer (five), lacrosse (four), swimming/water polo (three), golf (two) and rowing (one).

CNew Orleans Pelicans point guard Tim Frazier returned to his alma mater this summer to conduct a basketball camp for Strake Jesuit students.

“I would love to be on the board up there one day with all of those Strake Jesuit greats,” said sophomore Edgar Romero, a guard on the Crusaders varsity basketball team. “It would be an honor to have my name next to James Drexler, Andrew Malveaux and Nate West.”

This new feature at Strake’s Competition Gym complements its decade-old Athletics Hall of Honor, which the school’s website says serves “as a means of maintaining the rich heritage and tradition of the Crusader athletic program” along with “recognizing, preserving, and honoring the athletes, coaches, individuals, and teams that made significant contributions to the athletic program.”