Jack Magnus ’24: Living the Magis

When Jack Magnus ’24 walks into class, he carries with him his lunch pail.

 

It is not what you imagine. It is a bona fide lunch pail. One of those workin’-on-the-high-steel, nine-to-five, Fred-Flintstone-at-the-rock-quarry, Stanley-brand lunch pails with a strong swiveling handle filled with enough calories to get him through his long SJ day.

 

And it is a long day. A two-sport Varsity athlete, Jack begins with a 6 AM swim practice, attends his max-rigor senior slate of classes, joins the Rosary Club in prayer, and practices with the baseball team after school until 4:30. In the evening, it is time with family and then even more time in the pool or the weight room. Then, of course, homework.

 

It is the kind of day we wish for all our SJ student-athletes, one marked not only by productivity, consistency, and discipline but also by prayer and time with a community of teammates, friends, and family.

 

At Jesuit, Jack swims and he catches for the baseball team. He has been a part of each program’s varsity squad for three years. Listening to Jack before and after class, baseball seems to be his first love, which he has played since he was small. He told me of memories of playing on his little league teams with his dad as the coach. And he told me just how much Varsity baseball coach Mr. Garcia-Rameau has taught him about baseball and manhood, praising him for never holding back what he really thinks: “Coach is tough on you,” Jack says, “because he wants you to care as much as he does. He wants you better than you are.”

 

Making Jack Magnus better than he already is must be no small feat: Mr. Tim Keogh ’10, Jesuit’s head swimming and diving coach, says that “Jack encapsulates the Jesuit ‘Grad at Grad’. He is a leader and captain of both his varsity teams. His constant hard work paid off as he developed into an elite freestyle sprinter, helping our relays get top 3 times in school history and have a record showing at the regional swim meet. He was always very mature, even as a freshman, and always exhibits a fun sense of humor.” 

 

As his English teacher this year, I cannot attest to that sense of humor, but I can say he is the kind of student who works hard at a subject that is certainly not his favorite. But he does it anyway, to the best of his ability, and with a positive attitude. Coach Keogh emphasizes that last point: “I will miss Jack's work ethic and positive personality at the pool.” As I will miss it in the classroom.

 

Next year, Jack heads to The Colorado School of Mines to play baseball. He brings with him the memories of his dad’s little league teams; he brings with him Coach Keogh’s emphasis on consistency and discipline; he brings with him Coach Garcia-Rameau’s lesson of always striving for more. 

 

And he brings with him, I hope, his lunch pail.