Luke Byman ’25: A Leader On and Off the Field

If you spend any time around Strake Jesuit athletics, you will hear of the school’s commitment to practicing Ignatian principles in competition and its investment in students growing into men of integrity. For many Crusaders, athletics is an essential part of their high school experience and how they come to embody Strake Jesuit’s core values.

The combination of Catholic education and a strong lacrosse program led Luke Byman ’25 to Strake Jesuit. During his three years at SJ, in addition to playing lacrosse, Luke has taken advantage of Strake Jesuit’s various opportunities, enjoying time on the varsity football team and challenging himself intellectually in AP courses.

Like many student-athletes, Luke points to the lessons he’s learned from lacrosse that have day-to-day applicability in all aspects of his life. In particular, Luke notes how high school lacrosse forces him to manage his time effectively. Successful athletic programs require commitment and sacrifice from athletes and coaches. Luke joked that he knows this all too well from his 4:30 AM alarm clock on days with morning practice. That early wake-up and the drive from Manvel are all worth it, though, because he loves being a part of the team. Whereas long commutes and early mornings might be excuses for students to place academics on the back burner, Luke views it the other way. With limited time and many responsibilities, looking ahead and scheduling when to study and complete assignments (and utilizing that time wisely) translates to in-class success.

While Luke points to many great moments with teammates and coaches on the field, it is the team’s retreats that he finds most meaningful. Each year, the lacrosse team has spent time together at Strake Jesuit’s Retreat and Leadership Center in Leon County, Texas. These times of community building and reflection foster deeper, lasting relationships, which he credits for making him the young man he is today. The interaction with athletes from different grade levels and the “culture” talks the team holds provided the seeds from which Luke refined his quiet leadership style. For him, as for good leaders in general, demonstrating integrity, commitment, focus, and support translates to success for individuals and teams alike.

I had the pleasure of teaching Luke Byman last year in AC English 2, where he demonstrated the qualities that make him a star on the field. Luke is a young man who thrives in rigorous academic classrooms, demonstrates the benefits of reflective Ignatian spirituality, and embodies some of Strake Jesuit’s most important words: a Man for Others.