Rock Talk

The last day of class hits differently when you can name what a place gave you and what you helped build while you were there. We’re joined by Rockhurst seniors Langston Humphrey and Davis Long, two student leaders who’ve helped strengthen the Black Student Union while balancing speech and debate, mock trial, and athletics. They walk us through the real texture of senior spring, from finals and AP...

Senior year goes fast, and it gets real the moment you start saying your goodbyes. Steve sits down with two Rockhurst seniors, Draden Torline and David Pryor, for an honest conversation about what they’ll remember most, what they’re chasing next, and what they wish more people understood about Rockhurst High School in Kansas City. We get into the practical side of college decisions too. David shar...

Graduation gets close, and suddenly every hallway, game, and late-night laugh feels louder. We sat down with two Rockhurst seniors who are stepping into their next chapters, and they told the truth about what they’ll actually miss and what they’ll carry forward. One is heading to Southwest Baptist to play college basketball, ready to compete and contribute. The other is bound for the University of...

Brotherhood only matters when it shows up in real life, and that’s exactly where our conversation with the Koetting brothers goes. Jeb (’25), now playing football at Colgate, Tom (’28), a current sophomore, and Whit (’30), a soon-to-be Hawklet, open up about the moments that shaped them: underdog wins in freezing stadiums, late-night texts answered without hesitation, and service projects that mad...

A feast becomes a lifeline when a community decides tradition should serve people, not just nostalgia. We sit down with student leaders Nick Pizzachino and Charlie Bondi to explore how Rockhurst High School’s St. Joseph’s Table blends Sicilian heritage, faith, and hands-on service to support the Wyandotte County Pregnancy Center. From ornate breads and cookies to the sawdust that honors a carpente...

Think you know what “brotherhood” means? Spend an hour with Cash and Cruz Lundowski and feel it in real time. Two athletes, two paths, one last-minute pivot to Rockhurst that reshaped who they are and what they expect from themselves. We talk about the quiet moments that build character—the early alarms, the film sessions, the awkward hellos that become friendships—and the loud ones too, like stan...

Lights down, crowd roaring, seniors rushing the freshmen section—that spark of brotherhood sets the stage for a conversation that travels from the track to the broadcast booth to the heart of what makes Rockhurst different. We sit with the Burns brothers—senior Ivan, sophomore Felix, and freshman Baron—as they share how a Jesuit college prep turns curiosity into opportunity and classmates into lif...

A live audience. Two student interns. A week where service, spirit, and storytelling collide. We hand the mic to Jack and Michael as they launch “Sup Boys,” our student-led podcast that captures life at Rockhurst from the inside: candid, energetic, and deeply rooted in Jesuit values. Mission Week sets the stage. We break down how each class rallies behind a specific partner—from St. Peter Claver P...

A projected gap became a real fight, and everyone in the stands felt it. Jack Messick and Declan Griggs walk us through Rockhurst’s state meet story—how dominant diving from the favorites put them down early, how steady points from the board kept it close, and how a surge in the pool made second place feel like a statement. We talk about the 500 free at 5:08, the pressure of 11-dive rounds and cut...

A senior’s year can feel like a sprint, but Jeremy Smith shows how to turn it into a purposeful stride. We meet a student who mixes AV production, revived music culture, and serious computer science chops—and somehow finds time to serve Kansas City by narrowing the digital divide. His story moves from the soundboard to the code editor to the service site, stitching together creativity, discipline,...

A single early loss lit the fuse. From that moment, Jack McGovern—a Rockhurst sophomore balancing student government, chamber choir, and a love for photography—built a season that leapt from local promise to national proof: a Missouri soil record, a 12-second state championship, fourth at Nike Cross Regionals, and 10th at Nike Cross Nationals. We dig into the hinge points, from the confidence brea...

The mics are hot and the pace is real: We sit down with our SGA president and senior class president to unpack a semester that never touched the brakes. From a raucous district championship turnout to a weekly video series that became appointment viewing, they share how school spirit turned into a campus movement—and why that energy matters when you’re trying to lead, learn, and lift others. We ge...

Gratitude changes how a community breathes. On Thanksgiving, Steve Redmond, our Director of Admissions and Marketing, steps behind the mic to offer a heartfelt thank-you to the people who make Rockhurst High School’s mission real—faculty, staff, parents, and alumni. This special message trades the usual format for a reflective pause: a look back on the year, a recognition of unseen effort, and a c...

What if the best measure of a school isn’t just where graduates go, but who they become? We sit down with President David Laughlin to unpack how Rockhurst High School forms young men who work hard, love well, and aim their gifts toward something bigger than themselves. Across four decades in Catholic education, David maps the Jesuit DNA that powers our culture: prayer that frames the day, retreats...

A school’s true test isn’t just grades or trophies—it’s whether the people it forms keep coming back to lift the next class. That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with executive leader and alum parent, Diane Marty, who shares how Rockhurst strengthens access, care, and real-world learning while holding tight to its Jesuit mission. From meeting 100% of verified financial need to rebuilding a cou...

A small choice can define a lifetime: Jim Kopp and John Oades, two friends from the Class of ’67 sit down with us to share how Rockhurst formed their faith, sharpened their character, and gave them a brotherhood that still shows up—at service sites, retreats, tailgates, and alumni events. They talk about arriving as kids, becoming men for others, and why they now guide freshmen through Days for Ot...

What if a few hours of your time could unlock a scholarship, spark a student’s purpose, and strengthen a community for years? We invited two Parents Club leaders, Lyndy Volker and Julie Walker Browne, to share how Rockhurst’s culture of service comes alive through everyday actions—greeting at the hospitality desk, baking for faculty, making auction calls, and pitching in on setup or cleanup. Their...

Doors open wider when a community decides they should—and that belief is on full display at Rockhurst. We sit down with Director of Engagement Moira Healy and Director of Community Engagement (and alumnus) Martin Radosevic Jr. to explore how parents, students, alumni, and staff turn Jesuit ideals into everyday action. From team Masses and days of reflection to mother–son brunches and the father–so...

A humming activity period sets the scene as we sit down with three alumni who chose to come back to Rockhurst High School and teach theology. What unfolds is a grounded, energizing look at how faith formation actually works in a Jesuit college prep: mentors who shaped their vocation, a curriculum that moves from Scripture to social justice and vocation, and a community that treats retreats, servic...

Ever wonder what makes a Jesuit education different? Rich Sullivan, who has devoted 27 years to Rockhurst High School as a teacher, coach, and now Director of Ignatian Identity, reveals the heart of what makes "The Rock" unique. "Our goal isn't just to get these kids into Harvard. Our goal is to get these kids into heaven," Sullivan shares, quoting former president Father...

Alan Ratermann's journey from Alumni Service Corps volunteer to Director of Ignatian Service at Rockhurst High School embodies the school's mission of forming men for others. In this revealing conversation, Alan takes us behind the scenes of a comprehensive service program that transforms young men through meaningful encounters with community needs. At Rockhurst, service isn't a che...

What does it take to transform awkward freshmen into confident, faith-filled leaders? At Rockhurst High School, the journey begins with the Freshman Retreat—but this experience impacts far more than just the new students. Senior co-chairs Joe Pitzl and Andrew Hayes reveal how their own freshman retreat experiences inspired them to lead the program years later. "Some of the people I met in my...

What makes a truly good leader in today's world? Is it enough to be powerful, or must power be guided by something greater? In this profound conversation with Father Stephen Kramer, Rockhurst High School's new principal, we explore the heart of Jesuit education and its focus on forming "men for others." Father Kramer brings a unique perspective shaped by his experiences teachin...

Have you ever wondered what truly sets exceptional students apart in today's competitive world? It's not just grades or test scores—it's the ability to articulate who they are and what they stand for. In this eye-opening episode of Rock Talk, we dive deep into Rockhurst High School's revolutionary Camino Ignaciano Project with Director of Experiential Learning Tyler Baker. This...

Step inside the thoughtful, intentional process of welcoming freshmen to Rockhurst High School through this revealing conversation with Chris Bosco, Assistant Principal for Student Life. Discover how this Jesuit college preparatory school has carefully crafted a freshman transition experience that begins months before the first day of school and continues throughout the critical first year. What m...