If you’re wondering who the new faces roaming our hallways in between classes are, or if you’re a student who takes Spanish, then you’ve surely crossed paths with the new Spanish exchange students from Pamplona, Spain. The same city that Ignatius was so famously injured in, and that hosts the Running of the Bulls, is now about a half dozen students lighter, and 4970 Oakland Avenue is about a half dozen students more culturally enriched.

Sitting in one of several well-worn wooden booths,  I thoughtfully chewed on my turkey-bacon melt with Miracle Whip as I examined the antique jukebox next to me with its blocky, white and red buttons and rotating list of sepia-colored song selections. Across from me sat my dad, who had been so kind as to take me out to lunch on that Friday afternoon. It seemed to me as if I had taken a trip back a century in time as I gazed upon the green and white checkerboard pattern of tiles that made up the floor and the white ceiling with its geometrical design accentuated by diamonds, both no doubt remnants of the Art Deco movement that swept the country in the 1920s and ’30s. Along one wall, I spot a collection of Coca Cola advertising posters, perhaps more accurately described as soft drink propaganda, featuring smiling people enjoying the iconic American beverage. Along another wall, I saw a mini billboard of a menu, featuring a variety of sandwiches and sundaes, and a slightly smaller menu displaying the ice cream flavors available. While taking it all in, my eyes come across a large display case, filled with candies and chocolates, occupying a good portion of one of the restaurant’s corners. 

After two years of service to St. Louis U. High, serving as the Assistant Athletic Director, special teams coordinator, lacrosse coach and sophomore Theology teacher, Kevin Wehner will be leaving 4970 Oakland and heading to Chaminade College Preparatory School, where he will serve as the Athletic Director. Despite only being at SLUH for two years, Wehner’s presence will be felt for a very long time. 

Many students at St. Louis U. High have little, or even no, experience using business tools such as Excel. This is about to change. Recently, the SLUH administration has decided to bring back the Introduction to Business summer class. The class will help students get a taste of what it means to study business, and will also benefit those who plan to take the trip to Wall Street with the Ignatian Business Leadership club.

St. Louis U. High is hosting ten French exchange students from Institution Notre Dame Chartres (IND) for a two week long exchange trip. Chartres is located around 50 miles southwest of Paris and is famous for its Cathédrale Notre-Dame. The exchange students are staying with SLUH host families and are participating in activities that will help immerse them in American culture and life at SLUH.

Eight students from Instituto de Oriente in Puebla, Mexico have joined the St. Louis U. High community the past eleven days through the Global Ed Program. The trip follows nine Jr. Bills making the same trip to Puebla over spring break; most of these students are now hosts for the Mexican students.

Over spring break, eight students from St. Louis U. High embarked on a ten day immersion journey to South Africa with the goal of working to preserve endangered, orphaned rhinos. Sophomores Evan Stahlman, Steven Gorsuch, Andrew Hopkins, Owen Dusek, and Steven Johnson; juniors Owen Zwiesler, and Jack Thieret; and senior Conor O’Callaghan were selected to fill the limited spots on their journey to become more globally educated Junior Bills, led by chemistry teacher Dr. Kathleen Dwyer.

St. Louis U. High’s DECA delegation embarked on the next phase of their journey into becoming the great business leaders of the future, with two students advancing to the international conference, all in the program’s first year.

This week’s athlete of the week is senior volleyball captain and outside hitter Luke Schall. Schall is a four-year varsity athlete whose height and athletic tenure has allowed him to collect 43 points, 82% serve percentage, and seven blocks so far this season. Schall has led the Jr. Bills on an impressive 10-0 start to the season.

Let the naysayers know. These words, popularized by former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milore, have become a central component of St. Louis U. High’s Tennis team for their 2025 season. SLUH Tennis, a program which has struggled to find a strong identity and sense of team spirit, has rallied around Milroe’s words as a mantra of shaking off doubt and proving that they are ready to be a force in the athletics program after losing the MCC Championship last season, emphasizing what has been a slow decline after the cancelled 2020 season. This was evident on Wednesday, as the Jr. Bills kicked off MCC play this week with a resounding 9-0 domination over the Vianney Griffins.

The St. Louis U. High JV Wrestling squad surged ahead this winter, racking up a multitude of wins while showcasing the depth of a rising program.

Wondering how the JV hockey teams performed this season? Look no further!

What about JV? After a magical playoff run from the St. Louis U. High varsity basketball squad in March, it is time to reflect on a successful season for all levels of SLUH Basketball. The JV squad, along with both freshman teams, finished the year with a strong record, a beacon of light for an already bright SLUH Basketball program, fueled by underclassmen talent.  

The St. Louis U. High Lacrosse team continued to struggle over the past few weeks, taking many tough and big losses in 4 of their last 5 games including losing 9-8 in a nail-biting overtime match as well as 21-6 to MICDS, but they were able to overcome their struggles to find success in their 10-7 win against Southern Illinois.

Over the past five weeks, Saint Louis U. High’s Varsity Volleyball team has been building up what they hope to be a state championship team. So far, they have gone undefeated, facing off in three home games, a tournament, and two away games.

The St. Louis U High Varsity water polo team took a bus up to Chicago the Friday before last, seeking high competition at the York Invitational. They finished second place in the tournament late Saturday afternoon, with a 2-2 record overall and a 12-13 score in the final game versus New Trier. In the days following, the Jr. Bills had two more games locally, winning 14-7 over Lafayette on Monday and 21-2 over Kirkwood on Tuesday.