Homecoming 2022!

Jesuit High School capped off a fabulous Homecoming 2022 on Friday (October 7) with a full day of Homecoming activities, from Fun Day during school hours through the evening Homecoming BBQ and campus festivities, then culminating with the football game and the halftime ceremonies announcing the Homecoming Court and Homecoming Queen, and honoring Jesuit's 2022-23 Alumnus of the Year, Joe Caballero '86.

It was the culmination of a phenomenal Homecoming Week. Each day featured a fun-themed dress down, including Jersey Day and Fictional Character Day (see photo slideshows below), leading up to Thursday night's Homecoming Pep Rally and Friday's Fun Day on campus. There were no classes Friday as students instead engaged in Fun Day activities ranging from musical jam sessions, ping pong, and soccer to tournaments in spikeball, bocce, poker, Super Smash Bros., and dodgeball.

The annual student vs. faculty dodgeball championship in the Tiger Palace closed out Fun Day. The Señors, an all-seniors team comprised of Brian Kubiak, Nathan McGill, Angelo Cabalan, Spencer Brogan, Charles Knost, and Grant Jordan and coached by classmates Joquez Smith and Hansen Rix, captured the student championship and faced a faculty team led by Dameon Clay, Mr. Peter Bell, S.J., and Noah Menendez ’14. The faculty avenged a humiliating loss in 2021 and cruised to victory, earing year-long bragging rights over the student body.

Other Fun Day competitions included a 7 v 7 soccer tournament held jointly by the Film Club and Italian Club. Black Magic FC, an all-seniors squad consisting of William Gray, Jack Jacobsen, Dominic Pullo, Shane Oliva, Grant Creedican, Daniel Kortright, Eric Stanley, Kai Rodrigues, and Abi Lindblom, edged out Stormtrooper FC 2-1 for the title.

The Bocce Tournament champions were sophomores Brady Kiser and Charlie Valenti, the No-Limit Hold ‘Em Tournament was won by Austin Hamilton ’25, and the Super Smash Bros. champion was Ryan Burriesci ’25.

In the ping pong, Lindblom defeated Nicholas Hadley ’26 for the student title, and Mr. Bell conquered Jesuit ping pong legend Fernando Rodrigues for the faculty crown. The Lindblom-Bell all-school championship match was epic, with Lindblom prevailing 21-19, 21-18.

Jesuit’s director of community service Andy Wood ’92 announced that all of the proceeds collected from Homecoming Fun Day amounted to more than $4,700, which all will go toward Jesuit’s Thanksgiving Basket Drive. The Environmental Club raised the highest amount, $834.  

Friday afternoon and evening Jesuit hosted Homecoming 2022, with hundreds of alumni, students, and families enjoying a full slate of activities on campus, including a BBQ, live music, sno-cones, cornhole, face painting, and photos with the Tiger mascot. Two alumni from the Class of 1948, Dan Brown and Eric Fabian, connected for the first time in nearly 75 years at the Homecoming BBQ.

At halftime of the football game the 2022-22 Alumnus of the Year was recognized. Caballero, with an enormous throng of family and friends accompanying him – Caballero has five brothers who attended Jesuit, and four sisters – was introduced and greeted at midfield by Jesuit president Fr. Richard C. Hermes, S.J. Caballero was given a standing ovation by the large Homecoming crowd for his generosity and contributions to Jesuit High School through the years. (See below for more information about Caballero.)

Then the Homecoming Court was introduced. Representing Jesuit were junior Brayden McAnally ’24 and seniors Dawson Barklage, Matthew Dolan, Ethan Fisch, Brian Kubiak, Cole Maddox, and Liam Schindler, and from the Academy of the Holy Names were Natalia Guzman, Campbell Halme, Abby Hamilton, Lilliana Holman, Mary Grace Nash, Lily Rittenhouse, and Sydney Thomas.

Nash (pictured in the center above) was crowned Homecoming Queen, receiving her crown from Father Hermes.

The football game was a classic with a painful ending for the Tigers, who fell 23-21 to CCC on a last-minute field goal. Next up is Friday's game at Gaither, followed on Oct. 21 by Senior Night at Corral Memorial Stadium vs. powerhouse Tampa Bay Tech. On Nov. 4, the regular season concludes at TC with the annual showdown vs. the Crusaders. 

For more Homecoming 2022 images view the photos slideshows below. The first slideshow includes Fun Day, the dress-down days and the pep rally. The second slideshow is the Homecoming pregame festivities and BBQ. The third (coming soon) includes the Homecoming Court and Queen, the Alumnus of the Year, and the football game. Scroll below the slideshows for more information below about the Alumnus of the Year, Joe Caballero '86.

2022-23 Alumnus of the Year - Joe Caballero '86

Since his graduation in 1986, Joe Caballero has been a lifelong advocate of Jesuit, donating his time, talent, and treasure to supporting his alma mater and the Jesuit High School Alumni Association.

Throughout the years, Joe has served Jesuit in many leadership capacities. He served on the Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2021, including as Chairman from 2015 to 2018. Additionally, Joe has been a loyal member of the Jesuit High School Foundation, Inc. since 2006, serving one term as President and currently serving as Vice President. He serves on the Investment Committee for the Jesuit Central and Southern Province. He is also an active member of the school’s Investment Committee, Finance Committee, and is a member of the Jesuit Hall of Fame and prestigious 1899 Bequest Society.

After graduating from Jesuit, Joe earned a Finance degree from Florida State University and a Master of Accountancy from the University of South Florida. Professionally, he is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the State of Florida. He is also a Managing Member of EROC Advisors, LLC. EROC is a business advisory firm that focuses on strategic advisory; business ownership transition/merger and acquisition advice and execution; capital structure optimization; and debt placement. He is also an independent director for Carter Multi-Family Funds.

Joe previously was CEO and President of two Florida banks; The Bank of St. Petersburg (2003-2007) and Gulf Shore Bank (2009-2017).

Active in the community, Joe currently serves as a board member of the Institute, Hospital and Foundation Boards for H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Chair of the Joint Finance Committee, member of the Joint Investment Committee, Institute Executive Committee, Foundation Executive Committee, Joint Executive Compensation and Benefits Committee and the Joint Strategy and Planning Committee. Formerly Chair of the Audit and Investment Committees.

He is an active parishioner of St. Lawrence Catholic Church and has been happily married to his wife, Claudine, for 31 years.

Joe is the oldest of 10 children, 6 boys and 4 girls. All of his brothers graduated from Jesuit. He is joined on the field tonight by his wife, his parents, aunt, 7 of his 9 siblings, mother-in-law, sister and brother-in-law and 12 nieces and nephews.

For his many years of outstanding leadership and dedicated support to the school and our Tampa Bay community, Jesuit High School is proud to recognize Joseph L. Caballero ’86 as the 2022-23 Alumnus of the Year!