Homecoming 2025

Jesuit High School capped off a phenomenal Homecoming Week with an amazing Homecoming Day on Friday (Oct. 24), filled with great moments and the spirit of Homecoming at Jesuit.

(See photos below, and for hundreds of Homecoming photos go to the Facebook page Jesuit High School of Tampa.) 

Where to begin? Thursday's Homecoming Pep Rally saw Kaleb Smith '26 crowned as the Baby King and launched the school into a Homecoming Day that featured record-setting Fun Day fundraising (nearly $9,000!) followed by awesome pregame festivities on campus as hundreds of Jesuit supporters enjoyed the five food trucks, all of the inflatables and games, and the camaraderie and fellowship.

Just before kickoff of the football game between Jesuit and one of the Tigers' oldest rivals dating back a century, Hillsborough, the football team celebrated Senior Night along with the cheerleaders and pep band, with each senior introduced individually with their family. Halftime featured two big traditional Jesuit Homecoming ceremonies: recognizing  the 2025-26 Alumnus of the Year, Blake Casper '91, and the introduction of the Homecoming Court and announcement of the Queen, Abby Doyle of the Academy of the Holy Names, with Jesuit president Fr. Vincent Giacabazi, S.J. placing the tiara on Doyle.

And there was one more very special moment: As the Tigers roared to a 69-6 win over Hillsborough to improve to 8-1 and claim the District title (led by two touchdown catches apiece from the Baby King, Smith, and Mikey Vernon '27), they also were earning a milestone victory, a record-setting 133rd win in the Jesuit coaching career of Matt Thompson. Thompson, in his 13th season at Jesuit, surpassed both Bill Minahan, who coached Jesuit's 1968 State Championship team, and Dominick Ciao, who coached the 1992 State runners-up, to become No. 1 all-time in Jesuit annals. Right after receiving a game ball on the field from athletic director Terry Rupp ’84, Thompson turned back around toward his team and was drenched by a Gatorade shower courtesy of Anthony Rametta ’26 and Jameson Thurber ’26.   

Add it all up and Homecoming 2025 was one for the ages. Friday morning began with the joy of Fun Day, when students take a day off from classes and instead partake in an array of games and activities, culminating in the student-faculty dodgeball game in the Tiger Palace (led by Patrick Phelan and Dan Noyes, the faculty shocked the students to take the victory). Small fees associated with participation in the games/activities, plus food sales throughout Fun Day, make it a huge fundraiser for the Thanksgiving Basket Drive, and this year it raised a record total of nearly $9,000. The fundraising champions Friday were:

1. The African American Club/flag football tournament - $1,375
2(t). The Italian Club/Italian Ice sales, and Environmental Club/concessions - $1,030 each
4. Teachers Paula Collazo & Maddie LaFrenier/Pancake Paradise - $850
5. The Culinary Club/burgers & hot dogs - $748

At halftime of the football game, following the introduction of Casper as the 2025-26 Alumnus of the Year, the Homecoming Court was announced. It consisted of four students at the Academy of the Holy Names, each accompanied by a Jesuit student: Madison Leonard and Parker Murphy '27; Gianna Suszynski and John Hodgson '27; Ainsley Kurrack and Max Purvis '26; and Doyle and GianLuca Pasquotto ’26.

The game was a showcase for Jesuit’s emerging prowess as the Tigers (8-1) now have won six straight, allowing fewer than 10 points in each. Jesuit raced out to 42-point 1st quarter en route to the big win, getting long interception return touchdowns from Kam Housey '27 and King Powell '27. Next up for football: The traditional season finale vs. TC, at 7:30pm Friday at Jesuit.

It all wrapped up on Saturday, as Homecoming Week culminated with the Homecoming Dance at the TPepin Hospitality Centre.

For hundreds of Homecoming photos, go to the Facebook page Jesuit High School of Tampa. 

Below are some of the winners from Fun Day games and activities:

• Aviation Club/The Flying Tigers, simulator landing: Carter Yarbrough
• African American Club/flag football tournament: Team Jack Fults (Jack Fults, Eric Knowles, Henry Abrunzo, Shane Rupp, Joe O'Brien, Drew Ossi, and Alex Tini).
• Super Smash Bros. tournament: Diego Alvarado-Borjas and Blaze Perenich
• La Gente, soccer tournament: Shiloh’s Empire (Brady Black, Cristiano Botelho, Gabriel Canal, Ignacio Duarte, Joseph Elseify, Phillip Hadley, Jael Patino, Daniel Rubinstein, William Scheipe, and Shiloh Thatcher)
• No-limit Texas hold ‘em: Luke Battaglia