One group of mentors will always be present to support the players' journey - the coaches.

The school year comes to an end along with the baseball season, and the boys celebrate their seniors’ graduation from high school as well as the team. Regardless of the sport, each teammate experiences the same cycle until it’s their turn to move on, and each teammate inevitably steps into a position of influence – of seniority, if you will. When it comes their time to be the leaders of the team, the coaches remain to point them in the right direction.

Prep baseball coaches include John Ostrander ’16 (Freshmen), Max Bayern (Freshmen), Greg Celio, S.J. (Jr Varsity), Mike Massoth (Jr Varsity), Jon Humphrie ’09 (Varsity), and Will Hall ’14 (Varsity), all led by Varsity Coach and Program Head Max Engel ’96. All seven make the trek to West Seattle for practice each day, and the coaches aren’t only present on the playfield, but the classrooms as well. If the name Greg Celio sounded familiar, it’s because he’s mentioned as “Fr. Greg Celio, S.J.” on page 10. Freshman coach Max Bayern is Assistant to the Principal and coached the Freshman boys’ basketball team last season. JV Coach Massoth is Head Coach of the girls’ bowling team, and Head Coach Engel is also a math teacher; not to mention that half the coaches also graduated as Panthers.

“Being there for others on and off the field is an important characteristic of a leader,” said Luke Malzewski ’23. The players remember that even when they weren’t playing the game, the coaches would remain present for them. Malzewski and his teammate Alex Howard ’23 shared their favorite memories, including times when the coaches would drive the busses and Coach Massoth would crack jokes over dinner.

Ivan Alindogan ’23 could recollect Coach Bayern’s presence during a Kairos retreat as well, “He wasn’t trying to stand out, but his humorous and enthusiastic personality was enough. Kairos is a very emotional retreat, and Coach Bayern made me feel comfortable to share my emotions with my small group.” “Coach Engel is humble, but he really deserves a pat on the back for bringing back Bridge of Promise,” said Brian Meza ’92, science teacher and father of Noah Meza ’24. Bridge of Promise, a non-profit created to enrich the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities, annually meets with the team for a game of ball. In 2017, when Jesse Franklin ’17 won the Gatorade Award, he dedicated eleven thousand dollars of grants to Bridge of Promise. The article for the Let’s Play Ball! event in the 2017 edition of Panther Tracks, written by Coach Engel, focuses more on Franklin’s contribution than his own organization of the event. Humility aside, Engel does deserve some recognition. The event with Bridge of Promise is one of the first athletic volunteer opportunities to be brought back since the pandemic.

“Playing baseball with Bridge of Promise made me remember that baseball is a game for everyone,” Malzewski shared, “Their raw happiness brought me joy because it’s a feeling I share for the game, too.” “It excited me to be a leader and to be part of a life-changing experience,” Alindogan added. Notice how simply making their students excited to become leaders is what defines the coaches as leaders themselves. The coaches weren’t just inspirations because of their success, but because they made the players comfortable to be themselves. They built positive memories that the players can always associate with the game, and as they progress to higher positions each year the players ease into bigger responsibility. Alindogan continued, “Implementing these characteristics will set the tone for juniors, sophomores, and freshmen.”

The coaches’ presence in the Prep community is what defines their influence on the baseball team, and what will maintain their impact on each class as they take their turns stepping into the spotlight of senior year. Although the baseball coaches are a strong example, every team at Prep is led by strong individuals who are steadfast to show their enthusiasm for the students’ progress. They’re alums, teachers, and trained professionals who love what they do, and each player is influenced by that attitude to become the same.