*Seniors provided their own information for these tributes.

Seniors on the Cheer and Dance teams were celebrated at the basketball game on Jan. 9. Senior Swimmers and Divers were recognized on Jan. 24 at UNO with the seniors from Creighton Prep. Basketball and Bowling seniors were recognized on Jan. 30. The entire Crusader community is grateful for the commitment to tradition and excellence shown by these seniors and their families.

Marian Cheer Squad Seniors • Class of 2025

Francesca Marie Bazis began cheering as a freshman and has been on the squad ever since. She plans to attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and will double major in accounting and hospitality as well as getting a minor in business. Francesca’s parents are Lisa Bazis and Mark Bazis.  

Claire Behen began cheering for Marian as a sophomore. She is also active in Track and Field and spent some time as a diver on the Swimming and Diving team. She is undecided on where she wants to go to college, but she wants to study something pre-medical or in the pre-dental area. Claire’s parents are Kristy and Bill Behen.

Clare S. Eckert has been a Marian cheerleader for three years. She is active in Campus Ministry as a freshman retreat leader and on FIAT, the Faith in Action Core Team. She has also been a leader in Journalism, serving as a Network Entertainment Page Editor, in Model Congress Club, a member of the Ambassador team and a member of the “Be.Marian” team. She has been honored with membership in the National Honor Society. Clare is undecided on her college plans. Her parents are Molly Eckert and Greg Eckert.

Harper Hogan has been a cheerleader at Marian for four years. She started dancing at 11 years old which led her to begin cheering. Harper has received the All American award at UCA camp two times.  She is almost fully committed to the University of Alabama and will be majoring in nursing. Harper’s parents are Jeanne Hogan and Quinn Hogan.

Darian Jones has been a Marian cheerleader for two years and currently is the Varsity Cheer Captain. She has been active and involved as the Future Business Leaders of America chapter President, Student Board Vice President, and as an Ambassador.  She has been honored with membership in the National Honor Society, National French Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, National Science Honor Society and Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society. Her college plans are yet to be finalized but she plans on double majoring in neuroscience and psychology, with a minor in business administration. Darian’s parents are Lisa and Dave Jones.  

Ashley Grace Keenan has been a Marian cheerleader for four years. She has also been active in Track & Field since freshman year, in Journalism as a Yearbook section editor, as a Marian Ambassador, a Campus Ministry-Senior Retreat Leader, a Big Sisters and in Future Business Leaders of America. She has been honored with membership in the National Honor Society and Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society. Ashley plans on attending the University of Nebraska- Lincoln to study interior design. Her parents are Kristin and Pat Keenan.

Lilly Kimble has been a cheerleader since seventh grade and on the Marian squad for four years. She has served as captain of the Select team for the last two years. She is also active in the Paw Project Club. After Marian, Lilly is unsure of where she will study, but she definitely wants to study business administration and entrepreneurship.  Her parents are Stacey and Sean Kimble.

Kaitlin O’Connell has been a Marian cheerleader for four years. Her cheerleading career actually began in seventh grade. She has also been active as a student Ambassador, in Operation Others and in the Young Medicine Club. She wants to enter a pre-dental college plan, but she isn’t sure where yet. Kaitlin’s parents are Heidi and Matt O’Connell.

Willow Petri began cheering at Marian as a sophomore. She has been a member of both the select and varsity teams and has attended national and state cheer competitions. She has been a member of the Track and Field team for four years and a 3-year diver on the Swimming and Diving team. Willow was also selected to participate in the Dominican Republic service trip. She has been honored with membership in the National Honor Society.  She is currently undecided on a college but planning to study psychology. Willow’s parents are Susan and Roland Petri.

Mary Puccioni has been a cheerleader at Marian for four years and has been a captain for all four years. She is active in the Future Business Leaders of America and has been honored with a Nebraska Young Artist Award and with membership in the National Honor Society. Mary is currently undecided on a college, but plans to start on the pre-med track. Mary’s parents are Emily Kean and Mark Puccioni.

Fiona Ray Render has been a Marian cheerleader for all four years. She has been cheering in some capacity since she was in third grade. Fiona is a Marian Ambassador and a member of the Ping Pong Club.  She is undecided on college at this time.  Fiona’s parents are Rayanne Render and Josh Render.

Aeriana Siefken has been a cheerleader at Marian for three years.  She has also been active in Paw Project Club and in Operation Others. Aeriana plans to attend the University of Alabama in a pre-medical route. Her parents are Nickie Siefken and Shane Siefken.

Dance Team Seniors • Class of 2025

Lila Elizabeth Mouw has danced for all four years of high school, but at Marian since her junior year after transferring. Competitive dance has been part of her life since she was 6 years old. She has been active in FBLA and Paw Project and has been honored with membership in the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society and National Science Honor Society. Lila is hoping to get into a college either in Texas or Massachusetts and will be majoring in communications and double minoring in entrepreneurship and marketing. Lila’s parents are Lynne and Mark Mouw.

Nicole Adair Poole has been dancing for Marian for four years. She started dancing when she was 3. She was involved in the Marian musicals and was Sandy in this year’s production of Grease. She’s a leader in Honors-Select Women’s Choir and in Campus Ministry as a retreat leader. She has been recognized with membership in the National Honor Society, Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society and in the National Science Honor Society. Nicole plans to attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln to double major in Biology and Dance.  Her plan is to perform and sing for the rest of her life. She wants to be involved in musicals at UNL and in the community. Nicole’s parents are Jill Poole and Brian Poole.

Sofia Marie Shoemaker has been dancing since she was 3 and has been on the Marian team all four years. At school, she is active in Future Business Leaders of America and in the Culinary Club. For college, she will study business but is currently unsure of where.  Sofia’s parents are Vanessa and Ryan Shoemaker.

Ava Mae Worthington has been dancing for Marian for four years. She started dancing when she was 2. She is active in Campus Ministry as a freshman, sophomore and senior retreat leader, and also serving on the Freshman Retreat core team.  She is involved in the Recruitment Team, the Big Sisters Core Team and in Operation Others. She has been honored with membership in Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society.  Ava plans to study on a pre-med track with a major in biology. She is deciding between Creighton, College of Charleston and the University of San Diego. Ava’s parents are Tommy Worthington and Holly Worthington.

Swimming & Diving Seniors • Class of 2025

Lucia Marie Ambrose has been on the Swimming and Diving Team for four years. She swam recreation league throughout her whole childhood but first started competitively swimming at Marian. Lucy has been a multi-sport athlete in high school by participating in Cross Country and Track and Field all four years as well. She represented Marian on the Dominican Republic Service Trip and currently serves as a Class Officer. She is a leader in Campus Ministry’s FIAT (Faith in Action Team), a Freshman Retreat Core Member and a Senior Retreat Leader. She is active in her parish youth group at Saint Robert’s.  Lucy also serves in the Crusaders Elevate Others Group, on the Ambassador Core Team, as the Sole Sisters Club President, a member of Honors Women’s Select Choir and on the Network Newspaper as a sports editor. She has been honored with membership in the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society and Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society. Lucy is undecided on college plans at this time. Her parents are Jim and Jean Ambrose.

Alaira Hadford has been swimming since she was 4 and has been on the Marian Swimming and Diving Team for four years. At Marian, Alaira is involved in Operation Others, Recruitment Team and Students United for Life. She has also been honored with membership in the National Honor Society and will swim for the University of Nebraska at Lincoln while majoring in business next year. Alaira’s parents are Annie and David Hadford.

Maggie Lampert has been on the varsity Swimming and Diving team for the last four years. Along with swimming, she is also involved in running on the varsity Cross Country team, Track and Field team and volunteering with Operation Others. She has been a 3-sport athlete her entire time at Marian. She plans to attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln to study pre-physical therapy. Maggie’s parents are Michaela and Keith Lampert.

Easton Glandt has been swimming for Marian for four years, earning All-American status four times to date.  She has been honored with membership in the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society and the National Science Honor Society. Easton will be swimming at Florida Gulf Coast University in the fall. Her mother is Sarah Michelson.

Lauryn Kounovsky has been on the Marian Swimming and Diving team for three years but she started swimming when she was 7. She was part of the 2022-23 State Champion Team. At school, she has been honored with membership in the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, National Science Honor Society and the National English Honor Society. Next year, Lauryn will be swimming at the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay. Her parents are Courtney Bell and Brian Kounovsky.

Basketball Seniors • 2024-2025 Season • Class of 2025

Aubrey Thompson has been playing basketball since first grade. This is her fourth year in the Marian program. She has been a Class Officer all four years. Aubrey is also a member of Operation Others, World Language Club, and President of Pickleball Club. She is on the Ambassador Core Team, on Campus Ministry as an EMHC and a Freshman Retreat Leader. She has been honored with membership in the National Honor Society and in the Spanish National Honor Society where she has earned the bi-lingual seal of Biliteracy in Spanish proficiency. Aubrey is a multi-sport athlete, as she also played Volleyball and ran Cross Country and Track and Field. When not at Marian, she works as a CNA in the ICU at Methodist Hospital and volunteers at Heritage Pointe to distribute Communion on Sundays. She will be double majoring in Nursing and Spanish at Rockhurst University.  Aubrey’s parents are Candace and Eric Thompson.

Elsa Dianne Vedral has been playing at the varsity level for four years and has been on the Marian Varsity Basketball team for two years as a captain. She started playing the sport at 5, before even starting school. She has been honored for her academics at Marian with membership in National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, National Science Honor Society and Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society. Elsa plans to attend college as a biology major on the pre-med track. She is considering playing basketball at the collegiate level.  Elsa’s parents are Sara Turman-Vedral and Michael Vedral.

Team Manager Jaeda Lawson-Betum played in the program for two years before becoming a team manager. She has also been involved with Soccer and the Step Team. Jaeda has been honored with membership in the National Honor Society and in Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society. She also intends to be the team manager for the Track and Field team this spring. At this point, she is hoping to attend Creighton University to study pre-law. Jaeda’s parents are Tanya Ezui and Amen Lawson-Betum.

Team Manager Callie A. Verzal has played basketball since she was 8 and has been part of the Marian Basketball program for four years. She is active in Campus Ministry as a freshman and senior retreat leader this year and in the Pickleball Club. She has been honored with membership in the National Honor Society and regularly volunteering in the Omaha community at the Heart Ministry Center. She is planning on going into pre-nursing then eventually CRNA school but undecided on where. Callie’s parents are Lynette Verzal and Joe Verzal.

 Bowling Seniors • 2024-2025 Season • Class of 2025

Gabriella Birkel has been bowling at Marian for four years. She is active in Campus Ministry as a retreat leader and an EMHC. She is the co-president of Paw Project and a leader in Polar Plunge.  She serves the school community as a TAR (Technical Aide Resource). Gabby has been recognized with membership in Mu Alpha Theta National Math Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National Science Honor Society and in the National Honor Society. Gabby is currently undecided for college, but considering the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, the University of Arizona and a few others. Her parents are Jeff Birkel and Amy Birkel.

Jenna Elizabeth Blach has been bowling at Marian for three years. She has also played tennis for two years, been involved with Polar Plunge for four years, served as the co-president of Paw Project, been a leader in the TAR (Technical Aide Resource) program and been involved in Campus Ministry. Jenna plans to attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln to study elementary education. Her parents are Susan Blach and John Blach. 

Ellie Nichole Brabec has been bowling for two years.  She is an active Senior Class Officer and leader in Campus Ministry’s FIAT (Faith in Action Team). She serves as the Marian Crusader Mascot and as a Senior, Sophomore and Freshman Retreat Leader. She has been honored with membership in the National Honor Society and Quill & Scroll, the Journalism Honor Society.  She is an editor on the Yearbook staff and a member of the Ambassador Core Team, Big Sisters and Operation Others. She also likes to share jokes over the intercom. Ellie is undecided on a college but her top choices are KU and Iowa.  She plans on majoring in journalism, specifically public relations and advertising with a minor in nonprofit management. Ellie’s parents are Megan and Bryan Brabec.

Margaret Mary Hiatt has been bowling for four years.  She is involved in journalism as a section editor for the Yearbook staff and was a leader in the Peer 2 Peer mentor program. She has been honored with selection to the National Honor Society as well as the National Spanish Honor Society, the National English Honor Society, the National Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society and Quill & Scroll, the Journalism Honor Society. Margaret plans to attend the University of St. Thomas and major in psychology on the pre-law track. Her parents are Kathleen and Mark Hiatt.

Samantha McCormack is a two-year Varsity letter winner who started bowling when she was 7 or 8 years old when her family went bowling every Thanksgiving holiday. Sami also was a Varsity letter winner in Volleyball and an Academic All State honoree. She is in the STEM Scholars Program and has been honored with membership in the National Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, National English Honor Society and Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society. Sami has been a Campus Ministry Retreat Leader, a Marian Ambassador and a member of Methodist Hospital Volunteen program in the Emergency Room. She plans to study biology on the pre-med track at the University of Missouri. Samantha’s parents are Jennifer and Mark McCormack.

PLEASE WISH THE SENIORS GOOD LUCK IN THEIR FINAL WINTER SEASON by posting a comment below!