Rebel 5ive

This week’s Rebel 5ive podcast interview is with the "Queen of the Kitchen", Lani Cummings. Over her 22-year career leading the cafeteria at Roncalli, she and her hard-working cafeteria ladies have been responsible for lovingly preparing over 4 million delicious school lunches. Her motto is, "We shall not rest until we are the world's finest school cafeteria,” and she means it. Listen this week as Lani discusses her appreciation for her Our Lady of Grace education, the work ethic instilled in her at a young age, her passion for feeding people and her Italian heritage.

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This week’s Rebel 5ive podcast interview is a very special episode. We visited with Vic Sahm, Sarah (Hurrle) Kegerreis, Kevin Kirkhoff and Stan Benge to discuss the life and coaching career of Bob Kirkhoff. Documenting the 50 year history of Roncalli would not be complete without interviewing Hall of Famer Bob Kirkhoff. He was the longtime girls basketball coach of the Rebels, Roncalli parent and honorary alum. Unfortunately, a year ago this week, Bob passed away before we could interview him. He and his bride Susie have both passed from this earth, but we wanted to remember the Kirkhoffs this week. They were both wonderful Rebels and great examples to follow.

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This week’s Rebel 5ive podcast interview is with two very familiar faces at Roncalli, Jan and Chick Lauck. Chick shares some memories from his playing days at Notre Dame under the tutelage of coach Ara Parseghian, and Jan discusses how fortunate she is to have taught at Roncalli for 21 years. Their gifts to the Roncalli community are many, but they are most proud of their 5 children, all Rebels, and their 19 grandchildren.

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This week’s Rebel 5ive podcast interview is a brief 15 minute bonus episode with Bill Kuntz and Ed Tinder. We had a few minutes between their individual episodes recently and took a moment to visit with both of these former Roncalli teachers and head football coaches to talk family, Butler connections and football program traditions.

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This week’s Rebel 5ive podcast interview is with Kerrie Schludecker. This St. Jude Raider is a member of Roncalli’s second state championship softball team that won the title in 2001. She would leave Roncalli for St. Joe’s College but after just one year, she would make a name for herself as a Marian Knight where she graduated three years later playing softball for the Knights and finishing her degree. Wanting to be an Athletic Director after graduation, her first stop was Michigan City, Marquette High School and then off to Boone Grove High School where Kerrie would be noticed by the IHSAA for her creativity and determination. Today she is the Assistant Commissioner of the IHSAA traveling the state promoting high school sports. We conclude this week’s Rebel 5ive episode with Kerrie’s final thoughts and what it means to represent not only the IHSAA but Roncalli High School all over the state.

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This week’s Rebel 5ive podcast interview is with Bill Kuntz. He would lead the Rebels to our first State Championship game in 1983, where the Rebels fell just a little bit short. Two years later, though, Bill and the Rebels would be back to win the school’s first football State Championship! Over 30 years after stepping away from the head coach’s position, the "Bill Kuntz Way" is still the Roncalli standard from the sidelines at every Rebel contest. Moving to the corporate world in 1987, Bill’s positive impact on Roncalli High School would go way beyond the football program, as he continued to be an advocate for the school wherever he traveled. We conclude this week’s Rebel 5ive episode with Bill’s final thoughts regarding the Roncalli student “handbook.”

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This week’s Rebel 5ive podcast interview is with retired Executive Director of the Catholic Youth Organization, Ed Tinder. Ed graduated from Bishop Chartrand High School in 1967, and off to Butler University, he went to play football and study to become a teacher/coach. Teaching and coaching were always on the horizon for Ed, and being around Butler legends Tony Hinkle and Bill Sylvester helped to cement his future career. When the CYO knocked on his door in 1980, Ed was quick to go to work for another legend, Bill Kuntz Sr. For 37 years total, and 33 years as the Executive Director, Ed Tinder would oversee the expansion of the CYO all over the archdiocese until his retirement in 2016. We conclude this episode with Ed describing what it means to be intertwined in the Roncalli community all these years.

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This week’s Rebel 5ive podcast interview is with 20 year teaching veteran, Pat Crosley. Over his 20year career, the very likable Pat Crosley has been an admired mainstay in the Social Studies Department. Outside of the classroom, he spent many years on the boys’ basketball coaching staff, but is most widely known for being the PA Voice of the Rebels at every Friday night home game. We conclude this episode with a heartfelt thank you from Pat for all the support his family received after losing their home in the Richmond Hill explosion on this week’s Rebel 5ive podcast.

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During this week’s Rebel 5ive podcast, we visit with John Wirtz. The St. Pat’s product took an indirect route to Roncalli, but through hard work and diligence, began his Rebel coaching and teaching career in 1974. Starting as the boys basketball coach, he soon took over the baseball program as well. John coached both sports for seven years before continuing to coach baseball for 28 years, including leading the 1982 Rebels to the state finals. Peers, friends and family played a huge role in the formation of this Indiana Baseball Coaches Hall of Famer. Currently living on the south side, where he also grew up, he remains close to his grade school friends.  We finish this episode with John answering the Rebel 5ive questions.

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During this week’s Rebel 5ive podcast, we visit with Summer Field Study Veterans Chuck and Taylor Roach, Fr. Rob Hausladen, Linus Horcher, Dave, Joe and Sam Gervasio, Tim Crissman and Chris Belch. This Roncalli institution has changed many lives during its 37 years of history and challenged students and staff members alike to achieve goals never thought to be attainable before making the trip west. Part retreat and part adventure, Summer Field Study has tested over three thousand students over two generations and 40 trips. The veterans interviewed this week share why they come back each year, what their challenges have been and how different leadership after 37 years might affect the trip in the future.

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