“Success is peace of mind in knowing you have given your absolute best to become the best you are capable of becoming.” This quote by the great Coach John Wooden sums up what success is truly about. Success is about looking in the mirror and knowing you have given everything you have, every ounce of effort, focus, determination, faith, and love in everything you do to become your very best and to help others become their best.
The 2024–2025 Year of Hawk Athletics was a stellar one. Thanks to the hard work, teamwork, determination, and support of our student-athletes, coaches, families, and alumni, Bishop Hendricken Athletics tallied a remarkable 14 State Championships during the 2024–2025 sports seasons, including a clean sweep of all Fall Varsity sports. The Hawks earned Varsity State Titles in Cross Country, Football, Soccer, Unified Volleyball, Hockey, Swim, and Baseball, and Sub-Varsity Titles in Cross Country (F, JV), Basketball (F), Outdoor Track and Field (F), Indoor Track and Field (F), Middle School Cross Country, and Middle School Baseball. A very special congratulations to Coach Mickey Rooney, his staff, and his athletes on a spectacular soccer season, culminating with their state championship victory over LaSalle in an exciting penalty kick finish. Many of our teams who did not win titles this past school year also competed valiantly in State Championship games or finished a close second in their respective playoffs.
Bishop Hendricken High School and Hawk Athletics were recently voted the top high school for student-athletes in Rhode Island by USA Today High School Sports and ranked sixth nationally for Best High Schools for Athletes by Niche.com. Our student-athletes, coaches, families, alumni, and our culture of faith, tradition, effort, discipline, and teamwork fuel this level of success.
This year we also had nine student-athletes sign their letters of intent to compete at the Division I and II levels of collegiate athletics, with many others competing at the Division III level. We are proud to have 50 student-athletes recognized as All-State Athletes, along with many others earning All-Division honors in their respective sports. Brent Karpowich was named Rhode Island State Gatorade Player of the Year in Soccer, making him our 35th Gatorade Player of the Year in school history and our first-ever Soccer Player of the Year.
We are also proud to note that over 80 percent of our student body participated in at least one sport, and a remarkable 61 percent of our student body has won a State Title. Hawk Athletics also celebrates our alumni who continue to achieve great things both at the collegiate and professional levels in sports and in life. We are proud of your success and your support of Bishop Hendricken High School.
True success is so much more than winning. It is about the process, the process of doing things the right way with discipline, character, teamwork, focus, and determination, often overcoming difficulties, challenges, setbacks, and adversity. This journey reflects the pathway to success throughout life. Most importantly, our faith in God and our love for one another must always be at the very core.
As we move into the 2025–2026 school year and the next year of Hawk Athletics, we are grateful for an outstanding previous year and look forward to another strong year, praying for continued success. Go Hawks, and Live Jesus in our Hearts Forever.
Sincerely,
Coach Jamal Gomes