Pigskin Classic: A 2021 Repeat!

Held on Saturday, January 4th, the 13th Annual Pigskin Classic faced Old Boys, Dads and Faculty in gridiron battles. Impressive athletic talent was on display this year with so many players coming out, more than ever!

Eight teams including a Faculty Team, a Dads' Team and five Class teams played it off this year, donning the brightly colored Pigskin shirts. At the end of the day, the Class of 2021 came out on top against the "College & Beyond Consortium" (Classes 2012-19), in the final game to capture the win. This was the first time in history any class were repeat champs.

For his stellar efforts at 2021 quarterback, Henry Omanga was received the Golden Pigskin MVP Award fro Mr. Justin Hebert at the end of the game.

Class of 2021 Pigskin Champs (Back) Alexander Baba, Luke Webber, Spencer Sierra, Robby Silas, Wyatt Glueck, Bowen Moore, (Middle) Jackson Hebert, Jonas Henderson, Matthew Parmenter, David Roman-Pavajeau, Bennett Groover, Ian Riches, Pablo Caranti, Gregory Pearson, Berhane Linbeck, (Front) Rowan Bishop, Luke Omanga, Henry Omanga - MVP with the Golden Pigskin, Landon Lord, and Gabe Espinosa

Many families came to watch and join in on the annual reunion of the Western Old Boys ending in a Chick-fil-A dinner in the Barn. Someone mentioned that "there were so many wives and babies this year," plus a number of girlfriends and a fiancé or two. The awesome Glueck family came in force with all four boys, Will ('15), Weston ('16), Walker ('18) and Wyatt ('21), plus Mom and Dad, Mary Ann and Curtis Glueck.

Two final game teams pose for a photo

The Pigskin game each year, for some of us, is a moment of reflection and joy at the legacy of the first generation of Western graduates. Some of the oldest of the "boys" who we affectionately refer to as "Old Boys," are now mature athletes and young men in their mid-20s.

This year, the 2012 Class members included Elliot Bing who flies for SW Airlines; Stefan Nino an architect with an international construction company; Chris and Tony Gosselin and Nick O'Bar who own their own businesses, Nick with new baby and Chris newly married this year; Peter Hayden working in Logistics with a beautiful wife and young son; and Martin Maldonado with his career as a Naval Officer after Engineering at TA&M.

Mr. Justin Hebert declares Class of 2021 Champions and the Golden Pigskin Award winner at the end of the game

Thanks to our sponsors Strake Jesuit College Prep, Orion Turf & Landscape, Texas Landscape Group, Williams-Boyce Agency and Houston Christian High School. And thanks to our very own Mrs. Weiss, Mr. Justin Hebert, Mr. Chincuanco, Mr. McBride and our fun but decisive referees for the day! And a final shout out to school dad, Mr. Joe Flanagan, for a forced safety on the Dads' team!

Click to open panoramic teams photo (faculty team off camera) 

Faculty team (black shirts) defends against Class of 2022 (red)

John Hebert (2022) scores off his brother Joshua and Garrett England (2019) defending

Classes 2024 (white shirts) and 2020 (green) on sidelines

2021 guys wait between games, with last year's MVP, Berhane Linbeck standing near the cone

Pigskin referees are well-appreciated for their witty remarks and decisive calls on contested plays, like this one where Tony Gosselin ('14) pleads for his pink team