l to r: Austin Kain, Dominique Lousteau, Hunter Mathas, Adam Peters, and Trey Andrews
Members of the Brother Martin Academic Games team competed in the 51st annual Academic Games Leagues of America (AGLOA) National Tournament held in Atlanta, Georgia, from April 22 through April 25. Since there were five members of the varsity team that qualified for the tournament, Brother Martin was represented by a full team of players in the Senior Division. Those students were Trey Andrews ‘17, Austin Kain ‘17, Dominique Lousteau ‘16, Hunter Mathas ‘17, and Adam Peters ‘17.
The team competed in the Senior Division (11 and 12 grades) against others groups from Louisiana, Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and West Virginia. Brother Martin’s team placed fifth in the games of Equations, fifth in On-Sets and fifth in Propaganda. They also took home 2nd Place in Presidents and ranked second in Sweepstakes (a combined score based on a team’s finish in at least four games played).
Team member Trey Andrews was 5th Place in Presidents and 13th Place overall in Individual Sweepstakes. Hunter Mathas placed in several games—6th in On-Sets, 3rd in Propaganda and 2nd in Presidents. Mathas was also the Equations Individual Champion, winning a very debated final match, which secured for him the 2016 Senior Division Sweepstakes Championship. He is the first Brother Martin student in ten years to earn the title!
l to r: Bro. Neal Golden, S.C., Mr. Craig Zeller, and Dominique Lousteau
Lastly, Dominique Lousteau was named one of only four Outstanding Seniors due to his competitive record, his character and sportsmanship, and for promoting the spirit of Academic Games. Lousteau has been an Academic Games participant for eight years, playing at St. Charles Borromeo before coming to Brother Martin.
Besides the team’s accomplishments, Brother Neal Golden was recognized for his service to the Academic Games leagues in Louisiana. Brother Neal has been an important part of Brother Martin’s past teams, but he is also responsible for running the New Orleans Academic Games League and sits on the executive board for AGLOA. Scores of national champions from Brother Martin have played under his tutelage, but he has been a staple of Academic Games in Louisiana for fifty years.
The last time Brother Martin was represented by five Academic Games players at the national tournament was in 2012. That year, the team took 3rd Place in Equations and 5th Place in Sweepstakes. Members of the 2012 national team were Michael Ballmann ‘12, Kevin Branley ‘12, Brian Pellerin ‘12, Christopher Maheu ‘13 and Brandon Yrle ‘13. Brother Martin’s last Senior Division Sweepstakes Champion was Justin Branley ‘06 in 2006.
Congratulations, Crusaders!
