Fr. Coleman part of inaugural class inducted into Fr. Tolton Catholic H.S. Hall of Fame

I’m so grateful to God for putting me here. I will die a ’Blazer.”

Father Michael Coleman

CLICK HERE to see a gallery of photos from this event. 

Blazer-blue blazers set them apart from the rest.

They are the inaugural inductees into the Trailblazer Hall of Fame at Fr. Tolton Regional Catholic High School in Columbia.

“Wear yours proudly whenever you come back,” Patrick Kelly, the school’s vice principal and athletic and activities director, told the inductees. “As we always say, once a ’blazer, always a ’blazer. ’Blazers forever!”

The Trailblazer Hall of Fame honors individuals whose excellence, leadership and impact have shaped the legacy of athletics and activities at Tolton Catholic, which opened in 2011.

This year’s inductees included: Jaydin Eierman, Class of 2015; Chase Freidel Manes, Class of 2015; Davis Atkins McCallister, Class of 2016; Jack Parker, Class of 2017; Michael Porter Jr.; and Father Michael Coleman.

They were formally introduced to the public at halftime during the Tolton Catholic Trailblazers varsity football team’s first home game of the season on Sept. 5.

“This is a terrific event to celebrate some fantastic student athletes we’ve had here,” said Mr. Kelly. “They gave us a lot of great memories, and we want to recognize them for their contributions.”

It’s also an opportunity to reconnect alumni with the school.

“Some of these young people we haven’t seen in 10 years,” said Mr. Kelly. “We’re happy to invite them back and have them answer the invitation.”

Applause aplenty met the introduction of each inductee, with a huge cheer going up for Fr. Coleman, who’s been a chaplain at the school since it opened.

“Everyone who’s part of the school knows Fr. Mike,” said Mr. Kelly. “He’s legendary. He’s everything that’s right about our school. He’s an ambassador for our school in a way that nobody else can be.”

Elite accomplishments

The former student athletes honored this year helped set a high standard for commitment and achievement.

• Jaydin Eierman, a wrestling legend at the school, went undefeated in high school competition, finishing 158-0 and winning four state championships.

He went on to excel in college wrestling at the University of Missouri and the University of Iowa, becoming a four-time NCAA All-American and national finalist.

• Chase Freidel Manes, a standout in basketball, softball, track and more, was the first female student athlete from Tolton Catholic to earn a college athletic scholarship.

An eight-time All-State athlete, she played a vital role in Tolton Catholic’s 2015 state championship track team and still holds multiple school records.

• Davis Atkins McCallister competed in cheer, cross country and track.

She was a six-time All-State athlete, with three first-place finishes, including two state titles in the 800-meter and one in the 4x800 relay.

She was captain of the state champion cheer team and was part of back-to-back track state championships.

• Jack Parker was a four-year varsity letterman on the Trailblazer golf team and won three Missouri Class 2 individual state titles.

His freshman title marked the first individual state championship in Tolton Catholic golf history.

He was also a National Honor Society member and the recipient of the Fr. Augustus Tolton Service Award.

• Michael Porter Jr., one of the most recognizable names in Tolton Catholic history, starred on the basketball court, earning national recognition as one of the top high school players in the country.

He remains Tolton Catholic’s all-time leader in career points, single-game points, single-season points, and career rebounds.

A three-time All-State selection and 2016 Missouri Basketball Player of the Year, he went on to the University of Missouri before joining the NBA.

He has played with the Denver Nuggets and now the Brooklyn Nets.

“Greatest advocate”

One of the people who nominated Fr. Coleman for the Trailblazer Hall of Fame asserted: “If Fr. Mike isn’t in this Hall of Fame, it doesn’t deserve to exist.”

The stadium announcer noted that Fr. Coleman’s unwavering commitment to Catholic education and to the mission of Tolton Catholic has touched every student who has walked through its doors.

“Whether in the classroom, at school events, or cheering on the ’blazers, Fr. Mike has been a constant presence and the greatest advocate for our community,” the announcer stated at the induction.

“His influence goes beyond academics and athletics,” the announcer continued. “He has shaped the faith, character, and spirit of countless students and families.

“Quite simply, there is no bigger supporter of Tolton Catholic High School than Fr. Mike Coleman.”

Mr. Kelly noted that in addition to Fr. Coleman’s parish work — first as pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Moberly, then as associate pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Columbia and currently as pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Centralia — he has always made time to travel with Tolton Catholic teams to away games.

He likely holds the record for having attended the most Trailblazer competitions.

“The kids love him, he loves them, and he’s obviously our biggest fan of the school, and he’s been somebody who’s promoted the school in a way nobody else can,” said Mr. Kelly.

“Great role models”

“My heart is so full,” Fr. Coleman said while wearing his new blue blazer over his priestly clerics. “I love this school so much. I love these kids so much.”

He said he felt “incredibly honored” to be inducted into the Trailblazer Hall of Fame with such a distinguished group.

He’s convinced that Tolton Catholic has hundreds of potential hall-of-famers, but this first class of inductees is uniquely special.

“These five kids really put us on the map at the very beginning of the school,” he stated. “And they did it the right way. Great kids. Leadership skills. All five of them.

“Every kid here knew, these kids had faith,” he said. “They are great role models. Great leaders.”

Fr. Coleman hopes the school’s current and future students will learn from this year’s Trailblazer Hall of Fame inductees.

“I want each of our students to know how much we love them, and to just keep living what they’re learning,” he said. “Because they’re going to be great Trailblazers. Every one of them.”

Forevermore

Mr. Kelly and Fr. Coleman are the remaining two members of the school’s original faculty.

“Fr. Mike and I have been here since Day 1,” said Mr. Kelly.

He believes student athletics and activities are important because oftentimes, they’re what get the students really excited.

“It’s what they look forward to coming to school for — more so for many than going to class,” said Mr. Kelly.

“And oftentimes, sports and athletics can be an avenue to growing in your faith and learning valuable life lessons,” he stated.

He commented on what Tolton Catholic graduates are like 10 years after they graduate if the school does its job well.

“They’re still active in their faith,” he said. “They’re outstanding young people who are contributing members of society — great parents, maybe just getting into that; have great jobs, hopefully; are productive, are kind, have a giving attitude and want to come back and be part of the Tolton Catholic community.”

Fr. Coleman asked for prayers for “continued health and continued blessings and continued gratitude for this school, which has been great part of all of our lives.”

“I’m just so proud to be a Blazer!” he said. “I’m so grateful to God for putting me here. I will die a Blazer.”