The Plank
Vale bene, Domine Witucki
25 years of memories made. Thousands of students taught. Latin teacher Mr. Jon Witucki has made his presence known at Jesuit High School Sacramento. With undying dedication and a wealth of knowledge, Mr. Witucki has indisputably made Jesuit a better school.
Goodbye Willie’s
Back when I was a wee freshman, my Jesuit big brother told me a lot of things that went in one ear and out the other, but there was one thing that prominently stuck: “Willie’s Burgers has a student discount.”
For thousands of Marauders, Willie’s offered a typical burger joint, with fries, shakes, hotdogs, and more. But there was one defining feature for us Jesuit students – the student discount.
Opinion: ‘The Monkey’ offers an unfulfilled potential
“The Monkey” is a horror-comedy film based on the 1980s short story by Stephen King. Directed by Oz Perkins, the movie was released in theaters on Feb. 21, 2025, almost forty-five years after the story’s initial publication.
Opinion: here’s why the Sacramento Kings are stuck in mediocrity
The Sacramento Kings once again failed to do anything in the play-in game, this time getting destroyed by the Dallas Mavericks. But unlike last year, the future of the Kings is bleak. There are many complications, but there are two issues that stand out to me the most: the style of play and head-scratching front office decisions, both of which stem from ownership decisions and misplaced priorities.
This era of National Basketball Association (NBA) style is built upon threes, and the best teams are built upon impenetrable defense. The Kings, however, play the opposite way. The Kings are built upon mid-range shots and little to no defense. The Kings’ starting lineup has no true point guard, and is full of midrange specialists that aren’t good three point shooters. They run an outdated style that doesn’t translate to wins, unless some players have incredible individual performances.
A Minecraft Movie: a stellar disaster
On Friday, April 4, the highly anticipated and advertised “A Minecraft Movie” premiered, and it did not disappoint. While critics have rather mixed reviews over the movie, it is safe to say that watching this movie on opening day will be a moment remembered by everyone who attended.
With critics rating the movie at 48% Rotten Tomatoes a few days after release, the movie appears to be unpolished and unappealing to some. When looking at the audience rating of the movie however, it sits at a high 87%. In my opinion, this disparity can be attributed to the fact that watching this movie in a room by yourself is a drastically different experience than watching this movie at your local theatre on opening day. While the movie may not have had the best character arcs or plot, the true entertainment came from crowd interactions, the nostalgia value, and the numerous funny moments from Jack Black and Jason Momoa.
Opinion: Theology offers the best answers
When considering the most valuable subjects in school, people often default to mathematics, literature, and science. Each of these subjects have concrete, real-world applications that are commonly found on many career paths. I believe, however, that the most important subject is theology. Beyond spiritual fulfillment, theology delves into life’s greatest questions and shapes our morality.
Jesuit basketball: levitating, higher than ever before
The Jesuit High School Sacramento basketball team took home the school’s very first basketball state title. For the first time since 1994, the Marauders made it to the state final, and they won in dominant fashion. The hard work that Head Coach Tim Kelly, the athletes, and coach staff have put forth directly led to the banner that now hangs in the Barry Gymnasium.
At the beginning of the season, one of the areas of concern was that the roster was incredibly green. However, Amaury McKinney ’25 believes the team succeeded precisely because of this inexperience.
Anything can happen if you let it
If you’ve stepped into Jesuit High School Sacramento’s Black Box theater this year, then maybe you’ve sensed the spirit pulsing through it. Perhaps you’ve felt the dedication of the cast and crew that transformed the building. It’s not often you find a group of people like this – a production that absorbs you through infectious passion, a team so committed that their energy becomes tangible and transcendent.
By the numbers alone, Jesuit Drama’s musical production of “Mary Poppins Jr.” is the stuff of folk legend: the show sold out eight days before opening night, a mark the Black Box hasn’t seen since Sweeney Todd in 2008.
Mr. Zielke’s final sunrise at Jesuit
“We set a new world record and it was amazingly early,” said Mr. David Zielke.
For 33 years, Mr. Zielke has been setting records as a fantastic math teacher, cross-country coach, former vice principal, and Advanced Placement coordinator. After a long career of service, Mr. Zielke will be retiring with a legacy of being a true man for others.
Opinion: Revenge of the Sith is a worthy entry in the Skywalker Saga
Released in 2005, “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” (ROTS), remains one of the most pivotal and striking films within the Star Wars franchise. This year, the film recently finished its 20th year anniversary theatrical re-release.
Spring choir concert: a sonorous success
On Wednesday, May 7, the choir hosted their Spring Choral Concert at the nearby Our Lady of Assumption Parish. This concert’s theme was “Music For Others” – a play on the phrase “Man For Others.” The music selected exemplified this theme, with a wide variety of songs ranging from Michael Jackson to traditional Hebrew Prayers.
One of the most memorable parts of the concert was the acoustics within the building. The beautiful layout of Our Lady of Assumption’s church allowed for the voices of the singers to blend perfectly, creating a great listening experience.
Jesuit volleyball team aced their season
Jesuit High School Sacramento Volleyball teams have had an exceptional and storied past. Even though this year’s season did not end the way Jesuit’s Varsity Volleyball team wanted, the team was able to create great chemistry and continue the legacy of past teams. This year, with their ascension into the Sierra Foothill League (SFL), they have proved themselves as one of the toughest teams in the area.
Jesuit golf team swings into action as postseason begins
The Jesuit High School Sacramento’s golf team has finished a very successful regular season, accumulating an overall record of 10-3-1. With these accomplishments as preparation, the team worked hard to get ready for the postseason. In the first round of sections, Jesuit placed second place. As a result, they gained a spot in the next round at the San Joaquin Section Masters.
Leading the team out on the course, Captain Luke Dariotis ’25 is very hopeful that the golf team goes far in the playoffs. After ending the season with a first place win in the last center match of the year, Luke and the team will try to keep the streak going in the postseason.
Jesuit music program bands together for a spectacular performance
On Wednesday, April 16, Jesuit High School Sacramento held their Spring Band Concert, where the Funk Band, Prelude Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Band all performed. Their performance consisted of Silent Movie Suites, video game music, and many other interesting pieces.
Clarinet and Baritone Sax player Samuel Gegax ’25 is very proud of his bandmates’ performances, and is happy that everyone’s hard work paid off.
Key Club: serving the community while having fun
Jesuit High School Sacramento is home to many clubs that cater to each student’s interests and passions. Moderated by Ms. Laura Spelman, Key Club is a service club that is part of a greater national organization called the Kiwanis Club. It focuses on raising awareness and money for those in need.
The Kiwanis Club and its title have a rich history, rooted in service.
Mickey 17: A good balance of comedy and complexity
For years after Bong Joon-Ho’s modern classic “Parasite” released, fans wondered what direction the acclaimed director would take his next film. Now, after years of delays and a messy release schedule, they have their answer. Released on March 7, 2025, “Mickey 17” sees Joon-Ho return to some of his familiar themes – only this time in space. While I don’t think that the film is flawless, it has an intriguing story, compelling themes, and great acting.
Opinion: one gorilla is no match for 100 men
The pressing question on everyone’s minds right now is who would win in a battle between one gorilla and 100 men? The answer seems obvious. A gorilla can absolutely annihilate a human, so 100 random dudes? Easy enough. However, many people fail to take into account numerous factors that would actually contribute towards the gorilla’s downfall.
Opinion: it’s a gorilla, you aren’t hurting it
The debate burning its way through Twitter threads and lunchrooms right now is certainly a unique one: could 100 unarmed men win a fight against a silverback gorilla?
In short, the answer is obvious: absolutely not. 100 men is a lot of power and a lot of weight, but they are pitted against a 500 pound ball of muscle and rage. With ridiculous strength and power in muscle, skin, and bone, there is no feasible way that 100 men could take down a gorilla.
Jesuit baseball looking strong as playoffs approach
Jesuit High School Sacramento’s varsity baseball team is going strong in their 2025 spring season, with a record of 18-9.
With key wins over tough opponents like Bellarmine College Preparatory and St. Mary’s High School, the team has shown its immense talent on the field. Varsity Baseball Head Coach Joe Potulny is most impressed by the team’s bond.
Opinion: a Final Four for the ages
This year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament was special. It was the first year since 2008 that all number 1 seeds made the Final Four, which resulted in some great games that capped off an otherwise lackluster tournament. Some of the best teams that the NCAA has ever seen went head to head, and the games did not disappoint.
The first Final Four game was between the Florida Gators and the Auburn Tigers, both from the Southeastern Conference. In my opinion, Florida had the edge heading into the game, but Auburn was the aggressor going into halftime with an eight point lead. I still had faith that Florida could win, and they delivered. Florida was able to close the gap with Walter Clayton Jr. leading the way, and Florida ended up winning 79-73.