Jesuit (LA) Just Might Get It Done This Year at NXR South

Nov 18, 2025

Jesuit (LA) boys compete at the 2025 Great American XC Festival

For three straight seasons, Jesuit of New Orleans has stood on the knife's edge of national relevance. They've hovered in that maddening space between dangerous contender and heartbroken near-miss, always tough enough to scare Texas, always brave enough to mix it with Arkansas and Oklahoma, but never quite landing the postseason breakthrough they were capable of.

This year feels different.

For the first time in recent memory, Jesuit enters Nike Cross Regionals without the usual obstacles that have haunted every previous attempt. The course is different. The schedule is different. The timing is different. And the Jays themselves? They look as sharp, deep, and complete as any non-Texas program in the region.

If there's one team capable of breaking the Texas-Arkansas stronghold at NXR South, it's Jesuit.

And they know it.

A Fifth Straight State Title-And a Masterclass in Control

The Jays didn't just win the Louisiana Division I state championship on Monday in Natchitoches. They managed it.

Smooth. Patient. Precise. Almost clinical.

Division I Boys Results - Jesuit's Top Seven

1. Brady Monahan - 14:59
3. Nick Accardo - 15:18
7. Connor Fanberg - 15:37
8. David Quintana - 15:38
10. Nicholas Braud - 15:47
14. Andrew Nimmo - 16:10
23. Patrick Fitzmorris - 16:30

With a 29-point total, 47-second spread, and 15:28 team average, it looked more like a late-season progression run than a championship dogfight. No panic. No meltdown. No drama.

And that was by design.

Head coach Nick Accardo didn't shy away from the strategy afterward: "I'm happy we are healthy, ran smart, stayed relaxed, and continued to move up. We didn't panic and ran smart." He also added, "I don't feel any pressure for them to perform."

You don't hear that tone from a coach scraping for survival; you hear it from a coach who knows his team is peaking at the perfect time. With that said, things were anything but perfect. Sickness has recently run through the team, and Sunday night, with Accardo having to manipulate the lineup to have a healthy race.

Although not ideal, it does add a level of adversity that builds championship character.

A Schedule Change That Finally Gives Louisiana a Chance

Historically, Louisiana teams have been handcuffed at NXR South.

Their state championship sat too close to the regional meet. Runners would compete midweek, travel long hours, and arrive in Texas physically flat and mentally spent.

This year, that burden was lifted.

The NXR South meet moved to Monday, giving Jesuit:

A full recovery window
Predictable training structure
A direct path into the postseason
A clear mental reset

And at a regional now hosted at Dale Watts, not the bottlenecked, rhythm-breaking Bear Branch, the Jays' strength suddenly translates perfectly.

Accardo acknowledged this openly, "This year, we know it's coming. They moved it to Monday for us, for the state of Louisiana. The course is not as tight and is more open, so we don't have an excuse."

No excuses.

No logistical disadvantages.

No built-in barriers.

For the first time in years, Jesuit enters NXR South fairly fresh.

The Mindset of a Leader: Brady Monahan's Championship Poise

Senior Brady Monahan has lived in the shadow of elite teammates for years, but 2025 became his coronation.

After finishing twice as state runner-up, he stepped into the role he'd been shaping quietly in the background: Louisiana's best runner.

His approach to NXR South is simple-and revealing:

"The results are predetermined by the work we do. The preparation determines what happens."

It's not flash. It's not hype. It's a calm assurance rooted in belief and mileage.

Monahan isn't chasing a miracle race. He's expecting the race he has trained for.

That's what dangerous teams sound like.

Jesuit's Resume: Better Than People Realize

The Jays didn't build their season on Louisiana dominance alone. They built it on national-level results that prove they belong in the NXN conversation.

Nike South Invitational (Regular Season) - Team Champions

Jesuit won the meet outright, beating a Southlake Carroll squad that, even without Leonard and Gutierrez, fielded NXN-caliber depth.

Their numbers:

15:30 team average
:34 split
Four between 15:11 and 15:30

Great American XC Festival - 2nd Place

Behind only Christ School (NC), one of the top southeast teams in the nation.

15:40 average
:35 split
Pack presence in the lead chase group

These are not "feel good" results. These are NXN-qualifier-profile results.

How Jesuit Fits the 2025 NXR South Landscape

NXR South is a battlefield led by giants:

Southlake Carroll - Best front-end firepower
Bentonville (AR) - Tightest split in the region
Denton Guyer - Newberry-led surge squad
Vandegrift, Bridgeland, Aledo - All dangerous
Jesuit - The most balanced non-Texas pack

Jesuit doesn't need to beat Carroll. They need to beat one of the other heavyweight qualifiers.

And the data says they can.

They have a top-10 compression in the region and a No. 1 runner who is running with confidence. This team also has national-level race experience and exposure that helped them make their state meet look like a local invitational. They don't have as big a travel disadvantage as they normally do, and add that with a course that rewards pack strength, this weekend is optimistic.

There are still some challenges. Can they produce or withstand a Leonard/Gutierrez-type low stick combination? We'll see how well they replenish health and strength from this week's sickness. Will they be able to keep their gap under 50 seconds will be key, and whether they can avoid getting buried in the field early.

Compared to the past three years, Jesuit isn't arriving exhausted. They'll roll into College Station with a full and capable lineup, and they won't have to be reactive in the race.

They'll arrive prepared.