Despite disappointing senior season, three-sport standout leaves legacy at Saint Viator
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (BVM) – In today’s high school sports world, a lot of athletes choose to specialize and focus on one sport to play. But there are still a few kids out there that take pride in playing multiple sports, such as Saint Viator High School graduate Jack Mahoney.
Mahoney has been playing baseball, basketball, and football since he was a child. But baseball has always been the number one sport for the 18-year-old, playing since he was able to pick up a Fisher-Price bat.
Excelling at each sport throughout his youth career, Mahoney planned to limit his sports action down to just baseball once in high school. The multi-sport athlete didn’t expect to play football until the summer before his freshman year when he attended high school football camp and realized he would enjoy playing.
“It ended up being one of the best decisions I ever made,” Mahoney said.
After garnering questions from coaches and friends about playing three sports, the Saint Viator star decided he would take on the task, adding basketball to his schedule in the winter along with baseball in the spring. Although he had thoughts of limiting himself to two sports as a sophomore and junior, Mahoney stuck with all three, and is a proponent for playing multiple sports.
“It’s pretty cool to be different, there are not many three sport athletes playing,” Mahoney said. “You get every experience you can of high school and if I could tell any kid who is on the fence about playing multiple sports, I’d say 100 percent do it.”
It takes a special athlete and person to be able to play three sports, and Mahoney is certainly that, according to his former coaches.
“Jack is a great competitor and leader who doesn’t shy away from the spotlight,” Saint Viator football coach Dave Archibald said. “It has been refreshing to see him give his time and effort to all three sports.”
Saint Viator baseball coach, Mike Manno, echoed similar sentiments.
“Jack has the ability to be serious, but also knows when to have fun with people,” Manno said. “He also is a very mature young man, beyond his years. He wants to help change lives on a daily basis, and he does that through his actions and how he cares for people.”
A varsity player from day one of baseball, since sophomore year in football, and his final two years in basketball, Mahoney’s athletic career at Saint Viator has been a unique one. However, his senior year was a bit of a challenge.
On a cold, rainy night for football in October, Mahoney was running up the sidelines until a tough tackle lifted him into the air and his leg came down and stuck in the ground, bending awkwardly. Doctors would soon reveal that it was broken, which was tough to hear for the quarterback.
“That’s the first time I got pretty emotional on the football field,” Mahoney said. “When I first heard the news I couldn’t believe this was happening.”
Mahoney had never suffered such a severe injury, and it was difficult for him to cope with at times.
“I’d be lying if I said the recovery was all sunshine and rainbows,” Mahoney said. “It was probably the hardest three or four months of my career. What got me back was just going to practice everyday and seeing my best friends play.”
With the injury, Mahoney’s senior basketball season was now in question. Being that baseball is his main sport anyways, some thought Mahoney should just rest and rehab until the spring. But that was a thought that never entered the fierce competitor’s mind.
“Those are my guys,” Mahoney said. “I’ve been playing basketball with them for years and there was no way I wasn’t coming back to play with them.”
Having a team-centric attitude such as that defines Mahoney, and he appreciates the guys he has gotten to play around over the years.
“My teammates are the reason I’ve loved playing all three sports in high school,” the 18-year-old said. “I’ve been really blessed that I’ve been able to form the relationships I have with the people at Viator.”
Remarkably, Mahoney would make it back on the court for the stretch run of the basketball season. But unfortunately, it would be cut short with the Lions still alive in the postseason due to the concerns surrounding COVID-19.
It was a tough pill to swallow, but Mahoney knew what was next: The cancelation of the spring baseball season, which was even harder. When the announcement came that high school spring sports in Illinois had just been suspended, Mahoney was already disappointed.
“Honestly when I first heard it I was in disbelief,” he said. “Never in a million years would you have guessed what was about to happen.”
Doing whatever it took to fight back and get healthy, Mahoney’s 12th and final sports season for the Lions was unfortunately taken away from him.
“I’ve thought about it a lot and it’s really upsetting,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of great memories, but not getting to play my senior year of baseball stings pretty bad.”
Despite his senior year of baseball at Saint Viator not taking place, the shortstop and pitcher will continue with his career on the diamond at the University of South Carolina. While he had numerous offers, South Carolina just felt like the right fit for Mahoney.
“I saw the baseball facilities Carolina has and I fell in love with it,” Mahoney said. “But walking on to campus I seriously felt at home and going on my official visit in fall I knew I was home when I was there.”
An infielder/righthanded pitcher from Arlington Heights, Ill., @jmahoney_17!! #Gamecocks #SpursUp #ForeverToThee pic.twitter.com/4xaXlvCrZx
— Gamecock Baseball (@GamecockBasebll) November 14, 2019
He will now put his sole focus towards baseball, and hopes to accomplish a lot as a member of the Gamecocks.
“I’m really excited to play for this coaching staff and be able to represent them,” the 18-year-old said. “But our whole recruiting class went to Carolina because we want to win a National Championship together. I think that is why you go play at a place like South Carolina.”
Mahoney’s high school coaches know he will be successful at the next level.
“He will be in a good situation with baseball at South Carolina and I look forward to seeing him continue to grow as a young man and as a student-athlete in the coming years,” Archibald said.
“The sky’s the limit for Jack. I truly believe when he gets to SC, he will be a draft pick and we will most likely see him play at the highest level. He hasn’t even touched his ceiling on talent yet. He is still raw and that is a scary thought,” coach Manno added.
Mahoney is excited for the next step in his career, but leaves behind a lot of good memories in Arlington Heights. Perhaps his greatest memory as a Lion was winning a state championship as a freshman in baseball. He also enjoyed playing in numerous basketball games in front of packed crowds at Saint Viator. But what he might remember most are those Friday night lights.
“The biggest thing I’m going to miss is playing under the lights in football, nothing beats that atmosphere,” he said.
The multi-sport athlete will also miss his coaches, all of which he had high praise for.
“Coach Archibald has had a really huge impact on me. Our relationship goes a lot further than just football,” Mahoney said. “My basketball coach, coach Quin Hayes, I would run through a brick wall for. I know I can count on him with anything I ever need in life. And coach Manno has always had my back and is there for me if I’ve ever needed someone to talk to,” Mahoney added.
The admiration between coach and player certainly goes both ways.
“Jack gave his heart to the football program,” Archibald said. “Jack and I have a great relationship…we truly enjoyed competing with each other.”
“Jack and I have a wonderful relationship, he is like a son to me,” Manno said. “Jack not only means the world to our program but the school and the community. He epitomizes what it means to be a Saint Viator Lion and I would be hard pressed to coach another young man like him in my career.”
A tremendously special kid, Mahoney left quite a legacy at Saint Viator. It is disappointing to see such a gifted athlete have each of his three senior seasons cut short in different fashions, but there is no doubt he will be back with a vengeance next year on the diamond in Columbia, S.C.
