Exiting Staff Say Their Final Farewells to The Phoenix

Nate Varda – Deputy Sports Editor

When I committed to Loyola four years ago, I never expected to write for the school paper. I didn’t even know Loyola had a school paper; my own high school never did. 

I first visited Rogers Park for Accepted Students Day on April 4, 2022. I had no idea what to expect. I was an 18-year-old kid who had never been further west than Pittsburgh.

It was my first time visiting Chicago, and I instantly hit all the tourist spots with my mom — the Bean, Navy Pier, the Art Institute, everything we could cram into one weekend.

I fell in love with the Windy City, and even if I knew no one out here when I committed, I knew Loyola was the place for me.

I originally declared as a psychology major, but I always loved STEM in high school and never considered writing due to hating most of my English teachers in high school. After my first year as a Rambler, I had a feeling psychology wasn’t for me.

It wasn’t fun, I found it rather dull and I was leaving behind the world of spots I had loved my whole life.

I originally called my mom during my second year and told her I wanted to become a journalist. I wanted to cover sporting events and be the guy you see on ESPN, and I still do.

Before I could switch, my mom told me I had to try it first by writing at least three articles for The Loyola Phoenix. I can’t thank her enough for making me meet that bar.

I went to my first sports section meeting that Sunday, where I met then Sports Editor Griffin Krueger and Deputy Sports Editor Andi Revesz. They pulled up their spreadsheet of games that week, and I volunteered to cover a women’s soccer game for the next weekend. 

It was Alopecia Awareness Day, and Andi was writing a follow up to a feature story she wrote on Alaina Abel, who went public about her alopecia shortly before the season. Andi couldn’t have been nicer to help show me how she takes notes during games and offered any help I needed, so I wouldn’t sound like an idiot during the post game press conference.

While I only wrote a few more articles that year, I went to the first meeting of my third year and jumped into the first beat I could get my hands on, cross country. 

Since that day, I’ve been the only writer to cover cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field. I wrote my first feature shortly after the first cross country meet, interviewing first-year River Santiago. I was so nervous, I probably spent six hours researching him to the point where I think I knew him better than the Athletic Department did. 

I worked my tail off trying to write as much as I could to make up for the time I lost by starting my journalism career almost halfway through my college journey.

Apparently, I worked hard enough to get the staff to hire me as the Deputy Sports Editor this year. No matter how many stories I wrote, which became “Tuesday Night Specials” due to how late I would turn them in, I managed to earn the position.

This year has been the best of my life. I got to delve even further into the sports reporting world, helping write, edit, upload and page design every article in the sports section. 

I got to cover the Loyola women’s basketball team and travel to Henrico, Virginia to cover the Atlantic 10 conference tournament, sitting courtside for an experience I’ll never forget. 

I can’t thank the people enough who helped me along the way, my mom and dad, for always encouraging me. My girlfriend Bella for always being there to support me, no matter how much time I spend writing and editing articles. All my editors, my writers and the whole Phoenix staff, I’ll always die for The Bird.

Andi Revesz – Sports Editor

Even though I knew this was coming, I still can’t find the right words to say about my time here at The Loyola Phoenix. The biggest thing I have to say is thank you. 

To all of the athletes I’ve had the pleasure to interview, thank you for trusting me to share your stories. I loved learning about what goes into being a collegiate athlete, and I hope I did you all justice with my writing. 

To every single person who has been on staff with me, thank you for motivating me to consistently do better. I wouldn’t nearly be the journalist I am today without the support from you all. Keep my spirit alive by standing on as many chairs as you can and making others laugh at the most awkward times. 

To Austin Hojdar, thank you for trusting Baby Andi with a spot on staff, even though I’d only written four stories at that point. I thank Griffin Krueger for maintaining trust in me as I became sports editor and Lilli Malone for believing in me and pushing me to be the best sports editor I can be. 

To every sports writer — whether you wrote one article or hundreds — you’re the reason I do this. I love you all so much, and I’m confident the future of The Loyola Phoenix sports section is bright. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication to this paper over these past three years. 

To my roommates, Megan, Megan and Claire, thank you for only locking me out of the apartment twice on production nights. You guys always had open ears when I needed to vent about the paper, and the campus celebrities we’ve had throughout the years based on the interviews I’ve done will always stay with me. I love you guys a long time. Shoutout to Claire’s mom, Teresa, for always reading my articles.Your support means the world to me.  

The best deputy in the history of The Phoenix happened to be mine. A lot of our readers never see the behind the scenes of The Phoenix, but if they did, they’d agree with me. Nate Varda has been nothing but the best through every single situation we’ve faced. I couldn’t be more thankful to have a twin for life in him. I don’t think I’d make it through this year without someone who’s so motivated and passionate for sports, and I’m excited to see where he ends up in the future at Northwestern.  

My boyfriend, Frankie Montalbano, has been nothing but supportive of me and my endeavors throughout my time at The Phoenix. From every tear shed to every angry crashout, Frankie has always been there for me. I don’t know where I’d be without his constant support. Even as I’m applying for 50 jobs in the sports industry everyday and am filled with uncertainty, I know Frankie will be there for me. I love you so much, and thank you for being my rock. 

Along similar lines, my entire family has been nothing but supportive of me. Every article I’ve sent to my family’s group chat always gets a heart reaction from Grandma Val, who also has a shoebox in the living room closet filled with each issue of The Phoenix. My aunt, MB, consistently sends me job postings to help me get a position following graduation and is the reason I wrote my first arts article reviewing Harry Styles’ new album. My brother, Marky, made our graduation stoles and was the second person I called when I got my first job on staff. 

The first call was to my biggest fan and the reason I am who I am today. My dad is truly the best person I know. He taught me everything I know about the sports industry and motivates me every day to be the best version of myself. I hope I make you proud every day. 

Following graduation, I’ll be working at Edgewater Castle Football Club as a communications manager. There’s no way I’d be able to be successful in this position without The Phoenix. I can’t believe my time here has ended, and I thank you all for the support along the way. Live by the bird, die by the bird.

Lilli Malone – Editor in Chief

Last week, I wrote my final From the Editor’s Desk and I finished it off by saying I was out of things to say. But do not fret, I have returned. There are too many thank yous to give for me to have left just yet. 

First, to The Gingers and Bel — the news team from my second year. Isabella Grosso, our fearless leader, taught me so much of what became the foundation for my journalism education. Her news judgement, love for The Phoenix and passion for supporting her friends through every up and down make me look up to her so much. 

Hunter Minné has become the closest thing I’ve ever had to a brother both in appearance and personality, and I couldn’t have gone through the last four years without him. He’s the only other person on the entire staff of The Phoenix to have been on the paper for longer than me — by five minutes because I was late to the first meeting — and was one of my first college friends. Both Hoont and Bel have been my rocks in all things good and bad. I’m forever in debt to them both. 

Our news team this year, Paige Dillinger and Ava Witherite, were both journalists I had the pleasure of recruiting and training. They continue to impress me with their work, their drive and their love for their writers. I learn far more from them than they ever are aware of. 

To the entire staff of The Phoenix — this year has meant everything and more to me. Thank you all for showing up every day as nothing other than yourselves. 

My family — my mom, dad, sibling and grandparents — have been some of the most loyal readers of The Phoenix since day one. They’re always my first phone call when things go poorly, and the first people I want to talk to when something goes well. Just telling them I love them will always fall short, but I’ll keep saying it regardless. 

My roommates and best friends are some of my biggest fans. Sydney, who tells everyone she knows that I run The Phoenix, and Jennie, who never misses a Phoenix crossword. As a kid, I dreamed of having friends like you, and I love you both endlessly. 

And last, but certainly not least, thank you to all of you reading this. We do this for you, and I’ve never taken it for granted that the Loyola community trusts in The Phoenix to serve as its campus news source. 

And, with that, I am truly, really, completely out of things to say.