Brother Rice High School proudly congratulates Luke Newman ’20, Will Shannon ’21, and Elijah Venos ’21, who have earned one of the Catholic High School League’s highest honors — induction into the Hall of Fame.
Luke Newman ’20
Warrior Legacy Grows as Newman Excels at Michigan State, Eyes NFL Future
Newman continues to stack honors on top of a legacy built on grit, leadership, and a relentless work ethic.
The CHSL Hall of Fame class welcomes Newman not just for his athletic accomplishments but for the man—and lineman—he has become since. After a stellar four-year run at Holy Cross, where he earned back-to-back Associated Press All-America selections and anchored one of the top offenses in FCS football, Newman transferred to Michigan State University as a graduate student in 2024. He wasted no time proving he belonged on the Big Ten stage.
In his graduate senior season with the Spartans, Newman started all 12 games at left guard, leading MSU with 739 offensive snaps. He played every down in eight contests, including high-stakes matchups against Michigan, Iowa, Oregon, and Maryland. His performance earned him All-Big Ten Honorable Mention from both coaches and media.
Newman’s blocking grade regularly ranked among the best in the conference. He posted an 86.9 pass-blocking grade against Purdue and was named Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week twice, including after bulldozing the Iowa defense as MSU racked up a season-high 212 rushing yards. Simply put, Newman was the bedrock of the Spartan offensive line.
Newman’s consistency and toughness didn’t go unnoticed. He was invited to the prestigious 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl in Arlington, Texas, where NFL scouts got a close-up look at a lineman who combines brute strength with cerebral play. Currently projected as a 5th to 6th-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, Newman has a real shot at extending his football career on Sundays.
Before donning the green and white at MSU, Newman made a name for himself at Holy Cross. As a three-time All-Patriot League First Team selection, he helped power one of the top offenses in the country. In 2023, Holy Cross ranked in the top 10 nationally in rushing, total offense, and scoring. He was twice selected as a Stats Perform and AP All-American and was the Patriot League Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2022.
Over his Crusader career, he started 50 games and collected accolades with the same regularity he handed out pancake blocks. He was also a standout in the classroom, earning multiple Patriot League Academic Honor Roll nods and graduating in 2024 with a degree in economics.
Newman’s football foundation was laid at Brother Rice under Coach Adam Korzeniewski, where he served as a captain and earned three All-CHSL selections and All-State honors. Notably, he did not allow a single sack in his final two seasons. Off the field, Newman was also a member of the basketball team, exemplifying the multi-sport toughness that defines Warrior athletes.
Luke Newman’s CHSL Hall of Fame induction is more than just another accolade—it’s a celebration of a young man who embodies the Warrior spirit: Excellence without arrogance. Leadership without ego. Faith and fight in equal measure.
From Brother Rice to Holy Cross to Michigan State—and soon, possibly, the NFL—Luke Newman continues to pave the way for Warriors everywhere.
Will Shannon ’21
From Brother Rice Warriors standout to NCAA All-American
Shannon left his mark on Warrior Baseball as a two-time All-CHSL selection and a consistent leader on and off the field. His senior season was one for the record books — leading the team in batting average (.372), doubles (14), and RBIs (44), all while helping Brother Rice reach its third consecutive MHSAA Division 1 state semifinal. A true student-athlete, Shannon also suited up for the varsity basketball team and was a proud member of the National Honor Society and graduated with honors.
After high school, Shannon took his talents to Hillsdale College, where he emerged as one of the top players in NCAA Division II. His junior season in 2024 was nothing short of historic — earning D2CCA All-American honors and becoming Hillsdale’s first-ever Great Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He led the league in nearly every offensive category: batting average (.426), slugging percentage (.838), on-base percentage (.508), and OPS (1.346). Despite missing the first seven games due to injury, Shannon racked up 15 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 63 hits in just 42 games — including a career-high 5-for-6 performance with two home runs in a statement win over Grand Valley State.
Shannon also received unanimous All-Midwest Region honors and ranked in Hillsdale’s all-time Top 10 for single-season marks in six statistical categories, including the second-best slugging percentage in program history. His glove was just as reliable as his bat, finishing with a .990 fielding percentage at first base, contributing to 18 double plays.
In 2025, Shannon transferred to Michigan State University to continue his academic and athletic career at the Division I level, majoring in economics. He has been a key player for the Spartans so far this season, making significant contributions both offensively and as a leader. His strong offensive presence and consistent performance have been crucial to the Spartans’ success. Shannon’s seamless transition to MSU has added depth to the lineup, further strengthening the team’s competitive edge throughout the season.
Whether at Hillsdale or East Lansing, he has remained a model of the Warrior spirit — marked by excellence and integrity.
Elijah Venos ’21
A Legacy Forged in the Pool and Anchored in Brotherhood
Elijah Venos ’21 is one of the most decorated swimmers in school and league history and a young man whose excellence has only intensified at the collegiate level.
As a two-time All-American and six-time All-State swimmer at Brother Rice, Venos’s impact on the pool deck was undeniable. But it is what he accomplished after graduation that truly cements his legacy. As a key contributor to Denison University’s 2025 NCAA Division III Men’s Swimming & Diving National Championship team, Elijah helped power the Big Red to their sixth national title, making history along the way.
In that historic championship run, Venos earned NCAA All-American honors, finishing as the national runner-up in the 100-yard breaststroke with a blistering school-record time. He also took fourth in the 200-yard breaststroke, showcasing the consistency and clutch performance that became his trademark throughout his collegiate career.
Over four years at Denison, Elijah was a 6-time NCAA Division III All-American, a 4-time NCAC Champion, and a 9-time All-NCAC performer—twice each in the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, and 200 medley relay. He holds three conference records and two varsity records and was named to the U.S. National Team in 2023 and 2024. That’s not just dominance—it’s dynasty-level impact.
Elijah’s All-American showings at the NCAA Championships spanned multiple years and events, consistently finishing among the top in the nation. Notably, he finished 4th in the 100 breast (53.13) and 12th in the 200 breast (1:59.29) in 2024, following a 7th-place and 9th-place showing in those same events the year prior. Add to that strong relay legs that propelled Denison’s medley and freestyle squads to top-16 national finishes, and it’s clear: Venos didn’t just swim fast—he lifted his whole team with him.
Of course, the apple doesn’t fall far from the starting block. Elijah is the son of Mike Venos, the Hall of Fame coach who built Brother Rice’s swimming program into a perennial powerhouse. Mike’s leadership and commitment to excellence helped shape generations of champions, and now, Elijah proudly stands as the next chapter in that story—a story rooted in excellence, discipline, and a deep love for the sport. This family legacy of athletic achievement includes his older brother Jonah ’19, who had an exceptional swimming career at John Carroll University and was also inducted into the CHSL Hall of Fame in 2023.
At Brother Rice, Elijah was a 14-time All-Catholic selection. His quiet confidence, relentless work ethic, and Warrior spirit made him a leader among his peers and a nightmare for opposing swimmers.
Now set to graduate from Denison in spring 2025 with a double major in Psychology and Health, Exercise, and Sports Studies, Elijah Venos leaves behind a legacy that bridges generations. From the halls of Brother Rice to the national stage, he’s proven that greatness isn’t given—it’s earned.
With these three outstanding young student-athletes, the Catholic League Hall of Fame doesn’t just welcome champions—it honors young men of character, humility, and heart. This induction is more than a recognition of remarkable athletic achievement; it’s a reflection of the values instilled at Brother Rice: Respect, Integrity, Character, and Excellence.
Congratulations to Luke, Will, and Elijah on this well-earned honor. Your accomplishments speak for themselves, but it’s your Warrior spirit that truly sets you apart.