StM News

St. Martin’s Episcopal School is pleased to announce the 2024 inductees into the Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame: Thea Casseri Papageorgopolous ‘84, the 1992-93 District Champion Football Team, and Nick DiMaggio ‘09. 

This Hall of Fame class will be formally inducted in a ceremony during Upper School assembly on Friday, September 27, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Inductees will also be honored at the school’s Homecoming football game that evening, right before the 7:00 pm kickoff at Tony Porter Field, when the Saints take on the McMain Mustangs. All alumni are invited to attend both events.

Thea Casseri ‘84

Thea Casseri was a key member of St. Martin’s championship - and often undefeated -  girls’ swim teams of the early 1980’s, when they were State Champions in 1980, 1981, and 1984, and were  State Runners Up in 1983.  This strong team laid the groundwork for St. Martin’s swimmers to continue to compete on the state level, and the girls’ impressive championship streak extended from 1985-1989, and the team was State Runner Up in 1990. 

Thea was a member of the Varsity swim team starting in 8th grade. In 1982, Thea was one of two St. Martin’s swimmers who qualified to compete in the U.S. Junior Nationals in Tuscaloosa, AL. Thea was also selected as the “Outstanding Female Swimmer” of the Louisiana State Swimming Championship Meet that year.  She was High School State Champion for both the 200 and 500 yard freestyle in 1981 and 1982. Helping her team to win the State Championship and with ribbons in individual and relay events, Thea was voted St. Martin’s most valuable swimmer her senior year. After St. Martin’s, Thea went on to compete on the Lady Lions swim team for Penn State. 

The 1992-93 Football Team 

This team delivered what the 1993 yearbook called “one of the most exciting and most successful football seasons for St. Martin’s.” Under their new head coach, Sam Dozier, 14 seniors built a strong team that closed out the season with a 9-2 record, and earned themselves a District championship. By winning their Homecoming game against the Fisher Gators, the Saints advanced to the regional playoffs for the first time in several years. 

Other highlights of the season included Sam Dozier being named Coach of the Year, Christian Shoftahl ‘93 making All State, All Metro, All East Bank and All District, and fellow seniors Chad Aleman, Thomas “Bill” Axelrad, Carter Balart, Patrick Odom, Chris Stakelum, Ian Williams and junior Chris Chambers ‘94 also making All District. Additionally, Chad Aleman joined the St. Martin’s 1,000 Yard Rushers Club. 

Nick DiMaggio ‘09

A multi-sport athlete, Nick DiMaggio stood out on the fields (both football and baseball) and on the basketball court, but baseball is where he really shined. As a sophomore, Nick made 2006-07 All District in Baseball. His junior year, Nick was All District Baseball MVP and All East Jefferson MVP, and also made All Metro and All State for the 2008 season. As a senior, he made All District Second Team in both Football and Basketball, and continued to make All District, All East Jefferson, and All Metro in Baseball. After St. Martin’s, Nick continued his baseball career at Tulane University and became one of the Green Wave’s leading hitters during his time with the team.