Tell us about yourself, Tommy.
Well, my name is Tommy Hunt and I am a Junior in the Class of 2024. I have been running since 5th grade and, before Oratory, I was a member of the Wolfpack Track Club. Wolfpack is run out of Berkeley Heights - which also happens to be my home town - and the public school district I attended prior to Oratory. To get a sense of who I am, I am a major sports fan but also value time in the classroom—much of that being due to the learning environment OP has created. Additionally, one of the biggest influences in my life has been my family, including aunt’s, uncle’s and cousins, as we are very close and that is something I value deeply. Another prominent influence on my life is Jesus Christ, who has positively impacted my life in numerous different ways.
What are you involved in at OP besides cross country?
Besides Cross Country, I also run Winter and Spring Track. Running accounts for a large part of my life. However, I am more than just a runner—I happen to be the editor of the Omega, Oratory’s Student Newspaper. If you have been to any Open House or Orientation at OP, there is also a decent shot you have seen me as I am a member of the Carlton Fellows (the club that orchestrates those events).
What is your greatest cross country memory during your career at OP?
Wow, it’s difficult to choose just one. Many of my favorite memories from OPXC, and Oratory in general, stem from the brotherhood that is established at OP. One memory of the Cross Country team that exemplifies this actually came away from the Cross Country course. Unfortunately, this fall my Grandmother passed away and to honor her, Coach McCrystal put together a mass before school one morning. At this mass, many of my friends, cross country, and track teammates showed up in support of me. Seeing all those guys show up in what was a difficult time for my family was really special to me, and the brotherhood we have surpasses anything I could ever do on a track.
Can you tell us more about being selected to run in Saturday's meet? That’s obviously a great honor.
Qualifying for Meet of Champions (MOC’s) has always been a goal of mine, and I am honored to have done it this year. That being said, the job’s not finished, and I plan to make some noise during Saturday’s race. For context, as I’m sure there are many people who do not follow high school running, the NJSIAA Meet of Champions is a race composed of the fastest teams and individuals in the state of New Jersey. Qualifying as an individual was great, and I feel as if this is a step in the right direction for the entire program. Coaches McCrystal, Seebode and Crum have worked wonders for me as an individual and for the entire team, so I would like to thank each of them. Although he is not there for Cross Country, Coach Vaughn (the throwing coach) has been another positive influence on my road to MOC’s, and I would also like to thank him for always supporting me.
Can you list any other awards/honors you have received at OP?
In my sophomore year I won both the Coach’s Award for cross country and, due to the injury of then-senior Ciaran Bowler, I won the MVP for Winter Track at the Athletic Award Ceremony. Ciaran himself was a mentor who not only helped me progress as a runner but also taught me a lot about being a leader, which is important because I was named both Cross Country and Track Captain this year as a Junior. Away from running, I have been on the honor roll every quarter besides the first quarter of my freshman year. I credit that to the academic progress I've made at Oratory. I plan to stay on this academic streak while continuing to lower and set more school records on the track, with the goal of being named to more all-conference teams.
What does it mean to you to earn those awards and honors, and to have achieved success as a student at OP? You must be very proud.
I am definitely proud of being recognized for my accomplishments, especially by a school like Oratory which, if you couldn’t tell, I am very fond of. OP has been a great place for me as a student, athlete and as a person so to feel recognized for what I have done is incredible. This is especially true for me when I was named captain and editor of the school paper. To be entrusted as a leader that can pave the way for the younger guys, as previous upperclassmen did for me, is something I will always be proud of.
What was it about OP that made you want to be a student here?
Interestingly enough, I only came to an Open House at OP because my Grandpa suggested it. Little did I know it was my first time walking through the halls of what I now call home. At this open house, my tour guide was a guy named Will Heffernan, who would eventually become my teammate when I was a freshman. Along with meeting Coach McCrystal, Heff’s tour opened my eyes to what a great school OP truly is, and for that I am very grateful. This is a big reason why I am now a Carlton Fellow, so that I can tour around future Rams, and provide the same feeling of certainty about OP that was given to my family and me.
What kind of advice would you give to younger students who are considering attending OP?
As I would tell younger prospective students during Open House tours, OP has truly changed my life for the better. Although it may be intimidating to go to a new school, the OP Brotherhood is one of the most welcoming environments I have ever been a part of. The relationships I have established here are nothing short of remarkable and I am confident that the Oratory experience will only continue to get better.
Why should they come to OP and what will OP give them that they won’t be able to
find at other schools?
In my personal experience, I looked at multiple private schools, and previously attended public school, but no other school felt the same way Oratory does. OP has a tight-knit community, in which every student, faculty and staff care about each other, and your individual well-being. OP also makes it a priority to not only set up students for success in high school, but also in their future endeavors. Pairing this with the brotherhood that is present here at OP creates an environment that is just not found anywhere else.
Favorite class and teacher at OP?
There are so many great options to choose from but I would have to say my favorite class is the Intro to Economics class that I took last year. As for my favorite teacher it is a really tough decision as the staff at OP is truly phenomenal. I’d say that I like a teacher more and more every class I have them, so by default my favorite teachers would would be Mr. Martin, Mr. Kearns, Mr. Seebode and Mr. Manna, as this year is my second time having each of them.
Favorite OP non-sports memory so far?
My favorite non-sports related memory at OP so far would probably be my first week of freshman year. Although during the Covid-19 pandemic, I was able to meet so many new people who I now consider brothers and it was my welcoming into becoming a Ram. After this my OP experience only got better with the return of the Dodgeball, Handball, 3v3 Basketball, and Spike Ball tournaments - the school sponsored tournaments also being some of my favorite OP memories.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Man, what will I be in 2032. I guess that in ten years I plan to be a former Division I runner who has found a successful career in business. Although I have ideas, there is still much that is unknown about what college that may be, or what kind of business that is. However, I am confident that OP has prepared me for the road ahead and wherever I end up in 10 years, I’m sure I’ll have OP to thank for being in that position.