BREEDING'A NEW QUALITY OF YOUNG

By PETER LARSON, in 2013

Quick: What s 17 times 14? Please sing the first verse of The Star-Spangled Banner. Now, the last What? Don t know the last verse? How about some push-ups? The first day of Servite High School s Freshmen Formation weekend starts at dawn. The questions, and push-ups, come soon after. It s not yet dawn when the day begins for Larry loner, director of formation, communications manager Michelle Thomas and associate director of formation Chris Weir. I oner sits dowm, arm s and ankles crossed. The annual formation weekend at the all-boys high .school dates to 2005, when current President Pete Bowen decided to system atize what the school had done with its football team. Over three days, incoming students engage in physical, mental and artistic challenges. Think obstacles courses, zip lines and team songwriting contests. Senior Nicholas Reinders of Buena Park said the first day of formation is designed to break freshmen down, the second to build thefreshmen into the Servite student body. The third day concludes with Mass and a review of the weekend. Servite alumni return to help run formation weekend . In one sense, freshman formation aliudi's to military and boot campesque drills. But in Toner s words, it is as much about forming young men. I guess I sit down and think about what is really necessary for someone to develop as a person, Toner said. Toner coached the Friars football team from 1989 until 2004 before directing the formation program , which continues long after the weekend ends. H e s studied philosophy, theology and sports throughout his life and drops phrases like self-realization in conversation. Especially as a freshman, you get this impression that Toner s a little morestern, said Daniel Wolfe, a senior from Anaheim Hills. Not stern in away, but that he s a big man on campus. Like he deserves respect. Wolfe leads the weekend as prior r Matthew Nulk of Cypress is assistant prior general and self-proclaimed enforcer for the weekend. In speech, he echoes Toner. We want to form men who want to be great,