Featured Athletes /// Helias Senior Saders SENIOR SADER SALUTE
High school coaches will tell you senior leadership is a key component to the success of a team. It was a memorable senior year for Helias Catholic High School athletes Logan Hillman, Claire Morris, Jayli Howell and Austin Weaver.
Story By: Kevin Kelly Photography By: John Bryan, Helias Catholic, and MSHSAA
Often, when an injury occurs on a sports team, fans will hear the head coach say “next man up”. That happened to the Helias foot- ball team on September 22, 2023, when quarterback Sam Wyrick Weaver, who would not only lead the team to a win against Rock Bridge that night but would also become a key player on teams that would win three straight district titles and play for the Class 5 state championship in 2024.
The Helias football team went 30-4 with Weaver at quarterback. As a senior, Weaver threw for 2,355 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was a dual-threat quarterback that coaches love to have. He rushed for 753 yards and 16 touchdowns. Those numbers earned Weaver Central Missouri Activities Conference.
“What can you say about a player who has meant as much as Aus- tin has to this program?” said Helias football coach Chris Hentges. “What a leader, an athlete and competitor. He will go down as one of the best quarterbacks in Helias history.” completions (384); passing yards (5,931); and career touchdown passes (62). He also holds the school record for dual-threat yards (7,825), and his 30 wins as a quarterback are now a record at Helias. this program,” said Hentges. When Weaver wasn’t throwing touchdown passes, he played bas- ketball for Coach Joe Rothweiler, who called Weaver an elite defender.
12 /// May 2026
that lifted his teammates and allowed us to play defense at a high level,” said Rothweiler. “Day in and day out, we could always count Weaver was a captain on the football and basketball teams, which meant a lot to him. “I tried to show the younger kids what it meant to be a good teammate, even when something didn’t go the way you wanted,” said Weaver. “I tried to lead in every way that I could.” Weaver says Helias is a special place. “I have always had great coaches throughout football and basket- ball who don’t only care about the wins and losses, but they want us to become better people,” said Weaver. After graduation, Weaver plans to attend the University of Missou- ri and would like to become a physician assistant. “I am very grateful for all the memories and friends that I have made throughout the past four years. I am sad that sports are over, but I am excited to see what’s next for me and all my friends and teammates.”
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