A projected gap became a real fight, and everyone in the stands felt it. Jack Messick and Declan Griggs walk us through Rockhurst’s state meet story—how dominant diving from the favorites put them down early, how steady points from the board kept it close, and how a surge in the pool made second place feel like a statement. We talk about the 500 free at 5:08, the pressure of 11-dive rounds and cuts, and the mindset it takes to stay calm when the scoreboard says “chase.”

Away from the water, both guys double down on craft. Declan moves into tennis with a winter plan that focuses on the fundamentals most players overlook: indoor bubble sessions, ball-machine volume, and footwork reps that make strokes possible under pressure. Jack heads into a larger role in Newsies, laying out a rehearsal cadence that looks like a training block—line runs before break, choreography foundations in January, and full dress rehearsals leading into late February. If you’ve ever wondered how theater builds team chemistry and stamina the way sports do, this comparison is your proof.

Finals prep gets real and practical. They share the tools that actually lower stress: peer-built study guides, matching study to the test format, short consistent review sessions, and simple organization systems that convert plans into action. Declan keeps an iPad planner by day and handwritten checklists by night for that satisfying cross-off. Jack relies on clean folders and a heavy-duty binder for content-dense courses, prioritizing by tomorrow’s schedule so he always knows the next step. The conversation ends on family, holiday traditions, and quiet gratitude for leadership—parents, teachers, coaches—who make high standards feel like support, not pressure.

If you enjoy this mix of sports, stage, and study with a Jesuit heartbeat, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Your feedback helps more families find Rock Talk and keeps these student stories in the spotlight.