Boston’s WCVB-TV Channel 5 will devote its full 24-minute installment of “Chronicle,” the nation’s longest-running locally produced newsmagazine, to St. John’s Prep athletics Friday night. The show airs at 7:30, one night before the Eagles’ football team is scheduled to play in the MIAA Division 1 Super Bowl. The broadcast will spotlight the team’s success and illustrate St. John’s broader athletic culture of servant leadership and values-driven character development.
In August, film crews began shooting the episode — reported by Chronicle co-anchor Shayna Seymour and produced by Peabody award-winner Ramen Cromwell. Several St. John’s Prep alumni will appear in this installment, entitled “Friday Night Lights,” including San Francisco Giants breakout rookie outfielder Mike Yastrzemski ’09, Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard Pat Connaughton ’11, and the family of Pete Frates ’03.
“We are honored that a prestigious news outlet like ‘Chronicle’ has chosen to highlight our values-based, educational athletics program,” said St. John’s Headmaster, Edward P. Hardiman. “Our focus on leveraging sports as a tool to teach character, collaboration, leadership, resilience, and determination is a common thread throughout our competitive interscholastic athletics framework from grades 7 through 12. We’re grateful for the commitment and passion of our student-athletes, coaches, educators, and parents.”
Friday’s multi-segment broadcast will feature behind-the-scenes footage of workouts, practices, and pre-game locker room huddles as well as sideline and on-field action. The show will include interviews with a variety of football players and school administrators as well as athletic training staff, Eagles’ head coach and eight-year NFL veteran Brian St. Pierre, and the voice of St. John’s athletics, Prep senior Gus Baylow ’20.
“In the simplest terms, our team is values-driven, not glory-driven,” said St. Pierre. “What ‘championship culture’ means to us is a deep sense of us-not-me, team-not-I, and we-not-one. It’s incredibly humbling to be noticed for that on a platform like Chronicle.”
Friday night’s broadcast will re-air at 4:30 a.m. on Dec. 8.