When seniors Jack McGeehan and Corey Taubr graduate in the spring, they will miss St. Laurence. But chances are, that feeling is going to be mutual around school.

Both play football and belong to National Honor Society and the leadership team.

McGeehan is student body president for the second year in a row, wrestles, plays lacrosse and is a student ambassador. Taubr is student body vice president for the second year in a row, plays baseball and runs track.

“I don’t know how more involved you can be in any other school,” McGeehan said. “This school allowed us to shine is as many areas as we wanted.

“It’s so easy to know everyone in this building. I’m going to miss that.”

Before the caps and gowns are worn and goodbyes are said, these three-year starters have some unfinished business to take care of on the football field.

The Vikings, who haven’t had a winning season since 2019, want to change that. Although not in the Daily Southtown’s preseason rankings, they are one of a handful of area teams knocking on the door.

“We’ve got some dogs,” McGeehan said. “The past two years, we just haven’t had the guys to fill in spaces when guys got injured. I had to play defensive line as a sophomore two years ago.

“Now, we have it where I don’t have to touch that side. We finally have the talent where the drop off between guys is barely even there. It’s always a dogfight to see who is going to win that spot every week.”

McGeehan, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound offensive lineman, and Taubr, a 5-8, 185-pound slot receiver, figure to lead the way.

The Mount Greenwood residents have been friends and teammates since playing for St. Christina in fifth grade.

“We met on the football field,” Taubr said. “I went to Mount Greenwood Elementary School and he went to St. Christina, and we both played for St. Christina.

“We’ve been friends ever since but have gotten closer since we came to St. Laurence.”

St. Laurence coach Adam Nissen said it’s rare to have a pair of players become student body president and vice president for two years, but even more remarkable that Taubr was voted as a three- year captain.

“I’ve been coaching 20 years and never had a three-year captain,” Nissen said. “When Corey made it at a sophomore, that was nuts.

“He had no idea what he was doing on varsity, and just the way he conducted himself, the players said he should be a captain.”

Both are undecided about college, but McGeehan has been looking at Ivy League schools. Taubr is drawing interest from defending NCAA Division III national champion North Central College.

Taubr said McGeehan is tough to handle on the line.

“He’s a beast,” Taubr said. “He’s definitely a killer. His leadership on the line has been awesome to see. He’s always getting on his teammates and doing his assignment.

“Big Jack is a mean guy.”

McGeehan, meanwhile, admires Taubr’s leadership skills on and off the field.

“He’s not afraid to get up in front of the school and lead the pep rally or give a speech on whatever we have going on,” McGeehan said.

Nissen appreciated the two recently taking the lead on visiting and presenting a signed jersey to junior teammate Justin Arroyo, who is fighting cancer.

“It was great for 17-year-old kids to come up with that idea when it would be easy to say, ‘Oh, he’ll be fine,’ and just keep going,” Nissen said. “They really lead by example.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter with the Daily Southtown.