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Ryan O’Connor, MBA, M.Ed

Founder & President

In founding this ministry in 2016, Coach O’Connor combined his love for Jesus Christ and His Church with his passion for sports and adventure.  Mr. O'Connor has 19 years of experience teaching grades 3-8, as well as 18 years of coaching experience in South Bend, Los Angeles, Guatemala City, and Denver.  He was an Illinois All-State high school basketball player before earning a scholarship to play at Dominican University in River Forest, IL. He is a 2013 graduate of the Denver Catholic Biblical School and teaches theology at Our Lady of Lourdes.  He and his wife were married in 2007, and with their six children, are parishioners at Holy Name Catholic Parish in Sheridan, CO.

Gabrielle Gerle

Operations manager

Gabrielle has served this apostolate since the first Frassati basketball camp in 2016. Her role began as camp manager, and had grown into head camp manager, before finally taking on a full-time position as Operations Manager. She has witnessed the spiritual and athletic growth of young athletes beginning as second graders and growing into strong, faithful camp counselors and coaches. It is experiences like these which make Highlight so special and inspire Gabrielle to return each year and ultimately decide to work for this organization full time. Gabrielle earned her Bachelor’s in Theology at Benedictine College and has taught Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) classes. She worked as an assistant teacher in a Montessori classroom and has a passion for contributing to the youth’s growth of both body and soul. Gabrielle is a parishioner at Our Lady of Lourdes in Denver and served as the head usher for many years.

 

Jayce Rastrelli

Missionary Athletic director & coach

Coach Jayce felt the impact of prayer through sport as a volunteer at the first-ever Frassati Basketball Camp in 2016. This experience led him to change majors from Graphic Design to Exercise Science: Human Performance and Sport Coaching, earning his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Northern Colorado in 2021. Being the youngest of seven in a large Catholic family, he has been blessed to be surrounded by great role models of strong faith. Being able to be that role model for these young athletes has been a blessing for Jayce and they continue to help him grow in his faith. Jayce is also the Athletic Director for Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Victory and a parishioner at St. Thomas More Catholic Parish in Centennial, CO.

To support his mission, see his mission support page here.

 
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Aaron Mikita

Summer camp director

Coach Mikita has over 17 years of coaching and leadership experience.  He has coached youth from age 4 to middle school.  As a two-sport athlete in high school (basketball and soccer), he excelled at soccer as an All-State Defensemen and led his high school team to their first state championship appearance in 30 years. Mr. Mikita has been coaching with Frassati Sports since its inception and was named a 2019 Coach of the Year by the Colorado Soccer Association. He and his wife of 20 years, along with their four children, are parishioners at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Parish in Littleton, CO, where Mr. Mikita has served as a religious education instructor. He is currently the Athletic Director at Bishop Machebeuf High School.

 

Sarah O’Connor, M.Ed

Secretary & Tennis director

Coach O'Connor has over 7 years of teaching experience and 13 years of experience coaching in Indiana, Maine, Mississippi, and Colorado.  While earning 9 varsity letters in high school playing volleyball, basketball, and tennis, she and her doubles partner advanced to the Indiana State Tennis Finals.  She earned a scholarship to play Division I tennis at the University of Dayton where she was an Academic All-American.  Mrs. O'Connor taught Catholic marriage prep for 5 years.  She is currently a homeschooling mother of 6 children.  She and her husband, Ryan O'Connor, have been married for over 16 years and live in Littleton, CO.

 
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Fr. Christopher Gama, O.F.M. Cap.

Chaplain

Fr. Gama is a Capuchin Franciscan friar, currently in charge of post-novitiate formation for the St. Conrad Mid-America province.  He is a 2013 graduate of Denver's St. John Vianney Theological Seminary and previously served as a hospital chaplain for the United States Army in Fort Carson, CO.  As a three-sport athlete in high school, Fr. Christopher helped his baseball team win the 1997 Colorado 4A State Championship.