Holy Family Academy alums Ignatius (2020), Sebastian (2022), Maria (2024) and incoming senior Alexandra DeMark (2026) have spent most of their sporting lives on the soccer field. They and most of their siblings have played club soccer to learn the fundamentals of the game. Through their hard work and perseverance, they have earned spots on several prestigious college soccer teams.
Ignatius (Iggy) just graduated from Colorado State University at Pueblo (CO) where he played right back. CSU-Pueblo is a Division II university that has vied for the National Championships over the past three seasons, specifically two National Championship runner-up titles in 2023 and 2024. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and plans to work with children. Iggy will continue to play for Florida Gulf Coast University, Division I, this fall on a full-ride scholarship. The new NCAA rules allow him one additional year of eligibility.
After playing soccer for two years with the Scottsdale Community College Artichokes, Sebastian (Sebi) joined Iggy on the CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves soccer team where he plays outside back. Sebi is majoring in accounting and business administration with a goal to earn his Certified Public Accounting credentials. He will be a senior this year.
Their sister Maria is a member of the Scottsdale Community College Woman’s Soccer team where she plays center back. She is pursuing an associate’s degree in arts.
Alexandra (Gator) is entering her senior year at HFA and has committed to join the Arizona State University Women’s Soccer Team after graduation. Her current play on national level club teams has prepared her for competition at this Division 1, Big 12 university.
In speaking with the DeMark’s, they all fondly recalled their time at Holy Family Academy. They stressed how much HFA helped in building their faith foundation through daily rosary, confessions, religion courses and weekly Mass. They praised the HFA faculty for helping them receive an excellent education that prepared them well for college. They were also thankful for the ability to participate in team sports such as Boys Baseball where they won two CAA championships and Girls Volleyball where they were CAA champs for four years in a row. And most recently with a State Championship Division I Girls Soccer championship.
When asked to share some words of wisdom, Iggy advised students, “Don’t take HFA for granted. Learn all you can so you can stand your ground and defend your faith.”
“HFA helped me to grow my faith and to be comfortable standing up for my Catholic values with guys who have no faith,” Sebi said.
Maria said that she learned sportsmanship, teamwork and the ability to be brave enough to honor God in public while at HFA. Gator would tell prospective students to come to HFA so they can grow in their faith in a wholesome, supportive environment. “HFA is a true blessing,” she said.
They sent a final message to all – “two quotes that were drilled into our heads growing up from our parents: ‘Work as if everything depends on you, Pray as if everything depends on God,’ and ‘Win humbly, Lose gracefully’!”
