Wiley Ewing ’29 Finds Home, Faith and Purpose at JPII | News | John Paul II High School | Texas

Home means more than a place

I moved from California to Texas six years ago. I still miss where I lived, but over time I have started to think about home differently. To me, home is family and connection with the people around you. Texas is home now, but JPII has also become part of what home means to me.

I am an only child, and I live with my mom, dad, and our black Lab, Taza. My family has always been important to me, and some of my favorite memories go back to California, especially fishing with my dad.

Feeling like I belonged

Before I was a student at John Paul II High School, I already had some experience on campus. I went to St. Mark in Plano, and that is how I first learned about JPII. I also came to football combines here while I was in middle school.

Those combines made an impression on me. I got to be on a big high school campus and spend time around some of the older football players. I looked up to them. Even though I was still in middle school, I felt involved and like I was already getting a look at the JPII community.

When I later toured JPII, Gabe Castaneda and Gus Kahn helped make the school feel much smaller than it first looked. The campus seemed huge to me, but they made me feel valued. I remember thinking that I belonged here.

That feeling has continued since I became a student. My friends are a big part of what makes JPII special to me, but so are my teachers. I feel like they truly care about me and want to see me succeed.

Football, faith, and 10 teammates

Football has become one of the biggest parts of my JPII experience. Before coming here, I had only played flag football, so I was excited to finally play tackle football. I now play varsity football, and the sport has already taught me a lot that goes beyond learning plays.

I have learned how important relationships are. Football also teaches resilience because things are not always going to go your way. You have to keep going.

Most of all, you are never out there by yourself. There are 10 other teammates on the field with you. I try to remember not to do it only for myself. I want to do it for them and do it all in honor of God.

One of my favorite JPII traditions is what our football team does before games. We take time to step away from everything and spend time in the chapel with God, often with a peer minister or Fr. Mark Nguyen. I like having that time before we compete.

I also like what happens after games. Going to Whataburger and being around everyone is simple, but it is one of those things that makes high school fun. Homecoming week is another favorite because I get to see everyone come together and celebrate being Cardinals.

I want to keep growing as a football player, but I also want to become more of a leader. I want to learn how to step up for everyone, not just myself. I also want to understand the game well enough to be one of the smartest players on the field.

Years of work behind a world championship

Taekwondo has been a major part of my life for years. In 2026, that work led to one of my biggest accomplishments: winning the ATA World Championship in Combat Sparring.

Getting there took much more than showing up for a tournament. I have trained five to six days a week for years, along with the travel and competition that come with competing at that level. Now that I am at JPII, I am balancing that commitment with school, varsity football, and everything else I want to be part of.

Winning a world championship was a big accomplishment, but the years of work behind it are just as important to me. Taekwondo requires discipline, consistency, and the ability to keep working toward something even when the results are still a long way off.

Fishing goes back to California

Outside of football, fishing is probably the hobby that has been part of my life the longest. My dad started taking me fishing in California when I was around 2 years old, and I have loved it ever since.

Over the years, I have learned different techniques, how to read the water, and how to figure out what bait to use. There is still a lot I want to learn. I would like to learn how to use a boat and fishing sonar to find good spots. The only problem is that I need a boat first.

I also want to get into fly-fishing. Fishing is something I can keep learning for a long time, and I like that.

What I want to accomplish

I am involved in the JPII Ambassador Program, and I want to find some clubs to join as I get further into high school. Outside of school, I also do taekwondo and became a 2026 world champion.

After JPII, I want to go to college and major in biology. From there, my goal is to attend medical school and eventually become an anesthesiologist.

Before I graduate, I have goals here too. Academically, I would like to earn a 4.0 while taking hard classes. In football, I want to earn all-district recognition. I want to look back and be proud of what I did because I challenged myself.

Most importantly, I want to grow in my faith and leave JPII knowing I left it better than when I first saw it.