Jonah Reynolds ’24: a renaissance “Man for Others”

Plank Article Daniel Krueger '24

He’s here, he’s there, Jonah Reynolds ‘24 is everywhere. A top track athlete, robotics team leader, and member of student council, Jonah does a little bit of everything – and everywhere he goes, he makes Jesuit High School Sacramento a brighter place to be. 

Jonah serves as activities coordinator in student council, an important position for enriching campus life. 

“I was involved with leadership at my middle school, so it made sense to do it at high school,” Jonah said. “It was fun to plan events, and we got to make sure that we actually had things that were happening.”

Jonah is thankful for all of his friends for believing in him and encouraging his interests and passions.  

“I also had friends on cross country that were doing student council and leadership stuff, and they supported me to join,” Jonah said. “They really inspired me, and I joined, and I started doing it my sophomore year up until now.”

In all four of his years at Jesuit, Jonah has run for Jesuit’s cross country and track teams.  One of his highlights was placing as a team in the 4×800 meter relay at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Championships and subsequently achieving 10th place at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in the spring of 2023.

“I wasn’t doing soccer during COVID-19, so I decided to join cross country, and I really enjoyed it,” Jonah said. “I tried out for soccer, but I realized I really like cross country more now; I really like the community. I have loved cross country mostly because I get to spend a lot of time with friends, and I think it is a good environment that has helped me be a better person or helped me become a better person.”

While he is one of Jesuit’s top runners, Jonah always prioritizes his team. Cross Country Assistant Coach Thomas Witzgall ’98, appreciates the impact Jonah has on his teammates.  

“Jonah cares as much about the team’s success as his own,” Coach Witzgall said. “He lifts up his teammates by saying positive things to them and believing that they can meet their goals.”

Cross country isn’t Jonah’s only team, however. Jonah’s experience with the robotics team has also helped him grow, helping him discover a desire to pursue engineering in the future.

“I get to build cool stuff with my friends; I get to go to competitions and I enjoy it and I have learned a lot,” Jonah said. “And that is part of the reason I want to go into engineering: the experience I have had there. That has definitely opened up work and educational opportunities that I wouldn’t have had without those things.”

Robotics Chief Executive Officer James Randall ’24 has seen Jonah’s dedication to serving others firsthand.

“Jonah is the most ‘Man for Others’ person I know at this school,” James said. “He views helping others as an end in itself, never something he does for his own gain. To that end, he’s very dedicated. Over the summer, he worked to develop wearable technology that the elderly can use as a distress beacon when they’re in need, and I think that’s emblematic of the kind of person that he is.”

In student council, cross country, and robotics, Jonah is always making sure that others thrive. His leadership has left a lasting impact on the Jesuit community, inspiring a legacy of other-centeredness that characterized his life as a Marauder.