Humble Bobcat

Walking among the halls of Loyola Sacred Heart is a young man that is looked up to by his peers, his elders, and his family. Watching Joey McElroy’s domination in the trenches on the football field, or his tenacity on the basketball court you would not see his comical and caring side.

Joey is the second born son to Joe and Jen McElroy. Joe McElroy is a Flathead High School graduate who picked up the coaching bug and began working with the Loyola Rams team while his eldest son Jake attended Loyola. Joey is following in the foot steps of his brother Jake in being the second McElroy to graduate from Loyola and move on to play collegiate football. His brother Jake attends the University of Montana Western and is a red shirt junior on the Bulldog football team as a linebacker and is majoring in elementary education.

Football is Joey’s strong sport as he also plays basketball in the winter, and did both track and tennis last spring. Though in years to come Joey shined on the grid iron as an offensive and defensive lineman, he did not want to play football in grade school, but after some convincing by a friend he was out on the field. Joey reminisces on making that session, “When I was in seventh grade I was not sure I wanted to play football at the high school level, but a good friend of mine, Bridger Bell, he convinced me to play football my eighth grade year and I never looked back.” Having made up his mind to play football, his freshman year Joey decided he was going to play Division 1 football.

Growing up under the shadow of the University of Montana it was not the dream of donning the maroon and silver of the Grizzlies, but rather it would be their in state rival the Montana State Bobcats that Joey would set his sights on. It was the influence of his grandfather that pushed Joey to attend Montana State as his grandfather played baseball for the Bobcats when they had a team. On the 20th of December 2017 Joey signed a Letter Of Intent to attend Montana State University and play football for the Bobcats.

One of Joey’s biggest influences in his life is his older brother Jake, who in turn Joey influences in his everyday life. Even though Joey is the younger brother, Jake has learned from Joey’s relaxed way of life. Jake talks about how Joey has touched his life, “Joey has taught me to live life with out any worries. Be happy and don’t stress about things because that will just waste time.” Jake contributes Joey’s goofy spirit as a way of loosening up because he puts so much into his studies in the classroom, “I think he goofs around because during the day when he is the classroom doing work he has to take his academics seriously because he knows nursing school wont be that way.” One of Jake’s most fond memories of Joey is on one black Friday they were in one of the local stores parking lots directing traffic just to have fun.

The two brothers are special to watch when they get together, whether on the sideline after a game or when they are competing against each other. Joey is supportive of Jake and makes any game he can that Jake plays in, and Jake tries to attend Joey’s games when he can. The boy’s mother Jen McElroy has had the unique perspective of Joey and Jake as brothers, Mrs. McElroy talks about the boys relationship, “Their bond is tight and they are each other’s biggest fans.”

Joey is working his way through his senior year and soaking in everything he can knowing that his life is about to change when he graduates. Loyola is a sacred place for those that attend and have attended the small Catholic school nestled in the heart of Missoula Montana, it is more than a family, it’s a Ramily and those are the tings Joey is going to miss the most about home, “I’m going to miss my friends and family, being so close to every one.” Joey is helping the Rams make their way back to the Class B Boy’s Basketball State Tournament in March and is keeping his nose to the grind stone in the classroom, he keeps in his brother’s advice in mind, and that it is to always stay humble.