Lexington Catholic High School
Encyclopedia
Lexington Catholic High School is a parochial secondary school
affiliated with the Catholic Church
located in the Rosemill neighborhood
in Lexington, Kentucky
. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington
.
In 2007, the school was awarded the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
. It was the first high school in central Kentucky to receive the award.
The school crest
is a simple design embodying the ideals and principles on which the school is founded. The lamp of knowledge on top of the emblem symbolizes the school. The escutcheon joins the four main principles symbolic of the school:
The initials LLH and SCA on either side the banner stand for Lexington Latin High and the Saint Catherine's Academy, the two schools which merged to form Lexington Catholic.
In 1954, assistant principal Father Kampsen developed these ideas for the crest. In collaboration with Sister Bernadette, SCN, he transferred the ideas to paper. The seal was adopted as the official coat-of-arms that year, and can be found on the senior rings from 1954 to the present. Lexington Catholic adopted this updated version of the crest in 2000.
, soccer, track and field
, baseball
, cross country
, hockey
, Ultimate Frisbee and basketball
.
49-7. The school also boasts of two regular undefeated seasons in 1998 and 2001, district championship wins in 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. The overall record for the Knight's football program from 1991-2011 is 197 wins to 62 losses.
The first head coach was Bob Sphire, for 15 years, and won the school's first football state title in his last season. He then became the head coach at North Gwinnett High School
in Georgia where he led the school to their first state title game in his second season. Bill Letton is now the head coach and recently finished his fifth season. He led the Knights to the schools second state title in 2007, his second season as head coach. Coach Letton has also been the head coach at Montgomery County High School, Paris High School, and Prestonsburg High School, where he led the Blackcats to the 1993 state title game.
and approved by the Kentucky State Department of Education. They have been given recognition for being a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School (one of three high schools in Kentucky chosen in 2007).
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
affiliated with the Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
located in the Rosemill neighborhood
Rosemill, Lexington
Rosemill is a neighborhood in southwestern Lexington, Kentucky, United States. Its boundaries are Southland Drive and Rosemont Garden to the north, Clays Mill Road to the west, and Hill-N-Dale Road to the south...
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington
Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington is a Roman Catholic diocese in Kentucky. It was founded on January 14, 1988.The past bishops of the diocese are:*James Kendrick Williams *Ronald William Gainer...
.
History
The school was formed in 1951 through the merger of two secondary schools: St. Catherine's Academy, founded in 1823, and Lexington Latin High, founded in 1924. Lexington Catholic moved to its current location in 1957.In 2007, the school was awarded the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
Blue Ribbon Schools Program
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
. It was the first high school in central Kentucky to receive the award.
Crest
Crest (heraldry)
A crest is a component of an heraldic display, so called because it stands on top of a helmet, as the crest of a jay stands on the bird's head....
is a simple design embodying the ideals and principles on which the school is founded. The lamp of knowledge on top of the emblem symbolizes the school. The escutcheon joins the four main principles symbolic of the school:
- The doveDovePigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...
in the upper left corner symbolizes the truth of GodGodGod is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. - The letter M to the right of the dove stands for the Virgin MaryMary (mother of Jesus)Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
, the Mother of God. - The plumed helmet, bottom left, represents the knightsKnight-errantA knight-errant is a figure of medieval chivalric romance literature. "Errant," meaning wandering or roving, indicates how the knight-errant would typically wander the land in search of adventures to prove himself as a knight, such as in a pas d'armes.The first known appearance of the term...
and ladiesLady-in-waitingA lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a royal court, attending on a queen, a princess, or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman from a family highly thought of in good society, but was of lower rank than the woman on whom she...
whose virtuesChivalryChivalry is a term related to the medieval institution of knighthood which has an aristocratic military origin of individual training and service to others. Chivalry was also the term used to refer to a group of mounted men-at-arms as well as to martial valour...
the students are expected to emulate. - The knot in the bottom right corner symbolizes the state of KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. This emblem of binding union was chosen to reflect the state motto, "United we stand, divided we fall."
The initials LLH and SCA on either side the banner stand for Lexington Latin High and the Saint Catherine's Academy, the two schools which merged to form Lexington Catholic.
In 1954, assistant principal Father Kampsen developed these ideas for the crest. In collaboration with Sister Bernadette, SCN, he transferred the ideas to paper. The seal was adopted as the official coat-of-arms that year, and can be found on the senior rings from 1954 to the present. Lexington Catholic adopted this updated version of the crest in 2000.
Mission
This mission statement, as it appears on the school's website, states:"We, Lexington Catholic High School, serve as an integral part of the educational mission of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington. We serve Catholic students and students of other faith traditions by providing a high quality secondary education that emphasizes the spiritual ideas and moral values of the Gospel. In this faith community, we form and develop the body, mind, and spirit of our students"
Athletics
Lexington Catholic is known state-wide for its athletic program, as the school has won statewide competitions in footballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, soccer, track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
, Ultimate Frisbee and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
.
Football program
Lexington Catholic won the 2005 Kentucky's Class AAA football state championship and the 2007 Class AAAA state championship, defeating Lone OakLone Oak High School (Kentucky)
Lone Oak High School is a public secondary school located in Lone Oak, Kentucky, a community served by the post office of nearby Paducah. Its nickname is Purple Flash, and its school colors are purple and gold, although some athletic teams, such as the marching band and football team, are...
49-7. The school also boasts of two regular undefeated seasons in 1998 and 2001, district championship wins in 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. The overall record for the Knight's football program from 1991-2011 is 197 wins to 62 losses.
The first head coach was Bob Sphire, for 15 years, and won the school's first football state title in his last season. He then became the head coach at North Gwinnett High School
North Gwinnett High School
North Gwinnett High School is a public high school in Suwanee, Georgia. The school is part of the school district Gwinnett County Public Schools. The Superintendent of the district is J. Alvin Wilbanks and the Principal is Ed Shaddix.-History:...
in Georgia where he led the school to their first state title game in his second season. Bill Letton is now the head coach and recently finished his fifth season. He led the Knights to the schools second state title in 2007, his second season as head coach. Coach Letton has also been the head coach at Montgomery County High School, Paris High School, and Prestonsburg High School, where he led the Blackcats to the 1993 state title game.
Basketball program
Both the boys' and girls' teams have captured a number of state championships. The boys' team have made state championship appearances in 1992, 2000, and 2002, winning the championship in 2002, they finished #10 in the nation in the final USA Today Super 25 poll. The girls' team won state championships in 1999, 2001, 2005, and 2006; and were runners-up in 2003 and 2004. The girls' team has been ranked as high as #3 in the nation in the final USA Today Super 25 poll in 2006 (also ranked #6 in final 2005 poll).Baseball program
The Knights baseball program has been very dominant since the late 1990s winning state titles in 1999, 2006, and 2009. The 2006 state champion team featured 8 juniors, all of which played or are currently playing college baseball, with the exception of standout and Mr Baseball winner, Ben Revere who was drafted 28th overall in the MLB draft and is currently an outfielder with the Minnesota Twins.Soccer program
The boys' and girls' soccer teams have won many state championships and are one of the top soccer programs in the state of Kentucky. The boys' team won state titles in 1983,1984, and 2004 and were State runner-up in 1987 and 2003. The girls' team has one state championship in 2002 and have finished the season state runner-up five times in 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001, and 2005.Athletic programs
Lexington Catholic fields teams in:- Football - 2005 Class AAA, 2007 Class AAAA KHSAA State Champions
- Girls Golf
- Boys Golf
- Girls Soccer - 2002 KHSAA State Champions
- Boys Soccer - 1983, 1984, 2004 KHSAA State Champions
- Girls Cross Country - 1975, 1976, 1977, 1983, 1984 Class A KHSAA State Champions
- Boys Cross Country
- Girls Basketball - 1999, 2001, 2005, 2006 KHSAA State Champions
- Boys Basketball - 2002 KHSAA State Champions
- Volleyball
- Baseball - 1999, 2006, 2009 KHSAA State Champions
- Softball
- Tennis
- Girls Track and Field - 1971 KHSAA State Champions
- Boys Track and Field
- Swim & Dive
- Hockey - 2004, 2008 KHSHL State Champions
- Lacrosse - 2005, 2006, 2008 Division I State Runner-Up
- Cheerleading
- Dance Team
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Bowling
Accreditation
Lexington Catholic is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and SchoolsSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
and approved by the Kentucky State Department of Education. They have been given recognition for being a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School (one of three high schools in Kentucky chosen in 2007).
Notable alumni
- Laura Bell BundyLaura Bell BundyLaura Ashley Bell Bundy is an American actress and singer who has performed in a number of Broadway roles, both starring and supporting, as well as in television and film. Her best known Broadway roles are the original Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray and the original Elle Woods in the musical...
- BroadwayBroadway theatreBroadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
Actress and Country Singer - Brian CashmanBrian CashmanBrian McGuire Cashman is an American Major League Baseball executive for the New York Yankees.-Early life:Cashman was born in Rockville Centre, New York and raised in Washingtonville, New York. He was raised in an Irish Catholic family. He moved with his family to Lexington, Kentucky, where his...
- Senior Vice-President and General Manager of the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division... - Alison Lundergan GrimesAlison Lundergan GrimesAlison Lundergan Grimes is an American attorney and Democratic politician who is the Secretary of State of Kentucky-elect, having defeated incumbent Elaine Walker in the May 17, 2011 primary election and Republican Bill Johnson in the November 8, 2011 general election.-Early Life and...
- Secretary of State of Kentucky - Frank KornetFrank KornetFrank Kornet , is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2nd round of the 1989 NBA Draft. Kornet played two seasons in the NBA, both with the Bucks. In his NBA career, he appeared in a total of 89 games and averaged 1.9 ppg...
- Former NBA Player for the Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee BucksThe Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center.... - Ben RevereBen RevereBen Daniel Revere is an outfielder for the Minnesota Twins.-Minors:Before the Twins made Revere their first-round pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft, he went to Lexington Catholic High School in Lexington, KY where he led them to the state title and was named MVP his junior year .He...
- MLB Player for the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota TwinsThe Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(2007 1st Round Draft Pick)