St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Louisville)
Encyclopedia
St. Thomas Aquinas High School (abbreviated "STA") is a private, Catholic high school
located in Louisville, Ohio
, USA, run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown
. It was founded in 1964 to serve the Catholic families of eastern Stark County
and parts of Portage County
.
As of the 2009-2010 school year:
There is also a Board of Directors that oversee all operations of the school, including finances, enrollment, fundraising, mission, development, etc., and is made up of various individuals with Aquinas connections including alumni, former parents of Aquinas students, and current parents of Aquinas students.
The tuition at St. Thomas Aquinas High School is $5,700 for parishioners and $7,000 for non-parishioners. Financial aid is available.
, a state team title in girls tennis
, as well as many individual state qualifiers in girls tennis, and many state track and field
qualifiers. Other sports, such as soccer (boys and girls), baseball
, softball
, and swimming have also seen regional and state qualifiers over the years. STA swimming produced many state qualifiers from the late 1980s through the 1990s. In 1990, the STA boys swim team finished 6th overall in the state, which is one of the highest finishes for a Stark County swim team since 1990. In 2007, the boys soccer won its second district title in a row and were regional runner-ups.
But perhaps STA is best known for a period of football excellence which ran from approximately 1973-1989. During that period, the St. Thomas Aquinas Knights played in 3 State Championship Games (once in the old Class AA in 1974, and twice in Division IV in 1984 and 1985). In 1984, STA won the Ohio State Championship in football in Division IV with a 23-0 win over Columbus Bishop Hartley Hawks. Over a 2-year stretch, the 1984-1985 seasons, STA football compiled a total record of 25-1-1 with 2 state title game appearances and numerous all-Ohio selections. STA appeared in the state playoffs six times during the 1970s and 1980s.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in Louisville, Ohio
Louisville, Ohio
Louisville is a city in Stark County in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 9,186 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Canton–Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area.Louisville is also known as the "Constitution Town". -Geography:...
, USA, run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown
Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown
The Diocese of Youngstown is a particular church or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, consisting of six counties in Northeast Ohio: Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Stark, Portage, and Ashtabula....
. It was founded in 1964 to serve the Catholic families of eastern Stark County
Stark County, Ohio
Stark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 375,586. It is included in the Canton-Massillon, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and parts of Portage County
Portage County, Ohio
Portage County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 152,061 at the 2000 Census and 161,419 at the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Ravenna. Portage County is named for the portage between the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas Rivers...
.
Academics
In 2004, Aquinas adopted a new model of governance and administration for the school.As of the 2009-2010 school year:
- The President of the school is Thomas Dyer, who served as a teacher and administrator from 1972–1984
- The Principal is Joseph Fagedes, previously a long-time Chemistry teacher and administrator at the school.
There is also a Board of Directors that oversee all operations of the school, including finances, enrollment, fundraising, mission, development, etc., and is made up of various individuals with Aquinas connections including alumni, former parents of Aquinas students, and current parents of Aquinas students.
The tuition at St. Thomas Aquinas High School is $5,700 for parishioners and $7,000 for non-parishioners. Financial aid is available.
Athletics
Included in STA's trophy case are 5 State Boys Cross Country Championships (including three in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and two in 2006 and 2007), numerous Regional appearances for boys and girls basketballBasketball
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...
, a state team title in girls tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, as well as many individual state qualifiers in girls tennis, and many state 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...
qualifiers. Other sports, such as soccer (boys and girls), 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...
, softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, and swimming have also seen regional and state qualifiers over the years. STA swimming produced many state qualifiers from the late 1980s through the 1990s. In 1990, the STA boys swim team finished 6th overall in the state, which is one of the highest finishes for a Stark County swim team since 1990. In 2007, the boys soccer won its second district title in a row and were regional runner-ups.
But perhaps STA is best known for a period of football excellence which ran from approximately 1973-1989. During that period, the St. Thomas Aquinas Knights played in 3 State Championship Games (once in the old Class AA in 1974, and twice in Division IV in 1984 and 1985). In 1984, STA won the Ohio State Championship in football in Division IV with a 23-0 win over Columbus Bishop Hartley Hawks. Over a 2-year stretch, the 1984-1985 seasons, STA football compiled a total record of 25-1-1 with 2 state title game appearances and numerous all-Ohio selections. STA appeared in the state playoffs six times during the 1970s and 1980s.
Ohio High School Athletic Association state championships
- FootballAmerican footballAmerican 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...
– 1984 - Boys Cross CountryCross country runningCross 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...
- 1976, 1980, 1981, 2006, 2007
Ohio High School Athletic Association state runner-up
- FootballAmerican footballAmerican 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...
– 1974, 1985 - Boys Cross CountryCross country runningCross 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...
- 2008, 2009 - Boys Track and FieldTrack and fieldTrack 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...
- 2010
Notable alumni
- James S. GwinJames S. GwinJames S. Gwin is a United States federal judge.Born in Canton, Ohio, Gwin graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Louisville, Ohio and received an A.B. from Kenyon College in 1976 and a J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law in 1979. He was in private practice in Canton, Ohio...
- Federal Judge - U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio - John MahonJohn MahonJohn Mahon is a professional percussionist and backing vocalist, most noted for his work with Elton John. He grew up in Canton, Ohio, and was attracted to music when he joined a local drum/bugle club. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School....
- drummer and band member for Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's backing band