Saint Francis High School (La Cañada Flintridge)

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St. Francis High School
School Type Private, Fransican Capuchin
President Fr. Matthew Elshoff, OFM Cap.
Principal Thomas Moran
Location La Cañada-Flintridge, California
Enrollment (as of 2005-06) N/A
School Colors Brown and Gold
Mascot Golden Knight

Saint Francis High School is an all-boys Catholic preparatory high school in La Cañada Flintridge, California. Founded in 1946 on the lands bought from a golf club, it is currently owned and directed by the Capuchin Friars of the Western American Province of Our Lady of Angels. Its unofficial motto, "A Catholic Tradition of Enriching the Mind and Heart," serves as the inspiration for the curriculum. Saint Francis' perennially strong sports are soccer and football.

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[edit] Academics

St. Francis High School endeavors to develop in its students moral and spiritual maturity, intellectual growth, responsible citizenship, social awareness, physical well-being, and an understanding of the alternatives in their vocational and educational futures. Specifically, the school attempts to develop the intellectual growth of each student by:

• Instructing him to utilize different cognitive processes, reasoning and thinking exercises; • Acquainting him with the basic structure of the English language so that he can manipulate those elements with ease in oral and written communications; • Developing his capacity for understanding mathematical and scientific concepts; • Introducing him to a knowledge of human history from ancient to modern times; • Exposing him to the knowledge and thought patterns of foreign languages; • Providing a well-equipped library learning center and a program of library orientation; and • Giving recognition to his intellectual achievements through membership in the National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation, and through participation in the annual Scholastic Awards Night.

[edit] Athletics

St. Francis High School’s athletics program is steeped in tradition; the accomplishments of its athletic teams are impressive. Within the last seven years alone, the Varsity Soccer Team has captured three CIF championships and the Varsity Football team has consistently advanced to the CIF playoffs. With the recently installed FieldTurf and all-weather track inside the Friedman Field complex, gym-nasium renovation, newly completed Field House, as well as home-side bleacher and patio renovation, the athletic program will undoubtedly continue to build on its winning tradition. The Golden Knights compete in nine different sports within the Mission League, which is part of the CIF Southern Section. At the Varsity and Junior Varsity levels, Football, Cross Country, Basketball, Soccer, Tennis, Track, Volleyball and Baseball are available to students. Golf is also a Varsity sport. Football, Basketball, Track, and Volleyball are also available on the Freshmen/Sophomore level.

[edit] Soccer

Varsity Soccer began the '05 season ranked seventh in the nation and lived up to that ranking early in the year, winning the Admiral National Tournament in Florida. Their dominating run in the tournament included victories over a handful of nationally ranked teams, including the Number One team in Florida. The three CIF Southern Section Championships in the last seven years under coach Glen Appels have come in three different divisions. After starting in Division V the Golden Knights have now been moved up to Division II despite still only enrolling fewer than 700 students.

[edit] Football

After taking the Golden Knights to the CIF Playoffs for the fourth straight year, head coach Jim Bonds’ .638 winning percentage continues among the best since the school first took to the gridiron in 1949.

St. Francis’ first victory was in the final game of that 1949 season, a 40-6 trouncing of Notre Dame and, four years later, football fortunes took an upswing with the arrival of legendary coach Jack Friedman, who immediately moved St. Francis into the Parochial League.

In 1960, QB Tony Petek (’61) outdueled future Notre Dame Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte, the win over Mater Dei cementing the Golden Knights’ first league championship.

Other early highlights included:

  • A 29-game winning streak and two consecutive CIF championships (1963-64),
  • A 13-0 mark, Santa Fe League title and CIF AAA championship in 1964. The team paced by CIF MVP tailback Terry Newlin (’65), is called by many the school’s best ever,
  • Four Del Ray league titles, including three straight, in the 1970s

The 1980s featured an upset of Loyola and another Del Rey championship.


The 1990s saw a rebuilding program, highlighted by the 1993 hiring of Bill Redell, who led the Golden Knights to its first playoff win in 13 years (1996), its first league title since 1982 and to the 1999 semifinals, losing to eventual champion Hart.

Past Golden Knight coaches include: Jim Glenn (1949-50), John Pacheco (1951-52), Friedman (1953-65, 68-78), Jim Yang (1966-67), Brian Fogarty (1978-82), Terry Terrazone (1983-88), Bill Garrison (1989-90), Andy Boynton (1991-92), Redell (1993-99) and Bonds.

[edit] Baseball

Coming off a 12-13 record in 2005, the Golden Knights had a magical 2006 season, with a 25-5 record including two wins over rival Loyola Cubs, champions of the Atascadero Easter Tournament, where they had two come from behind wins. The Knights made the playoffs and won the the first three playoff games and advanced to the semifinals to face West High School (Torrance). The Golden Knights won in the ninth inning on a walk-off home run by former Golden Knight Taylor Smale which sent the Golden Knights to the CIF Div II Finals at Angel Stadium of Anaheim for the first time in school history. Although the Golden Knights lost, their miraculous season will never be forgotten and the 2006 St. Francis Golden Knights baseball team will be known for their passion and willingness for the game that they love.

Hopes are high for the Golden Knights as they return fourteen, seven of whom were starters last year. Leadership should be a plus again this season as the Golden Knights look to compete for the top spot in the Mission League . The rest of the returners includes a talented bunch that'll make this year's squad deeper than ever in Coach Solar's 6th season at the helm. Last year's JV team went 15-5, finished second in league, and will include a group that should also strengthen the team.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] External links

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