St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Louisville, Ohio)

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**St. Thomas Aquinas High School**

Principal	Mr. Joseph Vagedes
President	Fr. Thomas Dyer
School type	Parochial, Co-ed
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholic
Location	Louisville, Ohio, United States 2121 Reno Dr. N.E.
Mascot	Knight (John McClellan)
School newspaper	The Lance
School Yearbook	"The Templar"
School motto	"Truth, Scholarship, Excellence"
School colors	Black and Gold

St. Thomas Aquinas (Louisville, Ohio, USA) is a private, Catholic coeducational diocesan high school run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown. St. Thomas Aquinas was founded in 1964 to serve the Catholic families of Eastern Stark County and parts of Portage County, Ohio.

1 Description of the school
2 Athletics history
- 2.1 Ohio High School Athletic Association state championships
- 2.2 Other team state championships
3 Notes and references
4 External links

[edit] Description of the school

St. Thomas Aquinas is a preparatory high school located between Canton and Alliance. It focuses on the fine education of its students and preparing them for a successful, fulfilling future.

The school provides a rigorous academic environment and Catholic religious and moral instruction.

In 2004, Aquinas adopted a new model of governance and administration for the school.

As of the 2008-2009 school year:

The President of the school is Fr. Thomas Dyer (who was a teacher and administrator at STA from about 1972-1984).
The Principal is Mr. Joseph Vagedes.
The Vice-Principal is Ms. Cindy Eby.

There is also a Board of Trustees that oversees 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 $5375 for parishioners and $5940 for non-parishioners. Financial aid is available.

Many alumni have gone on to great things in their education and careers after they graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas. STA alumni include a Federal Judge - James Gwin, numerous Ohio judges and lawyers, the CEO of Mercy Medical Center (a large Catholic hospital) in Canton - Thomas Cecconi, television personality Stefani Schaefer of Fox 8 in Cleveland (WJW (TV)) (Schaefer formerly worked at WEWS channel 5 in Cleveland (ABC affiliate)) and meteorologist Heather Weber of Fox 8 in Cleveland, doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers (including numerous college professors), priests/brothers/sisters, military servicemen and women, bankers, accountants and businessmen and women.

Over 98% of STA graduates go on to higher education. Those numbers are vastly superior to any area public school.

A St. Thomas Aquinas education prepares men and women for personal and professional success rooted in timeless Catholic values and tradition.

[edit] Athletics history

In addition to the superior academic performance of its students over the years, St. Thomas Aquinas High School has become known across the state of Ohio for its athletic achievements. STA has excelled on the field and on the courts for decades. Included in STA's trophy case are 5 State cross-country Championships (including three under coach Jerry Michna in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and two under coach Matt Reneker in 2006 and 2007, numerous Regional appearances for boys and girls basketball, a state team title in girls tennis, as well as many individual state qualifiers in girls tennis, 2 individual wrestling state champs, 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 in the last 30 years. In 2007, the boys soccer won it's second district title in a row and were regional runner-ups. The girls soccer team had a successful season as well, losing to Chagrin Falls in the district final.

But perhaps STA is best known for a period of American 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 trouncing of the Columbus Bishop Hartley Hawks. STA was coached by Jack Rose from 1980-1985. 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.