St. Thomas Aquinas Academy (Marinette, Wisconsin)

St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
formerly Marinette Catholic Central High School
Address
1200 Main Street
Marinette, Wisconsin, (Marinette County), 54143
United States
Coordinates 45°5′37″N 87°37′9″W / 45.09361°N 87.61917°WCoordinates: 45°5′37″N 87°37′9″W / 45.09361°N 87.61917°W
Information
Type Private, Coeducational
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
Established 1876
Grades 912
Student to teacher ratio 10:1
Color(s) Green and gold         
Team name Cavaliers
Athletic Director Rick Hofer
Website http://www.thomas-aquinas.org

St. Thomas Aquinas Academy High School, formerly known as Marinette Catholic Central High School, is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Marinette, Wisconsin. It is in the Diocese of Green Bay.

History

The school's roots go back to 1876 when St. Mary's Institute was opened with a handful of female pupils, many from local Irish families. During the next 50 years, the school underwent several transformations. By World War I it was a co-ed school. At one time, the school building at 1200 Main Street included a grade school, but by the 1960s, when enrollment swelled, the building was used solely as a high school.

Marinette Catholic Central High School, now part of the St. Thomas Aquinas system of Catholic day schools, was founded in 1958, when the four Marinette parishes of St. Joseph, Sacred Heart, St. Anthony, and Our Lady of Lourdes, assumed joint control of the former Our Lady of Lourdes High School.

Extra-curricular activities

During its high-enrollment period, the school was known for its drama program, Windsor Players, founded by Harold "Mr Z" Zahorik, and its choral music program, under the direction of Robert DeMille.

Athletics

In 1964, the Catholic Central Cavaliers basketball team, under coach Marty Crowe, defeated Appleton Xavier to win the Catholic state basketball championship.

In 1986, the Catholic Central Cavaliers Baseball team, under Coach Rob Paris, won the Class B WISAA State Championship. This was the first State Baseball Championship in school history.

Between the years of 1986-1991 the Catholic Central Cavvies took state titles for their volleyball program several times.

In 2003, Catholic Central and nearby Lena High School combined their football teams. This arrangement is allowed under WIAA rules to create opportunities for students who might not be able to participate if schools were unable to operate a program.[1]

References

  1. Jeff Kurowski. "Joint effort brings schools strength in numbers". The Compass News. Retrieved 2007-06-18.