Trinity High School (Louisville)

Trinity High School is a Catholic, all boys, college preparatory high school located in St. Matthews, Kentucky, a city within Louisville Metro (consolidated city/county government). Trinity first opened its doors in 1953, when Archbishop John Floersh anticipated the growth of Louisville's eastern suburbs by choosing the site of Holy Trinity School, a former Catholic church and grade school in St. Matthews. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville. The school incorporates the Catholic tradition of teaching and learning. The school campus comprises about 1,400 students. Trinity has been named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and is nationally recognized.

Campus

The Trinity Campus expanded in 2004 to include Duerr Hall. Other buildings which adorn the Trinity Campus include Old Trinity, Flaget, Floersh, Sheehan, Communication Arts Center, Trinity Auditorium, R.W. Marshall Sports Center, Steinhauser Gymnasium and Shamrock Hall.In 2001, Trinity became the first local school to adopt a system of ten "Houses" named after famous Catholic thinkers or saints. They include: Aquinas, Becket, Dante, Flannan, Gonzaga, Merton, Patrick, Romero, Seton and Toussaint.

The Houses organize the student body into ten different groups which compete in numerous extracurricular activities, involve nearly 100 students in leadership opportunities as House captains or representatives and build upon school spirit. The House System is a way for students to make friends, and get connected and involved in the fabric of the school right away. Examples of House activities include: marquee events; basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee and softball intramurals; PS2 tournaments; art, essay, speech, trivia and other academically oriented contests. In 2005 the Toussaint Monarchs won the House cup just ahead of the Becket Titans, becoming the first House to win two House cups. To date, Trinity has been visited by more than two dozen schools from around the nation to learn more about the unique initiative. The class of 2007 collectively earned more than $19 million in merit scholarships and was Trinity's 51st graduating class.

Trinity is a nationally recognized school of excellence whose mission is to provide students with a superior high school education in a supportive atmosphere based upon Christian values in the Catholic tradition. Trinity prides itself on being the most academically inclusive school in Louisville. Each year there are incoming students who score in the 99th percentile on the Placement Test. They enter the school's rigorous Advanced Program and go on to become Governor's Scholars and National Merit Finalists.

Sports

Trinity's nickname is the Shamrocks and their primary rival is the St. Xavier Tigers.

Trinity has also won the most cross country titles in state history, 18 state championships. Trinity's power lifting team has now won the national championship in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma six straight years, and has won the KY title eleven straight times. In May 2007, Trinity's lacrosse team won its fourth straight state title, and Trinity's ice hockey team won its second straight title that same year.

Football

The Trinity Shamrocks football program is one of the most successful programs in Kentucky. The team, which annually boasts a roster of over 100 student-athletes, is also one of the largest and most storied programs in the state's history. The 23 state championships are tied for most in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association's history and the program's 500-plus wins put them among the top programs statewide, despite only maintaining a program for 58 years (less than half the years of leader Louisville Male High School's time). The program has seven undefeated seasons, a state-record 50-game winning streak from 1988 to 1991, and four Mr. Kentucky Football award winners in Keith Calvin(1973), Jeff Brohm (1989), brother Brian Brohm (2003), and James Quick (2012). The team has also won three consecutive titles on three separate occasions, first in 1988 to 1990, then again in 2001 to 2003 and then four consecutive seasons from 2005 to 2008. Trinity plays their home games on Father Harry Jansing Field in R.W. Marshall Stadium. The Dant Clayton-designed stadium features synthetic turf, concession areas on both sides of the stadium, seats for nearly 4,000 visitors, press boxes for both the home and away teams and two luxury boxes. The stadium has also hosted lacrosse matches, soccer games and youth football city championship games.

The team's primary rival, St. Xavier, has met the Shamrocks in the title game five times, with Trinity holding a 3-2 advantage in those contests. The first Friday in October is generally when Trinity and St. X meet at the University of Louisville's Papa John's Cardinal Stadium for the annual regular season rivalry. This game is promoted by the schools as the most-attended annual regular-season high school football game in the country, typically drawing over 35,000 fans.^[1] For the 2004 game, attendance was announced at 37,500 people. In 2008, NFL Films produced a documentary about the rivalry that was nationally broadcast on CBS on Thanksgiving Day. The rivalry between the two powers also often extends into the playoffs. After losing the regular season game 48-16 in September 2005, Trinity defeated St. Xavier in the Class 4A state championship 14-6 in December. It was the school's then-state record 16th football crown. On December 8, 2007, Trinity defensive back Donovan Sims intercepted an errant St. Xavier pass in the end zone and Wes Weitlauf then took a Will Stein hand off into the end zone on the first possession of overtime to seal the first ever 6A championship under the newly established class system that implemented six classes instead of the previous four. Trinity has now won a title in each of the 3A, 4A and 6A classifications, with the most recent coming in December 2010 against Male High School.

Success in 2010 and 2011 saw Trinity finish within the top 15 in national polls for the first time ever in consecutive seasons. At the end of the 2011 season, the Shamrocks were named "National Champions" by Rivals.com and Sports Illustrated, among others. There is no true national champion, as it is "mythical" due to teams from across the country not playing each other for any respective national championship. However, it is a title bestowed upon Trinity, its students, and its alumni.

The following is a list of Trinity's 23 state championships:

The following is a list of Trinity's National Championships:

Current Shamrocks in NCAA FBS Football:

the following is a list of Trinity's "US Army All-American Bowl Participants":

the following is a list of Trinity's "High School All-Americans":

the following is a list of Trinity's Mr. Football Award (Kentucky):

Basketball

Trinity won its first regional basketball title in 2004 after beating Male 56-46 in the 7th region finals. By winning the regional, Trinity advanced to the state tournament for the first time in school history, losing to defending state champion Mason County in three overtimes, 66-59. The team finished the 2004-2005 season with its best record in school history, a 29-4 mark. Zach Berry, Bret Saxton and Kyle Saxton were named Kentucky All-Stars following the season, marking the fourth, fifth and sixth players from the school to earn the honor. Ray Byron, Reid Markham and Chris McCoy were also All-Stars. In 2007, Tanner Jacobs became the seventh player to be so honored.

Trinity won its first KHSAA State Championship by winning the Sweet Sixteen tournament in 2012. The Rocks finished the season with a 35-3 record, and only one loss within the state of Kentucky. The Rocks also won the prestigious Louisville Invitational Tournament (LIT) in January.

The following is a list of Trinity's KHSAA State Championships::

The following is a list of Trinity's KHSAA Sweet 16 Appearances::

the following is a list of Trinity's Kentucky Mr. Basketball:

Performing arts

Trinity Theatre

Overview

The Theatre Department at Trinity High School is a multifaceted program. The focus of the program is to develop the professional skills and artistic abilities of youth who are interested in the performing arts. Each year, the department produces two full-length shows, one straight play and one musical. Both shows are fully staffed by professional educators and other theatrical professionals. All aspects of production are handled by students, under the supervision of the knowledgeable staff.

Participation in the Theatre program provides students the opportunity to earn academic credit in two areas comprising four courses: Acting I and II; and Stagecraft I and II. The students receive prerequisites to be considered for the upper level courses. Within these two areas students are exposed to the work processes of professional actors and technical personnel. Students work in authentic situations that encourage growth and development in the areas of performance skills and production techniques.^[4] Techniques include basic carpentry, painting, and electrics.

History

The Theatre department was founded in 1967 by Fr. Theodore Sans. First producing Oh! Susanna (1967),^[5] Sans was the producer until the spring of 1985 for Oliver!. In the Fall of 1985 Greg Sysol, who started as House Manager in 1980, succeeded Fr. Sans over as the theatre's producer for My Three Angels. Sysol has been producer ever since, with the exception of a brief hiatus from the fall of 2003 to his return in the fall of 2007 for Frankenstein. Sysol also has served as resident scenic and lighting designer, and occasionally served as Technical Director since 1994. Sysol was succeeded by G.E. Simmons Falk, following his retirement from theatre in the spring of 2010 after producing his last show, South Pacific. Falk left for professional work, and was replaced by C.J. Rush.

Staff

The Theatre Department is currently under the artistic direction of Dr. William "Billy" Pryor Bradford II. He began as a guest director in the winter of 1972, and was named artistic director ten years later in the winter of 1982.

Several Trinity Theatre alumni have gone on to successful careers as professional actors, as well as technicians. Notable alum Sara Gettelfinger (actress, 1993–1995) has been seen on broadway in Seussical and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, among several other shows.

Shows

The Department just finished its 44th Season in the Trinity Auditorium located at 115 North Sherrin Avenue. Since the opening of the new auditorium in 1979 the Department has produced more than 88 productions.

Trinity Auditorium

1979–Present The Trinity Auditorium was finished in 1979, and opened with the gala performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Trinity Singers

The Trinity Choir is a co-curricular class. The class meets during the day for credit and performs outside of class for school, community and regional events. They also compete at the District, State and National levels in sanctioned festivals. Students are admitted upon approval of instructor. Prior singing experience is helpful, but not necessarily required.

The class covers essential skills in singing and reading music. We study and perform styles of music from the First century to the present. Students experience solo, small ensemble and large ensemble singing. The class prepares the students for the next level of vocal performance.^[6]

Mr. Scott Ross is the choir and band director/teacher and also teaches guitar and handbell ensemble. The Men's Chorus won at a national music competition in Disney World in 2001. The Chorus has two concerts each year. The first is a Christmas concert in December and the second is a Spring concert in May, usually mother's day weekend. Both concerts have two performances, once on Friday night and one Sunday matinee. They also perform around the Holiday season at local nursing homes.

Jazz Band

The Trinity Jazz Band is a co-curricular class. The Band meets everyday during school as a class for credit and also performs outside of class time for school, community and regional events.

Jazz Band is an advanced class for sophomores, juniors and seniors who have completed at least two years of formal instrumental music classes. Students must audition for entrance into the class. The class includes small and large ensemble playing. Also covered are improvisation and listening skills in many styles of music: Swing, Rock, Latin and Fusion, among others.^[7] The Jazz Band performs twice annually, along with the Trinity Singers.

Trinity Television

Trinity Television, or TTV, is a news program broadcast to the entire student body of Trinity High School. The program is produced in house completely by students in the broadcast journalism class, under the supervision of Executive Producer/Instructor Adam Klien.

The studio located on the third floor of the school, and is equipped with state-of-the-art recording, editing, and live production equipment.

While working on TTV the students learn the basics of television and video production. They learn about all the jobs and responsibilities to produce a television show including directing, producing, technical direction (switcher), graphics, VCP, VTR, endline recording audio Mixing, as well as on air talent and announcing. The students also learn the basics of video production, including on-location recording, and linear and non-linear editing.

Notable alumni

See also

• List of schools in Louisville, Kentucky
• Trinity murders

References

External links

• Trinity High School website

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