2012_09_25 - Saint Thomas Aquinas High School

2 September 25, 2012ContentsIn this Issue...Page 3: Campus News11411 Pflumm has gradually improvedPage 4: Campus NewsSchool has dealt with enrollment, tuition changesPage 5: Campus NewsBlue Ribbon takes more than just test scoresPage 6: FeaturesThe Saints attitude was forged the first yearPage 7: FeaturesOnly the best traditions survivePages 8-9: Centerspread25 years of Homecoming RoyaltyPages 10-11: Features‘Eternal Saints’ took a leap of faith in 1988Pages 12-13: FeaturesThe first Saints came from many placesPage 14: SportsSaints sports teams keep reaching for greaterPage 15: SportsThe ‘Saints’ mascot was not an easy choicePage 16: Special FeatureSaints teachers in 1988 and 2012Events calenderThursdayFridaySaturdayOct. 2Oct. 5Oct. 8Oct. 9Oct. 11Oct. 12Oct. 15Oct. 17-20Oct. 17Oct. 18Oct. 25Homecoming Mass, 9:30 a.m.Homecoming tailgate, 5 p.m.Football game, 7 p.m.Homecoming dance, 8 p.m.Field hockey at Saint Thomas Aquinas, 4 p.m.End of 1st quarterNo school: Faculty Faith FormationTeen Read Week beginsSoccer: Washburn Rural, 4:30 p.m.Cross country league championship, 4 pmVolleyball: Triangular vs. St. James, St. Teresa’sBand Senior Night at the football gameLast scheduled home football gameGirls Tennis state championshipNo school: Parent-Teacher ConferencesGirls Golf state championshipKairos retreat for seniorsAll-School Test Day (PSAT) for sophomores, juniorsAll-School Test Day (PLAN/ACRE) for freshmen, sophomoresSoccer hosts Blue Valley West, 4:30 p.m.Grandparents Day Mass, 9:30 a.m.The ShieldSaint Thomas Aquinas HS11411 Pflumm RoadOverland Park, KS 66215913-319-2460www.stasaints.net/shieldMission StatementThe Shield is a newspaper sponsoredby Saint Thomas Aquinas HighSchool and produced by its studentsto provide information, entertainmentand open forum as well as a learningexperience for the staff members. Thegoal of The Shield’s staff is to meetprofessional journalism standards.Staff members are responsible for thecontent of the newspaper and striveto report news accurately, objectivelyand completely. The Shield is an openforum for student expression and aimsto communicate the concerns of thestudent body as well as the faculty,staff and Aquinas community.Editor-in-ChiefJacob DotterweichManaging/Campus News EditorMadison PetracekCenterspread EditorAnnie SchugartFeatures EditorBryan ZackEntertainment EditorMichael EstesSports EditorBen GartlandReportersShannon Becker, Troy Hilderhof,Jack PauleyAdviserMatt HallauerAdvertisingThe Shield sells advertisementsto help with publication costs. All adswill be subject to the same scrutinyas stories. The Shield will not printobscenities or any ads promotingproducts illegal to those under theage of 18. For advertising, pleasecall (913) 319-2460 or visit our siteonline at www.STAsaints.net/Shield.SubscriptionsSubscriptions to The Shield are$2 per issue. Subscriptions can besent to Saint Thomas Aquinas HighSchool c/o Matt Hallauer.Letters PolicyLetters may be accepted byThe Shield, provided that they aresigned and do not contain libelousstatements. The Shield reserves theright to edit the letters for grammar,obscenity, or space consideration,and also reserves the right to notprint a letter.

4 September 25, 2012Campus NewsThe campus, as a whole, is transformedSaint Thomas Aquinas continuallyreacted to changes inpopulation, technologyJACOB DOTTERWEICHEditor-in-ChiefMany aspects of SaintThomas Aquinas have adapted tothe school’s growing populationand transforming student needs.From 1988 to 2005, enrollmentrose steadily. There were447 students enrolled at Aquinasin the first year, and the Saintspopulation nearly tripled by2004-2005 to a record 1,319students in a school designed bylocal architect Frank Grimaldifor 1,000 students.To fit all of the additionalstudents, the basement was convertedfrom storage space intoclassrooms, the so-called “SMC”building for the University ofSaint Mary was built, and waterfountains were removed from SeniorHall to fit in more lockers.Finally, the opening of St.James Academy in 2005 andother local factors helped bringenrollment down to its currentpopulation of 936 students.According to numbersprovided by the administration,tuition costs have also risen regularly.The first Saints required$1,800 tuition. Tuition haddoubled by 1998-1999 to $3,625,and is now $7,800.Much construction has occurredsince the first year:• 1991: added stadium• 1998: added theater• 2003: added auxiliary gymand wireless technology• 2005: renovated chapel• 2006: renovated science labs• 2010: renovated commonsfloor and bathrooms• 2012: renovated stadiumfield, added visitor bleachersGnu umber of studnets1992 MedallionAn a capella choir performs during dinner theater. The commons stage was used fordinner theatre, musicals, and plays. The current Little Saints room was used a dressingroom. The theater used today was not built until the fall of 1998.1400120010008006004002000EnrollmentYear1998 MedallionStudents stand in the carpeted hallways. The carpets, over the years,became extremely dirty. Occasionally drinks were spilled and on rainydays the carpet was soaked from students walking down the halls.

Campus News September 25, 2012Saint Thomas Aquinas wins nation’s highest honorNo award for schools ismore prestigious than beingnamed a National BlueRibbon School for overallachievement.ANNIE SCHUGARTCenterspread EditorSaint Thomas Aquinasstudents, faculty and alumni haveanother reason to celebrate theschool’s 25th year—being nameda National Blue Ribbon School.Being awarded this honormeans that Aquinas is one of thebest schools in the nation. Only50 private schools across thecountry received the award, withonly five being Catholic highschools.“It validates that we are oneof the best schools in America,”President Bill Ford said. “Andwhat Blue Ribbon folks say isthat we are not looking for justgood schools, because there are alot of good schools out there. Weare looking for great schools.”Aquinas certainly fits intothe category of being a greatschool. Academics have provento be top-notch at Aquinas. Yetwhat makes the school evengreater is the well-roundedness.“The academicprogramjust gets you inthe hunt (to receivethe award).It is the rest ofit that separateseveryone else,”Ford said.In order toeven apply for the Blue Ribbonaward, a school must prove theirtesting scores are in the top 15percent of the state and nation.But academics are just one ofmany factors considered.The Blue Ribbon committee“It validates that weare one of the bestschools in America.”- Bill Ford,presidentalso looked at other majorfeatures of schools. For Aquinas,the service and spiritual aspectswere major contributing factorsas well.Ford said there are threemajor goals for students at Aquinas,which are not all academicoriented. The first is faith.“Hopefully students arecloser to Christ when theygraduate than they were whenthey got here,” Ford said.Tied into the spiritual goal isthe second goal:service.“I thinkthe emphasisthat we put onserving otherfolks, the leastof our brothers,(is significant),”Ford said.Finally comes the academics.Academics are a strong pointat Aquinas, yet spirituality andservice are equally important.“There’s the constant pushtowards making certain thateveryone succeeds, from the kidwho gets a 36 on his ACT to theone who struggles every day,”Ford said. “We’re not exclusive.Everyone who wants to come (toAquinas) can come here.”Math teacher Brian Schenck,chosen by Ford to work inconjunction with fellow mathteacher Craig Moss, was asked towrite and complete the applicationfor the award.This was not an easy process.“We had to meet a lot of criteria,”Schenck said. “And on topof that we hadto write aboutseven differentpapers explainingwhatthe benefitsof our schoolwere, whatwere some ofthehighlights ofour school, and showing some ofthe empirical evidence as to whywe are as good as we are.”The application process wascertainly not a simple one. Whenasked about the process, Ford2012 Blue Ribbon schoolsby the+ NUMB3RS269 total schoolsnationwide receivedthe awardpulled out a one-inch stack ofbound papers—the application.But in the end it was wellworth it.Receiving this award is a“It’s evidence that we’reconsistently good in manydifferent areas. That’swhat I’m proud of.”- Brian Schenck,math teachermomentousevent inSaint ThomasAquinashistory.The faculty,alumni andstudentshave allcontributedto the award, leading Aquinas tobecome one of the best schoolsin the nation.“It is especially fitting thatthis designation comes as we celebrateour 25th year as a premier50 Blue Ribbonschools are privateschools6 schools in Kansasreceived the award5 Catholic high schoolsreceived the award1 other Blue Ribbon school is aco-ed Catholic school5Catholic high school in thegreater Kansas City metropolitanarea,” Ford said. “As wehave over these past 25 years,we will continue to provide ouryoung people with the essentialskills for a lifetime, nurtured bya love for wisdom and truth andintegrated with faith.”The award is proof thatAquinas has achieved the goal ofcreating well-rounded, successfulstudents.“It’s evidence that we’reconsistently good in manydifferent areas. That’s what I’mproud of,” Schenck said. “Andto be recognized as one of thebest in the nation should reallymake us feel like we’ve done agood job.” G

6 September 25, 2012Features1989 MedallionThe first Saints football team worked together to be successful. Led by longtime St. Joseph Bluestreak coach Gennaro Mirocke, the Saints went 9-3 against a schedule thatfeatured only one Johnson County opponent (DeSoto). The first play was a misdirection that gained five yards.1989 MedallionSenior Scott Collin outraces the Hayden defense to the goal line in a 42-14 Saints victory inthe playoffs. The Saints football team was led by Jerry Ratway and Kent Charlton.First leaders set Saint standardsSaint Thomas Aquinas beganits first school year by settingprecedents for years to comeJACK PAULEYReporterThe first leaders had to beoutstanding to set the foundationfor Saint Thomas Aquinas HighSchool, and the first year was fullof accomplishments. Aquinascould not be where it is todaywithout the first people willingto give it a shot.In 1988, the tone of Aquinaswas largely set by the school’spresident, Blake Mulvany. Priorto being Aquinas’ president, hewas the regional administratorfor Johnson County CatholicSchools for four years. GuidanceOffice receptionist Cyndy Novacekwas then a mother lookingfor the right school for her freshmanson, Jay, and Bishop MiegeHigh Schoollooked like agood choice.Then she metMulvaney.“He wascharismatic,he was a gogetter,and herememberedpeoples’ names, which meanta lot,” said Novacek, who sentall of her kids to Aquinas from1988 to 2002 and has worked atAquinas since 1995.Without the first students ofAquinas laying the foundation,our school would not be where itis today.The first student councilpresident, Anne (Garbee) Smith,started a tradition of strongstudent“It was a good learningexperience for us, althoughnot an easy one.”- Anne (Garbee) Smith,first StuCo presidentleadership.Smithwas involvedin makingtoughchoices likethe dresscode and themascot.“ I can say it was a goodlearning experience for us, althoughnot an easy one.” Smithsaid. “I felt ready for the challenge,and was excited about thepossibilities of leading the newstudent body.”To get to the 73 state championshipbanner hanging today,the Saints needed to make a markearly. The class of 1989 did anexcellent job giving Aquinas anearly winning tradition.The football team, ledby longtime St. Joseph coachGennaro Mirocke, finished 9-3.Latin teacher Greg Wilson’s firstgirls cross country team finishedsecond at the state championships.Current football coachMike Thomas coached the 20-11volleyball team and outstanding19-3 girls basketball team. Thesoftball team coached by Englishand theology teacher Phil Farnanalso had a winning record, going17-4 in the school’s opening year.Jenny( Sullivan) Illum, Aquinas’first homecoming queenand a captain of the cheer team,said “We were small in numbersthen, but huge in spirit, fun andfriendship.”Even though school enrollmenthas increased since 1988,Aquinas has kept the same spiritedstate of mind. At the firstAquinas high school graduation,Mulvany left the first class withthese words:“There are three things weowe our children in life, and theyare one, unconditional love, two,lessons of faith, and three, thebest education you can afford togive them.”Aquinas is only where it istoday because of the faithful andbrave students, teachers, andfaculty that decided to give ‘thenew school’ a try.g

Features September 25, 2012Saints filter traditions, keeping best7Beanies are gone and halldecorations are back; longtimeteachers don’t miss theold traditions.BRYAN ZACKFeatures EditorMany traditions at SaintThomas Aquinas High Schoolwere started very early in theschool’s history. Some of themare still around today.“I like all the traditions wehave now and don’t care to seeany of the old traditions comeback” said Phil Farnan, who hasbeen a teacher at Saint ThomasAquinas since 1988 when theschool first opened and taught atSt. Joseph / Aquinas in Shawneebefore then.Mass and school productionsused to be held in thecommons. In the first yearbookGail Prieb, English and dramateacher in 1988, complained thatthe lack of curtains, seating, andacoustics made performing in thecommons difficult.Homecoming week is oneof the students’ favorites timeof year. SueWaters, Englishteachersince 1988,describesthe first everAquinashomecomingas magical. Itwas when theschool firstreally cametogether. Homecoming week haschanged very little in the past 25years.Not all of the traditions have“I like all of the traditionsand don’t careto see any old traditionscome back.”- Phil FarnanEnglish teacher1989 MedallionSenior boys put on drill team outfits to show off their dancing talents at the 1988 Homecoming Pep Rally. This tradition is often relived at the Cheer vs. DanceBasketball Game after basketball season. Other traditions have died out or been refined.endured. Some traditions thatrecently disappeared were theHomecoming float and parade.Each class made a float anddisplayed it before the Homecominggame.The floats wereexpensive andit caused kidsto miss schoolbecause therewere not enoughpeople workingon the floats. Sotwo years ago theadministrators replacedthe floatswith hall decorating. Originallythe floats were also in a parade.This was a St.Joe tradition thatthey tried to bring over to Aquinas.They attempted doing theparade the first year, but it didnot work out too well.The float competitionwas replaced by hall decorations.Many people think that this isnew to Aquinas, but according toSue Waters they had hall decorationsthe very first year.Aquinas has been hostinga cross country meet everyyear since the school opened.The first home cross countrymeet was named the St. ThomasAquinas Fall Run, held on Oct.8. The opposing teams wereOttawa, Turner, Harmon andBishop Ward, according to assistantcross country coach ChrisRonan. Ronan was a freshman onthat 1988 team and finished ninthat the Fall Run. As a senior, hebecame the school record holderfor the fastest 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) run in school history.Aquinas first started hostinga Labor Day Weekend meet thefollowingyear andrenamed itthe GregWilsonClassic in2006 afterWilson retiredfromcoachingcrosscountry. It now hosts the biggestand best programs in the metroKansas City area.There are also traditionsthat stopped because they madestudents feel uncomfortable.“My daughter was forcedto wear a cap her freshman yearand she felt like she was beinghazed,” said Jeannette Marstall,art teacher,“My daughter was forcedto wear a cap her freshmanyear and she felt likeshe was being hazed.”- Jeannette Marstall,art teacherwhose daughtergraduatedfrom SaintThomas Aquinasin 1996.When BillFord becamepresidentof Aquinasin 1998. Hepermanently eliminated the capsfreshman had been forced towear.g

8 September 25, 2012 9CenterspreadThe Winter Homecoming Court of1989 poses for a picture during SaintThomas Aquinas’s first year.Courtesy of the 1989 Medallion.Melanie Keffer | The MedallionThe 2012 Saints Homecoming Court.Back row (left to right): Robert Skevington, Tyler Clement,Kyle Lickteig, Hunter Swanson, Michael Peck.Front row (left to right): Lindsey Whigham, CatherineKluempers, Alexis Leikam, Hannah Pyle, Libby Reazin.25 Years of RoyaltyCourtesy of the 2001 Medallion.Seniors get involved in the peprally for Homecoming in 2000.Courtesy of the 1991 Medallion.The 1991 dance team performsat the Homecoming pep rally.Homecoming Court through the yearsHomecoming has undergone many changes at Saint Thomas Aquinas,yet many traditions have proven too good to let go.Kristin Sagars and her datetake a breather at the firstHomecoming dance.Courtesy of the 1989 Medallion.At the first Saints Homecoming......the King and Queen wereannounced at a pep rally on theThursday before Homecoming....the Spirit week themes consistedof hush day, old school uniformday, jeans day, and dress up day.Courtesy of the 1991 Medallion.A group of juniors andseniors have fun at the 1990Homecoming dance....there were class competitions at thepep rally....the dance theme was “Shangri La,”meaning, “A new beginning.”...there was a Winter Homecoming inFebruary also.Courtesy of the 1992 Medallion.Annie White smiles in shock asshe hears her name announcedas 1991 Homecoming Queen.Courtesy of the 1994 Medallion.Carla Tomc smiles as sheis announced the HomecomingQueen of 1993.Changes in TraditionIn 1991, the Homecominggame was on a Sautrday.There used to be an “STAT-shirt day,” where studentscould write on eachothers’ shirts.20 people used to beon Homecoming Courtinstead of 10.In 1992 a “new tradition” ofraising money for United Waythrough raffling a balloon rideover Overland Park began.In 1994, the Saints startedhaving Homecoming in itsown new stadium instead ofMiege’s stadium.In 1995, the float competitionbegan. Before that, it washall decorating.Classes used to compete in abanner competition.Centerspread by Annie Schugart1992199820012004 200420051994 1995 1996 1998 2000 2001 2002 2002 2003 2004 2005

10 September 25, 2012FeaturesEternal SaintsEleven teachers who tooka chance on Saint ThomasAquinas remain from Day 1.MADISON PETRACEKManaging EditorThe teachers who came fromschools in the surrounding areashared the excitement of thestudents to be part of somethingnew, but also were making amore permanent leap.Latin teacher Greg Wilsonleft his teaching job at BishopMiege to join the Saint ThomasAquinas community. He wasvery involved at Miege: teachingEnglish, coaching the sophomoregirls’ basketball team, teaching anelective combining Latin and religion(Miege dropped their Latinrequirement), coaching track andbeing the head soccer coach. Heleft all of this due to his desire tobe a teacher at a school that justopened.Looking at the teachers whohad started when Miege opened,Wilson admired them andthought the experience would beamazing. He became the school’sfirst cross country coach, with 26runners. Wilson’s willingness towork with runners of all abilityturned into a tradition of largeteams. By 2005, his team hadgrown to 162 students. He retiredfrom cross country in 2005,but continues to teach Latin andcoach track.English teacher Craig Ewingswitchedfrom Miege to Aquinasin order to work with the newpresident, Blake Mulvany.“I wanted to be part of buildinga school from the groundup,” Ewing said.Unlike Wilson and Ewing,Lisa Stoecklein, Spanish teacher,whose last name was formerly1989 Medallion yearbookLatin teacher Greg Wilson smiles while talking to students in 1988. WhenWilson was teaching at Bishop Miege, he admired the teachers who had beenat Miege since the school began and thought being apart of that experience atSaint Thomas Aquinas would be “amazing.”Nash, was forced to leave her oldschool. Stoecklein worked at theold Aquinas in Shawnee, but wasexcited to have the opportunityto move to a new school.Every teacher who came toAquinas took the risk to leave anestablished school or was forcedto leave one.“Yes, I was scared to leaveBishop Miege. I did not wonderif the school would last. Iwondered how the new facultywould work together,” Wilsonsaid. “Latin was a required courseat Aquinas. I wondered if theydropped the requirement if Iwould still have a job, but Mr.Mulvany promised me I could1989 Medallion yearbookEnglish teacher Craig Ewing works with a stymied student during the first year.It would be another 22 years before Ewing could get his first iPad. Instead,Ewing used chalkboards in a room without air conditioning but got his dream to“be part of building a school from the ground up.”teach English.”Stoecklein never worriedabout leaving the old Aquinas towork at the new school.“I was happy to get a jobat the new school and was veryexcited to get in from the beginning.It was a big deal,” Stoeckleinsaid.There was tension at the oldAquinas, though.“During my first year ofteaching at the old Aquinas, asit became clear that it was thelast year for that school in thatlocation, all of the teachers wereworried about keeping or gettinga job,” she said.“It was a very uncomfortabletime for teachers and for theparents of our students. Emotionsran high that year. Therewere parents and teachers whoresented those of us who wereoffered jobs at STA.”When Ewing looks back,he realizes his old job at BishopMiege is very similar to his currentone.“I taught junior English andI coached boys soccer,” Ewingsaid. “But I looked forward to abetter working environment withan upbeat and excited staff surroundedby optimism.”Stoecklien remembers theold Aquinas only having 400 studentsand the faculty being quitesmall. Like her old job, she stilltaught all the Spanish and Frenchclasses and coached volleyballand track. She added cheerleadingsponsor to list of job titles.Wilson saw from the beginningthat this job would be different,special, and exciting.“Every school I had taughtat before (Shawnee MissionSouth, Nallwood Junior High, St.Ann’s, and Bishop Miege) all hadestablished routines and traditions,”Wilson said. “Everythinghere was new. Teams were made.Uniforms were chosen. It wasneat because we had input. Youcould be one of the people whodecided how to do it.” G

Features September 25, 201211Photo from the 1989 Medallion yearbookMath teacher Mike Thomas checks out a student’sprogress in 1988. The first year requiredteachers to take on a wide variety of tasks.Thomas is now the coach of an undefeatedfootball team, but 25 years ago he was the coachof a winning volleyball team and a dominant girls’basketball program.Photo from the 1989 Medallion yearbookTeacher Lisa Nash grins while giving students a test in 1988. Nash was a state record-setting hurdler at the old St. Joseph High School in Shawnee,then a first-year foreign language teacher at Aquinas during its final year. She became one of the first teachers hired at the new Saint Thomas Aquinas.Since the new school opened in 1988, she became Lisa Stoecklein and the chairwoman of the Foreign Language Department. Her son Tyler is afreshman on the Saints varsity soccer team.“I did not wonder if the schoolwould last. I wondered how thenew faculty would work together.”- Greg Wilson,Latin teacher“I looked forward to a better workingenvironment with an upbeatand excited staff surrounded byoptimism.”- Craig Ewing,English teacher“I was happy to get a job at thenew school and was very excitedto get in from the beginning. It wasa big deal.”- Lisa (Nash) Stoecklein,Spanish teacherClipping from the 1989 Medallion yearbookJournalism teacher Sue Waters advises her studentson how to use the school’s only two computers. Mostwork was done with darkroom chemicals, knives, rulersand glue. Waters knew the first yearbook, named“The Big One,” had to be special. In the first yearbookshe is quoted, “It has to be good; it has to be so muchof a history book. People are going to look back andask what it was like when those kids first started here.”Most of the photos in this edition of The Shield arefrom “The Big One.”Photo from the 1989 Medallion yearbookBusiness teacher Mike Sullivan advises juniorAndy Hodes during Keyboarding class in 1988.Sullivan was also a Student Council moderatorwhen Aquinas started and is now known as Dr.Sullivan, principal of student services.

12 September 25, 2012FeaturesFirst Saints came from many places for many reasonsFor band or for brother,students had many motivesto attend the new schoolMADISON PETRACEKManaging EditorSaint Thomas Aquinas attractedstudents and teachersfrom 56 different schools, includingBishop Ward, Bishop Miege,and the old Aquinas.Coming into a new schoolduring junior year and onlyknowing one person can benerve-wracking, but for 1990graduate John Michaels, fatherof senior Dylan Michaels andfreshman Marianne Michaels, theopportunity to be part of somethingnew was exciting. John’sfavorite memories of high schoolwere being crowned HomecomingKing and being elected seniorclass president.“It was a great feeling comingin knowing one person and endingup with those honors, but tome it says more about the cultureof the school than it does aboutme,” Michaels said.Michaels began his highschool experience at BishopWard. He transferred to followhis passion for music. DennisHord, Michael’s music teacher,was leaving Bishop Ward to runthe fine arts department at Aquinas,so Michaels followed.Lori Field Eckerberg, a1992 graduate, has her brotherto thank for influencing her tocome to Aquinas. Eckerberg’seducation, until high school, waspublic. She was a student at IndianWoods Middle School. TomField, a 1991 graduate, attendedBishop Miege his freshmanyear and transferred once SaintThomas Aquinas opened.“I came to Aquinas becausemy older brother was goingthere. He had attended Catholicschool for several years and lovedit,” Eckerberg said. “I reallywanted to go to a Catholic HighSchool instead of a public one.I really liked the idea of being apart of a Catholic High Schoolwith a family atmosphere and anexcellent educational environment…If he (Tom Field) hadn’tswitched,then Iwould haveattendedMiege.”Aquinasmay havebeen new,but theacademicsand activities set a high bar fromthe beginning. Both Eckerbergand Michaels felt they received aquality education.“Without question and withseveral staffmembers stillthere todayit was easyto make thesame choicefor mychildren,”Michaelssaid.From the start, Aquinas hadsports and activities for studentsto participate in. Michaels feelshe and his classmates started agreat music program.“Saint Thomas Aquinastransferred a great student bodyand staff from the old Aquinasand built around it,” Michaelssaid. “We didn’t have the trialsand errors. You have to give alot of credit to the old Aquinasgroup.”Pros and cons come hand inhand with opening a new establishment.“We got to be the leaders ofnew traditions, everything in thebuilding was brand new, and wegot to be part of a school familyenthusiastic about making a greatstart in academics, sports, andschool activities,” Eckerberg said.Michaels’ class turned thedisadvantages into advantages.“We didn’t know each otherso we took time to reach outand meet new people, try newthings. I graduated Aquinaswith so many different friendsfrom different groups. Therereally weren’t“It was easy to makethe same choice for mychildren.”- John Michaelsalum, father of two Saintsany cliques.Everyone hadthis really greatbond becausewe were startingtogether.Like it or notwe neededeach other,”Michaels said.As students walk around theAquinas building, they may noticethe first senior class and thefirst freshman class left behinda gift and“We got to be the leadersof new traditions, everythingwas brand new.”- Lori (Fields) Eckerberg,1992 graduatemade theirmark on theschool. Thenames ofthe studentsin the classof 1989 areengraved inthe bricks inthe Courtyard.“My class (1992) was alsohonored by having our namesengraved in the bricks in thecourtyard. It is fun to go checkout our names when visiting theschool,” Eckerberg said.Creating traditions is anexciting opportunity for studentsat new schools. The class of 1990created dinner theater and thebasketball pep band. The belovedfather/daughter and mother/sondances were started by the classof 1992.“My cheerleading squad choreographedthe motions for the‘Saints Go Marching In’ drumchant that I noticed a few yearsago was still being performed,”Eckerberg said.1989 Medallion yearbookJunior John Michaels starts Chemistry class in 1988 by entertaining hisclassmates with a song. When music teacher Dennis Hord left Bishop Wardfor Saint Thomas Aquinas, Michaels came along. Michaels became the seniorclass president, Homecoming King, and father of two current Saints.1989 Medallion yearbookJunior Charles Gilbert gets his Hush Day sticker from senior Sue Donovan in1988. Boys held on to their stickers until a girl made them talk, then the girlcould take the sticker.

Features September 25, 2012131989 Medallion yearbookAfter getting past the Gatekeeper (senior Jeremy Ressel), the Scarecrow (senior Tom Brenneis), the Lion (sophomoreSara Daly), the Tin Man (sophomore Mary Beth Weed) and Dorothy (senior Tina Lawrence) ask the Wizard to grant theirwishes in a 1988 performance of The Wizard of Oz. Performing a school play on the Commons stage was a challengefor director Gail Prieb, who complained about the lack of curtains, the seating and the acoustics. It would be 10 yearsbefore Saints would have a true theater.1992 Medallion yearbookSenior Lori Field cheers on the Saints in 1992 as the boys basketball teammade its first state tournament appearance. Field followed her brother to SaintThomas Aquinas when she was a freshman in 1988 and was part of the firstclass to attend the new school for all four years.1989 Medallion yearbookSenior Brian Assmann, John Lutz and Brian Nachbar ham for the camera atprom on April 15, 1989. The prom, themed “Midnight Masquerade,” was at theHyatt Regency Hotel and featured a buffet dinner for a cost of $60 per couple.

14 September 25, 2012SportsHighlight Reel: 25 Years of Sports MomentsGirls cross country teamplaces second at stateChris Ronan winsboys cross countrystate championship1988 1989 1990 1991Gennaro Mirockeretires after 39 yearsof coaching footballGirls golf team wins firstAquinas state championship;1992Saints get own stadium1997Softball teamgoes 22-1, winsfirst state titleBoys soccer team namednational champion by USA Today1996 1995 1994 1993Brian O’Neill becomesfirst boys swimmer toqualify for stateSean Ragan becomesfirst Saint wrestlerto reach 100 winsVolleyball team wins state aftertwo runner-up finishesLauren Wenski hits an amazingshot to beat Miege and advancethe girls basketball team to StateSaints win KSHSAA’sfirst girls soccer titleGirls basketball teamwins first state title1998 1999 2000 20012002Girls track and field teamwins first state championshipBoys soccer team startsstreak of eight titles2006 2005 2004 2003Boys track and field teamwins first state championship2007Baseball team wins first state title; itis a record eighth KSHSAA championshipin one school yearGirls tennis teamwins first state titleFootball team makesit to state championshipgameBoys soccer team named fallnational champion by ESPN RiseFootball team playson ESPNUGirls swim team winsfirst state title2008 2009 2010 2011Boys tennis team winsfirst state championship;Class of 2010 racks up26 KSHSAA titlesGirls basketball teamgoes 25-0, wins statechampionshipBoys golf team setsstate record at 284(-4 under par as ateam)

Sports September 25, 2012Saints not always an obvious mascotTo call a Saint Thomas Aquinasstudent anything other thana Saint may seem absurd after 25years, but it was a controversialdecision in 1987.The Johnson County Councilof Priests gathered that yearto choose a mascot. Someonesuggested Titans since De LaSalle Academy had closed in1971 and there was no otherschool in the Kansas City areawith that mascot. That idea wasshot down by then-Archbishopby theSTA SportsIgnatius J. Strecker, as was thesuggestion of the Wildcats.The nickname of the“Saints” was suggested and decidedon by the priests becauseNUMB3RS199 Sub-state, regional ordistrict championships111EKL Championshipsit was a nickname that everyoneless objected to.The committee also decidedthat the colors would be modeledafter Notre Dame University,so they decided on navyand gold.According to an Oct. 28,1987 article in the Shawnee Journal-Herald,the Council decidedagainst choosing Bluestreaksafter the old St. Joseph mascot.Father Thomas Culhane said,“We want a new identity.”Saints’ success spread farDrew MoranoTrack and Field, 2000-2003Became 2nd boy in Kansas 6A to winthe 100m, 200m and 400m sprints inone state championship.Michael ThomasSoccer, 2003-2006Won four state titles,number retired in 2012.Now playing for Sporting KC.15Photo on left from The Shield archives. Photo on right by Melanie Keffer / The MedallionThe original suit for Tommy the Saint led some students to call him “Precious Moments”Tommy. The new version is more of a “Hercules” Tommy.These 10 Saints didn’t stop succeeding after taking off the Saint Thomas Aquinas uniform.Lauren WenskiBasketball, 2000-2003Holds the Aquinas points recordfor a career with 1,766,went on to play for Pepperdine.Drake DunsmoreFootball, 2004-2007Named the Big 10 tight end of theyear in 2011, drafted by NFL’s TampaBay Buccaneers in April.73 State Championships50 State Runner-Ups8 State Championships won in2006-2007, a national record2 National ChampionshipsKyle MillerSoccer, 2004-2007Won four state titles,now plays defender forSporting KC.Allison MayfieldVolleyball, 2005-2008Set the single season record for killsas a star at KU, now playing professionallyin FranceAli KruseGolf, 2008-2011Won the individual state titlein 2010 with a score of 70,now plays for Seton Hall.Brian SmithFootball, 2004-2007Played linebacker for Notre Dameand the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.DaShawn HardenBasketball, 2008-2011Named KC Star Metro Player of theYear in 2011 as she helped Saints go25-0 and win state.Joseph WinslowGolf, 2008-2011Shot a 66 at state in 2011 whilecompeting in tournaments around thenation. Now plays for Iowa.

16 September 25, 2012Teachers for 25 YearsThe Elite Eleven:Teaching for 25 Years1988-2012What 25 Years means to you:“Besides my amazement thatI’ve worked here more thanhalf of my life, I’m also amazedwhen I look back on wherewe were in the early days andthink about what we’veaccomplished.”- Lisa Bauman,English teacherCathryn RadielElizabeth VrabacLisa BaumanMike SullivanDavid ShriverCraig EwingMost Inspirational Students:“The students who inspire methe most are the ones whostruggle to learn math but keepworking - no matter what - andusually end up doing well.Those students inspire me tokeep going during the toughtimes.”- Cathryn Radiel,math department chairwomanGreg WilsonPhil FarnanLisa StoekleinMost Embarassing Moment:“Leaving the mike on during agirls basketball game to scream‘pass it’ throughout the gym;did it again in football to yell‘he couldn’t catch a cold.’”- Craig Ewing,English teacherMike ThomasSue WatersWhat 25 Years means to you:“Did I ever believe we wouldbe one of the premier highschools in the nation? You betI did! Mr.Dubois’s ‘Wall Don’tLie’ speech said it all for me.”- Phil Farnan,English and theology teacher