2012_09_25 - Saint Thomas Aquinas High School

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