Central Catholic High School (Perry Township, Ohio)

Central Catholic High School is a private, Catholic coeducational diocesan high school in Perry Township, Ohio run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown. Central began educating in 1946 when the Diocese merged the all-female Mount Marie Academy and the co-ed St. John High School. Although Central is a Catholic high school, it is open to non-Catholic students as well. This school is located in Perry Township, Stark County, Ohio and serves the west side of the City of Canton, Ohio and Western Stark County including the City of Massillon, Ohio. Central Catholic's sports teams are nicknamed the "Crusaders".

History

Central Catholic High School was formed from the merger of Mount Marie Academy and St. John High School. Mount Marie Academy was a female only secondary school that began educating young women in 1907 where the present school stands today.^[2] The original "East Building" contains a basement and four additional floors of classrooms. The "West Building" would be erected at a later date, adding three long corridors of classrooms and lockers to the original structure.

St. John High School, founded in 1925, looked to merge with Mount Marie Academy in 1945.^[2] The merger was authorized under the auspices of the Diocese of Youngstown, given the 65 acre abundance of diocesan land upon which Mount Marie sat.

In the late 1980s, the school decided to dedicate over $50,000 towards renovation. The school also renovated classrooms as well as a new football stadium.

Sports Department

Central Catholic High School plays host to several Ohio High School Athletic Association State Tournament playoff football games, periodic lacrosse games, as well as using its Coach Don Miller Baseball Facility to play Baseball.

Central Catholic has won the Ohio state championships in the following sports:

• Boys Football – 1988, 2000, 2016^[3][4]
• Boys Golf – 1984, 1987, 2014^[5]
• Boys Baseball - 2008, 2011, 2015^[6]
• Boys Tennis - 1999, 2000 ^[7]

The Great Serpentine Wall

A view of the wall's South Side, along 13th St. SW. Note the sinusoidal undulations

The Great Serpentine Wall is a brick, undulating wall that now partially encloses Lowell Klinefelter Stadium. The wall previously surrounded the stadium on all four sides before renovations were made prior to the fall 1998 football season. Presently, the wall fully encompasses the stadium's north, south, and west sides. The eastern wall was torn down to create additional room for the new football field, eight lane running track, and grander bleachers.

The tearing down of the eastern wall was hotly protested by the alumni. The original construction plan included the tearing down of both the eastern, and northern walls. When the plan became public, the alumni hosted rallies, forcing the school to halt construction before it began. Finally, a compromise was reached, and only the eastern wall was torn down. This was known as the great wall compromise.

Klinefelter Boulevard is the main street of access to Lowell Klinefelter Stadium. Klinefelter is nicknamed "The Dean of Stark County Football Coaches". He taught, coached, and served as the school's Athletic Director for over thirty years.

School Songs

As with most schools, Central Catholic High School has a number of traditional school songs:

Alma mater

Alma Mater, we sing our song to thee,
With praise and devotion, with honor loyalty,
Crusaders, sons and daughters, all
True to the White and Green;
One voice we will raise,
In thy glory and praise of crusaders...

Fight Song: Dearest Central High

Dearest Central High
We Sing Your Battle Cry
We Strive to be grow and Learn
To Carry Out the bro's Will We Yearn
The Thrill of Victory Bringing Us Together
May The Glory be of Our Time at Central Live Forever!

Holy places

Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto

In order to fulfill its Catholic identity, several places of worship are maintained on the school's campus. The Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto can be accessed via the West Campus.^[8]

The stones of the Grotto were brought to the campus of CCHS from all states within the Union. Each stone was custom-made and hand-rubbed before being set. Each year alumni who celebrate significant anniversaries of graduation observe a Holy Mass with classmates.

The Chapel of CCHS is located on the school's first floor. This is an oft-visited destination for students and faculty to make small offerings to the Lord between classes. A daily mass is offered by the Rev. Robert Kaylor before classes commence.

Distinguished alumni

• Alan Page, Central Catholic Class of 1964, Former University of Notre Dame Football Star, Former NFL Defensive Lineman for the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears (9-time Pro Bowl selection, 1971 NFL Most Valuable Player), Currently serving as an Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.
• Ted Henry, Central Catholic Class of 1963, TV Newscaster at WEWS (Cleveland, OH) 1972-2009.^[9]
• Bob Belden, Central Catholic and University of Notre Dame graduate, former Notre Dame and Dallas Cowboy quarterback, current President of Belden Brick Company
• Keith Monda, Central Catholic and The Ohio State University graduate, former Chief Operating Officer and President of Coach, Inc.
• Bruno Gunn (Gioiello), Central Catholic Class of 1987 graduate, Actor, Co-star of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
• Sam Bourquin, Central Catholic Class of 1988 graduate, WHBC on air and sports personality.
• Ben Suarez, Cental Catholic grad. Entrepreneur. Owner of direct marketing company in North Canton, Ohio

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Central Catholic High School (Perry Township, Ohio).

External links

• School Website

Diocese of Youngstown
Bishops	Ordinaries James A. McFadden Emmet M. Walsh James William Malone Thomas J. Tobin George Murry Auxiliary bishops William Anthony Hughes Benedict Charles Franzetta
Churches	Cathedral St. Columba Cathedral Basilicas Basilica of Saint John the Baptist, Canton Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Youngstown Parishes Mother of Sorrows Church, Ashtabula St. Peter's Church, Canton St. Louis Church, Louisville St. Mary's Church, Massillon
Education	Higher Education Walsh University High Schools Cardinal Mooney High School, Youngstown Central Catholic High School, Canton John F. Kennedy High School, Warren St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Louisville Saint John High School, Ashtabula Ursuline High School, Youngstown
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