St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Kansas)

St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Overland Park, Kansas. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

Background

Saint Thomas Aquinas High School has been very successful in athletics and academics alike. STA, thus far, has graduated 20 classes. Throughout the 20 years of St. Thomas Aquinas' existence, the Saints have won one National Championship (Boy's Soccer 1994), 51 state championships, 36 state runner-up championships, and 249 league/district/regional/sub-state championships. Academically, St. Thomas Aquinas ranks in the top 5% of Kansas High Schools. 2007 Alumnus Brian Smith currently plays linebacker for the University of Notre Dame football team and has two career touchdowns. 2008 Alumnus James Petersen was selected to play with the United States Under-20 national soccer team for the 2008-2009 season.

Athletics

Throughout many years of success in athletics, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School has established itself as one of the top athletic programs in Kansas. Saint Thomas Aquinas High School is in the Eastern Kansas League and is a member of Kansas High School Activities Association (KSHSAA). Aquinas is a 5A school with just under 1,300 students.

Saint Thomas Aquinas Athletics is led by the soccer program under Coach Craig Ewing. The Boy's Soccer Team has won a total of 11 State Championships (5 in the past 5 years), and the Girl's Soccer team has won 9, for a combined 20 State Championships in soccer alone.

The girls volleyball team won the state championship in volleyball in 2006 and 2007. The boys won the state championship in golf in 2007 and 2008.

Famous Alumni

• Sam Currie, former defensive end for the University of Notre Dame and had one touchdown.

• James Petersen, selected to play with the United States Under-20 national soccer team; appeared on Lil' Wayne's 2008 release, Tha Carter III.

Notes

R.J. Nill, class of 2007, was an outstanding wrestler and football player for the Saints. He played alongside and often outshined Bryan Smith current starting linebacker for Notre Dame. Nill plays for perennial NAIA powerhouse Benedictine College. He recieved less exposure than Smith with D1 coaches saying that RJ was "Skinny."