Knoxville Catholic High School

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Knoxville Catholic High School
Kchs.png
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
9245 Fox Lonas Road

Knoxville
,
(Knox County)
,
Tennessee
37923

United States
Coordinates35°55′48″N 84°5′30″W / 35.93000°N 84.09167°W / 35.93000; -84.09167Coordinates: 35°55′48″N 84°5′30″W / 35.93000°N 84.09167°W / 35.93000; -84.09167
Information
TypePrivate, Coeducational
Motto"Ut Christum Feram"
(That I Might Bear Christ)
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic,
Dominican Sisters
Established1932
PresidentDickie Sompayrac
ChaplainFr. Christopher Floersh
Grades9–12
Enrollment645
Color(s)Green and Gold   
Song"Spirit of the Green and Gold"
MascotFighting Irish
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools[1]
NewspaperThe Blarney Stone Press
YearbookThe Shamrock
Academic DeanJane Walker
Dean of StudentsOrestes Pumareiga
Athletic DirectorJason Surlas
Director of Institutional AdvancementJoni Punch
Director of Marketing and CommunicationsPam Rhoades
Director of Alumni and Special EventsMegan Locke Erpenbach
Websitehttp://www.knoxvillecatholic.com

Knoxville Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville.

History[]

Knoxville Catholic High School, originally located on East Magnolia Avenue, registered 98 young men and women in 1932. The faculty was composed of four Sisters of Mercy and two lay teachers. The Reverend Christopher P. Murray was appointed director of Knoxville Catholic High School in 1941.

Under the direction of Father Murray, additional space was added including a gymnasium-auditorium, dressing rooms, showers, and a science laboratory. In 1947, Knoxville Catholic High School, often referred to by the acronym KCHS, became an accredited member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

March 1951 saw the breaking of ground for another addition. The new building included five classrooms, a library, offices, lavatories, and an addition to the gymnasium. Space was made for a cafeteria and a chapel.

The extensive campus provided fields for softball, basketball, and other sports. Father Herbert Prescott became the first priest-principal of Knoxville Catholic High School in 1962. Father John Batson was named principal in 1965 and Father Xavier Mankel in 1967. Father Mankel had a long and distinguished career helping to monitor and guide the growth and development of KCHS until 1979.

Father Michael Johnston was appointed as the fourth priest-principal to serve KCHS in 1979. Father Frank Richards followed in 1982. At this time the School Board of KCHS began to organize a major capital Fund Raising Campaign to ensure the future of the private, Catholic school located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Father G. Patrick Garrity arrived as principal in 1985. The school continued to grow in facilities and students.

Enrollment continued to increase over the next several years and with it a growth of faculty. The decision to move KCHS to a new facility was announced in February 1997. After almost seven decades on Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville Catholic High School would be moving to the Cedar Bluff area in West Knoxville. In July 1997, Mr. Philip Dampf became the principal of KCHS and he oversaw the school’s move to West Knoxville.

By January 2000, the construction of the new facilities was complete. Knoxville Catholic High School relocated to 9245 Fox Lonas Road and was dedicated by Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz on January 3, 2000. In 2001, Mr. Dampf resigned and Dr. Aurelia Montgomery was appointed as Interim Principal. After the successful completion of a $1 million campaign, KCHS was proud to announce the building of an All Sports Complex. Construction of the All Sports Complex was finished in 2002 in order to accommodate the growing athletic programs for KCHS.

In 2004, Dr. Montgomery retired as Interim Principal and the search committee found a successful candidate in Dickie Sompayrac, who began his tenure as KCHS principal in 2005. Also in 2005 a new Performing Arts Center was built and dedicated, providing much needed space for the performing arts. As enrollment continues to increase, plans are underway to build additional facilities.

In November 2006, Catholic High launched a three-phased Living our Mission through Growth Capital Campaign.

On January 6, 2008, KCHS celebrated the completion of a new wing with a blessing ceremony performed Reverend Al Humbrecht. The expansion was the first phase of the school's capital campaign and added ten classrooms, a guidance suite, and additional parking to the campus. Reverend Chris Michelson, Pastor of St. Albert the Great and Capital Campaign Chair, announced the wing would be dedicated as Schaad Hall.[citation needed]

With a[citation needed] donation to the school’s endowment from the late Isabel Ashe Bonnyman ‘39, Knoxville Catholic High School[who?] was able to complete the second phase of the campaign and provide the school with a solid financial foundation. Faris Field House was named for John and Sondra Faris and completed the school's capital effort. It added 8,000 square feet of weight training facilities, athletic offices, locker rooms, and storage for the Catholic school's growing boys’ and girls’ fitness programs.[citation needed]

On February 22, 2021, Knoxville Catholic broke ground on the St. Gregory the Great Auditorium and announced the “Setting The Stage” fundraising campaign.[2] Expected completion date is late spring 2022.

Academics[]

KCHS is a member of the National Catholic Education Association and accredited by:

  • Tennessee Department of Education
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville

Sports[]

Knoxville Catholic is the home of the Fighting Irish. The school colors are green and gold.

Football[]

The Fighting Irish have won three state championships and been state runners-up once more. In 2008, under the direction of head coach Mark Pemberton the Fighting Irish had a perfect 15-0 season and defeated Memphis Mitchell in the state championship game 28-18.[3] In 2015, head coach Steve Matthews led the Irish to an 11-4 record and the school's second ever state title after besting Pearl-Cohn 48-8.[4] And in 2017, Matthews became the first Knoxville Catholic football coach to win multiple state titles, guiding the Irish to a 12-3 record and a 45-28 victory over Beech in the state championship contest.[5]

The Irish have had eight TSSAA Mr. Football winners:[6] Rob Demastus (Division II Class A back of the year in 1999), Jeremy Bentley (Division II Class A/AA lineman of the year in 2003), Nick McFadden (Division II Class A/AA back of the year in 2004), Harrison Smith (Division I Class 3A back of the year in 2006), Daniel Hood (Division I Class 3A lineman of the year in 2008), Kyler Kerbyson (Division 1 Class 3A lineman of the year in 2010), Amari Rodgers (Division I Class 4A back of the year 2015 & 2016), and Cade Mays (Division I Class 4A lineman of the year 2016 & 2017).[7] Harrison Smith was also named the Gatorade Player of the Year for Tennessee in 2006.[8]

State Titles[]

Knoxville Catholic has won 39 team and individual TSSAA state championships.[9]

Boys' Basketball: 2020

Boys' Cross Country: 2015, 2016, 2018

Girls' Cross Country: 2009, 2010, 2019

Football: 2008, 2015, 2017

Boys' Golf: 2016

Boys' Soccer: 2008

Girls' Soccer: 2013, 2014

Boys' Tennis: 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015

Girls' Tennis: 2016, 2017, 2021

Boys' Track & Field: 1967, 1990, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

Girls' Track & Field: 1994, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018

Girls' Volleyball: 2016

Wrestling: 1995

Notable alumni[]

References[]

  1. ^ SACS-CASI. "SACS-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  2. ^ "St. Gregory the Great Auditorium". www.knoxvillecatholic.com. Knoxville Catholic High School. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Championship Matchup History | Knoxville Catholic High School vs. Mitchell High School". tssaasports.com. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  4. ^ "Championship Matchup History | Knoxville Catholic High School vs. Pearl Cohn High School". tssaasports.com. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  5. ^ "Championship Matchup History | Knoxville Catholic High School vs. Beech Senior High School". tssaasports.com. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  6. ^ "TSSAAsports.com :: Home of the TSSAA Championships". tssaasports.com. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  7. ^ "Former Mr. Football Winners". Archived from the original on 2007-03-14. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
  8. ^ "Gatorade State High School Players of the Year". playeroftheyear.gatorade.com. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  9. ^ "TSSAAsports.com :: Home of the TSSAA Championships". tssaasports.com. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  10. ^ "Cormac McCarthy Club honors acclaimed author, KCHS graduate". East Tennessee Catholic. 2014-10-29. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  11. ^ "Harrison Smith". Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website. 2018-07-09. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  12. ^ "Jeff Faris - Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks - Football Coaches". Duke University. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  13. ^ "Ohio University". Ohio University. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  14. ^ Clouse, Allie. "Catching up with Briston Maroney about pandemic life, new single 'Deep Sea Diver' and upcoming album". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
  15. ^ "Amari Rodgers". Clemson Tigers Official Athletics Site. 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  16. ^ "Cade Mays - Football". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  17. ^ "Cooper Mays - Football". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved 2021-04-23.

External links[]

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