Ursuline High School (Youngstown, Ohio)

Contents

Ursuline High School is a private Catholic college preparatory high school in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. It operates as part of the Diocese of Youngstown. Athletic teams are known as the Fighting Irish and they compete as a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

History

Ursuline High School was founded as the Ursuline Academy of the Holy Name of Jesus in 1905 by the Ursuline Sisters as a day school for girls, located on West Rayen Avenue. The Ursulines purchased the former Chauncey Andrews Estate on Wick Avenue in Youngstown's North Side in February 1919. The oldest portion of the current Ursuline High School building was completed in April 1925. The school became coeducational in 1930.[1]

2025 football hazing allegations

In September 2025, a federal civil rights lawsuit was filed against the school, the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, and numerous administrators and athletic coaches for an alleged hazing incident earlier that year.[2] The lawsuit claimed that two football players allegedly assaulted another student as part of a hazing ritual in June 2025, where the student was forcibly restrained, stripped of his clothing, and sexually assaulted.[3] Parts of the incident were recorded and circulated on social media and, prior to the incident, some students spoke openly about the planned hazing in front of coaches; however, they allegedly dismissed these discussions as "boys just being boys".[4]

Principal Matthew Sammartino released a statement in July 2025 to parents regarding the situation, reassuring them that both the school and the Diocese of Youngstown were actively cooperating with law enforcement.[3] Another statement was released the following month, describing the event as isolated and stating that faculty would receive additional training.[5] The school later canceled the remainder of the 2025 football season after all of its opponents proactively canceled their games with Ursuline.[6]

Academics

The instructional program at Ursuline High School is designed for the college-bound student but is flexible enough to meet the needs of most students. Ursuline offers Honors and Advanced Placement sections in English, French, Spanish, American History, American Government, science and mathematics to challenge students who are gifted in those particular areas.

Athletics

Ursuline High School offers:[7]

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Bowling
  • Cheerleading
  • Cross country
  • Golf
  • Football
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
  • Volleyball

OHSAA state championships

  • Baseball — 1988, 2000[8][9]
  • Football — 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010[8][10]
  • Boys golf —1975, 1976[8]
  • Boys basketball — 1994[8][11]
  • Girls basketball — 2004[8]

Associated Press state championships

  • Football — 2008, 2010[12]

Notable alumni

  • Pat Bilon, actor[13]
  • Daryll Clark, former professional football player[14]
  • Jim Cummings, voice actor[15]
  • Mark Dailey, television journalist[16]
  • Mike Echols, former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL)
  • Bob Hagan, politician
  • Tim Hagan, politician
  • Tony Hinchcliffe, comedian[17]
  • Paul Maguire, former professional football player in the American Football League (AFL), TV sportscaster
  • Lauren McNally, politician
  • Pat Narduzzi, college football head coach[18]
  • Ed O'Neill, actor
  • Darrell K. Smith, former professional football player in the Canadian Football League (CFL)[19]

References

  1. 1."History". Ursuline High School. June 3, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  2. 2."Lawsuit claims sexual assault during alleged Ursuline football team hazing". www.wfmj.com. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  3. 3.[3.2]"Ursuline investigating alleged 'inappropriate behavior' of football team members". www.wfmj.com. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  4. 4."Lawsuit claims sexual assault during alleged Ursuline football t - WFMJ.com News weather sports for Youngstown-Warren Ohio". www.wfmj.com. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  5. 5.Mosca, Zach (August 22, 2025). "Ursuline releases statement on incident of 'inappropriate behavior'". WKBN.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  6. 6."An Ohio high school cancels its football season amid a lawsuit alleging players were violently hazed". NBC News. September 17, 2025. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  7. 7."Athletics | Catholic Education". Ursuline High School. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  8. 8.[8.2][8.3][8.4][8.5]OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site". Retrieved December 31, 2006.
  9. 9.Yappi. "Yappi Sports Baseball". Archived from the original on March 8, 2007. Retrieved February 12, 2007.
  10. 10.Yappi. "Yappi Sports Football". Archived from the original on January 13, 2007. Retrieved February 12, 2007.
  11. 11.Yappi. "Yappi Sports Basketball D3". Archived from the original on January 13, 2007. Retrieved February 12, 2007.
  12. 12."All-Time Association Press Poll Champions" (PDF).
  13. 13."Pat Bilon". IMDb.com. Internet Movie Database.
  14. 14."Daryll Clark, 2004 Dual Threat Quarterback, Penn State". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  15. 15."Heard but not seen: Catholic voice actor leads an animated life -". The Catholic Review. July 24, 2009. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  16. 16."Mark Edward Dailey Obituary". Toronto Star. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  17. 17.McIntyre, Michael K. (August 9, 2017). "Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, a Youngstown native, will push the edge at House of Blues". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on October 30, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  18. 18."Pat Narduzzi". PittsburghPanthers.com. University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  19. 19."Darrell K. Smith: All-star Argo held a touchdown record". Retrieved February 19, 2019.