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athletic history

In the fall of 1962 Providence High School opened its doors in New Lenox.  Providence has had only two athletic directors so far, Tom Dedin and Matt Senffner.  Tom Dedin began the athletic program in the fall of 1962.  That year, the first sports were freshman boys’ soccer, basketball and baseball.  The girls’ program was not interscholastic.  The girls were involved in G.A.A. (Girls’ Athletic Association) which was an intramural league.  In those days, students built bonfires for school spirit at Homecoming.  Lincoln-Way students and Providence students would try to burn down each others’ bonfire.  Sleeping overnight on campus to protect the bonfire became very popular whether in cars, trucks or on the roof. 

Over the years, the athletic program has grown.  Major changes took place in 1972-73 with the addition of women’s interscholastic programs.  Nan Airola became the first Girls’ Athletic Coordinator.  Tom Dedin left Providence after the 1975-76 school years and Matt Senffner, who was the Assistant Athletic Director, became the Athletic Director the following school year.  The baseball field was named the Tom Dedin Field in honor of the man who worked so hard to initiate the athletic programs at Providence. 

Conference affiliation began in the late 1960’s when Providence joined the South Central Prep League.  In 1971, the Celtics joined the Private School League and remained in it until the 1986-87 school years.  In the fall of 1987, the Celtics began a two year affiliation with the West Suburban Catholic Conference.  In the fall of 1989, Providence became an independent. 

In the mid-70’s, the Illinois High School Association started enrollment classification for state competition.  By the end of the decade Providence had become an athletic powerhouse by winning state championships boys’ baseball 1978, wrestling 1978 and girls’ track 1978.  The boys’ basketball team captured the state title in 1979.  

In the 80’s as the enrollment grew, Providence became “Providence Catholic,” a “AA” school.  Continuing its success, state championships were captured in baseball 1982, football 1987, and wrestling 1981, 1988, and 1989.   

In the 90’s Providence football captured state championships in 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997.  The football team compiled the 2nd longest winning streak in Illinois history while winning four consecutive state championships.  The 50 game winning streak began at the start of the 1994 season and concluded in the ninth game of the 1997 season.  After four years, the football team came back to win three more state championships in 2001, 2002 and 2004.  The wrestling team captured state championships in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 for a state record six consecutive state championships.  In 2004, the Pom Pon team earned a state championship trophy, which brings PCHS to twenty-four state championships.  In addition, the Celtic Cheerleading team took 3rd in State in 2003 and were National Champions in 2004.  That is more than any other private school in the state of Illinois at the date of this publication.

Providence Catholic High School athletic teams have won a total of twenty-four state championship trophies, which is more than any other private high school in the state.

* the Celtic wrestling team won six consecutive wrestling state team championships from 1997 to 2002, entering the Illinois history books as the first team ever to achieve this amazing feat.

Our recent graduates have received athletic scholarships to the following schools: Duke University, University of Kentucky, University of Miami, University of Chicago, DePaul University, University of Notre Dame, Bradley University, University of Michigan, St. Xavier University, College of St. Francis, Lewis University, Mankato State, Ball State, St. Joseph, Wayne State, University of Nebraska, University of Purdue, and University of North Carolina -- Charlotte. Many graduates are playing baseball professionally;  Brian Rekar (90)--Tampa Bay Devil Rays; Dan Firlit (96)--Arizona Diamondback Minor League System; Dan DeMent (96)--Tampa Bay Devil Rays Minor League System; Ed Olszta(97)--Seattle Mariners Minor League System; Carmen Pignatiello (00)--Chicago Cubs Minor League System; and Kris Honel (01)--Chicago White Sox Minor League System.