Holy Spirit High School is a Roman Catholic preparatory school located in Absecon, New Jersey (just outside Atlantic City). The school is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Camden. The school's motto is Caritas Omnia Vincit â€" which translates to 'love conquers all things'. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools since 1971.
As of the 2015-16 school year, the school had an enrollment of 380 students and 32.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a studentâ€"teacher ratio of 11.8:1. The school's student body was 78.2% White, 6.8% Black, 6.8% Hispanic, 5.0% Asian and 3.2% two or more races.
The school is under the limited governance of an independent Board of Trustees. The Bishop of Camden is responsible for the proper teaching of the Catholic faith, the proper celebration of the sacraments and the overall Catholic identity of the institution. The President/Principal serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and the chief administrative officer of Holy Spirit High School.
Athletics
The Holy Spirit High School Spartans compete in the National Division of the Cape-Atlantic League, an athletic conference consisting of both parochial and private and public high schools located in Atlantic County, Cape May County, Cumberland County, and Gloucester County. The Cape-Atlantic League operates under the aegis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. The football team competes in the United Division of the 95-team West Jersey Football League superconference and was classified by the NJSIAA as Non-Public Group II for football for 2017-18.
The football team won the Non-Public A South state sectional championships in 1974, 1975 and 1978. The 1987 football team won the Parochial A state title by defeating Notre Dame High School 15â€"8. The 2007 team held an undefeated record of 12-0 and won the Non-Public, Group III state sectional championship with a 26â€"13 win over Immaculata High School. The undefeated season and state championship were both firsts in team history. The 2010 team won the Non-Public Group III state title, and the 2011 and 2012 teams won the Non-Public Group II championships.
In the 1970s through the late 1980s, Holy Spirit made a name for itself in boys' rowing, winning several national championships and competing several times at the Henley Regatta on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. This rowing success led to an entry in The Official Preppy Handbook in 1980. The boys' rowing team has competed for the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley six times 1970, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1982, and 2003. The team won in 1974, 1976, and 1981; in addition to finishing second twice, in a race in which the winner is widely considered to be the best youth crew in the world. Holy Spirit's three titles is tied with St. Paul's School for the most by any American high school. Coach Stan Bergman led the team to all three Henley victories.
The girls eight-person rowing team won the Peabody Cup at the 2003 Henley Women's Regatta, defeating the Kingston School of England. Their coach, Joseph Welsh Jr., was a member of the boys team at Holy Spirit when it won a similar championship at Henley in 1976. The girls eight-person rowing team repeated the win of the Peabody Cup at the 2004 Henley Women's Regatta; this time defeating a fellow US team, St. Andrew's School of Delaware.
The field hockey team won the Parochial A South state sectional championships in 1982.
The 2005 softball team won the Non-Public, South B state sectional championship with a 10â€"6 win over St. Joseph High School in the tournament final.
The boys' swimming team won the Non-Public A state championship in 2000 and 2001 and the Non-Public B state championship in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006. The 2006 title came in a 95.5â€"74.5 tournament win over Bishop Eustace High School.
The girls' swimming team won the Non Public A state championship in 2007 with a 102â€"68 win against Red Bank Catholic High School.
In 2006, the boys' basketball team brought home the school's first Cape Atlantic League championship after defeating their rival Atlantic City High School, finishing the season with a record of 26-3.
In 2004, the girls' soccer team won their first Cape Atlantic League championship, beating Ocean City High School 4â€"1, after having lost in the league's title game in each of the four previous years.
The 2007 girls' tennis team took the South A state sectional championship with a 3â€"2 win over Notre Dame High School in the tournament final.
The baseball team finished the season with a 14â€"16 record, winning the South Jersey Non-Public final by a score of 7â€"1 against Marist High School and then won the Non-Public B state championship for the first time since 1982 with a 9â€"4 win against Newark Academy.
In 2016, the girls' soccer team won the South Jersey Non-Public B final against Our Lady of Mercy Academy 4â€"1 after losing the previous year to Moorestown Friends. This was the first time Spartan girls' soccer has won this title and the first time the team went to the New Jersey Non-Public B state final.
Notable alumni
- Joe Callahan (born 1993), football quarterback who played for the Green Bay Packers.
- John F. Duffy (born 1963), legal commentator and author, Professor of Law at the University of Virginia School of Law.
- Chris Ford (born 1949), pro-basketball player, head coach.
- William Green (born 1979), running back who currently is a free agent of the NFL.
- Dennis Horner (born 1988), basketball player who played for the NBA's New Jersey Nets.
- Brian Joo (born 1981), of Fly to the Sky, American R&B and South Korean pop (a.k.a. K-pop) recording artist and entertainer who is based in the United States and South Korea.
- Phil Leonetti (born 1953), former Philadelphia crime family underboss
- Michelle Malkin (born 1970), political commentator and author.
- John P. O'Neill (1952â€"2001), FBI Terrorist Specialist, Director of Security World Trade Center, died in the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks.
- Greg Roman (born 1972), offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills.
- Nicky Scarfo Jr. (born 1964), former Philadelphia crime family boss and Lucchese crime family soldier
- Stephanie Williams (born 1986), Miss District of Columbia 2010.
References
External links
- School website
- Holy Spirit High School, National Center for Education Statistics
- South Jersey Sports: Holy Spirit HS
- Holy Spirit High School Alumni/Reunion Web Site
