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The 2026 Combined Reunion Weekend, held on September 11 and 12, welcomed back the Classes of 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976 (golden), 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021.

 

As has now become tradition, this year’s Combined Class Reunion activities took place in conjunction with the school’s Homecoming Weekend. The Cardinals’ Homecoming Football Game served as the backdrop for Friday night’s picnic-style Stag Night in the Walter Student Commons. It included refreshments, dinner, class photos and a presentation by Head of School Jim Lower.

 

On Saturday afternoon, campus tours were provided before the All-Classes Mass. In the evening, several classes arranged private gatherings for classmates and their wives/significant others at TAT Ristorante Di Famiglia (Class of 1971), East Market’s Columbus Brewing Company (Class of 1991) and Plank’s Café on Parsons Ave. (Classes of 1976, 1986 and 2016).

 

More than 100 golfers teed off at the Golf Club of Dublin early on the foggy morning of Sunday, September 13, at this year’s St. Charles Golf Outing, hosted by the St. Charles Alumni Association. Although stormy weather threatened the weekend, the outing enjoyed beautiful sunny skies the entire round!

 

Players enjoyed a round of golf, BBQ picnic lunch, free raffle prizes and a “2026-27 school update” from St. Charles Principal Rick Ey ’94. Congratulations to our winning foursome of Josh Thomas ’21, James Foos ’21, Joe Birtcher ’21, and Matt Thomas ’15. Although they tied with the group of Marshall Sherman ’08, Mitchell Sherman ’05, David Yarnell ’09 and Scott Martin ’08, they were declared the winners after using a tie breaker that compared scores on the hardest holes.  

 

Special thanks to our Presenting sponsor, Netskope (Andrew Del Matto ’76); Beverage Cart sponsor, Jersey Mike’s Subs (Brian Hoffman); and Heritage Wealth Partners (Matt Keyes), which sponsored both the “Hit It To Win It” putting contest and the afternoon meal.

 

We are also grateful to our many Tee Box sponsors: Plank’s Café (John Plank ’82), American Legion Post 490 (Bill Nye Jr. ’78), Deacon Frank Iannarino ’71, Dr. Ralph Napolitano ’89,  the Kletzly family (Matt ’88), the Greenhalge family (Jim ’88), the Ryan family (Chris Paolini ’82), NAI Ohio Equities (Dan Sheeran ’81), the Pione family (Mike ’93 and Tim ’89), IVUEIT/The Naturals Baseball (Mike and Lex ’25 Popadak) and Skylight Financial Group (William Sergio ’16).

The All-Catholic Columbus High School Reunion Luncheon (for pre-1977 graduates) on Friday, July 17, brought together friends and former classmates to celebrate and renew lifetime friendships, view memorabilia, and enjoy (and dance to) great music “from back in the day.”

The event was held at the Valley Dale Ballroom, a place where so many countless high school dances and parties have been held over the decades.

See more photos on the event's Facebook post by clicking HERE.

More than 220 alumni and alumnae (along with spouses and family members) from *14 diocesan high schools -- some that closed in the 50s and 60s and other still open today -- attended. The earliest graduates in attendance were Tom Maurer (Aquinas, Class of 1946), Deloris Morock (St. Mary South, Class of 1947), and Wezi Masdea (St. Joseph Academy, Class of 1948).

 

 

“It was a true privilege for all of us to attend and graduate from one of Columbus’s 20th-century Catholic high schools,” said Lou Nobile, a 1957 graduate of Aquinas College High School and one of the committee members that helped organize the big event. The president of the Aquinas College High School Alumni Association emphasized the ”tremendous favor and sacrifices our parents made in sending us to a Catholic high school.”

He added that “being able to celebrate our shared experiences and lifelong friendships at the Valley Dale reunion is something I will always cherish. Thank you so much for all those who attended who helped make it so memorable!”

The Monsignor Paul J. O’Dea Latin Award, given to the senior who attains the highest grade average for 4 years in the study of Latin:  Maximiliano Marvin Paxton

The Father Charles Jackson Leadership Medal is presented to the senior Student Council president for service to the school and the student body throughout the school year: Charles James Koesters

St. Charles celebrated the school's annual Platinum Reunion on Thursday, June 18. It welcomed former high school and college seminary students who had graduated more than 50 years ago (before 1976). The wives, widows, and family members of these graduates were also welcomed.

“Platinum” activities begin with Mass at 11 a.m. in the Mother of Mercy Chapel, celebrated by Fr. Pat Toner '62, Monsignor Bill Dunn '57, and Deacon Frank Iannarino '71.  The liturgy was followed by a complimentary lunch catered and served by our good friends at Berwick Manor in the Campus Theater's Cavello Center. Guests heard from the Head of School, Jim Lower, and a campus tour was provided.

On April 25, more than 100 alumnae gathered at the Spangler Learning Center at Ohio Domincan University -- the campus that once was SMA's home.

The day's formal program included a "Welcome" by Alumnae Association President, Katy Ryan Paolini ’61, who introduced fellow board members and officers  Rose Tonti Deffet ’55 (Vice President Dr. Patricia Ryan ‘63 (Treasurer), Linda Cianelli Younkin ’63 (Recording Secretary), Margaret Fauth ’48 (Corresponding Secretary), Barbara Fernandez Murphy ’61 (Advisor) , and Sr. Carolyn Thurn ’55 (Moderator).

 

 

The St. Charles Alumni Association welcomed a big turnout at its Spring Happy Hour on Thursday night, April 16. Our thanks to Pat Byrne '79 and his brothers for hosting the gathering at the legendary Byrne's Pub in Grandview.

In addition to sharing camaraderie and friendship amongst Carolians, the evening was also an occasion to honor the four decade-long St. Charles career of Mr. John O'Neil (1983-2026) as it comes to an end in June. Thanks to all those who attended!

Click HERE to view photos from the event.

 

The remarkable performance of Jake Loyd ’26 lead the way as the Cardinals repeated as Division I team champions at the 2026 State Swimming and Diving Meet on February 28 at Branin Natatorium. Jake won individual state titles in the 50-yard freestyle (in state record time with Austin Carpenter ’26,  Alex Wu ’26, and Caden Mahl ’27) and the 100 breaststroke (in meet record time with Will Liu ’27, Carpenter ’26, and Mahl ’27) while teaming up to help the Cardinals win both the 200 free and 200 medley relays – also in state record times!

 

Carpenter ’26 swam to a repeat title in the 100 free and finished third in the 100 breaststroke. Wu ’26 finished as state runner-up in the 200 individual medley, and Mahl ’27 and Caleb Moore ’27 both finished fourth in the 50 free and 100 butterfly, respectively. The Cardinals amassed 348.5 points by meet’s end, soundly besting runner-up Cincinnati St. Xavier.

St. Charles was pleased to host the 17th Annual Father/Son Mass and Breakfast on Saturday, March 7. It marked the largest gathering to date, with 400 people in attendance.

To see more than 30 photo from the events, just click HERE.

Attendees included all fathers and sons, especially current students, incoming 9th graders, alumni and their fathers/sons, and grade schoolboys of ANY age who may be interested in learning more about the school.   

We started with Mass at 9:30 a.m. in the Robert C. Walter Student Commons. Our thanks to our celebrants, Fr. Michal Wojciak. (St. Charles Chaplain) and Fr. Michael Hartge ‘03 (Advisory Board member) who were assisted by Deacon Frank Iannarino ‘71 (Alumni Association Service Committee Chair). A buffet breakfast served by Berwick Manor followed.

After breakfast, the group was treated to a presentation by Mr. Kelley Henderson, President and CEO of Catholic Social Services, whose topic was  "Seeking the Summit: A Disciple’s Path to Courage.”

In a first for the event, there was a 'service component' included in the day's program. In a joint venture with Henderson's Catholic Social Services, Fathers and sons worked together to assemble 1,500 snack boxes which will be distributed by CSS to underserved grade school students.  

Thanks to members of the St. Charles Alumni Association for their leadership on this special morning, especially FSMB Committee Chairman, Dr. Ralph Napolitano '89, and Service committee Chairman Iannarino '71!

CANTON – Even if the rules had permitted him to compete in a fifth event at the Division I state swimming meet, St. Charles senior Jake Lloyd said his day would have ended the same way.

After setting a state record in the 50-yard freestyle (19.39 seconds), a meet record in the 100 breaststroke (53.06) and helping the 200 free (1:19.41) and 200 medley (1:27.2) relays to state records on the way to a team championship repeat Feb. 28 at Branin Natatorium, Lloyd was ready for a break.

The third and final installment of this year's "College Roadshow" was completed March 3rd when the school hosted more than 25 Carolian alumni on the school's Oxford campus at Skipper's Upper Deck. The series of road trips began in mid-February with a visit to Ohio University (February 19 at The Pub) and included a gathering at The Ohio State University (February 26, at The Varsity Club). Each visit to our graduates, on which school administrators, staff and faculty members attended, included refreshments, pizza and burgers, and much camaraderie. 

It was seven years ago that St. Charles embarked on this program. Its goal was to bring together alumni on university campuses throughout the state. Since then, school administrators, faculty and staff members have traveled to these campuses with large alumni contingents to hear about their experiences and preparedness, enjoy renewing friendships and share news from 2010 E. Broad Street.

In 2025, we visited the University of Dayton, Miami (OH) University, and the University of Cincinnati/Xavier University. Where will we go next year? 

Having reached a state semifinal in 2024 and losing a regional semifinal in five overtimes last season, St. Charles is used to being among the top teams in central Ohio. 

The Cardinals (18-3-1) have been the best team this winter, having already clinched the CHC-Red title. St. Charles is 13-1 in the CHC with 26 points, well ahead of second-place Upper Arlington (17 points, 8-4-0-1).

The school and St. Charles Alumni Association would like to extend their sincere appreciation to all those in the Carolian Community who helped to make the 2025 edition a great one!  

 

On a bitterly cold Sunday afternoon and evening, we served more than 637 meals to those who dined with us inside the Walter Student Commons. The kitchen staff prepared an additional 340+ carry-out dinners for those who sent someone else out in the frigid temperatures to pick up Sunday dinner. And more than 130 student and parents served as volunteers, without whom we could not carry on this event!