Athletics
Welcome to Canisius High School Athletics
2010-11 MMAA Supremacy Cup Champions
Canisius High School strives to create the best quality of experience for its student-athletes. Teachers challenge young men with a rigorous academic curriculum, coaches strive for athletic excellence, and the administration has provided first-rate facilities. Most importantly, Canisius student-athletes stay true to the school's Jesuit mission, to be Men for Others.
In 2010-11, 24 Canisius student-athletes committed to colleges and universities throughout the United States to continue their academic and athletic pursuits. The group represented nearly 12% of the senior class, far surpassing the national average of 3% of high school seniors that move onto collegiate athletic careers.
The individual success our student-athletes garner is a direct reflection of our team's success. Canisius won its sixth consecutive Supremacy Cup, an award given to the Monsignor Martin school that has the most successful overall athletic programs. Winning the Cup marked Canisius' ninth triumph in the last 10 years.
Our students compete against some of the best high school athletic programs in the Western New York region at outstanding home athletic facilities. Canisius athletic teams are proud to call Koessler Field at the Robert J. Stransky Memorial Complex its home field. The multi-purpose facility opened to rave reviews from home and visiting teams, alike. An eight-lane running track circles a field comprised of a synthetic surface called A-Turf. An extra layer of padding beneath its surface provides for one of the top-playing fields available to an athlete, in consistency of play, durability, comfort and aesthetics. The Bernard J. Kennedy Fieldhouse has created far more opportunities for our indoor sports such as basketball, volleyball and wrestling, as well as outdoor sports that require indoor practice such as the baseball team. In addition, Physical Education classes, Intramurals and student-run activities, such as the 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament held this past March, have added immensely to the Canisius experience.
Canisius sponsors 15 varsity athletic teams. During the past four years, the Crusaders varsity teams have won an astounding 62 championships out of a possible 100 regular season and playoff titles combined. Not included in that total are exploits of the school's crew program that is nationally recognized. The school is proud of the fact that a significant number of athletes have earned their way to continue their academic and athletic careers at prestigious schools such as Harvard, Princeton, Penn St., Yale, Columbia, Syracuse, Colgate, Army, Williams College, Cornell and Miami to name a few.
The school has always embraced a philosophy that a well-rounded athletic program is an integral part of the school's educational mission. Leaning on its long and proud history, and coupled with its sights set on the future, Canisius has taken taken major steps to ensure the quality of experience for our student-athletes is an outstanding one.
All of the physical changes are an important part of the overall picture, but the student-athletes are the driving force behind the school’s legacy…past, present and future.
Canisius is proud that a large percentage of its student body participates in athletics. As a Catholic institution in the Jesuit tradition, Canisius promotes the development of the human spirit, mind and body. Canisius Athletics will continue to serve as a vehicle for these qualities, as well as fostering a safe, fun and friendly environment for our student athletes to develop strong character, integrity, loyalty, and a strong sense of team work and sportsmanship.
Students are encouraged to take part in any one of the 15 varsity athletic programs Canisius offers, or one of the 40 clubs through Student Activities. We feel strongly that our students will not only develop athletic skills by working with our outstanding coaching staff, but also benefit from an athletic philosophy that promotes fitness for life, and a commitment to a healthy lifestyle free of drugs and alcohol.
The improvements in facilities are only a supplement to the many people who make Canisius special. The people truly make the school a wonderful place to work each and every day. I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the coaches, players, faculty, administration, alumni and fans that have helped make Canisius a first-class program.
Best wishes to the 2011-12 student-athletes and coaches for a successful season. Continue to represent Canisius with class, dignity and respect while demonstrating competitive spirit and sportsmanship. Above all, develop life-long friendships and a true devotion to Canisius in preparation for college and for life.
Sincerely,
James Mauro
Director of Athletics
