13 We are excited to watch these student-athletes shine at the next level and hope that they continue to carry the AQ spirit with them wherever they go! This excerpt is taken from Becoming Aquinas, a story-based history of the school, by Bob Gibbons ‘65 For more than a century––beginning around 1912––The University of Notre Dame has accepted students from The Aquinas Institute. But through the years, there’ve been other connections between the schools; at least one involved football. In February 1927, Knute Rockne, Notre Dame’s famous football coach, visited Aquinas; he’d been invited by Fr. Joe Grady, the diocesan priest who served as principal of Aquinas in the late 1920s. In 1930, Fr. Joe, who taught summer school at Notre Dame where he became friends with the Rocknes, decided to start a football program at Aquinas. Because of injuries, betting, and uncontrolled fan behavior, football had been banned in Rochester’s public high schools since 1910. Fr. Joe believed that, with its strong sense of discipline and rigorous training, Aquinas could overcome those problems; he hired a local coach and began an “experimental program.” In 1930, Aquinas lost their only game, but the team improved rapidly from there. By 1940 ‘The Irish” were playing football powerhouses from across the country. Prior to the 1944 season, Aquinas appointed a new athletic director, a young Basilian who was humble in attitude, but fearless in his willingness to take risks. His name was Fr. Cyril Carter CSB and he believed that, if the school was playing on a “national stage,” they should recruit likewise. He called Coach Frank Leahy at Notre Dame and asked for a recommendation. On Saturday, March 16, 1946, Aquinas named the school’s new coach: Harry Wright, the former quarterback of Notre Dame’s 1941 National Championship team. In 1942, Harry earned the nickname ‘the Horse’ by setting a Notre Dame record for the most minutes played in a season. Aquinas won Wright’s first start as coach in a game played before almost 13,000 fans. The Rochester Transit Company used forty-four busses to carry spectators to a game; for the 1946 season, the team would attract 64,000 spectators, despite rain on three of the dates. The coach wasn’t above using a bit of psychology to give Aquinas an advantage. “Every Sunday, before a game, both teams would go to mass together and usually that was the first time they’d see each other,” Coach Wright’s daughter Penny later said. “My father would often have some smaller students from the school join them––so the other team would think, ‘this Aquinas team doesn’t look so tough.’ But then when they got on the playing field, they found that the boys on the actual team were a heck of a lot bigger.” Aquinas had only one loss when they faced Father Flanagan’s Boys Town on November 9, 1947. Both teams were 6-1 and, on that cold, Rochester Sunday when 22,328 fans came through the turnstiles. The concession manager reported selling 18,000 hots dogs and another 18,000 bags of peanuts; they sold out of everything except soda and ice cream. When Aquinas won––29-18–– the students tore down the goal posts–– and a parade of more than a hundred carried the goal post to downtown Rochester where they hauled it up on to the stage of the Loew’s movie theatre––and sang the Aquinas alma mater. A piece of that goalpost, signed with the score of the game, is in the Aquinas archives today. During a period of three years, Wright-coached Aquinas teams drew 349,000 fans; his record was 18-3-2. By that point, Wright believed he’d done everything he promised; he left Aquinas to become director of athletics and head football coach at the University of Portland in Oregon. Fr. Carter again called Frank Leahy and replaced Wright with “Mickey” Connolly, who’d played for Leahy at Boston College. When Coach Connolly left, he was replaced by a succession of coaches who continued to lead the “L’il Irish” to success. And this year, for the ninety-fourth year in a row, “The Li’l Irish” played football. In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of The Aquinas Institute’s establishment on Dewey Avenue, alumnus Bob Gibbons, Class of 1965, authored Becoming Aquinas, the first comprehensive history of the school. This story-based book is illustrated with dozens of vintage photographs and chronicles the school’s enduring traditions in music, sports, drama, and debate, alongside its everyday experiences over the decades. Proceeds from the book sales will directly support The Aquinas Institute and its mission. To purchase your copy today, visit our website or scan the QR Code. Harry ‘the Horse’ – A Football Story atHletics in action Kessarin “Kessa” Sangasy ’25: D1 Lacrosse at Stonehill College (Easton, MA) Kessa’s athletic journey began early, playing CGL Travel Lacrosse from 3rd to 7th grade and Monster Travel Lacrosse from 7th to 12th grade. Her commitment to the sport earned her a spot on the Aquinas Varsity Lacrosse team in 7th grade—a position she has held ever since. • Kessa was also a standout on the tennis court, serving as captain of the Varsity Tennis team during her senior year. • Her athletic versatility extends to the boxing ring, where she participated in Aquinas’ boxing program for two years and received the Dominic L. Arioli ‘73 Junior High Dedication Award. • Actively involved in Student Government and the Student Ambassador program throughout middle and high school. • Vacation Bible School Counselor as well as contributing to the St. Rita’s Festival and the IAC Kids Gala. • Honored with the Hands of Christ Award 2025. • Maintains Honor Roll status while taking two Advanced Placement and two Dual Credit courses. Kessa will attend Stonehill College where she will compete at the Division I level in lacrosse and major in Business.
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