Toledo, Ohio – St. John's Jesuit has been formally accepted as a full member into the Detroit-based Catholic High School League (CHSL) commencing with the fall sports season of the 2023-24 school year.

The announcement followed months of discussion between the largest Catholic sports league and St. John's Jesuit Athletic Director Bob Ronai. Ronai coordinated the efforts of St. John's with 4 other Catholic high schools in the Toledo Diocese including Central Catholic High School, St. Francis de Sales School, Notre Dame Academy, and Saint Ursula Academy. All 5 schools have been accepted.

"On behalf of the CHSL and the Archdiocese of Detroit, I am thrilled to welcome St. John's Jesuit into our league. The decision of our board was unanimous," said Vic Michaels, director of the CHSL. "We expect this change will benefit our existing members, some of which have had to travel very long distances, farther than Toledo, in order to fill their sporting schedules. We're also glad to give St. John's and the 4 other Toledo schools a new athletic home and grow our community of schools committed to Christ-centered athletics."

Acceptance into the CHSL begins a new era in the athletic program at St. John's Jesuit, providing even more opportunity for high-level competition. Ronai is looking forward to new challenges of the league and believes the athletic program at St. John's has much to offer CHSL.

"We are excited for the opportunity to join the CHSL, along with the four other local schools, and expand the footprint of the largest Catholic league in the U.S. We've had an opportunity to compete against various CHSL teams over the years in a variety of sports, and we are excited to continue to do so now as members of the same conference. Joining the CHSL will give SJJ student-athletes the opportunity to compete for conference championships, as well as numerous postseason awards."
St. John's Jesuit president Mike Savona`75 believes the CHSL aligns well with the school's mission as a Catholic school, providing greater opportunity for student athletes to put faith into action.

"We are grateful for our acceptance into the CHSL, and confident that it will provide a unique chance to enhance our faith foundations, while allowing our student-athletes to engage in an excellent level of competition."

The Catholic High School League is the largest Catholic sports league in the U.S. with 27 private high schools located throughout southeast Michigan and expanding into northwest Ohio. The addition of the Toledo schools will bring that total to 32 school communities.

St. John's Jesuit High School & Academy is a Catholic school in the Jesuit tradition for young men in grades 6 – 12. Part of the largest international educational network of almost 4,000 schools and 3 million students worldwide, St. John's Jesuit offers outstanding academics, spiritual development, and exceptional extra-curricular activities. Established in Toledo in 1965, St. John's Jesuit High School & Academy is dedicated to forming students of competence and compassion and men for others.

Catholic High School League - March 22 Media Advisory 

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Contact: Juli Snyder, Director of External Relations, St. John's Jesuit julisnyder@sjjtitans.org | (419) 262-0044