Salesianum School

Campus

The 22 acre campus is home to the school itself as well as a gymnasium. In addition to the campus, the athletic program also makes use of Wilmington's newly constructed Abessinio Stadium, formerly Baynard Stadium, which is located directly across from the school. In 2023, the school was given a $10 million donation by Anthony Fusco to build a new athletic facility.

Athletics

Salesianum School has won 200 Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) approved boys' state championships as of summer 2025, with particular success in cross country, swimming, lacrosse, and soccer. Salesianum won its first state championship in basketball, led by Donte DiVincenzo and Brian O'Neill (American football), in 2014 and latest one in 2023.

Salesianum's historical rival is St. Mark's High School, which is located in Newark, DE. Their fall meeting in football is commonly referred to as "The Holy War".

The soccer team won 11 state championships between 2002 and 2014, and in 2013 defeated Saint Benedict's Preparatory School, the top ranked high school program in the nation, on a game-winning goal scored by Joseph Dolce. They finished the season ranked as the number two high school team in the country. The 2016 soccer team finished the season ranked sixth in the nation by USA Today on its final Super 25 Expert Rankings.

The cross country team has won 37 of the 42 DIAA state boys' championships, losing only five years between 1972 and 2013.

The Salesianum swimming team has won ten consecutive state boys' championships between 2005 and 2015, and 11 of 12 from 2005-2017.

History

Salesianum (Latin for "House of Sales", referring to St. Francis de Sales) was founded in 1903 and was located at 8th and West Streets until the move to its current location in 1957. In 1950, Rev. Thomas Lawless, OSFS, a 1908 graduate of Salesianum, admitted five African American students four years prior to the Brown v. Board of Education decision which made it mandatory, thus making Salesianum the first racially integrated school in the state of Delaware. The school was recognized for this with a historical marker.

In August 2012, the Wilmington/Philadelphia Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales published a letter stating, "Since 2004, the Wilmington/Philadelphia Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales has been named in lawsuits in the Superior Court of Delaware filed by 40 plaintiffs, each of which contained allegations of sexual abuse of a minor." The letter named 12 oblates who had been involved and expressed regrets, stating, "The abuse of children by priests and other clergy is shocking, reprehensible, and devastating to all whose trust has been shattered by their selfish deeds." This followed a settlement in August 2011 of 39 lawsuits against the school and the order, with the order and its insurers paying $24.8 million to be shared between the plaintiffs.

Notable alumni

Academia

Arts, Entertainment, Media, and Literature

Business

Government

7th New Castle County Executive (1997-2005). 10th New Castle County Executive (2012-2017).

Military

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Medicine

Sports

Other

References

References

1. "Tuition and Financial Aid".
2. "Salesianum Review".
3. "The Cardinal Newman Society > Error". cardinalnewmansociety.org.
4. "The Cardinal Newman Society > Error". cardinalnewmansociety.org.
5. "The Cardinal Newman Society > Error". cardinalnewmansociety.org.
6. "St. Thomas More and Salesianum named among top 50 Catholic High Schools for 2009". Hockessin Community News.
7. "The Cardinal Newman Society > Error". cardinalnewmansociety.org.
8. Marie, Deanna. "[https://wjbr.com/2023/05/08/salesianum-receives-10-million-donation-from-honorary-graduate/ Salesianum Receives $10 Million Donation From Honorary Graduate]". Mix 99.5 WJBR. May 8, 2023. Accessed: May 9, 2023.
9. "Athletics {{!}} Salesianum".
10. Greene, Sean. (8 March 2014). "Salesianum wins 1st basketball championship". WDEL.
11. (March 11, 2023). "Salesianum holds off William Penn to claim 3rd DIAA Boys Basketball Championship".
12. Buzby, Jon. (November 12, 2009). "As season comes ends, 3 local teams hope to play on". The Newark Post.
13. "State of Delaware - Sports". Doe.k12.de.us.
14. Bernstein, Jason. (October 22, 2013). "St. Benedict's Prep winning streak ends at 71 games after 1-0 defeat to Salesianum of Delaware". Star-Ledger.
15. [http://usatodayhss.com/rankings/expert/boys/soccer/2016/13 Super 25 Expert Rankings for 2016-17 Boys Soccer Week 13], ''[[USA Today]]''. Accessed May 2, 2017.
16. "DIAA State Boys' Cross Country DI Champions". Delaware Department of Education.
17. (May 2018). "DIAA- Boys' Swimming & Diving Champions". Delaware Department of Education }}{{dead link.
18. (4 December 2018). "Remember the Salesianum students who stood against Delaware school segregation". [[Gannett]].
19. Greenfield, Very Rev. James J.. (August 2012). "Healing Letter". Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, Wilmington-Philadelphia Province.
20. (August 22, 2011). "Oblates settle abuse suits, paying $24.8 million". National Catholic Reporter.
21. (November 9, 2023). "Professor Donald Pease, Guardian of Dr. Seuss | Dartmouth".
22. "F. Gregory Gause".
23. "Campaign Leadership". Salesianum School.
24. (April 26, 1985). "Newspaper facsimile".
25. "The Pulitzer Prizes - Awards". pulitzer.org.
26. "Bill Marsilii".
27. "FORMER TNA, ECW STAR PAT 'SIMON DIAMOND' KENNEY FILES LAWSUIT STEMMING FROM HIS OWN CHILDHOOD ABUSE, HOPING TO HELP OTHERS COME FORWARD | PWInsider.com".
28. "The Oscar goes to...Delaware's own stormtrooper?".
29. "Salesianum Jacklyn & Miguel Bezos '63 Historic Gift".
30. "Salesianum inducted its 13th Hall of Fame class on Saturday, June 4".
31. "Trump's new lawyer credits Salesianum education for shaping his views".
32. (January 28, 2014). "Long-time Del Tech president stepping down". Delaware Public Media.
33. "Orlando "Lonnie" George Jr.". Charles P. Arcaro Funeral Home.
34. (1999). "Fifty State Systems of Community Colleges: Mission, Governance, Funding and Accountability". Overmountain Press.
35. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110726010758/http://articles.philly.com/1989-11-30/news/26136255_1_pennell-gordon-case-prostitutes 3 Slayings Reviewed For Pennell Link – Philly.com]. Articles.philly.com (1989-11-30). Retrieved on 2012-08-24.
36. (November 7, 2015). "Tom Gordon again faces trouble with closest ally". The News Journal.
37. "John Francis Brady's Obituary, Visitation & Funeral Information".
38. "Judicial Officers - Supreme Court - Delaware Courts - State of Delaware".
39. "N. Christopher Griffiths".
40. Owens, Jacob. (May 4, 2023). "Senate confirms Supreme Court picks despite opposition".
41. "Senator Anthony Delcollo (R) - Delaware General Assembly".
42. "James Connell - 2019 Inductee".
43. (August 4, 2012). "Major General Hugh T. Broomall, Special Assistant to the Director, Air National Guard, ret".
44. (November 7, 2025). "Veterans Breakfast".
45. "Salesianum inducted its 13th... - Salesianum School Alumni".
46. "Maj. Gen. Charles J. Dunlap, Jr., USAF (Ret.) | Duke University School of Law".
47. "Charles Dunlap".
48. (4 August 2016). "Naval Special Warfare Command Holds Change of Command Ceremony". Naval Special Warfare Command.
49. "Salesianum Hall of Fame".
50. "Bio2".
51. "John Byrne".
52. "Honors and awards". Salesianum School.
53. "Edward “Eddie” Michaels – Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame".
54. Zabitka, Matt. (November 22, 1990). "Ed Pankowski reminisces". [[The News Journal]].
55. "Dominic 'Dim' Montero '38 Historical Marker".
56. "Dim Montero – Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame".
57. BC. (November 13, 2012). "Villanova Running: Vic Zwolak: Villanova's Only Individual Male XC Champion". villanovarunning.blogspot.com.
58. "Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in Wilmington, Delaware - 1980".
59. "Thomas Hall Obituary (2017) - Enfield, Ct, MA - The Republican".
60. http://www.nfl.com/players/tomhall/profile?id=HAL542400 NFL.com player page
61. "Salesianum School Alumni".
62. "Joe Hortiz - Director of college scouting".
63. "Los Angeles Chargers Agree to Terms with Joe Hortiz as General Manager".
64. "Steve Casula". University of Massachusetts at Amherst SID.
65. "Brian O’Neill". The Official Athletic Site of the University of Pittsburgh.
66. Lang, Mike. (December 19, 2013). "Salesianum's Reeder wins 2013 DeLucia Sportsmanship Award". [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington]].
67. "10 Donte DiVincenzo".
68. Greene, Sean. (July 8, 2022). "Salesianum alum to make NASCAR debut Saturday inspired by father's cancer fight".
69. (November 1, 2013). "NJ police: Dad called, worried about LAX suspect". The San Francisco Chronicle.