Ursuline High School (Youngstown, Ohio)

History

Ursuline High School was founded in 1905 by the Ursuline Sisters. Ursuline High School began service to the ministry of Catholic Education as a simple day school for girls on West Rayen Avenue. With an initial enrollment of 25 girls, the Ursuline Academy of the Holy Name of Jesus was founded, the predecessor of today's Ursuline High School. The original curriculum stressed classical studies, language skills, doctrinal religion and strict discipline.

In the years following World War I, Youngstown, Ohio witnessed an unmatched period of growth and prosperity. Likewise, the academy flourished and outgrew its Rayen Avenue convent building. The Chauncey Andrews Estate was purchased in February 1919, thus beginning the “Wick Avenue Era,” reflective of Ursuline's current home on Wick Avenue on the north side of Youngstown. The Ursulines began a fundraising drive almost immediately upon moving into the Andrews Estate to build a new school that could accommodate 400 students. Groundbreaking was held in 1924, and in April 1925 the student body moved into a three-story brick building on Bryson Street.

The school became coeducational, admitting male students as the school's population increased in 1930

2025 football hazing allegations

Background

In June 2025, the Ursuline football team of 41 players took a nine-day trip across 11 states. During the trip, two players allegedly assaulted another student as part of a hazing ritual. According to a later federal lawsuit, the student was forcibly restrained, stripped of his clothing, and sexually assaulted, with parts of the incident recorded and first circulated on the social media app Snapchat. According to the lawsuit, prior to the incident, some students spoke openly about the planned hazing in front of coaches; however, they allegedly dismissed these discussions as "boys just being boys".

In September 2025, the victim's parents filed a federal civil rights lawsuit for the hazing incident. The complaint named multiple administrators, football players, their families, and coaches as defendants.

School response

In July 2025, Principal Matthew Sammartino released a statement to parents regarding the situation, reassuring them that both the school and the Diocese of Youngstown were actively cooperating with law enforcement.

On August 22, 2025, another statement was released, describing the event as isolated and stating that faculty would receive additional training.

The school has since canceled the remainder of the 2025 football season after all of its opponents proactively canceled their games with Ursuline.

Academics

The instructional program at Ursuline High School is designed for the college-bound student but is flexible enough to meet the needs of most students. Ursuline offers Honors and Advanced Placement sections in English, French, Spanish, American History, American Government, science and mathematics to challenge students who are gifted in those particular areas.

Athletics

Ursuline High School currently offers:

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Bowling
• Cheerleading
• Cross Country
• Golf
• Football
• Soccer
• Softball
• Tennis
• Track and field
• Volleyball ;Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships
• Baseball—1988, 2000
• Football—2000, 2008, 2009, 2010
• Boys Golf—1975, 1976
• Boys Basketball—1994
• Girls Basketball—2004

Notable alumni

• Pat Bilon - actor
• Daryll Clark, former professional football player
• Jim Cummings - voice actor
• Mark Dailey - television journalist
• Mike Echols, former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL)
• Bob Hagan - politician
• Tim Hagan - politician
• Tony Hinchcliffe - comedian
• Paul Maguire, former professional football player in the American Football League (AFL), TV sportscaster
• Lauren McNally - politician
• Pat Narduzzi - college football head coach
• Ed O'Neill - actor
• Darrell K. Smith, former professional football player in the Canadian Football League (CFL)

References

References

1. NCA-CASI. "NCA-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement".
2. "Ursuline investigating alleged 'inappropriate behavior' of football team members".
3. "Lawsuit claims sexual assault during alleged Ursuline football t - WFMJ.com News weather sports for Youngstown-Warren Ohio".
4. "Lawsuit claims sexual assault during alleged Ursuline football team hazing".
5. Mosca, Zach. (2025-08-22). "Ursuline releases statement on incident of 'inappropriate behavior'". WKBN.com.
6. "Athletics {{!}} Catholic Education".
7. OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site".
8. Yappi. "Yappi Sports Baseball".
9. Yappi. "Yappi Sports Football".
10. Yappi. "Yappi Sports Basketball D3".
11. "Pat Bilon". Internet Movie Database.
12. "Daryll Clark, 2004 Dual Threat Quarterback, Penn State".
13. (July 24, 2009). "Heard but not seen: Catholic voice actor leads an animated life -".
14. "Mark Edward Dailey Obituary". Toronto Star.
15. McIntyre, Michael K.. (August 9, 2017). "Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, a Youngstown native, will push the edge at House of Blues".
16. "Pat Narduzzi". University of Pittsburgh.
17. "Darrell K. Smith: All-star Argo held a touchdown record".