Cathedral Preparatory School

Calling all Ramblers and Victors! This year, we are kicking off Reunion Weekend with the Rambler Golf Classic! Alumni, parents, and friends are invited to join us on Friday, July 17, at Whispering Woods Golf Club for a day of spirited competition. This event is open to ALL golfers! Visit www.cathedralprep.com/rgc26 for more information and registration. #RGC2026 ⛳

Show Choir traveled to Sandusky, Ohio over weekend to perform and compete at the Music in the Parks Music Festival. They went up against schools that brought their ensembles from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan. It was a busy day of performances, with different ensembles performing every 20 minutes from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. They performed a selection of the Little Shop of Horrors Medley, a vocal jazz arrangement of Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies,” and a gospel/rock arrangement of Bill Wither’s “Lean on Me” for two adjudicators from university choir programs. They were scored on tone quality, intonation, diction and pronunciation, note accuracy, rhythmic precision, and musicality. Show Choir performed very well, earning “superior” ratings from the judges, seizing the first-place trophy in their division! On top of that, they earned the highest points overall, clinching the trophy of best High School Choir Overall Divisions/Categories! Congratulations to our Show Choir and Director Mr. Alesso! #Prep #ShowChoir 🎶🏆

“Persistence is the most powerful force on earth, it can move mountains.” — Albert Einstein

Graduation is THIS SUNDAY! We continue to celebrate the members of the Cathedral Prep Class of 2026. We are so proud of all of you! #Prep #Classof2026 #Family 🟠⚫🔵

Cathedral Prep Holiday Weekend Athletics Roundup:
• ICYMI: STATE CHAMPS! Congratulations to Gavin Ferretti and Charbel Moubarak. After helping lead the Ramblers to their first ever PIAA team, they took the PIAA AA Doubles championship with their 7-6, 6-3, victory over South Park’s Jonah Jasek and Steven Duing. They began the tournament with a straight set victory over Winchester Thurston’s Ravi Stanger and Soham Maiti. They would win their second-round match over the tandem from Wyoming Seminary in straight sets. They’d take their semifinal match over the team from Conrad Weiser in straight sets before cruising to a gold medal. Their victory is the seventh boys doubles state championship in Cathedral Prep history, and Ferretti’s second overall after winning in 2024 with teammate James Casella ’24. Joseph Prichard competed in the PIAA AA Singles tournament. He fell in straight sets in his first round match against Quaker Valley’s Will Meaghar. 🎾🥇🏆
• ICYMI: The Ramblers came home from Shippensburg University with a silver medal! Congratulations to the Girls 4x800m Relay! The team of Makayla Stutts ’27, Anne-Catherine Brown ’26, Reagan Johnston ’27, and Fina Bannister ’26 finished second in the state. They finished with a season-best time, shaving nine seconds off their winning District 10 mark. Bannister also finished sixth in the 800m. 👟🥈
• ICYMI: It was a lacrosse sweep for the District 10 AA lacrosse championships at Fairview! Congratulations to girls lacrosse! For the second time in program history, and first since 2019 as Victors, they are District 10 champions! They captured the AA title game over Conneaut in double overtime, 7-6, off the Hannah Dacus golden goal. Dacus scored three goals and had an assist. Brooke Powers, also had three goals, while Lilly Blake also scored. Kendall Krahe and Azlyn Miller each had an assist. Sophia Montagna made her first career start in goal and made seven saves. Congratulations to Coach Matson ’15VMA and the Ramblers! Boys lacrosse captured the District 10 AA crown over Hickory, 10-8. The Ramblers rallied from two goals down in the fourth quarter to score four straight and seal the win. Rory Callaghan scored four goals and had two assists. Jameson Hertel scored three times and had two assists. Evan Kaizer scored twice, while Matt Bansidhar also found the mesh. Joey Bernatowicz, Robbie Brown, and Dom Fornelli each had an assist. TJ Hiner made seven saves. Congratulations to Coach Smykowski and the team on their victory!🥍🏆
• Girls flag football fell to McDowell in the Metro Championship, 7-6. The Ramblers advanced the ball to the three-yard line but ran out of time and could not get off an additional snap. Kayley McCall ran the ball in for the lone touchdown. Brooklyn DiRaimo had an interception. 🏈
• Varsity baseball defeated Harbor Creek in the District 10 AAAA semifinals, 5-3. Derick Friedman ignited the offense with three hits and a home run and earned the save. AJ Sirianni had two hits and two RBIs, while Frank Thomas yielded just a run and struck out three in four innings of relief. The Ramblers would fall in the championship game to General McLane, 4-3. Matthew Boam had a pair of hits, while Derick Friedman and Davin Friedman each drove in a run. ⚾

Today, we pause to remember and honor the courageous men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice, bravery, and dedication will never be forgotten. We are forever grateful. #Prep #MemorialDay

Congratulations to Head Football Coach Mike Mischler ’87. He was inducted into the PSFCA Coaches Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2026 yesterday at a ceremony held at the Cumberland Valley High School Performing Arts Center. The inductees were also honored at halftime of the Big 33 Football Classic, an all-star event featuring the top high-school football players in Pennsylvania and Maryland, later that day. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Coach Mischler! #RollRamblers 🏈

Members of the staff and administration delivered yard signs to all students in the Class of 2026 over the past week! We are excited for their big day in just over a week! #Prep #Classof2026 🟠🔵⚫

Our AFJROTC cadets were proud to participate in the “Red, White, and Blessed” assembly at Saint George Catholic School yesterday. They presented the colors and enjoyed a fun and interactive “boot camp” for elementary and middle school students.

We appreciate the warm welcome from Saint George and enjoyed helping make the day memorable for everyone involved! #Prep 🔴⚪🔵

As part of yesterday’s cherished Mary’s Day traditions, alumni and friends of Villa Maria Academy and Cathedral Prep gathered for a Mary’s Day Alumni Luncheon. The event provided a meaningful opportunity for generations of the Villa and Prep family to come together in celebration of faith, friendship, and shared memories rooted in the legacy of our schools.

Guests enjoyed viewing the Mary’s Day ceremony, reconnecting with classmates and friends over lunch, and deepening the bonds that continue to unite our community long after graduation. Attendees also heard reflections and updates from President Kevin Smith and Principal Veronica Seip, who spoke about the lasting impact of the Mary’s Day tradition and the bright future of Cathedral Prep.

We are grateful to all who joined us for this special afternoon and for helping to keep the spirit of Mary’s Day alive for generations to come. Save the date for next year’s Mary’s Day Alumni Luncheon on May 26, 2027! We can’t wait to welcome you! #MarysDay #Alumni

Looking for a unique way to honor someone connected to Cathedral Prep & Villa Maria Academy?

The recognition walls at the Hagerty Family Events Center offer families, alumni, and friends the opportunity to purchase an engraved brick that becomes a permanent part of campus.

While many bricks recognize graduating seniors, they can also be used to:
• honor a loved one.
• memorialize someone special.
• celebrate a family legacy.
• recognize teammates, classmates, coaches, or teachers.
• mark a special milestone or memory.

It’s a simple and meaningful way to leave a lasting connection to Prep & Villa. To learn more or reserve a brick, visit https://www.cathedralprep.com/page/recognition-wall-bricks. #Prep

The Cathedral Prep Dance Department recently had the incredible opportunity to welcome guest artist Amy Griffith, former Radio City Rockette and Broadway performer from Erie, PA, to work with our Dance Ensemble students. Mrs. Griffith brought her extensive professional experience and passion for the performing arts into the studio as students immersed themselves in the world of classic Broadway dance.

During her visit, students participated in an engaging tap master class focused on style, precision, musicality, and performance quality. In addition to technique training, Mrs. Griffith taught choreography from the iconic “Audition” number from the legendary Broadway musical “42nd Street.” Students explored the energy, discipline, and storytelling that make Broadway dance such a timeless and demanding art form.

The experience allowed students to learn firsthand from a professional artist with an impressive performance career while also celebrating a successful performer with roots right here in Erie. Opportunities like these continue to inspire our dancers, broaden their understanding of professional performance expectations, and connect classroom learning to real-world dance careers.

We are incredibly grateful to Amy Griffith for sharing her knowledge, talent, and passion with our students and for helping create an unforgettable educational experience for our Dance Ensemble. #Prep #Dance

Last Saturday, National Art Honor Society (NAHS) held their annual Spring Art Show. Students exhibited a variety of artwork including drawings, paintings, ceramics, fiber arts, and digital photography. Work was also submitted by NAHS members and art scholarship holders. Erie artist Kathie Kania judged student work, and awards were given in each medium. Brady Sack ’27 won “Best in Show” for his pencil drawing "The Goodest Girl, Daisy Mae" and Kara Troutman won the ‘People’s Choice’ award with her drawing ‘Space Monkey’. Congratulations to all the students who participated! #Prep #MVP #Art 🎨📸🖋️🧶

Cathedral Prep Athletics Roundup for Wednesday, May 20:

• Girls flag football won a thriller over Mercyhurst Prep in overtime, 7-6, to advance to the Metro Championship game. After a scoreless four quarters and trailing 6-0 in OT, Jessica Beveridge hit Kayley McCall for a 25-yard touchdown to tie it. Beveridge then found Jasmine Woodard for the winning extra-pointer. The Ramblers host McDowell this Sunday for the championship! 🏈

Cathedral Prep Athletics Roundup for Tuesday, May 19:

• Varsity baseball closed out the regular season with an 8-4 over St. Joe’s (NY). AJ Sirianni had a pair of hits, including a homerun, and drove in two. Joe Flanagan also had two hits and two RBIs. Derick Friedman doubled and drove in a run. Matthew Oblich, Sam Ciukaj, and Owen Fetzner each had an RBI. ⚾

Mary’s Day card sorting is well underway for tomorrow’s celebration! #Prep #MarysDay ✝🕊

Calling all Victors and Ramblers! It’s time to reunite! This year, the classes of 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021 will get together for fun activities and reminisce about their time at Prep and Villa. Reunion Weekend will be held July 17 – 19! Is it your year to celebrate? Visit www.cathedralprep.com/rw26 for more information and registration! #Prep #Villa #ReunionWeekend2026 ⚫🟠🔵⚪

Our students have enjoyed monthly visits with our little brothers and sisters at Mother Teresa Academy over the course of the school year! Students had the opportunity to visit with students in kindergarten, first grade and middle school. #Prep #MTA #Family 🧡💙

Blue skies, nonstop competition, and plenty of school spirit made last Friday’s Sports Day at the Hagerty Family Events Center one to remember! From soccer to flag football, to street hockey, to Mario Kart, to pin dodgeball, events took place all over the complex. Ultimately, the Class of 2029 took home the crown on their first Sports Day, knocking off the two-time champion Class of 2026. The seniors earned runner-up honors. A very special thank you to our Sports Day advisors, Ms. Beuchert, Mrs. Martin, and Mr. Schreffler, for bringing our campus together for this fun-filled day! Also, a very special thank you to all our volunteers for the day! #Prep #SportsDay2026 🏈⚽🎮🏀♟🏒🏸🏐

Our cadets had the honor of placing flags on the graves of veterans at Lakeside Cemetery over the weekend in preparation for Memorial Day.

Service members from every major American conflict were represented, from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War to both World Wars and beyond. It was a powerful reminder of the generations of sacrifice that have defended our nation’s freedoms.

We are proud to help ensure these heroes are remembered and honored. #Prep

Mrs. Drabant’s English II Honors students recently completed reading and analyzing works of both fiction and nonfiction using a Book Club/Literature Circle format. They selected books from both fiction and nonfiction options, created book clubs, set their reading schedules, and met weekly. Each student had a role and work to complete in preparation for the meeting to facilitate their discussion and analysis. The roles included summarizer, discussion director, literary luminary, connector, and illustrator. As part of the culmination of this unit, students created an independent project. They could choose between composing a six-word story to capture the most important part of the story or create a book spine that included important quotes and symbols representing the book. They are now working in their small groups to create a presentation for their peers that introduces their book and provides examples of some of their analysis from their weekly meetings.

The overall theme of the unit was Windows and Mirrors, exploring how both fiction and nonfiction can be either windows or mirrors for us as readers and are important for developing empathy. Each work tells the story of an individual or character overcoming adversity. The books the students selected included works of fiction (All American Boys, Dear Martin, When I was the Greatest) and works of nonfiction (They Called Us Enemy, Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, When I Was Puerto Rican, and Free Lunch). #Prep #English 📚