Class of 2029 Spartan Family Welcome Night

Tuesday night, Rising Spartans enjoyed an evening of connection and discovery of the wide range of co-curricular activities at SFHS! Welcome Class of 2029!

Join Us On The SFHS Path

Let us always and everywhere cling to our faith and believe humbly and firmly all that it teaches.

Saint Francis of Assisi 

Welcome

How the Spirit of Saint Francis Shapes Student Success

Our community thrives because of the Franciscan values of love and service, bringing energy, passion, and warmth to everything we do. Rooted in the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi, these values continue to inspire student achievement, engagement, and success. Here are three ways Saint Francis’s legacy defines our community today.

This Community Cares, Just Like Saint Francis

Saint Francis had a remarkable ability to form deep friendships and see others in a way that inspired service. We mirror this by focusing on students and providing them with a caring, supportive community. Our faculty, dynamic co-curricular student life, innovative Microsoft Showcase School classroom experience, and comprehensive Counseling Department are all here to nurture students. This focus on students’ needs helps them thrive, grow, and succeed.

This Community Radiates Joy, Just Like Saint Francis

Saint Francis lived with the joy of the Gospel and carried peace in his heart. In the same way, we celebrate the joy of Catholic life and service through a Franciscan lens. Freshmen are introduced to Saint Francis in their religion classes, learning about his life, the prayers he wrote, and the values he embodied—peace, love, light, and joy. We encourage students to live these virtues and to recognize the need for them in others.

This Community Values Strength and Action, Just Like Saint Francis

Saint Francis took bold, decisive actions that often surprised those around him. Similarly, we challenge our students every day to focus on their strengths and pursue growth in their academic endeavors. Through a comprehensive four-year academic program, students are equipped for college success and graduate with the skills and mindset essential for thriving in their professional careers.

The Francis Way—built on Franciscan virtues—prepares students for success, both in college and in life. Visit us this spring for a personal tour, shadow day, or Spartan Showcase to learn more. We look forward to meeting you!

Go Spartans,

Patrick Jacobsen, Director of Admissions

This Issue’s Feature: Student Involvement

Athletics – Winter Recap

The SFHS Spartans are yearly contenders for Conference and State titles. Our legendary coaches, gifted athletes, and loyal fans create a winning team. Our inclusive program consists of both cut and non-cut teams providing many opportunities to compete. Our coaches are committed to ensuring athletes rise to their potential. Congratulations to our teams on their outstanding athletic accomplishments during the winter 2024-2025 season.

BOYS BASKETBALL

• All-Conference HM selections – Mark Balaskovits ’25 and Niko Quaranta ‘25
• Spartan Award – Owen Gjerde ‘25
• Mike Harper Award – Jon Yarusso ‘25
• Defensive Player of the Year – Nate Silagi ‘26
• Most Improved – Mark Balaskovits ‘25
• Player of the Year – Niko Quaranta ‘25

GIRLS BASKETBALL

• Competed in IHSA Regional Championship
• All-Conference selections – Riley Austin ‘25 and Téa Rubino ‘25 (making it back-to-back-to back all-conference selections for both – first in Metro Suburban and now in GCAC)
• Most Improved Award – Marianna Golden ‘25
• Spartan Awards – Ashley Powell ‘26 and Téa Rubino ‘25
• MVP – Riley Austin ‘25

CHEER

• 3rd Place at the Catholic League Championship
• 1st Place at Sectionals (1st TIME SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS IN SFHS SCHOOL HISTORY!)
• 4x IHSA State Qualifiers
• 2x IHSA State Finals Qualifiers
• 7th Place at IHSA State (Best finish in SFHS School History!)
• All Conference selections: Alyssa Zagotta ‘25, Elle Zbierski ‘25, Mia Hansen ‘25

DANCE

• Placed Top 3 at 4 of 6 Regional Competitions
• 11x IHSA State Qualifiers 
• Placed in the top 24 teams in the State for the 1A Division 
• All Conference Athlete: Julia Johanesson '25

WRESTLING

• Won 7 duel meets in 2024-2025 season (compared to 3 in 2023-2024)
• Multiple Top 5 tournament finishes
• IHSA Team Regionals – 5th Place
• IHSA Sectional Qualifiers – Paul Coco ‘26, Chase Siguenza ‘27, & Jaylen Torres ’26
• IHSA Regional Champion – Jaylen Torres ‘26
• IHSA Sectional Champion – Jaylen Torres ‘26
• IHSA State 3rd Place – Jaylen Torres ‘26

"I Am St. Francis"

 What does ATTENTION at SFHS mean to you?

Boys Basketball

“My basketball season at St. Francis was a highlight of my year. Getting to be with the team and my friends every day after school for practice is something I really enjoyed. But my favorite part of the basketball season was celebrating wins in the locker room and getting dinner together as a team post-game. Being able to spend time with my teammates off the court at meals is something I am going to cherish forever, as that is how our team got so close with each other and why the season was so special.” – Carter C. ’26 (St. Michael)

Girls Basketball

“What I enjoyed most about being part of the girls’ basketball team was the sense of community and the friendships I built with my teammates. Off the court, I enjoyed the team’s bonding activities, whether it was hanging out before practices/games or getting dinner together. The support and encouragement we gave each other both during games and at school made the experience special. Besides improving my basketball skills, the season also was about growth, teamwork, and making memories together.” – Hannah G. ’27 (St. Pius X)

Wrestling

“Wrestling is the most challenging thing I have ever done in my life. It’s completely different from any other sport I have played before, however the community and experience I was able to be a part of was worth it. Wrestling shapes who you are as a person, and I will always remember the long practices I spent with my teammates. Wrestling was a big commitment, but I loved every minute I spent with my teammates.” – Alex S. ’27 (St. Michael)

Dance

“The Winter dance team season definitely comes with added commitments and is certainly an adjustment from our fall season, but it has blessed me in so many ways, and I am extremely grateful for our program! Being together almost every day for practices/competitions brought the eight of us on the team so close together, it honestly felt like a family. Outside of dance, we all love to spend time together, whether it be getting food after school, hanging out after practice, or having sleepovers. This season, my coaches taught me a lot about goal setting, hard work, and determination. A big highlight from our season was qualifying for IHSA State!! We worked so hard to get there as a team and created memories that I will never forget.” – Francesca B. ’26 (Eastview MS)

Around Campus This Month

2025 Ensuring Our Future Auction

Thank you to all our sponsors, attendees, and participants for helping make our 2025 Ensuring Our Future Auction such an unforgettable night! We are so grateful to all of our supporters!

Ash Wednesday

The Spartan Community gathered together on Ash Wednesday, for a truly meaningful morning of reflection. Thank you to our Fr. Jim Murphy, our incredible band and choir, and our Pastoral Ministry and Student Ministry teams. We wish you all a blessed Lenten season.

Spartan Robotics Earns Global Ranking

The Spartan Robotics team, one of the first rookie teams to reach the State Finals in the past five years, recently finished Top 15 in their division, and are currently ranked among the top 15% in the world! Additionally, congratulations to Kate Reidenbach ’27 for winning the Illinois Dean’s List Finalist Award, and is one of four individuals from Illinois advancing to the World Championships in Houston in April!

SFHS Music, once again, Tops in Illinois

We are thrilled to announce the SFHS Music Department continued its tradition of excellence at the IHSA State Solo & Ensemble Contest recently. As a department (choir, band, and orchestra) SFHS placed 1st overall for a second year in a row! Individually, SFHS Choir placed 1st for the sixth year in a row, Band placed 2nd for the second year in a row, and Orchestra placed 4th. Congratulations to all!

Congratulations to our incredible performers, and Director Brandon Lewis, for putting on a memorable spring musical recently! The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical was a huge success, and Spartan Nation is so proud of you!

You're Invited

Upcoming Varsity Home Matches/Games Go Spartans!

 *Subject to change

Thursday, March 20

Baseball vs. Riverside-Brookfield

4:30 p.m.

Don Jones Baseball Field

Saturday, March 22

Baseball vs. Glenbard West

11:00 a.m.

Don Jones Baseball Field

Tuesday, March 25

Boys Tennis vs. St. Laurence

4:30 p.m.

SFHS Tennis Courts

Wednesday, March 26

Softball vs. Nazareth

4:30 p.m.

SFHS Softball Field

Boys Volleyball vs. Wheaton North

6:00 p.m.

Spyglass Athletic Center

Thursday, March 27

Softball vs. DePaul Prep

4:30 p.m.

East Street Park – Winfield

Boys Tennis vs. DePaul Prep

4:30 p.m.

SFHS Tennis Courts

Boys Lacrosse vs. Naperville Central

5:30 p.m.

Kuhn Memorial Stadium

Monday, April 7

Baseball vs. DePaul Prep

4:30 p.m.

Don Jones Baseball Field

Boys Tennis vs. IMSA

4:30 p.m.

SFHS Tennis Courts

Boys Lacrosse vs. Nazareth

5:30 p.m.

Kuhn Memorial Stadium

Tuesday, April 8

Boys Tennis vs. Providence Catholic

4:30 p.m.

SFHS Tennis Courts

Boys Volleyball vs. Loyola

6:00 p.m.

Spyglass Athletic Center

Girls Soccer vs. Fenwick

7:00 p.m.

Kuhn Memorial Stadium

Wednesday, April 9

Boys Volleyball vs. St. Charles North

6:00 p.m.

Spyglass Athletic Center

Thursday, April 10

Softball vs. Aurora Central Catholic

4:30 p.m.

SFHS Softball Field

Boys Tennis vs. St. Ignatius

4:30 p.m.

SFHS Tennis Courts

Girls Lacrosse vs. Naperville North

5:30 p.m.

Kuhn Memorial Stadium

Boys Lacrosse vs. Brother Rice

7:00 p.m.

Kuhn Memorial Stadium

Friday, April 11

Baseball vs. Brother Rice

4:30 p.m.

Don Jones Baseball Field

Softball vs. St. Edward

4:30 p.m.

SFHS Softball Field

Saturday, April 12

Boys Lacrosse vs. Crystal Lake South

11:00 a.m.

Kuhn Memorial Stadium

Girls Lacrosse vs. Carmel Catholic

2:00 p.m.

Kuhn Memorial Stadium