Athletes at Aquinas Academy in Hampton ready for collegiate level

Small, as they say, can be mighty.

“I think it’s awesome that at a school of our size, with 154 high school students, six of our seniors are going to be playing college athletics,” Leslie Mitros said.

She is head of school at Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh in Hampton, which celebrated the spring sports season with a May 17 pep rally.

For the main attraction, half a dozen students signed letters of intent to continue their careers at the next level:

• Alexis Abbett, cross country, Gannon University in Erie.

In one of her final events representing Aquinas Academy, she placed second in the 3,200-meter run at the WPIAL High School Track and Field Championship on May 16 at Slippery Rock University. Alexis’ finish qualified her for the state championship at Shippensburg University on May 25, after the Hampton Journal went to press.

• Annie Austin, cross country and track, Ave Maria University in Florida.

Excelling academically as a National Merit Commended Student, Annie also was a member of the Crusaders’ girls basketball team.

• Emily Fisher, basketball, La Roche University in McCandless.

Among the highlights of Emily’s senior year at Aquinas Academy were her selections to the All-WPIAL and WPIAL All-Section basketball teams, and as Most Valuable Player in the season-opening tip-off tournament hosted by the Crusaders.

• Alexa Queen, field hockey, Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.

As a senior, she was selected for the All-WPIAL team, as was her twin sister, Mackenzie. Alexa joins older sister Emma, a former Aquinas standout, at Bates.

• Ryan Policicchio, soccer, Allegheny College in Meadville.

A WPIAL All-Section 3-A performer, Ryan Policicchio scored 10 goals for the Crusaders in the fall as they doubled their win total over 2022.

• Elizabeth Swift, tennis, Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.

A longtime competitor for the Butler Country Club, Lizzy scored well academically as a member of Aquinas Academy’s mock trial team, which advanced to the state finals. She also participated with classmates in the Pittsburgh Public Theater Shakespeare Competition, who earned an invitation to perform in the Showcase of Finalists.

During the Aquinas Academy pep rally, members of the Crusaders’ spring high school teams were acknowledged: track and field, boys volleyball, lacrosse and baseball. The latter marked its first season of competition in 2024, with former Major League Baseball pitcher David Phelps taking the reins as head coach.

Further recognition was given to the athletes in Aquinas’ lower and middle schools.

High school seniors are looking forward to commencement on June 1, with Mitros sending them off as the day’s featured speaker.

“We have an outstanding group of students graduating and going to great schools,” she said. “They’ve been a hard-working crew. They’ve accomplished a lot, and we’re very proud of them.”