About Us
Athletics
Providence is a member of Illinois High School Association (IHSA), the Chicago Catholic League (CCL) for boys' teams and the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC) for Girls' teams.
Athletic History
In the fall of 1962 Providence High School opened its doors at its new location in New Lenox. Tom Dedin was appointed the school’s first athletic director and he immediately began the athletic program. That fall the first sports were freshman boys’ soccer, basketball and baseball. The girls’ program was not interscholastic. The girls were involved in G.A.A. (Girls’ Athletic Association) which was an intramural league.
Major changes took place in 1972-73 with the addition of women’s interscholastic programs. Nan Airola became the first Girls’ Athletic Coordinator. Tom Dedin left Providence after the 1975-76 school years and Matt Senffner replaced Tom Dedin as Athletic Director in 1976.
Conference affiliation began in the late 1960’s when Providence joined the South Central Prep League. In 1971, the Celtics joined the Private School League and remained in it until the 1986-87 school years. In the fall of 1987, the Celtics began a two year affiliation with the West Suburban Catholic Conference. In the fall of 1989, Providence became an independent. In 1996 the school joined the Chicago Catholic League in boys’ sports while the school joined the East Suburban Catholic Conference in 2000 in girls’ sports. The girls left the ESCC in 2014 and joined the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC) the following fall.
In the mid-70’s, the Illinois High School Association started enrollment classification for state competition. By the end of the decade Providence had become an athletic powerhouse by winning State Championships in boys’ baseball 1978 (Jaime Garcia), wrestling 1978 (coach Tim Ruettiger) and girls’ track 1978 (Sr. Judith Legan). The boys’ basketball team captured the State Title in 1979 (coach Frank Palmasani).
In the 80’s as the enrollment grew, Providence became a “AA” school. Continuing its success, State Championships were captured in baseball 1982 (coach Jaime Garcia), football 1987 (coach Matt Senffner), and wrestling 1981(coach Tim Ruettiger), 1988 (coach Tim Ruettiger), and 1989 (coach Mike Polz). The baseball field was named Tom Dedin Field in honor of the man who worked so hard to initiate the athletic programs at Providence.
In the 90’s the football program captured State Championships in 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 under head coach Matt Senffner. The football team compiled the 2nd longest winning streak in Illinois history while winning four consecutive State Championships. The 50 game winning streak began at the start of the 1994 season and concluded in the ninth game of the 1997 season.
In the 00’s the football team came back to win three more State Championships in 2001, 2002 and 2004 (coach Matt Senffner). The football field was named Matt Senffner Field in 2006 to honor the longtime coach and at the time of his retirement in 2006 the winningest coach in the state of Illinois with 300 wins.
The Wrestling Team captured State Championships in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 for a state record six consecutive state championship all under Coach Keith Healy.
In 2004, the Pom Pon Team earned a state championship trophy.
In addition, the Celtic Cheerleading Team took 3rd in State in 2003 and were National Champions in 2004, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. In 2013, they capped off their season with an IHSA State Championship in the large Division.
In 2008, the Boys Volleyball Team captured an IHSA 4th place state trophy.
In 2009, the Boys’ Golf Team took 5th place at State, in 2010 8th place and in 2011 9th place.
In 2009, the Football Team brought home a 2nd place state trophy and won the tough Catholic League Blue Conference championship beating all teams in the conference. Also in 2009, The Varsity Boys Hockey Team won the Illinois State Championship with a 6-5 overtime victory over Highland Park. This exciting Celtic win was for the White Division of the AHAI Blackhawk Cup making this Providence Catholic’s 1st State Championship in Hockey.
In 2010, 2011 and 2012 the Baseball Team won the Catholic League Conference. In 2011 the Varsity Baseball Team earned a 2nd place state trophy.
In 2012, Softball Team won an IHSA 3rd place State trophy in Class 3A.
In 2013, the Boy’s Track Team produced a first ever 2nd Place State trophy.
In 2014, the Boys' Baseball Team won the IHSA 4A State Championship and the Football team won the 7A State Championship.
In 2015 and 2016 the Boys' Baseball Team again won the IHSA Class 4A state Championships completing a historic "3Peat" becoming the first school in IHSA history to win 3 consecutive state titles in baseball. The baseball program also set a state record for consecutive post season victories with 23 beginning in 2014 and concluding in 2017.
The wrestling program continued their success by capturing a 4th place finish in 2016 and a 3rd place finish in 2018 which concluded a Hall of Fame career for head Coach Keith Healy.
In 2018 the Softball team finished an exciting season with a 3rd place state finish.
In 2018-2019, Celtic athletic teams captured regional championships in 8 sports and sectional championships in 3. Four teams qualified for the state tournament (Girls Golf, Boys Cross Country, Dance, and Bass Fishing) with Girls Golf finishing in 8th and Girls Track and Field 17th. Two Head Coaches were named Conference Coaches of the Year, Kevin Kullman (Bowling) and lee Rucinski (Boys Volleyball).
The 2019-2020 school year brought a challenging time with the COVID pandemic hitting in the spring of 2020 and the cancellation of spring sports. Up until that time Celtic Athletic Teams had won 3 regional titles, 3 conference titles, and a sectional championship in Girls Basketball. Dance and Cheer both qualified for State competition with Dance finishing in 11th place. Girls Tennis, led by Emma Davis' 3rd place individual effort, was able to finish in 7th place. Head Wrestling Coach Don Reynolds was named the CCL Coach of the Year.
With COVID still being a factor, the 2020-21 school athletic year was a bit crazy with the movement of many sports from their traditional seasons in order to give student atheletes a chance to compete. Many state tournament series were canceled however most outdoor sports were able to participate in the state series. Regional Championships were won by Boys Golf, Softball, and Baseball. Dance, Girls Tennis, and Baseball all won sectional championships, and Dance Completed an amazing year by winning the IHSA Class 1A state tournament giving the Celtics their 31st State Championship! Cheerleading and Bass Fishing also qualified for the state tournament. Jim Barker, GIrls Golf Coach, was named the NFHS Illinois Coach of the Year.
The 2021-22 school year brought new excitment as our "normal" came back somewhat with the return of in person learning for all and the regular schedule for sports. We are excited to see what the school year will bring!
The school has captured hundreds of Conference, Regional and Sectional championships since 1962. To date, Providence Catholic High School has won 31 State Championship Titles, which is more than any other Catholic high school in Illinois! Celtic teams have also accumulated 69 state trophies.
Athletic Facilities
Providence Catholic High School sits on a beautiful 75 acres campus. The school’s athletic facilities include Bishop Kaffer Stadium and Matt Senffner Field that has synthetic turf (2012) and is surrounded by an all-weather track (2012). The stadium features has new lighting (2008) and was recently renovated with new home stands (2004). In addition to the bleachers, many other improvements were made to the stadium, including a new broadcast booth, sound system; scoreboard and renovated concession stand (2004).
The school’s Main Campus has two softball diamonds and two baseball diamonds. The varsity baseball team plays on Tom Dedin Field which was completely renovated in 2008. The project included a brick backstop, new home and visitor dugouts, storage and locker rooms, and press box.
The girls varsity softball field was renovated in 2012 with a new brick backstop along with a netting; home and away dugouts, storage area and a second story locker room along with a press box.
The indoor facilities include two gymnasiums, a complete wrestling facility, training center and a fully equipped weight room. The wrestling room was renovated in the summer of 2016 and the Sacred Heart Gym received a face lift of a new floor in the summer of 2017. The Immaculate Heart Gym received a new floor in 2012. Providence prides itself on having among the finest, most dedicated coaching staff in the state.
In addition, the school’s West Campus (¼ mile west of the main campus located at Gougar Road & Rt. 30) features two soccer fields, a freshman baseball diamond. In 2013, PCHS added two full size sand volleyball courts. The varsity soccer field received a brand new scoreboard in 2016. The West Campus sits on fourteen (14) acres.
In 2012, PCHS acquired the South Campus (1/4 west and ¼ south of the school at Gougar Road and Ferro Drive), which features a cross-country running course (Wilderness Trail) and is the future site of athletic facilities and parking on twenty-five (25) acres.
31 State Championships and Counting!
The Celtics maintain a standard of excellence that is second to none. To date, Providence Catholic High School has won 30 state championship titles, which is more than any other Catholic high school in Illinois!
Baseball: '78, '82, '14, 15, 16
Boys' Basketball: '79
Cheerleading: '13
Dance '21
Football: '87, '91, '94, '95, '96, '97, '01, '02, '04, '14
Hockey: '09
Pom Pons: '04
Girls' Track: '78
Wrestling: '78, '81, '88, '89, '97, '98, '99, '00, '01, '02
