To the St. Thomas Aquinas Baseball Family,
On Monday, April 20, Governor DeWine announced that schools will complete the school year remotely. This decision led the OHSAA to cancel the spring athletic seasons. While I understand the necessity of making these difficult decisions, I am deeply saddened by it.
I am very proud of each and every one of the players who were looking forward to this upcoming baseball season. Some of them were new players, however, many were returning. While this would have been my first year as head coach, I have been part of the St. Thomas Aquinas Baseball program for the past seven years. From the parents and players, both past and present, our team is a “true Aquinas family.” As we began preseason workouts this year, I couldn’t be more pleased with the work ethic, camaraderie and love our players exhibited.
The 2020 St. Thomas Aquinas Baseball Team would have featured four young men who have greatly contributed to the program. I’ve had the great pleasure to coach each one of them in not only two sports, baseball and basketball, but have been fortunate enough to have them as students. I am extremely proud of them and I am thankful for the relationships we have made. To our seniors: Alex Hawkins, Jacob Stephens, Max Kaczynski, and Caden Johnson, I thank you for everything that you have brought to the Aquinas family. There is no doubt that whether we would have won or lost this season, you have made our program better! Your leadership, team unity, and passion for the game of baseball will, without a doubt, be a torch carried into the future by our Aquinas underclassmen. I thank you for truly “Showing the Way.”
To our underclassmen: I challenge you to take-up our seniors’ dedication, drive and passion. Allow this time away to be a small detour on the road of winning a future championship. I encourage you to continue to grow as students, baseball players, and young men while we get through these uncertain times. I have faith that we can all come out of this better. “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me,” (Philippians 4:13). We can get through this together.
I will continue to pray for everyone's health and well-being. I love and miss you all and hope to see everyone soon. Please, don’t hesitate to reach out to myself or anyone at Aquinas if there is anything that you need. Go Knights!
Nick Stanek
Head Baseball Coach
St. Thomas Aquinas High School