Msgr. Ivan Vap was ordained in May 1954 and was assigned as part of the original faculty for the new central Catholic high school in Lincoln. He received his teaching endorsement from UNL and began teaching Religion and Industrial Arts at Pius X while also serving as Athletic Director. Msgr. Vap was later assigned to […]
Coach Aldrich began the Pius X football program in 1956 as part of the original staff of Pius X and served in the capacity of head coach until his death in 1985. Over the course of four decades, he compiled 18 winning seasons and a record of 154-91-10. Those winning seasons amounted to 13 Top
Bill Ryan starred in three sports at Pius X, retiring as the all-time leader in rushing yards in school history and is second in touchdowns scored in a career. Ryan is also 51st on the all-time basketball scoring charts and continues to hold five all-time records in the baseball program, including stolen bases and strikeouts
Tom Burt currently sits atop the Pius X basketball charts in points scored in a season and points scored in a career, once amassing a streak of 33 consecutive games scoring in double figures. He also earned a district championship in golf before accepting a scholarship to play basketball at Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C.
Jill Noel Korta owns the most decorated career of any athlete in Pius X history. She won every race of her high school cross country career, including three state championships and two all-class gold medals. She was All-City and All-State in both track and cross country from 1980-1982 and still holds the Pius X record
Although he gained national notoriety in football, Micah Heibel actually completed a diversely successful athletic career at Pius X. While earning All-City, All-State, and All-American honors in football, Heibel also earned All-State honors in basketball and was a silver medalist in the state track meet. He received a football scholarship to the University of Nebraska
Michael Bohaty completed a storied high school career that concluded with selection to the Shrine Bowl and a place atop the Pius X career scoring list on the hardwood. Bohaty was an All-City selection and renowned as one of the best all-around athletes to represent the Thunderbolts. Bohaty joined the Nebraska Cornhusker football program after
Mick Ziegler was a rare four-sport star for Pius X, amassing more varsity letters than any athlete in school history. He attended the University of Nebraska on a full football scholarship and started at wide receiver for the Huskers, earning two letters. After earning a degree in business, Ziegler joined the Air National Guard and
Don Houser serves as one of the many storied athletes who first took the field to represent Pius X, beginning a tradition of excellence entrusted to future generations. While a multi-year letter winner in track and basketball, newspapers describe Houser as a punishing runner with the football and an excellent all-around athlete. He was honored
1957 Golf Team – Jere Carey, Charlie Burda, 1959 Golf Team – Coach Bill Inbody, Phil Breitfelder, and Tom Melby Tom Yax, Jere Carey, Jules VanDersarl, and Joe Herrod Many people may not know that the Catholic High Schools of Lincoln gained statewide notoriety for their golf teams as much as any sport when Pius
Colson excelled at volleyball throughout high school and college, writing a decorated story along the way. She was the first freshman to earn a starting position for Coach Jake Moore, earning four varsity letters. She was eventually named a four time All-City selection and four time All-State selection, winning three straight State Championship trophies from
Paul Kastl serves as one of the elite examples of the many exceptional multi sport athletes that have walked the halls of Pius X. He earned All-City recognition two times and was an All-State and Shrine Bowl selection in football. He still holds the all-time record for most rushing yards per game in school history
Wickham concluded an exceptional year as captain of the 1964 basketball team that not only earned the first state tournament bid in Pius X history, but also stands as the only basketball team to earn a bid into the Class A state tournament. Long before the three point line and creating shots off the dribble
Coach Kelley served as head boys’ basketball coach at Pius X from 1968 to 1980, advancing to the state tournament five times and winning the 1974 state championship en route to a 123-120 record. During this time he also served as head baseball coach, earning a state championship bid in 1974. He was also an
Pius X celebrates the induction of the 1992 girls basketball team as one of the best basketball teams in the history of Thunderbolt athletics. The Class of 1992 finished their career as part of a 94-4 varsity stretch that included four trips to the state championship and back to back state titles in 1991 and
Harrington completed one of the most accomplished three sport careers in Pius X history. He earned 1st team All-City and All-State honors in football and baseball while earning 2nd team All-State honors in basketball. He was part of two state championship football teams and still holds career records in touchdown receptions and receiving yards. He
Dawson engineered a basketball resume that can be argued as one of the best in Pius X history. She came on the radar her sophomore year as a 2nd team All-City selection before earning 1st Team All-City and All-State honors her junior and senior seasons. She was named the USA Today Nebraska player of the
Eddie Cripe was an All-City performer in two sports for Cathedral High School during an era when the school did not participate in spring sports. Cripe also earned all-state honors for football in multiple publications. He guided the Bluebirds to an undefeated 10-0 season and state championship in six-man football in 1951. CHS outscored opponents
O’Boyle attended the University of Nebraska on a track scholarship and joined the Pius X faculty in 1968. After 17 years as a PE and health teacher, O’Boyle became Athletic Director, serving in that capacity for 25 years until his retirement in 2009. Coach O’Boyle will take one step closer to his 50th year coaching
The 2004 girls soccer team achieved national acclaim and set countless school records en route to an undefeated season (21-0) of dominance so great that the Bolts did not so much as allow a post season goal. The team consisted of four all-state selections and seven all-city honorees that contributed to school records for wins,
The Nigro name became synonymous with gold medals during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Twin sisters Jeniffer and Christina (’98) accompanied younger sister Laura (’00) in earning 11 individual gold medals in tennis en route to the Pius X tennis team winning four consecutive Class B state titles from 1995-1998. Jeniffer never lost a
Ken Rosburg (’79) excelled in both football and wrestling during the late 1970s and etched his name in Thunderbolt history as the first wrestling gold medalist in school history. Rosburg earned the 1979 gold medal in the 185lb class at the state meet. His all-city and all-state wrestling selection came on the heels of earning
Dayle Churchill (’65) earned status as one of the legendary pioneers of Thunderbolt athletics, excelling in both football and basketball. Churchill earned the prestigious Sertoma Award two times during the course of all-city and all-state recognition in both football and basketball. He remains 6th on the all-time scoring list in boys basketball (as of 2018)
Two classrooms in the new addition will be named after the first industrial arts teacher and former superintendent at Pius X High School. The Msgr. Ivan F. Vap Industrial Arts Center will be the new hub to support students’ exploratory and developmental experiences in industrial technology, including computer aided drafting and design (CADD) classes. Msgr.
Tim Aylward compiled a 204-113 record over 31 years as head coach of the Thunderbolt football program, earning four state championships and some of the most prestigious awards given to high school coaches in Nebraska. Aylward was named the Lincoln Journal Star Coach of the year in 1995-96 and the Omaha World Herald Coach of
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