# Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School

Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School, sometimes called Kapaun, is a private, four year, co-educational, secondary school operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wichita. It is located on the east side of Wichita, Kansas. The school colors are blue and white. The average annual enrollment is approximately 850 students.
Kapaun Mt. Carmel is a member of the Kansas State High School Activities Association and offers a variety of sports programs. Athletic teams compete in the 5A division and are known as the "Crusaders". Extracurricular activities are also offered in the form of performing arts, school publications, and clubs.

## History

Chaplain Kapaun Memorial High School was named after Chaplain Emil Kapaun, a priest of the Wichita Diocese who served and died in the Korean War. It opened in 1956 another site on east Central Ave (not the same as the present site), in east Wichita, and was operated by the Jesuits as a preparatory school for young men. Jesuits served at the school in various capacities until the early 1990s. Alumni of the initial Chaplain Kapaun school recall that under the basketball court's "floating floor" was a rifle range, where students - under supervision - practiced marksmanship with school-supplied .22 cal rifles, and that supported a school rifle team.
Mount Carmel Academy was established in 1887 by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) as a girl's boarding school. The BVM sisters served the school until the early 1990s. John (Jack) Vickers (1891-1940) was an oil mogul who got his start in Butler County oil fields and former "Vickers Oil Refinery" in Potwin. In 1934, Vickers built a large mansion at 8500 E Central (named "Vickridge"). In 1961, his estate became the new site for "Mount Carmel Academy".
Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School was established in 1971 as the result of the merger of "Chaplain Kapaun Memorial High School" and "Mount Carmel Academy" at the current Vickridge location.
In 2006, Kapaun Mt. Carmel began a $2.3 million expansion to the school. A new restroom was constructed, as well as expanded art and debate rooms, new teacher lounges, and a new student commons area. The expansion was completed in August 2007.

## Academics

Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School is also accredited by the State of Kansas, and the National Catholic Educational Association. Institutional membership is held in the National Association of College Admissions Counseling and several other professional organizations.

## Extracurricular activities
### Athletics

The Crusaders compete in the Greater Wichita Athletic League (GWAL) and are classified as a 5A school, the second-largest classification in Kansas according to the Kansas State High School Activities Association. Throughout its history, Kapaun Mt. Carmel has won 102 state championships in various sports.

#### Football

From 1969 to 1990, Eddie Kriwiel coached football and served as the athletic director at Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School. Kriwiel won 297 games as a high school football coach and his teams had just two losing seasons in 36 years. His teams played in 12 state championship games and won 9.

#### Golf

Coach Kriwiel was also successful as a high school golf coach. From 1969 to 1990, his teams won 20 state titles and 28 top-four finishes. While unofficial, this is believed by many to be a national record. Coach Corey Novascone brought success back to the Kapaun Mt Carmel Golf team. Compiling 7 state titles in a row as a head coach for both boys and girls golf. The girls' golf team had a 30-year stretch between state titles. Coach Marie Thomas, Coach Corey Novascone, and Coach Eric Johnsen were on the coaching staff for 9 state championships in the 11 year stretch from 2013 to 2024. As of 2024, the boys golf team holds the national record for most state championships as a high school team at 34.

#### Other sports

Kapaun Mt. Carmel currently has the most Kansas state championships in football, wrestling, and golf as well as holding two grand state wrestling championships. The grand state wrestling championship tournament was only held twice, with Kapaun winning both.

#### State championships

State Championships :
| Season | Sport | Number of Championships | Year |
| Fall | Cross Country, Boys | 4 | 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981 |
| Fall | Cross Country, Girls | 1 | 2003 |
| Fall | Football | 9 | 1970, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1987 |
| Fall | Soccer, Boys | 1 | 1997 |
| Fall | Golf, Girls | 11 | 1975, 1983, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| Fall | Tennis, Girls | 13 | 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2019 |
| Fall | Gymnastics, Girls | 4 | 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 |
| Winter | Wrestling | 12 | 1975, 1975 Grand State, 1976, 1976 Grand State, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 |
| Winter | Basketball, Boys | 5 | 1978, 1980, 1981, 2012, 2024 |
| Winter | Basketball, Girls | 2 | 1979, 2012 |
| Winter | Indoor Track & Field, Boys | 2 | 1977, 1978 |
| Spring | Baseball | 1 | 1963 |
| Spring | Track and Field, Girls | 1 | 2005 |
| Spring | Track and Field, Boys | 7 | 1977 indoor, 1977 outdoor, 1978 indoor, 1978 outdoor, 1979, 1982, 1983 |
| Spring | Tennis, Boys | 1 | 1999 |
| Spring | Golf, Boys | 34 | 1958 (2-Man), 1964 (2-Man), 1971, 1972 (2-Man), 1973, 1975 (2-Man), 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2024 |
| Total | Total | 108 |

### Non-athletic activities
#### Science Olympiad

Kapaun Mt. Carmel won the Kansas State Science Olympiad competition from 2003 to 2007.

#### Scholars Bowl

The Crusaders won the Scholars Bowl State Tournament in 1996, 2001, 2002, 2013 and 2017.

#### Eco Meet

Kapaun Mt. Carmel won the State Eco-Meet competition in 2005 and 2006.

## Notable alumni

* David Arkin, former player for the Dallas Cowboys
* Dan and Frank Carney, founders of Pizza Hut
* Greg Dreiling, former NBA player
* Tysyn Hartman, former NFL player
* Grier Jones, former PGA Tour golfer, 1968 NCAA champion and former golf coach at Wichita State University
* Ben Powers, offensive lineman Denver Broncos
* Mary Ann Coady Weinand, psychiatrist
* Matt Schlapp, political lobbyist, political analyst on television

## Notable faculty

* Eddie Kriwiel, football and golf coach, member of 7 Kansas Halls of Fame