MANSFIELD, OHIO — When the Spartans stepped onto the court at St. John Arena in 1968, 1978, and 1980 they were not just playing for a state championship, they were carrying forward a legacy that began in 1958 with legendary coach Bob Frye. That legacy didn’t happen by accident. It was built on the same foundation that drives Spartan Athletics today: the belief that sports shape souls, not just skills.
At St. Peter’s School, athletics means more than games won or records broken. It means shaping student-athletes into leaders—young men and women who embody excellence, resilience, faith, academic drive, and service. And thanks to a strategic, mission-driven approach that honors its championship pedigree while embracing every child’s potential, Spartan Athletics is emerging as a model for what student formation through sports can truly look like.
Where Academics and Athletics Intersect by Design
“We’re not just forming athletes,” said Dr. Cassandra Parente, Head of School. “We’re forming individuals of good character and academic excellence. And we’ve strategically staffed our athletics program to reflect that mission—to ensure our coaches are shaping scholar-athletes who are also men and women of virtue, purpose, and faith.”
One unique feature of the Spartan Athletics program is that its leadership team also serves in key academic and behavioral support roles. Athletic Director and JV Basketball Coach E.J. Windom also serves as Academic Coach, and Varsity Basketball Head Coach Roy Shoulders is the school’s Dean of Students. This intentional overlap allows coaches to mentor students consistently, not just in competition, but also in the classroom, hallway, and life.
Windom tracks students' grades, teaches executive functioning skills, and helps them set academic goals. His philosophy—”strong minds, strong hearts, strong teams”—defines the culture of Spartan Athletics.
“When I stepped into this role, my first priority was restoring Spartan spirit,” said Windom.
“Being a Spartan is more than just a mascot or a uniform—it’s a symbol of resilience and pride. Our program is about building an environment where athletes grow as individuals, learners, leaders, and teammates.”
For parents, this means choosing St. Peter’s athletics isn’t just about athletic development—it’s about choosing a comprehensive support system that sees their child as a complete person. The coach who’s helping your son perfect his jump shot is the same person tracking his algebra grades and teaching him how to organize his study schedule.
Forming Rising Spartans
The Spartan spirit now ignites as early as elementary school, where young athletes get their first taste of what it means to wear blue and white. The elementary programs in basketball and soccer, and cheer aren’t just about learning fundamentals—they’re about learning what it means to be a Spartan.
In these programs alums of St. Peter’s have been instrumental in shaping the next generation of Spartan athletes, instilling in them the same core values that shaped them as young athletes.
Angelo Gasper (‘23) and Leah Cavanaugh (‘95) serve as soccer coaches and Joe Mulherin (‘99), Patrick Williams (’99), and Casey Ball (‘02) oversee the youth basketball program.
Mulherin, who both played and later coached in the high school program shared, “Growing up it was a privilege to watch and play basketball for St. Peter’s. It is such a great sport to learn life values such as leadership, teamwork, and perseverance. St. Peter’s basketball played an instrumental role in my life, and I feel very fortunate to be able to help bring that opportunity to current Spartans.”
These elementary programs serve as the foundation for what makes St. Peter’s athletics unique: continuity of formation. A child who starts playing elementary basketball isn’t just learning dribbling skills—they’re being introduced to the Spartan way of life and the core values that will carry them through graduation and beyond.
The Gift of Opportunity in a Small School Setting
One of the most profound advantages of Spartan Athletics often goes unnoticed until families experience it firsthand: opportunity. In a world where large schools often mean specialized roles and limited playing time, St. Peter’s small size becomes its greatest strength.
“At a bigger school, a talented kid might ride the bench for years or be forced to choose between sports,” explains Athletic Director E.J. Windom.” Here, our student-athletes don’t just get to play—they get to excel in multiple sports, develop diverse skills, and discover talents they never knew they had. They’re not just getting more playing time—they’re getting more opportunities to lead, to grow, to discover who they really are.”
This multi-sport culture isn’t just about athletic development—it’s about life preparation. The volleyball player who also runs cross country learns different types of perseverance. The basketball player who also golfs learns individual accountability and team leadership. The cheerleader who also plays volleyball learns to support others while pushing personal limits.
A Mission of Transformation
For Coach Roy Shoulders, a 1983 St. Peter’s graduate, Spartan Athletics is personal. As Dean of Students and head varsity basketball coach, he brings both a deep sense of tradition and a passion for student development.
“For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a St. Peter’s Spartan,” said Shoulders.
“Everything the players did on the court when I was a kid—Leo Brown, Kris Kowalski, Jim Nadolsky—they exemplified excellence. That’s what St. Peter’s has always meant to me.”
He helps students live out the school’s six core values—respect, integrity, perseverance, grace, excellence, and community—through both discipline and encouragement. “Their days as basketball players are numbered. But their days as respectable men are innumerable. I care deeply about their development as athletes—but even more about their development as people.”
According to Shoulders, every game is an opportunity to model the mission. “Based on our actions on and off the court—right or wrong—people will cast judgment on who St. Peter’s is and what St. Peter’s stands for. All of us, coaches and players, are part of something far greater than ourselves.”
In his dual role, Shoulders holds all students—not just athletes—to high expectations rooted in the school’s six core values: respect, integrity, perseverance, grace, excellence, and community.
As the administrator who oversees the student code of conduct, he works daily to ensure that all students are held accountable in a way that is firm, fair, and consistent. Whether through behavior expectations, restorative conversations, or mentoring relationships, he uses every opportunity to shape not just student conduct, but character.
Another example of mission in motion is the cheer program, led by Head Coach and alumna Mandy Windom, Class of 1999. For her, cheerleading is a platform for leadership, confidence, and service.
“This school built me, and now I’m here building others with that same fire,” said Windom. “We don’t just cheer—we lead. ‘Squad Up’ isn’t just a chant—it’s a commandment. We move as one. We support each other. And we carry the legacy of Spartan Blue with pride.”
She’s known for her transformational approach—blending high expectations with grace and an unshakable belief in her athletes. One cheerleader who once struggled academically and personally is now on the honor roll and emerging as a leader. “I knew her story—she had trauma, challenges, and no one in her corner. I gave her a shot. Now she’s entering her third season, on the honor roll, and blossoming into a leader with captain potential.”
Windom added, “She is proof of what this program is about. It wasn’t just cheer that changed her—it was the structure, the family, the grace, and the standards. She just needed a chance.”
Stories like hers are the reason Windom coaches with conviction. “I don’t believe in throwaways. I believe in transformation.”
Her squad’s impact extends beyond the sidelines, too. From Bitty Cheer Camps to the Juneteenth and Miss Ohio parades, the cheerleaders model strength, spirit, and service. “As a Catholic coach, community involvement is a spiritual calling. We are the hands and feet of Christ, and our students are learning what it means to live that truth.”
Expanding for Purpose, Not Just Participation
This year, Spartan Athletics celebrated a series of meaningful milestones—including the 7th grade basketball team winning the Mid-Buckeye Conference, a high school golfer qualifying for the state tournament, and the Varsity Boys Basketball team securing its historic 1,000th program win with their first playoff victory since 2019. With volleyball reinstated last year and new programs like middle school volleyball and swimming on the horizon, Spartan Athletics is expanding with purpose—growth that supports the mission, not just the scoreboard.
“Every program we add is rooted in our mission and driven by students’ interests as they seek to discover their greater purpose,” said Dr. Parente. “We’re building a culture where sports support student success in every dimension: physical, academic, spiritual, and emotional.”
What parents discover at St. Peter’s is something that can’t be found in larger programs: the assurance that their child will be known, supported, and challenged to grow in every area of life. In a world where youth sports often emphasize winning at all costs, Spartan Athletics offers something more valuable—formation that lasts a lifetime.
“When parents choose St. Peter’s, they’re not just choosing a school,” Shoulders agrees. “They’re joining a nurturing system based on Catholic-Christian principles. We want to develop students who can make a positive impact in the world—not just as athletes, but as people of faith and integrity.”
The evidence is in the alumni who return year after year, not just to watch games but to volunteer, to share their stories, and to ensure the next generation experiences the same transformational education they received. These graduates—now parents, professionals, and community leaders—are living proof that Spartan Athletics builds something that lasts far beyond high school.
Whether it’s a third grader taking a first shot in elementary basketball, a middle schooler learning to serve in volleyball, a high schooler leading the student section as a cheerleader, or a senior athlete who’s become a captain in multiple sports, every moment in Spartan Athletics is shaped by intention and guided by love.
“At the end of the day,” said Dr. Parente, “Spartan Athletics is different by design. We aren’t building players. We’re building people.”
And that’s the St. Peter’s difference: athletics that go beyond competition, rooted in faith, guided by purpose, and driven by a community that believes in every student’s God-given potential.
Here, champions aren’t just formed for a sport—they’re formed for life.
“If you’re ready to be held accountable, to be loved fiercely, and to be pushed to grow,” added Coach Windom, “then you’re in the right place.”
For families seeking a rigorous academic environment where their child can play multiple sports, receive individual attention, and grow in character alongside skill, St. Peter’s School offers something increasingly rare: a place where every student matters, every opportunity counts, and every season is a chance to become the person God called them to be. To learn more about St. Peter’s School, visit our website at BecomeASpartan.com.
