St. John Vianney High School (known simply as Vianney High School or Vianney) is a Marianist private, all-boys Catholic college preparatory school in Kirkwood, Missouri. The school was opened in 1960 by the Society of Mary, a religious order of priests and brothers who continue to run the school, and is part of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, along with the Marianists' Chaminade College Preparatory School and St. Mary's South Side Catholic High School.
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History
The creation of a new school was needed in the late 1950s to accommodate the increasing population of Baby Boomers. It was founded by Archbishop Joseph Ritter as a private, Marianist, Catholic high school for boys. The school has grown over time, changed its curriculum and adapted to educational trends.
Some of the notable events include the introduction of female teachers in 1973, lighting of the football field in 1977, and sale of part of the campus to Lutheran Church in 1980. The school has undergone several expansions and renovations including a new entrance, commons area, media center and state-of-the-art classrooms added in 2007. Subsequent updates included improvements to sports facilities, STEM labs, baseball fields and creation of an Esports Center in 2021.
Major renovations include a $1 million STEM labs upgrade. The most recent renovation in 2021 involved converting original locker rooms and weight rooms into a modern facility for student training that includes unique locker rooms, fitness equipment and dressing rooms for Griffin Theatre.
Athletics
Vianney sponsors athletic teams in football, soccer, cross country, basketball, swimming, wrestling, baseball, golf, tennis, track and field, volleyball. There are also club teams for outdoor lacrosse, bowling, chess, lacrosse, racquetball and ice hockey.
In 2011 and 2013, the Varsity Chess Team won the National Championships.
Vianney is a member of the Metro Catholic Conference of private Catholic high schools, along with:
De Smet Jesuit High School
Christian Brothers College High School
Chaminade College Preparatory School
St. Louis University High School
State championships
Esports - 2023 (Rocket League)
Baseball – 2004, 2006, 2018
Football – 2016, 2018
Hockey – 1979, 1996, 2020
Soccer – 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1991, 1992
Volleyball – 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013
National championships
Chess – 2011, 2013
Soccer – 1992
School mascot
The school mascot is the Golden Griffin: half lion and half eagle. The school colors, black and gold, reflect the colors of the Griffin. The school states that the Griffin represents certain virtues in all of its students.
Controversy
In 2006, Vianney President Fr. Robert Osborne (1933–2014) was accused in a civil lawsuit of sexual misconduct with a student. Osborne stepped down temporarily, then the school fired him after another accuser stepped forward. The school later settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount. Osborne was investigated by the Kirkwood Police but not charged with a crime. A subsequent Marianist investigation found "no credible or substantiated allegation of abuse", but the following year, the order stripped him of his priestly faculties.
In 2023, a nurse at the school was terminated from her position for inappropriate contact with a student. St. Louis County later charged her with two felony sex crimes, pleaded guilty, and was given a suspended five-year sentence and registered as a sex offender.
Notable alumni
Sports and entertainment
Matt Cepicky, former MLB player (Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins)
Scott Cepicky, Minor League Baseball player (Chicago White Sox) and Republican politician
Tim Dunigan, actor
Neil Fiala, MLB player (St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds)
James Gladstone, general manager for the Jacksonville Jaguars
Trent Green, former NFL quarterback
Mark Lamping, president, St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball Club (2006 World Champions)
Kyle Markway, Cleveland Browns tight end
Dan McLaughlin, St. Louis Cardinals radio and television broadcaster
Tom Mullen, NFL offensive lineman
Cliff Politte, Major League Baseball pitcher
Nick Schmidt, Major League Baseball pitcher
Mark Segbers, soccer player
Scott Touzinsky, US Volleyball Olympian, outside hitter, 2008 Beijing Games gold medalist
Erik Ustruck, midfielder, Houston Dynamo
Kyren Williams, American football running back, Los Angeles Rams
Tony Williams, soccer player
Arts and sciences
Bob Cassilly, founder of St. Louis City Museum
Michael Wendl, Human Genome Project scientist
Donald K. Anton, professor
Law and government
Scott Cepicky, Tennessee House of Representatives
Notable faculty
John Hamman (1927—2000), American close-up magician and educator
Steve Bieser, American baseball player
Cole McNary, American educator, politician