Crusaders
Athletics
Seven competitive sports through the Quincy Catholic Crusaders, and CYO basketball and volleyball for students who just want to play.
A small school with a full athletic program
On our own, a school our size couldn't field a cross country team, a baseball team, or a wrestling program. Together with the other Quincy Catholic elementary schools, we field all of them.
Our students compete as the Quincy Catholic Crusaders, one athletic program drawn from all four schools. It means a child at a small school gets a real slate of sports, real competition, and teammates they'll go on to play with at Quincy Notre Dame.
And for students who just want to play, there's a place where nobody gets cut.
Two ways to play
Most families want to know one of two things: will my child get to play, or will my child be challenged. There's a clear answer to each.
CYO
The Catholic Youth Organization is where most students begin. It's instructional and non-competitive, focused on fundamentals, and there are no tryouts. Every child who signs up plays.
- Basketball for boys and girls, and volleyball for girls
- Starts in kindergarten and first grade
- School gyms and shared Catholic facilities around Quincy
IESA
The Illinois Elementary School Association is interscholastic competition against schools across the region, as the Quincy Catholic Crusaders.
- Some sports take everyone who signs up; others hold tryouts. The information email for each sport will tell you which.
- Practices and games use school gyms, home and away facilities, and the Quincy Catholic Activities Center
IESA Crusader sports by season
Crusaders sports run in two seasons, so a student can play more than one without them stacking up.
| Sport | Team | Grades* |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ||
| Cross Country | Boys & girls | 5–8 |
| Golf | Boys & girls | 5–8 |
| Softball | Girls | 5–8 |
| Baseball | Boys | 7–8 |
| Winter | ||
| Wrestling | Boys | 6–8 |
| Basketball | Girls | 7–8 |
| Basketball | Boys | 7–8 |
| Volleyball | Girls | 7–8 |
| Also offered | ||
| Scholastic Bowl | Contact the school office | |
Younger students play through CYO, where basketball and volleyball begin in kindergarten and first grade and there are no tryouts.
*The exact grades for each sport can vary from year to year. Please verify if interested.
How students join
Crusaders Athletic Director Eric Orne sends information for each sport to the schools, and our office forwards it to families with students in the eligible grades and gender. Expect fall sports information in mid to late summer, and each sport separately as its season approaches.
Questions about Crusaders athletics? Lindsey Carrier in our school office can help: lcarrier@stfrancissolanus.com or (217) 222-4077.
CYO registration and schedules are handled at cyoquincy.com (opens in new tab).
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Watch for the emailSent to families with students in the eligible grades. It will tell you whether the sport takes everyone or holds tryouts.
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Pick up the paperworkPackets are available on the back table in the church gathering space near the north doors, and outside the school office. Call ahead at (217) 222-4077 to be sure someone's in.
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Get a sports physicalRequired before the first practice. Several places around Quincy offer free or low-cost sports physicals in July. Sixth graders may use their school physical exam.
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Return the signed formsThe Crusader Sports Participation Agreement and Insurance Waiver, a Concussion Information Sheet, and an IESA Guidelines acknowledgment. Full sport rules are at iesa.org.
What playing actually involves
So there are no surprises in August.
There's a fee for each sport.
Amounts vary by sport and come with the season's information email. If cost would keep your child from playing, call the office. We'd rather sort it out than have them sit out.
Families provide transportation.
Parents drive to practices and games. Travel is generally within a couple of hours of Quincy, and families carpool constantly.
Some sports have tryouts, some don't.
It varies by sport and by year. The information email for each season says which.
Paperwork comes first.
A current sports physical and signed forms are required before the first practice, no exceptions. Start the physical early in the summer.
Sports and music can coexist.
Tell coaches and directors early if your child is doing both. They're used to sharing students.
Club sports our students love
Plenty of our students play beyond the Crusaders, and these programs are a real part of growing up in Quincy. Kids build friendships across schools, get more time on the field, and often carry both into high school.
Junior Raiders Football
Tackle football for fifth through eighth graders, with many games played at Quincy Notre Dame. A lot of our students play, and a good number go on to suit up for QND with teammates they've had since fifth grade.
Junior Raiders Pom
Dance and performance for fifth through eighth graders, performing at games and community events. Students learn choreography, work as a squad, and perform in front of a crowd.
Travel Basketball
For students who want more games and more coaching than a single school season allows. Travel teams run alongside school basketball and draw players from across Quincy, and there are usually active teams made up of Quincy Catholic Schools students.
Junior Raiders Cheer
Sideline cheer for fifth through eighth graders, cheering at Junior Raiders games. Good for students who want to be part of a team and in the middle of the noise.
Quincy Notre Dame also runs sports camps throughout the year in a range of sports, and many of our students attend. They're a good way to try something new, or to stay sharp in the off-season.
Junior Raiders football, pom, and cheer, and travel basketball, are independent club programs. They aren't sponsored by St. Francis Solanus School, Quincy Catholic Schools, or Quincy Notre Dame, and they set their own policies, schedules, and fees. For details, contact those organizations directly.
What sports can my child play at St. Francis Solanus School?
Through the Quincy Catholic Crusaders: cross country, golf, softball, and baseball in the fall, and wrestling, basketball, and volleyball in the winter, plus Scholastic Bowl. Younger students play basketball and volleyball through CYO.
What's the difference between CYO and IESA?
CYO is instructional and non-competitive with no tryouts, focused on learning fundamentals, and it's where most students start. IESA is competitive interscholastic athletics against other schools in the region, played as the Quincy Catholic Crusaders.
Will my child get cut?
Not in CYO. There are no tryouts and every student who signs up plays. For IESA, it depends on the sport and the year. Some take everyone who signs up; others hold tryouts. The information email for each season will say which.
What grades can play?
Cross country, golf, and softball are open to grades five through eight. Baseball, basketball, and volleyball are for seventh and eighth graders, and wrestling for sixth through eighth. CYO basketball and volleyball start considerably younger.
Is there a cost?
Yes, there's a fee for each sport, and amounts come with the season's information email. If cost would prevent your child from playing, call the school office.
Do you provide transportation to games?
No. Families provide transportation to practices and games. Travel is generally within a couple of hours of Quincy, and families often carpool.
What paperwork is required?
A current sports physical completed before the first practice, plus a signed Crusader Sports Participation Agreement and Insurance Waiver, a Concussion Information Sheet, and an IESA Guidelines acknowledgment. Sixth graders may use their school physical exam. Packets are available at the school office and in the church gathering space.
Who do we contact about signing up?
Lindsey Carrier in the school office, at lcarrier@stfrancissolanus.com or (217) 222-4077. Eric Orne serves as Crusaders Athletic Director. CYO registration is handled at cyoquincy.com.
What are the Quincy Catholic Crusaders?
The Crusaders are the combined athletic program of all four Quincy Catholic elementary schools. Students from St. Francis, Blessed Sacrament, St. Dominic, and St. Peter play on the same teams, which is how a small school can offer a full range of sports.
Where do teams practice and play?
School gyms, QND, the Quincy Catholic Activities Center, and home and away facilities depending on the sport.
Are Junior Raiders football and cheer school teams?
No. Junior Raiders football, pom, cheer, and travel basketball are private club teams, not sponsored by the school, Quincy Catholic Schools, or Quincy Notre Dame. They set their own rules and schedules, and families should contact those organizations directly.
Can my child play a sport and be in band or the musical?
Yes, and many students do exactly that. Coaches and directors are used to working around one another. Tell us early and it usually works out.
Are there summer camps?
Quincy Notre Dame runs camps in various sports through the year, and many of our students take part.
What our families say
Faith & Tradition
Our family's love for St. Francis Solanus School is deeply rooted in faith and tradition. With Joe's family having attended for generations, it is incredibly meaningful to now watch our children walk the same halls and grow in the same values-rich, faith-centered environment.
Joe & Alexis Darnell FamilyKnown at every stage
St. Francis Solanus meets the individual academic needs of all our children at every stage of development. Our older kids recognized the "St. Francis Solanus difference" during an initial school visit and were ready to start the next day! The parent-teacher partnership is collaborative and focused on helping students do their best, and the Catholic influence of the priests, deacons, DRE, and staff is focused on fostering a true and lasting relationship with Jesus Christ.
Aaron & Karen Weiman FamilyTo be Jesus to others
St. Francis provides a quality Catholic experience. They learn not only how to add and subtract but to know Jesus, love Jesus, and to be Jesus to others. We are proud of our choice to have provided a faith-based education for our children and that our children have continued to choose St. Francis for their children. It is important to celebrate the privilege of a Catholic education and we have been blessed to have been supportive of continuing this legacy.
Deacon Dennis and Pat HolbrookAccountability with grace
The culture is one of partnership. Students are truly known by their teachers and staff. There is accountability paired with grace. Leadership is present and engaged.
The Friye Mamdani FamilyEnthusiasm and dedication
The teachers of St. Francis are observing and always seeking ways to improve the abilities of our students. The enthusiasm and dedication from the teachers has helped our children gain confidence and excel in multiple areas.
Brad & Makenzie Holtmeyer FamilyLessons come to life
The teachers at St. Francis bring lessons to life, creating engaging classrooms where students feel excited about learning. What stands out most is their strong training in literacy instruction, ensuring that every student grows as a confident, capable reader and communicator.
John & Lindsey Kelly FamilyWe felt the pull
We never thought we would be the family transferring our children to a new school. After being parishioners for a few years, we felt the pull to enroll our children at St Francis school. As soon as we took a tour, our girls' faces lit up and they said they wanted to start the next day.
Brad & Amanda Genenbacher FamilyLoving, caring & nurturing
Mrs. Wiewel has taught both of our girls over the last two years. She is so loving, caring and nurturing and with her help, our child was able to succeed in an academic area she was previously struggling in.
Brad & Amanda Genebacher FamilyAcademic excellence
St. Francis School offers a welcoming and nurturing environment where academic excellence is paired with strong values rooted in the Catholic tradition.
Dr. Samuel & Danielle Healy FamilyInviting family-feel
The school is small which gives it a warm, inviting family-feel. Staff and students alike begin to know everyone within the building. This brings a sense of comfort knowing our children are being well taken care of while growing in academics and in faith.
James & Tera Terwelp Family
Come watch a game.
Crusaders games are a good place to meet families before you ever tour the school. Ask us what's on the schedule.