Pius XI Catholic High School

A Pope You Should Know - Jim Weatherly '68 - primary owner of the Gobbler Theater that is set to reopen as a live music venue in less than two weeks. The June 6th show will feature Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry artist Terri Clark. Tickets are still available here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/gobblertheater/2220425

"I love music, I love Wisconsin, and a place like the Gobbler is part of the culture," Weatherly told the Journal Sentinel. "I want to do things that are meaningful and fun, and I think this place is both."

Weatherly and the Gobbler Theater are also sponsoring a show featuring Pius XI alum Grace Weber '06 tonight, May 28th. Details on that show can be found here: https://fanfly.live/shows/249

https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/music/2026/03/26/reopening-in-sight-for-turkey-shaped-gobbler-theater-in-johnson-creek/89321460007/

Reopening in sight for turkey-shaped Gobbler Theater in Johnson Creek Originally opened as the Gobbler Supper Club in 1969, the Gobbler Theater will reopen after six years with new owners, possibly in May or June.

This Memorial Day, we remember with deep gratitude the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

As Catholics, we are reminded that “greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” — John 15:13

May we honor their sacrifice not only with remembrance, but by living lives rooted in faith, compassion, courage, and service to others. We pray for the souls of the fallen, for the families who carry their memory, and for lasting peace in our world.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

As we look forward to celebrating graduation tonight, we are especially proud to recognize the accomplishments of the Class of 2026.

This week students were honored for their outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, fine arts, leadership, and character through awards including Woodland Conference and WIAA Scholar Athlete recognition, the National School Choral Award, Thespian of the Year, the President’s Awards for Educational Excellence and Achievement, and our Pius XI Core Values Awards.

These recognitions celebrate not only talent and hard work, but also the dedication, integrity, creativity, and faith-filled leadership our seniors have shared with the Pius XI community. Congratulations to all of our award recipients! 💙

Yesterday we continued in celebrating the Class of 2026 with Baccalaureate Mass and the Senior Award Presentation in the Sitzberger Fieldhouse. We were blessed to be joined by Bishop Jeffrey Haines who led our community in prayer and thanksgiving as we celebrated the journey of our graduating students and the many people who help shape a student's education. The tradition of the Baccalaureate Mass reminds us that education is about more than academics- it is about the formation of the whole person spiritually, intellectually, and personally.

Our entire community reflected on the gratitude we have for the countless individuals who contribute to a transformational education, including teachers, administrators, parents, families, alumni, benefactors, volunteers, friends and peers. Together, they create the supportive and faith-filled community that helps students grow and thrive and reach the milestone of high school graduation.

Putting into practice gratitude, we thanked Bishop Haines by making him an honorary Pius XI Pope (complete with his own Pius XI jersey!).

Congratulations to Mya, Jonathan, Joseph, Damian, Jordan, Nico, Elijah, Charlotte, Cliserio, Tyler, Laila and Morgan!

🏃‍♀️ Mya Gencuski — University of St. Thomas Track & Field
🏐 Jonathan Jackson & Joseph Jackson — St. Norbert College Volleyball
⚽ Damian Ramirez — Concordia University Wisconsin Soccer
🎳 Jordan Strizic — Carthage College Bowling
⚽ Nico Gonzalez-Polar — Benedictine University Soccer
🏀 Elijah Hall — Mt. San Jacinto College Basketball
🏀 Charlotte Wentworth — Iowa Lakes Community College Basketball
⚽ Clisero Flores — Viterbo University Soccer
🏈 Tyler Peters — Mount Mercy University Football
We also proudly recognized our Founder’s Award recipients:
🏆 Tom Kloza Athletic Character Award — Joseph Jackson & Laila Jackson
🏆 Dick Fischer Most Improved Athletic Award — Jonathan Jackson
🏆 Ruth Stromila Sportsmanship Award — Morgan Gillitzer

Celebrating our Academic Top XI as we prepare for Friday's graduation ceremony!

We are proud to recognize the incredible achievements of our Academic Top 11 students (in alphabetical order) from the Class of 2026! Their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to excellence have set them apart as leaders both inside and outside the classroom.

⭐ Naya Alvarez Robles (TAC 200) University of Wisconsin-Madison, field of study: Political Science
⭐ Morgan Gillitzer (TAC 200) UW-Madison, field of study: Business
⭐ Paxton Haley (TAC 613) UW-Madison, field of study: Psychology
⭐ Anne Hemsworth (TAC 610) Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
⭐ Hannah Hickethier (TAC 310) Marquette University, field of study: Exercise Physiology
⭐ Jayla Jackson (TAC 116) Xavier University of Louisiana, field of study: Biology
⭐ Jack Ly Phu (TAC 408) UW-Madison, field of study: Business
⭐ Nicholas Parchia (TAC 420) Concordia University Chicago, field of study: Computer Science
⭐ Isriel Reyna (TAC 320) Vassar College, field of study: International Studies
⭐ Syd Tezak (TAC 404) University of Colorado Boulder, field of study: Astrophysics & Planetary Science
⭐ Wenbo Zhang (TAC 310) University of Washington, field of study: Medical Laboratory Research

Your future is bright, and we cannot wait to see the impact each of you will continue to make in the world.

We're taking a moment to congratulate Coach Joel Claassen on earning his 500th career victory coaching softball earlier this month. What an incredible, and bittersweet, way to close out a coaching career filled with leadership, dedication, mentorship, and unforgettable moments for generations of student-athletes.

Coach Claassen’s impact goes far beyond the field, building a legacy of excellence and commitment to students over nearly four decades of coaching and teaching. Fun fact: between coaching boys and girls basketball and softball, Coach Claassen has amassed more than 1,200 career wins — a testament to the countless players, families, and teams he has inspired along the way.

Thank you, Coach Claassen, for your commitment to Pius XI and Wisconsin high school athletics. Congratulations on an extraordinary career and lasting legacy.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/high-school/2026/05/13/joel-classeen-500-career-wins-as-softball-coach-pius-xi-catholic/90051372007/

Don’t miss this chance to celebrate the amazing women who supported and supported Pius XI athletes for decades!

We are incredibly excited to announce Hannah Hickethier as Valedictorian, and Morgan Gillitzer as Salutatorian for the Class of 2026! Both Hannah and Morgan have put in an immense amount of work and dedication all four years of their time here at Pius XI and we are so proud to have them represent this year's graduating class!