For a person privileged to say "I played for Scotus," specific images immediately come to mind: rugged practices, exacting coaches, expectations of excellence. Those words also mean representing not only yourself and your teammates but also thousands of people over the years who--as players, coaches, fans, and friends of the school--were proud to call themselves Shamrocks.

Forty-four times in the past eighty-five years, the Shamrocks of St. Bonaventure and Scotus Central Catholic have captured state championships in both boys and girls sports. There have been innumerable district...