A third cancellation in five years
Cardinal Stritch High School in Toledo announced that it will not field an eight‑man football team for the 2026 fall season, marking the third cancellation of the program in the past five years.
The decision follows a sustained decline in enrollment and a shortage of parent volunteers, factors that have repeatedly forced the school to suspend the sport.
In 2025 the school had transitioned to an eight‑man format after a 0‑10 record in 2023, but the latest roster constraints left the administration with no viable team.
At least one Stritch student will continue his football career at Lake High School in the upcoming season, illustrating the ripple effect of the cancellation on local athletes.
The volleyball program, also strained by low participation, is slated for a separate review; Kelly O’Laughlin indicated that a final determination on its future would be announced on August 3, 2025.
Program history and recent struggles
Historically, the Cardinals claimed a Toledo City League Blue Division title in 1972 and advanced to the Class AA state semifinals in 1975 before joining the TAAC in 1995 after leaving the league in the early 1980s.
Head coach Al Thompson oversaw a 2023 season that ended 2‑8 overall and 0‑8 in the Northern 8 Conference, a league formed in October 2019 by Stryker High School and Toledo Christian Schools.
Bill Berry, the school’s communications contact, can be reached at wberry@cardinalstritch.org for further inquiries.