Marmion Academy Opens Doors for Girls Sports

A historic turning point

In November 2024, Abbot Joel Rippinger and the monastic community at Marmion Abbey announced that Aurora School—traditionally all‑male since 1933—would admit female students for the first time. The decision also sparked the launch of a girls’ athletics program, with Athletic Director Joe Currie tasked to build it from scratch.

Building a New Program

• Goal: Enroll ~30 girls in freshman and sophomore classes during the first year.
• Freshmen: near target
• Sophomores: 20–25 students
• Sports lineup: Seven sports across the seasons
• Fall: swimming, volleyball, cross‑country
• Winter: basketball, wrestling
• Spring: soccer, track & field
• Recruitment: Began January 2025 with a multi‑stage interview involving Currie, assistant athletic directors Paul Chabura and Pat Mitchell, President Anthony Tinerella, Principal Joe Large, Assistant Principal Andy Damato, and monastic community members.

Competitive Landscape

• 2026‑27 season: Most cadet teams will compete at junior varsity level in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference.
• Basketball: Varsity squad led by Coach Dan Murray (former IC Catholic and Lisle coach).
• Other sports: Individual competition opportunities for golf; potential varsity options for wrestling and swimming.

Future Expansion

• Planned additions: flag football, tennis, golf, lacrosse, softball (awaiting new facilities).
• Coaching search underway for girls’ track; current candidates: Glenn Brown (swimming), Megan Wille (volleyball), Andrew Lifka (cross‑country), Alexis Gomez (wrestling), Anne Iwinski (soccer).

Campus Enhancements

• Converted space behind the field house into five girls’ locker rooms and a training office.
• Updated boys’ locker rooms on the first level.
• Scheduling challenges resolved through coach collaboration.

Impact

Currie believes that strategically developing the girls’ program from the ground up will position Marmion Academy for greater success in future years, marking a significant shift toward inclusivity and athletic excellence.