RESURRECTED
Savior group rescues Trenton Catholic Academy from permanent closure
HAMILTON >> Hail Mary.
Instead of closing, Trenton Catholic Academy will continue to operate under a new identity later this year.
TCA in September will be replaced by the Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy, a New Jersey not-forprofit corporation, the Diocese of Trenton announced this week.
The diocese previously announced that TCA, an educational facility formerly known as Saint Anthony or McCorristin High School, would permanently close in June due to financial woes.
TCA was generating a $2 million deficit each year over the last 12 years, and the COVID-19 pandemic further contributed to TCA’s financial hardship, according to the diocese.
The diocese was preparing to pull the plug on TCA after deciding it was no longer sustainable to continue subsidizing the financially challenged institution, but then a group of saviors emerged with a plan to resurrect the beloved facility.
Shortly after the diocese announced Jan. 8 TCA’s pending closure, the diocese was approached by “a group interested in establishing an independent Catholic school replacing TCA,” the diocese revealed in a statement Wednesday evening. “Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy, the new school, would continue the mission of providing a Catholic educational experience for the students who currently make up the TCA community, as well as others in the area who might consider enrolling.”
Subject to final approvals, the new school will operate independent of the Diocese of Trenton.
“After several meetings with representatives of this group, the Diocese has indicated its conceptual support of the proposal to open an independent Catholic school where TCA is now located, but distinctly autonomous from the Diocese, financially and otherwise,” the diocese said Wednesday. “Diocesan officials have extended a lease agreement for the school facility that is significantly below market value. The school will be required to meet all terms of the agreement and is solely responsible for all financial obligations it incurs. The school will also be required to commit to adherence of Catholic doctrine and provide a Christ-centered environment in which students may learn.”
Mayor Jeff Martin celebrated the news.
“This is a great outcome for everyone,” he said in a statement Thursday. “It is great to see the partnership between the Diocese and the alumni who have put so much time to make this happen. Hamilton is looking forward to many more years of having TCPA in town!”
The late Monsignor Michael P. McCorristin in the 1960s famously built St. Anthony High School on the grounds of the former Kuser Estate here in Hamilton Township. The original Iron Mike landmark was renamed McCorristin Catholic in 1979 and TCA in 2005.
Councilman Rick Tighe, a former McCorristin student acquainted with the legendary monsignor, applauded this week’s news.
“I am impressed by the efforts of TCA parents, alumni and boosters to save this school,” he said Thursday in a statement. “The progress they have made is encouraging. As an old Iron Mike, I am committed to doing what I can to help.”
TCA has long been a beloved institution in Mercer County with powerhouse varsity basketball programs for boys and girls.
“People know that if you come to TCA we’re going to play good competition,” Bob Fusik, head coach of the TCA Lady Mikes basketball team, said Thursday. “There’s going to be college coaches looking at our kids. It’s the whole atmosphere, we try to play in big tournaments, we try to play anywhere against anybody who is any good. That’s always been the TCA motto. I learned that before taking over the girls program.”
The top-ranked TCA girls’ basketball program went 14-1 this season, which was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, depriving them of the opportunity to compete in a county or state tournament.
The student-athletes completed their truncated season with the permanent school-closure issue looming large.
Fusik’s message to the students was clear: “We got with our kids and said we don’t need to play for stats, we don’t need to play for any rankings because at the end of the day all we want to do is have fun and win.”
“We said don’t worry about the school,” he added. “You are kids, so go out and enjoy the game. Don’t worry about whether the school is going to stay open or the school is going to close. Go out and enjoy yourself because you come to TCA to play basketball. Go out and achieve whatever success you can as a group.”
Now that TCA will be resurrected as Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy later this year, Fusik is looking forward to the future possibilities.
“We’re hoping everything comes back to normal to play a national schedule next year,” he said. “We don’t know if we’ll be part of the NJSIAA. Yes, we’d love to be part of the NJSIAA. I don’t really know much of anything right now, but this is sort of the least of our worries.”
Anyone seeking to support the new Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy may go to IronMikesFund. com or email savetca2@ gmail.com to join their team.