Lenten campaign 2026
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Bishop Kearney High School in Rochester, New York, shared a January 7 press release announcing their school’s unique honor of having eight alumnae named to Women’s Olympic hockey teams.
This college prep high school is home to the BK Selects Hockey Academy, which started for girls in 2016 and boys in 2020. Student-athletes reside at Bishop Kearney while simultaneously playing top-level junior hockey across the U.S. and Canada.
Both boys' and girls' teams, made up of students in grades 8-12, have won several state and national age-group titles and graduates have gone on to play at the collegiate and professional levels.
Religion Department Chairperson and Campus Ministry Coordinator Theresa Aldridge told Aleteia that these students were role models both on the ice and in the classroom, as well as in their faith lives.
“It was a privilege for our faculty and staff to work with these students while they attended Bishop Kearney High School, as they consistently exhibited a level of discipline and spiritual maturity that mirrored their physical training.
“In the classroom, the same intensity they brought to the ice was channeled into spiritual training — integrating their faith into every aspect of their lives.”
She added, “Several girls received the Sacrament of Confirmation while attending Bishop Kearney, and continue to live out the motto of our school, ‘Do All Things Well,’ from our Christian Brothers tradition.”
The school’s national and international draw is highlighted by looking at where the eight Olympians hail from:
For Team USA
Haley Winn of Rochester/Webster, New York, native and current member of the PWHL Boston Fleet.
Laila Edwards of Cleveland Heights, Ohio; team captain and University of Wisconsin.
Caroline “KK” Harvey of Pelham, New Hampshire, team captain for the University of Wisconsin and Beijing games Olympian.
Ava McNaughton of Pennsylvania and Kirsten Simms of Michigan; both also playing at University of Wisconsin.
For Team Germany
Nina Christof of Hammelburg, Germany, is a team captain at Rensselaer.
Jule Schiefer from Munich, Germany; she has competed with Team Germany at other international events.
For Team Czechia
Michaela Hesová of Prague, Czechia; at Dartmouth College.
The very best
In the school’s press release, President Paul Colontino acknowledged the Olympic selections as a moment of “tremendous pride” for the school and greater Rochester community. He noted that the young women “represent the very best of Bishop Kearney -- faith, discipline, resilience and a commitment to excellence.”
The school pointed out that “one selection carries special meaning locally.” Hometown Olympian Haley Winn, class of 2021, is supported by her mother, Janet Winn, who serves on the school’s Board of Directors.
Janet Winn commented, “As a mom and a board member, this is incredibly special. Watching Haley grow from a young player in Rochester/Webster into one of the nation’s elite defenders has been a source of immense pride for our family and community.”
Women’s Hockey is among the Olympic competitions in the early days of the 2026 Milan games.
