Allentown Central Catholic High School will hold a Lenten Almsgiving Drive now through March 27. Bishop Schlert asked all diocesan schools to participate in a Lenten Food and Resource drive which benefits the Lebanese Franciscan Sisters of the Cross. You may donate all-purpose flour, sugar, vegetable oil, canned or dry beans, coffee, protein bars, rice, peanut butter, canned tuna, chocolates and candy, school supplies, art and craft supplies and pens or pencils. Please ensure all items are free of leaks and packed inside a box or reusable shopping bag. Any ACCHS student participating should bring their items to the Campus Ministry office. Email Father Stephen Isaac at sisaac@allentowndiocese.org with any questions.

All students must fulfill their service hour requirements by April 15. The following are the requirements for each grade: five hours for freshmen, 10 hours for sophomores, 15 hours for juniors and 20 hours for seniors. Students may continue to earn Central City Project hours for Day-Maurin Service Society until May 14. All students must also complete a service hour form for each activity they participate in. Check the Weekly Viking Newsletter for posted service hour opportunities.

The school will close March 28 through April 1 for the Easter holiday. The third quarter will end March 29 and the fourth quarter will begin when school reopens April 2.

Both the girls and boys basketball teams became District 11 Class 4A Champions in recent weeks. The girls began their winning run by defeating Lehighton in the quarterfinals, North Schuylkill in the semifinals and Blue Mountain in the finals. During their championship game against Blue Mountain, Molly Driscoll scored her 1,000th career point. Driscoll also led all scorers during that game with 21 points, prompting The Morning Call to nominate her as a Female Athlete of the Week. Her teammate Sammy Roth also earned a nomination the week prior, after downing 13 points in their win over Lehighton.

The Vikings paved their way to a District Championship by defeating Tamaqua in the quarterfinals, Pottsville in the semifinals and Blue Mountain in the finals.

The boys team defeated High School of the Future 68-33 in the first round of states, with Jahrel Vigo reaching his 1,000 point milestone. Vigo propelled the Vikings to victory with 35 points and became the 19th player in ACCHS Vikings history to achieve 1,000 career points. Additionally, Vigo is only the third Viking to earn this award as a junior, following Billy McCaffrey and Muhummad Ali Abdur-Rahkman.

The girls hosted Northern Lebanon in Rockne Hall March 9 in the first game of the State 4A tournament.

The swim and dive team recently concluded its successful season with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association District 11 2A Swimming Championships. Nick Janis, Thomas Rafferty, Will Haring and Gavin Mahon placed fourth in the boys 200 medley relay. Tyla Block placed third in the girls 200 individual medley. Mahon placed second in the boys 200 individual medley and third in the boys 100 fly. Janis placed third in the boys 50 free and boys 100 free. Block, Priscilla Elias, Addie Kehoe-Huck and Julia Janis placed fourth in the girls 200 free relay. Block, Elias, Kehoe-Huck and Amelia Michener placed third in the girls 400 free relay. Congratulations to all our incredible Viking swimmers.

Guests may attend our Winter Sports Awards March 26 to celebrate all our winter scholar athletes. Mass will begin 9:45 a.m. and the awards ceremony will follow.

The Viking baseball team will kick off their season March 19 when they travel to face Whitehall 4 p.m. The boys will play Bethlehem Catholic away 4 p.m. March 21 and Northampton 4 p.m. March 25 at their home field Limeport Stadium, 1488 Limeport Pike, Coopersburg.

The girls softball team will play their first two games away, at Whitehall 4 p.m. March 19 and at Bethlehem Catholic 4 p.m. March 21. The Vikettes will face Dieruff 4 p.m. March 22 at their home field, Patriots Park, 1026 St. John St., Allentown.

The boys lacrosse team will host Northampton at home 7 p.m. March 19. The Vikings will travel to play Pleasant Valley 5:30 p.m. March 21 and will return home to play Scranton Preparatory School 7 p.m. March 22.

The girls lacrosse team will travel to play Northampton 4 p.m. March 19 and will host both Pleasant Valley at home 5:30 p.m. March 21 and Southern Lehigh 5:30 p.m. March 25.

Finally, the boys tennis team will travel to play East Stroudsburg South March 15, will host Whitehall at home March 18 and will travel to East Stroudsburg North March 20. All these matches will begin 3:30 p.m.

The track and field team will compete in meets versus Easton 3:30 p.m. March 20 and Emmaus 3:30 p.m. March 26 at Easton Area High School.

For full lists of spring athletic schedules, visit acchsathletics.org.

Would you like to participate in spring sports, but don’t have the athletic skills to do so? Consider joining the ACCHS Student Trainer program. Student trainers serve as integral team members, while also meeting new friends and experiencing a close-knit student athlete family.

Student trainers work alongside ACCHS athletic trainers to help Vikings and Vikettes perform the best in their sport. Student trainers can receive a varsity letter, service hours and spirit wear. Email Jessica Cancel at Jessica_M.Cancel@LVHN.org with questions or to sign up.

The ACCHS track and field online spirit wear store will close March 14. A portion of all proceeds will support the Ryan Carbone Scholarship Fund, Class of 2022. Place your order by visiting https://corporateimagesinc.chipply.com/ACCHSTF24/.

Save the date for the ACCHS cheer team’s Purses and Prizes Bingo. Enjoy an afternoon of exciting purses and bingo fun April 14 at the Walson Center at St. John Vianney Regional School, 210 N. 18th St., Allentown. Doors will open 1 p.m. with games beginning 2 p.m. Stay tuned for a link to purchase tickets. Direct any questions to abaatz@acchs.info.

You may now purchase tickets for Allentown Central Catholic’s 2024 Spring Musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella (Enchanted Edition).” The cast will perform 7 p.m. April 4, 5 and 6 with a matinee 2 p.m. April 6 as well. Buy tickets online at www.showtix4u.com/event-details/81630. Many seats are already taken, so purchase your tickets as soon as possible!