About Us

Welcome to CYM Sports, your home for youth sports in the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

CAC

Catholic Athletic Council

Office established in 1935

CYO

Catholic Youth Organization

Program incorporated into Diocese in 1940

CYM

Catholic Youth Ministry

Modernization into ministry in athletics in 2000

Roots for Catholic Youth & Young Adult Sports in the Diocese of Wilmington

• In the fall of 1901, the first parish-affiliated football program was fielded at St. Ann Parish on Union Street. Known as the St. Ann's Juniors, the team comprised of catholic youth participants under the age of 10.
• In September of 1908, St. Elizabeth's Junior Football team formed, comprising of youth under the age of 13 and challenged teams throughout the city of Wilmington.
• In April of 1909, the adult athletic associations from St. Elizabeth, St. Mary on the East Side, St. Patrick's, St. Paul, and St. Peter's banded together to create a competitive sports league in Delaware, known as the Catholic Baseball League.
• In October of 1921, the Catholic Indoor Sport's League was organized by St. Ann's, St. Patrick's and others. Activities included pool and checkers.
• In November of 1927, representatives of St. Paul's, St. Anthony's, St. Hedwigs, Pineers, Brownson and the Knights of Columbus created the first Wilmington Catholic Basketball League. Representatives of this league would move forward to expand the leagues to incorporate bowling and softball. This would eventual organize the first office for Catholic Youth Sports on the east coast, the Catholic Athletic Council.

Organized Sports Office Formed under Diocese of Wilmington

• In the spring of 1938, the first Catholic Parochial Track & Field Championships were held.

Catholic Athletic Council Evolves into Catholic Youth Organization (CYO Wilmington)

• On January 2, 1940, the Catholic Youth Organization took over all activities of the Catholic Athletic Council under Father John Sheehy. Thomas L. Brand continued to lead the athletics component of the organization.
• In the spring of 1946, three competing circuits of CYO, Parochial, and Parish merged to form one unified league with CYO Wilmington.
• In the fall of 1953, the first CYO Parochial Football League formed, consisting of St. Ann's, St. Elizabeths, St. Helena's, and St. Peter's. The league would expand over the next several years to include powerhouse St. Anthony Catholic Club.
• In July of 1993, the Catholic Youth Organization establishes annual golf tournament, benefitting youth activities for CYO in the Diocese of Wilmington. The tournament is known today as the Joseph A. McNesby Jr. Golf Outing.

CYO Wilmington Rebrands into Catholic Youth Ministry, Sports

• In October of 2000, CYO Wilmington officially changed its name to Catholic Youth Ministry to realign with a new mission.
• In the spring of 2020, CYM Sports was shut down due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
• In the spring of 2022, Boys' Volleyball was added to the CYM Sports program.

History of Diocese Sports Leadership

Previous sports leaders at the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington