LIMA - Much is expected of Lima Central Catholic.

ADAFor the second consecutive year, Lima Central Catholic High School won the Ohio Northern University’s Ninth Annual Mathematics Shoot-Out High School Competition on Tuesday. Second place went to Liberty Benton High School. Students began the competition in the morning working in small groups to formulate solutions to a set of 60 math problems. In the afternoon, the competitors were divided into teams consisting of nine schools to compete in a game of “Mathematics Dodgeball.”Participating schools were Ada, Allen East, Arcadia, Bellefontaine, Benjamin Logan, Bluffton, Cory-Rawson, Delphos Jefferson, Elgin, McComb, North Baltimore, Leipsic, Liberty, Lima Senior Progressive Academy, Pandora Gilboa, Perry and Van Buren.

LIMA — Lima Central Catholic High School has a new leader and is moving toward a new “president” model much like a university might be run.The school's board of governors on Friday introduced Norwalk Catholic School President Walt Klimaski as its new president.“He has a wealth of experience and a track record, and you can see it right off the bat when you talk to him,” board President Scott Koenig said. “He has been there, done that and has a lot of the solutions already in his head as far as leading this school forward.”Klimaski, 59, begins his duties as school president in July. He replaces Principal Richard Mitterholzer, who announced a few months ago that he would retire after serving the school since 2006. Klimaski comes from a president model and talked to the board about it. The model calls for the president to handle more external things, such as development and recruitment of students. Existing staff would handle more of the internal things.“I sort of see this board stepping out and in some ways making Lima Central Catholic a small college environment,” he said.Saying he has a passion for helping schools with challenges, Klimaski said he loves development work and sees recruitment of students as one of important duties he will need to tackle.“There are things to be done with recruitment of students and trying to continue to find the funds necessary for the school to be successful in the long-term,” he said.Klimaski has for the past five years been president of the Norwalk Catholic system, which includes St. Paul High School. He had no intentions of leaving until contacted by the LCC board.About 15 people applied for the position, Koenig said. The applicants came from Ohio and other parts of the country. The search committee was pleased with the response and quality of applicants, Koenig said, but is glad it took advice from the Toledo Catholic Diocese and talked to Klimaski. “Walt Klimaski brings exceptional experience, skills and energy to the extension of out values and will ensure the growth and vitality of this institution,” Koenig said.He has 35 years of Catholic educational experience, including leadership positions at Archbishop Alter High School in Dayton, Bishop Watterson High School in Columbus, Akron St. Vincent/St. Mary High School and the Norwalk Catholic Schools. His wife, Silvia, attended Friday's press conference.“We are Catholic through and through,” he said. “And I thoroughly love working for the church and working for Christ.”

LIMA - Parents, alumni and friends of Lima Central Catholic High School are invited to join students for a traditional May crowning ceremony Thursday. Students will walk from mass to the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima outside the Monsignor Edward C. Herr Gymnasium. The ceremony should begin at about 10:20 a.m.

LIMA — 11:10 a.m., Apr. 16 — The signs of a presidential campaign are everywhere at Lima Central Catholic High School. Posters, buttons and even free stuff from candidates are commonplace at the school as it prepares for its mock convention on Friday. The event begins at 7 p.m. in the school gymnasium, decked out in American flags and campaign signs. Candidates, AKA pupils, have been drumming up support for the past few weeks. Mitt Romney, better known as senior Matt Huffman, even wrangled an endorsement from school Principal Richard Mitterholzer. A primary held Tuesday saw John McCain, also known as senior Matt Hawk, leading with 15 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton, or Kayla Nocera, came in dead last. Undecided voters lead the way. That group will also include pupils from the Catholic elementary schools Friday. Read more about this story in Thursday's The Lima News.

LIMA – After five years leading Lima Central Catholic High School, Principal Richard Mitterholzer announced Wednesday he won’t return next school year.“I am really proud to have been part of LCC for the past five years. As a school we have achieved a number of important goals and are moving in a positive direction,” he said.“At this time I am unable to make a long-term commitment that would benefit LCC, and it seems like the right time to find someone who can make the long-term commitment.”Mitterholzer informed LCC parents of his decision Wednesday. His will remain at the school until his contract expires June 30.Mitterholzer, 59, said he committed to five years when the board hired him in 2006, but is unable to commit to another five years for various reasons.“I don’t know what the future might hold,” he said. “They [board members] are looking for someone who can commit long-term.”The board hired Mitterholzer in June 2006, replacing the Rev. Todd Dominique. Mitterholzer had spent nearly 30 years at Bluffton schools, including serving as middle school principal and high school administrator and assistant principal. He had also been athletic director and boys basketball coach.Mitterholzer, and his wife, Karen, still live in Bluffton and plan to remain. He doesn’t know what he will do next. He came out of retirement to take the LCC job.Mitterholzer said he is proud of many accomplishments at LCC, including academics and addressing some building needs. He said there is no one accomplishment he can point to.“I’m very proud of where the school has come from when I started to where it has ended up so far,” he said.In a letter sent to parents Wednesday, Mitterholzer thanked the LCC community for its support and encouragement during his time at the school.“I will really miss my daily contact with the students,” he said. “The young people who pass through our halls have been a source of both pride and joy.”You can comment on this story at www.limaohio.com.

LIMA - The Lima Central Catholic Academic Booster Club is offering ACT prep classes starting Feb. 2, when a mandatory pre-test will be given.

LIMA — While a few have managed to stay above going negative, that’s not so for the Mitt Romney and Ron Paul campaigns.“It’s more of the Ron Paul group attacked the Mitt Romney group, so the Romney was more in retaliation,” explained Romney, aka Lima Central Catholic High School senior Matt Huffman.“And I will add that the Romney signs were a lot more clever than the Paul signs,” Huffman said in another jab.Things are heating up in the final days before Friday’s mock political convention at the school. Luckily, convention chairman, senior Nick Stanford, is handling the “poster war” and other issues.The convention is open to the public and begins at 7 p.m. in the school gymnasium, which will be decked out in American flags and campaign signs.Signs and posters hang all around the building; some from the actual campaigns and others designed by students.The “candidates” have been drumming up support for the past few weeks. Huffma, even wrangled an endorsement from school Principal Richard Mitterholzer, making for the perfect “Mitt For Mitt” sign.A primary held Tuesday saw John McCain, also known as senior Matt Hawk, leading with 15 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton, or Kayla Nocera, came in dead last. Undecided voters lead the way. That group will also include pupils from the Catholic elementary schools Friday. They will act as delegates, along with other LCC students and staff. Anyone attending will have a vote.All eight candidates will give speeches during the convention, including Stephen Colbert, aka Ray Creamer, who will be nominated on the floor of the convention.It will be a time of wheeling and dealing, including offering delegates cabinet and ambassador jobs if they win. Bribes will also be plentiful. It’s rumored that Paul, better known as Adam Swick, will pass out hot dogs with “Paul” written in mustard.The candidates all have their campaign strategies. Hawk admits it’s not all about McCain’s policies when he’s going door to door in the school campaigning for votes.“It also helps to have candy with you or something,” he said.Huffman is hoping to get the humor vote, and hopes some of his signs help. One reads, “Morman? More like More Man.”Huffman has a little more experience campaigning than others. He’s helped his dad, state Rep. Matt Huffman, who is the convention’s keynote speaker.Romney and Obama, aka Lauren Thomas, tied for second place during Tuesday’s primary. Thomas did well with female voters, so her strategy the rest of the week is to entice the guys to get on board.“I do have two guys on my campaign team, so I’m going to try to get them more involved,” she said.The students researched and picked which candidate they wanted to be. Thomas admitted that she’s a Republican, but is leaning toward Obama.Candidates are expected to arrive at Friday’s convention with their own security detail. Rumor has it that Thomas’ will double as backup dancers.Hawk will dye his hair gray, while Thomas will slick her hair back to take on a more manly look. Clinton, or Nocera, will come with her own “Bill,” but he won’t be allowed to speak.Their theme songs will blare while on stage. Several of the candidates are still working on their songs. Hawk is going with McCain’s actual song, “Johnny B Good.”Students said they are more interested in politics and the candidates since getting involved with the mock convention.The school has held the convention on election years since 1988. This year’s candidates remember being delegates when eighth-graders. The three boys attended St. Charles and represented California. Thomas and her St. Gerard classmates were from New York.“It’s something we all really had fond memories of,” Stanford said. “And are excited to participate in it.”