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{{Infobox college athletics
|name = St. Thomas Celts
|logo = St. Thomas Celts logo.png
|logo_width= 170
|university = University of St. Thomas
|association = [[NCAA Division III]]
|conference = [[Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference]]
|division =
|director = Todd Smith
|location = [[Houston, Texas]]
|first year=1947, 2006|teams = 16
|stadium =
|basketballarena = Jerabeck Athletic Center
|baseballfield = 
|mascot = Lenny the Lion
|nickname = Celts <br>
Warriors (formerly)
|fightsong =
|color1 =  
|hex1 =  
|color2 =  
|hex2 =  
|pageurl = https://ustcelts.com/ 
| altlogo   = [[File:St thomas texas ust logo.png|150px]]
}}

The '''St. Thomas Celts''' are the athletic teams that represent the [[University of St. Thomas (Texas)|University of St. Thomas]], located in [[Houston|Houston, Texas]], in intercollegiate sports as a member of the [[NCAA Division III|Division III]] level of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA), primarily competing in the [[Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference]] (SCAC) as a provisional member since the 2019–20 academic year. The Celts previously competed in the [[Red River Athletic Conference]] (RRAC) at the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA) from 2011–12 to 2018–19; as well as an [[NAIA independent schools|NAIA Independent]] within the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) from 2007–08 to 2010–11.

==Varsity teams==
UST competes in eight intercollegiate men's sports, nine women's sports, and two co-ed sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading (spirit) and [[Esports]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=University of St. Thomas Athletics Department |title=University of St. Thomas (TX) Athletics |url=https://www.ustcelts.com |access-date=August 5, 2023 |website=University of St. Thomas (TX) Athletics}}</ref>

==History==

=== Original tenure ===
UST men's basketball dates back to 1947, in conjunction with the opening of the university.<ref name=":0" /> During their original athletic tenure, their mascot was the '''Warriors'''.<ref>{{cite web |last=McKone |first=Jim |date=February 2, 1958 |title=UCC Storms to Win Over St. Thomas |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/755649574/?terms=%22st.%20thomas%22%20%22warriors%22&match=1 |accessdate=June 5, 2022 |publisher=Corpus Christi Caller-Times |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Anderson |first=Louis |date=January 12, 1964 |title=Del Mar Takes Easy Win Over Warriors |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/758557134/?terms=%22st.%20thomas%22%20%22warriors%22&match=3 |accessdate=June 5, 2022 |publisher=Corpus Christi Times |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Their men's basketball program disbanded in 1967.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dallas Morning News |date=May 16, 1969 |title=St. Louis After Next Cokes Bout (Sportscripts) |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A0F99DDB671832188%40GB3NEWS-0FDF1F7A1F200C71%402440358-0FDF1F7A6C97907D%4024-0FDF1F7CD2154D4B%40St.%2BLouis%2Bafter%2Bnext%2BCokes%2BBout?h=1&fname=St.%20Louis%20after%20next%20Cokes%20Bout&mname=&lname=&kwinc=&kwexc=&sort=old&rgfromDate=February%201967&rgtoDate=May%201967&formDate=05/16/1969&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=date&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&sid=qbdeexjdqqoopbfohaojxtzxncsafkyc_wma-gateway014_1688849589153 |website=Genealogybank.com}}</ref> UST also hosted a baseball team from 1948<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=The Houston Post |date=January 16, 1948 |title=Baseball For St. Thomas U. |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A10EEA3FE61C5B8B0%40GB3NEWS-172A3DD021FE8A1C%402432567-172932AF4A723F79%4013-172932AF4A723F79%40?h=2&fname=%22st%20Thomas%22&mname=&lname=&kwinc=&kwexc=&sort=old&rgfromDate=February%201967&rgtoDate=May%201967&formDate=01/16/1948&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=date&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&sid=rmkwpuuvmvrkgnezpuxyqiaxjjissyuh_wma-gateway013_1688849221483 |website=Genealogybank.com}}</ref> to 1969.<ref>{{Cite web |last=The Houston Post |date=May 15, 1969 |title=Saint Thomas Baseball Out |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A10EEA3FE61C5B8B0%40GB3NEWS-1734C6414419DB4D%402440357-1734139689EB3373%4079-1734139689EB3373%40?h=5117&fname=&mname=&lname=&kwinc=%22Saint%20Thomas%22&kwexc=&sort=old&rgfromDate=1960&rgtoDate=1969&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&page=341&sid=vbdkecvbwiwpikqftxmwchqpzvfxancb_wma-gateway014_1688440092006 |website=Genealogybank.com}}</ref> Men's basketball temporarily returned for the 1984–85 season, posting a 9–23 record and losing in the NAIA District IV Tournament to [[Southwestern University]].<ref>{{cite web |last= |date=February 26, 1985 |title=Southwestern 76, St. Thomas 61 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/358134526/?terms=%22st.%20thomas%22%20%22basketball%22&match=1 |accessdate=June 5, 2022 |publisher=Austin American-Statesman |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> 1984 was also when the UST athletic teams were first known as the '''Celts'''.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 29, 1984 |title=Thursday's Games - St. Thomas at TCU - Daniel-Meyer Coliseum - 7:30 p.m. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/638566719/?terms=%22st.%20thomas%22%20%22celts%22&match=4 |accessdate=June 5, 2022 |publisher=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

=== NAIA (2006–2019) ===
In fall 2006, the NAIA informed UST that its application to join had been accepted, bringing varsity intercollegiate athletics back to campus for the first time in 20 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stthom.edu/Online_Newsroom/Campus_News/Index.aqf?NewsScriptAction=Simple_Search&AQ_Year=2006 |title=Campus News |access-date=2009-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805180437/http://www.stthom.edu/Online_Newsroom/Campus_News/Index.aqf?NewsScriptAction=Simple_Search&AQ_Year=2006 |archive-date=2009-08-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Beginning in 2007, UST fielded both a women's [[volleyball]] team and a men's [[soccer]] team to compete as Independents within the Association of Independent Institutions (AII).<ref>{{Cite web |last=University of St. Thomas |date=2007 |title=2007 Lady Celts Volleyball (Media Guide) |url=https://www.stthom.edu/Public/getFile.asp?File_Content_ID=4100 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805190532/https://www.stthom.edu/Public/getFile.asp?File_Content_ID=4100 |archive-date=August 5, 2023 |access-date=August 5, 2023 |website=stthom.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=University of St. Thomas |date=October 30, 2008 |title=2007 Men's Soccer Schedule |url=http://www.stthom.edu/Public/index.asp?page_ID=4623 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030073146/http://www.stthom.edu/Public/index.asp?page_ID=4623 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 30, 2008 |website=stthom.edu}}</ref> The 2009–10 academic year marked the return of the UST men's varsity basketball team.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stthom.edu/Campus_Student_Life/Sports_Athletics/Intercollegiate_Athletics/Mens_Basketball/Mens_Basketball.aqf |title=Men's Basketball |access-date=2009-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090120225628/http://www.stthom.edu/Campus_Student_Life/Sports_Athletics/Intercollegiate_Athletics/Mens_Basketball/Mens_Basketball.aqf |archive-date=2009-01-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> From 2011 to 2019, UST competed in the NAIA as members of the [[Red River Athletic Conference|RRAC]].<ref>{{Cite news |author= Staff |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bellaire/sports/article/St-Thomas-joins-Red-River-Conference-9365574.php |title=St. Thomas joins Red River Conference |date=June 2, 2011 |accessdate=January 8, 2020 }}</ref>

===Move to NCAA Division III===
On February 14, 2018, UST announced it would become the SCAC's 10th member after completing an exploratory year in [[NCAA Division III]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference |date=February 14, 2018 |title=University of St. Thomas Set to Join SCAC in 2019-20 |url=https://www.scacsports.com/news/2017-2018/st_thomas_joins_scac |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805194602/https://www.scacsports.com/news/2017-2018/st_thomas_joins_scac |archive-date=August 5, 2023 |access-date=August 5, 2023 |website=www.scacsports.com}}</ref> Pending acceptance into Division III after that, SCAC competition would begin in the 2019–20 season. As Division III and the SCAC require a minimum of 12 sports, UST added men's and women's tennis along with the return of baseball during the 2019–20 academic year. According to UST President [[Richard Ludwick]], "[t]his is really recognition not only of the quality of our athletics program, but of the quality of our academics and institution as a whole. It is exciting to think about the level of competition that we have been invited to join."<ref>{{cite web|title=University of St. Thomas Announces NCAA Division III Exploratory Membership|url=http://www.ustcelts.com/article/934.php|accessdate=14 February 2018}}</ref>

The school became a provisional member of Division III in 2019.<ref>{{cite news|author=Laymance, Reid|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/college/article/St-Thomas-athletics-to-move-to-NCAA-Division-III-13644048.php|title=St. Thomas athletics to move to NCAA Division III|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2019-02-25|accessdate=2019-12-29}}</ref>

In 2020, the Celts Baseball team played for the first time since 1969. They went 7-11 before the season ending due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|last=St. Thomas (TX) Athletics Department|url=https://www.ustcelts.com/sports/bsb/2019-20/releases/20200202_UST_opens_new_era_of_collegiate_baseball|title=UST Opens New Era of Collegiate Baseball|date=February 2, 2020|website=ustcelts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=St. Thomas (TX) Athletics Department|url=https://www.ustcelts.com/sports/bsb/2019-20/schedule|title=2019-20 Baseball Schedule|date=2020|via=ustcelts.com}}</ref> On February 8, 2020, the Celts registered their first victory (an 11-7 victory over Howard Payne) since April 26, 1969 (a 2-1 defeat over [[Houston Christian Huskies baseball|Houston Baptist]]).<ref>{{Cite web|last=St. Thomas (TX) Athletics Department|url=https://www.ustcelts.com/sports/bsb/2019-20/releases/20200209_Celts_claim_first_baseball_win_since_1969_in_doubleheader_split|title=Celts Claim First Baseball Win Since 1969 in Doubleheader Split|date=February 9, 2020|website=ustcelts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A10EEA3FE61C5B8B0%40GB3NEWS-17350DEB0B5947A1%402440339-1734137C445F781F%4031-1734137C445F781F%40?h=238&fname=%22houston%20baptist%22&mname=&lname=&kwinc=&kwexc=&sort=old&rgfromDate=Feb%201969&rgtoDate=May%201969&formDate=12/02/1964&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&page=15&sid=fyyosmgluukpfwibrptsxhoazlvjnvkf_wma-gateway003_1688350828906|title=Warriors Nip Baptists, 2-1|date=April 27, 1969|newspaper=The Houston Post|page=32|access-date=February 18, 2024|via=genealogybank.com}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of college athletic programs in Texas]]
* [[List of NCAA Division III institutions]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links== 
* {{oweb}}

{{Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Thomas}}

[[Category:St. Thomas Celts| ]]
[[Category:University of St. Thomas (Texas)]]