Mechanicsburg Area Senior High
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| District | Mechanicsburg Area S.D. |
| Location | Mechanicsburg, PA, |
| School Type | Public |
| Enrollment as of 2006-07 | 1200 |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Surroundings | Suburban |
| Mascot | Wildcat |
| School Colors | Maroon/Steel |
| Alma Mater | "Mechanicsburg High" |
Mechanicsburg Area Senior High is a secondary school located on 500 South Broad Street in the borough of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
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[edit] Communities
Mechanicsburg Area Senior High (MASH), which accepts Students ranging from Grade 9-12, serves several communities, including the Boroughs of Mechanicsburg, Shiremanstown, and Upper Allen Township.
The students begin at one of the elementary schools- Elmwood, Upper Allen/Shepherdstown, Northside, and Broadstreet (All K-5). They then progress to Mechanicsburg Middle School (6-8), and the last stop is the High School (9-12).
[edit] School Information and History
The school dates back to the late 1800's, and a photo dated 1898 shows a graduating class of 34. This was at Simpson Street school, which is now the "Schoolhouse Apartments". Once the school expanded past capacity, a new high school was built on Elmwood Avenue (That school has since been the Intermediate School and now Elmwood Elementary). In the 1970's, the present school was built on 500 South Broad Street.
The alma mater, an original piece, is as follows.
"Mechanicsburg High School"
Mechanicsburg High School,
You're the dearest school to me.
Mechanicsburg High School,
True to you we'll always be.
Fairest colors, maroon and steel,
Faith to you we'll always feel.
Dearest school beneath the sky,
Mechanicsburg High!
[edit] Extra-Curricular Activities
On November 12, 2006, the Mechanicsburg Marching Band came in 1st for the second consecutive time at the Tournament Of Bands Group III Atlantic Coast Championships at Lackawanna County Stadium in Moosic, PA with an impressive score of 98.05. They were awarded additionally for best Music, Visual, Auxiliary, and, for the first time in 6 years, Percussion. It was their 8th ACC victory in school history, having won Group IV in 1992 and 1994-1996, and Group III in 1999, 2000, and 2005. They also hold the Group III high-score record (98.80 in 2005) and the Group IV record (98.80 in 1994). These dual 98.80s also stand as the overall highest scores recieved in the history of Tournament Of Bands.
MASH is noted for its Theatre productions, particularly their Spring musical. The 2005 Production of Les Miserables was compared by many to a Broadway production.
Mechanicsburg has produced several prominent musicians, including Bret Michaels, the lead singer of the metal band Poison.
Mechanicsburg also hosts Lift For Life, an annual weightlifting competition held in early March at the High School to raise money for Kidney Cancer. Don Shirley (below), the late baseball coach at MASH, died of Kidney Cancer and his son, Scott, thought of the competition and shared it with the fellow members of the Penn State football team. Both Mechanicsburg and the Penn State football program carry on the annual event.
[edit] Athletics
Football
Friday Nights in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania are events that many citizens and students mark on their calendars; to cheer their Mechanicsburg Wildcats to victory against this week's opponent. The football program is currently in the AAA rank of the PIAA Classification system, and are members of the Mid-Penn Keystone Division and formerly Mid-Penn First Division, which they were champions of in 1982, 1983, 1986, 1996, and 2000. The football program has over 500 career wins, one of only a select few in Central Pennsylvania. In 1986, under the guidance of still-head coach Rich Lichtel, Mechanicsburg won the PIAA District 3 AAAA Championship. They were also runners-up in 1983 and 2004. The Wildcats play at John H. Frederick Field at Memorial Park Stadium (located in the back of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park), whose crowd has reached well into the thousands for countless games. A unique aspect of Frederick Field is that at least once every Friday Night, a train rolls through on the tracks just across the fence from the field, and pauses for several minutes, possibly to take in part of the action.
Famous Alumni and Retired Numbers
Chris Hakel (William and Mary, NFL 4th Round)
Shawn Abner (Major League Baseball, Number 16 Retired)
Zach Frazer (Notre Dame, holds PA state single season passing record)
Mike Edwards (Major League Baseball)
Scott Erney (Rutgers, Big 33 Quarterback)
Doug Erney (William and Mary, Big 33 Quarterback)
Bud Kohlhaas (Number 61 Retired)
Dan Lewis (Number 41 Retired)
Ryan Priest (Number 45 Retired)
Baseball
The baseball program has also been marked with great success. The Baseball team is currently in the AAA classification in the PIAA, and competes in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division. Although in 2005, the loss of long-time head coach Don Shirley, who passed October 2005 from Kidney Cancer. The current coach is Clay McCallister. The Wildcats play at Shirley-Rickenbach Field at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park, named after the late Shirley and Bill Rickenbach, head coach for the Mechanicsburg Cardinals Twilight League team.
Famous Alumni and retired numbers:
Shawn Abner (#1 Pick in 1984 MLB Draft by the Mets, Number 16 Retired)
Mike Edwards (Number 7 Retired)
Don Shirley (Number 8 Retired)
Basketball
The Basketball program is listed in the AAAA classification in the PIAA, and competes in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division. The current coach is Bob Strickler. The program is perenially successful, winning the PIAA District 3 AAAA title in the 1994-1995 season, headed by Mike Edwards. In 2004, 2005, and 2006, the program has qualified for the PIAA state playoffs. In 2006, the Wildcats are led by a young group of stars. With Jr. Chris White running the point and brothers Sr. Chad and So. Jake Zeigler running the show. As well as Jr. Steven Edgar at big man who holds the team down. They also receive help from Greg Bretz, Logan Zugay, Tommy Meceli, and Tyler Bullock. This year's team is showing much promise. The girl's team is also looking good, headed by Clay McAllister. Fr. Taylor Miller is automatic from deep as well as having Jrs. Jenni Walker and Meagan Miller scoring ofter. This team is also looking like a winner. Wildcat basketball looks at the level it was in the days of Josh Koontz and Jeremy Boone.
Boys Soccer
The Boy's Soccer program is listed in the AAA classification in the PIAA, and competes in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division. The current coach is Tony Lougee. The team plays their home games at Northside Elementary's "Cage" on the north side of town, which is one of the few soccer-only stadiums in the area with the capability to host night games. The program has won their division in 2006, and was PIAA District III Runners-up in 2005. They have advanced to the state tournament in the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Mechanicsburg has also trained a two-time High School All-American in Bob Warshaw, a midfielder.
