Bethel High School (Virginia)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bethel High School is a public high school located in Hampton, Virginia. Bethel is one of four high schools located in the Hampton School District.

Contents 1 Athletics 2 Extracurriculars 2.1 ROTC 2.2 Music program 3 Criticism 4 Notable alumni

[edit] Athletics

Bethel is most famous for NBA superstar Allen Iverson having attended there. In 1993 Bethel not only won the state championship in basketball but football and girls track as well. Allen Iverson led the basketball team as a point guard, and the football team as the starting quarterback. He played iron man football, coming into the defensive secondary as needed, as well as returned kickoffs and punts.

In the 2005-2006 basketball season the Bethel varsity basketball team enjoyed an undefeated regular season (27-0), number two ranking in the state and was led by Coach Craig Brehon and power forwards Duke Crews (All-American) and Jamel McLean. Duke Crews is currently attending the University of Tennessee. Jamel McLean is currently attending the University of Tulsa.

It also has a successful track team who captured back to back state titles in 2005 and 2006. The boys track team attained a national championship in the 4x200 and 4x400 meter relays in 2007 as well.

[edit] Extracurriculars

[edit] ROTC

As well as excelling in basketball and football, Bethel is also home to the largest and most accomplished Junior ROTC unit in Virginia. The Army JROTc Bruin Brigade has for the past decade fielded the top Marksmanship Team (air rifle) and Raiders Team at any level, and consistently one of the best Drill Teams and Honor guards of Southeast Virginia. As well, the Brigade has achieved some of the highest scores possible during Regional Formal Inspections. These three year inspections test an Army JROTC unit in all areas, and gauge its overall proficiency as a unit.

The Bruin Brigade Marksmanship Team (known locally as "The Rifle Team"), with assistance from Lafayette Gun Club in adjacent York County, has dominated the local Old Dominion Junior Rifle League, and has been invited to compete nationally twice. The Bethel Bruin Marksmanship Team was denied the opportunity to compete, however, due to administrative decision.^{[citation needed]} The team has sent at least one marksman to a national college tournament, another possibly to join the United States Coast Guard Academy team, and at least one more shooter likely to gain a scholarship in the near future.

The Raiders Team has seen both rough and good times, but as of 2005, it officially became the top Army team in Southeast Virginia. It has seen a chain of consistently strong leadership, and has produced several Air Force Academy, Virginia Military Institute, and Virginia Tech officer candidates, as well as a large number of enlisted in all branches.

Bethel's AJROTC and athletic achievements are supported by a number of programs specifically tailored by the administration toward education in commercial activities. Projects like the FIRM, a large base of business classes, Governor's School opportunities offering college credit, fashion programs, and other such university style programs allow students to pursue a course in high school similar to their expected college major.

[edit] Music program

In January 2006, the Bethel High School Marching Band was selected to march in the Governers Innaugral in Williamsburg, being the only band in the district to receive that honor. In addition, the marching band was selected to participate in the 2007 Gator Bowl halftime show in Jacksonville, Florida.

[edit] Criticism

Bethel High School met with widespread criticism and negative media attention in February 2007 when students discovered that health inspectors had found significant numbers of German and Oriental cockroaches in the school cafeteria (in every inspection for the past year).^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Notable alumni

• Allen Iverson, guard for the Denver Nuggets.
• Tony Rutland, shooting guard and MVP - European Basketball
• Shaun Gayle, captain of the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears football team.
• Jimmy Williams, defensive back for the Atlanta Falcons