Columbus High School (Waterloo, Iowa)
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| Established | 1959 |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Affiliation | WA-Mac Conference |
| Principal | Tom Ulses |
| Location | 3231 W. 9th St., Waterloo, Iowa, USA |
| Colors | Green, White |
| Mascot | Sailors |
| Website | www.columbushigh.org |
Columbus High School (CHS) is a Catholic secondary school in Waterloo, Iowa. It opened its doors on 31 August 1959 after three years of fund-raising by its primary advocate, Father A.A. McAvoy. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque.
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[edit] History and financing
Columbus High School first opened its doors to a class of 406 men and 431 women on 31 August 1959 following a three year fund-raising effort. The school's primary advocate, Father A.A. McAvoy, began directing fundraising efforts in 1956 for the school. By 1959, McAvoy's efforts had yielded nearly two million dollars worth of pledges, a remarkable amount in the small community of Waterloo, and the largest raising effort in the history of the community at the time.
In 1958 the cornerstone was blessed by Archbishop Leo Binz, and Father John Paar was named principal later that year. In 1968, Father Walter Brunkan, the assistant principal, was promoted to principal and remained in that role for over twenty years. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque reassigned Fr. Brunkan to St. Mary Catholic Church in Greene, Iowa, in 1991, and Michael Palmer became the first lay principal. Mr. Palmer retired in 1999, and once again the assistant principal, Todd Dirth, took over.
[edit] Namesake
Columbus High School was named after Christopher Columbus, and the use of his name was meant to evoke a sense of adventure and the faith required to embark of a voyage into the unknown that has no certain end. The school mascot is the sailor, also after Columbus. School colors are kelly green and white, although, today other versions of green are accepted such as forrest or hunter, while, black, and yellow are strictly prohibited as secondary colors.
[edit] Athletics
Columbus supports a wide variety of athletic programs, some of which have been very successful.
The Sailors won the Class 2A football championship in 2004.
The school also has a long history of very successful competitors in girl's tennis. Girl's Tennis Coach Dave Will won the National High School Women's Tennis Coach Award in 2004.
Columbus boys' tennis has sported the individual state champion or runner-up the past three years... 2004, 2005, and 2006. -Elliot Rausa teamed with brother Nathan in 2004 and 2005 as runner-ups and then champions, respectively. -Elliot Rausa was the individual runner-up in 2006.
Columbus's wrestling team won the Class 2A Title in 2004. -Zach "Bubba" Kressley and Sam Hansen both individual champions
Columbus boys golf team won the Class 2A Title in 2004. - Tim "Threat" Hansen was the individual champion
Columbus boys golf team won the Class 3A state title in 1999, 2000, and 2002. The Sailors were victorious in the 2004 Class 2A state golf tournament, as Tim "LTR"/"Threat" Hansen was crowned individual champion and lead his team to another state title. - Ben Hanson was the individual champion in 2002
The boys basketball team made the State Tournament in 2003 behind a powerful student section called The 6th Man.
[edit] Academics
[edit] Notable alumni
- Dr. Tim Cordes, a blind American physician
- Tracie Spencer
- Larry Nemmers, NFL Referee
- Chuck Yagla, two-time NCAA wrestling champion at the University of Iowa and a wrestler on the 1980 Olympic team.
- Michael Hogan, current University of Connecticut President, past Provost of the University of Iowa
