| Henry B. Plant High School | |
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| Location | |
| Tampa, Florida, United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public Secondary, Coeducational |
| Motto | Strength Through Unity |
| Established | 1927 |
| School district | Hillsborough County School District |
| Principal | Robert A. Nelson |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Number of students | 2,200 (2008-2009) |
| Color(s) | Black, and Gold
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| Mascot | Panther |
| Accreditation(s) | Florida State Department of Education |
| Website | http://plant.mysdhc.org |
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H.B. Plant High School
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| Location: | Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida |
| NRHP Reference#: | 81000194 |
H.B. Plant High School was opened in 1927 on South Himes Avenue in Tampa, Florida, United States. The school is named in honor of railroad and hotel tycoon Henry B. Plant. The school mascot is the Panther. The school motto is "Strength Through Unity." Plant High School currently has enrolled more than 2,200 students. The school has been twice named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, in 1990 and 1997.[1]
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The school has a notable academic reputation, and is consistently ranked among the 100 Best High Schools in America (as designated by Newsweek).[2] Plant High also offers free Advanced Placement Program testing as early as freshman year.
The athletic stadium is named Dad's Stadium, with the water tower in behind the stadium which reads, "Plant High School, Home Of State Champions" and hosts football, soccer and lacrosse games, track and field meets, and pep rallies. There is also a large black panther on the outside wall of the gym, visible to passing motorists on Dale Mabry. The flag team is known as the Pantherettes and the dance team is known as the Danceros.
Plant High School boasts an active Leadership program. The head program being the Student Government Association led by the Executive Board. This board is voted by the student body. This program would be nothing without President Susan Webster and Vice-president Jordan Mathews. Their contributions will forever be remembered at Plant High. Their sponsor is Teresa Cozzi.[3]
The H. B. Plant High School Orchestra, 80 students strong, consist of three separate ensembles: Symphony-Chamber Orchestra, Plant Orchestra and String Orchestra, all under the direction of Steven Bossert. Plant's Orchestras have consistantly ranked as superior in competition at both district and state levels, including a superior at the 2011 Hillsborough District Music Performance Assessment. The Symphony Orchestra was selected to perform the opening concert at the Florida Music Educators Association Conference in January, 2012. This concert promises to put the program before a state-wide and national audience.
Marching Band
The Plant High School Marching Panther Band is the largest performing ensemble at Plant High School. It is the culmination of the varsity wind ensemble, symphonic band, jazz band and percussion. The Marching Panther Band performs at all football games, home and away, as well as playoff games, the Gasparilla parade, pep rallies and various community events. The competitive marching band of Plant High School is named the Golden Panther Regiment and competes in the Florida Marching Band Championships (FMBC) circuit. The band has consistently earned straight superior ratings at all Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA) and FMBC competitions. The 2010 competitive production, entitled EPIC, is an all original composition by movie score composer Leonard Insalaca. While this is an original composition, the music is set to follow Perseus through the epic story of Clash of the Titans.
Varsity Wind Ensemble
The varsity wind ensemble is the most advanced concert band at Plant High School. This group features all-state band, all-county, university honor band, Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra and master musician members. Members of this elite ensemble have also achieved superior accolades at FBA district and state solo & ensemble festivals.
Symphonic Band
The Symphonic Band is composed primarily of freshman and sophomore members looking to develop their instrumental skill set. These members are also given the opportunity to participate in the Hillsborough all-county band and the FBA Solo and Ensemble events.
Jazz Band
The jazz ensemble of PHS remains one of the premier groups in Hillsborough county schools. The jazz ensemble made PHS history, earning straight superior ratings at FBA for four consecutive years. This is the first time in the 86 year history of Plant High School that this has happened. This energetic and highly skilled group has paved the way for the future of jazz at PHS.
Director
Rob Schoos is currently the Director of Bands at H. B. Plant High School as well as the Winds & Brass Coach for the Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestras. His ensembles are well known for their highly energetic and polished performances! He is a graduate of Florida State University where he received his Bachelors Degree in Music Performance (Horn/Brass concentration). Mr. Schoos performs frequently around the state of Florida as a freelance horn player and enjoys performing in a wide variety of genres. He is also a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, the Music Educators National Conference, the Florida Music Educators Association and the International Horn Society. Rob enjoys spending his free time with his wife Kate, and their golden retriever, Charley.
Performances by the school's chorus of more than 250 members include several Madrigal dinner performances and an annual revue called "Rick's Cafe". Past shows have featured numbers from Rent, Grease, Chicago, Gypsy: A Musical Fable, Little Shop of Horrors, Oklahoma, West Side Story, and Mary Poppins.
Members of the drama program put on plays and musicals every year. Recent shows include Psycho Night at the Paradise Lounge, Alice In Wonderland, Old Saybrook, The Curious Savage, Grease, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Odd Couple:Female Version, Bathroom Humor, and the award winning Mystery of Twicknam Vicarage. The Drama Club participates each year in Winter Wonderland, raising money for Broadway Cares, and other fund raisers. Each year closes with an award banquet entitled "The Henry's", in which new members are inducted into the Thespian Troupe, awards are distributed, board members are announced, and Senior students are given a final goodbye.
Plant High School enjoys a fine tradition of community service, as shown by the seven service clubs (boys and girls) on campus. Students who are interested in joining are assigned to a random club and are "tapped" during homeroom. These clubs perform a variety of services to the community and loyalty to one's club is strong.
Boys' Service Clubs:
Girls' Service Clubs:
Plant High School has been honored with a storied tradition of excellence in football. Recently the team has grabbed the national spotlight by winning the state championship in 2006, 2008, and 2009 under the guidance of Coach Robert Weiner. Under coach Weiner the Panthers have qualified for the state playoffs five years in a row, amassing an overall record of 65-13 and a playoff record of 18-2.
The 2006 Plant Panthers completed an undefeated season, winning their first Florida State Football Championship on December 9, 2006, by defeating the defending 2005 champions, Nease High School, 25–21.[4] A touchdown pass from future Miami Hurricane, Robert Marve to Derek Winter with 17 seconds left to play in the fourth quarter put the Panthers ahead for the win. Also in the game, Marve broke the record for completions, attempts, and touchdowns (48) in a season, a record previously held by former Nease High School QB and former Florida Gators standout and Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Tebow. Marve no longer plays for the University of Miami, having transferred to Purdue in 2009.
The week before, Plant High School made history when the team won their first state semi-final game against Booker T. Washington High School; a team who had previously made the semi-final game for four years in a row. Plant High School's team had previously made it to the semi-final game in 1973, 1976, and 1978 but had gotten no further.
In 2008, Plant won 14 games in a row after a close opening day loss. Under the combined leadership of QB Aaron Murray (now at University of Georgia) and Phillip Ely (a sophomore who came in for a stretch of 7 games when Murray was hurt), the Panthers defeated state powers Bradenton Southeast, Seffner Armwood, Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer, and Tallahassee Lincoln in route to their 2nd title in 3 years. The team was helped by a stifling defense, that included Austin Clark, Javon Mention, Beau Hume, Mike Mirabella, Hunter Baldwin and Javonte Martin. On offense, All-American TE Orson Charles (20 TDs) and big fullback Chris Hesson aided the QB combo of Murray and Ely, culminating in a 34-14 victory of Tallahasee Lincoln in the state title game.
In 2009, Plant moved into class 5A and showed no signs of slowing down. Co-Defensive Coordinator's John Few and Matt Johnson had to completely rebuild the defense, with only Mike Mirabella, Josh Varon (Meanchi), and CB Javonte Martin returning from 2008. After a 2 point loss in the opener, the Panthers improved each week on both sides of the ball and reeled off 13 straight victories (the game against traditional rival Hillsborough was canceled due to bad weather). Phillip Ely had new weapons like James Wilder Jr. and TJ Glover on offense and speedy receivers Allen Sampson and Deandre Queen provided more than enough offense for the Panthers to overwhelm their opponents in the playoffs. Plant outscored its opponents 201-53 in the playoffs and defeated national power Lakeland 20-0 in the state-semifinals and nationally ranked Bradenton Manatee 21-14 in the championship game. This sealed Plant's 3rd State Championship in 4 years.
In 2011, Plant went 14-1 and won the Class 7A Florida State Championship 31-20 over Mirmar.
Plant High has one of the best volleyball programs in the USA. (Prep Volleyball.com) They have won titles in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. 2008 was the second year that Plant volleyball has had a 3-peat. They were led by their seniors Danielle Erb ( James Madison University) , Jordan Dickie, Ariel Ley (Davidson College) , Cameron HIll (Washington and Lee) and Alexis Monteleone. Danielle was named Tampa Tribune, St. Petersburg Times and Dairy Farmer 5A Volleyball player of the Year in 2008. Hill was the Army All Select Honoree and Ley was a Tribune Academic Award winner. In 2009 they claimed their 4th consecutive state championships behind Maddie Martin ('09 Gatorade player of Florida) and Ali McCurdy. Martin was recruited as a DS/Libero at Penn State and McCurdy will be starting Libero at Duke. Additional standout VB players at PHS: the Kirkwood Sisters - Emily and Sarah both played/started at UVA, Amy Rumore recruited by University of Tampa and coached by Chris Catanach and Kellie Catanach is currently the All-American starting setter at Duke! Sarah Kirkwood and Kellie Catanach were respectively Gatorade players of Florida their senior year! In 2010 they won their 5th straight championship led by Seniors Alex Johnson (Georgetown), Tina Catanach (Loyola, Maryland), Paige Tuttle (Augusta State), Callie Henley, and libero Charlotte Hill, along with Juniors Maren Douglas (Hillsborough County assist leader) and middle Brynne Fruhmorgen. Plant Volleyball coach Leanna Taylor, who has guided the program to five consecutive state championships, has been named Florida Dairy Farmers Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year and Tampa Tribune Female Coach of the Year. She was recently chosen by Positive Coaching Alliance and the Institute of International Sport as one of seven people across the country selected to be Sports Ethics Fellows recipients as part of IIS’ 20th-Anniversary edition of National Sportsmanship Day.
The Plant High School Flying Panther Sailing Team is another premier club at H.B. Plant High School. Founded during the 2001-2002 school year by, then student, Caroline Young, the sailing team practices at Davis Island Yacht Club. The Panther sailing team started with a strive toward excellence by qualifying for the 2002 ISSA national championship in San Francisco, California where they placed 15th overall. The Panthers have since attended five other national championships, in 2005 the panthers finished 13th overall, in 2006 the team attended the ISSA national championship in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, finishing 11th, and in 2007 they finished 5th at the fleet racing nationals and 3rd in the team race nationals. The ISSA National Championship is an invitation-only regatta that only the top three teams from the South Atlantic Interscholastic Sailing Association are able to attend.
The Plant High School Rowing, just like sailing, is another club sport at H.B. Plant High School. The Crew team practices at the Palm River (27.947623,-82.392826) everyday for 21/2 hours or on the rowing machines ("ergs"). The crew team travels to various places to race including Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Tallahassee, Florida. In November 2008 and 2009 the Woman's varsity eight has placed 1st at the Head of the Hooch, the 2nd largest regatta in the US. In May 2008, the Women's 1V Boat was the first boat on the team to advance to the Grand Finals at the SRAA National Regatta. In May, 2009 the club earned its first National level medals, with a Men's boat placing third at the SRAA National Regatta in Lake Mercer, New Jersey In May, 2011, Phillip Kangari won the men's eight-man state championship by himself, after the entire boat quit because they hated him.[5] Members of the club regularly attend colleges such as Princeton and Georgetown to row.
The Plant High School Lacrosse team is aclub team at H.B. Plant High School. The organization is a member of the West Florida Lacrosse League. In 2006, Plant took home the Florida State Club Lacrosse State Championship. Plant has won the WFLL every year it has played in the league and has advanced to the state championship but has been the runner-up since 2007.
The Plant Ice Hockey Team is another premier club at H.B. Plant High School. The team is now part of the newly formed 2010-2011 Florida High School Hockey Association, competing in the Lightning Conference. The Lightning Conference includes teams from the greater Tampa Bay area and is one of two high school ice hockey leagues in the state of Florida affiliated with SAHOF and USA Hockey. There are 19 teams that compete in the Lightning Conference, which is divided into two divisions: Central Division and Western Division. Competition between these teams starts October 1 and runs thru February 11. The top teams from each of these divisions will compete in the Lightning Cup Playoffs with the championship held at the St. Pete Times Forum. Dates have yet to be announced.
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