Blacksburg High School

Blacksburg High School is a high school in the Montgomery County public school division. The school serves the town of Blacksburg, Virginia and surrounding areas of the county.

History

Blacksburg High School was founded in 1952 and was located at its location on South Main Street in Blacksburg, VA until a new school building was built in 1974. After moving out, the old building housed Blacksburg Middle School, but Blacksburg High School still returned to use the football stadium behind their original building until a new stadium was constructed in October 2008 behind the new Blacksburg Middle School. The original Blacksburg High School building was demolished in the Summer of 2011, 7 years after the middle school moved out.

In 2002 the mascot of Blacksburg High School was changed from the Indian to the Bruin after extensive debate and controversy. The corresponding middle school mascot, the Brave, was changed to the Titan.

On February 13, 2010 following a snowstorm which dumped two feet of snow on the area, the gymnasium roof on the currently occupied Blacksburg High School suffered a catastrophic structural failure and collapsed, causing structural damage to other areas of the school. The school building was condemned and students attended night school on a split schedule with the Blacksburg Middle School students at their school for the remainder of the year. It was determined that repair costs would exceed $18million and would not be feasible given the age of the school so it was decided not to repair the building. Before the school year of 2013-14 Blacksburg High School was operating on a normal schedule out of the Blacksburg Middle School building on 3109 Prices Fork Road, and the middle schoolers were going to school in the old Christiansburg Middle School.

A new school building is currently being used 2409 Prices Fork Road behind the current Blacksburg Middle School and Bill Brown Football Stadium and it opened in the 2013 fall semester.

Administrative staff

• Brian Kitts, Principal
• Mary Fain, Assistant Principal
• Amanda Weidner, Assistant Principal
• Chris Stewart, Assistant Principal/ A.D.

Academic recognition

The Newsweek list of "America's Top Public High Schools" lists Blacksburg High School at 617 for 2012, which was down from 2011 where the school ranked 384. Blacksburg High School was ranked at 422 for 2009 while the highest ranking for 2008 was 227. Blacksburg High School was ranked 164 in 2003.[1] This status is based partially upon how many Blacksburg High School students elect to take the Advanced Placement Exams.

Athletics and extracurriculars

Blacksburg High School is a member of the Virginia High School League and competes in the AAA River Ridge District, a district in Region IV of Group AA. Blacksburg formerly competed in the Group AA Blue Ridge District, which it had joined when the AA New River Valley District dissolved. Blacksburg has also captured the Wachovia Cup, the VHSL's award for overall excellence in athletics for the academic years 1989-90, 1990–91, 1992–93, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009-10, and 2011-12.^[2] Blacksburg boys' soccer team has won twelve state championships (a Virginia state record) and was ranked #3 in the USA in 2013.

Soccer

Blacksburg won state championships in boys' soccer in the following years: 1989, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013^[2] That is by far more state championships than any other high school in Virginia. The boys soccer team were also state runner-ups in 1990, 1992, 2001, 2003, 2006, and 2011.

The 2002 and 2007 seasons resulted with 23 wins which is the record for second-most wins in a season in Virginia. Blacksburg is currently second for most consecutive wins with 64 from 1998 to 2001.^[2]

Additionally, Blacksburg holds the record for the longest unbeaten streak with 87 wins from 1998–2001. The 1999 season has the second-highest goal differential of any season with 103. The 1999 season also holds the record for most shutouts in a season with 18 and the lowest average goals scored against with 0.18 goals per game.^[2]

Football

Blacksburg High School football is coached by David Crist. Blacksburg won state championships in 1977 and 1989.

Basketball

Blacksburg High School won state championships in boys' basketball in class IB for 1965 and 1968. The girls won state championships for girls' basketball in 1978, 1982, 1992, 1993, and 2002.^[2]

Cross Country

The cross country program has won 22 state championships. The Bruin boys won state championships for cross country in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1998, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The Blacksburg boys have the state record with the most state championships. The boys were also state runner-ups in 1963, 1971, 1973 and 2008. Additionally, the girls won state championships in cross country in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2012 (these wins also give Blacksburg the record for most state championships for girls cross-country with 13). The girls were state runner-ups in 1980, 81, 2005, 2009 and 2010. In 2009 Blacksburg girls xc team was invited to the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, OR after finishing second in the Southeast Championships in North Carolina. The girls finished 6th in the nation and also ranked by ESPN Rise that year (6th in the USA). Peter Dorrell was the Roanoke Times (Timesland) Athlete of the Year for all sports in 2007. Kathleen Stevens was awarded the 2009 Virginia Gatorade Athlete of the Year and also the Roanoke Times Timesland Athlete of the Year for all sports. She is also the Virginia State record holder at Great Meadows (the site of the state meet). In 2012 the Blacksburg Boys qualified for the Nike Cross National meet held in Portland Oregon with their second place finish at the regional meet held in Cary, NC. This will be the third time Blacksburg has been represented at the national meet. In 2008 Allison Homer qualified as an individual, the girls team qualified in 2009 and the boys team qualified in 2012. 92 All-State Honors have been awarded to Blacksburg runners (50 girls and 42 boys). Eight athletes have won the state individual title: Karen Wierwille (1983), Beth Fleming (1985), Lee Cross (1989), Dana Price (1992), Peter Dorrell (2007), Kathleen Stevens (2009), and Nick Link (2012). ^[2]

Track

State championships for boys' outdoor track were won in 1949, 1981, and 1982. State championships for girls' outdoor track were won in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2009 and 2010. Blacksburg is ranked #1 for team records for most championships in girls' outdoor track & field for Virginia with nine. Blacksburg also holds state championships in boys' indoor track 1972 (tie with Radford High School) and in 2013. They were second in 2010. Girls' indoor track in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.^[2] Peter Dorrell won nine state championship titles and was awarded the Gatorade Athlete of the Year for Virginia boys high school Track and Field in 2007 and 2008. He was also awarded the Roanoke Times Athlete of the Year for all sports. Blacksburg has five indoor state meet records in the boys 4x800, boys 1600 and 1000 meter runs and in the girls 1600 and 3200 meter runs. The Blacksburg Boys won the Nike Indoor Nationals 4xmile in 2010 (Matthew Howard, Quinn Hull, Zach Link, George Carter). Kathleen Stevens was awarded the 2010 school year Virginia Gatorade Athlete of the Year for track and field. The Blacksburg girls Distance Medley Relay (DMR) team consisting of Kathleen Stevens, Sarah Dorrell, Hannah Brown and Joanna Stevens won the Penn Relay's High School DMR Championship of America breaking the 18 year old record. They went on to break the national high school record at the New Balance Nationals winning in 11:31. Blacksburg has both Virginia AA state meet records in the 4x800 and the girls 3200 meter run. Blacksburg was awarded National Scholastic All America for the boys 4x800 in 2009 (Brian Hencke, Quinn Hull, George Carter, Matt Howard) and the girls DMR (Kathleen Stevens, Hannah Brown, Trinity Foreman, Joanna Stevens). In 2010 Indoor the boys were awarded Nike National Champions Rings for their 4xmile performance. The girls were awarded the national title in the DMR with their national record setting performance at New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Blacksburg finished 2010 school year the #34th ranked school in the country for All-Sport rankings. The girls track & field team finished top ten in the country. http://rise.espn.go.com/all-sports/articles/2010/07/10-FAB-50-program-rankings.aspx

Golf

Blacksburg also has state championships in golf in 1969, 2006, 2007, and 2008.^[2]

Wrestling

On February 21, 2009, Neal Kennedy, as a junior 103 pounder, became the first Blacksburg wrestler to win an individual state title in almost 30 years. The following year he was ranked high in the state at 119 pounds, but broke his ankle in practice in early January. He healed enough to compete in the District, Regional, and State tournaments, making it to the state championship finals, where he placed second in the state. ^{[citation needed]}

Notable coaches

• Football – David Crist (ranked 11th most wins among active coaches in Virginia)^[2]
• Boys soccer – Shelley Blumenthal - Inducted into VHSL hall of fame in 2008^[2]
• Track and Cross Country - James DeMarco - 18 Team State Championships^[2]

Marching Band

The Blacksburg High School Marching band, is highly rated for their advanced musical abilities, often causing them to score highly at state wide band competitions in music categories. The band competes in a AAA Level; they were under the direction of Diana Love until 2007, when her retirement led to the new band Director Darell Pearman. Darell Pearman has since led the band to achieving Honor Band Status afters receiving a I, the highest score, at the 2009 VBODAs. The band is now notorious for being a VA honor band.

Vocal Music

Blacksburg High School has offered a variety of vocal musical experiences to its students and alumni.

Forensics and debate

In the early 1980s, Blacksburg was coached by Frank Moseley and led by academic advisor Michael Cronin, a former national champion in college debate at Georgetown. The team won a string of district and regional championships between 1981-1985 that included state championships every year between 1981-1985. In 1981, the switch side team of Curtis Mo and Robert Johnson started the run by winning the state AA championship in policy debate, followed by a championship in 1982 by the switch side team of Ray Allen and Jim Baker. These were followed by state championships in policy debate in 1983(Hugh Stubblefield and John Ryan), 1984(Nathan Simmons and Dean Lacy) and 1985(Beth Kelsey and Susan Jortner)^{[3] [4]} During this period, students from Blacksburg garnered individual speaker awards in 1982(Ray Allen), 1983(John Ryan), 1984(Andrea Pierce and Dean Lacy) and 1985(Susan Jortner). From 1988 to 2002, under Coach Karen Finch, and in 2003, under Coach Courtney Thomas, the school won 15 consecutive Group AA state titles in forensics, "the longest unbroken chain of championships in VHSL history", before they were defeated by Salem High School of Salem, Virginia. The school sends students to national level competition annually, and has had several national champions, specifically in the extemporaneous speaking category. Dennis Price won the National Championship in Prose Interpretation in 1994. Jeff Emerson won the National Championship in Humorous Interpretation in 1991. The debate team currently consists of 4 divisions: Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Policy Debate, Public Forum Debate, and Student Congress. The debate team won the 2007 VHSL Group AA state title, against opponents including Potomac Falls^[2] and Charlottesville. The debate team also won the 2010 VHSL Group AA state title, winning AA Student Congress and AA Contemporary Policy Debate and semifinaling in Classic Policy Debate. The debate team is currently under the direction of Bradley Kraft.

Academic competition

MACC

Mountain Academic Competition Conference (MACC) is a high school quizbowl league of the Academic Competition for Excellence.

The math and all-around teams finished first for the season in the eastern division. The science and social studies teams finished 2nd for the season, and the English team finished 4th.

The math team finished 2nd in the tournament, and because they were the season winners, they will participate in Super MACC (tournament) on March 26, 2007. The science team finished 1st in the tournament, making them also eligible to participate in Super MACC. The all-around team will also go to the Super MACC (tournament) because they finished first in the season.

The 2007 MACC season was officially over on March 26, 2007 after the Super MACC (tournament). The Blacksburg Math and Science MACC teams took the gold trophy home with very close matches. The all-around team finished second in the tournament.

VHSL Scholastic Bowl

Blacksburg won the state championship in the scholastic bowl in 1999 and again in 2010.^[2]

Science

Susanne Dana won the Teacher of the Year award in 2008. Dana is a Chemistry teacher at BHS. She attended a ceremonial conference where she was presented with a plaque to honor her creative and enthusiastic approach to teaching students.

Notable alumni

• Peter Gwazdauskas - focus of Academy Award-winning documentary Educating Peter and its followup, Graduating Peter^[5]

References

External links

• Blacksburg High School Website
• Blacksburg High School PTSO Website
• Virginia Department of Education Report Card