Muscatine High School
| Muscatine High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| 2705 Cedar Street Muscatine, Iowa, USA | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public Secondary |
| Established | 1868[citation needed] |
| Oversight | Muscatine Community School District |
| Superintendent | Dr. Jerald Riibe |
| Principal | Mike McGrory |
| Enrollment | Approximately 1,600 |
| Color(s) | Purple and Gold |
| Mascot | Muskies |
| Website | |
Muscatine High School is a four-year comprehensive high school located in Muscatine, Iowa. The school is part of the Muscatine Community School District and has an enrollment of approximately 1,600 students in grades nine through twelve. At 2705 Cedar Street in Muscatine (approximately one mile east of U.S. Highway 61), Muscatine High School teaches students from the city and adjacent rural areas.
The drama department presents a fall play and a spring musical every year.
A 2005 addition and renovation project added numerous amenities such as a renovated cafeteria and student center, a new band room, new classrooms and labs, and a new main office complex. In 2013, a wing of 18 classrooms and an entryway was added to the school. These classrooms are more appropriately sized, equipped with technology, and are effectively climate controlled. The project also completely renovated the PE and Athletic locker rooms for the first time since the school opened in 1975. Four more phases of renovation are scheduled to take place over the next few years.
Publications
- The Auroran News: The school newspaper published regularly during the academic year. Students manage all aspects of the publication.
- MHS Today: The online version of the school newspaper is available at mhstoday.com. It is completely designed and managed by Muscatine High School students.
- The Auroran: The Muscatine High School yearbook is released annually and is completely designed and written by students.
Athletics
Muscatine High School participates in the Mississippi Athletic Conference, and athletic teams are known as the Muskies. The school colors are purple and gold.
The school fields athletic teams in 21 sports, including:
- Summer: Baseball, softball.
- Fall: Football, volleyball, football, boys' dance, Football, girls' swimming, Football, boys' cross country, Football, girls' cross country, Football, boys' golf and Football.
- Winter: Boys' basketball, girls' basketball, wrestling, girl's bowling, boy's bowling, and boys' swimming.
- Spring: Boys' track and field, girls' track and field, boys' soccer, girls' soccer, girls' golf, boys' tennis and girls' tennis.
The school also has a cheerleading squad and a dance team.
Muscatine is classified as a 4A school (Iowa's largest 48 schools), according to the Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union; in sports where there are fewer divisions, the Muskies are always in the largest class (e.g., Class 3A for wrestling, boys soccer, and Class 2A for golf, tennis and girls soccer). The school is a member of the A-team Mississippi Athletic Conference (MAC), which comprises schools from the Iowa Quad Cities, and Burlington and Clinton high schools.
Athletic and activities records
Historically, Muscatine's most successful teams have been in softball. Muskie softball teams have been to the IGHSAU-sponsored state tournament 11 times between 1980 and 2009.
Before the late 1990s, Muscatine struggled to field competitive football teams. During a stretch during the 1970s, the Muskies lost 44 consecutive football games, starting with the second game of the 1973 season and ending with the 1978 season opener against Ottumwa.[1]
It wasn't until years later that Muscatine had a record season, when the 1997 team went 9-1; the Muskies won the MAC title outright, finished the regular season ranked 5th in the state, and received the school's first-ever playoff berth. The 2003 Muskies, boasting several all-state athletes, advanced to the semifinals of the Class 4A playoffs before losing to eventual state runner-up Cedar Rapids Washington.[2]
One-time Muskie Ben Barkema was selected as an undrafted free agent for the Cleveland Browns after the 2008 NFL Draft.
The show choirs at the high school also have had much success in the past few years under the direction of Nick Oswald. In 2009, the Muscatine High School varsity show choir "River City Rhythm" made the finals at every show choir competition in which they competed across Iowa. In 2010, they did the same and captured "Best Vocals", "Best Choreography", "Best Band" and their first Grand Championship trophy in 19 years of existence at the Keokuk High School Show Choir invitational. In River City Rhythm's 2012-13 seasons, they once again were able to make finals at every competition. In 2013 they swept the Troy, Missouri Competition, earning Best Vocals, Best Choreography, Best Band, Best Diction, Best Ballad, and Jonny Meyer was named Outstanding Male Soloist. Along with this Muscatine also brought home its second Grand Champion trophy.
In 2011 the Muscatine Boys' Swim Team won the school's first state championship in 51 years. In 2012 the Muscatine Boys were able to win state for the second time in a row; an impressive feat. The most impressive aspect of the Muscatine swimming history is the fact that they were able to earn a third state title in 2013, naming them one of very few schools to ever have accomplished such an incredible feat.
Notable alumni
- Ben Barkema, free agent draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft[3][4]
- Jim Yong Kim, 17th president of Dartmouth College and president of the World Bank, succeeded Robert Zoellick[5]
- Murray Wier, professional basketball player[6]
References
- ↑ Bates, Roger, "Thank God it's over!" Muscatine Journal, September 10, 1978.
- ↑ 2003 Football — semifinal round results Iowa High School Athletic Association
- ↑ "Hawkeyes pound way past Bears to end skid". Muscatine Journal. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- ↑ Bates, Roger (29 April 2008). "A day after draft, Barkema signs as free agent". Muscatine Journal. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- ↑ "World Bank presidential candidates profiled". BBC News. 23 March 2012.
- ↑ Dietz, Gil (27 February 2006). "Former resident stirs up a racket during retirement: Wier swapped a basketball for a tennis ball". Muscatine Journal. Retrieved 14 August 2010.