Gloucester Catholic High School

Gloucester Catholic High School
Address
333 Ridgeway Street
Gloucester City, NJ, 08030
Coordinates 39°53′47″N 75°7′28″W / 39.89639°N 75.12444°WCoordinates: 39°53′47″N 75°7′28″W / 39.89639°N 75.12444°W
Information
Type Private, Coeducational
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
Established 1928
Principal Edward Beckett[1]
Asst. Principal Mary Ann Saunders
Head of school John Colman[1]
Grades 7–12
Enrollment 709[2] (2011-2012)
Student to teacher ratio 16:1[2]
Color(s)      Maroon
     Gold
Athletics conference Tri-County Conference
Team name Rams
Accreditation Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools[3]
Publication Ramblings
Newspaper Rampage
Yearbook Maryan
Athletic Director Patrick Murphy
Website http://www.gchsrams.org

Gloucester Catholic High School is a co-educational four-year Roman Catholic high school located in Gloucester City, in Camden County, New Jersey, United States, operating under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. Its mission is to empower young men and women to develop in all aspects of life: spiritual, intellectual, moral, emotional, social, and physical.[4] Gloucester Catholic High School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools since 1991.[3]

As of the 2011-12 school year, the school had an enrollment of 709 students, including 640 students Grades 9 through 12 and 69 students Grades 7 and 8, and a student–teacher ratio of 16:1.[2] The school serves students from 50 parochial and public schools within the Diocese of Camden.[2]

In the Class of 2012, 60% of the students were accepted by four-year colleges or universities and 35% of the students were accepted into two-year colleges or technical schools. Scholarship and grant money awarded to this class totaled over $6.9 million.[2]

History

After opening in 1928, the school had its first graduating class of 27 students in June 1930. Through the 1940s, the school's enrollment varied between 150 and 200. After World War II, the school added a gymnasium and classrooms to its building on Cumberland Street, to accommodate enrollment that rose as high as 300 during the 1950s, and reached 700 in the 1970s.[5]

Under the leadership of John Colman, who became the school's first lay principal in 1999, enrollment at Gloucester Catholic has grown to 850 who come to the school from Gloucester County, as well as from Burlington, Camden and Salem counties.[5]

In the 2000s, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden explored possibilities to move the school to Gloucester County, New Jersey. After a two-year study the diocese promoted the idea of moving the school to Deptford Township. Due to legal disputes, in 2005 the diocese announced that it would not build a new school in Deptford Township. Andrew Walton, the spokesperson for the diocese, said that the diocese would either renovate and/or expand the existing Gloucester Catholic or move it elsewhere. Walton added that the district would likely not take both actions at the same time.[6] In 2008 the diocese announced that the district agreed to purchase a farm on a site along Route 77 and across from the Gloucester County 4-H grounds in the Mullica Hill community of Harrison Township for $5,000,000 and move Gloucester Catholic to the site by 2010. The new campus would be the first Catholic high school campus built in around 40 years. Walton said in 2008 that 60% of the families with children in the school live in Gloucester County.[7][8] The diocese said that a survey polling parents from 15 elementary school and 30 parishes indicated support for the idea of relocating the school.[9] A junior high (7th and 8th grades) was added in Spring 2011 following the closing of Saint Mary's Elementary School.[5]

Athletics

Gloucester Catholic High School is one of the member schools in the Tri-County Conference, which is composed of schools whose enrollments vary greatly for grades 9-12 and operates under the auspices of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[10]

The school was recognized as the Group B winner of the NJSIAA ShopRite Cup in 2006-07. The award recognized the school for achieving a tie for 3rd in girls soccer, a tie for 3rd in boys swimming, 2nd in boys bowling, a tie for 3rd in boys basketball, 1st in baseball, a tie for 3rd in softball, 2nd in boys tennis, and 1st in boys golf.[11]

Men's Basketball

Gloucester Catholic's first ever state championship was delivered by the 1964 basketball team who won the Group B title in Atlantic City Convention Hall. They were led by Bill Somerset, Mike Baker, Jack Fink, Bud Shodder, and John Murphy. As South Jersey's number one-ranked team, Coach Ray Ford's team posted a 22-1 record during "that championship season."[12]

The boys' basketball team, under the direction of Coach Ralph Saquella, followed the 1964 title season with NJSIAA Parochial B state championships in 1970 and 1972.[13] Some of the Rams who performed well during this era included Dennis Flaherty, Dennis Calzonetti, Peter Carrera and Frank Koehler. Coach Saquella, who won his 100th career victory in 1972, went on to become the head coach at Glassboro State College.[13]

Lady's Basketball

Bertha "Bert" Nolan won an estimated 500 games as coach during her career, leading the Lady Rams basketball team to win the 1973 state championship, the first offered in the sport, repeating as winners of the state title in 1976.[14]

Football

The football team won state sectional titles in 1971 and 1979 (Non-Public B South).[5][15]

Baseball

The baseball team has enjoyed a long history of success starting in the early 1970s. In 2013, the Rams became only the second program in New Jersey history to capture four straight NJSIAA state championships when they topped Seton Hall Prep for the crown behind starting pitcher Mike Shawaryn.[16] The 2013 campaign was the first for head coach Mike Rucci, a former standout Rams' player who took over for legendary coach Dennis Barth, now at Rutgers-Camden. The state title also was the 17th in program history, a state record.

The baseball program produced two of New Jersey's greatest seasons on record in 1980 and 2000. Under head coach Al Radano, the 1980 squad posted a perfect 24-0 record to win the New Jersey Parochial B state championship. This team, led by pitchers Bob Sebra and John Yowler, centerfielder Dennis Barth, and catcher Steve Cordner among others, was voted "Team of the Century" by Courier-Post readers in late 1999. In 2000, Gloucester Catholic was crowned national champions after winning a state title and posting a 33-1 overall record under head coach Dennis Barth. Led by Rucci, a catcher, along with pitcher Greg Burke, the Rams defeated some of the best teams in the state and the country that season. In addition, the Rams won four consecutive Non-Parochial South B titles from 1983 to 1986, and went on to win the Group B State Championship in 1984, 1985 and 1986.[17]

Current Rutgers-Camden coach Dennis Barth served as coach before leaving for the collegiate level. His former assistants include Adam Tussey, a former New Jersey baseball player who followed Coach Barth to Rutgers-Camden.[18]

Softball

The softball team won the Parochial South B state sectional championship in 2001 with a 1-0 win over St. Joseph High School in the tournament final.[19] The team repeated the win in the Parochial South B sectional championship with a 4-0 win over Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in the 2002 tournament.[20] The team won their third consecutive title in 2003 with a 1-0 win in fifteen innings against Bishop Eustace.[21][22] The 2006 team won the South B title with a 5-0 win against Bishop Eustace.[23] The 2007 team won the North B State Championship with an 11-6 win against Newark Academy.[24]

Girls Soccer

The girls' soccer team won the 2000 Parochial South B state sectional championship, defeating Wildwood Catholic High School 5-0 in the tournament final.[25] In 2007, the team won the South A state sectional championship with a 3-0 win over Holy Spirit High School in the tournament final.[26][27] The team moved on to win the Group A state championship with a 3-0 win over Immaculate Heart Academy.[28][29]

Tennis

The 2006 boys tennis team won the Non-Public, South B state sectional championship with a 3-2 win against Bishop Eustace.[30] The team repeated the feat in 2007 with a 3-2 win vs. Wildwood Catholic High School in the final matches of the ournament.[31]

Golf

The 2006 and 2007 golf teams won Non-Public Group B State Championships. The 2007 golf team won the state Tournament of Champions and finished the season ranked number one in the state by The Star-Ledger.

Notable people

Alumni

Staff

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ostrum, Gus. , "Gloucester Catholic to Implement New Administrative Structure: John Colman Appointed Head of School; Edward Beckett Is New Principal", Gloucester Catholic High School, August 16, 2013. Accessed August 26, 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 At a Glance, Gloucester Catholic High School. Accessed August 7, 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Gloucester Catholic High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools. Accessed May 30, 2007.
  4. ↑ Our Mission, Gloucester Catholic High School. Accessed February 22, 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 History, Gloucester Catholic High School. Accessed August 7, 2013.
  6. ↑ Graham, Kristin A. and Terry Bitman. "Diocese nixes high school in Deptford; It said it would either build elsewhere or stay in Gloucester City. But it probably will not do both, a spokesman said". Philadelphia Inquirer. January 12, 2005. Accessed February 22, 2012. "Spokesman Andrew Walton said the diocese would also consider renovating and expanding Gloucester Catholic High School in Gloucester City instead of building a new school. But it probably won't do both."
  7. ↑ Hefler, Jan. "Camden Diocese plans for new high school." Philadelphia Inquirer. June 18, 2008. A01.
  8. ↑ "New Catholic High School Planned for Gloucester County, NJ." KYW 1060. Wednesday June 18, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Survey finds support for proposed Catholic high school in Gloucester County." Diocese of Camden. June 19, 2008.
  10. ↑ League Memberships – 2012-2013, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 11, 2012.
  11. ↑ Fourth Annual ShopRite Cup: 2006‐2007 Final Standings, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 2, 2008.
  12. ↑ Staff. "Championship memories, After 40 years, Gloucester Catholic alums celebrate an amazing state-title season.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 8, 2004. Accessed February 22, 2012. "Oh, and the Gloucester Catholic High boys' basketball team was putting together a season for the ages, a 19-1 campaign that ended with a convincing victory over St. Aloysius of Jersey City in the NJSIAA Parochial B state final."
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 . Accessed July 11, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Bertha “Bert” Nolan, Retired Gloucester Catholic Teacher & Coach; All American Field Hockey Player", Gloucester City News, October 11, 2007. Accessed August 8, 2013.
  15. ↑ Goldberg, Jeff. "N.J.S.I.A.A. FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CHAMPIONS", New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed August 8, 2013.
  16. ↑ . Accessed July 11, 2013.
  17. ↑ Carchidi, Sam. GLOU. CATH. SEEKS 5TH STRAIGHT PAROCHIAL B TITLE, The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 8, 1987. Accessed July 18, 2007. "Gloucester Catholic High will be aiming for its fifth straight South Jersey Parochial B baseball championship when it faces old foe Bishop Eustace Prep in tomorrow's 4 p.m. title game at Haddon Township. The teams certainly aren't strangers. Gloucester Catholic, which has won three consecutive state titles, has eliminated Eustace in each of the last four seasons."
  18. ↑ http://athletics.camden.rutgers.edu/staff/dbarth.pdf
  19. ↑ 2001 NJSIAA Softball - Parochial South B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 17, 2007.
  20. ↑ 2002 Softball Tournament - Parochial South B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 30, 2007.
  21. ↑ McGurk. "In a gripper, Gloucester Catholic seizes sectional title from Eustace", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 4, 2003. Accessed July 17, 2007. "Fifteen innings, 44 strikeouts and a controversial call - the South Jersey Parochial B softball championship game had it all. Yesterday's game was decided when Gloucester Catholic's Suzanne Fox was ruled safe on a bang-bang play at home plate after a wild pitch. The run gave the Rams a 1-0 win over rival Bishop Eustace at Delsea and their third straight sectional crown."
  22. ↑ 2003 Softball Tournament - Parochial South B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 17, 2007.
  23. ↑ 2006 Softball - Non-Public, South B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 18, 2007.
  24. ↑ 2007 Baseball - Non-Public Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 22, 2007.
  25. ↑ 2000 Soccer - Parochial South B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 30, 2007.
  26. ↑ 2007 Girls Soccer - South A, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 15, 2007.
  27. ↑ O'Kane, John. "Girls soccer: Gloucester Catholic too strong for Holy Spirit in S.J. Non-Public A final", Press of Atlantic City, November 9, 2007. Accessed November 15, 2007. "Holy Spirit High School's girls soccer team battled as long as it could Thursday night, but in the end, Gloucester Catholic was simply too good. The top-seeded Rams, No. 4 in The Press' Elite 11, beat the second-seeded Spartans 3-0 to win the South Jersey Non-Public A Championship on the artificial turf at Eastern Regional."
  28. ↑ 2007 Girls Soccer - Non-Public Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 24, 2007.
  29. ↑ Iezzi, Bill. "Rams pull shocker, win crown: Gloucester Catholic stunned the nation's top-ranked team, Immaculate Heart, 3-0.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 16, 2007. Accessed November 24, 2007.
  30. ↑ 2006 Boys Team Tennis - Non-Public, South B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 17, 2007.
  31. ↑ 2007 Boys Tennis - Non-Public, South B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 1, 2007.
  32. ↑ Greg Burke, Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed February 22, 2012.
  33. ↑ Chappelear, Scott. "Gloucester Catholic baseball product Braddock gets big league call", Gloucester County Times, May 23, 2010. Accessed February 22, 2012. "The hype surrounding Zach Braddock has steadily increased the last couple of years as he's steadily ascended through the Milwaukee Brewers' organization. But the former standout for Gloucester Catholic High School has never taken any of it for granted, and he certainly wasn't going to start Saturday when he got the call he'd dreamed of telling him he was being called up to join the Brewers' bullpen for the final game of their series in Minnesota. "
  34. ↑ Ostrum, Gus. "Gloucester County Hall of Fame to Induct 15 New Members", South Jersey Sports, January 22, 2006. Accessed February 22, 2012. "Joe Fields (Deptford/Gloucester Catholic) - A native of Deptford and graduate of Gloucester Catholic High School in 1971 and Widener University in 1975, Fields spent 14 seasons as an offensive lineman (center) in the National Football League (NFL), 13 of which were with the New York Jets."
  35. ↑ Pawling, Chris. "Former Gloucester Catholic High School star John Gaudreau helps Boston College to national ice hockey title", South Jersey Times, April 26, 2012. Accessed December 21, 2013. "After reaching a state final with the Gloucester Catholic High School ice hockey team, transferring to Dubuque (Minn.) to play for the Fighting Saints of the USHL, being selected in the NHL Draft’s fourth round by the Calgary Flames, Gaudreau helped lead Boston College to its third NCAA Division I national championship in the last five years."
  36. ↑ Tresolini, Kevin. "UD's Harker talks about the future of Blue Hen athletics", The News Journal, December 29, 2007. Accessed February 22, 2012. "Patrick Harker was recruited to the University of Delaware to play football by former UD coach Tubby Raymond in the mid-1970s. The Gloucester Catholic (NJ) defensive tackle chose to attend the University of Pennsylvania, spurning the Blue Hens as well as several other schools..."
  37. ↑ Walsh, Jim. "Ex-N.J. beauty queen from Gloucester County is GOP rising star", Courier Post, April 25, 2010. Accessed February 22, 2012. "'I have chutzpah,' said Lowden, a 1970 graduate of Gloucester Catholic High School. 'How's that for a Jersey word?'"
  38. ↑ Washington Township native John Yurkow named head coach at Penn. South Jersey News. (Chappelear, Scott). July 14, 2013. Retrieved on September 7, 2013.
  39. ↑ Litsky, Frank. "Browning Ross, 74, Founder of Road Runners", The New York Times, April 30, 1998. Accessed February 22, 2012. "At various times, he taught history at high schools in Woodbury and Camden and conducted youth programs at the Penns Grove (N.J.) Y.M.C.A. Since 1969, he coached track and cross-country at Gloucester Catholic High School."

External links