Princeton High School (North Carolina)

Princeton High School is a public high school located in Princeton, North Carolina, United States. It serves grades 6-12 and is part of the Johnston County Schools district. Princeton High School has 1,465 students. Princeton Elementary School, grades K-5, located a few miles away, became a separate school at the start of the 2008-2009 school year. The elementary school's principal is Rhonda Ward, who was promoted during the 2010-2011 school year.

History

Old Princeton School, circa 1930, taken along what is Dr. Donnie H. Jones, Jr. Blvd. today

The first graduating class came in 1923 and consisted of four girls and one boy. Miss Myrtle Nicholson served as the principal for two school years, 1921–1922 and 1922–1923. Following Miss Nicholson's departure came Mr. M.P. Young. Mr. Young became the second official principal in 1924, and had previously served as a teacher at the school. In 1925, when the school was officially accredited by the state of North Carolina, there were forty-five students. The current building stands in front of where the original once stood. The old was demolished in 1998.

Administrators of Princeton School

Princeton Union School (1923-2007) & Princeton Middle-High School (2008-present)

Principals:

• J.U. Teague
• Mr. Bridges
• Myrtle Nicholson (1921–1922)
• Blanche Penny (1923)
• Marvin Pleasant Young (1924–1943)
• Stephen Clarence Woodard (1944–1947)
• Lyman J. Worthington (1948–1966)
• John Turnage (1967–1969)
• Blani Moye (1970)
• Fred Leroy Bartholomew (1971–1998)
• Kirk Denning (1999–present)

Assistant Principals:

• William Dixon(1974–1983)
• Ronald Watson (1967–1983)
• Harold Lee (1984-unknown)
• Gerald Poplin (1984-unknown)
• Ray Stott (unknown-1996)
• Carroll Wooten (unknown-1996)
• Shelly Marsh (1993-1998)
• Terry Weakley (1997-2000)
• Kenneth Joyner (1999-2002)
• Rhonda Ward (1997-2007)
• Michael Price (2004-2007)
• Tim Harrell (2008-2009)
• Lowell Hardy (2003–2013)
• Catherine Bennett (2001-2003 & 2010–2014)
• Robin Pate (2012–present)
• Jeremy Barefoot (2014-present)
• Larkeysha Sheppard (2015-present)

Princeton Elementary School (2008-present)

Principals:

• Kim Wellons (2008-2010)
• Rhonda Ward (2010–present)

Assistant Principals:

• Rhonda Ward (2008-2010)
• Steve Strickland (2011–present)

Athletics

The Princeton Bulldogs are a part of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. The Bulldogs compete from the 1-A Carolina conference, which consists of the Princeton Bulldogs, the Rosewood Eagles, the Spring Creek Gators, the North Duplin Rebels, the Lakewood Leopards, the Hobbton Wildcats, the James Kenan Tigers, and the Neuse Charter Cougars. The latter four schools are the newest members of this conference, joining in the 2013-2014 school year, though both the Lakewood Leopards and the Hobbton Wildcats were previously conference rivals of the Princeton Bulldogs some decades ago. The Bulldogs have won several state championships in various sports.

Athletic Director: Marty Gurganus (2011-present)

Associate ADs: Bruce Proctor & Robyn Braswell

Former ADs:

Al Musgrave (1986-2010)

Harvey Brooks (1971-1986*)

*Departed during the school year

Baseball

Head Coach: Bruce Proctor

Asst. Coaches: Justin Willoughby, Michael Price

The Bulldogs have won three state baseball championships. The first came in 1992 when the Bulldogs swept the Swain County Maroon Devils in two games. The following year, in 1993, the Bulldogs returned to the state championship, but lost the first and third of three games to the East Montgomery Eagles. In 1994, however, the Bulldogs went to the 1-A state championship game for the third consecutive year. The Bulldogs lost the first game and won the last two to beat the Rosman Tigers for the Bulldogs' second state baseball championship in three years. The Bulldogs would go ten years before they returned to the championship games once again. In 2004, the Bulldogs were swept in two games by the South Stokes Sauras. The last time the Bulldogs went to the state championship came in 2007, when they went on to face the East Surry Cardinals. The Bulldogs won the first game 7-3 on a Friday evening. The following Saturday morning, the East Surry Cardinals came back to even the overall record with a 4-3 victory. That afternoon, the Bulldogs clinched their third state championship with another 7-3 victory. The Bulldogs were the runner-up team to the East bracket of the playoffs in 2008, losing at the Topsail Pirates, who went on to the championship game. In 2009, the Bulldogs lost in the third round of the playoffs at the Perquimans County Pirates.

Football team huddles before next play (2007)

Football

Head Coach: Travis Gaster

Asst. Coaches: Jeremy Joyner, James Jenkins, Matt Wilson, Philip Mitchell, Scotty Pearce, TJ Tamer

The Bulldogs have been to the 1-A football state championship game a few times, but have never been able to get a victory. In 1976, the Bulldogs defeated Angier 8-6 to advance to the championship game. However, the Bulldogs lost to the Robbinsville Black Knights 34-6. In 1979, the Princeton Bulldogs once again went to the championship game by defeating Manteo 30-14. The Bulldogs then had to face Robbinsville just as in 1976. Again, the Robbinsville Black Knights defeated the Bulldogs 46-8. In 1981, the Bulldogs lost to J. Wilkinson 26-8 in the second round of the playoffs. With that win, J. Wilkinson went on to lose 68-0 to Robbinsville in the championship game. The Bulldogs have not reached the championship game since 1979. However, the Bulldogs did have a turnaround season in 2009 by reaching the third round of the playoffs since that 1979 season. Even though the Bulldogs won as many playoff games in 2009 as in 1979, they did not reach the championship game in 2009 because there are more rounds in the playoffs now than in previous years. The Bulldogs finished the 2012 fall season with a 3-1 record in playoff games, advancing to the Eastern Region Championship game before losing to eventual state champion Plymouth Vikings.

DNQ = Did Not Qualify

*Overall Record includes both regular season games and playoff games

**Conference Record does not include games played against conference rivals during the playoffs

Men's Basketball

Head Coach: Jeffrey Davis

Asst. Coach: Jeremy Joyner

The Bulldogs have never made it to the state championship game in men's basketball, but they have had numerous eastern sectional appearances and one appearance in the eastern regional playoffs. The last and only time that occurred was in 1982, in which the Bulldogs went 1-1 in games. Their final overall record for last year, the 2010-2011 season, stands at 22-3, their best since a 17-8 overall record in the 2007-2008 season.

Women's Basketball

The Bulldogs have been to the state regional playoffs in women's basketball on several occasions, but their last appearance came in 1988. The Bulldogs made their trips to the state playoffs throughout the 1980s under former head coach Ricky Boyette.

Head Coach: Marty Gurganus

Asst. Coach: Michael Gurganus

Other Sports

Varsity

There are various other athletic teams that compete as well, including varsity, junior varsity, and middle school teams. The other varsity teams and their respective coaches are listed below.

Junior Varsity

The junior varsity sports and the respective coaches for each are listed below.

References

External links

• Princeton High School website
• Greatschools.net - Princeton High School

Coordinates: 35°28′04″N 78°09′27″W / 35.4677°N 78.1576°W / 35.4677; -78.1576