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Bishop McGuinness High School (Oklahoma)
Encyclopedia
Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School (McGuinness) is a college-preparatory secondary school located in Oklahoma City
, Oklahoma
. It has an enrollment of 720 students in grades 9 through 12, is co-educational, and serves as part of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
in the Roman Catholic Church.
The school was originally founded in 1950 by the archdiocese as “Central Catholic High School.” Despite the name, the school at that time was on the northern fringe of Oklahoma City. The name "Central" referred to the fact that the school was founded as a replacement for multiple small parish-based parochial high schools that had become outdated by the 1950s. As a result, then-bishop Eugene J. McGuinness
ordered parochial high schools in the Oklahoma City area closed and consolidated into the new school (they only exception being Mount Saint Mary High School
in south Oklahoma City). The school colors (Kelly Green and White) were adopted in 1951, with the school mascot (“Clancy”) and the nickname (“Fighting Irish”) following in 1955.
In 1959, the school was renamed in honor of McGuinness, who had died in 1957.
In 1960, the school received full accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the Oklahoma Department of Education. The school is also affiliated with the National Catholic Educational Association, the College Board, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
The Class of 1962 provided the school with its primary tradition when it donated a rendition of the "Clancy" mascot on the tile floor of the school. From 1962 to the school's renovation in 2006, the tradition dictated that each year's senior class protect the image from being trod upon by any student. After the renovation, the tile image was moved to a special display.
The school’s campus has been located at the intersection of 50th Street and Western Avenue in Oklahoma City since its founding. The main academic building was completed in 1950, with a gymnasium and football stadium following in 1951. Improvements since that time have included the creation of a track and field complex in 1987, a new theology and art center wing in 1991, the father Pier Giorgio Frassati
Chapel in 1998, and the renovation of the main auditorium into the Father John Petuskey Performing Arts Auditorium in 2002.
In 2006, after a three-year, $9.5 million capital campaign, the school opened the David L. Morton Educational Facility, named after the current Principal, a building which substantially replaced the prior main academic building. The facility includes new classrooms, offices, a student commons area, and a new academic information center named in honor of Father Stanley Rother
.
In 2008 the school opened the refurbished McCarthy Gymnasium, including updated facilities for the basketball, wrestling, and volleyball programs. That year, the school also unveiled a refurbishment of its football complex, including new weight training facilities, football offices, and a new facade to Pribil Stadium.
The school is one of the more rigorous college-preparatory schools in Oklahoma. Ninety-eight percent (99.9%) of its student body goes on to college(1% Army), and the school has generated 21 National Merit Scholar Semifinalists or Finalists in the last 5 years. As of 2008, the school offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses in nine subject areas.
In 2004, McGuinness was recognized in the first annual Catholic High School Honor Roll as one of the Top 50 Catholic High Schools in the United States. In that year, the school was also noted as a Top-20 school in the subcategory of "Civic Education." This Top-50 distinction was repeated in 2005, 2006 (with a Top-25 Civic Education ranking), and again in 2007. In 2010, the school received Honorable Mention as one of six schools in the "Academics" subcategory.
Extra-curricular academic opportunities include a student newspaper, the Chi Rhoan, which publishes every other month and received the “All Oklahoma Award” at Oklahoma Scholastic Media’s 93rd annual competition in 2009, in addition to other more recent awards. The school's Academic Team won the Class 3A State Championship in the Academic Bowl in both 1999 and 2000, a competition administered by the OSSAA.
(OSSAA) – in 1966, allowing it to officially compete against public secondary schools. Since that time, McGuinness has won 79 state titles in its classification across sixteen sports. Sports Illustrated
rated the McGuinness #11 on its national Top 25 High School Athletic Programs list for the 2007-08 school year.
The Bishop McGuinness Boys Basketball Tournament, founded in 1961, is a fixture of the winter schedule and is the oldest interscholastic high school basketball tournament in the state.
In football, McGuinness shares a tradition with cross-state rival Bishop Kelley High School
, which together form the two largest private schools in the state. The winner of the contest obtains possession of the "Shillelagh Trophy" for the upcoming year. The schools also compete biannually in boys and girls basketball.
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. It has an enrollment of 720 students in grades 9 through 12, is co-educational, and serves as part of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the midwestern region of the United States. Its ecclesiastical territory includes 46 counties in western Oklahoma. The Most Reverend Paul Stagg Coakley is the current archbishop...
in the Roman Catholic Church.
History
Eugene J. McGuinness
Eugene Joseph McGuinness was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Raleigh and Bishop of Oklahoma City-Tulsa .-Biography:...
ordered parochial high schools in the Oklahoma City area closed and consolidated into the new school (they only exception being Mount Saint Mary High School
Mount St. Mary High School (Oklahoma)
Mount Saint Mary High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.-Early History:...
in south Oklahoma City). The school colors (Kelly Green and White) were adopted in 1951, with the school mascot (“Clancy”) and the nickname (“Fighting Irish”) following in 1955.
In 1959, the school was renamed in honor of McGuinness, who had died in 1957.
In 1960, the school received full accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the Oklahoma Department of Education. The school is also affiliated with the National Catholic Educational Association, the College Board, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
The Class of 1962 provided the school with its primary tradition when it donated a rendition of the "Clancy" mascot on the tile floor of the school. From 1962 to the school's renovation in 2006, the tradition dictated that each year's senior class protect the image from being trod upon by any student. After the renovation, the tile image was moved to a special display.
Campus
Pier Giorgio Frassati
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, T.O.S.D., was an Italian Catholic activist, who was a member of the Third Order of St. Dominic. He has been beatified by the Roman Catholic Church....
Chapel in 1998, and the renovation of the main auditorium into the Father John Petuskey Performing Arts Auditorium in 2002.
In 2006, after a three-year, $9.5 million capital campaign, the school opened the David L. Morton Educational Facility, named after the current Principal, a building which substantially replaced the prior main academic building. The facility includes new classrooms, offices, a student commons area, and a new academic information center named in honor of Father Stanley Rother
Stanley Rother
Stanley Francis Rother was a Catholic priest and missionary to Guatemala. He was murdered by a death squad, believed to be made up of right-wing extremists and elements of the Guatemalan Army, on July 28, 1981....
.
In 2008 the school opened the refurbished McCarthy Gymnasium, including updated facilities for the basketball, wrestling, and volleyball programs. That year, the school also unveiled a refurbishment of its football complex, including new weight training facilities, football offices, and a new facade to Pribil Stadium.
Academics
In 2004, McGuinness was recognized in the first annual Catholic High School Honor Roll as one of the Top 50 Catholic High Schools in the United States. In that year, the school was also noted as a Top-20 school in the subcategory of "Civic Education." This Top-50 distinction was repeated in 2005, 2006 (with a Top-25 Civic Education ranking), and again in 2007. In 2010, the school received Honorable Mention as one of six schools in the "Academics" subcategory.
Extra-curricular academic opportunities include a student newspaper, the Chi Rhoan, which publishes every other month and received the “All Oklahoma Award” at Oklahoma Scholastic Media’s 93rd annual competition in 2009, in addition to other more recent awards. The school's Academic Team won the Class 3A State Championship in the Academic Bowl in both 1999 and 2000, a competition administered by the OSSAA.
Athletics
Athletics have been a part of McGuinness’ tradition since its inception. After initially competing in Catholic school leagues within the state, McGuinness was first accepted to the major state athletic regulatory body – the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities AssociationOklahoma Secondary School Activities Association
The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association , is an organization which organizes secondary school activities at the state level, such as sports, speech tournaments, and music competitions. Derald Glover is its president. The OSSAA is a member of the National Federation of State High School...
(OSSAA) – in 1966, allowing it to officially compete against public secondary schools. Since that time, McGuinness has won 79 state titles in its classification across sixteen sports. Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
rated the McGuinness #11 on its national Top 25 High School Athletic Programs list for the 2007-08 school year.
The Bishop McGuinness Boys Basketball Tournament, founded in 1961, is a fixture of the winter schedule and is the oldest interscholastic high school basketball tournament in the state.
In football, McGuinness shares a tradition with cross-state rival Bishop Kelley High School
Bishop Kelley High School
Bishop Kelley High School is a Lasallian Catholic high school with over 800 students, grades 9 to 12, located at 41st and Hudson Avenue, in the center of the Tulsa metropolitan area, on a campus spanning just over 37 acres...
, which together form the two largest private schools in the state. The winner of the contest obtains possession of the "Shillelagh Trophy" for the upcoming year. The schools also compete biannually in boys and girls basketball.
| McGuinness OSSAA Athletic Championships | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| SPORT | TITLES | YEAR(S) | |
| Boys Basketball | 8 | 1989, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001,2006, 2007, 2008 | |
| Girls Basketball | 1 | 2011 | |
| Baseball | 2 | 2002, 2008 | |
| Boys Cross Country | 10 | 1984, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996,1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004 | |
| Girls Cross Country | 19 | 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993,1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998,1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004,2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, | |
| Football | 2 | 2006, 2007 | |
| Boys Golf | 1 | 2008 | |
| Girls Golf | 3 | 2007, 2010, 2011 | |
| Boys Soccer | 2 | 2003, 2007 | |
| Girls Soccer | 1 | 2008 | |
| Girls Swimming and Diving | 1 | 2009 | |
| Boys Tennis | 3 | 2003, 2004, 2011 | |
| Girls Tennis | 13 | 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003,2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 2009, 2010, 2011 |
|
| Boys Track and Field | 5 | 1997, 1998, 2000, 2006, 2007 | |
| Girls Track and Field | 7 | 1989, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2000,2001, 2008 | |
| Girls Volleyball | 1 | 2003 | |
| TOTAL | 79 | ||