Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School
Encyclopedia
Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School is a Catholic
high school located in downtown Grand Rapids
, Michigan. The first private
coeducation
al high school in the country, it was founded in 1906 by the Diocese of Grand Rapids
so that those attending grammar school at local parishes could continue their education.
In the 2005-2006 school year, Catholic Central celebrated 100 years of service to the Grand Rapids community. Events included a Speaker's Series focusing on Faith and Education, Community Service Projects, memorabilia to commemorate the event, a historical display also known as "The regatta of sails". A Centennial parade, a football game vs West Catholic, and a Winter Sportfest drew large crowds to enjoy the Centennial festivities.
Around 2009, the school went through another drastic change both administratively and physically. In an effort to cut costs, it was decided that CC, and its sister school West Catholic High School, would have the same principal and two assistant principals would be put in charge of each school. Around the same time CC undertook a massive project including a parking structure and headquarters for the Grand Rapids Diocese. This project, dubbed Cathedral Square, took a little over a year to complete and includes a marble courtyard in front of St. Andrew's Cathedral.
in the Gold Division
State Championships (MHSAA unless noted):
State Runners-up (MHSAA unless noted):
The team is coached by Jeff Cowdrey, who is credited with starting the team at Catholic Central back in 1998—along with Ryan Cummins and Matt Mileskiewicz. Coach Cowdrey played for Michigan State University during his college years and he then played for the U.S. Rugby Men's 7s team after he graduated.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
high school located in downtown Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, Michigan. The first private
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
coeducation
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
al high school in the country, it was founded in 1906 by the Diocese of Grand Rapids
Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in western Michigan, in the United States. It comprises 102 churches in Ottawa, Kent, Ionia, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Montcalm, Mecosta, Lake, Mason, and Osceola counties in Michigan. The diocese was created on...
so that those attending grammar school at local parishes could continue their education.
The beginning
Catholic Central was formed in 1906. At its inception the school consisted of two separate buildings: the boys' school, and the girls' school. During this time there was very little interaction between the two sexes. Just a few years before World War I started, a disastrous fire erupted, destroying the boys' school entirely. For about a year afterward, the girls attended school in the morning, and the boys were taught in the girls' school in the afternoon.To the present
In the late 1980s, Catholic Central underwent a dramatic transformation as much of the school was renovated and a new wing was added to the school. In the late 1990s, a new one-story building was added next to the main building; in 2003, a second floor was added to accommodate the Religion Department.In the 2005-2006 school year, Catholic Central celebrated 100 years of service to the Grand Rapids community. Events included a Speaker's Series focusing on Faith and Education, Community Service Projects, memorabilia to commemorate the event, a historical display also known as "The regatta of sails". A Centennial parade, a football game vs West Catholic, and a Winter Sportfest drew large crowds to enjoy the Centennial festivities.
Around 2009, the school went through another drastic change both administratively and physically. In an effort to cut costs, it was decided that CC, and its sister school West Catholic High School, would have the same principal and two assistant principals would be put in charge of each school. Around the same time CC undertook a massive project including a parking structure and headquarters for the Grand Rapids Diocese. This project, dubbed Cathedral Square, took a little over a year to complete and includes a marble courtyard in front of St. Andrew's Cathedral.
Administration
The Grand Rapids Catholic Diocese owns and operates both Catholic Central High School and West Catholic High School respectively. These schools, as well as 18 elementary schools, form Grand Rapids Catholic Secondary Schools. The administration consists of a president (Rev. R. Louis Stasker) and a school board. There is a single principle (Tom Maj) for both high schools and Catholic Central's Assistant Principal is Greg Deja. TSports
The school's sports teams are collectively referred to as the Cougars, and the school colors are Royal Blue and White. They compete in the Ottawa-Kent ConferenceOttawa-Kent Conference
The Ottawa-Kent Conference is an athletic league located in West Michigan. It has member schools from Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, and Ottawa Counties. It has 51 member schools that partake in athletics. According to the MHSAA they have the main offices located at Grandville...
in the Gold Division
State Championships (MHSAA unless noted):
- 1943 Football - Open Class (mythical championship)
- 1949 Football - Class A (Detroit Free Press & mythical championship)
- 1951 Football - Class A (Detroit Free Press)
- 1959 Football - Class A (Associated Press & Detroit Free Press)
- 1982 Boys cross country - Class B
- 1984 Boys cross country - Class B
- 1985 Baseball - Class B
- 1987 Football - Class B
- 1987 Girls cross country - Class B
- 1998 Rugby - Division I (MYRA)
- 1999 Competitive cheer - Class B
- 1999 Rugby - Division I (MYRA)
- 2000 Rugby - Division I (MYRA)
- 2001 Rugby - Division I (MYRA)
- 2003 Rugby - Division I (MYRA)
- 2004 Rugby - Division I (MYRA)
- 2005 Rugby - Division I (MYRA)
- 2010 Girls Basketball - Class B
- 2010 Football - Division 4 bracket
- 2011 Ice Hockey - Division 3
- 2011 Rugby - Division I (MYRA)
- 2011 Girls Lacrosse- Division 2
State Runners-up (MHSAA unless noted):
- 1955 Football - Class A (Associated Press)
- 1969 Football - Class A (Associated Press)
- 1978 Football - Class B
- 1981 Boys cross country - Class B
- 1983 Boys cross country - Class B
- 1994 Baseball - Class B
- 2002 Rugby - Division I (MYRA)
- 2003 Baseball - Division 2
- 2005 Football - Division 4
- 2006 Rugby - Division I (MYRA)
- 2006 Ice hockey - Division 3
- 2007 Ice hockey - Division 3
- 2008 Rugby - Division I (MYRA)
- 2009 Girls Basketball- Class B
Rugby
Grand Rapids Catholic Central has been the most dominant rugby team in the state of Michigan since the school offered the sport in 1998. The C.C. rugby team has won the state title every year from 1998 to 2005 and was state runner-up in 2006, 2007, and 2010. In 2011 they went on to win the state again.. In 2003, 2004, and 2010 Catholic Central placed third at the Midwest Rugby Tournament earning them a bid to the U.S.A. Rugby National Tournament in 2003, and 2004. Of the top sixteen teams in the nation, Catholic Central placed 12th in 2003 and 11th in 2004. While 2011 they placed 2nd but did not receive a bid.The team is coached by Jeff Cowdrey, who is credited with starting the team at Catholic Central back in 1998—along with Ryan Cummins and Matt Mileskiewicz. Coach Cowdrey played for Michigan State University during his college years and he then played for the U.S. Rugby Men's 7s team after he graduated.
Notable alumni
- George AndrieGeorge AndrieGeorge Joseph Andrie is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. Andrie prepped at Catholic Central High School.-College career:...
, footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... - Owen BieberOwen BieberOwen Frederick Bieber is an American labor union activist. He was president of the United Auto Workers from 1983 to 1995.-Early life and career:...
, President, United Auto WorkersUnited Auto WorkersThe International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers , is a labor union which represents workers in the United States and Puerto Rico, and formerly in Canada. Founded as part of the Congress of Industrial... - Mike KadishMike KadishMichael S. Kadish was an American football defensive lineman who played nine seasons in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame....
, footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Wally PippWally PippWalter Clement Pipp was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball, now best remembered as the man who lost his starting role to Lou Gehrig at the beginning of Gehrig's streak of 2,130 consecutive games....
, baseball player - Joe SoboleskiJoe SoboleskiJoseph Robert Soboleski, Jr. is a former American football guard.Soboleski began his football career playing for Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After graduating from high school, Soboleski spent 18 months in the United States Navy, including eight months in the Pacific...
, football player - Obi EzehObi EzehObi Pius Ezeh is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was included on both the 2009 midseason and the 2009 preseason watchlist for the Butkus Award. He is the active Michigan Wolverines football career leader in tackles.In high school, he played running back on offense...
, University of Michigan football player - Kevin Leach,University of Michigan football player
- Mark Huyge, University of Michigan football player
- Brian Vizard, Former US Eagles National Team Rugby Captain