Irmo High School
Encyclopedia
Irmo High School is a four-grade public high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

 in Irmo
Irmo, South Carolina
Irmo is a town in Lexington and Richland counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina and a suburb of Columbia. It is 12 miles outside of the city center of Columbia and is part of the Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area...

, a suburb of Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...

. Around 2,000 students are enrolled in any single year. Irmo High School falls under the administrative jurisdiction of District 5 of Lexington and Richland Counties
Lexington & Richland County School District Five
School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties is a South Carolina school district encompassing a land area of approximately 196 square miles, roughly half of which is situated in each of Lexington and Richland Counties. Student enrollment is at 16,717 as of August 2005...

, which encompasses Irmo, Dutch Fork and Chapin
Chapin, South Carolina
Chapin, also known as the capital of Lake Murray, is a town located in Lexington County, South Carolina. Chapin was founded by Martin Chapin in 1889. The following year, 1890, the railroad was built to connect Chapin to Columbia, South Carolina and other major regions. The population of Chapin was...

.

Awards

Irmo student awards include the National Academic Championship in 1986, 2001, and 2002 (at Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...

 and Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...

), the ASCN Tournament of Champions in Chicago, Illinois in 2002, and the National Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad is an American elementary, middle, or high school team competition which tests knowledge of various science topics and engineering ability. Over 6,200 teams from 49 U.S. states compete each year. Most teams compete in three levels of competition: regionals, states, and nationals...

 in 1987, 1989, and 1990. Irmo placed second at the National Academic Quiz Tournaments
National Academic Quiz Tournaments
National Academic Quiz Tournaments, LLC is a question-writing and quizbowl organizing company founded by former players in 1996. It is unique among U.S. quiz organizations for supplying questions and hosting championships at the middle school, high school, and college levels.The format is a set...

 national tournament in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...

 in 2002. Irmo has also competed in the Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...

's National Science Bowl, and NOAA's National Ocean Sciences Bowl
National Ocean Sciences Bowl
The National Ocean Sciences Bowl is a national, high-school science competition sponsored by the National Oceanographic Partnership Program and managed by the which started in the 1970s. It uses a quiz-bowl format, with lockout buzzers and extended team challenge questions to test students on...

.

Irmo High School has received a number of national accolades, including the National Blue Ribbon Award
Blue Ribbon Schools Program
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...

.

The Bands of Irmo have been awarded the Sudler Flag, an award recognizing the band as elite among secondary music programs in the United States, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

, and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. In addition, the Bands of Irmo won 10 consecutive 5A state marching band championships from 1994 to 2003 and an eleventh previous state championship in class 5A in 1991. In 2004 The Bands of Irmo performed at Carnegie Hall earning a Gold Medal Award (1 of the 2 bands that did so out o f a total of 6).

Irmo students frequently contend in the national essay contest sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace
United States Institute of Peace
The United States Institute of Peace was created by Congress as a non-partisan, federal institution that works to prevent or end violent conflict around the world...

. Irmo students regularly contend in the SkillsUSA/VICA national skills competitions as well.

In 2004, Irmo High School implemented the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, an internationally recognized program of strenuous college courses. The first IB class in the history of Irmo, which graduated in May 2006, contained 25 candidates (of whom 15 received the IB diploma). Irmo High School has also produced numerous National Merit Scholars. Irmo High School's Air Force
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...

 Junior ROTC detachment, SC-071, won the Sword of Excellence, indicating their position as the best JROTC unit in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...

.

Athletics

Irmo's sports teams compete as the Yellow Jackets and participate in the 4A division, the highest classification of the SCHSLhttp://schsl.org. Irmo High School has established itself as a power in South Carolina Athletics throughout the school's history. Irmo has won a total of 66 team state championships, appeared in 80 State Championship games, finished top 2 in the state in a respective sport 134 times, and boasted 20 individual state champions.

Football

The Irmo Yellow Jacket football program has a successful history having won a state championship, made numerous State Championship Games, and won several region championships.

Irmo has been considered a regular power in South Carolina High School Football since Joe Turbeville took the helm as head coach in 1978, following Reed Charpia (1975–1977). Turbeville, as head coach of Spring Valley High School, defeated Irmo in the State Championship game in 1975. Turbeville was hired at Irmo in 1978 and led the Yellow Jackets to their only state championship in 1980, after leading Irmo to the state championship game in 1978 and 1979 as well. Irmo played Summerville in all three of those contests, defeating the Green Wave in the 1980 game 23-0 and ending Summerville's 43 game winning streak. Turbeville compiled a record of 239-99, tying for the 14th most wins by a head coach in state history. Turbeville also led Irmo to region championships in 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1992. Turbeville's 1984 squad came close to giving him another state championship appearance by compiling a 9-1 regular season record but was eliminated in the state semi-finals by Spartanburg High School. During his tenure at Irmo, Turbeville sent several athletes to play for college programs such as South Carolina, Clemson, Wake Forest, Iowa, Furman, and others. Coach Turbeville coached his final season in 1993 and retired in 1994.


Irmo has continued to see success under head coach Bob Hanna, a graduate of the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...

. Hanna has coached Irmo since 1994 and has led the Jackets to three State Championship Games (2002, 2004, and 2006).


Irmo has produced several notable football players in recent years. This list includes Aram Olson, a former Ohio State Buckeye fullback, Mustafa Greene, a current N.C. State
NC State Wolfpack
The athletic teams of the North Carolina State University, known as the Wolfpack, compete in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports. NC State is a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference and has won eight national championships: two NCAA championships, two AIAW championships, and four titles...

 runningback., and David Olson, a backup quarterback at Stanford
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...

.

State Championships

Championship(s)(1): 1980

Runners-Up (6): 1975, 1978, 1979, 2002, 2004, 2006

Boy’s Soccer

The Irmo Boy’s soccer team is undoubtedly the most successful Athletic program that the school has produced. The Jackets are the most successful team in South Carolina history, and are also considered to be one of the best high school soccer programs in the nation historically, boasting a .897 win percentage, the 4th best overall win percentage in the nation. The Yellow Jackets have won 15 state championships and appeared in 25 state championship games since 1978, boasting 2 4-peats during this time span. They have also been crowned National Champions by the NSCAA
NSCAA
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America is an organization of American soccer coaches founded in 1941. The NSCAA has grown from a handful of college soccer coaches to more than 22,000 members, making it the largest coaching organization in the world. Its members coach at all levels of...

 multiple times in their history.


Phil Savitz has seen unparalleled success of any head coach in the state. Since taking over head coaching duties in 1981, Savitz has won 544 games and has an overall win percentage of .885, both South Carolina bests.
State Championship Game -1998 – Irmo vs. Dutch Fork

In this State Championship game, the Yellow Jackets completed their second 4-peat in school history with a win over arch-rival, Dutch Fork High School
Dutch Fork High School
Dutch Fork High School is a school in the Lexington & Richland County School District Five system, located in Irmo, South Carolina, United States. In 2009 it had approximately 1,956students and is growing at a rate of as much as 5% a year...

, in penalty kicks.
State Championship game – 2009 – No. 1 Northwestern vs. No. 2 Irmo

This game was arguably the biggest match-up in South Carolina soccer history and even got national media attention, with No. 1 nationally-ranked Northwestern High School playing the No. 2 nationally ranked Yellow Jackets.



Both teams’ resumes were long coming into this match. Both schools were undefeated on the season, both schools had 4 players named to the all-state team, and each starting Senior in the game had committed to play NCAA soccer the next year. Northwestern also had the best goal-scorer in South Carolina high school soccer history in Enzo Martinez, who had committed to play at the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...

 the next year.


A capacity crowd of 8,000 filed into Memorial Stadium in Columbia to see Irmo eventually lose the match 3-1. The Yellow Jackets got down 1-0 early in the game, but still looked in it with 20 minutes to go until Northwestern put the game out of reach with 2 goals in a 1 minute span to make it 3-0. A goal was scored by Zach Acree from the penalty spot with a little over 17 minutes to go to make it 3-1, the eventual final.

State Championships

Champions (15): 1978, 1979, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004

Runners-Up (10): 1980, 1981, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011

Boy’s Basketball

The Irmo boy’s basketball team has appeared in 9 state championship games, winning 4 in 1991, 1994, 1995, and most recently in 2011. All of Irmo’s state championships and 7 of their 9 championship game appearances have come under the tutelage of Tim Whipple, who began his tenure as head coach of the Yellow Jackets in 1981. Whipple built a basketball dynasty in the early 1990s, making 6 of 7 State Championship games between 1990 and 1996, with the help of BJ McKie
BJ McKie
BJ McKie , is an American basketball player. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, McKie went to high school at Irmo High School and played for the University of South Carolina men's basketball team. In January 1999, he became the Gamecock's all time leading scorer, surpassing Alex English...

 who would go on to star at South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball
The South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Southeastern Conference. The program attained national prominence under hall of fame coach Frank McGuire, posting a 205-65 record and three NCAA Sweet 16 appearances from 1967-1976...

 and become the school’s all time leading scorer.

The Yellow Jackets won their most recent State Championship on March 4, 2011, defeating Ridge View
Ridge View High School
Ridge View High School Is a comprehensive public high school in Columbia, South Carolina. It currently holds approximately 2100 students. It is one of four high schools in the Richland District 2 along Spring Valley high School, , and Richland Northeast High School. The Principal is Dr. Marty Martin...

 79-70 in front of near capacity crowd at the Colonial Life Arena. Irmo dominated play for the majority of the game and led by 17 points at halftime. Jordan Roper, the team's starting point guard and leading scorer for the 2010-11 season, had what was arguably his most influential game as a Yellow Jacket in which he scored 24 points. The team finished the season with a final record of 27-3.

State Championships

Champion(s) (4): 1991, 1994, 1995, 2011

Runners-Up (5): 1968, 1975, 1990, 1992, 1996

Boy's Tennis

Irmo tennis is highlighted by the career of former head coach Bill Porter, who oversaw Irmo to an overall record of 281-21 between 1978 and 1995, obtaining the 4th most wins in state history. Bret Garnett
Bret Garnett
Bret Garnett , is a former professional tennis player from the United States.Garnett enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career he won 1 doubles title. He achieved a career-high doubles ranking of World No. 49 in 1993.Garnett's highest singles ranking was World No...

 is also an Irmo legend, winning 3 singles titles in a row between 1983 and 1985. Bret would go on to attend the University of Southwestern Louisiana and would turn professional in 1988.

Team State Championships

Champions (10): 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001

Runner Up (5): 1980, 1985, 1986, 1996, 2009

Individual State Champions

Bret Garnett
Bret Garnett
Bret Garnett , is a former professional tennis player from the United States.Garnett enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career he won 1 doubles title. He achieved a career-high doubles ranking of World No. 49 in 1993.Garnett's highest singles ranking was World No...

 - 1983, 1984, 1985

Lee Porter - 1997

Rashad Gettone - 1998

Girl's Tennis

Bill Porter also coached the Girl's Tennis team at Irmo until 1995, amassing an overall record of 206-19, which is 3rd best in state history.

Team State Championships

Champion(s): 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004

Runners-Up: 1988, 1989, 1995, 2006

Boys Cross Country

Irmo cross country established first established itself as a dominant power in South Carolina in the late 70's with a 3-peat from 1977 to 1979, with second place finishes in the years before and after the 3-peat. It has won an additional two state championships since then for a total of 5 overall, the 3rd most in state history behind Riverside High School
Riverside High School (South Carolina)
- History :The school opened in the fall of 1973 with 650 students on a campus.In Fall 2006, students began attending a brand new building on the same premises...

 and Spartanburg High School
Spartanburg High School
Spartanburg High School is part of Spartanburg County School District No. 7. The current principal is Jeff Stevens, a former assistant principal at the school.-Layout:...

. Boy's cross country also boasts 6 individual state championships, 5 of which were won by Cody Poynter.

Team State Championships

Team Champions (5): 1977, 1978, 1979, 1992, 1998

Runners-Up (6): 1976, 1980, 1986, 1991, 1999, 2000

Individual State Championships

Greg Wimmer - 1978

Greg Wimmer - 1979

Ken Costello - 1980

Ken Costello - 1981

Ken Costello - 1982

Reed Fisher - 2000

Girl's Cross Country

The girls of Irmo cross country have seen just as much success as their male counterparts, if not more. Between 1977 and 1982, coach Mike Moore helped to build what would be one of the best dynasties in South Carolina girls cross country history, winning 6 straight state championships. During this time, span, the team also boasted 4 individual state championships, 3 of those by Michelle Crow whose 1984 state record stood for 18 years

Crow would go on to run for both Louisiana State University and Appalachian State University where she won the Cross Country Southern Conference title in 1986.

Team State Championships

Champions (6): 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982

Runners-Up (3): 1976, 1990, 1996

Individual State Championships

G inny Bass - 1979

Michelle Crow - 1981

Michelle Crow - 1982

Michelle Crow - 1984

Men's Golf

The Irmo golf team saw its greatest success in the 1970s, finishing top-2 in the state 6 times in this decade and winning 4 state championships. The golf team has seen moderate success since this time, winning another state title in 1987 and finishing as a runner-up in the state twice in the 1990s.

Team State Championships

Champions (5): 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1987

Runners-Up (5): 1977, 1978, 1982, 1990, 1998

Girl's Soccer

The girl's soccer team hasn't seen nearly as much success as their male counterparts, though they have made two appearances in the state title game. They've also had players go on to play at the collegiate level in recent years.

State Records

  • Team holds the state record for the 400 Yard relay set in 1998 with a time 3:37.51
  • Laura Nichols co-holds the State record for 100 yard breaststroke at 1:06.86
  • Catherine Blaney- one of four girls to win 4 events in one year at State Championship meet.

Girl's Track & Field

Champions (2): 1997, 1999

Runners-Up (4): 1980, 1981, 1982, 1998

Runner Michelle Crow won numerous state records in both the 1600m and 3200m. Her 1985 1600m state-record time (5:03.34) currently ranks number 4 in the South Carolina Girls All-Time Top 10 High School Track and Field Marks and her 1984 3200m state-record time (11:06.74) ranks number 5. Crow's 1600 m record stood for 14 years. 1600m

State Champio nships

Champions (2): 1998, 1999

Runners-Up (2): 1995, 2005
  • Held a 51-game win streak between 1998 and 1999.

Team State Championships

Champions (2): 1980,2011

Runners-Up (4): 1981, 1985, 1997, 2000

Famous Alumni

In 1985, Irmo history teacher Therese Knecht Dozier was honored as National Teacher of the Year
National Teacher of the Year
The National Teacher of the Year is a professional award in the United States. The program began in 1952, as a project by the Council of Chief State School Officers , and aims to reward excellence in teaching...

. Dozier was later appointed special adviser to former Governor of South Carolina
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...

 Richard W. Riley while he served as President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...

's Secretary of Education
United States Secretary of Education
The United States Secretary of Education is the head of the Department of Education. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet, and 16th in line of United States presidential line of succession...

.

Leeza Gibbons
Leeza Gibbons
Leeza Kim Gibbons is an American talk show host. Gibbons is the host of her own radio show, Hollywood Confidential, part of the United Stations radio syndication company.-Early life:...



Bj McKie
BJ McKie
BJ McKie , is an American basketball player. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, McKie went to high school at Irmo High School and played for the University of South Carolina men's basketball team. In January 1999, he became the Gamecock's all time leading scorer, surpassing Alex English...



Tom Goldstein
Tom Goldstein
Thomas C. Goldstein is an American attorney famous as an advocate before and blogger about the Supreme Court of the United States. He was a founding partner of Goldstein and Howe, a Washington, D.C. firm specializing in Supreme Court litigation, and was, until the end of 2010, a partner at Akin...



Donna Rice
Donna Rice
Donna Rice Hughes is the president and chair of Enough Is Enough, an American non-profit organization in the anti-pornography movement that seeks to make the Internet safer for families and children...



Lillian Garcia

Dalia Garcia

Feeder patterns

The following elementary schools feed into Irmo High School:
  • Harbison West Elementary School
  • Irmo Elementary School
  • Leaphart Elementary School
  • Nursery Road Elementary School
  • Seven Oaks Elementary School


The following middle schools feed into Irmo High School:
  • CrossRoads Middle School
  • Irmo Middle School
    Irmo Middle School
    Irmo Middle School is located at 6051 Wescott Road, Irmo, South Carolina. It is part of School District 5 of Lexington and Richland Counties. The school enrolls rising seventh and eighth graders, and after passing the eighth grade, students continue to Irmo High School. The principal is Mrs. Marie...



External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK