Mount Carmel High School (San Diego, California)
Encyclopedia
Mt. Carmel High School a California
Distinguished High School in 2005, is located in Rancho Peñasquitos
, a community of San Diego, California, United States. The school belongs to the Poway Unified School District
and its mascot is the Sundevil. The current principal is Dawn Kastner. She was previously a principal at Westview High School before joining her alma mater Mt. Carmel in January 2011 to replace outgoing principal Dr. Tom McCoy, who accepted a superintendent job in Ventura, California.
Mt. Carmel High School is both a California Distinguished School Award winner(1985, 1999, 2005) and a National Blue Ribbon School(1989, 2000). Historically the school's main rival has been Poway High School
; the current major rivals though include Westview High School
and Rancho Bernardo High School
.
In 1999, the movie Bring It On
filmed on the campus, with the locker room, weight room and football scoreboard making it into the film. In 2010, Mt. Carmel became the second school in the San Diego Section of the California Interscholastic Federation(CIF) to win 100 CIFs. In a 2009 game against Westview, MC running back Kenn James Jr. ran for a CIF San Diego Section record 436 yards, breaking Marlin Carey's old school record of 315. The Sundevils had 578 yards of total offense, also a school record. The Sundevils won the game, 49-32.
Following the 2002-2003 school year, and in conjunction with the other major upgrades to the school, the natural grass field was removed and artificial turf installed. Renovations started in August 2009 and completed in July 2010 added handicap accessibility to every section in the stadium, handrails were put on every staircase, plus handicap seating was installed at the top of sections 2, 3, 5, 9, and 11.
In June 2007, the stadium was the host of the Drum Corps International
quarterfinals, with prestigious marching bands including the Blue Devils
, Phantom Regiment, The Cadets
, The Cavaliers
, Carolina Crown, and Santa Clara Vanguard.
, both in the field tournament and parade. The band took 2nd in the field show competition by .05 and 1st place in the parade making them the overall champions of the Fiesta Bowl National Band Championship. In 2006, the Marching Sundevils performed for the 11th time in the Tournament of Roses Parade
in Pasadena
, California
. In 2005, Mt. Carmel's Music Department hosted the Holiday Bowl High School Band Competition. The annual Mt. Carmel Tournament of Bands, has been held each October for the past 34 years, and is the most widely attended parade and field competition in San Diego with over 30 bands in attendance.
The band has traditionally traveled to Hawaii every 4 years, and Europe every 4 years. In April 2009, the band took part in the Hawaii Invitational Band Review, winning 1st place with an overall score of 94.625 out of a possible 100. The Marching Sundevils have also performed in the Gator Bowl, Alamo Bowl, and Sugar Bowl parades, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, and the Disneyland Christmas Day Parade. The Marching Sundevils also have gone undefeated in field competition in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008. Undefeated parade band seasons have been 1976, 1977, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2005.
Girls Tennis won three-peat CIF titles in 2007, 2008, 2009 and lost in the final game in 2010.
Fall Sports include: Football, Field Hockey, Girls Tennis, Boys and Girls Cross Country, Girls Golf, Girls Volleyball, and Boys Water Polo.
Winter Sports include: Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Girls Water Polo, Wrestling, and Ultimate Frisbee
Spring Sports include: Baseball, Softball, Gymnastics, Boys and Girls Track and Field, Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, Boys Tennis, Boys Golf, and Boys Volleyball
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Distinguished High School in 2005, is located in Rancho Peñasquitos
Rancho Penasquitos, San Diego, California
Rancho Peñasquitos is a community in the northeastern part of the city of San Diego, California. It is named after the first Spanish Land Grant in the County - Rancho de Los Penasquitos. Peñasquitos means little cliffs in Spanish. It abuts Los Penasquitos canyon preserve - an open space...
, a community of San Diego, California, United States. The school belongs to the Poway Unified School District
Poway Unified School District
Poway Unified School District is a school district located in Poway, California. The District operates 25 elementary schools , six middle schools , four comprehensive high schools , and one continuation high school. Twenty-one of its schools are located in the city of San Diego; eleven others in...
and its mascot is the Sundevil. The current principal is Dawn Kastner. She was previously a principal at Westview High School before joining her alma mater Mt. Carmel in January 2011 to replace outgoing principal Dr. Tom McCoy, who accepted a superintendent job in Ventura, California.
Mt. Carmel High School is both a California Distinguished School Award winner(1985, 1999, 2005) and a National Blue Ribbon School(1989, 2000). Historically the school's main rival has been Poway High School
Poway High School
Poway High School is a public, comprehensive high school located in the city of Poway, California. Established in 1961, it serves ninth through twelfth grade students from the communities of Poway and Rancho Bernardo. The school mascot is the Titan...
; the current major rivals though include Westview High School
Westview High School (San Diego)
Westview High School is a public secondary school located in Torrey Highlands, a community of San Diego, California in the United States. It is part of the Poway Unified School District....
and Rancho Bernardo High School
Rancho Bernardo High School
Rancho Bernardo High School, or RBHS, is a public high school in the Poway Unified School District of San Diego County, California. Rancho Bernardo High School opened in September 1990 as the district's third high school. There are approximately 2,300 students in grades 9 through 12, and...
.
History
Mt. Carmel High School was built in 1974, with its first fall semester classes being held at the neighboring Black Mountain Middle School while the rest of construction finished.In 1999, the movie Bring It On
Bring It On (film)
Bring It On is a 2000 teen comedy film about two competing high school cheerleading squads, starring Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford, and Gabrielle Union...
filmed on the campus, with the locker room, weight room and football scoreboard making it into the film. In 2010, Mt. Carmel became the second school in the San Diego Section of the California Interscholastic Federation(CIF) to win 100 CIFs. In a 2009 game against Westview, MC running back Kenn James Jr. ran for a CIF San Diego Section record 436 yards, breaking Marlin Carey's old school record of 315. The Sundevils had 578 yards of total offense, also a school record. The Sundevils won the game, 49-32.
Mt. Carmel or Mount Carmel?
There has been controversy over how the school's official name is spelled. One of the school's nicknames is "The Mount", seen in a sign just beyond the campus' main entrance that reads, "Welcome to The Mount". "The Mount" is also seen on the Boys Basketball team's home jerseys. However, every other program in the school, athletic and academic, wears "Mt. Carmel", and the schools official recognized name in CIF competition, , the Poway Unified School District as well as the National Blue Ribbon School program, is "Mt. Carmel High School".Stadium
Mt. Carmel's on-campus football field, Sundevil Stadium, is a multi-purpose venue designed for football, soccer, lacrosse, track and field, and the annual Mt. Carmel Tournament of Bands, which is held on the 3rd Saturday of each October. The stadium was designed in 1971 and opened in 1974, with a capacity of 6,000. The Mt. Carmel football team's successes in the late 1980s and early 1990s brought Sundevil Stadium its first, and to date, only major renovation after the 1991 season, adding seats to both the home and visitor sides, raising total capacity to 11,000, making it the largest on-campus high school stadium in the state of California. The largest on-campus crowd in school history came to Sundevil Stadium for the first ever game between the Mt. Carmel Sundevils and the Westview Wolverines in 2002, with an announced attendance of 11,107. Mt. Carmel won the game, 34-0, the first shutout at Sundevil Stadium since 1997 when the Sundevils blanked Rancho Bernardo, 27-0. The first ever game at Sundevil Stadium was on Friday, September 6, 1974, and pitted the Mt. Carmel Sundevils against Poway Unified rival the Poway Titans . Mt. Carmel scored on a late touchdown, and sealed the game with an interception with 14 seconds left and Poway deep in Mt. Carmel territory. Mt. Carmel knelt down and won the game, 28-24. On October 5, 2007, The Sundevils were down on Homecoming, 14-0 to the El Camino Wildcats with just 4 minutes remaining in the game. With El Camino driving in the red zone, Nathan Turnwall intercepted a pass and returned it 84 yards for a touchdown. The 2 point conversion failed. Following a successful onside kick recovery and a Joey Demartino 44 yard touchdown run, the score was 18-12. With 51 seconds left, El Camino punted, and Demartino returned it 58 yards to the El Camino 28. 2 plays later, quarterback Taylor Chapatte hit Demartino in the end zone with a 20 yard pass with just 9 seconds left in the game to cap the comeback, 18-14.Following the 2002-2003 school year, and in conjunction with the other major upgrades to the school, the natural grass field was removed and artificial turf installed. Renovations started in August 2009 and completed in July 2010 added handicap accessibility to every section in the stadium, handrails were put on every staircase, plus handicap seating was installed at the top of sections 2, 3, 5, 9, and 11.
In June 2007, the stadium was the host of the Drum Corps International
Drum Corps International
Drum Corps International , formed in 1972, is the non-profit governing body operating the North American drum and bugle corps circuit for junior corps, whose members are between the ages of 14 and 21. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps Associates which governs senior or all-age drum corps...
quarterfinals, with prestigious marching bands including the Blue Devils
Blue Devils
Blue Devils may refer to:In botany:*Eryngium pinnatifidum, a plant from Western AustraliaIn military history:*The Fighting Blue Devils, nickname of the 88th Infantry Division of the United States Army in World War II...
, Phantom Regiment, The Cadets
The Cadets
The Cadets can refer to one of the following:* The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps* The Cadets * The Cadets - 10-part Russian TV series dealing with the Battle of Stalingrad...
, The Cavaliers
The Cavaliers
The Cavaliers may refer to:*The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps*J. Frank Wilson and The Cavaliers*The Sensations, a group initially known as The Cavaliers...
, Carolina Crown, and Santa Clara Vanguard.
Instrumental Music Program
Mt. Carmel's three-time Grammy award-winning band and orchestra, were directed by nationally-recognized director Warren Torns (now retired), and are now directed by Garry McPherson. In 1988, the Marching Sundevil Band was featured in the opening scenes of the movie "Little Nikita", starring Sidney Poitier, River Phoenix and Richard Jenkins. The school's Marching Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble II, and Wind Ensemble I, and orchestra are led by Garry McPherson. The school performed in the 2010 Fiesta BowlFiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
, both in the field tournament and parade. The band took 2nd in the field show competition by .05 and 1st place in the parade making them the overall champions of the Fiesta Bowl National Band Championship. In 2006, the Marching Sundevils performed for the 11th time in the Tournament of Roses Parade
Tournament of Roses Parade
The Tournament of Roses Parade, better known as the Rose Parade, is "America's New Year Celebration", a festival of flower-covered floats, marching bands, equestrians and a college football game on New Year's Day , produced by the non-profit Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association.The annual...
in Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. In 2005, Mt. Carmel's Music Department hosted the Holiday Bowl High School Band Competition. The annual Mt. Carmel Tournament of Bands, has been held each October for the past 34 years, and is the most widely attended parade and field competition in San Diego with over 30 bands in attendance.
The band has traditionally traveled to Hawaii every 4 years, and Europe every 4 years. In April 2009, the band took part in the Hawaii Invitational Band Review, winning 1st place with an overall score of 94.625 out of a possible 100. The Marching Sundevils have also performed in the Gator Bowl, Alamo Bowl, and Sugar Bowl parades, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, and the Disneyland Christmas Day Parade. The Marching Sundevils also have gone undefeated in field competition in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008. Undefeated parade band seasons have been 1976, 1977, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2005.
Mt. Carmel Sports
Mt. Carmel sports are quite successful, the girls softball team achieved a four-peat starting in 2006 and continued until 2010. The girls are still going and hoping to continue winning. The boys volleyball team achieved back-to-back CIF Championships in 2003 and 2004 followed by a three-peat starting in 2007. In 2010, the team was ranked 17th in the nation, and qualified for California State Finals, and lost to the Mira Costa Mustang in three games. In 2010 gymnastics achieved a two-peat in CIF and are trying for a three-peat this 2011 season.Girls Tennis won three-peat CIF titles in 2007, 2008, 2009 and lost in the final game in 2010.
Fall Sports include: Football, Field Hockey, Girls Tennis, Boys and Girls Cross Country, Girls Golf, Girls Volleyball, and Boys Water Polo.
Winter Sports include: Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Girls Water Polo, Wrestling, and Ultimate Frisbee
Spring Sports include: Baseball, Softball, Gymnastics, Boys and Girls Track and Field, Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, Boys Tennis, Boys Golf, and Boys Volleyball
Renovation
In the spring of 2004, after the passage of California Proposition U and funds approved by district voters, the school received funding for a major renovation. The "Pardon our Dust"-sloganed renovation has since been completed. In addition to modernizing existing buildings, including the practical arts and sciences departments, the project constructed several new buildings, including a new facility for the wrestling and gymnastics teams, and a new band room. The "Theater at the Mount" was the last main building that was under construction, now completed, along with the choir and drama rooms.Notable alumni
- Adam LambertAdam LambertAdam Mitchel Lambert is an American singer, songwriter, and actor from San Diego, California. In May 2009, he finished as the runner-up on the eighth season of American Idol...
, American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
Season 8American Idol (season 8)The eighth season of American Idol premiered on January 13, 2009, and concluded on May 20, 2009. Judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson continued to judge the show's contestants, along with Ryan Seacrest as host. The season introduced Kara DioGuardi as the fourth judge on the Idol...
Finalist - Chase EllisonChase EllisonChase Ellison is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in Mysterious Skin and Tooth Fairy.-Life and career:...
(Class of 2011), actor known for movies such as Tooth FairyTooth fairyThe tooth fairy is a fantasy figure of early childhood. The folklore states that when a child loses a baby tooth, if he or she places it beneath the bed pillow, the tooth fairy will visit while the child sleeps, replacing the lost tooth with a small payment.... - Billy BeaneBilly BeaneWilliam Lamar "Billy" Beane III is a former Major League Baseball player and the current general manager and minority owner of the Oakland Athletics...
, General manager and minority owner of the Oakland A's - Darren BalsleyDarren BalsleyDarren Balsley is the current pitching coach at Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres franchise. He was a minor-league pitcher before he decided to go into coaching. He went to Mount Carmel High School in San Diego and attended Palomar College. He has been in his current role since May 17, 2003...
, Pitching coach, San Diego PadresSan Diego PadresThe San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times... - Duke PrestonDuke PrestonRaymond Newton "Duke" Preston, III is a former American football center. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Illinois....
, Football 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... - Eric AnthonyEric AnthonyEric Todd Anthony is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.Drafted by the Houston Astros in the 34th round of the 1986 MLB amateur draft, Anthony would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Houston Astros on July 28, 1989, and appear in his final game on September 27, 1997...
, Retired baseball player - Eric ChavezEric ChavezEric Cesar Chavez is an American Major League Baseball infielder. Chavez has played for the Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees...
, Third baseman, New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division... - Eric MunsonEric MunsonEric Walter Munson is a former Major League Baseball catcher who currently plays for the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He was the third overall pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft by the Detroit Tigers, behind Josh Hamilton and Josh Beckett...
, Baseball player, Houston AstrosHouston AstrosThe Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field... - John HydenJohn HydenJohn Hyden , and raised in San Diego, California where he attended Mt. Carmel High School, is an American volleyball player, who was a member of the United States men's national volleyball team that finished in ninth place at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia...
, Professional Volleyball Player - Johnny JeterJohnny JeterJohn "Johnny" Jeter is an American professional wrestler best known for his appearances in World Wrestling Entertainment as Spirit Squad member Johnny on the Raw brand in 2006....
, Pro Wrestler - Jose "J-Si" ChavezKidd Kraddick in the MorningKidd Kraddick in the Morning is an American morning radio show hosted by Kidd Kraddick on Cumulus Media Networks...
, Radio personality - Leigh Ann RobinsonLeigh Ann RobinsonLeigh Ann Robinson is an American soccer defender who currently plays for the Philadelphia Independence of Women's Professional Soccer....
, Professional Soccer Player, Philadelphia Independence - Liza Del MundoLiza del MundoLiza del Mundo is a Filipino-American voice actress who voices Hay Lin in W.I.T.C.H and will voice Andy's mother, Laura on Maya and Miguel. She was raised in the Rancho Penasquitos area of San Diego, California. In 1993, She graduated from Mt. Carmel High School, where she wrote for the school...
, Voice actress - Mark RisleyMark RisleyMark Risley is an American Director specializing in animated children's television. His background includes writing, producing and directing 2D, CG and Flash animated productions.-Career:...
, Emmy winning director - Steve CherundoloSteve CherundoloSteven Emil "Steve" Cherundolo is an American soccer defender who is the captain of Hannover 96 of the German Bundesliga, where he has spent his entire club career. He played for the United States men's national soccer team at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups.-Early life:Cherundolo grew up in...
, Defender, Hannover 96Hannover 96Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896, commonly referred to as Hannover 96, Hannover or simply 96, is a German association football club based in the city of Hanover, Lower Saxony.-Foundation to WWII:...
, U.S. National Team (Soccer)United States men's national soccer teamThe United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF... - Scott SpeerScott SpeerScott Speer is an American music video director born in San Diego, California.-Career:At age 23 he was signed with HSI Productions, and in 2006 Speer received the MVPA Award for Directorial Debut of the Year for the music video of "Stars" by Switchfoot.In 2007 he won his first MTV Video Music...
, Music Video Director - Chris Van HorneChris Van HorneChris Van Horne, born in San Diego, California, is a broadcast journalist working in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. He is currently a video journalist for KXAS where he covers the City of Fort Worth. He attended Mount Carmel High School in the Rancho Penasquitos neighborhood of San Diego...
, Television News Anchor/Reporter - Craig YarnoldBuck-O-NineBuck-O-Nine is an American ska punk band which was formed in San Diego in 1991. The band has toured internationally and released several albums and e.p.'s, as well as appearing on compilations and film soundtracks. During the mid-to-late 1990s, they experienced mainstream success with the release...
, Musician - Bobby Lee comedian
- Michael Martinez, Drummer of Allstar WeekendAllstar WeekendAllstar Weekend is a pop rock band based in Poway, California. The band gained its popularity from the Disney Channel television network. The band originally consisted of lead singer Zach Porter, bassist Cameron Quiseng, guitarist Nathan Darmody, and drummer Michael Martinez but as of September 16,...