Muscatine High School
Encyclopedia
Muscatine High School is a four-year comprehensive high school
located in Muscatine, Iowa
. The school is part of the Muscatine Community School District
, and has an enrollment of approximately 1,700 students in grades nine through twelve.
Located at 2705 Cedar Street in Muscatine(approximately one mile east of U.S. Highway 61), Muscatine High School draws students from the city and adjacent rural areas.
Sports teams are known as the Muskies. Sports programs include football, cross country, volleyball, wrestling, swimming, basketball, soccer, track and field, baseball, and softball.
The drama department presents a fall play and a spring musical every year.
A recent addition and renovation project has added numerous amenities such as a renovated cafeteria and student center, a new band room, new classrooms and labs, and a new main office complex. Muscatine High School also boasts a day care center for the children of the students.
.
, and athletic teams are known as the Muskies. School colors are purple
and gold
.
The school fields athletic teams in 21 sports, including:
The school also has a cheerleading squad and a competitive dance team.
Muscatine is classified as a 4A school (Iowa's largest 48 schools), according to the Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union; in sports where there are fewer divisions, the Muskies are always in the largest class (e.g., Class 3A for wrestling, boys soccer, and Class 2A for golf, tennis and girls soccer). The school is a member of the 10-team Mississippi Athletic Conference
(known to locals as the MAC), which comprises schools from the Iowa Quad Cities
, and also Burlington and Clinton high schools.
To date, Muscatine's most successful teams have been in softball, where several athletes have gone on to outstanding careers at NCAA Division I schools. Muskie softball teams have been to the IGHSAU-sponsored state tournament 11 times between 1980 and 2009.
Prior to the late 1990s, Muscatine struggled to field competitive football teams. During a stretch during the 1970s, the Muskies lost 44 consecutive football games, starting with the second game of the 1973 season and ending with the 1978 season opener against Ottumwa
.
It wasn't until years later that Muscatine had a winning season, when the 1997 team went 8-1; the Muskies won the MAC title outright, finished the regular season ranked 5th in the state, and received the school's first-ever playoff berth. The 2003 Muskies, boasting several all-state athletes, advanced to the semifinals of the Class 4A playoffs before losing to eventual state runner-up Cedar Rapids Washington.
One-time Muskie Ben Barkema
was selected as an undrafted free agent for the Cleveland Browns
after the 2008 NFL Draft
.
The Muskies are now under the command of head coach Jake Mueller, who is in his first season at the helm. He is known for his trademark "pistol" offensive formation and calm demeanor on the sidelines. The 2010 Team went 6-4, and advanced to the Second Round Playoffs, but lost 42-21 to Cedar Falls (it should be noted that Coach Mueller is a Cedar Falls graduate).
The show choirs at the high school also have had much success in the past few years under the direction of Nick Oswald. In 2009, the Muscatine High School varsity show choir "River City Rhythm" made the finals at every show choir competition in which they competed across Iowa. In 2010, they did the same and captured "Best Vocals", "Best Choreography", "Best Band" and their first "Grand Championship" finish in 19 years of existence at the Keokuk High School show choir invitational.
In 2011 the Muscatine Boys' Swim Team won the school's first state championship in 51 years.
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
located in Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 22,886 in the 2010 census, an increase from 22,697 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Muscatine County...
. The school is part of the Muscatine Community School District
Muscatine Community School District
The Muscatine community School District is located in Muscatine, Iowa. It also includes the Towns of Fairport and Montpelier, as well as Rural Areas of Letts and Blue Grass....
, and has an enrollment of approximately 1,700 students in grades nine through twelve.
Located at 2705 Cedar Street in Muscatine(approximately one mile east of U.S. Highway 61), Muscatine High School draws students from the city and adjacent rural areas.
Sports teams are known as the Muskies. Sports programs include football, cross country, volleyball, wrestling, swimming, basketball, soccer, track and field, baseball, and softball.
The drama department presents a fall play and a spring musical every year.
A recent addition and renovation project has added numerous amenities such as a renovated cafeteria and student center, a new band room, new classrooms and labs, and a new main office complex. Muscatine High School also boasts a day care center for the children of the students.
.
Publications
- The Auroran News: The school newspaper published regularly during the school year. Students manage all aspects of the publication.
- MHS Today: The online version of the school newspaper is available at mhstoday.com. It is completely designed and managed by Muscatine High School students.
- The Auroran: The Muscatine High School Yearbook is released yearly and is completely designed and written by students.
Athletics
Muscatine High School participates in the Mississippi Athletic ConferenceMississippi Athletic Conference
The Mississippi Athletic Conference is a high school athletic conference whose members are located in the Iowa Quad-Cities, plus three other schools in eastern and southeastern Iowa.-Member schools:...
, and athletic teams are known as the Muskies. School colors are purple
Purple
Purple is a range of hues of color occurring between red and blue, and is classified as a secondary color as the colors are required to create the shade....
and gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
.
The school fields athletic teams in 21 sports, including:
- Summer: Baseball, softball.
- Fall: Football, volleyball, girls' swimming, boys' cross country, girls' cross country and boys' golf.
- Winter: Boys' basketball, girls' basketball, wrestling, and boys' swimming.
- Spring: Boys' track and field, girls' track and field, boys' soccer, girls' soccer, girls' golf, boys' tennis and girls' tennis.
The school also has a cheerleading squad and a competitive dance team.
Muscatine is classified as a 4A school (Iowa's largest 48 schools), according to the Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union; in sports where there are fewer divisions, the Muskies are always in the largest class (e.g., Class 3A for wrestling, boys soccer, and Class 2A for golf, tennis and girls soccer). The school is a member of the 10-team Mississippi Athletic Conference
Mississippi Athletic Conference
The Mississippi Athletic Conference is a high school athletic conference whose members are located in the Iowa Quad-Cities, plus three other schools in eastern and southeastern Iowa.-Member schools:...
(known to locals as the MAC), which comprises schools from the Iowa Quad Cities
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
, and also Burlington and Clinton high schools.
Athletic and Activities Records
Throughout the school's history, Muscatine has enjoyed great success in many of its sports, earning many MAC conference titles and producing all-state athletes who have enjoyed success at the collegiate level and in their careers.To date, Muscatine's most successful teams have been in softball, where several athletes have gone on to outstanding careers at NCAA Division I schools. Muskie softball teams have been to the IGHSAU-sponsored state tournament 11 times between 1980 and 2009.
Prior to the late 1990s, Muscatine struggled to field competitive football teams. During a stretch during the 1970s, the Muskies lost 44 consecutive football games, starting with the second game of the 1973 season and ending with the 1978 season opener against Ottumwa
Ottumwa High School
Ottumwa High School is a public high school located in Ottumwa, Iowa. It is part of the Ottumwa Community School District, and it is the district's only high school. It was established in 1923. The school sports mascot is a Bulldog.- History :...
.
It wasn't until years later that Muscatine had a winning season, when the 1997 team went 8-1; the Muskies won the MAC title outright, finished the regular season ranked 5th in the state, and received the school's first-ever playoff berth. The 2003 Muskies, boasting several all-state athletes, advanced to the semifinals of the Class 4A playoffs before losing to eventual state runner-up Cedar Rapids Washington.
One-time Muskie Ben Barkema
Ben Barkema
Ben Barkema is a Tight end for the Cleveland Browns. He played college football at Iowa State and was selected as an undrafted free agent by the Browns after the 2008 NFL draft.- References :*...
was selected as an undrafted free agent for the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
after the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
.
The Muskies are now under the command of head coach Jake Mueller, who is in his first season at the helm. He is known for his trademark "pistol" offensive formation and calm demeanor on the sidelines. The 2010 Team went 6-4, and advanced to the Second Round Playoffs, but lost 42-21 to Cedar Falls (it should be noted that Coach Mueller is a Cedar Falls graduate).
The show choirs at the high school also have had much success in the past few years under the direction of Nick Oswald. In 2009, the Muscatine High School varsity show choir "River City Rhythm" made the finals at every show choir competition in which they competed across Iowa. In 2010, they did the same and captured "Best Vocals", "Best Choreography", "Best Band" and their first "Grand Championship" finish in 19 years of existence at the Keokuk High School show choir invitational.
In 2011 the Muscatine Boys' Swim Team won the school's first state championship in 51 years.
Notable alumni
- Ben BarkemaBen BarkemaBen Barkema is a Tight end for the Cleveland Browns. He played college football at Iowa State and was selected as an undrafted free agent by the Browns after the 2008 NFL draft.- References :*...
, free agent draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft - Jim Yong Kim, 17th President of Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth CollegeDartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
- Murray WierMurray WierMurray Neal Wier , nicknamed "Rampaging Redhead" and "Wizard Wier," is an American former professional basketball player for the Tri-Cities Blackhawks and the Waterloo Hawks...
, professional basketball player