Bishop Montgomery High School
Encyclopedia
Bishop Montgomery High School (commonly referred to as "BMHS" or simply "Bishop" by students) is a Catholic
high school serving twenty-five parishes in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
. BMHS was founded in 1957, and staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Conventual Franciscans
, and lay faculty. The 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) campus is located in Torrance, California
, in southwest Los Angeles County, one mile (1.6 km) from the Pacific Ocean
and the Del Amo Mall. The coeducational student body is approximately 1,200 students in grades 9 through 12, making BMHS the sixth largest private high school in Los Angeles County. The faculty is headed by Principal Rosemary Libbon.
The school is named for the first American-born Bishop of Monterey-Los Angeles, the Most Reverend George Thomas Montgomery
. As the ordinary
of the diocese from 1896 to 1902, Bishop Montgomery demanded that government recognize the right of parents to send their children to schools of their choice.
BMHS is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
(WASC) and offers a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum combined with Christian values. Advanced Placement courses are offered in all major subjects, and 98 percent of graduates pursue higher education.
(CIF) Del Rey League against Bishop Amat (La Puente)
, St. Bernard (Playa del Rey)
, St. Paul (Santa Fe Springs)
, and Junipero Serra (Gardena)
. Other local rivals include Torrance High School
, St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
, and St. Joseph (Lakewood)
. BMHS has been particularly successful in its basketball
and volleyball
programs, frequently appearing in the California state quarterfinals or higher.
The school's teams go by the name "The Knights", and the team colors are black and gold.
The following sports are offered at Bishop Montgomery:
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 serving twenty-five parishes in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
. BMHS was founded in 1957, and staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Conventual Franciscans
Conventual Franciscans
The Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
, and lay faculty. The 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) campus is located in Torrance, California
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
, in southwest Los Angeles County, one mile (1.6 km) from the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and the Del Amo Mall. The coeducational student body is approximately 1,200 students in grades 9 through 12, making BMHS the sixth largest private high school in Los Angeles County. The faculty is headed by Principal Rosemary Libbon.
The school is named for the first American-born Bishop of Monterey-Los Angeles, the Most Reverend George Thomas Montgomery
George Thomas Montgomery
George Thomas Montgomery was the first American-born Bishop of the Diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles , serving in that capacity from 1896-1902....
. As the ordinary
Ordinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
of the diocese from 1896 to 1902, Bishop Montgomery demanded that government recognize the right of parents to send their children to schools of their choice.
BMHS is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. The Western Association of...
(WASC) and offers a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum combined with Christian values. Advanced Placement courses are offered in all major subjects, and 98 percent of graduates pursue higher education.
Athletics
Bishop Montgomery competes in most high school sports, playing in the California Interscholastic FederationCalifornia Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
(CIF) Del Rey League against Bishop Amat (La Puente)
Bishop Amat Memorial High School
Bishop Amat Memorial High School is a co-ed Catholic high school serving the San Gabriel Valley in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and was founded in 1957. The campus is located in La Puente, California, approximately 20 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in Los Angeles County...
, St. Bernard (Playa del Rey)
St. Bernard High School (Los Angeles, California)
St. Bernard High School is a four-year coeducational Catholic high school located in Playa Del Rey, California, which is in the West Los Angeles area...
, St. Paul (Santa Fe Springs)
St. Paul High School (Santa Fe Springs, California)
St. Paul High School is a Catholic, co-educational high school serving the Gateway Cities of Los Angeles County owned and operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and was founded in 1956. The campus is located in Santa Fe Springs approximately 14 miles east of downtown Los...
, and Junipero Serra (Gardena)
Junípero Serra High School (Gardena, California)
Junípero Serra High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Gardena, California, a suburban city located 14 miles southwest from downtown Los Angeles. Honored as a State School of the Year, Serra is operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.-Background:Junípero Serra High...
. Other local rivals include Torrance High School
Torrance High School
Torrance High School is a high school located in Torrance, California. Founded in 1917, it is one of the oldest high schools in continuous use in California and is the oldest of the four high schools in the Torrance Unified School District. Four of its buildings are listed on the U.S...
, St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
St. John Bosco High School
St. John Bosco High School is a Catholic college preparatory school located in Bellflower, California, USA; conducted by the Salesians of St. John Bosco, San Francisco Province. SJBHS is named after Saint John Bosco and was originally founded as an elementary and intermediate boarding school by...
, and St. Joseph (Lakewood)
St. Joseph High School (Lakewood, California)
St. Joseph High School is a private Catholic all-girls high school located in Lakewood, California. It is operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.-History:The high school was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet...
. BMHS has been particularly successful in its basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
programs, frequently appearing in the California state quarterfinals or higher.
The school's teams go by the name "The Knights", and the team colors are black and gold.
The following sports are offered at Bishop Montgomery:
- 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...
- VolleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
- SoftballSoftballSoftball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
- Soccer
- Cross countryCross country runningCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
- Track and FieldTrack and fieldTrack and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
- GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
- TennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
- BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
- BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
- SwimmingSwimming (sport)Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
- Song Team
- Pep flagsPep flagsPep Flags, also known as flaggies, short flags, small flags, or twirl flags is the performing art of twirling one or two flag as part of a choreographed routine. In recent years, some schools have implemented a third and even fourth flag in routines. This performing art is mainly prominent in...
/ Short Flags - SurfSurfingSurfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
Notable alumni
- Denise AustinDenise AustinDenise Austin is an American fitness instructor, author, columnist, and former member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.-Early life:Austin was born Denise Katnich in San Pedro, California...
, fitness pioneer (Class of 1975) - Bill BordleyBill BordleyWilliam Clarke Bordley is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. In 2011, he was named chief of security for Major League Baseball.-High school and college career:...
, former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher (Class of 1976) - Errick CravenErrick CravenErrick Craven is a Côte d'Ivoirean-American basketball player currently playing for Stade Clermontois BA. He is also a member of the Côte d'Ivoire national basketball team....
, professional basketball player in the French Ligue Nationale de BasketballLigue Nationale de BasketballThe Ligue National de Basket is the top men's French professional basketball league. There are two divisions: French Pro A League and French Pro B League .-Pro A:...
(Class of 2001) - Chris EngenChris Engen (actor)Chris Engen is an American actor known for his portrayal of Adam Wilson on the daytime drama The Young and The Restless.-Personal life :...
, television actor - Dreux Frederic (Lil' FizzLil' FizzDreux Pierre Frédéric , better known as Lil' Fizz, is an American rapper and actor. He was best known for being the youngest member of the R&B group, B2K....
), rapper from B2KB2KB2K was an American R&B music group. The group met in 1998, established in 2001, and managed by music producer Chris Stokes with Lil' Fizz, J-Boog, Raz-B, and Omarion as members. The group disbanded in 2004 due to internal disagreements.-2001-2002: B2K:...
(attended freshman year, 1999–2000) - Carmelita JeterCarmelita JeterCarmelita Jeter is an American sprinter who specializes in the 100 meters. She is the 2011 IAAF World Champion in the 100 metres.She won the 100 m bronze at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics and a gold at the World Athletics Final. she won a second World Championship bronze...
, gold-medalist sprinter (Class of 1998) - Richard T. JonesRichard T. JonesRichard Timothy Jones is an American film and television actor.Jones was born in Kobe, Japan and raised in Carson, California. He is the son of Lorene, a computer analyst, and Clarence Jones, a professional baseball player and the hitting instructor for the Cleveland Indians. He also has an older...
, actor - Brandon LeeBrandon LeeBrandon Bruce Lee was an American actor and martial artist. He was the son of martial arts film star Bruce Lee...
, actor (freshman year only) - Patricia NeskePatricia NeskePatricia Neske is a former German figure skater. She is the 1990 German national champion and two-time European bronze medalist.-Biography:...
, former German figure skater (Class of 1984) - Terrance PenningtonTerrance PenningtonTerrance Pennington is an American football guard and offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
, free-agent offensive tackle in the NFL, formerly with the Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(Class of 2000) - Noelle QuinnNoelle QuinnNoelle Quinn is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the Los Angeles Sparks.-High school:...
, UCLA women's basketball player (Class of 2003),currently in the WNBA with the Los Angeles Sparks - Sigi SchmidSigi SchmidSiegfried "Sigi" Schmid is a German-American soccer coach. Born in Tübingen, West Germany, he moved to the United States with his family when he was a child. He played college soccer from 1972 to 1975 at the University of California, Los Angeles , where he was a starting midfielder in each...
, head coach, MLSMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
Columbus Crew (Class of 1971) - Omarr Smith, current Arena Football League defensive back with the San Jose SaberCatsSan Jose SaberCatsThe San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
(Class of 1995) - Stanley WilsonStanley WilsonStanley Wilson is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Stanford....
, NFL cornerbackCornerbackA cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
with the Detroit Lions (Class of 2000) - Nnamdi AsomughaNnamdi AsomughaNnamdi Asomugha is an American cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders and played college football for the Golden Bears at the University of California, Berkeley...
, NFL cornerbackCornerbackA cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
for the Oakland Raiders (later transferred)
Alma mater
All praise to thee, Montgomery, will rise in accent strong
Our Lady, Queen of Angels, most worthy of our song
Justice, truth, and honor our motto ever be
Loyal sons and daughters, we’ll sing of victory.
All praise the name Montgomery ,
Strong prelate loved and true.
His mighty arm of courage inflamed pure faith anew.
Justice, truth, and honor our motto ever be,
Loyal sons and daughters, we’ll sing of victory.
Our thanks to thee, Montgomery,
Throughout our lives be told,
Our Cardinal of bounty God’s gift on us bestowed.
Justice, truth, and honor our motto ever be,
Loyal sons and daughters, we’ll sing of victory.