Central High School (Pueblo, Colorado)
Encyclopedia
Central High School is one of seven public high schools located in Pueblo
, Colorado
. The high school was the second for the city of Pueblo
and was founded in 1881. It is the only high school to have two Medal Of Honor
recipients, William J. Crawford
(Class of '36) and Carl L. Sitter
(Class of '40).
The school at one time had a reputation for gang membership and used an ad campaign to improve its image.
Pueblo Central High School's free/reduced lunch rate is 77% of the students.
building on Orman Avenue is built of brick and consists of five floors and an outlying building used as a gym and school meeting area. It was built in 1906. The foyer features right-facing swastika
s set into the tile floor. The original Central High School building on Pitkin Avenue (later used as an elementary school
) was built of pink rhyolite
; the "Stone Schoolhouse" was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979.
into its curriculum, making the district the first west of the Missouri River
to introduce what was then called "manual training" into the schools.
The academic performance to state standards has been rated as low on The School Accountability report generated by Pueblo City Schools district. The Academic Growth is also rated as low.
or CHSAA and is subject to their guidelines when participating in athletics. The most notable athletic tradition consists of their football team and ongoing rivalry with the oldest high school in Pueblo, Centennial High School (Pueblo, Colorado)
They are known as the Central Wildcats.
is a tradition dating back to 1892, since then The game has been played annually, generally in the month of October. The Central Wildcats and Centennial Bulldogs play for the right to display the trophy bell in their school and paint it their respective colors. The event is held at Earl "Dutch" Clark Stadium in Pueblo and often to a sellout crowd of up to 15,000. As of 2008, a total 108 contests have been held and is touted as "the oldest rivalry this side of the Mississippi".
All high school football games are broadcast through the Pueblo Community College TV station.
The Wildcats were coached for 16 years (1993–2009) by Dave Craddock, who recently resigned to accept the school's Athletic Director's Post. The Head Coach is now Zach Odell, who has been the Cats offensive line coach & offensive coordinator for the last decade. The team went 12-1, losing in the State Semi-Finals in 2009.
Central wrestling produced Pueblo, Colorado's first individual state wrestling champion in 1949. Pueblo Central wrestler Gonzalo "Chelo" Roldan won the 133 lb state title by defeating Richard Cline of Colorado Springs High School (now Palmer High).
Pueblo's 1st State Wrestling Team Championship
The 1993 Central wrestling team, was the first team in Pueblo's history to win a Colorado wrestling team state championship. Pueblo Central won the Class 5A state title with a score of 127½ pts. The 1993 Central wrestling team won all duals (7-0) and won every tournament that they participated in that year, including the Class 5A division state tournament. Coach Bobby Gonzales (retired from coaching in 1994) won the Class 5A Coach of the year award and was also nominated to coach the Colorado All-State Team (Southern Team) in Greeley, CO for the 1992–1993 school year. The members of the 1993 State Championship team, starting with coaches, are as follows: Head Coach Bobby Gonzales, Assistant Coaches: Kelly Wyatt, Mark Villalobos, Pete Maisel Sr. Wrestlers: Henry Duran, Matt Strasia, Manual Guzman, Frank Aragon, Eric Roybal, Juan Martinez, Kraig Kottenstette, Eric Wisthoff, Dan Ibarra, Andrew Gallegos, Joe Martin, Gene Gibbons, and Karl Lujan
Colorado Takedown Record
In 1997 Central wrestling's Anthony Lopez became Colorado's first wrestler to complete a high school season without giving up a single takedown (several Colorado wrestlers have matched this feat since 1997). Central's Lopez finished his season with a 4A 135 lb State Championship (record was 34-0).
Rivalry
Similar to the Central-Centennial football rivalry, the wrestling teams of both schools annually compete in a dual meet with the winner receiving the rights to hold the "mini-bell" (small replica of the football traveling trophy). Central won the first annual event in 1996 by a score of 41-31. Go Central Beat Centennial!
Dual Meet Streak Record
South-Central League Dual meet Record. Central wrestling compiled a 37-0 dual meet record over several years in the early/mid nineties. The dual meet "streak" was ended in 1995 by Pueblo South. The South-Central League record still stands at 37 straight S-CL dual meet wins as of 2009.
Pueblo Hall of Fame
Pueblo Hall of Fame Wrestling Coaches: John Rivas and Bobby Gonzales
State Champions
List of Central Wrestling High School State Champions (weight classes included):
1949- Gonzalo Roldan (133)
1958- Nick Graham (145)
1959- Ernest Abeyta (120)
1959- Nick Graham (154)
1964- Gregg Smith (133)
1966- Cliff Frazier (Hwt)
1970- Jim Valle (175)
1983- Pat Vialpondo (126)
1983- Chris Archuleta (132)
1992- Eric C. Roybal (125)
1993- Eric C. Roybal (130)
1994- Manual Guzman (119)
1994- Eric Wisthoff (145)
1996- Efrain Tapia (171)
1997- Anthony Lopez (135)
2009- Alex Baca (103)
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. The high school was the second for the city of Pueblo
and was founded in 1881. It is the only high school to have two Medal Of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipients, William J. Crawford
William J. Crawford
William J. "Bill" Crawford was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War II.-Biography:...
(Class of '36) and Carl L. Sitter
Carl L. Sitter
Carl Leonard Sitter was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps officer and Korean War Medal of Honor recipient.-Marine Corps career:...
(Class of '40).
The school at one time had a reputation for gang membership and used an ad campaign to improve its image.
Demographics
- Hispanic 76.1%
- White 18.1%
- African American 3.3%
- Asian 0.1%
- Native American 2.3%
Pueblo Central High School's free/reduced lunch rate is 77% of the students.
Architecture
The present NeoclassicalNeoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
building on Orman Avenue is built of brick and consists of five floors and an outlying building used as a gym and school meeting area. It was built in 1906. The foyer features right-facing swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
s set into the tile floor. The original Central High School building on Pitkin Avenue (later used as an elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
) was built of pink rhyolite
Rhyolite
This page is about a volcanic rock. For the ghost town see Rhyolite, Nevada, and for the satellite system, see Rhyolite/Aquacade.Rhyolite is an igneous, volcanic rock, of felsic composition . It may have any texture from glassy to aphanitic to porphyritic...
; the "Stone Schoolhouse" was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979.
History
Central first opened in 1883, and in 1886 graduated its first class of nine students. In 1889 Central introduced vocational educationVocational education
Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
into its curriculum, making the district the first west of the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
to introduce what was then called "manual training" into the schools.
Academics
As of the 2007–2008 academic year Central enrolled 992 students, with an average daily attendance of 819 students.The academic performance to state standards has been rated as low on The School Accountability report generated by Pueblo City Schools district. The Academic Growth is also rated as low.
Athletics
Central competes in numerous sports in the 3-A class division. It is a member of Colorado High School Activities AssociationColorado High School Activities Association
The Colorado High School Activities Association is the governing body for all high school activities throughout the state of Colorado. It was founded in 1921, and currently has a membership of 328 full-time high schools, plus more than 50 middle and junior high schools, for a total of almost 400...
or CHSAA and is subject to their guidelines when participating in athletics. The most notable athletic tradition consists of their football team and ongoing rivalry with the oldest high school in Pueblo, Centennial High School (Pueblo, Colorado)
Centennial High School (Pueblo, Colorado)
Centennial High School is a high school located in Pueblo, Colorado. It serves roughly 1000 students in grades 9 through 12. The school is a part of Pueblo City Schools .-History:...
They are known as the Central Wildcats.
Football
Central High School is renowned for its football rivalry. The Bell Game (Football Rivalry)The Bell Game (Football Rivalry)
The Bell Game is a yearly contest between two Pueblo, Colorado high schools: Central High School and Centennial High School. They have been playing each other since 1892 in what is touted as the oldest football rivalry west of the Mississippi River, and is tied for the seventeenth oldest in the...
is a tradition dating back to 1892, since then The game has been played annually, generally in the month of October. The Central Wildcats and Centennial Bulldogs play for the right to display the trophy bell in their school and paint it their respective colors. The event is held at Earl "Dutch" Clark Stadium in Pueblo and often to a sellout crowd of up to 15,000. As of 2008, a total 108 contests have been held and is touted as "the oldest rivalry this side of the Mississippi".
All high school football games are broadcast through the Pueblo Community College TV station.
The Wildcats were coached for 16 years (1993–2009) by Dave Craddock, who recently resigned to accept the school's Athletic Director's Post. The Head Coach is now Zach Odell, who has been the Cats offensive line coach & offensive coordinator for the last decade. The team went 12-1, losing in the State Semi-Finals in 2009.
Wrestling
Pueblo's 1st Individual State ChampionCentral wrestling produced Pueblo, Colorado's first individual state wrestling champion in 1949. Pueblo Central wrestler Gonzalo "Chelo" Roldan won the 133 lb state title by defeating Richard Cline of Colorado Springs High School (now Palmer High).
Pueblo's 1st State Wrestling Team Championship
The 1993 Central wrestling team, was the first team in Pueblo's history to win a Colorado wrestling team state championship. Pueblo Central won the Class 5A state title with a score of 127½ pts. The 1993 Central wrestling team won all duals (7-0) and won every tournament that they participated in that year, including the Class 5A division state tournament. Coach Bobby Gonzales (retired from coaching in 1994) won the Class 5A Coach of the year award and was also nominated to coach the Colorado All-State Team (Southern Team) in Greeley, CO for the 1992–1993 school year. The members of the 1993 State Championship team, starting with coaches, are as follows: Head Coach Bobby Gonzales, Assistant Coaches: Kelly Wyatt, Mark Villalobos, Pete Maisel Sr. Wrestlers: Henry Duran, Matt Strasia, Manual Guzman, Frank Aragon, Eric Roybal, Juan Martinez, Kraig Kottenstette, Eric Wisthoff, Dan Ibarra, Andrew Gallegos, Joe Martin, Gene Gibbons, and Karl Lujan
Colorado Takedown Record
In 1997 Central wrestling's Anthony Lopez became Colorado's first wrestler to complete a high school season without giving up a single takedown (several Colorado wrestlers have matched this feat since 1997). Central's Lopez finished his season with a 4A 135 lb State Championship (record was 34-0).
Rivalry
Similar to the Central-Centennial football rivalry, the wrestling teams of both schools annually compete in a dual meet with the winner receiving the rights to hold the "mini-bell" (small replica of the football traveling trophy). Central won the first annual event in 1996 by a score of 41-31. Go Central Beat Centennial!
Dual Meet Streak Record
South-Central League Dual meet Record. Central wrestling compiled a 37-0 dual meet record over several years in the early/mid nineties. The dual meet "streak" was ended in 1995 by Pueblo South. The South-Central League record still stands at 37 straight S-CL dual meet wins as of 2009.
Pueblo Hall of Fame
Pueblo Hall of Fame Wrestling Coaches: John Rivas and Bobby Gonzales
State Champions
List of Central Wrestling High School State Champions (weight classes included):
1949- Gonzalo Roldan (133)
1958- Nick Graham (145)
1959- Ernest Abeyta (120)
1959- Nick Graham (154)
1964- Gregg Smith (133)
1966- Cliff Frazier (Hwt)
1970- Jim Valle (175)
1983- Pat Vialpondo (126)
1983- Chris Archuleta (132)
1992- Eric C. Roybal (125)
1993- Eric C. Roybal (130)
1994- Manual Guzman (119)
1994- Eric Wisthoff (145)
1996- Efrain Tapia (171)
1997- Anthony Lopez (135)
2009- Alex Baca (103)
Notable alumni
- Earl "Dutch" Clark professional football player
- William J. CrawfordWilliam J. CrawfordWilliam J. "Bill" Crawford was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War II.-Biography:...
Medal of Honor winner - Walter W. Johnson Governor of Colorado
- Dan Rowan comedian, of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InRowan & Martin's Laugh-InRowan & Martin's Laugh-In is an American sketch comedy television program which ran for 140 episodes from January 22, 1968, to May 14, 1973. It was hosted by comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin and was broadcast over NBC...
- Carl L. SitterCarl L. SitterCarl Leonard Sitter was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps officer and Korean War Medal of Honor recipient.-Marine Corps career:...
Medal of Honor winner