Mechanicsburg Area Senior High
Encyclopedia
Mechanicsburg Area Senior High is a secondary school located on 500 South Broad Street in the borough of Mechanicsburg
, west of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
. The school is part of the Mechanicsburg Area School District
.
, Shiremanstown
, Upper Allen Township
, Grantham
, and Bowmansdale
.
The students begin at the Kindergarten Academy then proceed to one of the elementary schools: Elmwood, Shepherdstown (grades 1-2)/Upper Allen (grades 3-5), Northside, or Broad Street (All 1-5). They then progress to Mechanicsburg Middle School (6-8), and then Mechanicsburg High School (9-12).
in 1875, with one graduate.
Mechanicsburg High School has been located in three different buildings since its foundation. The Simpson Street School (now a luxury apartment complex) was completed in 1872 and was expanded upon in 1929. In 1957, the school had expanded past capacity, and a new building was built along Elmwood Avenue. The Elmwood Avenue school served as the high school for only 12 years, as the current building on 500 South Broad Street was built and completed in 1969. The Elmwood building was converted to be used as an Intermediate School, and in 2005 was renovated again to be used as an Elementary School. In the mid-1980's, a wing was added to the current building to suit capacity needs. In 2002, the current building underwent extensive renovations.
The Wildcat
The school's mascot was first referenced as the "Wildcat" in a 1937 edition of the school newspaper, The Torch. Prior to this, Mechanicsburg's athletic teams were referenced as the "Steel-and-Maroon" or the "Maroon-and-Steel". No information is currently known as to why the school chose a wildcat
as its mascot or the exact date when it was chosen.
Alma Mater
Mechanicsburg's alma mater
, an original piece, is as follows:
"Mechanicsburg High School"
Mechanicsburg High School,
You're the dearest school to me.
Mechanicsburg High School,
True to you we'll always be.
Fairest colors, maroon and steel,
Faith in you we'll always feel.
Dearest school beneath the sky,
Mechanicsburg High!
2009 - 89%
2008 - 90%
2007 - 90%
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
2009 - 75% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 65% of 11th graders on grade level.
2008 - 67%, State - 64%
2007 - 74%, State - 65%
11th Grade Math:
2009 - 72% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 56% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2008 - 68%, State - 56%
2007 - 65%, State - 53%
11th Grade Science:
2009 - 58% on grade level. State: 40% on grade level.
2008 - 46%, State - 39%
College Remediation - According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education
study released in January 2009, 33% of the Mechanicsburg Area High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
or community colleges. Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education
, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.
Dual Enrollment - The high school does not offer the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment
program which permits students to earn deeply discounted college credits while still enrolled in high school. Over 400 school districts in Pennsylvania offer this state funded program. However, the high school does offer joint programs with the Cumberland-Perry Vocational-Technical School, the Capitol Area School for the Arts, and offers a career internship programs for seniors, allowing for work experience to be taken for elective course credit.
Advanced Placement - Mechanicsburg offers several Advanced Placement courses and exams to students, which can be taken for potential college credit. In the 2008-2009 school year, Mechanicsburg students took AP exams in Art: Studio Drawing, Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Computer Science A, English Language & Composition, English Literature & Composition, European History, French, Latin: Vergil, Music Theory, Physics B, Psychology and Spanish.
Graduation Project - By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district.
By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.
In April 2010, the school board chose to add 25% funding for water polo and boys lacrosse at the same time they cut five teacher positions. However, as of the 2011-2012 budget, those programs are not funded by the district and never were.
The Mechanicsburg High School Marching Band is a marching band
who are called the Wildcats. Mechanicsburg has a rich marching band tradition going back to 1929. They began competing in the Tournament of Bands
in 1989. The Marching Wildcats have won 11 Atlantic Coastal Championships, including 4 at the highest classification and 5 in a row in Group 3 competition between 2005 and 2009. In 2005 and 2007, the Marching Wildcats scored 98.80, both records in ACC competition.
Indoor Percussion and Colorguard-
Mechanicsburg is noted for its indoor percussion ensemble, a competitor in the Winter Guard International
and TIA Percussion circuit. In 2006, they won 1st at KIDA
Championships, and in 2007, they were promoted to the World class in the WGI circuit. And in 2008, the Percussion Ensemble placed 3rd in the TIA Percussion circuit at Wildwoods, New Jersey.
2006 Mechanicsburg Scholastic A class guard went to Dayton, Ohio for WGI (Winter Guard International) championships, coming out eighth in the world. They were subsequently moved up to Scholastic Open class. The 2007 season ended with the Open guard as semi-finalists at WGI championships. In 2008, the Mechanicsburg Scholastic Open colorguard broke top 15 at world championships, making them a WGI finalist. In 2009, the 14 girls went to South Brunswick, New Jersey and won the WGI Power Regional with a score of 87.6. When the guard competed at world championships, they placed 4th with a 93.3, missing the bronze by three tenths of a point. In 2010, the guard will be in Scholastic World, making them the number one color guard in Pennsylvania. The Color Guard has also exceeded the Blue Class in KIDA, and a new Platinum Class has been created just for this Color Guard.
Musical Theatre-
MASH is well known in the mid-state area for its musical theatre department. Musicals they have done since 1991 include:
1991 - The Music Man
1992 - Bye Bye Birdie
1993 - Oliver!
1994 - A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum
1995 - Annie
1996 - Oklahoma!
1997 - How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
1998 - Anything Goes
1999 - The Wizard Of Oz
2000 - Guys and Dolls
2001 - Hello, Dolly!
2002 - The King And I
2003 - Pirates of Penzance
2004 - Annie Get Your Gun
2005 - Les Misérables
2006 - Seussical
2007 - 42nd Street
2008 - Thoroughly Modern Millie
2009 - Once Upon A Mattress
2010 - The Music Man
2011 - Children of Eden
and junior varsity
athletic activities are under the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
. Currently, the district offers varsity and junior varsity opportunities in women's cheerleading
, field hockey
, and softball
; men's baseball
, football
, lacrosse
and wrestling
; and men's and women's basketball
, cross country
, golf
, soccer, swimming
, tennis
, track and field
, volleyball
and water polo
. Currently, all athletics are paid for by the school district and do not require a "pay to play
" fee, with the exceptions of men's lacrosse and men's/women's water polo, which were accepted as varsity sports in 2008 under such condition. The district athletic director
is Andrea Turo Teeter '78, who took over in 1999. The current athletic trainer
is Alex "Sandy" Zettlemoyer '87, who became the school's head certified athletic trainer in 1995.
Retired Numbers
Football-
The football program is currently in the AAA rank of the PIAA
Classification system, and they are members of the Mid-Penn Colonial Division (formerly Mid-Penn Division II and South Penn Conference). The Wildcats claim 13 division championships, with the most recent being in 2008. The overall record of the program from 1919-2011 is 543-368-49, with only Steelton-Highspire High School having more overall wins in District III. In addition to being ranked 42nd on the Pennsylvania's all-time winners list, Mechanicsburg is the fourth-youngest program to reach its total. In 1986, under the guidance of late head coach Rich Lichtel (160-121-3, 1981-2007), Mechanicsburg won their first PIAA District 3 AAAA Championship. They were also runners-up in 1983 and 2004. Since the influx of the district playoff system in 1982, the Wildcats have qualified for the District III playoffs in 8 times (most recently in 2009) and have an overall record of 7-7 in playoff games. The Wildcats appeared in the PIAA AAA State Tournament in 2004 and 2008. Although the Wildcats have never won a PIAA State Championship since its implementation in 1988, the program can claim championships in 1924, 1936, 1941 and 1954. On September 21, 2007, Lichtel died after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer. Due to the timing of his hospitalization and passing, current head coach Chris Hakel '86 and assistant Jeff Costello were named co-head coaches for the remainder of the 2007 season, in which the Wildcats finished 3-7. In April 2008, Lichtel was posthumously inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Hakel (22-22, 2008- ) was hired as full-time head coach in January 2008. Hakel was named Mid-Penn Coach of the Year in 2008 and has made the playoffs twice in four seasons as of 2011. Mechanicsburg athletes have been honored with all-state recognition as recently as 2010, including Zach Frazer being named Associated Press
Pennsylvania Class AAA Player of the Year in 2004. Frazer was one of three Mechanicsburg all-state players for the 2004 season with Josh Koontz and Jeremy Boone
, a record amount for the school. As of 2010, Mechanicsburg has had at least one athlete named all-state since the 2008 season.
The Wildcats play at John H. Frederick Field at Memorial Park Stadium (located in the back of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park). In 2008, an artificial turf
surface was installed at the facility, which was paid for entirely through private fundraising efforts by the Wildcat Foundation.
Significant athletic alumni and retired numbers
Chris Hakel (William & Mary
, NFL
4th Round) - Current Head Football Coach at Mechanicsburg High School
Shawn Abner
(Major League Baseball
, Number 16 Retired)
Zach Frazer (University of Connecticut
), PA single season passing record (3,674)
Jeremy Boone
(Penn State University), 2009 2nd-ranked collegiate punter nationally
Mike Edwards (third baseman) (Major League Baseball
)
Scott Erney, (Rutgers University
, Big 33 Football Classic
Quarterback)
Doug Erney, (William and Mary, Big 33 Football Classic
Wide Receiver)
Bud Kohlhaas, (Penn State University, National Football League
Number 61 Retired)
Dan Lewis, (school single season rushing record (2,437), career rushing record (3,600), Number 41 Retired)
Ryan Priest, (Lafayette College Hall of Fame, Number 45 Retired)
Baseball-
The baseball
program is considered one of the most storied scholastic baseball clubs in the Central Pennsylvania region. The program has existed since the 1920s and has won 20 West Shore, CAC or Mid-Penn Conference Championships, with the most recent being in 2009. Since the influx of the PIAA District III Tournament in 1979, Mechanicsburg has made the playoffs 22 times, was district runner-up in 1984 and 1999, and was PIAA District III Champion in 2011. The team has made 3 PIAA State Tournament appearances, having a career record of 1-3 in state tournament play. The team currently participates in the AAA classification in the PIAA
, and competes in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division. In addition, Mechanicsburg won the Cumberland Valley Umpire's Association "George Wrightstone Sportsmanship Winner" award in 1990, 1991, 1996 and 2001, making Mechanicsburg the only 4-time winner of the award.
The program has sent several players to Division I Universities, including Arizona State, Georgia Southern University
, University of Maryland
, Penn State University, Virginia Tech, and the University of Virginia
. In addition, 1984 #1 MLB Draft selection Shawn Abner honed his talents at the school. Mechanicsburg has also trained 3 other Major League Baseball
Draft choices, with two earning spots on Major League rosters. In October 2005, the Wildcat baseball family lost 471 win, 32-year head coach Don Shirley to kidney cancer
. The current coach is Clay McCallister. The Wildcats play at Shirley-Rickenbach Field at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park, named after the late Shirley and Bill Rickenbach, present head coach for the Mechanicsburg Cardinals Semi-Pro Twilight League team.
Notable athletic alumni and retired numbers:
Shawn Abner
(#1 Pick in 1984 MLB Draft by the Mets, Number 16 Retired)
Ben Abner (Drafted in the 5th round of the 1984 MLB Draft)
Wes Roehr (All-American at Penn State University)
Mike Edwards (third baseman) (Number 7 Retired)
Don Shirley (Number 8 Retired)
Men's and Women's Basketball-
The Basketball
program is listed in the AAAA classification in the PIAA
, and competes in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division with rivals Trinity and Red Land. The current head coach is Bob Strickler. The program won the PIAA District 3 AAAA title in the 1994-1995 season. The program qualified for states under the AAA classification in 2004, 2005, 2006 and again in 2008 under the AAAA classification. In the 2008 season, Mechanicsburg had 20 wins and lost in the second round of the PIAA AAAA Tournament.
The Womens' basketball program has been marked with recent success. The team was Mid-Penn Keystone champion in 2010.
Men's and women's Soccer-
The Men's Soccer program is listed in the AAA classification in the PIAA, and competes in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division. The current coach is Tony Lougee '88. The team plays their home games at Northside Elementary's "Cage" on the north side of town, which is one of the few soccer-only stadiums in the area with the capability to host night games. The mens' program has won Mid-Penn Conference championships in 2006 and 2010, and the womens' team was champion in 2011. The mens' team has qualified for the PIAA District III playoffs 16 times, including every season since 1999. The mens' team was PIAA District III Runners-up in 2005, and the womens' were PIAA District III runners-up in 2011. The mens' advanced to the state tournament in the 1986, 1989, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2010 seasons. The womens' team advanced to the state tournament in 2010 and 2011. Mechanicsburg has also trained a two-time PARADE High School All-American in Bobby Warshaw, current FC Dallas
and former Stanford University
player.
Also, both the Men's and Women's Soccer teams have gained recognition for their performance in the classroom. In 2006 and 2007, both teams were awarded the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's Team Academic Award for exemplary performance in the classroom. A total of 332 soccer teams from throughout the USA have earned this award. To qualify, the team must have a minimum GPA of 3.25 for the entire academic year. The team GPA is determined by adding every player's GPA, then dividing by the number of players. Mechanicsburg was one of 46 schools receiving the honor for both teams and one of the two schools in PA.
Men's and women's Cross Country-
The men's and women's Cross Country
programs are listed in the AAA classification in the PIAA
, and compete in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division. The current head coach of the cross country team is Lucas Mellinger, along with assistant coach Carole Cremo. The team runs meets at Soldier and Sailor Memorial Park. In 2005, the men finished with a 19-3 record, repeated as the Big Spring Invitational champions, finished second at the Mid-Penn Cross Country Championships, won the Keystone Division title, and attained the highest team finish at the District III Championships in school history. Senior James Boyer qualified for the PIAA State Championships. In 2008, Senior Matt Nesmith and Junior Sarah Sulon both qualified for states for the second time. Freshman Alexa Gruschow also qualified. In 2009, Gruschow qualified for states as a sophomore with a 14th place finish at the District III Championships.
Men's and Women's Track and Field-
The Men's Track program is listed in the AAA classification in the PIAA
, and compete in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division. The Men's Track and Field team currently has no head coach due to the retirement of Colonel Karl Robinson but current assistants include coach Andrew Bitz. The teams run meets at the High School track facility. On May 6, 2006, Seniors James Boyer, Josh Foulds, and Brandon Lane, as well as Freshman Zack Benner broke the school's 4 x Mile Record at the annual Cedar Cliff relays by 6 seconds with a time of 18:36. On May 9, 2009, the team of Matt Nesmith, Zack Benner, Garrett Murphy, and Matt Steele broke the school's 4x800 record by almost 3 seconds with a time of 8:02.08 at the Mid-Penn Invitational at Central Dauphin. In 2010, Seabass Nicewicz, Nick Neverman, Matt Steele, and Jeremy Taylor broke the 4x400 record with a time of 3:27.
The Women's Track program is listed in the AAA classification in the PIAA
, and compete in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division. The Women's Track and Field team currently has no head coach due to the retirement of Colonel Karl Robinson but current assistants include coach Andrew Bitz. The teams run meets at the High School track facility. In 2009, Brittany George broke the school Javelin record and qualified for states in the event. Freshman High Jumper Kaila Baughman and Junior 800m runner Sarah Sulon also qualified for states. 2010 brought many new records for the Wildcats. Brittany improved her javelin throw to over 150 feet, ranking nationally. Alexa Gruschow broke the school record in the 300 intermediate hurdles and Caitlin Eberly cleared 11–0 ft on the pole vault.
, an annual weightlifting competition held in early March at the High School to raise money for kidney cancer
. Don Shirley (below), the late baseball coach at MASH, died of kidney cancer and his son, Scott, thought of the competition and shared it with the fellow members of the Penn State
football team. Both Mechanicsburg and the Penn State football program carry on the annual event. On March 1, 2008, Mechanicsburg's Lift For Life raised over $10,000 with teams from three high schools in the area.
was founded in 1883. Its stated mission is to: "The Alumni Association furthers community educational ideals by requesting, procuring, managing, and distributing the funds deemed necessary to meet the Alumni Association's goals. It meets its objectives by assessing the educational and financial needs of the student scholarship applicants; securing gifts, grants, or donations; and giving grants or scholarships to Mechanicsburg High School graduates." The association operates its Hall of Fame
, which honors Mechanicsburg graduates who have excelled in high school and beyond in either Service to Humanity, Loyalty to Mechanicsburg High School, Outstanding Achievement in Athletics, and Outstanding Achievement in a Chosen Profession. Currently, there are over 100 inductees since the Hall's foundation in 1967. In addition to the Hall of Fame, the Alumni Association plans and finances its annual Alumni Dinner, which is in its 119th year and the annual Homecoming
Party held before the Homecoming football game. In addition, the association operates the Mechanicsburg Alumni Scholarship Fund, which was established in 1980. Since then, the Fund has grown to a value of over $500,000 via donations from alumni worldwide, and is distributed in the form of several annual merit scholarships given to graduating seniors, and one scholarship given to a Mechanicsburg lineman.
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Mechanicsburg is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, USA, eight miles west of Harrisburg. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Mechanicsburg was settled in 1806 and incorporated as a borough on April 12, 1828...
, west of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
. The school is part of the Mechanicsburg Area School District
Mechanicsburg Area School District
The Mechanicsburg School District is a midsized, suburban, public school district serving the Harrisburg suburbs of Mechanicsburg and Upper Allen Township in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The Mechanicsburg Area School District encompasses approximately 16 square miles. According to the 2000...
.
Communities
Mechanicsburg Area Senior High (MASH), which accepts students ranging from Grade 9-12, serves several communities, including the Boroughs of MechanicsburgMechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Mechanicsburg is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, USA, eight miles west of Harrisburg. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Mechanicsburg was settled in 1806 and incorporated as a borough on April 12, 1828...
, Shiremanstown
Shiremanstown, Pennsylvania
Shiremanstown is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,521 at the 2000 census. William Bigler , who was governor of Pennsylvania from 1852 to 1855, and later a U.S...
, Upper Allen Township
Upper Allen Township, Pennsylvania
Upper Allen Township is a township in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 15,338 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, Grantham
Grantham, Pennsylvania
Grantham is an unincorporated community in Upper Allen Township, Cumberland County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, best known today for the Christian liberal arts college, Messiah College, whose students make up most of its population....
, and Bowmansdale
Bowmansdale, Pennsylvania
Bowmansdale is a village located in Upper Allen Township in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, south of Mechanicsburg. It is named after Jacob Bowman, a former Cumberland County Sheriff. The Bowmansdale Stoner covered bridge, built in 1867, was relocated to the campus of nearby Messiah College in...
.
The students begin at the Kindergarten Academy then proceed to one of the elementary schools: Elmwood, Shepherdstown (grades 1-2)/Upper Allen (grades 3-5), Northside, or Broad Street (All 1-5). They then progress to Mechanicsburg Middle School (6-8), and then Mechanicsburg High School (9-12).
School information and history
Mechanicsburg High School was founded and held its first commencementGraduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
in 1875, with one graduate.
Mechanicsburg High School has been located in three different buildings since its foundation. The Simpson Street School (now a luxury apartment complex) was completed in 1872 and was expanded upon in 1929. In 1957, the school had expanded past capacity, and a new building was built along Elmwood Avenue. The Elmwood Avenue school served as the high school for only 12 years, as the current building on 500 South Broad Street was built and completed in 1969. The Elmwood building was converted to be used as an Intermediate School, and in 2005 was renovated again to be used as an Elementary School. In the mid-1980's, a wing was added to the current building to suit capacity needs. In 2002, the current building underwent extensive renovations.
The Wildcat
The school's mascot was first referenced as the "Wildcat" in a 1937 edition of the school newspaper, The Torch. Prior to this, Mechanicsburg's athletic teams were referenced as the "Steel-and-Maroon" or the "Maroon-and-Steel". No information is currently known as to why the school chose a wildcat
Wildcat
Wildcat is a small felid native to Europe, the western part of Asia, and Africa.-Animals:Wildcat may also refer to members of the genus Lynx:...
as its mascot or the exact date when it was chosen.
Alma Mater
Mechanicsburg's alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, an original piece, is as follows:
"Mechanicsburg High School"
Mechanicsburg High School,
You're the dearest school to me.
Mechanicsburg High School,
True to you we'll always be.
Fairest colors, maroon and steel,
Faith in you we'll always feel.
Dearest school beneath the sky,
Mechanicsburg High!
Academic achievement
Graduation Rate:2009 - 89%
2008 - 90%
2007 - 90%
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
2009 - 75% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 65% of 11th graders on grade level.
2008 - 67%, State - 64%
2007 - 74%, State - 65%
11th Grade Math:
2009 - 72% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 56% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2008 - 68%, State - 56%
2007 - 65%, State - 53%
11th Grade Science:
2009 - 58% on grade level. State: 40% on grade level.
2008 - 46%, State - 39%
College Remediation - According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
study released in January 2009, 33% of the Mechanicsburg Area High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a large public university system in the United States. It is the tenth-largest university system in the United States and 43rd largest in the world...
or community colleges. Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.
Dual Enrollment - The high school does not offer the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment
In education, dual enrollment involved students being enrolled in two separate, academically related institutions. It may also refer to any individual who is participating in two related programs, but such a general form of usage is uncommon....
program which permits students to earn deeply discounted college credits while still enrolled in high school. Over 400 school districts in Pennsylvania offer this state funded program. However, the high school does offer joint programs with the Cumberland-Perry Vocational-Technical School, the Capitol Area School for the Arts, and offers a career internship programs for seniors, allowing for work experience to be taken for elective course credit.
Advanced Placement - Mechanicsburg offers several Advanced Placement courses and exams to students, which can be taken for potential college credit. In the 2008-2009 school year, Mechanicsburg students took AP exams in Art: Studio Drawing, Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Computer Science A, English Language & Composition, English Literature & Composition, European History, French, Latin: Vergil, Music Theory, Physics B, Psychology and Spanish.
Graduation Project - By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district.
Extracurriculars
The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports.By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.
In April 2010, the school board chose to add 25% funding for water polo and boys lacrosse at the same time they cut five teacher positions. However, as of the 2011-2012 budget, those programs are not funded by the district and never were.
Music Program
Marching band-The Mechanicsburg High School Marching Band is a marching band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
who are called the Wildcats. Mechanicsburg has a rich marching band tradition going back to 1929. They began competing in the Tournament of Bands
Tournament of Bands
The Tournament of Bands is one of the largest competitive band organizations in the United States and is one of several major circuits in the mid-Atlantic states . TOB was founded in 1972 by the National Judges Association and currently has 439 member bands...
in 1989. The Marching Wildcats have won 11 Atlantic Coastal Championships, including 4 at the highest classification and 5 in a row in Group 3 competition between 2005 and 2009. In 2005 and 2007, the Marching Wildcats scored 98.80, both records in ACC competition.
Indoor Percussion and Colorguard-
Mechanicsburg is noted for its indoor percussion ensemble, a competitor in the Winter Guard International
Winter Guard International
Spawning from the organization Drum Corps International , Winter Guard International was founded in 1977. WGI is a visual performing arts organization that hosts regional and national competitions for color guard and indoor percussion ensembles. Contests are held in the U.S...
and TIA Percussion circuit. In 2006, they won 1st at KIDA
KIDA
KIDA was a television station in Sun Valley, Idaho, broadcasting locally on VHF channel 5 as an independent station. Founded October 25, 2000, the station was owned by Turner Enterprises. The station had a pre-digital transition allotment for digital channel 32, but never utilized it...
Championships, and in 2007, they were promoted to the World class in the WGI circuit. And in 2008, the Percussion Ensemble placed 3rd in the TIA Percussion circuit at Wildwoods, New Jersey.
2006 Mechanicsburg Scholastic A class guard went to Dayton, Ohio for WGI (Winter Guard International) championships, coming out eighth in the world. They were subsequently moved up to Scholastic Open class. The 2007 season ended with the Open guard as semi-finalists at WGI championships. In 2008, the Mechanicsburg Scholastic Open colorguard broke top 15 at world championships, making them a WGI finalist. In 2009, the 14 girls went to South Brunswick, New Jersey and won the WGI Power Regional with a score of 87.6. When the guard competed at world championships, they placed 4th with a 93.3, missing the bronze by three tenths of a point. In 2010, the guard will be in Scholastic World, making them the number one color guard in Pennsylvania. The Color Guard has also exceeded the Blue Class in KIDA, and a new Platinum Class has been created just for this Color Guard.
Musical Theatre-
MASH is well known in the mid-state area for its musical theatre department. Musicals they have done since 1991 include:
1991 - The Music Man
The Music Man
The Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with...
1992 - Bye Bye Birdie
1993 - Oliver!
Oliver!
Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
1994 - A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart....
1995 - Annie
Annie (musical)
Annie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years with a blonde Annie as the poster...
1996 - Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance...
1997 - How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book of the same name....
1998 - Anything Goes
Anything Goes
Anything Goes is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The original book was a collaborative effort by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, heavily revised by the team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The story concerns madcap antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London...
1999 - The Wizard Of Oz
2000 - Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure", two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most notably...
2001 - Hello, Dolly!
Hello, Dolly! (musical)
Hello, Dolly! is a musical with lyrics and music by Jerry Herman and a book by Michael Stewart, based on Thornton Wilder's 1938 farce The Merchant of Yonkers, which Wilder revised and retitled The Matchmaker in 1955....
2002 - The King And I
The King and I
The King and I is a stage musical, the fifth by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The work is based on the 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon and derives from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who became governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in...
2003 - Pirates of Penzance
2004 - Annie Get Your Gun
Annie Get Your Gun (musical)
Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music written by Irving Berlin and a book by Herbert Fields and his sister Dorothy Fields. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley , who was a sharpshooter from Ohio, and her husband, Frank Butler.The 1946 Broadway production...
2005 - Les Misérables
Les Misérables
Les Misérables , translated variously from the French as The Miserable Ones, The Wretched, The Poor Ones, The Wretched Poor, or The Victims), is an 1862 French novel by author Victor Hugo and is widely considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century...
2006 - Seussical
Seussical
is a musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty based on the books of Dr. Seuss that debuted on Broadway in 2000. The play's story is a rather complex amalgamation of many of Seuss's most famous books. After a Broadway run, the production spawned two US national tours and a UK tour...
2007 - 42nd Street
42nd Street (musical)
42nd Street is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, lyrics by Al Dubin, and music by Harry Warren. The 1980 Broadway production, directed by an ailing Gower Champion and orchestrated by Philip J. Lang, won the Tony Award for Best Musical and became a long-running hit...
2008 - Thoroughly Modern Millie
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Thoroughly Modern Millie is a 1967 American musical film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Julie Andrews. The screenplay by Richard Morris focuses on a naive young woman who finds herself in the midst of a series of madcap adventures when she sets her sights on marrying her wealthy boss.The...
2009 - Once Upon A Mattress
Once Upon a Mattress
Once Upon a Mattress is a musical comedy with music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer. It opened off-Broadway in May 1959, and then moved to Broadway...
2010 - The Music Man
The Music Man
The Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with...
2011 - Children of Eden
Children of Eden
Children of Eden is a two-act musical play with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by John Caird. The musical is based on the Book of Genesis. Act I tells the story of Adam and Eve, Cain, and Abel, and Act II deals with Noah and the Flood...
Athletics
VarsityVarsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
and junior varsity
Junior varsity
Primarily in North America, junior varsity or JV players are the members of a team who are not the main players in a competition , usually at the high school and college levels in the United States and Canada. The main players comprise the varsity team...
athletic activities are under the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. is one of the governing bodies of high school and junior high school sports for the state of Pennsylvania, United States....
. Currently, the district offers varsity and junior varsity opportunities in women's cheerleading
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
, field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
, and softball
Softball
Softball 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...
; men's baseball
Baseball
Baseball 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...
, football
American football
American 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...
, lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
and wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
; and men's and women's 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...
, cross country
Cross country running
Cross 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...
, golf
Golf
Golf 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....
, soccer, swimming
Swimming (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...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis 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...
, track and field
Track and field
Track 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...
, 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...
and water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
. Currently, all athletics are paid for by the school district and do not require a "pay to play
Pay to Play
Pay to play, sometimes pay for play, is a phrase used for a variety of situations in which money is exchanged for services or the privilege to engage in certain activities...
" fee, with the exceptions of men's lacrosse and men's/women's water polo, which were accepted as varsity sports in 2008 under such condition. The district athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
is Andrea Turo Teeter '78, who took over in 1999. The current athletic trainer
Athletic trainer
An athletic trainer is a certified, health care professional who practices in the field of sports medicine. Athletic training has been recognized by the American Medical Association as an allied health care profession since 1990....
is Alex "Sandy" Zettlemoyer '87, who became the school's head certified athletic trainer in 1995.
Retired Numbers
- 7 - Mike Edwards - baseball, basketball, football (retired for baseball only)
- 8 - Don Shirley - head baseball coach (retired for baseball only)
- 16 - Shawn AbnerShawn AbnerShawn Wesley Abner is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played from to . He is best known for being chosen first in the 1984 Major League Baseball Draft, although he would go on to have a marginal career....
- baseball, football - 41 - Dan Lewis - football running back
- 45 - Ryan Priest - football
- 61 - Earl "Bud" Kohlhaas - football
Football-
The football program is currently in the AAA rank of the PIAA
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. is one of the governing bodies of high school and junior high school sports for the state of Pennsylvania, United States....
Classification system, and they are members of the Mid-Penn Colonial Division (formerly Mid-Penn Division II and South Penn Conference). The Wildcats claim 13 division championships, with the most recent being in 2008. The overall record of the program from 1919-2011 is 543-368-49, with only Steelton-Highspire High School having more overall wins in District III. In addition to being ranked 42nd on the Pennsylvania's all-time winners list, Mechanicsburg is the fourth-youngest program to reach its total. In 1986, under the guidance of late head coach Rich Lichtel (160-121-3, 1981-2007), Mechanicsburg won their first PIAA District 3 AAAA Championship. They were also runners-up in 1983 and 2004. Since the influx of the district playoff system in 1982, the Wildcats have qualified for the District III playoffs in 8 times (most recently in 2009) and have an overall record of 7-7 in playoff games. The Wildcats appeared in the PIAA AAA State Tournament in 2004 and 2008. Although the Wildcats have never won a PIAA State Championship since its implementation in 1988, the program can claim championships in 1924, 1936, 1941 and 1954. On September 21, 2007, Lichtel died after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer. Due to the timing of his hospitalization and passing, current head coach Chris Hakel '86 and assistant Jeff Costello were named co-head coaches for the remainder of the 2007 season, in which the Wildcats finished 3-7. In April 2008, Lichtel was posthumously inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Hakel (22-22, 2008- ) was hired as full-time head coach in January 2008. Hakel was named Mid-Penn Coach of the Year in 2008 and has made the playoffs twice in four seasons as of 2011. Mechanicsburg athletes have been honored with all-state recognition as recently as 2010, including Zach Frazer being named Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
Pennsylvania Class AAA Player of the Year in 2004. Frazer was one of three Mechanicsburg all-state players for the 2004 season with Josh Koontz and Jeremy Boone
Jeremy Boone
Jeremy Allen Boone is a collegiate American football punter for Penn State. He is currently the starting punter for the Penn State Nittany Lions.-Early years:...
, a record amount for the school. As of 2010, Mechanicsburg has had at least one athlete named all-state since the 2008 season.
The Wildcats play at John H. Frederick Field at Memorial Park Stadium (located in the back of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park). In 2008, an artificial turf
Artificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
surface was installed at the facility, which was paid for entirely through private fundraising efforts by the Wildcat Foundation.
Significant athletic alumni and retired numbers
Chris Hakel (William & Mary
William & Mary Tribe football
The William & Mary Tribe are a college football team representing the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. William & Mary currently competes in the Colonial Athletic Association of the NCAA's Division I Football Championship Subdivision. As of 2010, Jimmye Laycock is in his 31st...
, NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
4th Round) - Current Head Football Coach at Mechanicsburg High School
Shawn Abner
Shawn Abner
Shawn Wesley Abner is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played from to . He is best known for being chosen first in the 1984 Major League Baseball Draft, although he would go on to have a marginal career....
(Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major 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...
, Number 16 Retired)
Zach Frazer (University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
), PA single season passing record (3,674)
Jeremy Boone
Jeremy Boone
Jeremy Allen Boone is a collegiate American football punter for Penn State. He is currently the starting punter for the Penn State Nittany Lions.-Early years:...
(Penn State University), 2009 2nd-ranked collegiate punter nationally
Mike Edwards (third baseman) (Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major 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...
)
Scott Erney, (Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
, Big 33 Football Classic
Big 33 Football Classic
The Big 33 Football Classic is an all-star American football game featuring the top high-school football players in Pennsylvania. Played since 1957, the game is often described as the "Super Bowl of High School Football." The last 14 contests have pitted players from Pennsylvania against players...
Quarterback)
Doug Erney, (William and Mary, Big 33 Football Classic
Big 33 Football Classic
The Big 33 Football Classic is an all-star American football game featuring the top high-school football players in Pennsylvania. Played since 1957, the game is often described as the "Super Bowl of High School Football." The last 14 contests have pitted players from Pennsylvania against players...
Wide Receiver)
Bud Kohlhaas, (Penn State University, National Football League
1960 NFL Draft
The 1960 National Football League Draft Annual Player Selection Meeting in which NFL teams take turns selecting amateur college American football players and other first-time eligible players, was held in secret in order to fend off increased competition for college players from the American...
Number 61 Retired)
Dan Lewis, (school single season rushing record (2,437), career rushing record (3,600), Number 41 Retired)
Ryan Priest, (Lafayette College Hall of Fame, Number 45 Retired)
Baseball-
The baseball
Baseball
Baseball 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...
program is considered one of the most storied scholastic baseball clubs in the Central Pennsylvania region. The program has existed since the 1920s and has won 20 West Shore, CAC or Mid-Penn Conference Championships, with the most recent being in 2009. Since the influx of the PIAA District III Tournament in 1979, Mechanicsburg has made the playoffs 22 times, was district runner-up in 1984 and 1999, and was PIAA District III Champion in 2011. The team has made 3 PIAA State Tournament appearances, having a career record of 1-3 in state tournament play. The team currently participates in the AAA classification in the PIAA
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. is one of the governing bodies of high school and junior high school sports for the state of Pennsylvania, United States....
, and competes in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division. In addition, Mechanicsburg won the Cumberland Valley Umpire's Association "George Wrightstone Sportsmanship Winner" award in 1990, 1991, 1996 and 2001, making Mechanicsburg the only 4-time winner of the award.
The program has sent several players to Division I Universities, including Arizona State, Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
, University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
, Penn State University, Virginia Tech, and the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. In addition, 1984 #1 MLB Draft selection Shawn Abner honed his talents at the school. Mechanicsburg has also trained 3 other Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major 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...
Draft choices, with two earning spots on Major League rosters. In October 2005, the Wildcat baseball family lost 471 win, 32-year head coach Don Shirley to kidney cancer
Renal cell carcinoma
Renal cell carcinoma is a kidney cancer that originates in the lining of the proximal convoluted tubule, the very small tubes in the kidney that filter the blood and remove waste products. RCC is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, responsible for approximately 80% of cases...
. The current coach is Clay McCallister. The Wildcats play at Shirley-Rickenbach Field at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park, named after the late Shirley and Bill Rickenbach, present head coach for the Mechanicsburg Cardinals Semi-Pro Twilight League team.
Notable athletic alumni and retired numbers:
Shawn Abner
Shawn Abner
Shawn Wesley Abner is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played from to . He is best known for being chosen first in the 1984 Major League Baseball Draft, although he would go on to have a marginal career....
(#1 Pick in 1984 MLB Draft by the Mets, Number 16 Retired)
Ben Abner (Drafted in the 5th round of the 1984 MLB Draft)
Wes Roehr (All-American at Penn State University)
Mike Edwards (third baseman) (Number 7 Retired)
Don Shirley (Number 8 Retired)
Men's and Women's Basketball-
The 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...
program is listed in the AAAA classification in the PIAA
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. is one of the governing bodies of high school and junior high school sports for the state of Pennsylvania, United States....
, and competes in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division with rivals Trinity and Red Land. The current head coach is Bob Strickler. The program won the PIAA District 3 AAAA title in the 1994-1995 season. The program qualified for states under the AAA classification in 2004, 2005, 2006 and again in 2008 under the AAAA classification. In the 2008 season, Mechanicsburg had 20 wins and lost in the second round of the PIAA AAAA Tournament.
The Womens' basketball program has been marked with recent success. The team was Mid-Penn Keystone champion in 2010.
Men's and women's Soccer-
The Men's Soccer program is listed in the AAA classification in the PIAA, and competes in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division. The current coach is Tony Lougee '88. The team plays their home games at Northside Elementary's "Cage" on the north side of town, which is one of the few soccer-only stadiums in the area with the capability to host night games. The mens' program has won Mid-Penn Conference championships in 2006 and 2010, and the womens' team was champion in 2011. The mens' team has qualified for the PIAA District III playoffs 16 times, including every season since 1999. The mens' team was PIAA District III Runners-up in 2005, and the womens' were PIAA District III runners-up in 2011. The mens' advanced to the state tournament in the 1986, 1989, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2010 seasons. The womens' team advanced to the state tournament in 2010 and 2011. Mechanicsburg has also trained a two-time PARADE High School All-American in Bobby Warshaw, current FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
and former Stanford University
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...
player.
Also, both the Men's and Women's Soccer teams have gained recognition for their performance in the classroom. In 2006 and 2007, both teams were awarded the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's Team Academic Award for exemplary performance in the classroom. A total of 332 soccer teams from throughout the USA have earned this award. To qualify, the team must have a minimum GPA of 3.25 for the entire academic year. The team GPA is determined by adding every player's GPA, then dividing by the number of players. Mechanicsburg was one of 46 schools receiving the honor for both teams and one of the two schools in PA.
Men's and women's Cross Country-
The men's and women's Cross Country
Cross country running
Cross 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...
programs are listed in the AAA classification in the PIAA
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. is one of the governing bodies of high school and junior high school sports for the state of Pennsylvania, United States....
, and compete in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division. The current head coach of the cross country team is Lucas Mellinger, along with assistant coach Carole Cremo. The team runs meets at Soldier and Sailor Memorial Park. In 2005, the men finished with a 19-3 record, repeated as the Big Spring Invitational champions, finished second at the Mid-Penn Cross Country Championships, won the Keystone Division title, and attained the highest team finish at the District III Championships in school history. Senior James Boyer qualified for the PIAA State Championships. In 2008, Senior Matt Nesmith and Junior Sarah Sulon both qualified for states for the second time. Freshman Alexa Gruschow also qualified. In 2009, Gruschow qualified for states as a sophomore with a 14th place finish at the District III Championships.
Men's and Women's Track and Field-
The Men's Track program is listed in the AAA classification in the PIAA
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. is one of the governing bodies of high school and junior high school sports for the state of Pennsylvania, United States....
, and compete in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division. The Men's Track and Field team currently has no head coach due to the retirement of Colonel Karl Robinson but current assistants include coach Andrew Bitz. The teams run meets at the High School track facility. On May 6, 2006, Seniors James Boyer, Josh Foulds, and Brandon Lane, as well as Freshman Zack Benner broke the school's 4 x Mile Record at the annual Cedar Cliff relays by 6 seconds with a time of 18:36. On May 9, 2009, the team of Matt Nesmith, Zack Benner, Garrett Murphy, and Matt Steele broke the school's 4x800 record by almost 3 seconds with a time of 8:02.08 at the Mid-Penn Invitational at Central Dauphin. In 2010, Seabass Nicewicz, Nick Neverman, Matt Steele, and Jeremy Taylor broke the 4x400 record with a time of 3:27.
The Women's Track program is listed in the AAA classification in the PIAA
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. is one of the governing bodies of high school and junior high school sports for the state of Pennsylvania, United States....
, and compete in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division. The Women's Track and Field team currently has no head coach due to the retirement of Colonel Karl Robinson but current assistants include coach Andrew Bitz. The teams run meets at the High School track facility. In 2009, Brittany George broke the school Javelin record and qualified for states in the event. Freshman High Jumper Kaila Baughman and Junior 800m runner Sarah Sulon also qualified for states. 2010 brought many new records for the Wildcats. Brittany improved her javelin throw to over 150 feet, ranking nationally. Alexa Gruschow broke the school record in the 300 intermediate hurdles and Caitlin Eberly cleared 11–0 ft on the pole vault.
Charity Fund-raisers
Mechanicsburg hosts Lift For LifeLift For Life Academy
Lift For Life Academy is a middle and high school founded in 1998 by Marshall Cohen. It was the first charter school in St. Louis, Missouri.The idea for the Academy grew out of Cohen's other nonprofit organization, Lift For Life Gym which was once a garage, an after-school center for at-risk...
, an annual weightlifting competition held in early March at the High School to raise money for kidney cancer
Renal cell carcinoma
Renal cell carcinoma is a kidney cancer that originates in the lining of the proximal convoluted tubule, the very small tubes in the kidney that filter the blood and remove waste products. RCC is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, responsible for approximately 80% of cases...
. Don Shirley (below), the late baseball coach at MASH, died of kidney cancer and his son, Scott, thought of the competition and shared it with the fellow members of the Penn State
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
football team. Both Mechanicsburg and the Penn State football program carry on the annual event. On March 1, 2008, Mechanicsburg's Lift For Life raised over $10,000 with teams from three high schools in the area.
Alumni
The Mechanicsburg Area School District and Mechanicsburg Area Senior High have both a list of distinguished alumni and an active Alumni Association.Notable Alumni
- Bret MichaelsBret MichaelsBret Michaels is an American musician, actor, director, screenwriter, producer and reality television personality. He first gained fame as the lead vocalist of the glam metal band Poison. Besides his career as lead singer, he has several solo albums to his credit, as well as one chart single...
, the lead singer of the metal band PoisonPoison (band)Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great success in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. To date, Poison has sold over 30 million records worldwide and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,...
.
- Tara Finkboner, critically acclaimed acapello soloist and former president of The Young Adult Race Relations (Y.A.R.R.).
- Timothy White, writer (did not graduate from MASH).
- Jack Houck ('56), co-author of SALTSaltIn chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
treaty.
- Andrew Kevin WalkerAndrew Kevin WalkerAndrew Kevin Walker is an American BAFTA-nominated screenwriter. He is known for having written the Academy Award-nominated film Seven , for which he earned a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay, as well as several other films, including 8mm , Sleepy Hollow and many...
('82), Screenwriter and BAFTA Award Winner, Se7enSe7enSeven is a 1995 American thriller film, which also contains horror and neo-noir elements, directed by David Fincher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker. It was distributed by New Line Cinema and stars Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, R...
, 8mm8mm (film)8mm is a 1999 mystery/thriller film, directed by Joel Schumacher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker. It stars Nicolas Cage as a private investigator who delves into the world of snuff films.-Plot:...
.
Alumni Association
The Mechanicsburg High School Alumni AssociationAlumni association
An alumni association is an association of graduates or, more broadly, of former students. In the United Kingdom and the United States, alumni of universities, colleges, schools , fraternities, and sororities often form groups with alumni from the same organisation...
was founded in 1883. Its stated mission is to: "The Alumni Association furthers community educational ideals by requesting, procuring, managing, and distributing the funds deemed necessary to meet the Alumni Association's goals. It meets its objectives by assessing the educational and financial needs of the student scholarship applicants; securing gifts, grants, or donations; and giving grants or scholarships to Mechanicsburg High School graduates." The association operates its Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
, which honors Mechanicsburg graduates who have excelled in high school and beyond in either Service to Humanity, Loyalty to Mechanicsburg High School, Outstanding Achievement in Athletics, and Outstanding Achievement in a Chosen Profession. Currently, there are over 100 inductees since the Hall's foundation in 1967. In addition to the Hall of Fame, the Alumni Association plans and finances its annual Alumni Dinner, which is in its 119th year and the annual Homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...
Party held before the Homecoming football game. In addition, the association operates the Mechanicsburg Alumni Scholarship Fund, which was established in 1980. Since then, the Fund has grown to a value of over $500,000 via donations from alumni worldwide, and is distributed in the form of several annual merit scholarships given to graduating seniors, and one scholarship given to a Mechanicsburg lineman.