Mesa High School (Mesa, Arizona)
Encyclopedia
Mesa High School is a public high school
in Mesa, Arizona
, United States
. Mesa High School currently accommodates grades 9-12 as part of Mesa Public Schools
.
for 99 years to use as an experimental farm. This was the land bounded by Center and Macdonald, Second and Third Avenues. It didn't take long to discover that the block was not large enough, and so, on January 4, 1908, they sold it to the school district for $75. Construction began immediately on the building known as "Old Main". The 1909 graduating class graduated from that original twelve room building. The school had a main floor auditorium with a swimming pool in the basement. The auditorium was used for assemblies, with folding chairs for the early comers and standing room only for the rest. Ten years later, eight more rooms were added plus a small auditorium-gymnasium. During basketball games, spectators sat in the balcony (above the freshman section) or on the stage because the gym was not wide enough for sideline bleachers.
In September 1932, a football player named Zedo Ishikawa was accidentally killed by a shotgun blast to the chest. As he neared death he said, "Tell Coach Coutchie and the boys to carry on." As time went on, students began repeating the theme "Carry On" to one another. Eventually it became the school's official motto.
In 1936, the WPA
and PWA
provided funds for new construction, and the New Building was constructed west of the Main Building with an arcade in between. The land for this was purchased from Harvey Bush, for $4000. A new gymnasium building, which included an agriculture shop and auto shop, was also built south of the Main Building — the new site for school dances and basketball games.
In 1967, Mesa won their homecoming football game against rival Westwood High
. Then, on Sunday night, October 1, 1967, a disastrous fire started in the science lab, completely destroying the sixty-year-old "Old Main". Classes continued to graduate from the old campus until 1972 when the new Mesa High was built.
test scores for MHS were below the state average in reading, math, and writing for 2002 through 2004, but they improved to substantially above average for 2005. The average number of students per teacher is 23.
, who was born without a right leg, won individual state championships in 2005 and 2006. He later went on to win the 2006 Senior Nationals' and wrestled at Arizona State University
on a full scholarship. Robles finished fourth at the 2009 NCAA Division I Championships at 125 pounds, seventh at the 2010 tournament, and was national champion in 2011.
*The Arizona Interscholastic Association
recognized these sports and the regular season games thereof as official during these years, but did not conduct playoffs to determine AIA state champions for them until 1959 for football and 1983 for soccer. In such times, the press declared state champions (and state runners-up), similar to how the Associated Press independently crowns national champions for some sports at the college level.
Junior High Schools
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Mesa, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Mesa High School currently accommodates grades 9-12 as part of Mesa Public Schools
Mesa Public Schools
Mesa Public Schools is the unified school district for the city of Mesa, Arizona, United States...
.
History
The first high school classes in Mesa began in September 1899 on the second floor of the red brick north elementary school, later rebuilt and known as Irving School. The first Mesa Union High School district was organized on December 26, 1907, with John D. Loper as superintendent. The Town Council had leased all of Block 20 to the University of ArizonaUniversity of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
for 99 years to use as an experimental farm. This was the land bounded by Center and Macdonald, Second and Third Avenues. It didn't take long to discover that the block was not large enough, and so, on January 4, 1908, they sold it to the school district for $75. Construction began immediately on the building known as "Old Main". The 1909 graduating class graduated from that original twelve room building. The school had a main floor auditorium with a swimming pool in the basement. The auditorium was used for assemblies, with folding chairs for the early comers and standing room only for the rest. Ten years later, eight more rooms were added plus a small auditorium-gymnasium. During basketball games, spectators sat in the balcony (above the freshman section) or on the stage because the gym was not wide enough for sideline bleachers.
In September 1932, a football player named Zedo Ishikawa was accidentally killed by a shotgun blast to the chest. As he neared death he said, "Tell Coach Coutchie and the boys to carry on." As time went on, students began repeating the theme "Carry On" to one another. Eventually it became the school's official motto.
In 1936, the WPA
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
and PWA
Public Works Administration
The Public Works Administration , part of the New Deal of 1933, was a large-scale public works construction agency in the United States headed by Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes. It was created by the National Industrial Recovery Act in June 1933 in response to the Great Depression...
provided funds for new construction, and the New Building was constructed west of the Main Building with an arcade in between. The land for this was purchased from Harvey Bush, for $4000. A new gymnasium building, which included an agriculture shop and auto shop, was also built south of the Main Building — the new site for school dances and basketball games.
In 1967, Mesa won their homecoming football game against rival Westwood High
Westwood High School (Mesa, Arizona)
Westwood High School is a high school in Mesa, Arizona under the jurisdiction of Mesa Public Schools.-Notable alumni:Individuals * Siaha Burley - wide receiver in the Arena Football League* Larry Owens - NBA basketball player with the Washington Wizards...
. Then, on Sunday night, October 1, 1967, a disastrous fire started in the science lab, completely destroying the sixty-year-old "Old Main". Classes continued to graduate from the old campus until 1972 when the new Mesa High was built.
Academics
AIMSArizona's Instrument to Measure Standards
Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards is a standardized test administered by the state of Arizona. AIMS is a standards based assessment aligned to the Arizona Academic Content Standards.-Test contents:...
test scores for MHS were below the state average in reading, math, and writing for 2002 through 2004, but they improved to substantially above average for 2005. The average number of students per teacher is 23.
Athletics
The school won 5A state championships in 2004 for boys basketball, and three straight 5A-I titles in wrestling from 2006 to 2008. Anthony RoblesAnthony Robles
Anthony Robles is a wrestler who won the 2010-11 NCAA individual wrestling championship in the 125-pound weight class despite being born with only one leg.-Youth:...
, who was born without a right leg, won individual state championships in 2005 and 2006. He later went on to win the 2006 Senior Nationals' and wrestled at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
on a full scholarship. Robles finished fourth at the 2009 NCAA Division I Championships at 125 pounds, seventh at the 2010 tournament, and was national champion in 2011.
| State Champions | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Years |
| Baseball (5) | 1927, 1947, 1953, 1957, 1958 |
| Boys Basketball (13) | 1917, 1918, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1933, 1936, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1988, 2004 |
| Football (11)* | 1928, 1933, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1963, 1990, 1992 |
| Boys Golf (2) | 1957, 1979 |
| Boys Soccer (1)* | 1981 |
| Softball (1) | 1988 |
| Boys Tennis (4) | 1937, 1950, 1951, 1952 |
| Boys Track & Field (5) | 1950, 1952, 1962, 1982, 1988 |
| Wrestling (4) | 1977, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| State Runners-Up | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Years |
| Baseball (5) | 1914, 1928, 1945, 1950, 1959 |
| Boys Basketball (3) | 1944, 1952, 1953 |
| Girls Basketball (1) | 1987 |
| Girls Cross Country (1) | 1988 |
| Football (16)* | 1924, 1925, 1926, 1930, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1944, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1979, 2009 |
| Boys Tennis (1) | 1949 |
| Girls Tennis (6) | 1945, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1955 |
| Boys Track & Field (8) | 1926, 1936, 1945, 1956, 1972, 1974, 1985, 1989 |
| Wrestling (5) | 1983, 1988, 1991, 2009, 2010 |
*The Arizona Interscholastic Association
Arizona Interscholastic Association
The Arizona Interscholastic Association is the major high school sports association in the state of Arizona. It comprises most of the state's public district high schools, various charter and private schools, plus one high school in California San Pasqual High School in Winterhaven, California,...
recognized these sports and the regular season games thereof as official during these years, but did not conduct playoffs to determine AIA state champions for them until 1959 for football and 1983 for soccer. In such times, the press declared state champions (and state runners-up), similar to how the Associated Press independently crowns national champions for some sports at the college level.
Feeder schools
Elementary- The following elementary schools feed into Mesa High School:
- Holmes
- Irving
- Johnson
- Keller
- Lincoln
- Lindbergh
- Longfellow
- Lowell
- Madison
- Porter
- Robson
- Wilson
Junior High Schools
- The junior high schools that feed into Mesa High School include:
- Brimhall
- Mesa
- Taylor
Notable alumni
- Jeremy AccardoJeremy AccardoJeremy Lee Accardo is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-San Francisco Giants:...
- MLB Baltimore Orioles - Rusty Bowers - Arizona Senate President
- Danny Boyle - NCAA pole vault champion
- Rudy Campbell - Tempe Mayor
- Jim CarterJim Carter (golfer)Jim Laver Carter is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.Carter was born in Spring Lake, North Carolina. He attended Arizona State University in Tempe and was a distinguished member of the golf team – a two-time first-team All-American and an...
- NCAA golf champion & PGA Tour - Eldon W. Cooley - Mesa Mayor & LDS Regional Rep
- Lee CummardLee CummardLee Cummard is a former American college basketball player for the BYU Cougars. Cummard was not drafted in the 2009 NBA Draft.-High school:...
- NBA D-League Utah Flash - Jeff GroscostJeff GroscostJeffrey Smith Groscost was a Republican Speaker of the House at the Arizona House of Representatives from 1997 to 2001.-Career:He was a member of the Arizona House of Representatives for seven years, from 1993 to 2001...
- Arizona House Speaker - Mickey HatcherMickey HatcherMichael Vaughn Hatcher is a former Major League Baseball player and a current coach. Most notably, he was Kirk Gibson's replacement for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1988 World Series, batting .368 with two home runs and five RBI...
- 2-time World Series champion - Robert HolcombeRobert HolcombeRobert Wayne Holcombe is a free agent fullback who has played for the St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans of the National Football League.-St. Louis Rams:...
- Super Bowl champion - Miles Jenkins - recording artist
- Jack LindJack LindJackson Hugh Lind is a retired Major League Baseball shortstop, first baseman, second baseman, and third baseman. He played during two seasons at the major league level for the Milwaukee Brewers, as well as one season in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants...
- MLB Milwaukee Brewers - Andy LivingstonAndy LivingstonAndy Livingston is a former professional American football running back in the NFL for the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints. He was nineteen years old when he first played for the Bears. He is the youngest player in NFL history to score a touchdown . The NFL granted him a hardship...
- NFL Pro Bowler - Warren LivingstonWarren LivingstonWarren Livingston is a former professional American football cornerback. He played six seasons for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League....
- NFL Dallas Cowboys - Deuce Lutui - NCAA football champion & NFL Arizona Cardinals
- Mike MacDougalMike MacDougalRobert Meiklejohn MacDougal is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball, who is currently a free agent...
- MLB All-Star - Orlando McKay - NFL Green Bay Packers
- Bill Mettler - US Olympic swimming gold medalist
- Phil OrtegaPhil OrtegaFilomeno Coronada Ortega , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1960-1969 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels, and Washington Senators. Ortega was of Yaqui Indian descent...
- MLB Washington Senators - Gary PierceGary PierceGary Pierce is a member of the Arizona Corporation Commission and a former member of the Arizona House of Representatives. Mr. Pierce was elected to the Arizona Corporation Commission in 2006....
- Arizona Corporation Commission - E. Earl Pomeroy - NCAA football All-American
- Wayne Pomeroy - Mesa Mayor
- Anthony RoblesAnthony RoblesAnthony Robles is a wrestler who won the 2010-11 NCAA individual wrestling championship in the 125-pound weight class despite being born with only one leg.-Youth:...
- NCAA wrestling champion & ESPY winner - Keith Russell - NCAA diving champion & US Olympian
- Matt SalmonMatt SalmonMatthew James "Matt" Salmon is a former Republican Congressional Representative from Arizona. In 2002, he lost to Janet Napolitano in a highly competitive Arizona governor's race.-Early life, education, and business career:...
- United States Congressman - Vai SikahemaVai SikahemaVai S. Sikahema is a Tongan former American football player. The first Tongan ever to play in the National Football League , he played running back and kickoff returner in the league for eight seasons, from 1986 to 1993. He played college football for the Brigham Young University Cougars, and was...
- NCAA football champion & 2-time NFL Pro Bowler - Owen D. Skousen - NCAA 3-sport athlete & MLB Red Sox
- Delbert L. StapleyDelbert L. StapleyDelbert Leon Stapley was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1950 to 1978.-Early life:Stapley was born in Mesa, Arizona Territory...
- LDS Apostle - Norris Steverson - NFL Cincinnati Reds
- Wilford "Whizzer" White - ASU football legend & NFL Pro Bowler
- Patsy WillardPatsy WillardMary Patricia Willard is a former American diver. She represented the United States at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where she received a bronze medal in women's 3 metre springboard....
- US Olympic diving bronze medalist - Yuridia - Diamond-certified recording artist
External links
- Jackrabbit Web - official site
- GreatSchools.net - school evaluation and statistics
- Mesa Football - official Football site
- Mesa Basketball - official Boys Basketball site