Reitz Memorial High School
Encyclopedia
Reitz Memorial High School or Evansville Memorial High School outside of Evansville or simply Memorial High School inside Evansville, is a diocesan interparochial Catholic High school
in Evansville, Indiana
. It sits on a 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) tract of land off Lincoln Avenue that was donated by Francis Joseph Reitz in 1922. The school officially opened its doors on January 5, 1925. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Evansville
.
Reitz Memorial is a Catholic high school. More than 95% of its students graduating in 2010 attended a four-year college or university. It is one of two Catholic high schools that serve the students of Vanderburgh
, Posey
, Gibson
, and Warrick
counties. It also has a significant number of students from Henderson County, Kentucky which is part of the greater-Evansville metropolitan area.
The original gym was located on the Auditorium's stage. Varsity basketball games were played at the old Agoga Tabernacle, 318 SE Fourth St until that building was a razed in 1969. In 1969, a new addition was completed. The new wing extending along Bennighof Avenue came with expanded first and second floors, a new gym, band room, and library. The new gym could hold up to 2,000 people. The school, originally an all-boys school, eventually admitted female students. Boys were taught by the Brothers of The Holy Cross and the girls by the Sisters of Providence. Female cheerleaders weren't allowed to participate until 1967.
The format of the school pretty much remained the same until 1998, when a new addition, costing roughly $5 million would be added. The new wing, also known as "the west wing" added eight more classrooms, two art studios, two science labs, a wrestling room, a second smaller gymnasium, and a new media center. This media center was home to new computers, a large amount of books, and a place where students could study quietly throughout the day. The final renovations increased the student capacity to 900 students.
Academics offerings include courses in Business, English, Fine Arts, Health, Foreign Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Theology. In addition to a wide array of Advance Placement courses, the school offers a Bridge Program with the University of Evansville
as well as courses through Ivy Tech. Students can also take part in a full complement of clubs and organizations as well as a variety of sports for boys and girls.
Also hold 11 non-IHSAA
state titles: 10 in boys soccer and one in girls bowling (1997).
2008 Southern Indiana Lacrosse
(GEYLA forms High School Club Teams)
2009 Southern Indiana Lacrosse
2010 Southern Indiana Lacrosse
(IHSLA makes Southern Indiana Conference)
2011 Southern Indiana Lacrosse
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
in Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
. It sits on a 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) tract of land off Lincoln Avenue that was donated by Francis Joseph Reitz in 1922. The school officially opened its doors on January 5, 1925. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Evansville
Roman Catholic Diocese of Evansville
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Evansville is a Roman Catholic diocese in Southwestern Indiana. It was founded on October 21, 1944.The diocese includes the entirety of the eleven southwestern Indiana counties of Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Pike, Posey, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, and...
.
Reitz Memorial is a Catholic high school. More than 95% of its students graduating in 2010 attended a four-year college or university. It is one of two Catholic high schools that serve the students of Vanderburgh
Vanderburgh County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 171,922 people, 70,623 households, and 44,421 families residing in the county. The population density was 733 people per square mile . There were 76,300 housing units at an average density of 325 per square mile...
, Posey
Posey County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,061 people, 10,205 households, and 7,612 families residing in the county. The population density was 66 people per square mile . There were 11,076 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile...
, Gibson
Gibson County, Indiana
Gibson County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana and is included in the Evansville, Indiana–Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 33,503. The county seat is Princeton.-Geography:...
, and Warrick
Warrick County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 52,383 people, 19,438 households, and 15,181 families residing in the county. The population density was 136 people per square mile . There were 20,546 housing units at an average density of 54 per square mile...
counties. It also has a significant number of students from Henderson County, Kentucky which is part of the greater-Evansville metropolitan area.
History
In 1922 Francis Joseph Reitz pledged the money for the school to be built, but didn't start until he found the perfect site for this school. He finally found a 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) lot off of Lincoln Avenue. The school was originally staffed by Brothers of the Holy Cross in the boys' section of the school, and Sisters of Providence for the girls' section.The original gym was located on the Auditorium's stage. Varsity basketball games were played at the old Agoga Tabernacle, 318 SE Fourth St until that building was a razed in 1969. In 1969, a new addition was completed. The new wing extending along Bennighof Avenue came with expanded first and second floors, a new gym, band room, and library. The new gym could hold up to 2,000 people. The school, originally an all-boys school, eventually admitted female students. Boys were taught by the Brothers of The Holy Cross and the girls by the Sisters of Providence. Female cheerleaders weren't allowed to participate until 1967.
The format of the school pretty much remained the same until 1998, when a new addition, costing roughly $5 million would be added. The new wing, also known as "the west wing" added eight more classrooms, two art studios, two science labs, a wrestling room, a second smaller gymnasium, and a new media center. This media center was home to new computers, a large amount of books, and a place where students could study quietly throughout the day. The final renovations increased the student capacity to 900 students.
Academics
Reitz Memorial High School is known for its high academic standards. In the 2001-2002 school year, it was recognized with a Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence in Education. This is an award not given out very often (only a few thousand schools have achieved this honor). It recognizes schools that "are models of excellence and equity, that demonstrate a strong commitment to educational excellence for all students, and that achieve high academic standards."Academics offerings include courses in Business, English, Fine Arts, Health, Foreign Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Theology. In addition to a wide array of Advance Placement courses, the school offers a Bridge Program with the University of Evansville
University of Evansville
The University of Evansville is a small, private university with approximately 3,050 students located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
as well as courses through Ivy Tech. Students can also take part in a full complement of clubs and organizations as well as a variety of sports for boys and girls.
State titles
- Baseball (1978), (1989), (1993)
- Football (1937*), (1958*)
- Girls Soccer (1997), (2008)
- Softball (2002)
- Girls Tennis (1991), (1993), (1994), (1995), (1996)
- Boys Soccer (1979*), (1980*), (1981*), (1983*), (1984*), (1986*), (1988*), (1989*), (1990*), (1992*), (2007), (2008)
- Girls Basketball (2011)
- Indicates title won before IHSAAIndiana High School Athletic AssociationThe Indiana High School Athletic Association is the arbiter of interscholastic competition among public and private high schools in the State of Indiana. It monitors a system that divides athletically-competing high schools in Indiana based on the school's enrollment. The divisions, known as...
State Tournament was initiated.
Also hold 11 non-IHSAA
Indiana High School Athletic Association
The Indiana High School Athletic Association is the arbiter of interscholastic competition among public and private high schools in the State of Indiana. It monitors a system that divides athletically-competing high schools in Indiana based on the school's enrollment. The divisions, known as...
state titles: 10 in boys soccer and one in girls bowling (1997).
National titles
- Football (1937)
- Boys Soccer (2007*)
- National Champions, ranked #1 in Adidas Top 25
Club Sports
Lacrosse is know as the "fastest growing sport in the country" and finally made its way to Evansville, IN. The Tigers formed their first club team in 2008 playing in the GEYLA (Greater Evansville Youth Lacrosse Association) along with Evansville North, Evansville Central, and Castle High School. The Tigers pilot year in 2008 turned out a success with a record of 10-1 only losing in the City Championship 6-4 to North. The next year the 4 GEYLA High School Club teams joined the IHSLA (Indiana High School Lacrosse Association) Which upgraded the teams in the league from their previous (4 Southern Indiana teams) to 30 Indiana High School teams. The Tigers currently remain in the ever growing IHSLA league until the sport grows enough for it to be sanctioned by the IHSAA.2008 Southern Indiana Lacrosse
(GEYLA forms High School Club Teams)
- Evansville Memorial joins GEYLA
- Evansville Central joins GEYLA
- Evansville North joins GEYLA
- Castle High School joins GEYLA
2009 Southern Indiana Lacrosse
- Evansville Memorial joins IHSLA
- Evansville Central joins IHSLA
- Evansville North joins IHSLA
- Castle High School joins IHSLA
-
- Evansville Harrison joins GEYLA
2010 Southern Indiana Lacrosse
(IHSLA makes Southern Indiana Conference)
- Evansville Harrison joins IHSLA
-
- Evansville Reitz joins GEYLA
2011 Southern Indiana Lacrosse
- Evansville Reitz joins IHSLA
Notable alumni
- Don MattinglyDon MattinglyDonald Arthur "Don" Mattingly is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Nicknamed "The Hit Man" and "Donnie Baseball", he played his entire 14-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
, baseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player - Larry StallingsLarry StallingsLarry Joseph Stallings , is a former American professional football player who played in 14 NFL seasons from 1963-1976 for the St. Louis Cardinals....
, NFL linebacker - Jonathan WeinzapfelJonathan WeinzapfelJonathan Weinzapfel is the 33rd mayor of Evansville, Indiana. He was elected in November 2003 and again in 2007. He is currently serving a four-year term that began January 1, 2008...
, mayor of Evansville, IndianaEvansville, IndianaEvansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the... - Kyle KuricKyle KuricKyle Kuric is an American college basketball player for the 2011-12 University of Louisville men's basketball team. Kuric grew up in Evansville, Indiana and graduated from Memorial High School in 2008...
, Basketball player at the University of LouisvilleUniversity of LouisvilleThe University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...