Roncalli High School (Indiana)
Encyclopedia
Roncalli High School is a Catholic
high school
located in Indianapolis, Indiana
. It is located on the south side of Indianapolis and run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis
. Roncalli is named for Pope John XXIII
, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli.
The school was established in 1969 as a result of the consolidation of two schools, Kennedy Memorial High School (opened as Sacred Heart High School in 1914 whose name was changed to Kennedy in 1966) and Chartrand High School (opened in 1962). Roncalli is the only high school in the state of Indiana to be named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence on three separate occasions - 1993, 1998, and 2003.
Level I—Some remediation is present within the curriculum
Level II—College preparatory curriculum
Level III—Honors curriculum
Level IV—Advanced Placement curriculum
The grade point scale is based on a 4.0 and the average GPA is around 3.5.
AP Statistics, AP Government, AP Geography, AP Environmental Science, AP French, AP Spanish, AP German, AP Psychology, AP United States History, AP Language and Composition, AP Literature and Composition, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Music Theory and
AP Studio Art.
Archery Club
Astronomy Club
Board Game Club
Boxing Club
Car Club
Chess Club
Dance Team
Drama Club
D’Scribes Club
Equestrian Club
Ethnic Eating Club
Euchre Club
Fishing Club
Four Paws Club
Guitar Club
History Club
Jazz Band
National Honor Society
Photography Club
Pro-Life Group
Rebel Gourmet Grillers (cooking club)
Rebel Stitchers
Roncalli Rangers
Recycling Club
Scrapbookers Club
Service Learning
Ski Club
Soldiers for Christ
Southside Rebel Rugby Club
Student Council
Swing Dance Club
Ultimate Frisbee Club
Video Gaming Club
Video Productions/Media Club
World Language Clubs
There are many rivalries with schools around the state, including Cathedral High School, Chatard High School, and Franklin Central High School.
This past year, the Girls golf team finished 4th at the state tournament.
The Boys Cross Country team finished 5th in semi-state competition, and the Girl's team had a state finalist.
During the 2007 IHSAA State Tournament, the boys soccer team won their second consecutive Sectional over Lutheran and went on to win their first ever Regional Title over New Palestine. 2007 was a record breaking season of 19-5-0.
The boys tennis team had won four straight sectional championships until 2007.
The wrestling team has earned two consecutive trips to the Team State Finals after winning Sectional Championships and Team Regional Championships in 2009 and 2010.
The girls' gymnastics team placed second in the Team State Championships in 2009 and 2010. Roncalli's Alyssa Servie was the State Balance Beam and State All-Around Champion in 2010.
In its first year the Rebels were coached by John Meredith who came to Roncalli from Kennedy High School where he was the Spartans head coach. The Rebels posted a 3 and 7 record facing a very stiff City schedule.
In the second year Bob Tully was named head coach. Bob served in this position for 4 seasons posting a 21 and 19 record. During the 1972 season Roncalli was the City Runner-Up and named a mythical State Champion in Class A by a poll conducted by the IHSAA and the Indianapolis Star. This poll was conducted prior to the beginning of the Class system in Indiana football.
1974 brought Butch Branson to the helm of the Roncalli football program. Butch took the Rebels to their first playoff appearance in 1976 losing in a hard fought battle to eventual State Champion Jasper.
Ed Tinder, 7-year assistant, took over the leadership role of the Rebels in 1977 and posted a three year record of 16 wins and 14 losses. The Tinder-led Rebels knocked off many top rated teams in the state and began the state recognition of the Roncalli High School football program.
In 1980 Bill Kuntz was named head coach of the Rebels and the football program was headed for prominence. The ‘83 Rebels under Kuntz’s leadership went on to become the State Runners-Up in Class 3A. This was to be their first of, to this date, 5 State Finals appearances. In 1985 Kuntz took the Rebels to the top spot in Class 3A becoming State Champions by defeating Wawasee 33 to 3.
Bill Sylvester, Kuntz’s Assistant and former standout quarterback at Chatard and Butler University, was named to the head coaching position in 1987. Sylvester, in his 3-year stint, posted 29 wins vs. 9 losses. Sylvester took the ‘88 Rebels to the State Championship defeating Tipton 14 to 13, and took the ‘89 Rebels back to the Dome, becoming State Runners-Up in a 20-14 loss to Hammond Bishop Noll. Sylvester left the Rebels to join the Butler University Football staff.
With Sylvester’s departure former Roncalli Assistant and Lawrence Central Assistant Bruce Scifres was named head coach. In his 4th year Coach Scifres took the Rebels to an even higher plateau becoming the first undefeated State Champion in the school’s history with a 14-12 victory over previously undefeated Northwood.
The following year, Scifres led the Rebels to the 1994 State Championship with a 35-14 win over Tipton. This became the first back-to-back State Championships for Roncalli in any sport.
The 1999 season brought another state championship to Scifres and the Rebels as they finished a perfect 15-0 season. Highlights of the season were victories over nationally “Top 10” ranked Cincinnati Moeller and the 24-14 state title win over Norwell. Also during the 1999 season, Coach Scifres became the first coach from the state of Indiana to win 100 games in his first 10 years as a head coach. In 2002, Bruce led the Rebels to the school’s first ever 4A State Championship. His .820 playoff winning percentage is best in the school’s history, surpassing Bob Tully.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
high school
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....
located in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. It is located on the south side of Indianapolis and run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis is a division of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It was originally erected as the Diocese of Vincennes, Indiana on May 6, 1834, and encompassed all of Indiana as well as the eastern third of Illinois...
. Roncalli is named for Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli.
The school was established in 1969 as a result of the consolidation of two schools, Kennedy Memorial High School (opened as Sacred Heart High School in 1914 whose name was changed to Kennedy in 1966) and Chartrand High School (opened in 1962). Roncalli is the only high school in the state of Indiana to be named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence on three separate occasions - 1993, 1998, and 2003.
Academics
Roncalli's academic rating is among the best in Indiana. It is the only high school in the state of Indiana to have won the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence on three separate occasions ('93, '98, '03). Roncalli offers four different levels of courses. Levels I, II, III and IV (AP).Level I—Some remediation is present within the curriculum
Level II—College preparatory curriculum
Level III—Honors curriculum
Level IV—Advanced Placement curriculum
The grade point scale is based on a 4.0 and the average GPA is around 3.5.
Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
Advanced Placement courses available within the curriculum include AP Calculus,AP Statistics, AP Government, AP Geography, AP Environmental Science, AP French, AP Spanish, AP German, AP Psychology, AP United States History, AP Language and Composition, AP Literature and Composition, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Music Theory and
AP Studio Art.
Extracurricular Activities
Art ClubArchery Club
Astronomy Club
Board Game Club
Boxing Club
Car Club
Chess Club
Dance Team
Drama Club
D’Scribes Club
Equestrian Club
Ethnic Eating Club
Euchre Club
Fishing Club
Four Paws Club
Guitar Club
History Club
Jazz Band
National Honor Society
Photography Club
Pro-Life Group
Rebel Gourmet Grillers (cooking club)
Rebel Stitchers
Roncalli Rangers
Recycling Club
Scrapbookers Club
Service Learning
Ski Club
Soldiers for Christ
Southside Rebel Rugby Club
Student Council
Swing Dance Club
Ultimate Frisbee Club
Video Gaming Club
Video Productions/Media Club
World Language Clubs
Athletics
Both the men's basketball and cross country teams have had success. In 2006, the men's cross country team set a new school record with the lowest average 5K top five team total. The football team earned 8 state championships since 1985, and had back to back state championships in 1993 and 1994, as well as in 2002, 2003, and 2004.There are many rivalries with schools around the state, including Cathedral High School, Chatard High School, and Franklin Central High School.
This past year, the Girls golf team finished 4th at the state tournament.
The Boys Cross Country team finished 5th in semi-state competition, and the Girl's team had a state finalist.
During the 2007 IHSAA State Tournament, the boys soccer team won their second consecutive Sectional over Lutheran and went on to win their first ever Regional Title over New Palestine. 2007 was a record breaking season of 19-5-0.
The boys tennis team had won four straight sectional championships until 2007.
The wrestling team has earned two consecutive trips to the Team State Finals after winning Sectional Championships and Team Regional Championships in 2009 and 2010.
The girls' gymnastics team placed second in the Team State Championships in 2009 and 2010. Roncalli's Alyssa Servie was the State Balance Beam and State All-Around Champion in 2010.
Football
In 1969, when Roncalli High School opened its doors, Roncalli Football was born. Out of the winning traditions of Sacred Heart, Chartrand and Kennedy - the off-spring was destined for greatness.In its first year the Rebels were coached by John Meredith who came to Roncalli from Kennedy High School where he was the Spartans head coach. The Rebels posted a 3 and 7 record facing a very stiff City schedule.
In the second year Bob Tully was named head coach. Bob served in this position for 4 seasons posting a 21 and 19 record. During the 1972 season Roncalli was the City Runner-Up and named a mythical State Champion in Class A by a poll conducted by the IHSAA and the Indianapolis Star. This poll was conducted prior to the beginning of the Class system in Indiana football.
1974 brought Butch Branson to the helm of the Roncalli football program. Butch took the Rebels to their first playoff appearance in 1976 losing in a hard fought battle to eventual State Champion Jasper.
Ed Tinder, 7-year assistant, took over the leadership role of the Rebels in 1977 and posted a three year record of 16 wins and 14 losses. The Tinder-led Rebels knocked off many top rated teams in the state and began the state recognition of the Roncalli High School football program.
In 1980 Bill Kuntz was named head coach of the Rebels and the football program was headed for prominence. The ‘83 Rebels under Kuntz’s leadership went on to become the State Runners-Up in Class 3A. This was to be their first of, to this date, 5 State Finals appearances. In 1985 Kuntz took the Rebels to the top spot in Class 3A becoming State Champions by defeating Wawasee 33 to 3.
Bill Sylvester, Kuntz’s Assistant and former standout quarterback at Chatard and Butler University, was named to the head coaching position in 1987. Sylvester, in his 3-year stint, posted 29 wins vs. 9 losses. Sylvester took the ‘88 Rebels to the State Championship defeating Tipton 14 to 13, and took the ‘89 Rebels back to the Dome, becoming State Runners-Up in a 20-14 loss to Hammond Bishop Noll. Sylvester left the Rebels to join the Butler University Football staff.
With Sylvester’s departure former Roncalli Assistant and Lawrence Central Assistant Bruce Scifres was named head coach. In his 4th year Coach Scifres took the Rebels to an even higher plateau becoming the first undefeated State Champion in the school’s history with a 14-12 victory over previously undefeated Northwood.
The following year, Scifres led the Rebels to the 1994 State Championship with a 35-14 win over Tipton. This became the first back-to-back State Championships for Roncalli in any sport.
The 1999 season brought another state championship to Scifres and the Rebels as they finished a perfect 15-0 season. Highlights of the season were victories over nationally “Top 10” ranked Cincinnati Moeller and the 24-14 state title win over Norwell. Also during the 1999 season, Coach Scifres became the first coach from the state of Indiana to win 100 games in his first 10 years as a head coach. In 2002, Bruce led the Rebels to the school’s first ever 4A State Championship. His .820 playoff winning percentage is best in the school’s history, surpassing Bob Tully.