Martinsburg High School

Martinsburg High School is a public high school located in Martinsburg, West Virginia, United States. The school is an active member of the WVSSAC. The acting principal of the school is Trent Sherman.^[1]

Notable alumni include Vicky Bullett, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and former WNBA player; Fulton Walker, a former NFL defensive back and kick returner; and Kevin Pittsnogle, a basketball player who played for West Virginia University and currently teaches at Martinsburg North Middle School;.^[2] Standout quarterback Nate Sowers set many school and state records and now plays for the West Virginia Mountaineers as a safety. 1976 graduate Chris Fox was a repeat All-American track star at Auburn University, and is currently a track coach at Syracuse University.

Martinsburg High School has a rich tradition in athletics and is consistently considered as one of the top programs in the state in numerous sports. All of the school's athletic teams compete at the "AAA" level, which includes all of the largest schools in the state. Martinsburg won AAA State Basketball Championships in 1994, 2009, and 2013. They were runners-up in 1988, 1990, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2011. Martinsburg has been runner-up in the AAA State Football Championship on four separate occasions since 2000 and has won the championship in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, which stands as West Virginia's record of most consecutive high school AAA Football Championships of all time. Martinsburg has also been the AAA State Baseball Champions on several occasions, including 1983,1989,1996 and 2009; and Martinsburg has finished in the Final Four of the AAA State Boys' Soccer Championship in four of the last six seasons.

Martinsburg also competes in women's volleyball, wrestling, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's track, men's and women's cross-country, men's and women's tennis, co-ed golf and cheerleading.

In 2010, the school's football team was named the AAA state football champions after they defeated Brooke High School on Saturday, December 13, 2010 winning 30-0. The football team was said to be inspired by former player Kameron Puller, who was forced to sit out that season and, in turn, forfeit his spot as the starting quarterback due to the fact that he suffers from a chronic illness. The team was led to the football victory by Head Football Coach/Assistant Principal David Walker. The 2010 football championship is the first of its kind for the school in the sport.

Martinsburg High School's Cobourn Field is the one of only two fields in Berkeley County that use a synthetic playing surface. It is used year-round for various sporting and community events.

The Martinsburg High School Bulldog Band, led by Director of Bands James Southern, is composed of approximately 80 students. The band has continued to be near one of the top ranking bands in West Virginia. The jazz band has scored a "superior" rating, the highest rating possible, at every competition in which it has competed. During the 2010 and marching season, the Bulldog Marching Band ranked first in Division 4 at TOB Chapter Championships in Lewis County, WV. They also went home with an overall score of 88.0, and the award for best auxiliary and best drum major. The band also accomplished another victory in October 2011, by receiving first at Chapter Championships for the second consecutive year.

Good Times during the National Show Choir Competition in Nashville, Tennessee in April 2014

MHS's choral department has won numerous Grand Champions and state championships. They are one of the only two MHS sports or extra curricular activities to compete on a national level, the other being Theatre. Good Times Show Choir competed at the National Show Choir Competition in April 2014. The choral department is directed by Kaitlyn Smith. Music for the show choir in created by Eric Van Cleave and has been choreographed by Mike Weaver and Sean Ekk.

MHS has greatly improved the quality of its education, facility, and administration since its general decline in the late 1960s due to budgetary constraints. The school had a different principal each year in 1968, 1969, and 1970, and did not have any cafeteria facilities on the premises. Despite the shifting administration, sub-standard facilities, and underpaid teachers, MHS graduated three National Merit Scholars in 1971. Another graduate of that class is now a significant philanthropist in New York City, one who has donated money to educational causes in West Virginia.

On January 10, 2011, Martinsburg High School became the 623rd official chapter of the Science National Honor Society, a prestigious science-oriented organization. The Ssciety's branch at the school was started by Varun Menon and Stephan Haloftis. The organization focuses on academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and community service and education.^[3] Martinsburg High School was the sixth high school in West Virginia to be recognized by the Science National Honor Society.^[4]

Administration

Principal: Trent Sherman

Assistant Principals: Brian Sine, David Walker, Trey Arvon, and Maranda Ralph

References

External links

• Berkeley County Schools
• Martinsburg High School