Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School
| Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School Omaha Gross Catholic | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
|
7700 South 43rd Street Bellevue, Nebraska, (Sarpy County), 68147 United States | |
| Coordinates | 41°10′58″N 95°58′47″W / 41.18278°N 95.97972°WCoordinates: 41°10′58″N 95°58′47″W / 41.18278°N 95.97972°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, Coeducational |
| Motto |
"Dux Esto" (Be a Leader) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1968 |
| President | Dorothy Ostrowski |
| Principal | John Schultz |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 332 (2014) |
| Average class size | 18 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 12:1 |
| Color(s) | Burnt Orange and Royal Blue |
| Athletics conference | River Cities |
| Mascot | Cougar |
| Team name | Cougars |
| Rival | Ralston, Skutt Catholic, Elkhorn, Lincoln Pius X |
| Accreditation | North Central Association of Colleges and Schools [1] |
| Newspaper | Paw Prints |
| Yearbook | Imprints |
| Alumni | over 7,900 |
| Athletic Director | Mike Dempsey |
| Website | www.grosscatholic.org |
Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School is a Marianist Catholic High school in Bellevue, Nebraska, United States. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha. The school's athletic teams are the Cougars; its colors are burnt orange and royal blue. The current enrollment is 332.[2]
School history
The Archdiocese of Omaha built a new high school to provide Catholic education in Sarpy County and south Omaha. Louise Gross donated much money to the construction of the high school and wished to honor her late husband, Daniel Gross; accordingly, the newly constructed high school was named Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School.
Archbishop Gerald Bergan invited the priests and brothers from the Society of Mary and the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help to help create the Gross Catholic community. Bro. Leo Willett, S.M., the first principal, opened the school on September 3, 1968 with a freshman class of 175 students. The Class of 1972 became the first graduating class on May 28, 1972. Today, Gross Catholic has over 7,900 alumni.
Crest
The crest is divided by a cross. The upper left quarter bears an "A" superimposed on an "M". This symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary represents the Marian consecration of the two religious orders that founded the school, the Marianists and the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The Franciscan cord appears in this quarter. In the upper right quarter are the scales, the symbol of the law profession which was the career of Daniel J. Gross (1897–1958), a prominent Omaha attorney in whose memory the school was named. The lower right quarter is a torch representative of the school’s seeking achievement and excellence in academics and activities. It is surmounted by a banner inscribed with the school’s founding date, 1968. The lower right quarter bears a part of the coat of arms of Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan, under whose inspiration and leadership the school was conceived.
On the ribbon at the bottom is inscribed the motto "Dux esto", which translates as "Be a leader." At the top are three chain links representing the archdiocesan officials, parish priests and elementary school teachers; the benefactors, parents, and friends of the school; the faculty and staff. All these are fastened by a circle representing the students, who are the real concern and connecting link of the above individuals and groups.
Athletics
Gross students participate in the following interscholastic sports: in the fall season, boys tennis, cross country, football, girls golf, softball, and volleyball; in the winter season, boys basketball, girls basketball, swimming, and wrestling; and in the spring season, baseball, boys golf, boys soccer, girls soccer, girls tennis, track,[3] and trap shooting.[4]
Cougar athletic teams have won a total of 19 state championships:
| State Championships | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Sport | Number of Championships | Year(s) |
| Fall | Football[5] | 1 | 2012 |
| Volleyball[6] | 4 | 1999, 2005, 2009, 2010 | |
| Winter | Girls basketball[7] | 1 | 1991 |
| Wrestling[8] | 4 | 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 | |
| Spring | Baseball[9] | 6 | 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 2009, 2010 |
| Boys golf[10] | 2 | 1997, 2005 | |
| Boys soccer[11] | 1 | 2000 | |
| Total | 19 | ||
As of 2012, Omaha Northwest was the only other school in Nebraska that had won four consecutive baseball championships.[12] A total of 31 Cougar wrestlers have won individual state championships.[8]
Notable alumni
- Brian Blankenship, NFL offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers[13]
- Chad Meyers, MLB player for the Chicago Cubs[14]
References
- ↑ NCA-CASI. "NCA-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- ↑ https://nsaahome.org/textfile/about/1415enroll.pdf
- ↑ "Cougar Athletics". Gross Catholic High School. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "Trap Shooting". Gross Catholic High School. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "School Results in Nebraska High School Football Playoffs". Nebraska School Activities Association. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "Past State Volleyball Tournament Champions Finals". Nebraska School Activities Association. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "Girls Basketball State Tournament History". Nebraska School Activities Association. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- 1 2 "Nebraska High School Wrestling History". Nebraska School Activities Association. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "Baseball School-by-School State Championships History". Nebraska School Activities Association. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "NSAA Boys Golf Championship History". Nebraska School Activities Association. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "School-by-School State Soccer Tournament History". Nebraska School Activities Association. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "NSAA Baseball Championships History". Nebraska School Activities Association. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BLANKBRI01
- ↑ http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=meyerch02
