Great Bridge High School

Great Bridge High School
Tradition and Pride
Address
301 West Hanbury Road Chesapeake, Virginia 23322 United States
Coordinates	36°41′20.1″N 76°14′26.2″W / 36.688917°N 76.240611°WCoordinates: 36°41′20.1″N 76°14′26.2″W / 36.688917°N 76.240611°W
Information
School type	Public high school
Founded	1907
School district	Chesapeake City Public Schools
Superintendent	James T. Roberts
Principal	Jeff Johnson
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	1674 (2008-09)
Color(s)	Green and Gold
Athletics conference	Virginia High School League AAA Southeastern District AAA Eastern Region
Mascot	Wildcats
Rivals	Grassfield High School, Hickory High School
Website	Official site

Great Bridge High School is a public secondary school in Chesapeake, Virginia, United States. It is part of Chesapeake City Public Schools and is located at 301 West Hanbury Road.

History

Great Bridge opened in 1907, holding students from 1st through 11th grade. Another larger building opened in 1924, which also housed students from 1st through 11th grade. In 1954, Great Bridge moved to another new larger building which accommodated students in 6th through 12th grade. This building has now become the site of Great Bridge Middle School. In 1983, the current site of Great Bridge opened, which accommodates students in the 9th through 12th grade.

Athletics and extracurricular activities

The mascot is a wildcat and the sports teams currently play in the AAA Southeastern District of the AAA Eastern Region. Great Bridge has been known for its wrestling team, which has won eighteen of the last twenty-three AAA state titles including nine straight AAA titles at one point in recent years. This is the longest streak of consecutive state titles won by any Virginia high school in any sport and enrollment classification.

The Great Bridge Crew Club is also nationally recognized. In 2005 the men's lightweight eight placed fifth at the Stotesbury Cup, the world's largest high school regatta. In 2007, the men's lightweight eight boat placed first in the state, sixth at the prestigious Stotesbury Cup, and fourth in the national championship in Camden, New Jersey. The men's junior 4 placed 1st in the region, 4th at states, and 6th in a national event. Other notable achievements in the club's history include the men's first eight placing 6th at states. In 2006, the men's lightweight four placed 1st in the region, 4th at states, and 11th in a national event. Also, the women's freshmen eight placed 2nd in the region and 16th in a national event in 2007. The men's lightweight eight won the Virginia state championship in 2009. Great Bridge Crew has won the past 9 southeastern Virginia regional championships. In 2009, the Women's Lightweight Four captured 1st in the region, 1st at states, and 2nd at the prestigious Stotesbury Cup.

In 2002 , the Great Bridge High School Theatre Company traveled to the Virginia Theatre Association and won first prize with the one act play, Gilgamesh: Man's First Story, written by William Russell Staggs and Brian Wrestler, an alumnus of Great Bridge High School. Student actor, Andrew Geimer, received the Outstanding Actor Award for his role as Enkidu. They returned the next year to perform a showcase play called, "Prometheus Bound", directed by William Russell Staggs. The GBHS Theatre Company traveled, again, to VTA in 2005 and won first prize with the one act play, The Standard of the Man, written by Brian Wrestler. The next year, the theatre company performed a 'showcase' play called Rashomon, directed by William Russell Staggs.

The Great Bridge High School Band Program involves nearly 200 students in grades nine through twelve. The high school band program includes three curricular bands: Ninth Grade Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble. All band members in grades nine through twelve are offered the opportunity to participate in the award winning Great Bridge Marching Wildcats. High School students are offered opportunities to play in Jazz band(s), Indoor Guard and various other small ensembles.

Each year, Great Bridge students participate in district band auditions. For many years the high school district band has included many Great Bridge students. Fifteen times the band program has received the Virginia Honor Band Award for earning a superior rating at the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association Marching Band Performance Assessment and the highest level band receiving a superior at the District Concert Band Performance Assessment.

Sports offered at Great Bridge include football, indoor and outdoor track, volleyball, swimming, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, soccer, golf, field hockey, lacrosse, marching band, cheerleading, and wrestling. The high school also has a dance team called the RockCats, and a step team.

Notable alumni

• Ken Barefoot: NFL Football Player, Washington Redskins 1968, 1969^[1]
• Michael Cuddyer: New York Mets player; ninth overall pick in the 1997 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins.^[2]
• Mark Davis: 9th pick of the fourth round of the 1985 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.^[3]
• Dave Elkins: member of the band Mae, on vocals and guitar
• Randy Forbes: U.S. Congressman^[4]
• Larry Griffin: NFL football player, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Oilers. Class of 1981^[5]
• George L. Hanbury II: President/CEO, Nova Southeastern University
• Quanitra Hollingsworth: WNBA Minnesota Lynx 9th overall pick 2009^[6]
• Lawrence Johnson: 2000 Olympics pole vault silver medalist; 2001 World Indoor pole vault champion^[7]
• Jim Kitts: NFL football player, Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers. '90^[8]
• Nate Parker: actor; wrestler.^[9]
• Carlton Powell: Denver Broncos' fifth round pick in 2008 NFL Draft^[10]
• Chris Rahl: All-American college baseball player at William & Mary^[11]
• Chris Richardson: American Idol season six finalist^[12]
• Justin Upton: San Diego Padres player; top pick in the 2005 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks^[13]

External links

• Official website

References

1. "Poats named ro all-state football team". The Free Lance-Star. Google News. December 19, 1962. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
2. Christensen, Joe (July 12, 2011). "Cuddyer pegged from the start". Star-Tribune. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
3. "Mark Davis NBA and ABA Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
4. Kerric, Harvey (January 21, 2014). Encyclopedia of Social Media and Politics. SAGE. p. 529. ISBN 9781452244716.
5. "Larry Griffin". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
6. Janes, Chelsea (July 26, 2013). "Quanitra Hollingsworth’s basketball odyssey brings her back to D.C.". Washington Post. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
7. Noden, Merrell (June 6, 1994). "Lawrence Johnson". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
8. "Jim Kitts". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
9. Hubert-Allen, Olivia (January 12, 2011). "‘The Great Debaters’ starring former Great Bridge H.S. wrestler premieres on Blu-ray". Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
10. Rubama, Larry (August 22, 2012). "Former area football stars Hughes, Powell on TV". Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
11. "Star Track: Chris Rahl". Daily Press. July 27, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
12. Schleck, Dave (February 16, 2007). "Ex-cnu Football Player On 'American Idol'". daily Press. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
13. Gilbert, Steve (June 7, 2005). "And Justin before all: Upton goes No. 1". MLB.com. Retrieved April 30, 2014.