Allegany High School
Encyclopedia
Allegany High School is a public high school
in Cumberland
, Allegany County
, Maryland
. Allegany High School was built as Allegany County High School in 1887, hence it is often referred to as 'Alco'.
As of 2005, the school had 825 students and 49 teachers. Students were 93% white, 5% African-American and 2% Asian. Nineteen percent were eligible for reduced lunch, less than the state average of 27%. The current principal is Michael Calhoun.
The “Camper” mascot is a source of much confusion. Many think the name refers to Campobello, a Shawnee Indian Tribe camp, from which the federal army took their name during the Civil War. This, however, is a misconception. The most widely accepted theory is that Civil War General Lew Wallace and his men began calling the site that during their time here. The word Campobello in fact does not appear in any Native American language and is derived from Latin, meaning "camp of war".
Allegany High School, with an enrollment of approximately 800 students, focuses on student achievement and success in all areas of education through a combined effort of students, faculty, staff, home, and community. The class of 2008 marks an important milestone for Allegany: the students are the 120th class to graduate from the long-standing institution.
team plays their games at the Greenway Avenue Stadium
, shared with Fort Hill High School
. Allegany High Schools last football state championship, its 8th in all, was in 2005 when they went 14–0 and beat Snow Hill High School in the 1-A Maryland state championship. Since then, they reached the 2007 State Championship game only to lose to eventual State Champion Dunbar High School.
Prior to 2005, Allegany won its 7th State Title in 2001 by defeating Oakland Mills High School with players like Chad Jacovino (Robert Morris University), Jeremy Sellers (Syracuse University) and Billy Orndorff (LaSalle University). The win didn't come without controversy. Leading 26-21 near the end of the third quarter, Oakland Mills kicker Greg Braukus attempted a 28-yard field goal and appeared to hook the ball inside the right upright, which would have given the Scorpions an eight-point lead. Officials didn't agree and signaled a miss despite an adamant protest from Hovet and the rest of the Scorpions' coaching staff, who were visibly upset during and after the game over the call.
A cameraman from the Washington Post High School Sports Show who was beneath the goalpost at the time of the kick said that, when seen on film, Braukus' kick appears to be good. Officials would not comment after the game
Allegany plays Fort Hill every year in the annual Homecoming game, which is the last regular season game for both teams. Drawing average crowds of 10,000 or so, the game has turned into a sort of "playoff preview" for the Maryland 1A West Region in recent years since Fort Hill re-classified down to 1A.
In 2007, NFL films came to Cumberland and filmed the entire week of Homecoming as well as the game itself. Allegany won the game.
Former Allegany pitcher Aaron Laffey is the most recent successful athletic alumn of Allegany, who now pitches for the New York Yankees. The basketball team is normally a perennial contender in the state playoffs as well.
Former track and cross country great Jordan Davis capped a strong collegiate running career at both Auburn University and Syracuse University by representing Team Nike in upstate New York.
team is one of the many organizations in which the school takes pride. In the 2005–2006 season, the team won the circuit and the regional championships, advancing to the Maryland state Mock Trial Final Four competition in Annapolis, Maryland, in April 2006. The 2006–2007 team suffered a loss in the finals to Severn School
. The 2007–08 team advanced to the semi-finals, but were defeated by Severna Park. The 2008-2009 team won the Maryland State Mock Trial Championship.
Also notable at Allegany is its marching band, which placed ninth at Tournament of Bands
Atlantic Coast Championship in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
, in November 2006. In November 2007, the Allegany High School Marching Band placed 8th at the Atlantic Coast Championships. At the National Championships, the band placed 11th out of 18. In November 2009, the marching band placed 2nd at the ACC's championships, and in November 2010, the Allegany Band placed 3rd at the Atlantic Coast Championships. The Band has won their specific group in Chapter Championships a consecutive 11 years now. The Band is under the direction of Larry T. Jackson
Alongside the band programs, is the award winning indoor colorguard and indoor percussion groups. The indoor percussion, after being in existance for only 2 years, after a 10 year hiatus from the indoor competitiion world, was awarded the gold medal in KIDA (Keystone Indoor Drill Assocation) for White Moving Percussion. The Indoor Percussion is under the direction of show designer and director, Blair Glass.
The Allegany Visual Ensemble has certainly had its fair share of success as well, after being promoted its first season from bronze level to white lievel in KIDA, and finishing 7th at finals, to being the 2011 WGI (Winter Guard International) Pittsburgh Regional Scholastic Regional A Champions, and then also capturing the Silver Medal in the White Division of KIDA. As of now, the Allegany Visual Ensemble has been promoted to the next to highest level of competition in KIDA - The Blue Level. The colorguard program is under the direction of show designer and director Matt Stoops.
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....
in Cumberland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
, Allegany County
Allegany County, Maryland
Allegany County is a county located in the northwestern part of the US state of Maryland. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 75,087. Its county seat is Cumberland...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. Allegany High School was built as Allegany County High School in 1887, hence it is often referred to as 'Alco'.
As of 2005, the school had 825 students and 49 teachers. Students were 93% white, 5% African-American and 2% Asian. Nineteen percent were eligible for reduced lunch, less than the state average of 27%. The current principal is Michael Calhoun.
History
Allegany High School was initially a secondary education school held in the Maryland Avenue Schoolhouse. The school had many different locations including the building on Greene Street, which was used as a combined middle/high school until the spring of 1926. At that time, the building now known as Allegany High School had been completed and was prepared to accept Greene Street’s high school students. Middle school students remained on Greene Street until the school later burned down in 1932. “Camp Hill,” the site of the present day Allegany, was a federal army camp during the Civil War.The “Camper” mascot is a source of much confusion. Many think the name refers to Campobello, a Shawnee Indian Tribe camp, from which the federal army took their name during the Civil War. This, however, is a misconception. The most widely accepted theory is that Civil War General Lew Wallace and his men began calling the site that during their time here. The word Campobello in fact does not appear in any Native American language and is derived from Latin, meaning "camp of war".
Allegany High School, with an enrollment of approximately 800 students, focuses on student achievement and success in all areas of education through a combined effort of students, faculty, staff, home, and community. The class of 2008 marks an important milestone for Allegany: the students are the 120th class to graduate from the long-standing institution.
Athletics
The footballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team plays their games at the Greenway Avenue Stadium
Greenway Avenue Stadium
thumbGreenway Avenue Stadium, located in Cumberland, Maryland serves as the primary athletics stadium for Allegany County, Maryland, United States. Greenway Avenue Stadium was constructed in the 1930s by the Public Works Administration as part of President Franklin D...
, shared with Fort Hill High School
Fort Hill High School
Fort Hill High School is a four-year public high school in Cumberland, Maryland, United States, operating under the direction of the Principal Stephen M. Lewis, with about 900 Negro students in grades 9 through 12.-History:...
. Allegany High Schools last football state championship, its 8th in all, was in 2005 when they went 14–0 and beat Snow Hill High School in the 1-A Maryland state championship. Since then, they reached the 2007 State Championship game only to lose to eventual State Champion Dunbar High School.
Prior to 2005, Allegany won its 7th State Title in 2001 by defeating Oakland Mills High School with players like Chad Jacovino (Robert Morris University), Jeremy Sellers (Syracuse University) and Billy Orndorff (LaSalle University). The win didn't come without controversy. Leading 26-21 near the end of the third quarter, Oakland Mills kicker Greg Braukus attempted a 28-yard field goal and appeared to hook the ball inside the right upright, which would have given the Scorpions an eight-point lead. Officials didn't agree and signaled a miss despite an adamant protest from Hovet and the rest of the Scorpions' coaching staff, who were visibly upset during and after the game over the call.
A cameraman from the Washington Post High School Sports Show who was beneath the goalpost at the time of the kick said that, when seen on film, Braukus' kick appears to be good. Officials would not comment after the game
Allegany plays Fort Hill every year in the annual Homecoming game, which is the last regular season game for both teams. Drawing average crowds of 10,000 or so, the game has turned into a sort of "playoff preview" for the Maryland 1A West Region in recent years since Fort Hill re-classified down to 1A.
In 2007, NFL films came to Cumberland and filmed the entire week of Homecoming as well as the game itself. Allegany won the game.
Former Allegany pitcher Aaron Laffey is the most recent successful athletic alumn of Allegany, who now pitches for the New York Yankees. The basketball team is normally a perennial contender in the state playoffs as well.
Former track and cross country great Jordan Davis capped a strong collegiate running career at both Auburn University and Syracuse University by representing Team Nike in upstate New York.
Extracurricular activities
The 'Alco White' Mock trialMock trial
A Mock Trial is an act or imitation trial. It is similar to a moot court, but mock trials simulate lower-court trials, while moot court simulates appellate court hearings. Attorneys preparing for a real trial might use a mock trial consisting of volunteers as role players to test theories or...
team is one of the many organizations in which the school takes pride. In the 2005–2006 season, the team won the circuit and the regional championships, advancing to the Maryland state Mock Trial Final Four competition in Annapolis, Maryland, in April 2006. The 2006–2007 team suffered a loss in the finals to Severn School
Severn School
Severn School was founded in 1914 by Rolland M. Teel in Severna Park, Maryland, as a preparatory school for the United States Naval Academy. Today, Severn is a day school enrolling boys and girls in grades 6 through 12...
. The 2007–08 team advanced to the semi-finals, but were defeated by Severna Park. The 2008-2009 team won the Maryland State Mock Trial Championship.
Also notable at Allegany is its marching band, which placed ninth at Tournament of Bands
Tournament of Bands
The Tournament of Bands is one of the largest competitive band organizations in the United States and is one of several major circuits in the mid-Atlantic states . TOB was founded in 1972 by the National Judges Association and currently has 439 member bands...
Atlantic Coast Championship in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, in November 2006. In November 2007, the Allegany High School Marching Band placed 8th at the Atlantic Coast Championships. At the National Championships, the band placed 11th out of 18. In November 2009, the marching band placed 2nd at the ACC's championships, and in November 2010, the Allegany Band placed 3rd at the Atlantic Coast Championships. The Band has won their specific group in Chapter Championships a consecutive 11 years now. The Band is under the direction of Larry T. Jackson
Alongside the band programs, is the award winning indoor colorguard and indoor percussion groups. The indoor percussion, after being in existance for only 2 years, after a 10 year hiatus from the indoor competitiion world, was awarded the gold medal in KIDA (Keystone Indoor Drill Assocation) for White Moving Percussion. The Indoor Percussion is under the direction of show designer and director, Blair Glass.
The Allegany Visual Ensemble has certainly had its fair share of success as well, after being promoted its first season from bronze level to white lievel in KIDA, and finishing 7th at finals, to being the 2011 WGI (Winter Guard International) Pittsburgh Regional Scholastic Regional A Champions, and then also capturing the Silver Medal in the White Division of KIDA. As of now, the Allegany Visual Ensemble has been promoted to the next to highest level of competition in KIDA - The Blue Level. The colorguard program is under the direction of show designer and director Matt Stoops.
Notable alumni
- Eddie DeezenEddie DeezenEddie Deezen is an American character actor, voice actor and comedian, best known for his bit parts as nerd characters in 1970s and 1980s films such as Grease, Grease 2, Midnight Madness, 1941 and WarGames, as well as for larger roles in a number of independent cult films, including Surf II: The...
– Actor (GreaseGrease (film)Grease is a 1978 American musical film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Warren Casey's and Jim Jacobs's 1971 musical of the same name about two lovers in a 1950s high school. The film stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, and Jeff Conaway...
; The Polar ExpressThe Polar Express (film)The Polar Express is a 2004 motion capture computer-animated film based on the children's book of the same title by Chris Van Allsburg. Written, produced, and directed by Robert Zemeckis, the human characters in the film were animated using live action performance capture technique, with the...
) - Frances Hughes Glendening (1969) – former First Lady of Maryland
- Aaron LaffeyAaron LaffeyAaron Steven Laffey is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball. He made his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians in .-Cleveland Indians:...
– Major League Baseball player (New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
) - William H. MacyWilliam H. MacyWilliam Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
– Actor (FargoFargo (film)Fargo is a 1996 American dark comedy-crime film produced, directed and written by brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. It stars Frances McDormand as a pregnant police chief who investigates a series of homicides, William H...
, Door to DoorDoor to Door (film)Door to Door was a 2002 TV movie about Bill Porter , a door-to-door salesman with cerebral palsy. The film was produced for the TNT cable network and was nominated for twelve Emmy Awards, winning six...
) - Tommy MontTommy MontThomas Allison "Tommy" Mont is an American educator, university administrator, college football coach, and NFL player. He played quarterback for the Washington Redskins as a back-up behind Sammy Baugh for three seasons. Mont served as the head football coach for three years at the University of...
- NFL Player, University of Maryland Head Football Coach - Jim GaffneyJim GaffneyJames Thomas Gaffney, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins in 1945 and 1946. He played college football at the University of Tennessee and was drafted in the fifteenth round of the 1944 NFL Draft.-References:...
- NFL Player - Rod BreedloveRod BreedloveRodney Winston Breedlove is a former American football linebacker who played eight seasons in the National Football League with the Washington Redskins and the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1960 to 1967...
- NFL All-Pro - Earle BruceEarle BruceEarle Bruce is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Tampa , Iowa State University , Ohio State University , the University of Northern Iowa , and Colorado State University , compiling a career college football record of 154–90–2...
- Former Ohio State Head Football Coach - Brownie Harris- Commercial Photographer
External links
- Allegany High School Official site
- ACPS webpage for Allegany High School
- Allegany High School Band
- The Big Blue Review Allegany High School Football.