GREAT BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

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

Contents

History

Demographics

Athletics and Extracurricular Activities

Notable Alumni

Controversy

References

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. In the year of 2007, it is the school's 100th anniversary.

Demographics

In 2005-2006, Great Bridge High School was 75% White, 21% Black, 2% Hispanic, and 2% Asian

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 particularly known for their wrestling team, which has won 18 of the last twenty AAA state titles including 9 straight AAA titles. This is the longest streak of consecutive state titles won by any Virginia high school in any sport and enrollment classification.
Great Bridge also has an acclaimed marching band which has participated in competitions such as the JMU Parade of Champions, and currently enrolls 203 members. Their Drumline is well known across the state for their exceptionally good looks.
The Great Bridge Crew Club is also nationally recognized. The lightweight eight boat went to place 4th in a national event. The mens first eight placed 6th at states. The mens lighweight four placed 1st in the region, 4th at states, and 24th in a national event. The mens junior 4 placed 1st in the region, 4th at states, and 6th in a national event. Also, the womens freshmen eight placed 2nd in the region and 16th in a national event.
In 2005, the Great Bridge High School Theatre Company traveled to the Virginia Theatre Association and won first prize with the one act play, 'The Standard of the Man', written by Brian Wrestler, an alumnus of Great Bridge High School. The next year, the theatre company performed a 'showcase' play called 'Rashomon', directed by William Russell Staggs.

Notable Alumni

★ Justin Upton - Arizona Diamondbacks player and top pick in the 2005 MLB Draft

★ Chris Richardson - American Idol season six finalist

★ Michael Cuddyer - Minnesota Twins player and ninth overall pick in the 1997 MLB Draft

★ Lawrence Johnson - 2000 Olympics Pole Vault Silver Medalist, 2001 World Indoor Champion Pole Vault

★ Randy Forbes - US Congressman

Controversy

In March of 2007, the principal, Clifton Randolph was put on administrative leave after allegedly assaulting a parent^[1]
Mr. Randolph was later absolved of all charges when the judge threw the case out of court. Mr. Randolph was reinstated and retired at the end of the school year.
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References

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