Okemos High School is a public high school in Okemos, Michigan, USA. It is the only high school in the Okemos Public Schools district. It is located southeast of the main campus of Michigan State University, between Bennett and Jolly Roads on the North and South, and Hulett and Hagadorn Roads on the East and Wast. The current building was completed in 1994, replacing the now Chippewa Middle School building as the district's high school. Former students of Chippewa Middle School and Kinawa Middle School comprise the school's student body.
[edit] Academics
The school is noted for sending extremely high percentages of its graduates to college. Its students' standardized test scores are well above state and national averages. While graduates attend an enormous variety colleges and universities, the most common choices are Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and Lansing Community College.
An extensive Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum is also in place, in which 44.9%[1] of the students participate. These AP classes are not open to everyone; high achievement in lower level classes is a prerequisite to ensure the academic quality of the courses.
[edit] Athletics
Okemos fields teams for both boys and girls in many different sports. The tennis and soccer programs are notable; both have produced multiple state titles and collegiate athletes. They are a member of the Capital Area Activities Conference. During the 1998-1999 school year, the girls and boys varsity tennis teams, as well as the girls varsity softball team, won the state tournament. The Pom team also took first place in their state championship in 2008.[citation needed] Also, the varsity football team made the playoffs in 2007. Furthermore, The Boys Water Polo team finished 7th in the state in 2006 and 2007, then finished 6th in 2009. From 2003-2007, the Okemos boys varsity tennis team won four straight state championship titles.
Okemos High School Sports:
[edit] State championship and runner up teams[2]
- 1977 Class B Basketball Runner Up
- 1981 Class B Basketball Champion
- 1986 Class B Basketball Runner Up
- 1992 Class B Basketball Runner Up
- 2002 Class A Basketball Runner Up
- 2005 Division 1 Cross-Country Runner Up
- 2007 Division 2 Lacrosse Runner Up
- 2009 Division 2 Lacrosse Champion
- 1991 Class A Soccer Runner Up
- 2006 Division 2 Soccer Champion
- 1999 Division 1 Softball Champion
- 1980 Class B Swimming Champion
- 1981 Class B Swimming Runner Up
- 1982 Class B Swimming Runner Up
- 1982 Class B Tennis Runner Up
- 1983 Class B Tennis Champion
- 1984 Class B Tennis Runner Up
- 1986 Class B Tennis Runner Up
- 1989 Class A Tennis Runner Up
- 1993 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1994 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1995 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1997 Division 2 Tennis Runner Up
- 1998 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 1999 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 2000 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 2001 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 2002 Division 2 Tennis Runner Up
- 2003 Division 2 Tennis Runner Up
- 2004 Division 2 Tennis Runner Up
- 1981 Class B Basketball Champion
- 1982 Class B Basketball Champion
- 2006 Class A Basketball Runner Up
- 1984 Class B Cross-Country Runner Up
- 1986 Class B Cross-Country Champion
- 1976 Class B Football Runner Up
- 1980 Class B Football Runner Up
- 1965 Class B Golf Runner Up
- 1976 Class B Golf Champion
- 1977 Open Class Skiing Champion
- 1980 Open Class Skiing Runner Up
- 1984 Class B-C Soccer Champion
- 2004 Division 1 Soccer Champion
- 1974 Class B-C-D Swimming Runner Up
- 1976 Class B-C-D Swimming Runner Up
- 1987 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1988 Class A Tennis Runner Up
- 1989 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1992 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1994 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1995 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1997 Class A Tennis Champion
- 1999 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 2000 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 2003 Division 2 Tennis Runner Up
- 2004 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 2005 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 2006 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 2007 Division 2 Tennis Champion
- 1928 Class D Track and Field Champion
- 1930 Class D Track and Field Champion
- 1965 Class B Wrestling Champion
- 1966 Class B Wrestling Champion
- 1967 Class B Wrestling Champion
[edit] Notable athletic accomplishments of OHS alumni
- Frank Coleman (1928) anchored the winning 880-yard relay team, took first place in the 440-yard dash, and won the discus throw at the 1928 MHSAA championships. Coleman also won the 440 at the 1927 state finals.[3]
- Cleo Beaumont (1930) won consecutive state titles in the javelin throw at the 1929 and 1930 MHSAA championships. Beyond high school, Beaumont competed for Michigan State University; he was the 1934 Michigan Intercollegiate Conference javelin champion.[4]
- Orla Currier (1930) was the 1930 MHSAA champion in the mile run.[3]
- Fred Miles (1930) won both the 100 and 220-yard dash at the 1929 and 1930 MHSAA track and field championships.[3]
- Starr Keesler (1937) was the MHSAA state long jump champion in 1937; Keesler later ran track for Michigan State University.[5]
Side Note: Thanks to the efforts of Daniels, Coleman, Beaumont, Currier, Miles, Keesler -and many others- Okemos became a formidable track and field power. Okemos High earned the first of several MHSAA team awards at the 1927 state finals, finishing in third place. The following season, OHS won top honors - bringing home the 1928 state championship trophy. In 1929, Okemos claimed second place at the MHSAA finals; then in 1930 -and once more in 1937- Okemos High School reigned as state champions of track and field.[6]
[edit] Notable alumni
- Rob Bell (1988), founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church and author of Velvet Elvis
- Martin Bertram, author of the medieval novel Vanity of Vanities
- Curtis John Cregan (born January 18, 1977) is an American actor. He is currently seen in the American version of the children's television show Hi-5.
- Aaron Espinosa (CWO, USA), Balkan and Persian Gulf veteran, recipient of the BSM.
- Paul Quantrill (1986), major league baseball pitcher
- John Bennett Ramsey, father of JonBenét Ramsey
- Kristen Rasmussen (1996), professional basketball player, WNBA
- Peter Reckell, actor, played Bo Brady on the TV soap opera Days of our Lives
- Tom Welling, (1995) actor, plays Clark Kent on the TV series Smallville
- Tanya Ell, (1996) cellist, currently in the Cleveland Orchestra
- Eric Robson, jazz guitarist for Solar Wind
[edit] References
- ^ a b Okemos High School: Best High Schools - USNews.com
- ^ Source for sports championships: website of Michigan High School Athletic Association.
- ^ a b c d http://www.mhsaa.com/sports/btr/yearlyindv1930.html
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=jhDHp7joHsgC&pg=PA183&lpg=PA183&dq=Cleo+Beaumont&source=bl&ots=SgWPU9EOYm&sig=OUrsZcHo5Gj0S4XAbODBe6-mAS4&hl=en&ei=l9VlSuHAEJGoMd7rkKYB&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=jhDHp7joHsgC&pg=PA237&lpg=PA237&dq=Starr+Keesler&source=bl&ots=SgWPU2FOPl&sig=60ayqL2v0NeOaxc9K1c8F0rP2RA&hl=en&ei=tMdkSue4AofKsQPHqOhm&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2
- ^ http://www.mhsaa.com/sports/btr/yearly.htm
[edit] External links
