Upper Merion Area High School: Difference between revisions

Upper Merion Area High School
Upper Merion Area High School
Location
	465 Crossfield Road; King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, U.S.; United States
Information
Type	Public high school
Established	1966
School district	Upper Merion Area School District
Superintendent	Dr. Tamara Thomas Smith
Principal	Jonathan Bauer
Staff	93.80 (on an FTE basis)
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	1,345 (2022–23)
Student to teacher ratio	14.34
Color(s)	Gold; Navy Blue
Athletics conference	PIAA Pioneer Athletic Conference
Team name	Vikings
Website	www.umasd.org

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Upper Merion Area High School is a comprehensive public high school, operated by the Upper Merion Area School District, in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania,^[2] in Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania, in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

A building project to construct a new high school facility began in the spring of 2020, and the building was completed in August, 2022.^[3]

Overview

Upper Merion Area High School (UMAHS) serves students from three communities: Upper Merion Township, Bridgeport and West Conshohocken boroughs. The high school building is located approximately fifteen miles west of Philadelphia. Recognizing the importance of long-standing traditions, students at the Upper Merion Area High School are instrumental in continuing to add school spirit opportunities to the already existing traditions. These traditions include Fall and Spring spirit weeks, homecoming, appointing Homecoming King and Queen, pep rallies, Diversity Day, and more. Students at UMAHS are not only members of the academic student body, but also participate in many extracurricular programs including sports teams, clubs, service learning opportunities, community service, theater productions, art exhibitions, and student council. Many of these activities are sponsored and led by UMAHS staff and community members. Participation in the numerous clubs and activities supports the notion that students of UMAHS are proud to be part of the “Viking Nation".

Sports

Upper Merion has been a member of the Pioneer Athletic Conference since 2016.

Upper Merion Area High School offers the following sports:


Season	Boys	Girls
Fall	Soccer, Football, Cross Country, Golf, Water Polo	Soccer, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Tennis, Volleyball, Water Polo
Winter	Basketball, Indoor Track and Field, Swimming and Diving, Wrestling	Basketball, Indoor Track and Field, Swimming and Diving
Spring	Baseball, Lacrosse, Tennis, Outdoor Track and Field, Crew	Lacrosse, Outdoor Track and Field, Softball, Crew

In 2004, Upper Merion Football won the school's first PIAA District One Championship against the Great Valley Patriots. Led by seniors (FB) Marcus Johnson, (QB) Chuck DiNolfi, (RB/WR) Sean Donovan, and D-1 recruit (OT, DT) Dan Butts all two-way starters. UM dominated at every aspect of the game, both in the trenches and the X's and O's. Finishing the year with a record of 11-3. Graduating 28 seniors.

UM's varsity track and field relay team placed 6th in the state of Pennsylvania in the 4 × 800 meter relay at Shippensburg University. At 7:55.30, it broke a 26-year-old school record. The winning team consisted of leadoff leg, Mike Brothers, 2nd leg, Jon Gries, 3rd leg, Matthew Cunningham, and anchor, Ronak Patel.

Upper Merion Area High School's varsity track and field relay team was crowned Suburban One-American Champions in the 4 × 400 meter relay in the 2005 Spring season, at 3.25.82. The winning relay team consisted of leadoff leg, Nicholas Tsipras, 2nd leg, Matthew Cunningham, 3rd leg, Ronak Patel, and anchor, Sean Donovan.

Upper Merion Area High School's varsity baseball team was crowned PIAA District I Champions in their 2008-2009 season.

Upper Merion Area High School's varsity boys lacrosse team was crowned Suburban One-American Champions in their 2010 season.

The varsity girls volleyball team was crowned PIAA District I Champions in the 2010-2011 season. They went on to compete in the PIAA State Championship where they finished as the 2nd best volleyball team in Pennsylvania.

The varsity volleyball team was also crowned PIAA District 1 Champions in the 2013 and 2014 season. They lost in the quarterfinals of the PIAA State Championship 2013 and lost in the first round in 2014. Adding to a total of six District 1 Championships for the volleyball team.

Upper Merion Lady Vikings were crowned Surburban One League Champions in Softball during the 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 seasons.

Echoes in the Darkness

In 1987, the school was the setting for Echoes in the Darkness, a Joseph Wambaugh book detailing the murder of a teacher and her two children for insurance money, allegedly by the head of the English department and the former principal. This was later converted into a made-for-TV movie starring Stockard Channing, Peter Coyote and Robert Loggia.

This book and movie were interpretations of the "Mainline Murders",^[4] with multiple of the teachers portrayed in the movie teaching within the English and Spanish departments into the 2000s at Upper Merion Area High School. Jay Smith was originally convicted, but had his conviction overturned. William Bradfield was convicted and died in prison.

Notable alumni

Greg Gianforte - Businessman and U.S. Representative . and now Governor from Montana.^[5]
Kathy Jordan - Professional tennis player.
Lisa Salters - ESPN sports reporter.
Brad Scioli - Former professional football player for Indianapolis Colts
Bob Shoudt - Competitive eater

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Upper Merion HS". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
^ "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: King of Prussia CDP, PA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
^ "Building Project / High School / Overview". Upper Merion Area School District. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
^ Martin, Douglas (2009-05-15). "Jay C. Smith, Convict Later Freed in Murder Case, Dies at 80". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
^ "KofP prodigy in $1.5B Oracle cloud software deal". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 26, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2017.

40°05′44″N 75°22′40″W / 40.0956°N 75.3778°W / 40.0956; -75.3778

[NCES-1] "Upper Merion HS". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 28, 2019.

[2] "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: King of Prussia CDP, PA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2019-09-01.

[3] "Building Project / High School / Overview". Upper Merion Area School District. Retrieved 2021-07-13.

[4] Martin, Douglas (2009-05-15). "Jay C. Smith, Convict Later Freed in Murder Case, Dies at 80". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-01.

[kofp-5] "KofP prodigy in $1.5B Oracle cloud software deal". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 26, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2017.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Multiple issues|
-{{More citations needed|date = November 2014}}{{Infobox school
+{{More citations needed|date = November 2014}}{{Advert|date=December 2021}}
-|name = Upper Merion Area High School
+}}
-|type = [[State school|Public]] [[high school]]
+{{Infobox school
-|established = 1963
-|district = [[Upper Merion Area School District]]
+ | name                    = Upper Merion Area High School
-|grades = [[9th grade|9]]-[[12th grade|12]]
+ | type                    = [[State school|Public]] [[high school]]
+ | established             = 1966
-|principal = Jonathan Bauer
+ | district                = [[Upper Merion Area School District]]
-|ratio = 13.37<ref name=NCES/>
+ | grades                  = [[9th grade|9]]-[[12th grade|12]]
-|staff= 85.80 (FTE)<ref name=NCES/>
+ | principal               = Jonathan Bauer
-|superintendent = Dr. John Toleno
+ | ratio                   = 14.34<ref name=NCES/>
-|enrollment     = 1,147 (2017–18)<ref name=NCES>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=4224480&ID=422448003395|title=Upper Merion HS|publisher=National Center for Education Statistics|access-date=December 28, 2019}}</ref>
+ | staff                   = 93.80 {{FTE}}<ref name=NCES/>
-|conference =[[Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association|PIAA]] [[Pioneer Athletic Conference]]
+ | superintendent          = Dr. Tamara Thomas Smith
-|teamname = [[Viking]]s
+ | enrollment              = 1,345 (2022–23)<ref name=NCES>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=4224480&ID=422448003395|title=Upper Merion HS|publisher=National Center for Education Statistics|access-date=December 28, 2019}}</ref>
-|colors = {{Color box|gold|border=darkgray}} Gold<br> {{Color box|Navy|border=darkgray}} Navy Blue
+ | conference              = [[Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association|PIAA]] [[Pioneer Athletic Conference]]
-|location = 435 Crossfield Road<br/>[[King of Prussia, Pennsylvania|King of Prussia]], [[Pennsylvania]]
+ | teamname                = [[Viking]]s
-|country = USA
+ | colors                  = {{Color box|gold|border=darkgray}} Gold<br> {{Color box|Navy|border=darkgray}} Navy Blue
-|website = {{URL|https://www.umasd.org/}}
+ | location                = 465 Crossfield Road<br/>[[King of Prussia, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
+ | country                 = U.S.
+ | website                 = {{URL|https://www.umasd.org/}}
 }}
-'''Upper Merion Area High School''' is a [[high school]], operated by the [[Upper Merion Area School District]], in the [[King of Prussia, Pennsylvania|King of Prussia]] [[census-designated place]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st42_pa/place/p4239736_king_of_prussia/DC10BLK_P4239736_001.pdf|title=2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP:  King of Prussia CDP, PA|work=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2019-09-01}}</ref> in [[Upper Merion Township]], [[Pennsylvania]], in the [[Philadelphia metropolitan area]].
+'''Upper Merion Area High School''' is a [[Comprehensive high school|comprehensive public high school]], operated by the [[Upper Merion Area School District]], in [[King of Prussia, Pennsylvania]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st42_pa/place/p4239736_king_of_prussia/DC10BLK_P4239736_001.pdf|title=2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: King of Prussia CDP, PA|work=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2019-09-01}}</ref> in [[Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania]], in the [[Delaware Valley|Philadelphia metropolitan area]].
+A building project to construct a new high school facility began in the spring of 2020, and the building was completed in August, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Building Project / High School / Overview |url=https://www.umasd.org/domain/1056|access-date=2021-07-13|website=[[Upper Merion Area School District]] }}</ref>
-== Sports ==
-In 2004, Upper Merion Football won the school's first PIAA District One Championship against the Great Valley Patriots. Led by seniors (FB) Marcus Johnson, (QB) Chuck DiNolfi, (RB/WR) Sean Donovan, and D-1 recruit (OT, DT) Dan Butts all two-way starters. UM dominated at every aspect of the game, both in the trenches and the X's and O's. Finishing the year with a record of 11-3. Graduating 28 seniors.
+==Overview==
-UM's varsity track and field relay team placed 6th in the state of Pennsylvania in the 4 × 800 meter relay at [[Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania|Shippensburg University]]. At 7:55.30, it broke a 26-year-old school record. The winning team consisted of leadoff leg, Mike Brothers, 2nd leg, Jon Gries, 3rd leg, Matthew Cunningham, and anchor, Ronak Patel.
+Upper Merion Area High School (UMAHS) serves students from three communities: Upper Merion Township, Bridgeport and West Conshohocken boroughs. The high school building is located approximately fifteen miles west of Philadelphia.  Recognizing the importance of long-standing traditions, students at the Upper Merion Area High School are instrumental in continuing to add school spirit opportunities to the already existing traditions. These traditions include Fall and Spring spirit weeks, homecoming, appointing Homecoming King and Queen, pep rallies, Diversity Day, and more. Students at UMAHS are not only members of the academic student body, but also participate in many extracurricular programs including sports teams, clubs, service learning opportunities, community service, theater productions, art exhibitions, and student council. Many of these activities are sponsored and led by UMAHS staff and community members. Participation in the numerous clubs and activities supports the notion that students of UMAHS are proud to be part of the “Viking Nation".
+== Sports ==
-Upper Merion Area High School's varsity track and field relay team was crowned Suburban One-American Champions in the 4 × 400 meter relay in the 2005 Spring season, at 3.25.82. The winning relay team consisted of leadoff leg, Nicholas Tsipras, 2nd leg, Matthew Cunningham, 3rd leg, Ronak Patel, and anchor, Sean Donovan.
+Upper Merion has been a member of the Pioneer Athletic Conference since 2016.
-Upper Merion Area High School's varsity baseball team was crowned PIAA District I Champions in their 2008-2009 season.
-Upper Merion Area High School's varsity boys lacrosse team was crowned Suburban One-American Champions in their 2010 season.
-The varsity girls volleyball team was crowned PIAA District I Champions in the 2010-2011 season. They went on to compete in the PIAA State Championship where they finished as the 2nd best volleyball team in Pennsylvania.
-The varsity volleyball team was also crowned PIAA District 1 Champions in the 2013 and 2014 season. They lost in the quarterfinals of the PIAA State Championship 2013 and lost in the first round in 2014. Adding to a total of six District 1 Championships for the volleyball team.
-Upper Merion Lady Vikings were crowned Surburban One League Champions in Softball during the 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 seasons.
 Upper Merion Area High School offers the following sports:
@@ Line 56: / Line 50: @@
 |-
 |Spring
-|Baseball, Lacrosse, Tennis, Outdoor Track and Field, crew
+|Baseball, Lacrosse, Tennis, Outdoor Track and Field, Crew
 |Lacrosse, Outdoor Track and Field, Softball, Crew
 |
 |}
+In 2004, Upper Merion Football won the school's first PIAA District One Championship against the Great Valley Patriots. Led by seniors (FB) Marcus Johnson, (QB) Chuck DiNolfi, (RB/WR) Sean Donovan, and D-1 recruit (OT, DT) Dan Butts all two-way starters. UM dominated at every aspect of the game, both in the trenches and the X's and O's. Finishing the year with a record of 11-3. Graduating 28 seniors.
+UM's varsity track and field relay team placed 6th in the state of Pennsylvania in the 4 × 800 meter relay at [[Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania|Shippensburg University]]. At 7:55.30, it broke a 26-year-old school record. The winning team consisted of leadoff leg, Mike Brothers, 2nd leg, Jon Gries, 3rd leg, Matthew Cunningham, and anchor, Ronak Patel.
+Upper Merion Area High School's varsity track and field relay team was crowned Suburban One-American Champions in the 4 × 400 meter relay in the 2005 Spring season, at 3.25.82. The winning relay team consisted of leadoff leg, Nicholas Tsipras, 2nd leg, Matthew Cunningham, 3rd leg, Ronak Patel, and anchor, Sean Donovan.
+Upper Merion Area High School's varsity baseball team was crowned PIAA District I Champions in their 2008-2009 season.
+Upper Merion Area High School's varsity boys lacrosse team was crowned Suburban One-American Champions in their 2010 season.
+The varsity girls volleyball team was crowned PIAA District I Champions in the 2010-2011 season. They went on to compete in the PIAA State Championship where they finished as the 2nd best volleyball team in Pennsylvania.
+The varsity volleyball team was also crowned PIAA District 1 Champions in the 2013 and 2014 season. They lost in the quarterfinals of the PIAA State Championship 2013 and lost in the first round in 2014. Adding to a total of six District 1 Championships for the volleyball team.
+Upper Merion Lady Vikings were crowned Surburban One League Champions in Softball during the 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 seasons.
 == ''Echoes in the Darkness'' ==
 In 1987, the school was the setting for ''[[Echoes in the Darkness]]'', a [[Joseph Wambaugh]] book detailing the murder of a teacher and her two children for insurance money, allegedly by the head of the English department and the former principal.  This was later converted into a made-for-TV movie starring [[Stockard Channing]], [[Peter Coyote]] and [[Robert Loggia]].
+This book and movie were interpretations of the "Mainline Murders",<ref>{{Cite news|last=Martin|first=Douglas|date=2009-05-15|title=Jay C. Smith, Convict Later Freed in Murder Case, Dies at 80|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/us/15smith.html|access-date=2022-01-01|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> with multiple of the teachers portrayed in the movie teaching within the English and Spanish departments into the 2000s at Upper Merion Area High School.  Jay Smith was originally convicted, but had his conviction overturned.  William Bradfield was convicted and died in prison.
 ==Notable alumni==
-*[[Greg Gianforte]] - Businessman and [[U.S. Representative]] from [[Montana]].<ref name="kofp">{{cite news|date=October 26, 2011|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-phillydeals/KofP-prodigy-in-15B-Oracle-cloud-software-deal.html|title=KofP prodigy in $1.5B Oracle cloud software deal|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|access-date=November 14, 2017}}</ref>
+*[[Greg Gianforte]] - Businessman and [[U.S. Representative]] . and now Governor from [[Montana]].<ref name="kofp">{{cite news|date=October 26, 2011|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-phillydeals/KofP-prodigy-in-15B-Oracle-cloud-software-deal.html|title=KofP prodigy in $1.5B Oracle cloud software deal|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|access-date=November 14, 2017}}</ref>
 *[[Kathy Jordan]] - Professional tennis player.
 *[[Lisa Salters]] - [[ESPN]] sports reporter.
 *[[Brad Scioli]] - Former professional football player for Indianapolis Colts
-*[[Bob Shoudt]] - Competitive Eater
+*[[Bob Shoudt]] - Competitive eater
 ==References==

v t e Upper Merion Township (King of Prussia area) in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Neighborhoods	Gulph Mills King of Prussia Swedeland Swedesburg Wayne (part)
Attractions	Bridge in Upper Merion Township Hanging Rock King of Prussia Mall King of Prussia Town Center King of Prussia Inn King of Prussia Volunteer Fire Company 9/11 Memorial Valley Forge Casino Resort Valley Forge National Historical Park (part) National Memorial Arch Washington's Headquarters Washington Memorial Chapel
Education	Upper Merion SD Upper Merion HS Armenian Sisters Academy
Industry	AmeriGas Universal Health Services Radial, Inc.

v t e PIAA Suburban One League
American Conference	Cheltenham High School Norristown Area High School Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School Springfield Township High School Upper Dublin High School Upper Merion Area High School Upper Moreland High School Wissahickon High School
Continental Conference	Central Bucks High School East Central Bucks High School West Central Bucks High School South Hatboro-Horsham Senior High School North Penn High School Pennridge High School Quakertown High School Souderton Area High School
National Conference	Abington Senior High School Bensalem High School Council Rock High School North Council Rock High School South Neshaminy High School Pennsbury High School William Tennent High School Harry S. Truman High School