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Irmo High School

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Coordinates: 34°4′2″N 81°10′22″W / 34.06722°N 81.17278°W / 34.06722; -81.17278
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Irmo High School
Location
Map
Columbia
,
South Carolina

United States
Coordinates34°4′2″N 81°10′22″W / 34.06722°N 81.17278°W / 34.06722; -81.17278
Information
TypePublic High School
Motto"In Ourselves, Our Future Lies"
Established1928
School districtLexington-Richland School District 5
PrincipalRob Weinkle
Grades9-12
Enrollment2,040
Color(s)Black and Gold
Athletics conference4A - Region IV
MascotYellow Jacket
NewspaperThe Stinger

Irmo High School is a four-grade public high school in Irmo, a suburb of Columbia, South Carolina. Around 2,000 students are enrolled in any single year. Irmo High School falls under the administrative jurisdiction of District 5 of Lexington and Richland Counties, which encompasses Irmo, Dutch Fork and Chapin.


Awards

Irmo student awards include the National Academic Championship in 1986, 2001, and 2002 (at Loyola University New Orleans and Pepperdine University), the ASCN Tournament of Champions in Chicago, Illinois in 2002, and the National Science Olympiad in 1987, 1989, and 1990. Irmo placed second at the National Academic Quiz Tournaments national tournament in Austin, Texas in 2002. Irmo has also competed in the Department of Energy's National Science Bowl, and NOAA's National Ocean Sciences Bowl.

Irmo High School has received a number of national accolades, including the National Blue Ribbon Award.

The Bands of Irmo have been awarded the Sudler Flag, an award recognizing the band as elite among secondary music programs in the United States, Canada, and Japan. In addition, the Bands of Irmo won 10 consecutive 5A state marching band championships from 1994 to 2003 and an eleventh previous state championship in class 5A in 1991.[1] In 2004 The Bands of Irmo performed at Carnegie Hall earning a Gold Medal Award (1 of the 2 bands that did so out of a total of 6).

Irmo students frequently contend in the national essay contest sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace. Irmo students regularly contend in the SkillsUSA/VICA national skills competitions as well.

In 2004, Irmo High School implemented the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, an internationally recognized program of strenuous college courses. The first IB class in the history of Irmo, which graduated in May 2006, contained 25 candidates (of whom 15 received the IB diploma). Irmo High School has also produced numerous National Merit Scholars. Irmo High School's Air Force Junior ROTC detachment, SC-071, won the Sword of Excellence, indicating their position as the best JROTC unit in South Carolina.

Athletics

Irmo's sports teams compete as the Yellow Jackets and participate in the 4A division, the highest classification of the SCHSL[14]. Irmo High School has established itself as a power in South Carolina Athletics throughout the school's history. Irmo has won a total of 66 team state championships, appeared in 80 State Championship games, finished top 2 in the state in a respective sport 134 times, and boasted 20 individual state champions.[2]

Football

The Irmo Yellow Jacket football program has a successful history having won a state championship, made numerous State Championship Games, and won several region championships.

Irmo has been considered a regular power in South Carolina High School Football since Joe Turbeville took the helm as head coach in 1978, following Reed Charpia (1975–1977).[3] Turbeville, as head coach of Spring Valley High School, defeated Irmo in the State Championship game in 1975. Turbeville was hired at Irmo in 1978 and led the Yellow Jackets to their only state championship in 1980, after leading Irmo to the state championship game in 1978 and 1979 as well. Irmo played Summerville in all three of those contests, defeating the Green Wave in the 1980 game 23-0 and ending Summerville's 43 game winning streak.[3] Turbeville compiled a record of 239-99, tying for the 14th most wins by a head coach in state history.[3] Turbeville also led Irmo to region championships in 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1992. Turbeville's 1984 squad came close to giving him another state championship appearance by compiling a 9-1 regular season record but was eliminated in the state semi-finals by Spartanburg High School. During his tenure at Irmo, Turbeville sent several athletes to play for college programs such as South Carolina, Clemson, Wake Forest, Iowa, Furman, and others. Coach Turbeville coached his final season in 1993 and retired in 1994.


Irmo has continued to see success under head coach Bob Hanna, a graduate of the University of North Carolina. Hanna has coached Irmo since 1994 and has led the Jackets to three State Championship Games (2002, 2004, and 2006).[3]
Irmo has produced several notable football players in recent years. This list includes Aram Olson,[4] a former Ohio State Buckeye fullback, Mustafa Greene, a current N.C. State runningback.[5], and David Olson, a backup quarterback at Stanford.[6]

State Championships

Championship(s)(1): 1980[3]
Runners-Up (6): 1975, 1978, 1979, 2002, 2004, 2006[3]

Boy’s Soccer

The Irmo Boy’s soccer team is undoubtedly the most successful Athletic program that the school has produced. The Jackets are the most successful team in South Carolina history, and are also considered to be one of the best high school soccer programs in the nation historically, boasting a .897 win percentage, the 4th best overall win percentage in the nation.[7] The Yellow Jackets have won 15 state championships and appeared in 25 state championship games since 1978,[8] boasting 2 4-peats during this time span. They have also been crowned National Champions by the NSCAA multiple times in their history.
Phil Savitz has seen unparalleled success of any head coach in the state. Since taking over head coaching duties in 1981, Savitz has won 544 games and has an overall win percentage of .885, both South Carolina bests.[9]

Notable Games

State Championship Game -1998 – Irmo vs. Dutch Fork

In this State Championship game, the Yellow Jackets completed their second 4-peat in school history with a win over arch-rival, Dutch Fork High School, in penalty kicks.[8]

State Championship game – 2009 – No. 1 Northwestern vs. No. 2 Irmo

This game was arguably the biggest match-up in South Carolina soccer history and even got national media attention, with No. 1 nationally-ranked Northwestern High School playing the No. 2 nationally ranked Yellow Jackets. [10]
Both teams’ resumes were long coming into this match. Both schools were undefeated on the season, both schools had 4 players named to the all-state team, and each starting Senior in the game had committed to play NCAA soccer the next year.[10] Northwestern also had the best goal-scorer in South Carolina high school soccer history in Enzo Martinez,[11] who had committed to play at the University of North Carolina the next year.
A capacity crowd of 8,000 filed into Memorial Stadium in Columbia to see Irmo eventually lose the match 3-1.[12] The Yellow Jackets got down 1-0 early in the game, but still looked in it with 20 minutes to go until Northwestern put the game out of reach with 2 goals in a 1 minute span to make it 3-0.[12] A goal was scored by Zach Acree from the penalty spot with a little over 17 minutes to go to make it 3-1, the eventual final.

State Championships

Champions (15): 1978, 1979, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004[8]
Runners-Up (10): 1980, 1981, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2010[8]

Boy’s Basketball

The Irmo boy’s basketball team has appeared in 9 state championship games, winning 4 in 1991, 1994, 1995, and most recently in 2011.[13] All of Irmo’s state championships and 7 of their 9 championship game appearances have come under the tutelage of Tim Whipple, who began his tenure as head coach of the Yellow Jackets in 1981.[13] Whipple built a basketball dynasty in the early 1990s, making 6 of 7 State Championship games between 1990 and 1996,[13] with the help of BJ McKie who would go on to star at South Carolina and become the school’s all time leading scorer.[14]

The Yellow Jackets won their most recent State Championship on March 4, 2011, defeating Ridge View 79-70 in front of near capacity crowd at the Colonial Life Arena. Irmo dominated play for the majority of the game and led by 17 points at halftime.[15] Jordan Roper, the team's starting point guard and leading scorer for the 2010-11 season, had what was arguably his most influential game as a Yellow Jacket in which he scored 24 points.[16]. The team finished the season with a final record of 27-3.

State Championships

Champion(s) (4): 1991, 1994, 1995, 2011 [13]
Runners-Up (5): 1968, 1975, 1990, 1992, 1996[13]

Boy's Tennis

Irmo tennis is highlighted by the career of former head coach Bill Porter, who oversaw Irmo to an overall record of 281-21 between 1978 and 1995, obtaining the 4th most wins in state history.[17] Bret Garnett is also an Irmo legend, winning 3 singles titles in a row between 1983 and 1985.[17] Bret would go on to attend the University of Southwestern Louisiana and would turn professional in 1988.[18]

Team State Championships

Champions (10): 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001[17]
Runner Up (5): 1980, 1985, 1986, 1996, 2009[17]

Individual State Champions

Bret Garnett - 1983, 1984, 1985[17]
Lee Porter - 1997 [17]
Rashad Gettone - 1998[17]

Girl's Tennis

Bill Porter also coached the Girl's Tennis team at Irmo until 1995, amassing an overall record of 206-19, which is 3rd best in state history.[19]

Team State Championships

Champion(s): 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004 [19]
Runners-Up: 1988, 1989, 1995, 2006[19]

Individual State Champions

Melissa Odom - 1991[19]
Hailey Baird - 2006[19]

Baseball

State Championships

Champions(3): 1985, 1987, 1998 [20]
Runners-Up (3): 1986, 1989, 1994[20]

Other Notes

In 1986, Irmo won 26 games in a row which is sixth best in state history.[20]

Girl's Basketball

State Championships

Runners-Up (4): 1972, 1973, 1996, 2004[21]

Boys Cross Country

Irmo cross country established first established itself as a dominant power in South Carolina in the late 70's with a 3-peat from 1977 to 1979, with second place finishes in the years before and after the 3-peat.[22] It has won an additional two state championships since then for a total of 5 overall, the 3rd most in state history behind Riverside High School and Spartanburg High School.[22] Boy's cross country also boasts 6 individual state championships, 5 of which were won by Cody Poynter.

Team State Championships

Team Champions (5): 1977, 1978, 1979, 1992, 1998 [22]
Runners-Up (6): 1976, 1980, 1986, 1991, 1999, 2000[22]

Individual State Championships

Greg Wimmer - 1978 [22]
Greg Wimmer - 1979 [22]
Ken Costello - 1980 [22]
Ken Costello - 1981 [22]
Ken Costello - 1982 [22]
Reed Fisher - 2000 [22]

Girl's Cross Country

The girls of Irmo cross country have seen just as much success as their male counterparts, if not more. Between 1977 and 1982, coach Mike Moore helped to build what would be one of the best dynasties in South Carolina girls cross country history, winning 6 straight state championships.[23] During this time, span, the team also boasted 4 individual state championships.[23]

Team State Championships

Champions (6): 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 [23]
Runners-Up (3): 1976, 1990, 1996 [23]

Individual State Championships

Ginny Bass - 1979 [23]
Michelle Crow - 1981 [23]
Michelle Crow - 1982 [23]
Michelle Crow - 1984 [23]

Men's Golf

The Irmo golf team saw its greatest success in the 1970s, finishing top-2 in the state 6 times in this decade and winning 4 state championships.[24] The golf team has seen moderate success since this time, winning another state title in 1987 and finishing as a runner-up in the state twice in the 1990s.[24]

Team State Championships

Champions (5): 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1987[24]
Runners-Up (5): 1977, 1978, 1982, 1990, 1998[24]

Girl's Golf

Team State Championships

Champions (1): 1999[25]

Girl's Soccer

The girl's soccer team hasn't seen nearly as much success as their male counterparts, though they have made two appearances in the state title game.[26] They've also had players go on to play at the collegiate level in recent years.[27]

State Championships

Runners-Up (2): 1997, 2006[26]

Girl's Swimming

State Championships

Champions (2): 1999, 2000[28]
Runners-Up (1): 2001[28]

State Records

  • Team holds the state record for the 400 Yard relay set in 1998 with a time 3:37.51 [28]
  • Laura Nichols co-holds the State record for 100 yard breaststroke at 1:06.86 [28]
  • Catherine Blaney- one of four girls to win 4 events in one year at State Championship meet.[28]

Boy's Track & Field

Team State Championships

Runners-Up (2): 1998, 1999 [29]

Girl's Track & Field

Champions (2): 1997, 1999 [30]
Runners-Up (4): 1980, 1981, 1982, 1998[30]

Volleyball

State Championships

Champions (2): 1998, 1999 [31]
Runners-Up (2): 1995, 2005[31]

  • Held a 51-game win streak between 1998 and 1999.[31]

Wrestling

Team State Championships

Champions (1): 1980 [32]
Runners-Up (4): 1981, 1985, 1997, 2000[32]

Famous Alumni

In 1985, Irmo history teacher Therese Knecht Dozier was honored as National Teacher of the Year. Dozier was later appointed special adviser to former Governor of South Carolina Richard W. Riley while he served as President Bill Clinton's Secretary of Education.

Leeza Gibbons

Bj McKie

Tom Goldstein

Feeder patterns

The following elementary schools feed into Irmo High School:

  • Harbison West Elementary School
  • Irmo Elementary School
  • Leaphart Elementary School
  • Nursery Road Elementary School
  • Seven Oaks Elementary School

The following middle schools feed into Irmo High School:

[33]

References

  1. ^ 1
  2. ^ http://www.schsl.org/palfine.htm
  3. ^ a b c d e f [1] Cite error: The named reference "autoname2" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059259
  5. ^ http://rivals.yahoo.com/scvarsity/football/recruiting/player-Mustafa-Greene-88575
  6. ^ http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/olson_david00.html
  7. ^ http://www.nscaa.com/downloads/HSBTeamWinningPercentage090623.html
  8. ^ a b c d [2]
  9. ^ http://www.nscaa.com/downloads/HSBIndividualWinningPercentage012910.html
  10. ^ a b http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool/rise/soccer/news/story?id=4197621
  11. ^ http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/martinez_enzo00.html
  12. ^ a b http://www.thestate.com/154/story/798477.html
  13. ^ a b c d e http://www.schsl.org/2008/pf%2008%20Basketball%20Boys.pdf
  14. ^ http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/trads/scar-history.html
  15. ^ http://www.thestate.com/2011/03/04/1715177/shedule-high-school-basketball.html
  16. ^ http://www.thestate.com/2011/03/04/1715177/shedule-high-school-basketball.html
  17. ^ a b c d e f g [3]
  18. ^ http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Ga/B/Bret-Garnett.aspx
  19. ^ a b c d e [4]
  20. ^ a b c [5]
  21. ^ http://www.schsl.org/2008/pf%2008%20Basketball%20Girls.pdf
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j [6]
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h [7]
  24. ^ a b c d [8]
  25. ^ http://www.schsl.org/2008/pf%2008%20Golf%20Girls.pdf
  26. ^ a b [9]
  27. ^ http://upstatespartans.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/nolff_catherine00.html
  28. ^ a b c d e [10]
  29. ^ "Boys Track and Field Team Champions" (PDF). South Carolina High School League. Retrieved 2011-01-22. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  30. ^ a b [11]
  31. ^ a b c [12]
  32. ^ a b [13]
  33. ^ http://www.irmoband.org/mb_honors.htm
Preceded by National Academic Championship champion
1986 		Succeeded by
Preceded by National Academic Championship champion
2001-2002 		Succeeded by
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