Baltimore City College athletics

Baltimore City College Black Knights
School	Baltimore City College
Association	MPSSAA
Conference	Class 3A (North)
Athletic director	Rolynda Contee
Location	Baltimore, Maryland
Varsity teams	25 Varsity & Junior Varsity teams
Football stadium	George Petrides Stadium at Alumni Field
Basketball arena	B.C.C. Athletic Center
Baseball stadium	B.C.C. Baseball Field
Softball stadium	B.C.C. Softball Field
Soccer stadium	George Petrides Stadium at Alumni Field
Aquatics center	B.C.C. Natatorium
Outdoor track and field venue	George Petrides Stadium at Alumni Field
Volleyball arena	B.C.C. Auxiliary Gymnasium
Mascot	The Black Knight
Nickname	Knights
Colors	Orange and Black
Website	baltimorecitycollegeathletics.com

The City College Knights, or alternatively, the Collegians, represent Baltimore City College, a public university preparatory and International Baccalaureate World School, located in Baltimore, Maryland. ^[1] The school fields 18 varsity teams in 20 interscholastic sports and competes in the MPSSAA Class 3A, North Region. The school colors are orange and black, and its mascot is the Black Knight. City College teams were all-male from the school’s founding in 1839 until coeducation began in 1978.

Organized athletics at B.C.C. date back to the 1870s with informal football and baseball contests. By 1895, the school was fielding varsity teams against universities such as the United States Naval Academy, Maryland, St. John’s College, and Swarthmore College. Between 1894 and 1920, the school’s lacrosse team played against college powerhouses including Johns Hopkins and the U.S. Naval Academy. ^{[2] [3]}

Since joining the MPSSAA in 1993, City has captured championships at the district, regional, and state levels in nearly every sport it sponsors. The athletic department is especially noted for its achievements in football, boys’ and girls’ basketball, cross country, swimming, tennis, and lacrosse. The Black Knights have won championships in 20 different sports all-time and remains one of Maryland’s most decorated public high school athletic programs.

History

Early Years (1870s–1918)

Members of the 1895 Baltimore City College football team

City College has one of the oldest and most storied high school athletics programs in the United States. The school’s organized athletic history began in the mid-19th century, with the formation of informal football and baseball clubs. In 1895, the Knights established formal varsity teams and competed against college-level opponents, including the United States Naval Academy, University of Maryland, St. John's College, and Swarthmore College.

During this early period, B.C.C. was a member of the Maryland Intercollegiate Football Association (MIFA), where it competed as the only high school among a field of colleges and universities. ^{[4] [5]}

Between 1894 and 1920, City College’s lacrosse teams played regular intercollegiate matches against Johns Hopkins and Navy, helping to shape the early American game. ^[6]

Maryland Scholastic Association (1919–1993)

The 1963 MSA Conference championship team pose for a photo with then-head coach Jerry Phipps.

In 1919, City College principal Dr. Philip H. Edwards led the founding of the Maryland Scholastic Association (MSA), which remained in the league until 1993. ^[7] During this period, the athletic department achieved success across multiple sports, establishing rivalries with other MSA founding members including area private schools Calvert Hall College, Park School of Baltimore and Mount Saint Joseph, and Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, the Knights' public school arch-rival. B.C.C. opposed the 1992 vote to withdraw from the MSA, citing the league's competitive integrity and tradition. ^[8]

Notable athletes from this era include:

• Max Bishop, Class of 1921 (MLB second baseman)
• Thom Gatewood, Class of 1968 (All-American wide receiver)
• Charley Eckman, Class of 1940 (NBA coach and referee)
• Numerous inductees to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame

City Athletics also became nationally recognized for its football program during this period. The 1934–1941 teams posted a 54-game unbeaten streak, still one of the longest in Maryland state history. ^[9]

Transition to Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (1993–present)

The 2013-14 boys basketball team and coaching staff pose for a picture after winning the MPSSAA 3A state championship in 2014.

In 1992, Baltimore City Public Schools voted to withdraw from the MSA and join the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA), aligning with the statewide public school system beginning in 1993. While City College formally joined MPSSAA along with other public high schools, its leadership and alumni community expressed reservations about the departure from MSA, which they viewed as a competitive, academically rigorous, and tradition-rich league.

Under the MPSSAA, City College has continued its championship pedigree. Since 1993, the Knights six state championships, including titles in:

• Boys' Basketball (2009, 2010, 2014, 2023, 2025)
• Girls' Basketball (2009)

City College remains one of only a handful of Maryland high schools to have won MPSSAA state titles in both boys' and girls' basketball.

Traditions

City–Poly rivalry

An admission ticket to the 1936 City–Poly game.

Main article: City-Poly football rivalry

The City–Poly football rivalry, commonly known as the City–Poly Game, is high school football rivalry between the Baltimore City College Black Knights and the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute Engineers. It is the oldest high school football rivalry in the state of Maryland and the second-oldest between public high schools in the United States, following the English-Boston Latin rivalry, which began in 1887. ^[10]

The rivalry began in 1889 with a victory by City’s reserve team over Poly at Clifton Park. Since then, the two programs have met 134 times. As of 2024, City leads the all-time series 66–62–6 and holds a 12-game winning streak dating back to 2012. ^[11]

City vs. Poly, 2008 at M&T Bank Stadium

Over the decades, the rivalry has featured some of the most prominent names in Maryland high school football history, including Harry Lawrence, Bob Lumsden, George Petrides, "Longtime City football coach George Petrides retires". August 5, 2015. and George Young. More than 25 alumni of the City–Poly game have gone on to play in the National Football League, including 14 from City College. ^{[12] [13] [14]}

From 1922 to 1996, The Game was held at Baltimore Memorial Stadium, then the largest venue in the city. In the late 1990s, it moved to M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens, before transitioning to Hughes Stadium on the campus of Morgan State University in 2018. ^[15]

Sports Sponsored

The B.C.C. Athletic Department sponsors 18 varsity teams across 20 interscholastic sports sanctioned by the MPSSAA. The following table lists the school’s current varsity sports, organized by season and gender.

Season	Boys' / Co-ed Sports	Girls' / Co-ed Sports
Fall	Cross Country Football Boys' Soccer	Cross Country Girls' Soccer Volleyball Cheerleading (Fall)
Winter	Basketball Indoor Track & Field Swimming (Co-ed) Wrestling Cheerleading (Winter)	Basketball Indoor Track & Field Swimming (Co-ed) Cheerleading (Winter)
Spring	Baseball Boys' Lacrosse Outdoor Track & Field Tennis (Co-ed)	Softball Girls' Lacrosse Outdoor Track & Field Badminton Tennis (Co-ed)

In addition to varsity athletics, the department also fields junior varsity teams in select sports such as football, boys' basketball, and girls’ basketball. While the school no longer sponsors bowling, fencing, golf, or ice hockey, it retains historic titles in each of those sports.

Championships

Current Varsity Sports

The following table summarizes championship success across all active varsity sports at B.C.C.

Sport	MSA Titles	MPSSAA State	MPSSAA Regional	MPSSAA District	Total	Championship Seasons
Badminton	0	0	0	14	14	1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Baseball	9	0	0	3	12	1903, 1915, 1926, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1942, 1962, 1994, 2017, 2019
Boys' Basketball	13	5	10	3	31	1916, 1922, 1923, 1934, 1935, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2022, 2023, 2025
Girls' Basketball	0	1	3	3	7	2004, 2005, 2009
Bocce	0	0	0	2	2	2013, 2014
Football	18	0	4	2	24	1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 2005, 2006, 2023
Boys' Lacrosse	13	0	1	7	21	1933, 1934, 1935, 1941, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1984, 1987, 1993, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2019, 2021
Girls' Lacrosse	0	0	0	12	12	1998, 1999, 2000, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Boys' Soccer	10	0	1	3	14	1934, 1935, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1963, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1994, 2018, 2019
Girls' Soccer	0	0	0	3	3	2000, 2012, 2013
Softball	0	0	0	2	2	1994, 1996
Swimming	25	0	7	6	38	1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2019
Co-ed Tennis	0	0	0	7	7	1990, 1991, 1992, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
Volleyball	0	0	0	2	4	1980, 1982, 1996, 2010
Wrestling	13	0	0	1	14	1923, 1938, 1940, 1942, 1956, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1975, 1976, 2008
Total	126	6	26	78	236

Bold indicates major championships: MSA conference championships or MPSSAA state championships.

Historic Varsity Sports

The following table lists championship records in sports no longer sponsored by B.C.C.

Sport	MSA Championships	MPSSAA State	MPSSAA Regional	MPSSAA District	Total	Championship Seasons
Boys' Bowling	7	0	0	0	7	1938, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1954
Boys' Fencing	11	0	0	0	11	1930, 1932, 1936, 1938, 1940, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956
Boys' Golf	10	0	0	0	10	1935, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1960
Boys' Ice Hockey	2	0	0	0	2	1903, 1941
Boys' Tennis	14	0	0	0	14	1923, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1933, 1935, 1944, 1946, 1954, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1988
Total	44	0	0	0	44

Bold indicates MSA conference champions.

Facilities

Baltimore City College campus master plan following the 2025-28 renovation.

The City College athletics infrastructure is anchored by the B.C.C. Athletic Center, a multi-venue sports and physical education complex located on the school’s historic Collegian Hill campus. A comprehensive renovation and expansion of the facility is scheduled to begin in Summer 2025, part of a district-wide modernization effort led by Baltimore City Public Schools. ^[16]

B.C.C. Athletic Center

The B.C.C. Athletic Center is undergoing a major renovation project beginning in summer 2025. ^[17] The 45,265 SF (4,204.2 m²) facility integrates athletic, academic, and community uses, and includes the following key components:

• Main Competition Gymnasium – A 11,869 sq ft (1,102.7 m²) modern basketball facility with two-sided telescopic bleacher seating, a digital scoreboard, and integrated audiovisual systems.
• Auxiliary Gymnasium – Adjacent to the natatorium, this secondary gym supports practices, wrestling, volleyball, and general physical education activities.
• Natatorium – A dedicated aquatic facility accessible from the center, supporting both athletic training and instructional swim programming.
• Black Box Theater – A flexible performance and co-curricular space used by student arts groups and for community programming.
• Team Locker Rooms – Gender-specific suites for varsity and junior varsity teams, located along dedicated team corridors for improved access and privacy.
• Coaches’ Suite – Includes private offices, a training/rehab room, and a film review room for strategy and player development.
• Strength and Conditioning Center – Dedicated space outfitted with free weights, resistance machines, and space for functional athletic training.
• Central Lobby – A concessions and ticketing lobby with improved queuing, enhanced spectator access, and architectural circulation from the school’s main artery.
• Health Education Classrooms – Academic spaces located in the Castle’s east corridor and directly linked to the athletic center to support curriculum integration.

Additional upgrades include ADA-compliant access, enhanced security systems, expanded physical education capacity, and modernized HVAC and mechanical systems.

George Petrides Stadium at Alumni Field

George Petrides Stadium at Alumni Field serves as the primary outdoor athletic venue at Baltimore City College. Named for longtime athletic director and head football coach George Petrides, the stadium is used for football, soccer, lacrosse, and track and field competitions, as well as school-wide events and year-round training.

The stadium features a six-lane, all-weather track and a full-size synthetic turf field striped for multiple sports. The main grandstand, located on the north sideline, measures approximately 153 feet (46.6 m) wide by 29 feet (8.8 m) deep and seats an estimated 1,400–1,500 spectators. It offers elevated sightlines and a view of downtown Baltimore. A central operations booth used for scoreboard control and announcements is integrated into the seating deck.

A smaller visitor seating area is located on the south side of the stadium. The field is fully enclosed and includes on-site storage infrastructure, with additional exterior storage and utility upgrades planned as part of the 2025 renovation.

Other Fields and Venues

In addition to George Petrides Stadium at Alumni Field, the campus includes several specialized outdoor facilities:

• BCC Baseball Field
• BCC Softball Field
• BCC Tennis Courts

These facilities support both varsity sports and year-round programming, and are included in broader site enhancements associated with the 2025 project.

The athletic facilities at City College are located within a connected precinct, with integrated pathways and ADA-compliant entries linking them to academic and arts facilities. The addition of a vehicular connector campus through way, part of the upcoming modernization, will streamline transportation logistics, emergency access, and public parking for after-school events. Spectators will benefit from clearer signage, lighting, and defined entry points across campus.

Under Armour Partnership and Community Engagement

City College maintains a dynamic partnership with Under Armour, reflecting the school's commitment to athletic excellence and community involvement.

School Spirit Initiatives

In October 2024, Under Armour collaborated with Baltimore-based retailer DTLR to launch exclusive "Rivalry Packs" celebrating the historic City–Poly football rivalry. These packs featured themed apparel and footwear, including sweatshirts, t-shirts, and custom-colored UA Gemini sneakers, designed to honor the traditions of both schools. The merchandise was made available at DTLR locations and Under Armour's Brand House in Harbor East. ^[18]

Support for Student-Athletes

In July 2024, Under Armour, in partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools and MedStar Health, hosted a uniform unveiling event aimed at supporting student-athletes. The event provided free physicals, sports bra fittings, and back-to-school resources, demonstrating a commitment to the health and well-being of students. ^[19]

Television Commercial Appearance

Under Armour's "The Only Way Is Through" campaign, featuring athletes like Michael Phelps and Stephen Curry, included appearances by the City College boys' basketball team, showcasing the school's athletic programs on a national platform. ^[20]

Fight Song

City maintains a musical tradition that includes a spirited fight song performed regularly by the B.C.C. Marching Band during athletic events. ^[21]

City ForeverCity Forever is the official fight song of the Baltimore City College Knights.

City forever,

We’ll praise her to the skies.
We’ll fight for old City
Until we do or die.
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Dear alma mater
Loyal we’ll always be.
City forever
And for victory.

References

1. Escolona, Eduardo, ed. (1933). The 1933 Green Bag. p. 105.
2. Leonhart (1939), p. 200.
3. "All-Time Series Records" (PDF). Navy Sports. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 8, 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
4. Leonhart (1939), p. 200.
5. Kings of American Football: The University of Maryland, 1890–1952, Columbia Publishing Co., 1952, p. 28.
6. "Series Records vs. All Opponents" (PDF). Johns Hopkins Baseball Record Book. pp. 29–44. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 8, 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
7. "Otto K. Schmied, 101, city school supervisor". The Baltimore Sun. November 17, 1992.
8. "Public schools vote to leave MSA". The Baltimore Sun. September 19, 1992.
9. "MPSSAA Fall Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved September 12, 2024.
10. "Maryland's oldest football rivalry continues". November 2019.
11. Patterson (2000), p. 7. "Great American Rivalry Series: Baltimore City College vs. Baltimore Polytechnic (2024)".
12. "Baltimore City College (Baltimore, MD) Alumni Pro Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
13. "Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (Baltimore, MD) Alumni Pro Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
14. "Ravens hopeful Malik Hamm has an incredible underdog story". July 26, 2023.
15. "M&T Bank Stadium no longer the permanent venue for Turkey Bowl, City–Poly football games". November 14, 2017.
16. https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-12-schools/baltimore-city-college-renovations-PHOI43QWDNHCXMHN65ZJRKRAJI/
17. https://www.baltimorecitycollege.us/_files/ugd/1ca4b9_c398788a28694e7fb787ac9a5c1bb93c.pdf
18. "Under Armour and DTLR Unveil School Spirit Rivalry Packs". October 2024.
19. "Under Armour and City Schools Uniform Unveiling Event". July 2024.
20. "Under Armour TV Spot, 'The Only Way Is Through' Featuring Michael Phelps, Stephen Curry". 2020.
21. https://www.baltimorecitycollege.us/history