Honaker High School

Last updated
Honaker High School
Honaker High School.jpg
Address
Honaker High School
P.O. Box 764
1795 Thompson Creek Road

,
24260

United States
Coordinates 37°1′7.18″N81°59′11.96″W / 37.0186611°N 81.9866556°W / 37.0186611; -81.9866556
Information
School typePublic high school
School districtRussell County School Division
SuperintendentGregory Brown
PrincipalTony Bush
Grades812
Enrollment456 (2022-23) [1]
Language English
Color(s)     Orange, Black, White, Gray
Athletics conferenceVHSL Class 1
VHSL Region D
VHSL Hogoheegee District
Mascot Tigers
Rivals Richlands High School, Lebanon High School
Website www.russell.k12.va.us/o/hhs

Honaker High School is a public high school located in Honaker, Virginia in Russell County, Virginia. Athletic teams compete in the Virginia High School League's Class 1 Black Diamond District in Region 1D.

Contents

Extracurricular activities

As a member school of the Virginia High School League, all of Honaker High's extracurricular athletic and academic activities generally fall under the Region D's Hogoheegee District in the smallest public school size, "A" or "1A," depending on the activity. In VHSL's history, Honaker High has produced three members of the league's Hall of Fame: Heath Miller, longtime baseball coach Tom Harding, and Ben Valley, 1951–55, who also played basketball for cross-county rival Lebanon High School during his career. Valley was inducted in the VHSL Hall of Fame's 1992 class. Both Miller and Harding were part of the 2016 VHSL Hall of Fame class, and in 2019 Miller was also named to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

Academic Team / Quiz Bowl

Since the creation of VHSL's Scholastic Bowl program, Honaker High's Academic Team has been a dominating force in Virginia's far western counties, winning 4 state championships, including back-to-back state titles in 2016 and 2017—a first in HHS and Russell County history for any VHSL-sanctioned team sport or activity. The team also finished as state runner-up in 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2018.

The Scholastic Bowl team won the Black Diamond District regular season and/or tournament seventeen consecutive times from 1998 to 2014. That streak also included over ten Region D Championships. They have never failed to qualify for a VHSL regional tournament in Scholastic Bowl's 22 year history, and have qualified for the VHSL State Tournament 17 times—more than any school in Class 1.

In 2014, the Scholastic Bowl team brought home its first 1A State Championship. Team captain Jacob Mitchell was also named to the All-State Team after laying claim to the program's single-season and career scoring records. The 2014 State Championship team posted a perfect 38-0 record, averaging more than 300 points per game, an average not reached by any of the teams prior or since.

After the retirement of longtime Head Coach Alex Zachwieja in 2014, who finished his career with a 395-86 VHSL record, the team was taken over by Charlie Perkins, a former player under Zachwieja, in the 2016 season.

Under the tenure of Perkins, the program won back-to-back state championships in 2016 and 2017, finished state runner-up in 2018, and as state champion again in 2019 while posting an undefeated 27-0 season record.

The 2017 team finished 41st out of 96 teams in the public school division of the NAQT Small School National Championship Tournament, with team captain Caleb Perkins finishing 19th individually out of the tournament's 533 players—the first top 20 individual finish at the national level for any Virginia high school player west of the New River Valley.

Baseball

The Honaker Tigers hosted the Virginia State quarterfinals baseball game for 2008. With a win over J.J. Kelly High School in the Region D Championship, the Tigers brought Coach Tom Harding his first Region D title in his 38 year/466 win coaching career.

In 2011, Honaker won the Single-A Division II State Championship over J.J. Kelly High School by a score of 16-9.

Basketball

In 1924, Honaker won the state championship for boys basketball, defeating Dayton High 30-14. The championship, which came in the short-lived "C" division of the VHSL, is also the earliest recorded state title in VHSL boys basketball history. [2]

In 2014, the Honaker Girl's Varsity Basketball team finished the season as VHSL Class 1 State Runner-up with a 60-34 loss to Chilhowie. The Varsity Girls basketball team won VHSL Class 1 State Championships in 2020 (Co-Champions), 2021 and 2022. Declared Co-Champions (Surry County) in 2020 due to Covid-19, defeated Riverheads in 2021 and Buffalo Gap in 2022.

Football

Tigers football has been a focal point of the school's athletic programs throughout the school's history. They recorded state runner-up finishes in 2000 (a loss to King William High School 25-15) and 2012 (against George Wythe High School, 17-10).

The 2000 finish came on the back of Senior QB Heath Miller, who broke numerous school records as a passer but was also a formidable defensive back. Miller would later win the 2004 John Mackey Award as the best TE in the nation while playing for the Virginia Cavaliers, followed by being drafted 30th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers and immediately promoted to their starting position. He has since been a major contributor on two Super Bowl championship teams and three AFC championship teams while winning the Steelers MVP twice (2010, 2012) and being elected to the Pro Bowl twice (2009 & 2012).

Miller retired in February 2016. At the time of his retirement, he ranked near the top of the list in many franchise receiving records: he was 3rd in career receptions, 4th in receiving yards, 5th in receiving touchdowns, and 3rd in career targets.

Forensics

In 1953, Honaker won the state championship for Girls Public Speaking.

Softball

Honaker has won the VHSL state championship for softball twice. The first, in the former "A" division, came in 1988 with a 7-2 win over Northumberland High School. Two years earlier, the Tiger fastpitch finished runner-up in the championship game to William Monroe High School, 17-2. In 2013, the Tigers took the title to Russell County once again by securing a 3-1 victory in the 1-A state championship match against Madison County High School.

Theater

For the 1951-1952 school year, Honaker's theater program was awarded a superior rating by the VHSL.

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia High School League</span> High school sports association in the United States

The Virginia High School League (VHSL) is the principal sanctioning organization for interscholastic athletic competition among public high schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The VHSL first sponsored debate and also continues to sponsor state championships in several academic activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westfield High School (Virginia)</span> High school in Chantilly, Virginia, United States

Westfield High School is a public high school in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, west of the Chantilly CDP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heath Miller</span> American football player (born 1982)

Earl Heath Miller Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons from 2005 to 2015. Miller played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers, earning unanimous All-American honors and winning the John Mackey Award. The Steelers selected him in the first round with the 30th overall pick of the 2005 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Braddock Secondary School</span> Secondary school in Burke, Virginia

Lake Braddock Secondary School (LBSS) in Burke, Virginia, United States, administered by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), is one of three 7-12 secondary schools in Fairfax County; the other two are Hayfield SS and Robinson SS. Lake Braddock opened in 1973. Its mascot is a bruin, and the school colors are purple and gold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Anne High School</span> High school in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States

Princess Anne High School (PAHS) is one of 11 high schools in the Virginia Beach City Public School System. Opened in 1954, it is the oldest remaining high school in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States. The school is named after the now extinct Princess Anne County, Virginia which was annexed with the founding of Virginia Beach. Princess Anne High School is slated to be demolished following the construction of a replacement building. The construction is anticipated to begin in 2024 with the new building being open in 2028. The demolishing of the building will end its 74 year history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McLean High School</span> Public secondary school in McLean, Fairfax, Virginia, United States

McLean High School is a public high school within the Fairfax County Public Schools in McLean, Virginia. In 2022, U.S. News & World Report rated McLean the 157th-best U.S. public high school, and third-best in Virginia.

Northside High School is one of five high schools in Roanoke County, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarke County High School (Berryville, Virginia)</span> Public school in Berryville, Virginia, United States

Clarke County High School is a public high school in Berryville, Virginia. CCHS was ranked 19th on Newsweek's Top 1200 High Schools list in 2006. This used a metric based on the amount of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests taken by all the students in 2005 divided by the amount of graduating seniors. Its courses cover a wide spectrum of advanced levels including the International Baccalaureate program; dual-enrollment courses with Laurel Ridge Community College and AP courses. Additionally, vocational and technical training courses have been expanded: in addition to Future Farmers of America (FFA) and DECA courses, students may choose from a variety of career and trade fields - including nursing, basic construction, CAD and computer courses, and horticulture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hampton High School (Virginia)</span> Public school in Hampton, Virginia, United States

Hampton High School is a public secondary school in Hampton, Virginia. It is the oldest of the four current high schools in Hampton Public Schools, built in 1956. It is an International Baccalaureate World School with the Diploma Programme. Hampton High is the first high school in the Hampton city high school division.

Lee High School is a public high school located in Lee County, Virginia, United States, near the town of Jonesville. It is a part of the Lee County School District and is one of two high schools in the county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ocean Lakes High School</span> High school in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States

Ocean Lakes High School (OLHS) is a public high school in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is located in Virginia Beach City Public Schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christiansburg High School</span> High school in Christiansburg, Virginia, United States

Christiansburg High School is located at 100 Independence Blvd. in Christiansburg, Virginia in the County of Montgomery and is located just minutes from Virginia Tech and Radford University. The school opened in 1906 and had its first graduating class of three students in 1909. The school was named for the town in which it was built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richlands High School (Richlands, Virginia)</span> High school in Cedar Bluff, Virginia, United States

Richlands High School is located in Richlands, Virginia in Tazewell County. Athletic teams compete in the Virginia High School League's AA Southwest District in Region IV.

Blacksburg High School is a high school in the Montgomery County public school division. The school serves the town of Blacksburg, Virginia and surrounding areas of the county.

Parry McCluer High School (PMHS) is a high school located in Buena Vista, Virginia, United States. The school has an enrollment of approximately 336 students. Its current principal is Dr. Todd Jones, and its current assistant principal is Troy Clark. The school band is the Marching Blues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Montgomery High School</span> High school in Elliston, Virginia, United States

Eastern Montgomery High School, built during 1999 and 2000, is located in Elliston, Virginia and is one of four high schools in Montgomery County, Virginia. The school's mascot is the Mustang, and the school colors are maroon, black and white.

Virginia High School is a high school located in Bristol, Virginia. In 1999, Virginia High started offering the Tri-Cities area's first International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Classes from the Advanced Placement program are also offered to help students who are headed to college. A career and technical wing was added to the main school building to help students who wish to go into a trade straight from high school. Courses offered for this path include: culinary arts, cybersecurity, engineering and manufacturing, coding, business, horticulture, auto-mechanics, building trades, and nursing.

Staunton River High School is one of the three high schools in Bedford County, Virginia. SRHS opened in the fall of 1963.

Central High School is a public high school in Norton, Virginia. The school traces its origins back to J. J. Kelly High School and Pound High School, which were both founded in 1953. It is part of the Wise County Public Schools system. It is a consolidated school, created by merging the two aforementioned schools in 2011. The mascot for Central is the Warrior. The school's colors are red, silver, black, and white. The Warriors compete in the Virginia High School League's 2A classification with other schools from around Southwest Virginia. Students are offered courses in the Advanced Placement Program (AP), as well as the opportunity to receive college credit from the Virginia Community College System for courses taken on the Central campus.

References

  1. "Honaker High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  2. "VHSL Record Book 18th Edition" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-03-15. Retrieved 2014-03-15.