Sweetwater High School (Sweetwater, Tennessee)

Last updated

Sweetwater High School
Sweetwaterhighschool.jpg
Address
Sweetwater High School (Sweetwater, Tennessee)
414 S High Street

Sweetwater
,
Monroe County
,
Tennessee

United States
Coordinates 35°35′52″N84°28′15″W / 35.5978°N 84.47075°W / 35.5978; -84.47075
Information
TypePublic
School district Monroe County Schools
PrincipalEric Weaver
Staff37.50 (FTE) [1]
Enrollment628 (2018–19) [1]
Student to teacher ratio16.75 [1]
Color(s)Royal Blue and Gold   
MascotWildcat

Sweetwater High School is a four-year public high school in Sweetwater, Tennessee operated by Monroe County Schools.

Contents

History

On August 27, 1898, the school directors of the City of Sweetwater purchased the Bachman Building on College Street for $6,000 for use by Sweetwater City Schools. On September 9, 1912, Sweetwater High School opened at this location under Principal E. Gatewood Hall. Initially, there were three teachers and 35 students. On May 5, 1914, Essie Pennington became the school's first graduate. In September 1916, the school moved to a new site, the former home of Sweetwater Military College, and the future home of Sweetwater Hospital.

In July 1926, the Monroe County Court voted to fund the current site of the school. Fourteen acres of the Cannon Farm on Athens Pike were purchased for a price of $7,500. In September, Young and Stoner were awarded the contract to build the school building. Total cost was $136,000. This brick, two-story building was approximately 28,000 square feet and contained 14 classrooms, a gymnasium, an auditorium/study hall, and an apartment for the principal or caretaker. The distinctive "bowl" in front of the building was created at this time, due to the excavation of needed fill dirt. The building was completed by September 1928. By now, the school have five teachers, 240 students, and Principal R.M. Ivins. The curriculum included business, science, math, history, home economics, English, French, and Latin.

In 1927, the school adopted the "Wild Cats" mascot, previously being known as the "Tornadoes", this being the current mascot of cross-county rivals Madisonville. On March 7, 1930, the Sweetwater PTA approved a $10 expenditure for the installation of the "SWEETWATER HIGH" letters on the side of "The Bowl".

In 1935, the Works Progress Administration began work on a football field adjacent to the school. Previously, home games had been played at the fairgrounds, Kiwanis Field, or the neighboring Tennessee Military Institute. The cost of the field was $4,722.

In 1963, the current cafeteria was built. The previous cafeteria was converted into a library and offices. In 1964, the school became integrated. In 1965, the aptly-named "Round Building" was built, including classrooms and locker rooms around the perimeter, and a 1,500-seat gymnasium in the center. The former gymnasium was converted into a band room and agricultural shop.

During the 1980s, a new football stadium was built, seating 3,500. In the mid-1990s, the main building was renovated. Eight classrooms were added, and an elevator and chairlift were installed. In 2004, an 11-room addition was built, at a cost of $1.9 million. [2]

Student demographics

In 2020, Sweetwater High School had 602 students: 82% Caucasian, 4% African-American, 9% Hispanic , 3% two or more races, and 2% Asian

Athletics

Sweetwater has a diversified athletics program, including football, basketball, cross country, softball, soccer, golf, baseball, and cheerleading. Sweetwater won state championships in football in 1971 and 1972 (coached by King Berrong), and 1993 (coached by Bill Dupes Sr.) In 1993, Sweetwater won both the TSSAA AA State Championship in football and the TSSAA AA State Championship in basketball. They also went to the state tournament in TSSAA AA baseball. In 2012, the Wildcats football team reached the Tennessee State 6AA finals, coming in second, as did the girls' soccer team. In 2013, the Wildcats competitive cheerleading team came in second in the State finals.

Kippy Brown a Sweetwater High School graduate, also helped his prep team lead the state in scoring in 1972 and 1973. Following his high school career, Brown attended Memphis State University (currently known as University of Memphis), where he was quarterback for the Memphis State University Tigers from 1975 to 1977. Brown's Tigers upset sixth-ranked Auburn University 31–20 in 1975. [3] Brown engineered this victory by completing seven of 11 passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Brown was the interim coach for the University of Tennessee Vols, after former head coach, Lane Kiffin, announced that he was leaving the program to take a position at the University of Southern California. Brown had experience at UT under former head coaches Johnny Majors and Phillip Fulmer.

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association</span>

The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA), along with the affiliated Tennessee Middle School Athletic Association (TMSAA), is an organization which administers junior and senior high school sporting events in Tennessee. The TSSAA is the only high school athletic organization in the United States to have a five-sport, Olympic-style spring sport championship tournament, known as Spring Fling, for baseball, softball, track and field, team and individual tennis, and soccer. Spring Fling began in Chattanooga in 1993, later moving to Memphis, and then establishing itself in Murfreesboro. The TSSAA was one of the first high school athletic organizations to host a central site for football championships, beginning in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bartlett High School (Tennessee)</span> High school in the United States

Bartlett High School is a high school located in Bartlett, Tennessee. It is part of the Bartlett City Schools. It was formerly operated by the Shelby County Schools system. Bartlett has two campuses, the main campus and the Ninth Grade Academy which is located at the former Shadowlawn Middle School campus on Shadowlawn Rd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paden City High School</span> Public school in Paden City, Wetzel, West Virginia, United States

Paden City High School is a 7–12 grade, class A high school in Wetzel County, West Virginia in the small town of Paden City.

Harding Academy is a co-educational, Christian school in Memphis, Tennessee serving students from age 18 months to 18 years of age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Webb School of Knoxville</span> College preparatory day school in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Webb School of Knoxville is a private coeducational day school in Knoxville, Tennessee, enrolling students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. It was founded in 1955 by Robert Webb (1919–2005), grandson of Webb School of Bell Buckle founder Sawney Webb. The current President of Webb School of Knoxville is Dr. Ansel Sanders.

Fred J. Page High School is a public high school in Franklin, Tennessee, United States. The school serves the eastern section of Williamson County for students in grades 9–12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Catholic High School (Massachusetts)</span> Private, coeducational school in Lawrence, , Massachusetts, United States

Central Catholic High School is a college preparatory school with an academic campus in Lawrence, Massachusetts and an athletic campus in Lawrence, Massachusetts associated with the Marist Brothers of the Schools and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston and founded in 1935 by Brother Florentius.

Franklin High School is a public high school located in Franklin, Tennessee, United States. The school serves the north central section of Williamson County for students in grades 9–12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knoxville Catholic High School</span> Private, coeducational school in Knoxville, , Tennessee, United States

Knoxville Catholic High School (KCHS) is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kippy Brown</span> American football player and coach (born 1955)

Charles Henry "Kippy" Brown is an American football former coach and former player who most recently was the wide receivers coach for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was a college-level starting quarterback for Memphis and coached in various capacities at both the college and professional levels of American football. He retired in May 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Juliet High School</span> Public grades 9–12 school

Mt. Juliet High School (MJHS) is a public high school located in Wilson County, Tennessee. It is not within Mt. Juliet city limits, but it serves parts of southern and eastern Mt. Juliet. Ryan Hill, a 2005 MJHS graduate, became the principal July 1, 2023.

Station Camp High School (SCHS), located at 1040 Bison Trail, Gallatin, Tennessee, United States, is a public high school that opened in 2002. It is part of Sumner County Schools, with Arthur Crook serving as the current principal.

Springfield High School is a public high school located in Springfield, Tennessee, United States.

Brentwood High School is a public high school located in Brentwood, Tennessee, United States. The school serves the north central section of Williamson County for students in grades 9–12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forrest School (Chapel Hill, Tennessee)</span> Public school in the United States

Forrest School is a public school in Chapel Hill, Tennessee. It serves grades 7-12 and is part of the Marshall County School District. The school is also known as Forrest Middle School for grades 7-8 and Forrest High School for grades 9-12. It is named for Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate general, known for his outstanding military leadership in the cavalry, the massacre of African American Union troops stationed at Fort Pillow, and for being the first Grand Wizard of the KKK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bradley Central High School</span> American public high school

Bradley Central High School is a public high school located in Cleveland, Tennessee that serves approximately 1,700 students from grades 9-12. It was founded in 1916, and is part of the Bradley County Schools system. The school maintains a crosstown rivalry with Cleveland High School, as well as fellow county rival Walker Valley High School.

Tug Valley High School is a consolidated school serving rural northern Mingo County, West Virginia, United States. The school has a Williamson postal address, but is actually located in Den's Branch at Naugatuck. The mascot is the Panther and the school colors are black and silver. The school has 358 students for athletic purposes and is thus placed in class A for athletic purposes in the state. Upon completion of Mingo Central High School in the fall of 2011, certain students in the Williamson area had the option of which school to attend. This consolidation left Mingo County with just two high schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morristown-Hamblen High School West</span> High school in Morristown, Hamblen, Tennessee

Morristown-Hamblen High School West is a secondary school located in Morristown, Tennessee. The school incorporates grades 9–12. The mascot is the Trojan. The school colors are crimson and white. As of the 2021-2022 school year, 1,489 students were enrolled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morristown-Hamblen High School East</span> High school in Morristown, Hamblen, Tennessee

Morristown-Hamblen High School East is a secondary school located in Morristown, Tennessee. MHHSE is the oldest accredited high school in the state of Tennessee. The school incorporates grades 9–12. The school mascot is "Storm" the Ibis, students and faculty are known as the Hurricanes and the school colors are orange and black. The school had an enrollment of around 1,520 students as of the 2017–2018 school year. Joseph Ely is the head principal.

Tyner High School is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States. It was built in 1907 as the first secondary school in Hamilton County east of the Missionary Ridge at the site of the current Tyner Middle Academy. The first class consisted of 25 students. The school was moved to the current location, which has had many additions and changes since 1937. Today Tyner Academy serves around 876 students, in grades 9–12, in three Career Academies and a Freshman Academy.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sweetwater High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Sweetwater High School: A Century of Excellence". Issuu. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Memphis State Shocks No. 7 Auburn, 31-20". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. September 13, 1975. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  4. ↑ https://heraldtimesonline-dot-com.bloxcms-ny1.com/users/login/?source=federated&cfsv=0.36579400+1410370638&referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fheraldtimesonline-dot-com.bloxcms-ny1.com%2Ftncms%2Fauth%2Ffederated%2Fresponse%2F%3Fcfsv%3D0.36579400%2B1410370638%26return%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fww.heraldtimesonline.com%252F%252Fstories%252F2008%252F01%252F27%252Fiusports.qp-4214208.sto [ dead link ]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.