Bishop McGuinness High School (Oklahoma)

Bishop McGuinness High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. The school has been the dominant force in cross country running in the state since the early 1990s. [Hibdon, Glenn. [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-153319467.html " Cross Country Notebook: A bevy of streaks: STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS."] , "Tulsa World", October 25, 2006. Accessed July 2, 2007. "Kevin Schwab of Mustang will seek his third straight title in Class 5A boys while Oklahoma City Bishop McGuinness again hopes to dominate the team championships in Class 4A. The Fighting Irish boys are looking for a fourth consecutive crown and the girls a third straight and 15th in 17 years."] The cross country team's dominance in winning state titles has not prevented other sports teams from the school from winning either. In 2007 the Fighting Irish won 7 state championships, while in 2008 the Irish managed to beat their previous record winning 8 state championships.

Background

Bishop McGuinness opened in 1950 as Central Catholic High School. The school was renamed in 1959 in honor of Bishop Eugene McGuinness, whose vision led to the school's creation.cite web|url=http://www.bmchs.org/history.html|title=History of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School|accessdate=2006-12-31|author=BMCHS]

Bishop McGuinness has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1960. [ [http://www.sacscasi.org/ncaschools/Proceedings_Accredited_NCA_CASI_OK.html NCA CASI Accredited Schools] , North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Accessed July 2, 2007.] The school is also accredited by the Oklahoma Department of Education. The school is also affiliated with the National Catholic Educational Association, the College Board, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. David Morton is the Principal of Bishop McGuinness. This school is also home to the great Luke Martin.

Athletics

Bishop McGuinness has had a very successful showing in sports for many years and continues to do so. A current nickname that McGuinness has been given is "The Lord of the Rings" because of the school's ability to win state championships.The Bishop McGuinness Basketball Tournament was established in 1961 and is now the longest-running high school basketball tournament in Oklahoma. McGuinness became a member school of the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association (OSSAA) in 1966. Since joining the OSSAA, Bishop McGuinness has won over 60 State Championship titles at the team level, in addition to other individual state titles. The school's cross country teams have been remarkably successful, with the girls team winning 15 state champions since 1990. The girls' cross country team currently has had a four year reign as state champions led by Molly Ferguson. The boys' achievements include winning 10 out of 14 state titles in Boys Cross Country between 1992 and 2005, include five consecutive state titles.

;Sports championships
*Spring Baseball (2): 2002, 2008 (Class 4A) [ [http://www.ossaa.com/partners/ossaa/sports/baseball/bb_spring_champions.html OKLAHOMA SPRING BASEBALL STATE CHAMPIONS] . OSSAA. Accessed July 2, 2007.]
*Boys Cross Country (11): 1984 (Class 3A), 1992-1993, 1995-1999 and 2003-2005 (Class 4A). [http://www.ossaa.com/partners/ossaa/sports/cross_country/cc_boys_team_history.html BOY'S CROSS COUNTRY TEAM STATE CHAMPIONS] . OSSAA. Accessed July 2, 2007.]
*Girls Cross Country (17): 1987-1988 (Class 3A), 1990, 1992-2002 and 2004-2008 (Class 4A). [http://www.ossaa.com/partners/ossaa/sports/football/fb_history.html STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS] . OSSAA. Accessed July 2, 2007.]
*Football (2): 2006, 2007 (Class 4A). [Carlson, Jenni. [http://www.newsok.com/article/2983398 "McGuinness celebrates 4A football win: QB marks day in Santa suit"] , "The Oklahoman", December 9, 2006. Accessed July 2, 2007. "The Irish rolled to a 31-0 victory against Grove in the Class 4A title game Thursday night, capping an undefeated season and claiming the gold ball.... It was to be expected, after all; it was the school’s first football title."] [ [http://www.ossaa.com/partners/ossaa/sports/football/fb_history.html STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS] . OSSAA. Accessed July 2, 2007.]
*Volleyball (1): 2003 (Class 4A). [ [http://www.ossaa.com/partners/ossaa/sports/volleyball/vb_history.html STATE VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONS] . OSSAA. Accessed July 2, 2007.]
*Boys Basketball (7): 1989, 1998-2001 and 2006-2008(Class 3A). [ [http://www.ossaa.com/partners/ossaa/sports/basketball/bkb_boys_history.html STATE BOYS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS] , OSSAA. Accessed July 2, 2007.]
*Girls Golf (1): 2007 (Class 4A). [ [http://www.ossaa.com/partners/ossaa/sports/golf/girls_team_champs.html OKLAHOMA GIRLS GOLF TEAM STATE CHAMPIONS] , OSSAA. Accessed July 2, 2007.]
*Boys Soccer (1): 2003 (Class 4A), 2007 (Class 5A). [ [http://www.ossaa.com/partners/ossaa/sports/soccer/soc_history.html Soccer State Champions] , OSSAA. Accesed July 2, 2007.]
*Girls Soccer (1): 2007-2008
*Girls Tennis (9): 1999-2005 (Class 4A), 2006-2007 (Class 3A). [ [http://www.ossaa.com/partners/ossaa/sports/tennis/girls_team_champions.html OKLAHOMA GIRLS' TEAM CHAMPIONS] , OSSAA. Accessed July 2, 2007.]
*Boys Tennis (2): 2003, 2004 (Class 3A). [ [http://www.ossaa.com/partners/ossaa/sports/tennis/boys_team_champions.html OKLAHOMA BOYS' TEAM CHAMPIONS] , OSSAA. Accessed July 2, 2007.]
*Boys Track (5): 1997-1998, 2000 (Class 3A), 2006-2007 (Class 4A). [ [http://www.ossaa.com/partners/ossaa/sports/track/track_boys_champs.html Boys State Champions - Track] , OSSAA. Acecssed July 2, 2007.]
*Girls Track (6): 1989-1990, 1998-2001 (Class 3A). [ [http://www.ossaa.com/partners/ossaa/sports/track/track_girls_champs.html Girls State Champions - Track] , OSSAA. Acecssed July 2, 2007.]

The school's Academic Team won the Class 3A State Championship in the Academic Bowl in both 1999 and 2000, a competition administered by the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association. [ [http://www.ossaa.com/partners/ossaa/non_athletic_activities/Academics/history_academic.html HISTORY OF ACADEMIC BOWL CHAMPIONS] . OSSAA. Accessed July 2, 2007.]

Notes and references

In the 2007-2008 school year, the football program won the state championship for the second year in a row. Girls cross country won a state championship, while the Boys cross country team had a strong showing at state. Also, girls soccer, boys golf, girls tennis, and boys basketball won state championships. The boys basketball team won their third state championship in a row. The baseball team won their second state championship in 2008.

External links

* [http://www.bmchs.org/ School Website]