- Costa Mesa High School
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Costa Mesa High School Location 2650 Fairview Road
Costa Mesa, CAInformation Type Public Established 1958 School district Newport Mesa Unified School District Principal Phil D'Agostino (High School)
Aaron Peralta (Middle School)Grades 7-12 Enrollment 1864 Color(s) Green and white Mascot Mustangs Information (714) 424-8700 Website Costa Mesa High School website Costa Mesa High School, otherwise known as CMHS or "Mesa," is a public middle school / high school for grades 7 through 12 located in Costa Mesa, California. It is part of the Newport Mesa Unified School District and is located at 2650 Fairview Road. The school's rival is Estancia High School. Their colors are green, white and black
Contents
Engineering
- Math Engineering Science Achievement
Notable People
- Rich Gordon (Class of 1966) - California State Assemblyman
- Brent Mayne (Class of 1986) - former Major League Baseball catcher.
- Dan Quisenberry class of 1970 was a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played with the Kansas City Royals (1970–1988), St. Louis Cardinals (1988–1989), and San Francisco Giants (1990). Dan died of a brain tumor in 1998.
Sports
Each year, rival football teams from Costa Mesa High School and Estancia High School play each other in a game known as the Battle of the Bell.
From 2001 Mesa has been a small school power house in Orange County. From 2001 to 2005 the team was awarded the CIF Academic Award for Excellence. After three undefeated Golden West League Championships the 2005 Men's swim team placed 4th in CIF Division III with only four team members in the finals. The team of Adam Douglas, Evan Spencer, Kyle Thorsness and James Fowler won the CIF Championship in the 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay. Douglas, Thorsness and Spencer each recorded points in their non relay events to increase Mesa's point totals. They were the smallest represented swim team with a top five finish in the last 30 years. Spencer went on to University of the Pacific (Pacific) 2005 (Swimming & Water Polo). Thorsness went on to CSULB 2006 (Water Polo). Mesa has had both male and females advance to CIF every year from 2001 to 2010. The new state of the art 6 million dollar aquatic complex was completed and opened in 2010. CMAC (Costa Mesa Aquatics Club) was formed for youth ages 5–14 for Club Water Polo and Swim in 2010 in the new Aquatics Complex.
CMHS has a very notable Drama Club. Awarded numerous Cappie Nominations.
M.E.S.A.
Math Engineering Science Achievement (M.E.S.A.) is an engineering program throughout California and eight other states. In 2003 Costa Mesa High School was the first student team to place first overall in the JPL Invention Challenge, beating the engineers from NASA in an aerodynamic competition on the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' famous flight. The Costa Mesa High School team was the first M.E.S.A. team to compete at the state and the national level from the Cal State Fullerton Center. In 2007 Costa Mesa won the California State Championship and placed third in the Nationals. The 2008 M.E.S.A. team again swept the state level competition and placed 3rd overall with two individual first place finishes in the National M.E.S.A. Engineering Design Competition in Maryland on June 19. The 2008 team consisted of Raymond Lumantas, Alex Krochman, Cory Kiefer, and Dante Flores (in order of age, ascending). They set an all-time state record of shooting 27 meters with their trebuchet. Steve Nelson was the M.E.S.A. Advisor. M.E.S.A. is looking forward to further state support as the state looks to bolster its math and science programs.
Water Polo
The Costa Mesa High School Water Polo team had an impressive DECADE OF DOMINANCE from 1986-1996. They were league champions and held numerous CIF titles. Water Polo Coaches
- Conroy
- Bell / Maness
- Shubert
- Olsen
- Shupp
- Lynch
- Krutzkamp
- Shupp 2000–2003 2nd Time Head Coach
- Postiff
- Taylor
Choir
The Costa Mesa High School choir department is divided into five different choirs: Girls Chorus, Boys Chorus, Concert Choir, Vocal Ensemble, and the Madrigal Choir.
Girls chorus consists of 7th and 8th grade girls. Boys Chorus is made up of 7th and 8th grade boys. Concert Choir is made up of 8th grade - 12th grade boys and girls, is an audition choir for 8th graders, and is an elective for 9th-12th graders. Vocal Ensemble is an audition choir for 9th- 12 grade girls. The most advanced choir is Madrigal Choir and is an audition-only 9th-12th grade boys and girls choir. The Madrigal Choir, commonly known as "Mads," is very selective and there is an equal number of boys and girls members. Currently all the choirs are under the direction of Jon Lindfors, who can often be seen drinking coffee in the Baker Street branch of Starbucks. In 2007, the Madrigal choir performed in Carnegie Hall under the conducting of John Rutter along with a few other selected choirs. In the previous years the Madrigal Choir also performed with American Idol finalist, Clay Aiken.
Cross country
One of Mesa's premier cross country coaches was the legendary Joe Fisher. During his tenure (1969–1980), Fisher not only managed to maintain a Varsity league dual meet winning streak spanning a decade, but in 1976 his team won their first Boys (Varsity) California Southern Section CIF 3A Cross Country Championship. Under Coach Fisher, the Costa Mesa High School Boys cross country teams also won the Orange County Championship Invitational six times. This is the record for Orange County Championship wins in the history of the Varsity division. While still at CMHS, Fisher was voted California High School Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1978. After establishing a successful program at the prep level, Fisher left Costa Mesa and coached cross country/track at the college level until 1999. In 2002, Coach Joe Fisher was inducted into The Daily Pilot's Sports Hall of Fame.
Coach Joe Fisher inducted into the Daily Pilot Sports Hall of Fame
http://articles.dailypilot.com/2002-07-29/news/export34534_1_newport-mesa-school-district-league-titles-mustangs
The 1980 Costa Mesa Boys (Varsity) Cross Country team (3.1 mi.) was ranked No. 1 in the State of California & 6th in the United States. Coach Joe Fisher's League Championship team Scott Lacrosse, Mark Howard, Victor Herrera, Jon Crackel, Robby Kuehne, Mike Kleck, Ken Levy, Darrell Walker.
1980 XC Legacy Rankings http://www.xcnation.com/1980xclegacy.html
(currently researching information on League Championship and CIF (regional) qualifing teams; 1977–1979)
The 1976 Costa Mesa Boys (Varsity) Cross Country team (2 mi.) was ranked No. 1 in the state of California & 4th in the United States. Coach Joe Fisher's League and CIF Championship team; Joe Young, Bill Kolar, John Gerhardt, Brian Thompson, Alan Overholt, Scott Scheid, Dave Sprague. [National Prep rankings in 1976 were published in The Harrier Magazine]
1976 XC Legacy Rankings http://www.xcnation.com/1976__1977_xc_legacy_d.html
The 1975 Costa Mesa Boys (Varsity) Cross Country (2 mi.) League Championship and CIF (regional) finals qualifing team; Joe Young, Rande Hawkinson, Tom Ellis, Bill Kolar, Alan Overholt, John Gerhardt, Rich Tomlin
The 1974 Costa Mesa Boys (Varsity) Cross Country (2 mi.) League Championship and CIF (regional) finals qualifing team; Joe Kolar, Tom Ellis, Joe Young, Rande Hawkinson, Walt Elliot, John Farrell, Brian Thompson
The 1973 Costa Mesa Boys (Varsity) Cross Country (2 mi.) League Championhship and CIF (regional) finals qualifing team; Nick Priest, Joe Kolar, Dave Smith, Chuck Lester, Tom Ellis, Mike Stutsman, George Gosly
The 1972 Costa Mesa Boys (Varsity) Cross Country (2 mi.) League Championship and CIF (regional) finals qualifing team; Mike Holliday, Tim Gollnick, Nick Priest, Dave Smith, Chuck Lester, John Farrell, Kevin Gallagher
The 1971 Costa Mesa Boys (Varsity) Cross Country (2 mi.) League Championship and CIF (regional) finals qualifing team; Doug MacLean, John Olswang, Tom Olswang, Mike Holliday, Tim Gollnick, Nick Priest, Mike Stutsman
(currently researching information on League Championship and CIF (regional) qualifing teams; 1969 & 1970)
(currently researching previous coaches & records)
Costa Mesa High School former/present cross country coaches:
- Donald Duffy, 1961
- Paul Vogel, 1962
- Donald Duffy, 1963–1964
- Brian Springer, 1967-1968 - guided boys varsity cross country team to first Irvine League Championship in 1968 after team went undefeated in league dual meets.
- Joe Fisher, 1969–1980 - Established and dominated the region with a program that produced a decade of league championships, won the school's first California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Championship in 1976, named California High School Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1978, inducted into the Daily Pilot Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
(currently researching coaches 1981-1994)
- Joe Busi, 1995-1997- Led the boys varsity cross country team in two Pacific Coast league championships in 1995 and 1996. Busi was the Orange County Register boys Coach of the year in 1995 & The LA Times Orange County boys Coach of the year in 1996. Coach Busi also led the girls varsity team to a Division III State victory in 1997.
- Mark Howard, 1987-2001- A Costa Mesa High School 1982 graduate. Led the 1990 boys varsity team to a 2nd place finish in the Pacific Coast League. Howard was the assistant Coach under Joe Busi when Busi led the boys varsity cross country team in two Pacific Coast league championships in 1995 and 1996.
(currently researching coaches 2002-2007)
- Chuck Lester, 2008–2009
- Steve Moreno, 2010–present
Cheerleading
The 2007-2008 cheer squads won numerous awards based on their outstanding community involvement and philanthropic activities. They represented Costa Mesa High School at events like: the OC Fair, Susan G. Komen for the cure events, Relay for Life, City of Costa Mesa events, CHOC Walk, Collected items for wildfire victims, performed in a fashion show to benefit Olive Crest Charities and continued to cheer for all athletic teams at the school while maintaining an impressive 3.3 collective GPA. They won: The Presidential Volunteer Service Award, The NMUSD outstanding program award, The Volunteer recognition award from the Costa Mesa City Council, A certificate of Recognition Award from the California State Legislature, a top 10 finalist in the American School Spirit Awards and a judges favorite and they were the featured cheer squad on Varsity.com for the Month of December 2007. They also had several featured articles in the local newspapers.no The 2008-2009 squad continued the winning streak and were featured in several newspapers and magazines. The began to compete this year and won grand master champions as well as a bid to nationals. The 2009-2010 squad won many more honors and were featured in several articles in leading cheer publications and a 4 page spread as squad of the month in the April 2010 issue of American Cheerleader Magazine. The squad was also featured on national TV in an episode of ABCs Nightline and international TV in 60 minutes Australia. Won the American School Spirit Award for the 2009-2010 year, and accepted the award in Florida in February 2010 naming them the top cheer program in the nation. This year their coach was also named cheer coach of the year for the state of California, Nominated for the top youth group for the National Philanthropy Day award. CMHS cheer continued with their honors and Awards winning Co-Ed Large Varsity division champions and placing 2nd in the CIF state championships in 2010 and receiving a bid to nationals in Florida for UCA. They also were honored with the Volunteer Group of the Year for Susan G Komen OC.
Sadness
- On Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 4:40 PM, eight-grader Eric Valdez collapsed at the Costa Mesa High School hand ball courts while playing with his friend and brother. Paramedics performed CPR on Valdez and then he was taken to Hoag Memorial Presbyterian Hospital at 5:04 PM where he was pronounced dead at 6:21 PM. The Orange County Coroner determined the cause as an unexpected natural death. After his death students made a large poster card made out of sheets poster paper at the school to remember Eric. They even wrote on the walls of the hand ball courts with permanent maker of the hand of a prayer to remember him. Also students wore Eric's favorite color, red, as a sign of respect. On Saturday, March 20, 2010, at the Harbor Trinity Church at Costa Mesa, friends of Eric were fundraising by washing cars and raising money to pay for the funeral services and to make a memorial for Eric at Costa Mesa High School.
- In August 1987, Hidi Ja Ratliff was killed in a tragic airplane crash in Detroit, Michigan. Hidi was returning home to start her Senior year. She was an outstanding student and a member of the varsity cheer squad. A memorial service was held in the schools gymnasium where hundreds of friends mourned their loss. In Hidi's memory, her mother set up a scholarship and purchased the schools trophy cases. A memorial is located in the gyms entrance.
Links
- CMHS website
- Costa Mesa High School Cross Country History web site link
- The CMHS Choir website
- CMHS Band webpage
- Eric Valdez Death at CMHS
- Cross Country Championship Season 1976 Pt 1
- News article on Coach Joe Fisher & the cross country alumni get together 2010
Coordinates: 33°40′20″N 117°54′23″W / 33.672118°N 117.906395°W
Categories:- High schools in Orange County, California
- Costa Mesa, California
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