Bethel High School (Hampton, Virginia)

Infobox School
name= Bethel High School


imagesize=
motto=
motto_translation=
streetaddress= 1067 Big Bethel Road
city= Hampton
state= Virginia
zipcode= 23666
country= USA
url= http://bhs.sbo.hampton.k12.va.us/
district= Hampton City Schools
superintendent= Dr. Patrick J. Russo
principal= John A. Bailey
assistant_principals= John Karatsikis
Jessica Ellison
Tim Cason
William Beverly
dean= Craig Brehon (Boys)
Yuette Disnew (Girls)
staff= Ray Smith (Athletic Director)
type= Public
schooltype= high school
grades= 9-12
language= English
communities=
feeders=
campus=
mascot= Bruins
colors= Green and Gold
founded= 1968
enrollment= 1,910 [cite web |url=https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/reportcard/report.do?division=112&schoolName=438 |title= Bethel High School Report Card |accessdate=2008-07-23 |publisher=Virginia Department of Education]
enrollment_as_of= 2007-08
rival= Hampton High School
conference= Virginia High School League
AAA Peninsula District
AAA Eastern Region
bgcolor_section= #008000
bgcolor_label= #efefef
bgcolor_value= #efefef
bgcolor_

bgcolor_address= #efefef
bgcolor_url= #efefef

Bethel High School is a public high school located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. Bethel is one of four high schools located in the Hampton School District.

Demographics

Student Ethnicity Source: VA Dept. of Education, 2004-2005 Ethnicity This School State Average
*Black 62% 27%
*White, non-Hispanic 34% 60%
*Hispanic 2% 7%
*Asian/Pacific Islander 2% 5%
*American Indian/Alaska Native <1% <1%

Athletics

Bethel's athletic teams are nicknamed "Bruins" after UCLA, and the school colors green and gold are adopted from the Green Bay Packers. These were two popular choices since both were identified with championships when the school opened in the 1960s.

The school won three football state championships in 1974, 1976 and 1993.

Bethel is most famous for NBA superstar Allen Iverson having attended there. In 1993, Bethel not only won the state championship in basketball but football and girls track as well. Allen Iverson led the basketball team as a point guard, and the football team as the starting quarterback. He came into the defensive secondary as needed, as well as returned kickoffs and punts.

In the 2005-2006 basketball season the Bethel varsity basketball team enjoyed an undefeated regular season (27-0), number two ranking in the state and was led by Coach Craig Brehon and power forwards Duke Crews (All-American) and Jamel McLean. Crews is currently attending the University of Tennessee. McLean is currently attending Xavier University in Ohio.

It also has a successful track team who captured back to back state titles in 2005 and 2006. The boys track team attained a national championship in the 4x200 and 4x400 meter relays in 2007 and defended its 4x400 title in 2008. Individually its Francena Mccorory who broke the national 400 meter record indoor as well as the 300 meters and Ja-Vell Bullard who won two sate titles in the 500 and 300 and also 400 meters in indoor and outdoor nationals. Both have graduated with Francena going to Hampton University and Ja-Vell to George Mason University

Nathan Schy also won the 1998 AAA wrestling state championship.

Bethel Football has enjoyed a Cinderella story for the 2007 season. Under 1st year coach Jeff Nelson and led by the performances of RB Jontel Evans,DB Marcus Cooperwood, and QB Aris Mcglone-English, the Bruins stunned the Peninsula District by enjoying a 9-1 regular season, which its only loss came courtesy of crosstown rival and defending state champion Phoebus High School. They also beat Hampton High School for the 1st time since 1992. They defeated Ocean Lakes High School in the quarterfinals of the regional playoffs 23-6. The next week at Oscar Smith High School, The Bruins magical season came to an end with 39-3 defeat.

In the 2007-2008 school year, the Varsity basketball team welcomed Mbai Goto Olivier,David Keyba Baroum,and Ali Abdou Djim from the war-torn nation of Chad. Before the VHSL season began, all three had committed to Division 1-A schools, with Olivier headed to Clemson, Djim to attend Duquesne University, and Baroum to play ball for La Salle The Bethel basketball program also will be adding the up and coming 6'1 freshman Aaron Bacote to the roster for the 08-09 season. They are also looking to add 5'4 rising freshman Jeremy Saunders. Ovie Soko from Hampton Roads Academy has transferred to Bethel as well as Marquis Roberts from Peninsula Catholic.

The Varsity Basketball team (30-2),coached by Bethel's Dean of Boys Craig Brehon, came up just short of the VHSL state championship title against T.C. Williams High School on March 14th.

The Bruins also have the most competitive Varsity baseball team in the peninsula district led by Brett Wheeler who made it to the state finals for the first time in team history in 2008. For football's amazing success, to basketball's triumph all the way to the state game, and baseball massive run to a state finals birth, to also the great run from the boys track team each led by senior leaders Marcus Cooperwood,Bill Weaver,Kizuku Scott, and Javell Bullard the 40th anniversity was indeed a great one for bethel in 2008.

Extracurriculars

Army JROTC

As well as excelling in basketball and football, Bethel is also home to the largest and most accomplished Junior ROTC unit in Virginia. The Army JROTC Bruin Brigade has for the past decade fielded the top Marksmanship Team (air rifle) and Raiders Team at any level, and consistently one of the best Drill Teams and Honor guards of Southeast Virginia. As well, the Brigade has achieved some of the highest scores possible during Regional Formal Inspections. These three year inspections test an Army JROTC unit in all areas, and gauge its overall proficiency as a unit.

The Bruin Brigade Marksmanship Team (known locally as "The Rifle Team"), with assistance from Lafayette Gun Club in adjacent York County, has dominated the local Old Dominion Junior Rifle League, and has been invited to compete nationally twice. The Bethel Bruin Marksmanship Team was denied the opportunity to compete, however, due to administrative decision.Fact|date=March 2007 The team has sent at least one marksman to a Division 1 NCAA School (Air Force), and at least one more shooter likely to gain a scholarship in the near future.

The Raiders Team has seen both rough and good times, but as of 2005, it officially became the top Army team in Southeast Virginia. It has seen a chain of consistently strong leadership, and has produced several United States Air Force Academy, Virginia Military Institute, and Virginia Tech officer candidates, as well as a large number of enlisted in all branches. Those who have graduated from the aforementioned military schools have been awarded pilot, infantry, and special forces assignments.

Professional Education

Bethel's AJROTC and athletic achievements are supported by a number of programs specifically tailored by the administration toward education in commercial activities. Projects like the FIRM, a large base of business classes, Governor's School opportunities offering college credit, fashion programs, and other such university style programs allow students to pursue a course in high school similar to their expected college major.

Bruin Band

In January 2006, the Bethel High School Marching Band was selected to march in the Governor's Inaugural in Williamsburg, the only band in the district to receive that honor. In addition, the marching band was selected to participate in the 2008 Konica Minolta Gator Bowl halftime show in Jacksonville, Florida, as well as in the 2007 Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia. At the 2007 District Band Festival, the Concert Band earned their first Superior rating in over thirty years, and the Symphonic Band earned an Excellent rating, their first in a decade. In May 2007, the Concert and Jazz Bands swept the "Music in the Parks" competition in Cleveland, Ohio, with addition of the best solo played by Becky Paul on Flugelhorn. This 2007 marching band season gave spectators flashbacks of Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Minnie Riperton, and Tom Jones with a "Las Vegas" themed show. All bands at Bethel are under the direction of Chris Murray. The Bruin Concert Band earned a Superior rating for the second straight year on Wednesday, March 12th, 2008.

Notable alumni

*Allen Iverson, guard for the Denver Nuggets.
*Tony Rutland, shooting guard and MVP - European Basketball
*Shaun Gayle, captain of the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears football team.
*Jimmy Williams, defensive back who is a free agent in the NFL
* Chris Ellis, defensive end for the Buffalo Bills
* Willard "Duke" Crews, member of the 2006 McDonald's All-American basketball team
*Jerry Holmes, Head Football Coach at Hampton University

References