Columbus North High School

Columbus North High School
Location
Columbus, Indiana, USA
Coordinates	39°13′28″N 85°54′36″W / 39.22444°N 85.91°W / 39.22444; -85.91Coordinates: 39°13′28″N 85°54′36″W / 39.22444°N 85.91°W / 39.22444; -85.91
Information
Type	Public high school
Principal	David Clark
Assistant Principals	Susan Scott, John Green
School Color(s)	Black, Royal Blue and White
Mascot	Bull Dog
Website	Columbus North High School

Columbus North High School (CNHS) is one of the public high schools located in Columbus, Indiana. It is part of the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC). Columbus North High School was previously known as Columbus High School. It was renamed Columbus North High School in 1974 upon the founding of Columbus East High School.

It has an enrollment of over 2000 students in grades 9–12. The student body is reflective of the entire community and is 95% white and 5% African American, Asian or Hispanic. CNHS students on average score 3 percentage points above the state average on ISTEP exams (state-wide exams administered in the 10th grade).

The principal of CNHS is David Clark. He is assisted by assistant principals John Green and Susan Scott, and by deans Ruth Hurrle, Aaron Karrer, and Jim Sheridan.

Athletics

Columbus North has long had a superior athletic program and currently has a total of 33 IHSAA team championships. The school has dominated swimming and cross country in Indiana for a number of decades and frequently makes the state finals in competition, most recently winning a state championship in 2011. They are also currently one of the leading powers in cross-country in the state, having won boys cross country state titles in 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010 and 2011 and a girls state cross country title in 2009. They also placed 3rd at Nike Cross Nationals in 2010. Columbus North Men's Golf has also dominated Indiana high school sports as of late, finishing 3rd in the state in 2003, 4th in the state in 2004, 12th in the state in 2005 and 2nd in the state in 2006 and 2011. Tyler Duncan, a North golfer, also claimed an individual state championship in 2007. The Bull Dogs have also had success in the past with their tennis program. In 2010, the Women's tennis team won the title of State Runner-Up, overcoming many rivals and obstacles along the way.

Columbus has been home to many championship teams throughout the years. Most notably its men's Gymnastics teams from 1968 and onward which dominated the state championship until the IHSAA decided that there weren't enough schools participating due to the high cost of fielding teams, and so no longer held a state championship. The dominance of the Columbus teams was primarily due to the coaching of John Hinds, who used coaching techniques considered revolutionary for the time, such as video taping his team and critiquing performances. When he asked for money to buy a portable video recorder the school board balked, so he bought one with his own money. That year he won the first of many championships after which the school told him he could go ahead and buy one. Many gymnasts coached by Hinds went on to national collegiate teams and Olympic teams as well.

CNHS was also home to many great basketball teams coached by Bill Stearman, in the late 1960s while reaching the Final Four in 1964 and 1975.

Columbus North is also known for its outstanding publications. Being a member of the Indiana High School Press Association, Advisers Kim Green and Rachel McCarver have led the school's newspaper (The Triangle), it's yearbook (Log), it's magazine (33 Things), and it's news station (BNN) to numerous state and country awards.

Columbus Senior High School built a very large gymnasium in the late 1950s/early '60s that was the pride of the town. However the funding was rather controversial at the time since nearly everyone working in town had their paychecks deducted directly for involuntary "contributions". This gymnasium was renovated over the summer of 2009.

Columbus High was also home to legendary Chuck Taylor. Chuck Taylor is famous for inventing and making the Chuck Taylor Basketball Converse shoe. Though these shoes are rarely seen on ball courts anymore, they have become a popular trend among teens and twenty-somethings.

Leading up to the 2011 football season, rumors were flying around that the Columbus East vs Columbus North football game might be televised. In August 2011 ESPNU nationally televised the annual rivalry between Columbus East and Columbus North. Columbus North won the game 45-40 as Columbus East could not contain North's running attack. Columbus North head coach Tim Bless was very pleased with the win, but was persistent in making sure his players would be focused for the following week. For Columbus East and on the other hand, North could not contain East's aerial attack as Elite and Indiana University-bound quarterback Gunner Kiel threw for 399 yards. The game attracted thousands of fans and contributed a lot towards Columbus football. The kids will remember this game for the rest of their lives. That is for sure. Not only that, but Indiana football has received a boost in exposure.

Bands

The Columbus North bands frequently represent the school in state finals competitions as well. The Sound of North Marching Band is one of the top bands in the state having qualified for and attended ISSMA state finals class A competition in 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2009. The band has also participated in Bands of America national competitions since 2005, having qualified for the Grand National Semi-Finals in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Additionally, the band marched in the 2004 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. The concert band has enjoyed similar success over the past decade, attending state finals competition in 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005,2006, and 2011. The band marched in the Fiesta Bowl parade in December of 2006, and took the Fiesta Bowl Band Championship title, scoring in first place.

Notable alumni

Tony Stewart ('89) - 3-time NASCAR Champion
David McMillin ('02) - Singer-Songwriter
Chuck Taylor - Converse All-Stars
Mike Phipps - Heisman Trophy Runner-Up, NFL Quarterback
Robert C. Paris ('78)- former Mr. America and Mr. Universe bodybuilder, acclaimed writer
Christian Wagner ('04) - Cross Country and Track & Field State Champion, Nation Two mile Champion, Currently running for Hanson-Brook

External links

• Columbus North school paper online
• CNHS Main Page
• Sound of North Website
• Cross Country Website