Smithsburg High School

Smithsburg High School was constructed in 1965 in the town of Smithsburg, Maryland. It is one of the eight public high schools in Washington County.

Infobox Secondary school
name = Smithsburg High School
established = 1965
type = Public Secondary
principal = Melvin Whitfield
students = 902
grades = 9-12
city = Smithsburg
state = Maryland
country = United States
mascot = Leopard
colors = Purple and Gold
website = http://www.wcboe.k12.md.us/custom_pages/370/Main2/index.html
newspaper = Vox Populi

Sports

Smithsburg High School currently offers a wide array of athletic activities that span across three sports seasons.

Fall Sports Season

The fall sports season is composed primarily of outdoor sports. The most popular sport among freshman is football, for many years the team has been under the guidance and coaching of Walter "Buddy" Orndorff. The sport is offered in three competitive levels; Freshman level, Junior Varsity level and Varsity level.During the summer, there is a Summer Weightlifting program, that is highly recommended by the coaching staff.

Another popular sport is Soccer, which is separated by gender. The Boys Soccer team changes coaches every few years. The current coach is Stan Wade, who took the Varsity coaching position for the 2008 soccer season. The Boys Soccer team consists of two competitive levels; Junior Varsity level and Varsity level. Boys Soccer requires try-outs, and as a result, the first week of Smithsburg High School Soccer has earned the name "Hell Week". The initial week of try-outs consists of intense physical conditioning. Preparation for the competitive season begins during the summer in an optional summer league soccer program held at Black Rock Park in Hagerstown.

Girls Soccer has had great success over the past decade. More recently, Coach William "Bill" Fowkes, Jr. guided the girls Varsity soccer teams to Maryland State Champion victories, in both 2006 and 2007. The Girls Soccer team consists of two competitive levels, like the male counterpart, which consists of Varsity level and Junior Varsity level. Girls Soccer holds try-outs, where coaches can choose from girls who will most likely make the largest athletic contribution to the team. Like Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer holds a summer league in which girls can prepare for the athletic season.

Cross Country is the only fall sport that consists exclusively of running. Though there are no initial tryouts for Cross Country, summer preparation programs are available. The optional Summer Weightlifting program prepares the runners for speed and agility, whereas daily running offers the benefits of endurance. The team, which is co-ed, has been coached by Raymond Shriver for several years. Recently, the girls team was crowned the State Small School (1A) Champions. Cross Country is often an activity that athletes choose to prepare for long-distance events during Indoor Track Season. Races in Cross Country vary between three miles and five kilometers. Smithsburg High School's Cross Country course has long been regarded as the most difficult in Washington County, and one of the most difficult in the State of Maryland. It consists of three hills, aptly nicknamed, in their course order, "Pain", "Agony" and "Torture."

As with most High schools, those who choose not to partake in the more popular sports, can participate in similarly competitive athletic events. The high school offers Volleyball, Cheerleading and Color Guard.

Winter Sports Season

Winter sports are similarly popular. During the Winter season, students have the option of participating in three levels of competitive Basketball (Freshman, Junior Varsity and Varsity), as well as Wrestling, Indoor Track (which is ran at the local Hagerstown Community College Athletic Center), Color Guard and Cheerleading. Practices for Indoor Track, Color Guard and Cheerleading are held after academic hours in the high school.

pring Sports Season

The Spring season is equally competitive to the Fall season in that offers a wide array of outdoor athletics. Indoor track athletes (Co-educational) have the ability to test their performance on the outdoor track at the high school track and football field. The Outdoor Track and Field team was coached, by Raymond Shriver, Walter "Buddy" "Coach O" Orndorff, and Thomas Hood, to two consecutive State 1A titles in both 2006 and 2007. Baseball is also offered during the Fall to males, whereas, Softball is offered to females. Lacrosse has also seen immense popularity at the school in recent years. Though Lacrosse is currently an all male team. Tennis has also seen great success, with a recent State competitor coached by Jason Smith.

Smithsburg Spring athletic season offers many of the Smithsburg High School students the opportunity to partake in the outdoor activities. In most of the years the track team has existed, no tryouts have technically been held.

Organizations

Student Government Association - Dorothy Crawford

Future Business Leaders of America - Theresa Callimari

Future Farmers of America - Matthew Pine

National Honor Society - Michael Hoover and Stephanie Horner Chess Club - In Progress

Academic Team - John Fetchen

PTSA - Sherry Schweinhart

Environmental Club - Alicia Robertson

Link Crew - Alicia Robertson

Latin Club - Martha "Tootie" Godlove-Ridenour

Spanish Club - Jamie Paci

Indoor and Outdoor Color Guard- Matthew Stover

Drama- Ruth Hobson

Drama

The Smithsburg High Drama students are very dedicated. They perform at least two shows a year, a Spring and Fall show. Shows that Smithsburg High Drama Students have performed include, Footlose, Little Shop of Horrors, High School Musical, Oklahoma, Grease, and many others.