Mater Dei High School is a private, Catholic, co-educational secondary school in Santa Ana, California in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. With an enrollment of 2,100 students (Fall 2013) Mater Dei High School is one of the largest Catholic high schools in the United States. Mater Dei High School offers a comprehensive academic program in college prep, honors and Advanced Placement courses. Mater Dei High School is also known for its highly successful athletic programs, especially boys basketball, football, baseball and water polo. During the last decade, Mater Dei's Varsity sports teams have captured 28 CIF, 7 state and 2 national championships.
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History
Mater Dei High School first opened in September 1950 with 111 students. During that first year, a statue of Mary, Mater Dei was presented to the school by the Young Ladies Institute. It was placed in the school's main courtyard, the Grotto, where it remains today.
The first principal was Father Joseph L. Eyraud, who supervised a faculty of seven, including the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The first graduating class chose the lion as the mascot, and it was decided that the school mascot should be called the "Monarchs" and wear red and gray.
In the 1960s, the school had an enrollment of 2,150, making Mater Dei the largest Catholic high school west of Chicago.
In 1998, under the direction of then Principal Patrick Murphy and Rector Fr. Steve Sallot, the architectural firm of PJHM/MKA began a long process of designing a new master plan for entire campus. Capital campaign improvements to the campus include:
- The Gorden & Gail Lee Family Chapel & Campus Ministry Center
- New parking lot (formerly Baker Street)
- The Armona Guidance & Counseling Center
- The Muth Family Learning Center
- A science wing with state-of-the-art lab/lecture rooms
- The Josef D'Heygers Academic Services Clocktower
- The Reed & Angela LeVecke Student Activities Center
- The Carol Ann LaRosa ASB Center
- The Shamrock Plaza (named by the John O'Connor Family)
- A new visual arts complex and faculty services center
- The Meruelo Athletic Center
- Ward Family Fitness Center
- Andry Golf Practice Facility
- Lyon Homes Aquatics Center
- The Rod Dedeaux Baseball Complex at Joe O'Hara Field
- The Rick Muth Track
- Field Turf fields
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Arts
Through involvement in either performing or visual arts, students at Mater Dei High School have avenues of creativity in and out of the classroom.
- The Performing Arts Department includes comprehensive Choral and Hand-bell, Instrumental, Theatre, Dance, and Pep programs.
- The Visual Arts Program offers an array of classes for beginning, intermediate and advanced artists in various mediums including pencil, paints, ceramics, photography and graphic design.
Athletics
Mater Dei High School offers 21 CIF-sanctioned sports, ranging from football to tennis to water polo. The school's athletic teams are named after the Monarch lion. Mater Dei High School was ranked #1 by ESPN Rise & Max Preps.com and #2 by Sports Illustrated on its "Best High School Athletic Programs" list.
- The school has two Heisman Trophy winners in school history
- 25 student athletes from the Class of 2013 signed a National Letter of Intent to compete in collegiate athletics
Men's basketball
Since Gary McKnight began coaching the Monarch's varsity basketball team in 1983, the Monarchs have won 28 league titles (23 consecutive), 21 CIF Southern-Section championships, 12 Southern California regional titles, and, in a record 12 appearances, tied the state-title record with 8 CIF state championships. On January 18, 2010, McKnight won his 844th game, breaking the state High School Basketball Wins record previously held by Mike Phelps (Bishop O'Dowd in Oakland and St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in Alameda). As of the 2010-2011 season, McKnight is the winningest high school varsity basketball coach in state history with a record of 892-81.
Football
The football program is described as a powerhouse with a strong reputation and a huge attendance. It has been recognized for following innovative concussion prevention and treatment programs. Coach Rollinson led the Monarchs to achieve a #1 ranking in the Nation (ranked by USA Today) two times, in both the 1994 and 1996 seasons. The "holy war" rivalry between Mater Dei and Servite was named the #1 high school rivalry in California by USA today, with Mater Dei leading at 36-15-2 (2013).
Men's water polo
The water polo team, led by Coach Chris Segesman, has dominated Southern California Water Polo in recent years. The team had a 105-game win streak in 2013, in addition to winning 6 CIF championships in the last 9 years. In 2016, three Mater dei water polo players, Bret Bonanni (2011), McQuin Baron (2013), and Thomas Dunstan (2016) were selected for the US Olympic team competing in Rio. Mater Dei water polo is rivals with LA-area school Harvard Westlake.
Spirituality & service
Christian education is intended to "make people's faith become living, conscious and active, through the light of instruction" (The Bishop's Office in the Church, 14). Mater Dei High School is a unique setting within which this ideal can be realized in the lives of students.
- 100% of student body complete at least 80 hours of community service prior to graduation
Tradition & family
Building on 60 years of experience, Mater Dei High School is rich in tradition
- Alumni network of 25,000 have pursued careers in medicine, law, technology, finance, government and ministry
- Active alumni association with online social networking through Facebook
- Class reunions keep Monarchs connected to former classmates, faculty and their alma mater
- Family events throughout the school year (the Family Mass & Pancake Breakfast, Father-Daughter Dance, Mother-Son Brunch, Grandparents Day and Marian Mass)
Notable alumni
- Matt Barkley (2009), current starting NFL quarterback for the Chicago Bears
- McQuin Baron (2013), goalkeeper for United States men's national water polo team at Rio 2016
- Bret Bonnani (2011), Olympian for United States men's national water polo team at Rio 2016
- Jessica Bowlin (2000), winner of season 5 of The Bachelor
- Colt Brennan (2002), former NFL quarterback for the Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins
- Schea Cotton, basketball player
- Thomas Duarte (2013), former college football player for UCLA and current tight end for the Miami Dolphins
- LeRon Ellis (1987), former NBA power forward and center for the Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, and Los Angeles Clippers
- John A. Davis (1980), creator of Jimmy Neutron
- Danny Espinosa (2005), current MLB second baseman for the Los Angeles Angels
- Reggie Geary (1992), former NBA guard for the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers
- Tiki Ghosn (1995), defensive back on the undefeated National Championship team in 1995; professional mixed martial arts fighter, at one time competing in Strikeforce MMA, the WEC, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Matt Grootegoed (2000), former NFL linebacker for the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Bob Gunton (1964), actor, Star Trek: The Next Generation, 24, The Shawshank Redemption
- Ashley Hartman (2003), contestant on season 2 of American Idol, Actress, "The OC"
- Mike Hessman (1996), Major League Baseball player
- Vince Hizon (1988), American-born former Philippine Basketball Association player
- Khaled Holmes (2008), current NFL Center for the Indianapolis Colts
- Mike Hopkins (1988), former NCAA basketball guard at Syracuse University and current head coach at University of Washington
- John Huarte (1960), Heisman Trophy winner (1964) at Notre Dame and former NFL quarterback for the Bears, Chiefs, Eagles, Patriots, and Jets
- Chris Jackson (1988), former NFL wide receiver for the Dolphins, Packers, Titans, Seahawks, & Buccaneers
- Stanley Johnson (2014), NBA forward for the Detroit Pistons
- Taylor King (2007), former NCAA basketball forward for Villanova University
- Matt Leinart (2001), Heisman Trophy winner (2004) and former NFL quarterback
- Jeff Lewis (1988), real estate agent & investor, interior designer, and star of the Bravo Channel's reality series, Flipping Out
- Bobby Meacham (1978), current MLB First-Base Coach for the Houston Astros and former shortstop for the New York Yankees
- Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (2011), former NCAA women's basketball guard for the University of Connecticut Huskies, now with the Seattle Storm
- Steve Oedekerk (1978), film actor, comedian, director, editor, producer, and screenwriter; Bruce Almighty, Evan Almighty
- Aimee Phan (1996), literary author of We Should Never Meet and The Reeducation of Cherry Truong
- Robbie Rogers (2005), current MLS winger for the Los Angeles Galaxy
- Jamal Sampson (2001), former NBA forward-center for the Bucks, Lakers, Hornets, Kings, and Nuggets
- Katie Lou Samuelson (2015), current guard/forward for the University of Connecticut Huskies
- Sergio Santos (2002), current MLB relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays
- Miles Simon (1994), current NCAA basketball analyst for ESPN and former NBA guard for the Orlando Magic
- Jaime Soto (1974), current Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento
- D. J. Strawberry (2003), former NBA point guard for the Phoenix Suns
- Matt Treanor (1994), former MLB catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers
- Jennifer Warnes (1965), singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer
- Victory Tischler-Blue (1977), singer, film producer, director, photographer, and member of the all-girl band The Runaways
- David Wear (2009), former NCAA basketball forward for the UCLA Bruins
- Travis Wear (2009), current NBA Basketball forward for the New York Knicks, former NCAA Basketball forward for the UCLA Bruins
- Larry Williams, NFL player
- Max Wittek (2011), current NCAA football quarterback for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
- Greg Woepse silver medalist at the 1979 Pan Am Games in the pole vault
- Juan Zarate (1989), former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury and Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism during the Bush Administration
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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