Lakewood High School (Lakewood, Ohio): Difference between revisions

Lakewood High School is a public high school located in Lakewood, Ohio, west of Cleveland, Ohio.

The school colors are purple and gold. The mascot is the Ranger. The school is currently a member of the Lake Erie League, but will join the new Northeast Ohio Conference in the fall of 2007.

History of Lakewood High School

The first Lakewood High School graduating class was in 1885 from the small ivy-covered building on Warren Road which is now occupied by the Lakewood Recreation Department. The high school was then moved into a new building, called Grant school, just south of the old Rockport Building, where Lakewood High School made its beginning. In 1903 a high school building was erected across the street from the present site of the Recreation Building. The present high school was built in 1917 to accommodate 2000 pupils. It was filled quickly, and in 1926 overflowed into three junior high schools. In 1928, the first swimming pool was constructed.

During the past years, many improvements have been made in the physical plant of the school. Improvements have included the planetarium, reading center, improved academic classrooms and offices, a 25 yard Pool with separate diving well and Natorium, new cafeterias, a horticulture laboratory, an enlarged library, five computer labs, additional physical educational facilities, and extensive vocational program facilities. A building addition, referred to as "the New Building" was completed in 1970, and was necessary because of increased enrollment which included bringing the inclusion of the ninth grade in the high school. The installation of a new all-weather P.E./athletic field and the new swimming pool made Lakewood High School's facilities rank among the finest in the area. The most recent addition is the music wing which accommodates both the vocal and instrumental programs at the school.

The curriculum at LHS is broad and offers a wide selection of courses in technical, vocational, art, home economics, music and business as well as the regular academic fields of English, Science, Mathematics, Languages and Social Studies. Lakewood High School currently offers 12 AP courses.

Lakewood High School Alma Mater

Lakewood High we're proud of thee;
All allied in loyalty;
May thy counsels ever be
Within our memory. 

Honors then to Lakewood High
May her fame reach to the sky,
May we always heed her cry
To bravely do or die.

Chorus

Hail to thee! O Lakewood High
Thy dear name uphold;
We shall ne'er forget
The purple and the gold.

Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships

• Boys Cross Country - 1928,1929,1932,1953
• Boys Swimming – 1928,1929,1962
• Boys Track and Field - 1922,1923,1924,1926,1931
• Boys Wrestling - 1948
• Girls Gymnastics - 1979

Lakewood High School Athletics

• Mens:

- Fall Sports: Tennis (V), Cross Country (V) (2006 district champions), Soccer (V-JV) (2006 district champions), Volleyball (V-JV-FR).
- Winter Sports: Hockey (V), Swimming (V), Wrestling (V-JV), Basketball (V-JV-FR).
- Spring Sports: Baseball (V-JV-FR), Tennis (V), Track (V).

• Womens:

- Fall Sports: Golf (V), Cross Country (V), Soccer (V-JV), Football (V-JV-FR).
- Winter Sports: Swimming (V), Gymnastics (V), Basketball (V-JV-FR).
- Spring Sports: Softball (V-JV), Track (V).

( Key: V: Varsity, JV: Junior Varsity, FR: Freshmen )

Famed Alumni

• Benjamin Orr (dropped out), bassist for The Cars.
• Jack Buck (1942), Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster.

Marching Band

The LHS Ranger Marching Band is one of the top bands in the area. In 2006 it was voted the best high school Marching Band in the Greater Cleveland area in the Cleveland Magazine's "Best of Cleveland" contest. Also in 2006, the Plain Dealer sports editors listed Lakewood as the 3rd best Marching Band in the northeast Ohio area.

The 2006 LHS Ranger Marching Band consists of nearly 100 musicians, and over 40 auxiliaries, made up of their dance team (the "Rangerettes") and their flag corps. The band participates in several invitational band festivals, including its own, as well as the Fourth of July Parade, the Lakewood Community Festival, the LHS Spirit Parade and the Lakewood Veteran's Day program.

The Lakewood High Ranger Marching Band is directed by Brian Maskow, and Assisted by Michael Hazlett. The Lakewood Marching Band went to Kitchner, Ontario for the Thanksgiving and Oktoberfest Parade in 1997, and to the B.C.S. National Championship Game in New Orleans, Louisiana (The only band from Ohio) for the Pre-game and Halftime show in 2000 the game was between Virginia Tech and Florida State.

Lakewood's Marching Band has an annual festival joining ten bands from around the Ohio the festival in 2007 will be the 21st Lakewood in the past has invited Brecksville-Broadview Hts Bees. Medina Bees, Euclid Panthers, Westlake Demons, Bay Village Rockets, Rocky River Pirates, Vermilion Sailors, and U. of Akron Zips, and U. of Toledo Rockets, and the Ohio State Buckeyes Bands.