St. Mary High School (Rutherford, New Jersey)

Catholic high school in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States

St. Mary High School

Address

64 Chestnut Street

Rutherford

Bergen County

New Jersey

07070

United States

Coordinates| 40°49′46″N 74°06′16″W﻿ / ﻿40.829406°N 74.104446°W﻿ / 40.829406; -74.104446
Information
Type| Private, Coeducational
Religious affiliation(s)| Roman Catholic
Established| 1929
School district| Archdiocese of Newark
NCES School ID| 00861864[5]
Principal| Frank Viteritti[1]
Pastor| Fr. Michael Kreder
Faculty| 27.9 FTEs[5]
Grades| 9–12
Enrollment| 209 (as of 2019–20)[5]
Student to teacher ratio| 7.5:1[5]
Color(s)|  Royal blue and
white[4]
Athletics conference| North Jersey Interscholastic Conference
Team name| Gaels[4]
Accreditation| Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools[3]
Newspaper| Highlander
School fees| $895 (2021-22)[2]
Tuition| $11,532 (2021-22)[2]
Dean of Discipline| Dennis Hulse
Website| www.stmaryhs.org

St. Mary High School is a four-year Roman Catholic high school located in Rutherford, in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.[6] The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 2004.[3]

The school was established in September 1929, with instruction provided through the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, New Jersey. The school's new building opened in September 1932 with 200 students[7] and was formally dedicated in ceremonies held on November 5, 1932.[8]

As of the 2019–20 school year, the school had an enrollment of 209 students and 27.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 7.5:1. The school's student body was 43.5% (91) White, 35.9% (75) Hispanic, 10.5% (22) two or more races, 5.3% (11) Black, 4.3% (9) Asian and 0.5% (1) Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander.[5]

## Athletics[edit]

The St. Mary High School Gaels[4] participate in the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference, which is comprised of small-enrollment schools in Bergen, Hudson, Morris and Passaic counties, and was created following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[9][10][11] Prior to the NJSIAA's realignment that took effect in the fall of 2010, St. Mary was a member of the Bergen County Scholastic League (BCSL).[12] With 148 students in grades 10–12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Non-Public B for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 37 to 366 students in that grade range (equivalent to Group II for public schools).[13] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Non-Public Group B (equivalent to Group I for public schools) for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 64 to 223 students.[14]

The boys basketball team won the Non-Public Group A state championship in 1935 (against runner-up St. Peter's Preparatory School in the playoff final) and 1937 (vs. St. Mary's High School of Perth Amboy).[15] Down by five points in the last minute of play, the 1935 team won the Group II (since recategorized as Non-Public A) state title with a 32–31 win against St. Peter's in overtime.[16]

The baseball team won the Non-Public Group B state championship in 1962 (defeating Gloucester Catholic High School in the tournament final), 1968 (vs. Mater Dei High School) and 1998 (vs. Sacred Heart High School), and won the Non-Public C title in 1976 (vs. St. Peter's Preparatory School) and 1977 (vs. St. Joseph High School of Hammonton).[17] The 1998 team finished the season with a 22–5 record after winning the Group B title with a 7–6 victory against Sacred Heart in the championship game.[18]

The football team won the Non-Public B North state sectional title in 1976 and 1980, and the Non-Public Group I title in 2006.[19] The 1976 team finished the season 10-0 after winning the Parochial B North sectional title with a 49–14 win in the championship game against a Pope John XXIII Regional High School team that had won 24 consecutive games and hadn't lost in 43 games, the state's longest streak at the time.[20] The 1980 team won the Parochial B North state title with a 6–0 victory against Pope John XXIII after scoring a touchdown in double overtime to finish the season with an 8-0-1 record.[21] The team won the 2006 Non-Public Group I sectional title with a 20–13 win in the championship game against Paterson Catholic High School, a team that hadn't lost all season coming into the game.[22]

The softball team won the Non-Public B state championship in 1998 to finish the season with a 31–2 record after defeating St. Joseph High School by a score of 3–2 in the tournament final in extra innings.[23][24][25]

The wrestling team was recognized as the winner of the 2007 team wrestling tournament for the Non-Public, North B state sectional championship.[26] The wrestling team moved on to win the NJSIAA 2007 team wrestling Non-Public Group B state championship, topping Bishop George Ahr High School, 53–19.[27] This was the Gaels fourth consecutive state championship, beating St. Augustine Preparatory School in 2004, Holy Cross High School in 2005 and St. Joseph High School in 2006 in the previous three finals.[28] The Gaels had won six consecutive Non-Public North B state sectional titles (from 2002 to 2007), three District 16 titles and three BCSL National titles. St. Mary High School had filed a complaint against Queen of Peace High School with the NJSIAA, claiming that a new wrestling program run by former Gaels coach Scot Weaver at Queen of Peace would induce St. Mary's wrestlers to transfer schools. The NJSIAA ruled in 2007 that Queen of Peace would be restricted from competing in championships at any level of competition for two years.[29]

## Administration[edit]

Core members of the school's administration are:[30]

* Rev. Michael Kreder, Pastor
* Tara Brunt, Principal
* Marcella A. Schrank, Assistant Principal

## Notable alumni[edit]

* Bob DeMarco (born 1938, class of 1956), football center who played 15 seasons in the National Football League for four teams.[31]
* Logi Gunnarsson (born 1981), basketball player for Njarðvík of the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild karla and a former member of the Icelandic national basketball team.[32]
* Wayne Johnsen (born 1977), boxer.[33]
* Robert Leckie (1920-2001), author.[34]
* Da'Mon Merkerson (born 1989), football cornerback who is a two-time Arena Football League ArenaBowl winner with the Arizona Rattlers.[35]
* Stan Walters (born 1948), offensive tackle who played for 12 seasons in the NFL.[36]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Short, Daniel. "St. Mary High School Names New Principal", St. Mary High School, July 23, 2021. Accessed February 11, 2022. "St. Mary High School is pleased to announce the selection of Mr. Frank Viteritti as its new principal."
2. ^ a b Tuition for 2020-2021, St. Mary High School. Accessed February 11, 2022.
3. ^ a b Saint Mary High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed February 11, 2022.
4. ^ a b c Saint Mary's High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
5. ^ a b c d e School data for St Mary High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 10, 2022.
6. ^ Bergen County Secondary Schools, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Accessed February 11, 2022.
7. ^ "Parish Opens Its New H.S.; 1,000 Attend Ceremony at St. Mary's", The Record, September 9, 1932. Accessed April 2, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The recently constructed St. Mary's High School building at Ames Avenue and Chestnut Street, Rutherford, was formally opened yesterday when more than 1,000 persons visited the new building. Opening enrollment was placed at more than 200 students."
8. ^ About Us, St. Mary High School. Accessed November 7, 2017.
9. ^ Mattura, Greg. "Small-school NJIC may debut its own league championship", The Record, January 9, 2017. Accessed August 30, 2020. "The small-school North Jersey Interscholastic Conference may debut its own boys basketball tournament this season, one season after introducing its girls hoops championship. The NJIC is comprised of schools from Bergen, Passaic and Hudson counties and the event offered to the 36 boys teams would serve as an alternative to likely competing against larger programs in a county tournament."
10. ^ Member Schools, North Jersey Interscholastic Conference. Accessed August 30, 2020.
11. ^ League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
12. ^ New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association League Memberships – 2009-2010, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 24, 2011. Accessed October 7, 2014.
13. ^ NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
14. ^ NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2022–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
15. ^ NJSIAA Boys Basketball Championship History Archived January 16, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
16. ^ McMahon, Art. "St. Mary's Triumphs in Group 2 Prep Ranks Provides Big Thrill; Bergenites Behind by Five Points with One Minute to Go, Win from St. Peter's in Overtime, 32-31 -- Bill Shea Is Star; Bogota, Pennington, Hamilton Champions", Herald News, March 18, 1935. Accessed February 19, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The real punch of the tourney was supplied by Voile Dupes' little St. Mary's High School, of Rutherford, which blasted its way to the Group 2 prep championship by downing St. Peter's, of New Brunswick, 32-31, in a sizzling overtime tilt.... St. Peter's was leading, 27-22, with only one minute to go when the Saints cut loose.... It seemed like a remote hope, though, with only a few seconds to go, But Shea took a pass on the side and flipped in a one-handed shot with just one second left, to send the tilt into overtime."
17. ^ NJSIAA Baseball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
18. ^ Ballard, Mike. "Sacred Heart on small end in title game", Courier-Post, June 7, 1998. Accessed January 13, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The Sacred Heart High School baseball team rode a magic carpet into the Group B state championship game Saturday.... St. Mary scored four times in a fifth-inning rally, where the first five batters couldn't get the ball out of the infield. The Gaels padded their lead on a two-run sixth-inning homer by winning pitcher Lou Wieben and survived Sacred Heart's seventh-inning rally to defeat the Lions 7-6 for the Group B title. It was the first state baseball title for St. Mary (22-5) since back-to-back Group C crowns in 1976-77."
19. ^ NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
20. ^ "Schoolboy Halfback Breaks New Jersey Scoring Record", The New York Times, December 5, 1976. Accessed December 26, 2020. "St. Mary's of Rutherford (10‐0) captured the North Jersey Parochial B championship by stunning Pope John of Sparta, 49‐14, in Rutherford, halting the state's longest unbeaten streak at 43 games, including a tie and a forfeit victory.... Pope John had won 24 in a row."
21. ^ Zimmerer, Bob. "McGuire carries St. Mary's to Title", The Record, November 23, 1980. Accessed February 1, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "St. Mary's running back Joe McGuire has been the leading scorer for the Gaels throughout the 1980 season, scoring 15 touchdowns. None, however, was as important as No. 15, which carried the Gaels to a 6-0, double-overtime victory over Pope John and to the Parochial B North State football title yesterday. While the character in the winning touchdown was familiar, the play was not. The Gaels (8-0-1) used a play that head coach Bill Stonis termed 'special.'"
22. ^ Doviak, Cory K. "St. Mary's get a win, Sheridan gets his state title", North Jersey Sports, November 18, 2006. Accessed October 30, 2020. "In a year that saw Sheridan suffer a near catastrophic injury in a pool accident last summer than lose his sister to an illness just over one month later, St. Mary’s sent their coach off the field with a Gatorade bath, a huge smile on his face and with hugs all around after a 20-13 upset of Paterson Catholic, the defending champion and previously unbeaten top seed, in the Non-Public Group 1 state final at William Paterson University."
23. ^ NJSIAA Softball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
24. ^ Falzarano, Brian. "Stellar Career Ends the Way It Began; Gaels' Dickinson a Hit From 1st Pitch to Last", Herald News, June 8, 1998. Accessed January 6, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Lauren Dickinson slid into home plate, a cloud of dust clearing as her teammates mobbed her, the Parochial B state final against St. Joseph of Hammonton tied at 2 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.... Euphoria followed, hugs and high-fives and tears all over the field at Toms River East High School after the Gaels' 3-2, eight-inning win was finalized."
25. ^ "The Record's Final Polls: Softball", The Record. June 9, 1998. Accessed January 6, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "St. Mary's (31-2) The Gaels fell short in 1997 but won the Parochial B State crown Saturday with a 3-2, eight-inning victory over St. Joseph (Hammonton)."
26. ^ 2007 Team Wrestling Tournament - Non-Public, North B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 22, 2007.
27. ^ 2007 Team Wrestling Tournament - Group B Championship, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 28, 2007.
28. ^ NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History Archived October 20, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
29. ^ Kensik, Edward. "NJSIAA is looking into Saint Mary", South Bergenite, July 16, 2009. Accessed August 28, 2012. "It was only two summers ago that St. Mary was on the other side of the coin. St. Mary complained to the NJSIAA that Queen of Peace took student athletes from them when wrestling head coach Scot Weaver moved from the Rutherford school to the North Arlington school and several wrestlers went with him. The result was that Queen of Peace's brand new wrestling program received a two-year ban from any form of team championships be it league, state or county tournaments."
30. ^ 2020-2021 Parent/Student Handbook, St. Mary High School. Accessed February 19, 2021.
31. ^ Mills, Ed. "Where are they now? Former NFL star Bob DeMarco of Wood-Ridge" Archived February 2, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, The Record, January 28, 2014. Accessed January 25, 2017. "Growing up in Wood-Ridge, DeMarco was a two-way lineman at St. Mary and played as a sophomore on the Gaels' unbeaten nine-win team in 1953. Following graduation from the Rutherford parochial school in 1956, DeMarco went to Indiana University before transferring to Dayton, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in business management and economics in June 1961."
32. ^ Pelzman, J. P. "St. Mary's uses depth to advantage", The Record, February 13, 1999. Accessed February 12, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Bridges twice scored on putbacks, Logi Gunnarsson scored on a nice drive to the basket, and the Gaels canned four three-pointers, including two by Starr."
33. ^ DiLeo, Frank. "Pawel Wolak looked confident and strong from the start", Daily Record, August 20, 2005. Accessed September 6, 2011. "Wayne Johnsen continued his destruction of light heavyweight contenders Friday. The Lyndhurst native earned his ninth career victory with a six-round unanimous decision over Dhafir Smith. The former football star at St Mary's in Rutherford was spectacular against Smith controlling the bout with his nasty right cross for the victory."
34. ^ Rohan, Virginia. "'The Pacific' miniseries unfolds through Rutherford veteran's eyes", The Record, March 14, 2010. Accessed September 6, 2011. "Leckie and Vera Keller lived next door to each other in Rutherford. She was friendly with one of his sisters. But Vera was three years younger than he, and she went to Rutherford High School, while he went to St. Mary's High School."
35. ^ Da'Mon Merkerson Syracuse Orange football. Accessed November 7, 2017. "Hometown: Passaic, NJ; High School: Saint Mary's"
36. ^ Roberts, Jeff. "Where are they now? Stan Walters", The Record, November 2, 2010. Accessed January 25, 2017. "The Rutherford native and St. Mary alum had come a long way, through Bordentown Military Institute, Syracuse and then a 12-year career in the NFL."

## External links[edit]

* St. Mary High School
* Data for St. Mary High School, National Center for Education Statistics

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