By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
Alumni and students of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School will remember the 2007-08 school year for a long time. McGuinness, a school in Oklahoma City competing mostly in Class 4A, won an unprecedented eight Oklahoma state championships.
In the fall, it all started with a repeat title in football. Led by senior running back Kris Parham and lineman Gabe Moyer, the Fighting Irish finished the season unbeaten for the second straight year at 14-0. At Owen Field in Norman, McGuinness downed upstart Glenpool 14-9. Parham’s 1-yard touchdown plunge in the third quarter was the difference.
In their 28-game winning streak, McGuinness’ defense has posted 16 shutouts. And they might even be better in 2008, with quarterback Ryan Randolph and tight end Gabe Ikard returning. Ikard has been offered scholarships thus far by the likes of Notre Dame and Oklahoma.
McGuinness’ girls cross country team added to the title winning spree. McGuinness took home the team title by six points by scoring 53. Molly Ferguson finished third in the individual race, with Katie Whitbeck finishing in fifth.
Over time, McGuinness’ tradition in boys basketball has been second to none. 2008 was no exception as the Fighting Irish won their third straight title in Class 4A. Led by Samford-bound Jeffrey Merritt, junior center Daniel Orton, and Randolph, McGuinness finished the season with a 26-4 record, all losses coming to large-school competition.
McGuinness may have been the best team in the entire state in any class. In 2009, it would be hard to find another team in Oklahoma with a better résumé. Orton is one of the top 10 players in the nation according to numerous recruiting experts with some naming Orton the best center in the land. Randolph, Ikard, and point guard Nick Johnson will return, making the Fighting Irish tough to beat.
As spring came around, McGuinness went to work again. The baseball team won its second title in school history with a 4-1 victory over Tuttle. It could be one of the bigger surprises of the season, as the Fighting Irish finished the season with a 29-12 mark. Entering the playoff round, McGuinness was ranked seventh according to CoachesAid.com. At one point in the season, McGuinness was .500 before winning 16 of its final 17 games.
McGuinness’ most dominant team might have been the girls tennis squad. The team won the Class 3A team title with ease over Heritage Hall of Oklahoma City after winning all four available state titles. Peta Lancaster won the No. 1 Singles event, while the team of Mia Lancaster and Whitney Ritchie won No.1 Doubles. Katelyn Connelly won the No 2 Singles title, while Ashley Chiaf and Emily Conrad won No. 2 Doubles.
Peta Lancaster finished the season with a 32-0 record, Lancaster-Ritchie finished 27-0, Chiaf-Conrad finished 32-0, and Connelly finished 31-0. That’s right; McGuinness finished 122-0 as a team throughout the season en route to its 10th team title in school history.
Daniel Stith shot a 212 over three rounds to lead the McGuinness boys golf team to the team title by 20 shots over Hilldale.
McGuinness won its first-ever state title in girls soccer with a 4-1 demolition of Tulsa Metro Christian. McGuinness trailed 1-0 but rallied with four unanswered goals. Jacquelyn Elmer scored two goals in the final, while Kelsay Gray and Abbey Akin added two others for the Fighting Irish.
Finally, the McGuinness girls track team was champions by four points over Oklahoma City Northeast.
McGuinness used its dominance in cross country to lead its path to the state title, having impressive performances in the distance events. Molly Ferguson won the 3,200 meter run with a time of 11:51.28. Annie Rischard and Ferguson both had top four finishes in the 800. McGuinness finished second in the 1,600 meter and 3,200 meter relay.
McGuinness didn’t claim a team title in the one-class swimming state meet, but had two athletes win two gold medals. Katie Whitbeck rolled to individual titles in the 200 freestyle and the 500 freestyle. In the 200, Whitbeck won by almost seven full seconds. Sister Lizzy Whitbeck won the 100 breaststroke and the 200 individual medley. Katie Whitbeck has signed with the University of Arkansas for her swimming excellence. Lizzy is just a sophomore.
It was almost nine titles as the McGuinness volleyball team narrowly lost in the Class 5A state final against rival Tulsa Bishop Kelley, 25-13, 25-22, 25-19. It was the second straight year the volleyball team lost in the state championship game, falling to McAlester the year prior.
Parham won the boys long jump at the state track meet in Class 4A with a leap of 21-feet, 9.25 inches as the McGuinness boys finished second in the team race to Oklahoma City Douglass.
In the past two years, McGuinness has won 15 titles after winning a lucky seven in the 2006-07 school year. More, for sure, are to come. Luckily for McGuinness, the school opened its newly athletic facility named McCarthy Athletic Center in January with a basketball game against Tulsa Union. The game became famous for Orton shattering a backboard on a missed dunk.
Hopefully the school administration planned for the future and has plenty of room in the trophy case.
Scott Hansen: maxprepsok@sbcglobal.net
