Dartmouth High School (Massachusetts)

History

The school began in 1902 on Russell's Mills Road in what is now the Salt-Marsh Pottery. By the 1930s the school had moved to a building on Slocum Road (referred to as the Elmer Poole School), which is now used as the town hall. In 1955 a new school was built next door, on the corner of Hawthorne Street, with the building being expanded twice, in 1965 and 1981. In 2003, the school was moved to its new location at the end of Bakerville Road, at the junction of Russells Mills Road, on the former farmland of the King family, with the former high school now being used as the middle school.

In 1993 during a social studies class a student was stabbed to death by classmates who barged into the classroom armed with baseball bats, billy clubs and knives. Karter Reed, Gator Collet, both 16, and Nigel Thomas, 15 were charged with first degree murder of Jason Robinson. The story gained national attention due to the severity of the crime and that it was the first of its kind in the school's history.

Music Department

The Dartmouth High School Marching Band was a Division 5 winner of both USBands (formally USSBA) and NESBA in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2016. The band is under the direction of Bill Kingsland. Additionally, they have many other titles in NESBA (where the marching band holds the highest score in NESBA history, 99.1, received in 2014 with the field show entitled "Voodoo") MICCA, and formerly in EMBA. Their 2015 show was entitled "Into The Hive" and featured music from The Wasps (Vaughan Williams). On November 7, 2015 the group got second place with a score of 97.125 at USBands National Championships taking captions for best percussion and best visual. Their 2016 show is entitled "Into the Light of Spring" and features music from "Snow Caps" by Richard Saucedo, Remedy (Adele song) and "Into the Light" by Jay Bocook. On November 12th they received 1st place at USBands National Championships with a score of 97.063, taking the captions for best music and best percussion. The group has also performed at the 1996 Tournament of Roses Parade, as well as several other festivals and Magic Music Days at the Walt Disney World Resort. Notably, in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2016 the band has won first place at USBands (formerly USSBA) National Championships in Annapolis, Maryland (2008-2011) and East Rutherford, New Jersey (2012-). In addition to the band, the percussion and colorguard have performed in the winter competition season, where the Dartmouth High Winter Percussion consistently placed in the top 3 from 1998 until 2016: winning the Winter Guard International Percussion Scholastic World Championships in 1998, 1999, 2008, 2009, and 2014, with 2nd place finishes in 2000, 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2012, and 3rd place finishes in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2010 and 2015. In 2016 they received 5th place with their show entitled "Revolution" which featured a variety of music by British bands and artists. They also hold the record for the highest scoring group in the world class division which has held for 12+ years, and still does to this day. The high school's orchestra has also traveled to many places national as well as international places such as Ireland, the Azores, Canada, Austria and Germany, and New York. They travelled to Ireland again in April of 2014, which included playing for the mayor, and getting critiqued by music professors there. On December 16, 2016, the high school performed a tribute concert to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, featuring both students and guest musicians on electric violin, cello, guitar, along with a drummer and a keyboardist.

Athletics

Dartmouth High School has a long and successful athletics history. The Indians have won numerous league and state championships since the school's establishment.

Football

Dartmouth's football team is regarded as one of the most successful teams in school history. The football team has won 4 MIAA State Championships in school history. the Indians won back-to-back state championships in both 1983 & 1984, and in 2014 & 2015. The Indians also advanced to the state championship in 2007, but were defeated in overtime by national powerhouse Everett by a score of 36-28.

2007 season

In 2007, the Indians football team was regarded as one of the most powerful, prolific, and highly regarded football teams in New England. The 2007 Dartmouth football team had 4 players who received Division 1 college football scholarships; two of which were eventually drafted by NFL teams. These players were running back Jordan Todman (Connecticut) (NFL), tight end Arthur Lynch (Georgia) (NFL), quarterback/safety Sean Sylvia (Boston College), and wide receiver Justin Mello (New Hampshire). Todman was named the Massachusetts Division 1 Player of the Year by numerous sources in both 2006 and 2007, and was named to numerous All-State teams. He also finished his career at Dartmouth as the second-leading rusher in Massachusetts state history, behind only JoJo Goodine of New Bedford. At UConn, Todman was eventually named the 2010 Big East Offensive Player of the Year, an ESPN All-American, and an All-Big East First Team selection. Todman also led the Huskies to a Big East Conference Championship in 2010, and clinched a berth in the program's first BCS Bowl game, which was the 2011 Fiesta Bowl against the powerhouse Oklahoma Sooners, who defeated the Huskies, 48-20. Todman opted to forgo his senior year at UConn and declared for the 2011 NFL Draft. Todman was selected in the 6th Round by the San Diego Chargers. He has also played for the Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, and Jacksonville Jaguars in his NFL career, and is currently playing for Pittsburgh Steelers. Coming into his senior season, Arthur Lynch was regarded as a 4-star recruit, and was listed as the #2 tight end prospect in the country in 2007, as well as the Top 100 high school football players in the country. Lynch received over 20 scholarship offers from top colleges across the country, and eventually committed to the University of Georgia. During his first three seasons with the Bulldogs, Lynch saw limited time, but had a breakout senior year in 2013, as he was a First Team All-SEC selection. Lynch was drafted in the 5th Round by the Miami Dolphins in the 2014 NFL Draft, and is currently a free agent. Both Sylvia and Mello received several scholarship offers, and both players produced successful college careers at Boston College and New Hampshire.

In 2007, the Indians finished the regular season with a 10-1 record and clinched a berth in the MIAA Division 1 State Playoffs. They routed perennial power Brockton in the semi-finals, and faced off against national power, Everett in the state finals. The game pitted two of the state's most highly regarded players against each other, Jordan Todman for Dartmouth, who was a UConn commit, and Isaac Johnson of Everett, who had committed to Boston College. The game ended in a 28-28 tie, and Everett scored a quick touchdown during the first possession of overtime. Unfortunately, Dartmouth was stopped short on fourth down and was defeated by the Crimson Tide. The Indians finished their historic 2007 season with an 11-2 overall record.

2014 season

In 2014, the Indians made a magical Cinderella run to the state championship, as they overcame fourth quarter deficits in two playoff games, including scoring 14 points in the final two minutes against Walpole in the state semi-finals to advance to the MIAA Division 3 State Championship game. In the state finals, the Indians faced off against Melrose. As the game remained tied at 7-7 late in the 4th quarter, Dartmouth running back Chris Martin marched the Indians downfield and scored a late touchdown to take a 14-7 lead. Dartmouth managed to hold Melrose on the ensuing possession and clinch their first state championship in 30 years. The Indians finished the 2014 season with an 11-2 overall record.

2015 season

In 2015, the Indians were regarded as one of the top teams in the state, led by senior All-State running back, Chris Martin. However, the Indians struggled during the first half of the season, as their record after two weeks stood at 0-2, and after six weeks, their record stood at 3-3. The Indians managed to win their final two regular season games and managed to qualify for the MIAA State Playoffs with a 5-3 regular season record. However, much like the previous season, the Indians rolled through the post season, as they won four straight playoff games against three Top 25 teams to advance to the Division 3 State Championship game for the second year in a row. Once again, the Indians would be facing off against undefeated Melrose in a rematch of last year's state championship game. In one of the best games of the season, Dartmouth managed to hold off Melrose in the final seconds once again, defeating the Red Raiders by a score of 26-21 to secure their second consecutive MIAA Division 3 State Championship. Senior running back Chris Martin was named the Massachusetts Division 3 Player of the Year by numerous publications, and was also selected to the All-State team. Dartmouth finished the 2015 season with an 11-3 overall record.

Football accomplishments

Notable alumni