St. Maria Goretti High School

Who and where

Saint Maria Goretti High School is located in the North End of Hagerstown, Maryland. The school was originally the upper school for St. Mary's Catholic School, currently a K-8 day school located in downtown Hagerstown. From 1933 to 1955 the school was known as St. Mary's High School.

In 1957, the upper school was relocated to a new campus in Hagerstown's North End and was renamed St. Maria Goretti High School in honor of the Italian saint Maria Goretti (1890–1902) who was "murdered to protect her purity" per quote of Goretti's website, www.goretti.org. The campus sits adjacent to St. Ann Roman Catholic Church.

For much of the school's history, its faculty and administration was composed partly of members of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, an international teaching order that has a motherhouse in Baltimore. However, in the 1980s and 1990s the high school grew increasingly reliant on lay faculty. Currently, the faculty and administration are entirely from the laity, though the school continues to have a chaplain.

Goretti enrollment is approx. 225

Current Description

St. Maria Goretti, an archdiocesan high school, provides an educational environment committed to Catholic values and traditions. Our college preparatory program emphasizes academic excellence and nurtures the whole person through spiritual and physical development. The uniqueness of each individual is recognized, respected and affirmed by the school community. Guided by the spirit and example of St. Maria Goretti, our young men and women are prepared to lead lives of service working to shape a just and compassionate society. Many courses are offered at St. Maria Goretti High School with varying levels of difficulty and can be selected based on an individual student's abilities and interests. College-Prep (CP) level classes are designed for students with average, college preparatory ability and provide a solid foundation for College. Honors level courses are designed for students with above average ability who are able to accept challenging studies. Advanced Placement (AP) courses are designed for students who demonstrate the ability to master a college level course in English, Biology, Chemistry, Calculus, Spanish and U.S. History.

Boys basketball

St. Maria Goretti is a member of the Baltimore Catholic League in basketball. Despite being located 1.5 hrs. from the city, Goretti has captured several BCL regular season and tournament championships, and the 1986 and 1987 (private and public) Baltimore city championships.

The most notable athlete-alumnus of the school is Rodney Monroe, a four-year starter (1983–1987) who ended his high school career as Maryland boys basketball's all-time leading scorer and went on to college stardom at NC State University. An outstanding mid-range shooter, Monroe is the ACC's 4th-all-time leading scorer and was the 1991 ACC Player of the Year. He was later drafted by and played one year for the Atlanta Hawks before moving on to the European leagues.

Also notable is Monroe's former coach, Robert "Cokey" Robertson, who led the boys basketball program 1974-2006 and retired with nearly 800 lifetime victories (at Goretti and elsewhere), second in Maryland High School boys basketball behind legendary DeMatha coach Morgan Wootten.

Boys soccer

In 2003, the varsity men's soccer team went 11-11-1 and won the Private School State Championship. The following year they went 12-12-2 and finished runners-up. In 2005 they went 16-3-2 and won the Apple Valley League Championship. In 2008 the varsity men's soccer team won the Private School State Championship by defeating the Heights School 2-1. in 2009 they went undefeated in the preseason. In the 2010 season the Boy's Varsity soccer team won the Private School State Championship beating Bishop Walsh.

Co-Ed Swimming

St. Maria Goretti High School has developed a very strong swimming program. A strong team existed in the mid-late '80s, but interest dissolved upon entering the 1990s and 2000s, and the team, while still extant, lots its competitive status. The team was revived by Erik Meinelschmidt in 2005 with under 10 swimmers. Interest in the sport grew rapidly. Many new swimmers came, and the Gaels swim team became competitive once again. The Gaels improved their rankings in the Apple Valley League meet and a handful of swimmers competed in METROS Championships. Coach Erik died unexpectedly in May 2008.

Erik's brother, Cort Meinelschmidt took his place as head swim coach. In the 2008-2009 school year, Cort lead the team on to win the men's championship at AVLs, and more swimmers advanced to METROs. In the 2009-2010 school year, the men's team was once again victorious at the AVL championship (for the second year in a row). Six swimmers advanced to METROS. At METROS, four of Goretti's records were broken (each record broken was from the mid-late 1980s respectively).

Goretti Swimming is a co-ed sport, however, for fairness, meets are scored in a male category, and a female category.

Notable alumni