Whippany Park High School
Address
Map
165 Whippany Road

Whippany, New Jersey
,
(Morris County)
07981

United States
Coordinates40°48′56″N 74°25′32″W / 40.8156°N 74.4255°W / 40.8156; -74.4255
Information
TypePublic high school
Established1967
School districtHanover Park Regional High School District
PrincipalChristopher N. Kelly
Faculty61.0 FTEs[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment595 (as of 2022–23)[1]
Student to teacher ratio9.8:1[1]
Color(s)   Cardinal & white[2]
Athletics conference
Team nameWildcats[2]
Websitewww.whippanypark.org

Whippany Park High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grade from Hanover Township in Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as one of the two secondary schools of the Hanover Park Regional High School District. The other school in the district, Hanover Park High School, serves students from East Hanover and Florham Park.[3] | us_nces_school_id = 340666004246[1]

As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 595 students and 61.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.8:1. There were 21 students (3.5% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 5 (0.8% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]

History

The school is located in the Whippany section of Hanover Township and was established in 1967 as the district's second facility.[4]

Awards, recognition and rankings

Whippany Park High School was the 46th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology.[5] The school had been ranked 38th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 42nd in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[6] The magazine ranked the school 45th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[7] The school was ranked 54th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state.[8] Schooldigger.com ranked the school tied for 102nd out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (an increase of 1 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (87.2%) and language arts literacy (95.8%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[9]

In its listing of "America's Best High Schools 2016", the school was ranked 429th out of 500 best high schools in the country; it was ranked 48th among all high schools in New Jersey and 31st among the state's non-magnet schools.[10]

In its 2013 report on "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast ranked the school 625th in the nation among participating public high schools and 49th among schools in New Jersey.[11]

Athletics

The Whippany Park High School Wildcats[2] compete in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference which is comprised of public and private high schools in Morris, Sussex and Warren counties, and was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[12][13] Prior to the NJSIAA's 2009 reorganization, the school had competed in the Colonial Hills Conference, which included schools in Essex, Morris and Somerset counties.[14] With 468 students in grades 10–12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group I for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 75 to 476 students in that grade range.[15] The football team competes in the National Blue division of the North Jersey Super Football Conference, which includes 112 schools competing in 20 divisions, making it the nation's biggest football-only high school sports league.[16][17] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group I North for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 184 to 471 students.[18]

The school participates as the host school / lead agency for joint cooperative ice hockey and girls lacrosse teams with Hanover Park High School, while Hanover Park is the host school for co-op boys / girls golf, boys lacrosse and boys / girls swimming teams. These co-op programs operate under agreements scheduled to expire at the end of the 2023–24 school year.[19][20][21]

The 1980 football team won the North II Group II state football title, beating three-time defending champion Madison High School by a score of 10–9 in the playoff finals.[22][23] The victory culminated a 10–1 record for the season, in which the team beat two other state champions that year, Delbarton School 21-13 and Glen Ridge High School 17–6.

The girls cross country team won the Group II state championship in 1980.[24]

The girls field hockey team won the North II Group II state sectional title in 1980 and the North II Group I title in 1981.[25]

The softball team won the Group I state championship in 1982 (defeating Maple Shade High School in the finals of the playoffs), 1989 (vs. Gloucester City High School), 1990 (vs. Gloucester City), 1992 (vs. Woodbury High School), 1999 (vs. Bound Brook High School) and 2012 (vs. New Egypt High School), and won in Group II in 1984 (vs. Hammonton High School). The program's seven state titles are tied for fifth-most in the state.[26] In 1982, the team won the program's first state title with a 5–1 win against Maple Shade in the Group I finals played at Mercer County Park.[27] The 1984 team finished the season with a record of 24-7 after winning the Group II state title against Hammonton by a score of 5–1 in the finals.[28] The 1989 team won the Group I championship with a 4–0 win against Gloucester City in the tournament final at the Trenton State College.[29] The 1990 team repeated as Group I champion, finished the season 27-0 and extended their winning streak to 46 games with a 4–0 win against Gloucester City in the playoff finals.[30] The 1992 team finished the season with a 29–0 record after a 5–2 win in the Group I championship game against Woodbury.[31] NJ.com / The Star-Ledger ranked Whippany Park as their number-one softball team in the state in 1989, 1990 and 1992.[32] The 1999 team finished the season with a 24–5 record after winning the Group I title with a 2–0 in the championship game against Bound Brook.[33] The softball team were North II Group I sectional champions in 2010 with a 13–2 win against Hoboken High School.[34] In 2011, the team won the North II Group I title with an 8–0 shutout in the championship game against New Providence High School,[35] but lost to New Egypt High School in the Group I State finals by a score of 9–2.[36] Whippany Park softball won the Morris County Championship back-to-back in 2006 and 2007 and hold the record for most Morris County tournament championships with nine. Whippany Park softball also holds the state record for consecutive victories with 75, a mark set by the teams which played from 1989 and 1991.[37]

The boys soccer team won the Group I state title in 1988 (defeating runner-up Haddonfield Memorial High School in the playoff finals) and 2001 (as co-champion with Arthur P. Schalick High School).[38] The team won the 1988 Group I state title with a 1–0 win in double overtime against Haddonfield Memorial High School.[39] The team was declared co-champion with Arthur P. Schalick High School after a scoreless tie in the Group I final in 2001.[40] The team won the 2003 Group I sectional championship with a 2–1 win over Bernards High School.[41] The team won the 2006 North II Group II sectional championship with a 1–0 victory over Cliffside Park High School. On their way to the sectional final they defeated and shut out Harrison High School who was previously undefeated and ranked third in the state at the time. The team went on to become North Jersey Group II champs with a 2–0 victory over Newton High School. They lost in the Group II finals by a score of 1–0 to Haddonfield Memorial High School, which finished the season ranked 18th in the state.[citation needed]

The boys cross country team won the Group I state title in 1991 and won in Group II in 1992.[42] In 2007, they won the Group I state sectional title.

The Whippany Park / Hanover Park co-op hockey won Haas Cup championships in 2000, 2004, 2005, 2011 (as co-champion), 2012, 2013 and 2016.[43][44] In February 2016, Park hockey won the Haas Cup for the seventh time since 2000, beating Vernon Township High School by a score of 4–2 in a game played in front of 3,500 people at Mennen Arena.[45]

The boys track team won the 2004 Group I indoor relay championship[46]

The 2004 girls' soccer team won the North II, Group I sectional championship with a 3–0 win against Lyndhurst High School in the tournament final.[47] The 2004 team moved on to win the NJSIAA Group I state championship with a pair of shutout victories, defeating Butler High School 1–0 in the semifinals and Arthur P. Schalick High School 1–0 to win the championship.[48][49]

In 2007 the boys track team finished as co-champion in the North II Group I sectional finals for Spring Track. In 2008 the boys track team were the North II Group I sectional champions. In 2008 the boys Spring Track team was the North II Group I sectional champions.

Whippany Park's 2008 wrestling team went 16–5 in the season and won their first ever state sectional championship, beating county-ranked Parsippany High School and won the North Jersey Section II Group I sectional championship.[50]

The baseball team won back-to-back conference championships (2009-2010), and won the North II Group I sectional championship in 2010 with a 6–5 win over High Tech High School.[51] After winning the Group I semifinal against Emerson Jr./Sr. High School, the team lost in the Group I state finals to Pitman High School 5–0, finishing the season with a record of 20–4.[52]

The girls track team won the indoor track championship in Group I in 2016 (as co-champion).[53]

Tom Wilson, a former Whippany Park High School soccer, basketball, and softball coach had more than 1,373 combined wins and is the holder of the Morris County record for girls basketball wins. He was featured in NJ.com's "The Top 99 New Jersey High School Coaches of All Time."[54][55]

Administration

The school's principal is Christopher N. Kelly. His core administration team includes two assistant principals.[56]

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

References

  1. ^ a b c d e School data for Whippany Park High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Whippany Park High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  3. ^ Hanover Park Regional High School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2015. "The Hanover Park Regional High School District is comprised of two high schools. Hanover Park High School is located in East Hanover, receives students from East Hanover and Florham Park, and has an enrollment of 855 students. Whippany High School is located in Hanover Township, receives students from Hanover Township and has an enrollment of 714 students."
  4. ^ "Hanover Park Board Praises Police Work", Madison-Florham Park Eagle, October 19, 1967. Accessed November 16, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Enrollment figures for September show 1,133 students at Hanover Park and 567 at Whippany Park for a total of 1,700 in the regional district."
  5. ^ Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
  6. ^ Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed October 7, 2012.
  7. ^ Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed February 23, 2011.
  8. ^ "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
  9. ^ New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2010-2011, Schooldigger.com. Accessed March 3, 2012.
  10. ^ Staff. "America's Best High Schools 2016", Newsweek. Accessed November 11, 2016.
  11. ^ Streib, Lauren. "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast, May 6, 2013. Accessed May 9, 2013.
  12. ^ Home Page, Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference. Accessed August 27, 2020. "The Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference prides itself on being one of New Jersey's premier high school conferences and is comprised of 39 high schools located in Northwest New Jersey."
  13. ^ League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  14. ^ Home Page, Colonial Hills Conference, backed up by the Internet Archive as of November 19, 2010. Accessed November 23, 2014.
  15. ^ NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  16. ^ Cooper, Darren. "Here's what we know about the new Super Football Conference 2020 schedule", The Record, July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference (SFC) is a 112-team group, the largest high school football-only conference in America, and is comprised of teams from five different counties."
  17. ^ Cooper, Darren. "NJ football: Super Football Conference revised schedules for 2020 regular season", The Record, July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference has 112 teams that will play across 20 divisions."
  18. ^ NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2022–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  19. ^ NJSIAA Fall Cooperative Sports Programs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
  20. ^ NJSIAA Winter Cooperative Sports Programs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
  21. ^ NJSIAA Spring Cooperative Sports Programs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
  22. ^ NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  23. ^ Mills, Ed. "Picture Perfect Pass Lifts Whippany Park", Daily Record, December 8, 1980. Accessed January 11, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "But Wildcat coach Ken Mulligan figured, along with quarterback Mark Grasso, that the bomb just might work against Madison if it was used at, exactly the right time.... Harris brought in the ball with his finger tips, and then raced away from Burroughs to score what proved to be the decisive touchdown in Whippany Park's 10-9 victory."
  24. ^ NJSIAA Girls Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  25. ^ History of NJSIAA Field Hockey Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  26. ^ History of the NJSIAA Softball Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  27. ^ Bovoso, Vikki. "Maple Shade step short of school's first crown", Courier-Post, June 10, 1982. Accessed December 23, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "Whippany Park High School downed the Wildcats, 5-1, for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Group 1 title at Mercer County Park as Karen Sanchelli drove in the winning run with the triple to left field in the fifth inning."
  28. ^ Mills, Ed. "Wildcats Group II champs", Daily Record, June 10, 1984. Accessed February 28, 2021. "So the Whippany Park Wildcats were determined not to finish second-best again at the state tournament and that is just what happened as Whippany knocked off Hammonton 5-1 yesterday for the Group II softball championship at Mercer County Park."
  29. ^ Cuneo, Ed. "Whippany Park, Courter stop Gloucester's magic carpet ride", Courier-Post, June 4, 1989. Accessed January 5, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "So, the senior right-hander from Whippany Park High School took it upon herself to make sure that she would never feel the way she did last year again. Courter tossed a one-hitter to lead her team to a 4-0 victory over Group 1 Gloucester in the final of the state Group 1 tournament at Trenton State College."
  30. ^ Seegers, Sandy. "Whippany Park rules Group I; Wildcats win 46th straight", Daily Record, June 3, 1990. Accessed January 5, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The Whippany Park softball team won its second consecutive Group I championship yesterday routinely, almost silently. There was little emotion, no wild celebration after the Wildcats won their 46th successive game, 4-0 over Gloucester City.... The Wildcats, 27-0, played yesterday without senior first baseman Jen Tavoletti."
  31. ^ Hoffman, Joe. "Another crown for Whippany Park", Daily Record May 31, 1992. Accessed February 7, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Same old ending: the Wildcats won their 29th straight game, capturing their third state Group I softball title in four years with a soggy 5-2 victory over stubborn Woodbury at Trenton State College yesterday.... Whippany Park (29-0) came back to tie in the top of the third when Calderone singled to left, stole second, and came all the way around to score when shortstop Stephanie Hartz allowed the throw to get away and center fielder Kely Barger slipped and fell on the rain-soaked grass in the outfield."
  32. ^ "Softball: Every No. 1 team in the state from 1979 to 2015", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 21, 2015, updated August 24, 2019. Accessed January 4, 2021. "Following are the teams that finished as the NJ.com No. 1 softball team in the state with year and record.... 1992: Whippany Park (29-0)... 1990: Whippany Park (27-0) 1989: Whippany Park (24-1)"
  33. ^ "No. 1 Immaculate Heart beats Bishop Eustace in Parochial A", Asbury Park Press, June 6, 1999. Accessed November 30, 2020. "Whippany Park 2, Bound Brook 1: Demelza DePalma pitched four-hitter as the Wildcats won the Group I title at Toms River North. Lauran Dathe and Dana Reilly singled and executed a double steal, as Whippany Park (24-5) took a 2-0 lead in the fourth."
  34. ^ Staff. "Whippany Park 13, Hoboken 2 (High school Softball scores and results)", The Star-Ledger, May 27, 2010. Accessed March 3, 2012. "Casey Reggiani pitched a six-hitter and also went 2-for-3 with a solo home run when Whippany Park defeated Hoboken, 13-2, for the championship of the NJSIAA/Blue Ribbon Awards North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 tournament yesterday in Hoboken."
  35. ^ Reilly, Sean. "New Providence (0) at Whippany Park (8), NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 - Softball", The Star-Ledger, June 2, 2011. Accessed March 3, 2012. "The game had ended and the sectional championship was secured, so the Whippany Park players posed for a team picture after they had defeated New Providence, 8-0, in the final of the NJSIAA/Blue Ribbon Awards North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 tournament yesterday in Whippany."
  36. ^ Reilly, Sean. "New Egypt (9) at Whippany Park (2), NJSIAA Group Tournament, Final Round, Group 1 - Softball", The Star-Ledger, June 12, 2011. Accessed March 3, 2012. "Consider it more than done after yesterday's 9-2 triumph over Whippany Park in the final of the NJSIAA/Blue Ribbon Awards Group 1 tournament at Toms River North.... And the most heralded New Egypt senior of all, Lehigh-bound pitcher Emily Bausher, fired a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts and four walks as the Ocean County team (25-3), ranked 12th in The Star-Ledger, won its second straight title and third overall with the victory. Whippany Park (22-4) was bidding to win its seventh state group title."
  37. ^ Reilly, Sean. "Softball season preview, 2011", The Star-Ledger, April 1, 2011. Accessed May 15, 2012. "On paper, this is the most dominant Group 1 team since the Whippany Park squads that won a state-record 75 consecutive games in the early 1990s."
  38. ^ NJSIAA History of Boys Soccer, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  39. ^ Staff. "Haddonfield Loses State Title on Fluke Goal in Second OT", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 18, 1988. Accessed October 19, 2011. "It just worked out that way. Ferentinos' bizarre goal - a corner kick that curved into the net with 7 minutes, 43 seconds left in the second overtime - gave Whippany Park a 1-0 win over Haddonfield in the Group 1 state final at Trenton State College."
  40. ^ Narducci, Marc. "Schalick boys share state Group 1 title after scoreless tie", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 18, 2001. Accessed October 19, 2011. "There were long faces, tears, and a genuine lack of enthusiasm by the Schalick boys' soccer team yesterday, moments after a scoreless tie against Whippany Park in the state Group 1 championship game at Kean University."
  41. ^ 2003 NJSIAA Group 1 Boys' Soccer State Tournament - NJSIAA, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 29, 2007.
  42. ^ NJSIAA Boys Cross Country Group State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  43. ^ NJSIAA Ice Hockey State Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  44. ^ Teodoro, Nick. "Ice Hockey: Panthers Ice Hockey Falls In OT Thriller of Haas Cup Finals", Suburban Trends, February 27, 2012. Accessed May 15, 2012. "With six minutes remaining and clinging to a 2-1 lead the Pequannock ice hockey team could taste a Haas Cup Championship, but much like their previous semifinal victory Park Regional proved their resilience scoring with 5:28 remaining in regulation and going on to eventually win in overtime over the Panthers for their second consecutive Haas Cup Championship."
  45. ^ Breeman, Dan. "Park Regional wins Haas Cup", Daily Record, February 19, 2016. Accessed June 5, 2016. "After an up-and-down season that saw Park Regional struggle through a seven-game losing streak in December before finding its skating legs, the Haas Division regular-season champions claimed their seventh Haas Cup title on Friday night when they skated past Vernon, 4-2, at Mennen Arena."
  46. ^ History of the NJSIAA Indoor Relay Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  47. ^ 2004 Girls Soccer - North II, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 31, 2007.
  48. ^ 2004 Girls Soccer - Public Semis/Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 17, 2007.
  49. ^ NJSIAA History of Girls Soccer, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  50. ^ NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  51. ^ Staff. "Whippany Park 6, High Tech 5", The Star-Ledger, May 28, 2010. Accessed October 19, 2011. "Gary Falkman's RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning gave Whippany Park a 6-5 victory over High Tech in the NJSIAA/Star-Ledger North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 final yesterday in Whippany."
  52. ^ Anastasia, Phil. "only to lose in the Group I State Finals to Pitman High School 5-0.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 5, 2010. Accessed October 19, 2011. "But one thing was typical for the Pitman Panthers in the Group 1 state baseball championship game: the superb pitching of Steve Schuler.The senior lefthander worked a complete game, allowing seven hits with 13 strikeouts, as Pitman beat Whippany Park, 5-0, Saturday at Toms River East."
  53. ^ Girls Winter Track and Field Championship History: 1981-2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated November 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  54. ^ "Tom Wilson Becomes Winningest Coach in Morris County History". NJ.com. NJ Advance Media. February 13, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  55. ^ Stanmyre, Matthew. "The Top 99 New Jersey High School Coaches of All Time". NJ.com. NJ Advance Media. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  56. ^ Principal's Message, Hanover Park Regional High School District. Accessed September 7, 2022.
  57. ^ St. John, Allen. "The Star Next Door: Rosemarie DeWitt's ability to bring depth to supporting roles in Rachel Getting Married and United States of Tara has thrust her into the limelight.", New Jersey Monthly, June 15, 2010. Accessed February 23, 2011. "As a child DeWitt lived in Hanover Township and attended Whippany Park High School."
  58. ^ Lent, James. "Magic was Dan Frischman’s first passion, then came comedy stardom; he uses both in new book", Hanover Eagle, April 24, 2009. Accessed December 11, 2019. "Dan Frischman did, but he also knew waiting until he got older to do it was not for him: He wanted to perform in front of audiences, and he wanted to start now.... After graduating from Whippany Park High School in 1977, Frischman attended Penn State University where he stayed for a couple of years acting in college plays until the restlessness to perform on a bigger stage got to him."
  59. ^ Hunter, George Leroy. "Two 'Giants' Visit Camp: Sussex Football Players Receive Special Guests", TAP into Sparta, July 27, 2012. Accessed December 11, 2019. "Saxton's professional football career was cut short by an injury. His stint in the NFL left a lasting impression on him, and gave him many stories to share with others. He grew up in Whippany, NJ and played football at Whippany Park High School."
  60. ^ Staff. "Joe Righetti To Be Honored", Cleveland Browns Alumni Newsletter, Spring 2008. Accessed May 5, 2015. "Joe currently resides in Randolph, (NJ) with his wife, Rachael. He has two sons, Jonathon and James. He currently teaches high school at Whippany Park High School in New Jersey."

External links

Education in Morris County, New Jersey
Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference (NJSIAA)
North Jersey Super Football Conference (NJSIAA)
Authority control databases
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