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DeMatha Catholic High School is a four-year Catholic high school for young men located in Hyattsville, Maryland, USA. Known both for academic achievement and athletic prowess, DeMatha is a member of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, as well as a Catholic, college preparatory high school administered under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.
History DeMatha was founded by the Order of the Most Holy Trinity, or Trinitarians, in 1946. Originally, the school was designed to cater to the needs of Catholic seminarians from the Trinitarian order. Many local families, however, desired a Catholic secondary school for their children, and DeMatha's location in the Maryland suburbs of Washington proved ideal for this goal. As a result, the school began admitting more students, and expanded its academic and athletic programs while constructing the "old wing," or original school structure. In addition to the original building, the school erected a state-of-the-art second wing, completed in 1990. Also, the former band practice facility, known as "Fort Necessity," burned down in the 1970s. This building was refurbished and became the Anthony Fotos Arts Center, named for a beloved teacher of mechanical drawing and other architectural and engineering courses and a 30-year veteran of the school. Recently, the school purchased more property adjacent to the original campus along Route 1, or Baltimore Avenue, in downtown Hyattsville. DeMatha seeks to develop the land acquisition with the direction and input of alumni, community leaders and the board of trustees of the school itself. On October 31, 2006 the Mighty dematha soccer team was upseted by bishop Oconnell in a tough quarterfinal match. this result was the end of Dematha's 67 winning streak. Catholic Tradition Pictured is a unique feature of the DeMatha Chapel, located on the second floor of the new wing. The stained glass depicts images central to the Catholic faith and the Trinitarian order, and the Chapel serves as the site of Masses, prayer services and other faith-based communal exercises. The Catholic faith remains central to DeMatha's education, and the Chapel reflects this fact, as does the shrine to the Virgin Mary, commissioned and completed in 2001 and located outside the DeMatha Monastery. Although DeMatha remains Catholic and Trinitarian by tradition, many students of various denominations attend DeMatha, and several faculty members are members of other faiths. Their presence adds to the rich diversity present at the high school. On October 31, 2006 the Mighty dematha soccer team was upseted by bishop Oconnell in a tough quarterfinal match. this result was the end of Dematha's 67 winning streak. Athletic Legacy DeMatha's athletic teams, the Stags, have received national recognition for achievement in a variety of sports, from golf and baseball to basketball and football. Sports Illustrated recognized DeMatha as the Ironically, the school Sports Illustrated ranked as DeMatha's basketball program has produced many championships in the school's WCAC (Washington Catholic Athletic Conference) league, and the team often wins the City Title game against opposing schools from the District of Columbia. In addition, DeMatha's former head basketball coach, Morgan Wootten, earned a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame for his achievements as the Stags' coach. In 2005, DeMatha's Varsity Basketball team finished with the The DeMatha varsity football team won the 2005 WCAC championship for the second consecutive year and finished In addition to football and basketball success, the DeMatha soccer and wrestling programs have also enjoyed critical acclaim. The varsity soccer team maintains a winning streak of fifty consecutive games, and is ranked DeMatha also fields very competitive teams (each with a number of conference titles) in other sports, such as swimming, tennis, hockey, golf, lacrosse, cross country, and track. The lacrosse team has won several championships in an area known for an abundance of talent in the sport, particularly at schools such as the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University, both of which have recruited DeMatha lacrosse players in the past. Academic Excellence In addition to these athletic achievements, DeMatha's academic record ranks highly among all-male Catholic high schools. The school offers a variety of honors and Advanced Placement courses, as well as various academic clubs and societies. Also offered are opportunities for study abroad and service within local Maryland communities, in keeping with Trinitarian tradition. The school emphasizes the importance of being both "a gentleman and a scholar" amongst its student body. The U.S. Department of Education recognized the school as a "National School of Excellence" twice, in 1984 and 1991. In DeMatha's 60-year history, the school has graduated over 6,000 young men. The school supports the Valois chapter of the National Honor Society, with a large percentage of upperclassmen participating in the group. The DeMatha chapter assists with food drives, fundraisers, and cleaning efforts of local parks, including the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. DeMatha fields competitive scholastic competition teams. For example, DeMatha routinely appears on It's Academic, the Washington-based television quiz show. DeMatha has emerged victorious several times during their television appearances. Outside of the DC area, DeMatha won the Myrtle Beach Ball Classic competition in 1998, and has also finished as champions or as semi-finalists in many local quiz bowl competitions. DeMatha routinely fields a strong Mock Trial team. Consisting of academically talented students, and coached by faculty and alumni mentors, the team has enjoyed great success and exposure over the years, being featured in publications such as the "Catholic Standard" and arguing before the Maryland Court of Appeals. The team regularly makes a showing in Maryland state semifinals, winning the statewide Maryland championship in 2001. While DeMatha continues its tradition of all-male secondary education, when Regina Catholic High School, an all-girls school in Adelphi, Maryland, closed in 1989, DeMatha welcomed 21 members of the Junior class who expressed a desire to finish their last high school year at DeMatha. Therefore, the Class of 1990 contains the only female graduates in school history. Music Program DeMatha's music program was founded in 1970 by John Mitchell. The school's Wind Ensemble was named the top Catholic High School Band in 18 of 20 years by the National Catholic Bandmaster's Association. In addition, DeMatha performing groups have received 25 gold medals at international festivals in Chicago, Toronto, Orlando, Atlanta, Nashville, Myrtle Beach, Virginia Beach, and Daytona Beach. Each year, the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band II, the Voices of DeMatha and the DeMatha Singers perform at a major music festival. The bands have received consistent Superior Ratings for the past 25 years at District, Archdiocesan, and State Band festivals. Over 400 students have been chosen to perform in All-State bands since 1974. DeMatha's music programs feature both academic and extra-curricular performing groups including the Pep Band, Jazz Lab, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, String Ensemble, Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble. In addition, the school maintains a choral program focusing on performance music, which includes the DeMatha Singers, the Voices of DeMatha and Power of the Cross (Gospel Choir). Many graduates continue to perform with major symphony orchestras and Washington, D.C. based service bands. Some Notable Alumni Some Notable Faculty and Staff See also DeMathas Athletic Championships
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