Waite High School (Toledo, Ohio)

Morrison R. Waite High School
Waite High School
Front portion of the school
Address
Map
301 Morrison Drive

Toledo
,
(Lucas County)
,
Ohio
43605

United States
Coordinates41°38′57″N 83°31′5″W / 41.64917°N 83.51806°W / 41.64917; -83.51806
Information
TypePublic, Coeducational high school
Established1914
School districtToledo City School District
SuperintendentRomules Durant
PrincipalTodd Deem
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,006[3] (2021–22)
Average class size26
Color(s)Purple & Gold [1]    
Fight songLoyal
Athletics conferenceToledo City League[1]
MascotIndian
Team nameIndians[1]
AccreditationNorth Central Association of Colleges and Schools[2]
Websitewww.tps.org

Morrison R. Waite High School is a public high school located in east Toledo, Ohio that opened in 1914. It is part of the Toledo Public Schools. It is named after Morrison R. Waite, a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who is famous for overseeing the Alabama Claims case. Waite replaced the original Central High School when Toledo Public Schools decided it couldn't afford to have 3 high schools for the 1914-15 school year.[4] (Scott High School had opened in 1913.[5])

The Waite Indians are members of the Toledo City League and their school colors are purple and gold. However, the Indian nickname is not for Native Americans. When the school was first opened, the Toledo Fire Department had an annual competition that involved running and pulling the fire truck. The team from the East Side was called the Indians. Someone thought it would be a good idea to name the school's athletic teams after the Fire Department team. The Indians have a rivalry with fellow East Toledo City League rival Clay. The rivalry ended in 2019.[6] They had a football rivalry from 1914 thru 1963 with Scott High School that was played every Thanksgiving morning and generated much interest across the Midwest. That game is now played on the final Friday of October and, with the closings of Libbey and DeVilbiss High Schools, has become once again the top rivalry for both high schools.[7] Waite has named their football stadium after their successful coach, Jack Mollenkopf, who also coached football at Purdue.

Waite was a national high school football power in the 1920s, traveling as far as California. In 1927, they played away games on successive Fridays in Portland, Oregon and Portland, Maine. Travel was by train. They were crowned National High School Champions in 1924 and again in 1932. In 1924 they went 10-0 under Coach Joe Collins to win the title. In 1932, under Coach Don McCallister and Assistant Frank Pauly, they defeated Miami High School 13-7 in Miami to finish 12-0 and win the honor.

Waite High School, Toledo, Ohio, 1910s
Waite High School, Toledo, Ohio, 1910s

The school's Latin Club functions as a local chapter of both the Ohio Junior Classical League (OJCL)[8] and National Junior Classical League (NJCL).[9]

  1. ^ a b c OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association member directory". Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  2. ^ NCA-CASI. "NCA-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  3. ^ "Waite High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  4. ^ "Little Hope For A 'Raise' In Schools". Toledo News-Bee. February 24, 1914. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  5. ^ "Monetta To Teach Scott Hi Athletes". Toledo News-Bee. September 2, 1913. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  6. ^ Junga, Steve (February 29, 2020). "Longtime Clay-Waite rivalry suspended for football, basketball". The Blade. Archived from the original on April 22, 2020.
  7. ^ Hackenberg, Dave (November 27, 2003). "Scott-Waite game kicked off great tradition of high school feasts". Toledo Blade. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  8. ^ "Executive Board Pre-File Application". OhioJCL.org - June 2007. Internet Archive: Wayback Machine. 2010. Archived from the original on June 17, 2007. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  9. ^ "OJCL Constitution". OhioJCL.org - July 2002. Internet Archive: Wayback Machine. 2010. Archived from the original on July 21, 2002. Retrieved August 16, 2010. ... by paying both OJCL annual chapter dues and any annual chapter membership dues required by NJCL.