Briarcliff Barons

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Briarcliff Barons Athletics Archive

Briarcliff vs. Druid Hills, 1965

BRIARCLIFF BARONS ATHLETICS ARCHIVE documents the teams and athletes from BHS' opening in 1958 to its closing in 1987.

Baron athletes won 101 individual state championships, led by Nancy Chapman, who won eight state championships in swimming. Hundreds more Baron athletes placed at the state, region and county levels.

Sixteen Baron teams won state championships in wrestling, gymnastics, soccer and swimming, led by Baron Wrestlting, which won six consecutive state championships. An additional 48 Baron teams earned top-ten state rankings. Baron baseball, basketball and soccer teams qualified for state playoffs in 60's, 70's and 80's, led by Baron Soccer, with ten consecutive winning seasons (and three state championships).

Five Baron football teams posted winning or break-even seasons, one earned a state-ranking, several upset state-ranked teams, and one featured the Sports Illustrated Prep Punter of the Year.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Timeline

1956 - DeKalb County schools' enrollment increased, with Druid Hills High chool especially overcrowded. DeKalb approved a new school and purchased 21.7 acres of land on North Druid Hills Road that had been part of Tuggle Daries.

1957 - T. C. Brittain Construction Company of Decatur began building BHS.

1958 - DeKalb divided the Druid Hills district into two, with one for BHS. BHS opened with 442 students in the 8th and 9th grades under Principal Harold Schuler and 15 teachers. The original campus included "A" hall (offices), "B" hall (12 classrooms) and the cafeteria at a cost of $546,000, including land. BHS colors, originally maroon and gold, became blue and silver. Coach Sam Black named BHS students Barons, and an armored knight on horseback became the BHS emblem. Students published first editions of the BHS newspaper, Scroll, and yearbook, Shield. Football completed its first season.

1959 - BHS added 10th grade. Boys basketball completed its first season.

1960 - BHS added 11th grade. Enrollment increased to 1,202 students, and BHS began to experience overcrowding. Girls swimming became the first state-ranked team in BHS history finishing 9th in state. Baseball, track and wrestling completed their first seasons.

1961 - BHS enrollment increased to 1,642 students. Construction of "C" and "D" halls (41 classrooms and nine labs for science, home economics, art and language), the library, the gymnasium (capacity: 1,600), the music and industrial arts buildings was completed by Abco Construction at a cost of $1.4 million. BHS was formally dedicated on April 30 1961 by Mrs. Margaret Harris, Superintendent Jim Cherry and Reverend Max Milligan. Girls swimming finished 2nd in state. Wrestling finished 5th in state. Cross country and girls basketball completed their first seasons. In November Adams Memorial Stadium opened at a cost of $318,000.

First game at Adams Memorial Stadium:
Briarcliff 13, Druid Hills 0

1962 - BHS graduated its first senior class. Girls swimming finished 1st in state. Wrestling finished 1st in state. Boys basketball finished 12-10 and in the playoffs. Football upset region champion Decatur.

1963 - Russell Clark became Principal. Wrestling finished 1st in state. Cross country, girls swimming, and boys track each finished 3rd in state, and track defeated the 1962 state champion, Southwest High School (Atlanta). Boys swimming finished 8th in state. Girls basketball finished 15-7. Football upset 2nd-ranked Tucker and 5th-ranked Decatur. Gymnastics and tennis completed their first seasons.

1964 - BHS enrollment reached its all-time high of 2,470. Girls swimming finished 1st in state. Wrestling finished 1st in state. Track finished 4th in state. Boys swimming finished 6th in state. Cross country finished 10th in state. Football finished 4-3-3, its first winning season. Girls basketball finished 14-6.

1965 - BHS overcrowding was relieved by Lakeside High School opening. John Bolin became Principal. Wrestling finished 1st in state. Track finished 2nd in state, the best finish in BHS history. Boys swimming finished 8th in state. Football finished 5-4-1, its second consecutive winning season and tied for best record in BHS history.

1966 - Harry Jaynes become Principal. Wrestling finished 1st in state. Track finished 3rd in state. Girls swimming finished 7th in state. Boys swimming finished 8th in state. Boys basketball finished with the best record in BHS history (22-4), won the Cross Keys Invitational Tournament, and advanced to the playoffs. Girls basketball advanced to the playoffs. Football started 1-0 and was ranked 10th in state, its first and only state ranking. Girls gymnastics finished 1st in county (the highest level of competition).

1967 - Wrestling finished 1st in state. Boys swimming finished 5th in state. Girls swimming finished 9th in state. Girls gymnastics finished 1st in county (the highest level of competition). Boys basketball finished 17-5 and won the Cross Keys Invitational Tournament. Baron girls basketball finished 14-5. Football upset Southwest DeKalb.

1968 - Girls swimming finished 1st in state. Soccer completed its first season and finished 1st in state. Wrestling finished 5th in state. Girls basketball finished 13-6 and in the playoffs. Girls gymnastics finished 1st in county (the highest level of competition). Boys basketball finished 17-6 and upset Decatur, ranked 1st in state, on BHS Homecoming.

1969 - Girls gymnastics finished 2nd in state. Girls swimming finished 4th in state. Wrestling finished 10th in state. Five BHS tennis players won state championships, the most in BHS history. Soccer finished 8-1-1. Boys basketball finished 13-9.

1970 - Ernest Hallford became Principal. Wrestling finished 9th in state. Soccer finished 9-2 and in the playoffs.

1971 - Soccer finished 11-1-2 and 1st in state. Baseball finished 18-9 and 2nd in state. Girls swimming finished 4th in state. Boys gymnastics finished 5th in state. Boys basketball finished 15-9 and in the playoffs. Football finished 5-5, tied for most wins in school history.

1972 - Soccer finished 13-1 and 1st in state. Boys gymnastics and girls swimming both finished 4th in state. Wrestling finished 5th in state. Boys swimming finished 7th in state. Baseball finished 12-5.

1973 - Boys gymnastics finished 2nd in state. Girls swimming finished 3rd in state. Wrestling finished 5th in state. Baseball finished 21-5 and in the playoffs. Soccer finished 7-1-2. Girls basketball finished 16-7.

1974 - Boys gymnastics finished 1st in state. Girls swimming finished 4th in state. Soccer finished 9-2-1 and in the playoffs. Baseball finished 10-8.

1975 - Pat Williams became Principal. Girls swimming finished 6th in state. Wrestling finished 10th in state. Baseball won the sub-region championship. Soccer finished 6-3-1. Girls track completed its first season.

1976 - Byron Collier became Principal. Boys swimming finished 7th in state. Soccer finished 10-2 and in the playoffs. Baseball finished 21-5 and was region runner-up. Boys basketball finished 18-9. Baron girls cross country completed its first season.

1977 - Boys gymnastics finished 1st in state. Wrestling finished 9th in state. Soccer finished 8-1-1 and in the playoffs. Baseball finished 16-5 and was region runner-up.

1978 - Boys gymnastics finished 1st in state. Baseball finished 16-6.

1979 - Boys gymnastics finished 1st in state. Wrestling finished 7th in state. Baseball finished 24-5 and in the playoffs. Soccer finished 8-1-1. Girls basketball finished 18-5, the best record in BHS history. Basketball finished 15-10.

1980 - Wrestling finished 10th in state. Baseball finished 24-4 and in the playoffs. Soccer finished 8-2.

1981 - Baseball finished 12-8. Girls soccer completed its first season.

1982 - Mary Rivenbark became Principal. Boys cross country finished 2nd in state. Girls track completed an undefeated season. Baseball finished 13-9.

1983 - Baseball finished with the most wins in BHS history (26-7) and 2nd in state. Boys cross country finished 2nd in state. Football finished 5-4-1, tied for best record in BHS history.

1984 - Football finished 4-4-1.

1985 - Jennie Springer became Principal. Boys basketball finished 16-8.

1986 - After several years of declining enrollment at BHS the County reassigned the BHS 8th and 9th graders to Druid Hills for the 1986-1987 school year, and decided to close BHS following the school year. Girls basketball finished 12-9. Soccer finished 7-5-1. The last BHS football team defeated Druid Hills 10-9.

1987 - BHS, with a final enrollment of approximately 400 students in the 10th, 11th and 12th grades, graduated its final senior class, closed and merged into Druid Hills. Wrestling finished 7th in state and 1st in region. Baseball finished 18-9. Girls basketball finished 14-11.

BARONS HALL

Druid Hills High School maintains Barons Hall, a tradition that was established in 1962 at BHS. Barons Hall honors seniors who have excelled in the areas of athletics, leadership, service, the arts, academics, and foreign languages. Visit the Barons Hall at www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/druidhills/baronshall/baron.html

Sunday, September 7, 2008

All-Time Best Baron Teams

WRESTLING - Six State Championships

1962 - Won state by 50 points with 12 state-ranked wrestlers including 4 champions.
1963 - Won state by 41 points with 9 state-ranked wrestlers including 5 champions.
1965 - Won state by 34 points with 10 state-ranked wrestlers including 4 champions.
1967 - Won state by 28 points with 8 state-ranked wrestlers including 5 champions.
1964 - Won state by 13 points with 7 state-ranked wrestlers including 4 champions.
1966 - Won state by 15 points with 6 state-ranked wrestlers including 2 champions.
1961 - Finished 5th in state with 5 state-ranked wrestlers including 2 champions.
(Tie) 1972 - Finished 5th in state with 4 state-ranked wrestlers including 1 champion.
(Tie) 1968 - Finished 5th in state with 3 state-ranked wrestlers including 2 champions
(Tie) 1973 - Finished 5th in state with 3 state-ranked wrestlers including 2 champions.

GYMNASTICS (BOYS) - Four State Championships

1979 - Finished 1st in state by 28 points with gymnasts state-ranked in 11 events and winning championships in 3 events.
1978 - Finished 1st in state by 5 points with gymnasts state-ranked in 10 events and winning championships in 2 events.
1974 - Finished 1st in state by 5 points with gymnasts state-ranked in 7 events and winning championships in 2 events.
1977 - Finished 1st in state by 12 points with gymnasts state-ranked in 6 events and winning a championship in 1 event.
1973 - Finished 2nd in state with gymnasts state-ranked in 6 events and winning a championship in 1 event.

SWIMMING (GIRLS) - Three State Championships

1964 - 1st in state, swimmers finished state-ranked 16 times and won championships 7 times.
1962 - 1st in state, swimmers finished state-ranked 13 times and won championships 6 times.
1968 - 1st in state, swimmers finished state-ranked 12 times and won championships 4 times.
1961 - 2nd in state, swimmers finished state-ranked 14 times and won championships 2 times.
1963 - 3rd in state, swimmers finished state-ranked 8 times and won championships 3 times.
1973 - 3rd in state, swimmers finished state-ranked 6 times.
1974 - 4th in state, swimmers finished state-ranked 9 times.
(Tie) 1969 - 4th in state, swimmers finished state-ranked 8 times.
(Tie) 1972 - 4th in state, swimmers finished state-ranked 8 times.
(Tie) 1971 - 4th in state, swimmers finished state-ranked 8 times.

SOCCER - Three State Championships

1968 - 10-0-1 (.954), 1st in state, highest winning percentage in BHS history, undefeated season.
1972 - 13-1 (.928), 1st in state, most wins in BHS history.
1971 - 11-1-2 (.821), 1st in state.
1977 - 8-1-1 (.850), playoffs.
(Tie) 1969 - 8-1-1 (.850).
(Tie) 1979 - 8-1-1 (.850).
1976 - 10-2 (.833), playoffs.
1970 - 9-2 (.818), playoffs.
1980 - 8-2 (.800).
1974 - 9-2-1 (.791), 2nd round of the playoffs.

GYMNASTICS (GIRLS) - Three County Championships (Highest Available Competition)

(Tie) 1966 - 1st in County (highest available competition)
(Tie) 1967 - 1st in County (highest available competition)
(Tie) 1968 - 1st in County (highest available competition)
1969 - 2nd in state
1971 - 5th in state

BASEBALL - Two Time State Finalist

1983 - 26-7 (.787), 2nd in state, most wins in BHS history.
1971 - 18-9 (.666), 2nd in state.
1980 - 24-4 (.857), playoffs, best winning percentage in BHS history.
1979 - 24-5 (.827), playoffs.
1973 - 21-5 (.807), playoffs.
1976 - 21-5 (.807), region runner-up.
1977 - 16-5 (.761), region runner-up.
1978 - 16-5 (.761).
1972 - 12-5 (.705).
1987 - 18-9 (.666).

CROSS COUNTRY - Two Time State Runner-Up

1983 - 2nd in state (finished state meet tied for 1st with Lovett; lost on tiebreaker).
1982 - 2nd in state.
1963 - 3rd in state.
1965 - 9th in state.
(Tie) 1964 - 10th in state.
(Tie) 1966 - 10th in state.

TRACK - State Runner-Up

1965 - 2nd in state with invididual Barons state-ranked 14 times including 8 individual state championships.
1963 - 3rd in state with individual Barons state-ranked 12 times including 2 individual state championships.
1966 - 3rd in state with individual Barons state-ranked 7 times including 5 individual state championships.
1964 - 4th in state with individual Barons state-ranked 8 times including 2 individual state championships.
1962 - 1st in region.

BASKETBALL (BOYS)

1966 - 22-4 (.846), playoffs, most wins and highest winning percentage in BHS history.
1967 - 17-5 (.772).
1968 - 17-6 (.739), upset Decatur (ranked 1st in state)
1976 - 18-9 (.667)
1985 - 16-8 (.667).
1971 - 15-9 (.625) and in the playoffs.
1979 - 15-10 (.600).
1969 - 13-9 (.590).
1962 - 12-10 (.545), playoffs, after finishing 0-20 in 1961.
To be determined after records are obtained...

BASKETBALL (GIRLS)

1979 - 18-5 (.782), most wins and highest winning percentage in BHS history.
1967 - 14-5 (.736),
1964 - 14-6 (.700).
1973 - 16-7 (.695)
1968 - 13-6 (.684) and in the playoffs.
1963 - 15-7 (.681) after finishing 1-18 in 1962.
1987 - 14-11 (.560).
1986 - 12-9 (.571).
1966 - Playoffs (regular season record is unknown).
To be determined after records are obtained...