Cherryville High School

Cherryville High School
Location
313 Ridge Avenue Cherryville, North Carolina 28021
Coordinates	35°23′22″N 81°22′48″W
Information
School district	Gaston County Schools
Category	Public School
Principal	Derrick Jackson
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	716
Color(s)	Royal blue and white
Athletics conference	Southern Piedmont (1A)
Team name	Ironmen
Website	www.gaston.k12.nc.us/schools/ cherryvillehigh

Cherryville High School is a high school in the Gaston County Schools public school district located in Cherryville, North Carolina, United States.

History

In 1968 Gaston County had the Gaston County Schools and the Cherryville City Schools until the citizenry voted narrowly to consolidate these into the Gaston County Schools. The voters in Cherryville showed over 900 votes against the consolidation while only 9 votes supported it. The Cherryville City Schools were engulfed by the larger system as the Gaston County Schools took over every facet of Cherryville's qualitative school system. The people of Cherryville had taxed themselves to provide their children with a quality education whereas the Gaston County Schools were only supported to the level of financial support as provided by the Gaston County Commissioners. Thus, the level of financial support for the schools from the Cherryville City Schools was greatly dimished. Not only was the level of financial support lower, but some programs, e.g., arts, music, dance, saw their demise when the Gaston County Schools took over. Within the bond package was money to build new high schools in each corner of the county. The Cherryville High School and the Bessemer City High School were to be consolidated into a large high school near the Tryon School (a high school closed by the Gaston County Schools shortly after the vote). Both communities developed legal positions as to why this large consolidated high school should not be built. The Gaston County School Board of Education voted to build the Northwest High School even against the wishes of the two cities. They designed the building; bought the land; hired personnel, staff, and administrators. However, in 1976, Bud Black was elected county commissioner from the Cherryville Township and Gene Carson was elected county commissioner from Crowder Mountain Township. Bud Black led a charge to not fund the new consolidated high school; thus the Gaston County Board of Education had approved the new Northwest High School but they never were able to get funding. Finally in 1978 the Gaston County Board of County Commissioners held public hearings in Cherryville, Tryon School district, and Bessemer City to gauge the support of the proposed Northwest High School. After these hearings with overwhelming opposition to the proposed Northwest High School, the Gaston County Commissioners and the Gaston County Board of Education agreed to maintain the Cherryville High School and the Bessemer City High School. Also, Bud Black demanded a new high school for Cherryville. This was agreed to by both boards and funding followed. The new Cherryville High School was completed in 1981 and is home today of approximately 700 students.

Athletics

Cherryville High School athletically competes in the 1A classification of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Enrollment of high schools within the 1A classification range from Ocracoke's 28 students to Southwest Onslow High School's 729 students.

Basketball and Baseball are the sports which have historically been very successful in competing against all classifications of high schools in the locale.

The basketball success has been attributed to two stalwarts in the coaching profession. Dr. Bud Black and Dennis Tate teach basketball and coach for the basketball program at Cherryville High School. Dr. Black, returning to his hometown after finishing graduate school, began to teach the fundamentals of basketball to youngsters in the elementary school gym one to two nights a week. He received help from other great basketball players who had played at Cherryville High School and in various colleges. These included Keith Harris, Leroy Roberts, Al Graves, and Dennis Tate. These young players, mostly grades 1-6, began to understand the game and became successful in competitions with area teams from the Boys Club, YMC——A, community center, etc. Many youth tournaments were won by these young players. The group who started learning the fundamentals of basketball as first graders in 1973 later won the North Carolina State Championship of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association in 1985. This state championship team had two first team All-State selections in Terry Whisnant and Kenneth Poston. Terry Whisnant accepted a full scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Kenneth Poston accepted a full scholarship to the North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Both Terry and Kenneth were awarded Bachelor of Science degrees. The starters on the 1985 State Championship team were Terry Whisnant, Kenneth Poston, Tony Griggs, Craig Roberts, and Jay Moss.

The community and Cherryville High School honored Dr. Bud Black on February 23, 2007 by naming the high school gymnasium court "Bud Black Court." Dennis Tate was honored on November 27, 2007 with the retirement of his jersey. Dennis is the only player from Cherryville to ever be in the NCAA Division I Final Four. Bud Black and Dennis Tate have been partners in coaching basketball for 30 years.

The 2007-2008 team had two All-State players in Cameron Lovelace and Justin Johnson. Both players were selected to play in the prestigious NCHSAA All-Star game in Greensboro. This was the first time a 1A school had ever had two players selected as one of the ten from the western part of North Carolina. Both received scholarships to college. Cameron signed for a basketball scholarship at NCAA Division I University of North Florida. Justin signed with Motlow State Community College, Lynchburg, Tennessee. Also, Tyler Buff, a guard on 2007-2008 team signed a basketball scholarship with Montreat College, Montreat, North Carolina.

The 2009-2010 team won 27 games while losing 3 games had three outstanding players. Terry Whisnant, Jr. was selected First Team All-State. In April, 2010, Terry Jr. committed to play at Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida. Thomas Bess was selected to several post season honors and has not committed to any university as of May, 20-10. Darius Howell signed a basketball scholarship with Sandhills Community College. Brandon Heavner, the center on the 2009-2010 team, finished third academically in his class and will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Terry Whisnant, II, was selected by Nike (Cherryville Eagle) as one of the best 15 shooting guards in high schools from throughout America. Thereby because of this rank he played in the Lebron James (Miama Heat) Basketball Elite Summer Program. Terry has committed to play his college basketball at Florida State University.

External links

• Cherryville High School official website