Nazareth Area High School

Nazareth Area High School is a public high school located in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is the only high school in the Nazareth Area School District and serves grades 9 through 12. Its mascot is the Blue Eagle and school colors are blue and white. Student enrollment for 2007-2008 is approximately 1,600 students.

Athletics

Traditionally, Nazareth has been very strong in athletics. In many sports, the blue eagles are very talented. In soccer, Katie Pitsko, and Katie Sales. Cassandra Denger, Kylie Thorne, and many other sophomores are featured. In field hockey, senior Melissa Gregory is a team catalyst. In baseball, last year senior Hugh Harris lead the team batting average (.450), RBIs (16), and home runs (5) carried the eagles offense into the postseason, while committing no errors all season. Harris was named to the 1st team all-area for local newspaper The Morning Call. He currently is a member of the division-1 Lafayette College leopards baseball team, of the patriot league. In tennis, on the girls side, Kate Novick and Alison Dally lead the team. For boys tennis, sophomore sensation Adam Harris, who lead the team in wins his freshman season in singles, is expected to be the teams top player for the future.

Nazareth's main Lehigh Valley Conference athletic rivals are Northampton Area High School and Easton Area High School.

Wrestling success

Nazareth is best known nationally for its highly successful wrestling program, which gained national prominence under former coach Ray Nunamaker, who amassed a record of 468 wins, 95 losses, and 7 ties over a span of thirty-four seasons.

Currently, Nazareth is coached by 2007 National Coach of the Year Dave Crowell. The school won the team state title for Pennsylvania in 2007, and finished second in the individual Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Tournament. The team also won the 2006 PIAA individual wrestling tournament. Recent graduates include: two-time PIAA state champion Joe Caramanica (currently a nationally ranked wrestler at North Carolina State University and three-time PIAA state champion Tim Darling (currently wrestling for The Pennsylvania State University). The Nazareth wrestling program has produced one NCAA champion, Rob Rohn (Lehigh University). Eric Wolak

Other extracurricular activities

Blue Eagle Marching Band

The Blue Eagle Marching Band is a great source of pride at Nazareth. The seven-time USSBA champion band has received many awards under the direction of Mr. William Boandl, who has just finished his last season as director of the band. Recently, the band became the first to be named two-time Grand National Champions in USSBA. This past year, with their show, "Speed Of Sound", they received a 98.575 at nationals, the highest USSBA score ever given. The percussion section is directed by Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Tanzos.

Eagle Nest Gallery

The Eagle Nest Gallery, located in the high school, is a professional gallery which hosts artists from the community in monthly shows. The gallery can show both two-dimensional and three-dimensional pieces. Each month a gallery reception is held, where the public can meet and talk with the artists.

Theater

Director Bruce Applegate, who retired in June 2008, led the high school theater troupe to many shows, including The Scarlet Pimpernel, Oklahoma!, 42nd Street and The Music Man. He was replaced by Mr. Jim DeNora and Miss Alicia Grossbauer. The Nazareth High Theatre Troupe will present The Pirates of Penzance as their spring musical in 2009.

Notable alumni

• Michael Andretti, professional auto racer, owner of Andretti Green Racing in the IRL IndyCar Series.