Raytown South High School

Raytown South Senior High School is a high school located in Raytown, Missouri. The school was established in 1961, and graduated its first class of seniors in 1964. The enrollment at South peaked in the late 1970s, when it had the largest public school enrollment in the state of Missouri.^{[citation needed]} As Raytown became less of a "destination-suburb" in the 1990s, the enrollment fell drastically. It is thought that the class of 1998, amassing 247 students, was the smallest graduating class ever.^{[citation needed]}

Academics

Speech/Debate

The forensics program has had several national champions in various styles of debate.^{[citation needed]} In 2008 Teonna Wesley placed Fourth in the nation for Poetry Reading.^{[citation needed]} In 2006, Victor "Coy" Carter and Tyson Sprick were state champions in Duet Acting, becoming Coach Kelli Morrill's first state champs in Missouri. And also that same year, Tyson Sprick took Fifth in the nation for poetry reading.^{[citation needed]} That year the squad set a school record, qualifying six students to the national tournament in Dallas, Texas.^{[citation needed]} In 2007, the squad broke that record, sending 10 to nationals in Wichita, Kansas.^{[citation needed]}

Choir

From 1984-2001, under the direction of Mary Bodney, the choir program saw several dozen student attain All-State status.^{[citation needed]} The choir program was widely recognized in Kansas City,^{[citation needed]} performing at various places such as Crown Center, Arrowhead Stadium and Royals Stadium. Every May, thousands came to an annual variety show called Southern Comfort.^{[citation needed]} In November 2005, under the direction of Dustin Cates, Cardinal Chorale traveled to New York City and sang at Carnegie Hall, along with several other show choirs from across the country.^{[citation needed]} Stacy Schumacher, who graduated from Raytown South in 1997, headed the choir for 2 years. Sending students to State solo and small ensemble was a forte. Brandon Bowman lead the choir for a transitional year to the now deeply rooted Brooke Little who has been with the cardinals for two years.

Journalism

The Raytown South school newspaper, Southern Exposure has seen several of its former editors go on to be collegiate newspaper editors.

Athletics

Boys Basketball

From the inception of the school until March 2006, the program was under the direction of the legendary Bud Lathrop. His career record was 955-300, going 924-267 at South. As of his retirement, Lathrop was ranked No. 7 all-time in high school career coaching victories in the United States.^{[citation needed]}

Lathrop's teams won Missouri State Titles in:

• 1970 - Squad went 27-1 led by Randy Culberson 6'2"
• 1972 - Led By John Harrison 6'5" and Ed Stoll 6'6"
• 1977 - led by the F-Troop, better known as Bill Fennelly, Kevin Fromm and Larry Frevert.
• 1990 - Went 31-0 and were led by Jevon Crudup.

He also went to the Final Four six other times in:

• 1974
• 1975
• 1985
• 1992
• 1993
• 2003

He advanced to the state playoffs 23 times, and won 35 conference championships. Lathrop is a member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

254 of Lathrop's former players went on to play college basketball at various levels.

Notable alumni

• Jevon Crudup - Played Basketball at the University of Missouri and was drafted 48th overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 1994 NBA Draft
• Jason Belser - Played football at the University of Oklahoma and had a long career with the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs Class of 1988.
• Kara Brock - Television and film actress.
• Mara Brock Akil - Writer and television producer
• Bob Dernier - Professional baseball player who spent 10 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs.
• John D. Carmack - Co-founder of id Software

External links

• [1]