Mater Dei Catholic High School (Chula Vista, California)

History

In 1960, Bishop Charles F. Buddy founded the first co-educational Catholic high school in the Diocese of San Diego. It would be built on twenty acres of land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Egger. Seventy young students and a faculty of four embarked on a lasting venture which was to become known as Marian High School. These boys and girls carried the hopes and best wishes of many people as they attended classes in a three room division of St. Charles School across the street from what would be the future campus. In 2002, the Diocese of San Diego decided to upgrade all of its secondary campuses. A new site in Chula Vista was chosen and a new school was built. In 2007, the name was changed from Marian Catholic High School to Mater Dei Catholic and the school moved to its present location.

The original campus was located in South San Diego, near the intersection of Coronado Avenue and Thermal Street. Across from Marian Catholic was the parochial K-8 school, Saint Charles Catholic School. The new campus is located in East Chula Vista, in close proximity to Otay Ranch Town Center.

Facilities

Its facilities include the Marian chapel, a track and football stadium, baseball and softball diamonds, tennis courts, a full-service 800-seat theater, a competition swimming pool, a basketball/volleyball gym, and an environmentally friendly "earth bench".

Athletics

Mater Dei Catholic High School competes in the Metropolitan – Mesa League under the South Bay League of the CIF San Diego Section.

Most recently, the Mater Dei football team won the CIF Division 5AA State Championship in December 2015 against Immanuel High School of Reedley, CA.

Basketball

The 2009 Lady Crusaders became the first Crusader team to win a state title.

Notable alumni

• Paul Arriola: professional soccer player who plays as a winger for the Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer (MLS) and represented the United States in international competitions.
• Stanley Daniels: former professional football guard who played in the National Football League (NFL).
• John Carlos Frey (1981): activist, screenwriter, film director, and actor.
• Alejandro Guido: professional soccer player, current player of Club Tijuana in Liga MX.
• José Martínez (2011): professional volleyball player, member of Mexico men's national volleyball team.
• George Milke: former college baseball pitcher.
• Jason Myers (2009): professional football placekicker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL).
• Mickey Pimentel (2003): former professional football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL).
• Mary Salas (1966): former California State Assembly member, 79th District.
• CJ Verdell: former college football running back for the Oregon Ducks.

References

References

1. "Romans 12:1".
2. WASC-ACS. "WASC-Accrediting Commission for Schools".
3. "Welcome Page".
4. "Metro Conference – Athletics".
5. "2015-16 Varsity". MaxPreps.
6. Orozco, Ivan. (15 March 2009). "Crusaders stun Bishop's and look to Sacramento". San Diego Union-Tribune News.
7. Brand, Steve. (21 March 2009). "Mater Dei Catholic girls win Division IV state basketball title". San Diego Union-Tribune News.
8. Frey, John Carlos. "The Investigative Fund".