# Merritt Island High School

Merritt Island High School is a public high school located in Merritt Island, Florida. It was built in 1965.

## Principals

* Robert Bruton: 1965 - 1983
* Hank Smith: 1983 - 1999
* David M. Piccolo: 2000 - 2002
* Gary Shiffrin: 2002 - 2013
* Dr. Karyle Green: 2013 - 2014
* Mollie Vega: 2014 - 2018
* James Rehmer: 2018–2023
* Debbie Lubbers: 2023-present

## Academics

Merritt Island High School is accredited. The school offers classes for grades 9-12, including Honors courses, Advanced Placement courses, and courses with the Dual Enrollment program at Eastern Florida State College.
To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 26 credits. Each semester-course is equal to a half credit. There is also a variety of academies available for students to enroll in. Including the Advance Placement academy, Fame academy for the performing arts, and Davinci.

## Athletics
### Teams

* Wrestling
* Basketball
* Bowling
* Cheerleading
* Cross country
* Dance Team
* Football
* Golf
* Lacrosse
* Soccer
* Softball
* Swim and Diving
* Tennis
* Track
* Indoor Volleyball
* Beach Volleyball
* Baseball

### State championships

* Boys Soccer 4A championship - 2009. 3A championship - 2014.
* Girls Soccer 4A championship - 2010. 3A championship - 2017 and 2018.
* American football 4A championship - 1972, 1978 & 1979.
* Baseball 5A championship - 1999 & 2000.
* Volleyball 5A championship- 2011 & 2018
* Beach Volleyball AA championship - 2019

## Clubs and extracurricular activities

Extracurricular activities offered include:
* Academic Games team
* Art club
* Anime club
* Auto club
* Book club
* Beta Club
* Chess club
* Marine Science Club
* Chorus
* Chamber Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, & Beginning Orchestra
* DECA
* Drama/Theater
* Earth club
* Ethics club
* Fellowship of Christian Athletes
* FIRST Robotics Competition team
* Future Business Leaders of America
* Future Educators of America
* Future Problem Solvers
* Gay Straight Alliance
* German club
* Guitar Club
* Inline hockey team
* Intramural athletics
* Jazz ensemble
* JROTC (including the Raider Team, Rifle Team, Drill Team, Color Guard and Command and Staff leadership positions)
* Key Club
* Literary magazine
* Magic club
* Marching, Concert and Symphonic Bands
* Marine Science Club
* Multicultural club
* Mustang Round-Up Leaders
* Straight Up G (vocal acapella group)
* National Art Honor Society
* National Honor Society
* Newspaper
* Quiz bowl team
* Rugby team
* Science Research
* SECME
* Spanish club
* Spanish National Honor Society
* Speech and debate club
* Student ministers
* Student council
* StangSat Club
* Student Government
* Student Venture
* Yearbook
* Video Game club
* DND (Dungeons and Dragons) club
* Welcoming diversity team
* Young Republicans Club
* Young Democrats Club

## Notable alumni

* Leon "Pop" Bright 1974 – professional football player
* Derek Brown 1988 – professional football player
* Cal Dixon 1987 – professional football player
* Joe Gayton 1974 - writer of television and film
* Tony Gayton 1977 – film producer
* Derrick Ham 1995 – Professional football player
* Clint Hurdle 1975 – Professional baseball player and manager
* Mathew Martoma 1992 – former S.A.C. Capital Advisors trader, convicted of insider trading
* Bubba McDowell 1984 – professional football player and current head coach for the Prairie View A&M Panthers football team
* Will Perdue 1983 – professional basketball player and television sports announcer
* Darryl Spencer 1988 – professional football player
* Danny Verpaele 2004 – professional football player and current defensive coordinator for the Kennesaw State Owls football team
* Kevin Whitaker 1975 – US ambassador to Colombia
* Jeff Wickersham – professional football player
* Steve Crisafulli - Former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
* Richard Jones 1987 - State Wrestling Champion 105 lbs 1987, State Runner Up 98 lbs 1986