Delbarton School

History

In the 1880s, Luther Kountze established an estate in northern New Jersey. He began to buy more land, eventually expanding his estate to cover 4,000 acres (1,600 ha). This eventually became the home of St. Mary's Abbey/Delbarton, Morristown National Historical Park and Lewis Morris County Park. Kountze eventually named the estate "Delbarton," borrowing one syllable from the names of each of his first three children (DELancey, BARclay and LivingsTON).

In 1918, Kountze died, leaving the entire property to his family. The family decided to put the estate for sale. In 1925, the monks of Saint Mary's Abbey, then in Newark, purchased approximately 400 acres (160 ha) of Delbarton to use as a separate house for younger members for studying, finally settling on the property in 1927.

After some time, the monks decided to open a secondary school, as the Newark residence had done so with Saint Benedict's Preparatory School. After some deliberation, Abbot Patrick O'Brien opened Delbarton School in 1939, appointing Father Augustine Wirth as the first headmaster. At that time, the school was a boarding school for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students.

In 1942, Father Stephen Findlay succeeded as Headmaster and introduced drastic changes. The grade levels were modified, ultimately resulting in seventh through twelfth grades being offered. The Kountze carriage house was destroyed in a fire in 1947, leading to the construction of the St. Joseph Gymnasium. Because of the fire, the school chose as its motto, "Succisa Virescit" (“cut down, it grows again”), borrowing from the often destroyed Abbey of Monte Cassino in Italy. Trinity Hall opened in 1959, allowing the enrollment to increase to over 300. Father Stephen retired in 1967 to the position of Director of Development. In 1971, the Schmeil-O'Brien Hall dormitory was dedicated, although the majority of students were day students.

Delbarton's fourth headmaster, Father Gerard Lair (1975–1980), initiated more changes. The system of discipline from demerits and detention changed to a conversational program designed to bring about positive changes. As the academic prestige of the school grew, the board of trustees decided to terminate the residential program in 1978. The last two resident students graduated in 1983.

International focus

Delbarton has made many efforts to open up the student body to the international community. Over the past few years many respectable speakers have spoken to the student body including Dith Pran and Lech Wałęsa.

Delbarton students also have several opportunities to travel abroad. The school participates in foreign exchange programs with schools in Ireland, particularly sister school Glenstal Abbey School in County Limerick, and the Bildungszentrum Markdorf School in Markdorf, Germany. Juniors can travel to the Caribbean during the summer between their junior and senior year to learn about the culture and history of select islands through the school's SOL program. Students also have the opportunity to experience eco-tourism first hand in Costa Rica. Students have visited nature reserves, Arenal Volcano, Poás Volcano National Park and Monteverde while studying at the CPI language school in Heredia, Costa Rica. Delbarton students have also traveled to Spain on several organized summer trips and to Germany for World Youth Day with the school's religious educator David Hajduk. The school has also sent several students to help assist in Operation Smile Missions in China, Honduras, Madagascar and Thailand. The most recent established trip overseas was a mission trip to Nairobi, Kenya, and Hanga, Tanzania, where students donated money and aid to several schools. The school's various musical ensembles also travel to foreign countries to tour and perform.

Students participate in the school's Model United Nations and Challenge 20/20 clubs. The Model United Nations club participates in four to five Model UN Conferences every year and has attained much success, winning the Best Small Delegation Award at Princeton's 2005 conference, the 2007 Seton Hall University conference, and 2009 WAMUNC. The club also participated in The Hague International Model United Nations, held in the Netherlands from 2006 to 2008.

Academics

Delbarton operates an 8:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. schedule, including six class periods, a conference period, and lunch. The schedule is an eight-day rotating block schedule ("A day" through "H day") with two classes dropping out of the schedule each of the eight days. All students have a twenty-five minute free period ("M block") from 10:00 to 10:25 AM. Teachers, guidance, and college counseling are available during M block and after school for extra assistance as needed. Although the school day ends at 2:45 p.m., the first buses do not leave campus until 4:00 p.m., which encourages students to pursue extracurricular activities, work with faculty on homework and special projects, and volunteer on one of the many community service projects the school sponsors. Late bus service is also offered at 6:00 p.m.

Delbarton offers 24 Advanced Placement courses. In 2009, 107 Delbarton students qualified as AP scholars, with 16 students qualifying for the National AP Scholar Award, 37 qualifying for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award, 26 qualifying for the AP Scholar with Honor Award, and 34 students qualifying for the AP Scholar Award. Delbarton does not offer any courses designated explicitly as "honors" because even classes not designated as "AP" are taught well beyond the traditional high school level. For example, students may take mathematics classes up to 3 years ahead of the nationwide standard (Algebra 1 in freshman year). Advanced math courses such as Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and AP Statistics are offered, as are independent study options. Language and literature courses are also offered in several languages.

With few exceptions, nearly all graduates continue on to four-year colleges or universities. Delbarton students are recognized for their academic achievements. In 2010, there were two National Merit Scholarships, three finalists, and 13 commended students. Eleven students were named Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars.

In 2007, The Wall Street Journal ranked Delbarton School ninth among America's high schools. For the 1983–1984 school year, Delbarton School received the National Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence from the United States Department of Education, the highest honor that an American school can achieve. In 2023, Niche.com ranked Delbarton third among Catholic high schools in the United States, and fifth among all private schools in New Jersey.

Athletics

The Delbarton Green Wave competes in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), which is comprised of public and private high schools from Morris, Sussex and Warren counties, and was created following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). Before the NJSIAA's 2010 realignment, the school had competed in the Northern Hills Conference an athletic conference that included schools in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties. With 790 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Non-Public A for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 381 to 1,454 students in that grade range (equivalent to Group III for public schools). The football team competes in the United White division of the North Jersey Super Football Conference, which includes 112 schools competing in 20 divisions, making it the nation's biggest football-only high school sports league. The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Non-Public Group A (equivalent to Group III/IV/V for public schools) for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 738 to 1,404 students.

Fall

Delbarton offers cross country, football and soccer as sports in the Fall season.

Delbarton's football program has won state football championships in 1993 and 1998. The 1993 team finished the season 11-0 after winning the Group III Parochial title with a 24-23 victory over Saint Joseph Regional High School. in the championship game after coming back from a 14-0 deficit. The team won the 1998 title with a 21-3 victory over Immaculata High School.

From 1946 to 1987, Delbarton was coached by William Regan Sr., who compiled a 236-83-10 record with 33 winning seasons and 7 undefeated seasons.

From 1987 to 2002, Delbarton was coached by John Kowalik whose tenure included state titles in 1993 and 1998, state tournament playoff losses in 1997, 1999, and 2001 by fewer than six points in each game and five consecutive Northern Hills Conference championships for 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001, finishing his career with a record of 138-29.

Since 2003, the coach has been Brian Bowers. During this time period, the team transitioned to the North Jersey Athletic Conference in 2009. Delbarton won NJAC championships in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Despite repeated objections based on being grouped with Bergen County football powers, the Green Wave joined the North Jersey Super Football Conference in 2016, playing in the White Division.

The soccer team won the Non-Public B state championship in 1984 (defeating Mater Dei High School), 1985 (vs. Mater Dei), and won the Non-Public A state title in 1989 (as co-champion with Holy Cross Preparatory Academy), 1990 (vs. St. Joseph High School of Metuchen), 1996 (vs. Christian Brothers Academy), 1997 (vs. Notre Dame High School), 2003 (as co-champion with St. Augustine Preparatory School), 2004 (vs. Christian Brothers), 2012 (vs. Pingry School), 2013 (vs. Pingry), 2014 (vs. Notre Dame), 2015 (vs. Christian Brothers) and 2017 (vs. Christian Brothers); The program's 13 state titles are ranked third of all schools in the state and the streak of four titles won from 2012 to 2015 is tied for the state's third longest.

Delbarton has won six Morris County soccer championships and seven NJSIAA championships since 1995 under former All-American David Donovan. In 1997, under interim head coach Erin Sullivan, Delbarton won a triple crown - winning the Northern Hills Conference, Morris County Tournament and NJSIAA Parochial A state tournament. Again in 2003 and 2004, Delbarton won the triple crown, finishing second in The Star-Ledger state rankings in 2003 and first in 2004. In 2003, the team beat St. Benedict's Preparatory School of Newark, New Jersey, which was the number one team in the country and had not lost to a New Jersey team in 169 games over 12 years. In 2007, Delbarton's soccer team made it to the North Jersey Non-Public A final and had achieved a No. 4 ranking in the nation but lost by a 3-2 score to Seton Hall Preparatory School. Delbarton also earned a #2 ranking in the Non-Public A soccer group for the 2008 soccer season. The 2011 Delbarton soccer team won the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference ("NJAC") regular season title as well as the NJSIAA Non-Public A North sectional championship and was ranked as high as #2 in the state.

Winter

In the winter, Delbarton offers three major sports (sports with three separate team levels): Basketball, Ice Hockey, and Wrestling. In addition, five minor sports (sports with two or fewer levels of competition) compete under the Green Wave: Bowling, Indoor Track, Squash, Ski Team, and Swimming.

Delbarton won the Morris County Tournament in 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2003, 2006, 2022 and 2023; The program won its sixth MCT title after defeating Randolph High School by a score of 73-55 in the championship game. In 2023, the team repeated as champion and won its eighth MCT title with a 58-36 win against Madison High School in the finals.

Delbarton won outright state championships in 1992, 2002, 2006, 2008-2013, 2016-2018, and was the state co-champion in 1989. Delbarton won Morris County's Mennen Cup championship 18 times over a 21-year span from 1984 to 2004. The hockey program then left the Morris County league to compete in the state's top league, the Gordon Conference, beginning with the 2004–2005 school year. The team won the Gordon Cup championship in its first season.

Delbarton's chief rival is Seton Hall Prep. At the height of the teams' rivalry, regular-season games between the two regularly drew more than 1,000 fans, and a regular season game in 2000 filled all 2,500 seats at the Mennen Arena. In 2006, Delbarton defeated previously undefeated Seton Hall Prep to win the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) non-public state championship.

Delbarton won the state championship in 2008 by defeating St. Augustine Prep 5-1. It was Delbarton's fourth outright state championship and fifth overall, and the Green Wave set a state record with 27 wins, finishing the season 27-1-1. In 2009, Delbarton repeated with another 27-win season that included victories over Massachusetts state champion Catholic Memorial, Hotchkiss (CT), and Christian Brothers Academy in the state final. Delbarton finished the season ranked No. 1 in the Northeast by Hockey Night in Boston.

Beginning in 2008, Delbarton, led by head coach Bruce Shatel, won six straight NJSIAA Non-Public State Titles: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. In 2013, Delbarton defeated Don Bosco Preparatory High School 4-0 at the Prudential Center in Newark in the Non-Public State Final.

Spring

During the Spring season, Baseball, Lacrosse, Tennis, Golf and Track & Field are the sports offered to the students.

The baseball team won the Non-Public A state championship in 1996 (defeating Camden Catholic High School in the tournament final), 2002 (vs. Christian Brothers Academy), 2017 (vs. St. Augustine Preparatory School) and 2019 (vs. St. Augustine).

The team has won the Morris County Tournament six times, tied for the second-most in tournament history, winning in 1970, 1987, 2008, 2012, 2017 and 2019. The team won its fifth Morris County Tournament title in 2017, defeating Randolph High School by a 6-5 score in extra innings in the final.

Brian Fleury was director of athletics, head varsity baseball coach and an English teacher at Delbarton. In his ten years as Delbarton's head baseball coach, his teams compiled a record of 223-63 and won nine Northern Hills Conference championships plus NJSIAA state championships in 2002 and 2006, before his death in October 2007.

The 1996 team finished the season with a 25-4 record after winning the Parochial A title with an 8-3 win against Camden Catholic in the championship game.

Under Coach Bruce Shatel, Delbarton won the Non-Public A state championship in 2017 with a 2-1 victory in the final of the tournament against St. Augustine Preparatory School. NJ.com named Delbarton as its "Team of the Year" based on its victories in conference, county and state competition. In 2019, the baseball team went 26-3, winning the Morris County title defeating West Morris Central High School 2-1, earning the program's sixth MCT title, tied for second most in tournament history. In the Non-Public A State Championship, Delbarton defeated St. Augustine Preparatory School 4-3 to capture their fourth state championship. Anthony Volpe earned 2018-19 NJ Player of the Year honors while NJ.com named Delbarton its "Team of the Year." Shortstop Anthony Volpe was drafted 30th overall by the New York Yankees in the 2019 MLB draft and signed with the team later that month.

Under the guidance of 1979 alumnus Chuck Ruebling, Delbarton had one of the best lacrosse team in New Jersey from 1999 to 2006, having won five straight overall state championships / Tournament of Champions titles in the years 2002-2006 and seven out of eight years. The team won the overall state championship in 1999 (vs. Hunterdon Central Regional High School), 2000 (vs. Ridgewood High School), 2002 (vs. Ridgewood) and 2003 (vs. Mountain Lakes High School), and won the Non-Public Group A title in 2006 (vs. Bergen Catholic High School), 2007 (vs. Christian Brothers Academy), 2008 (vs. Bergen Catholic), 2009 (vs. St. Joseph High School of Metuchen), 2011 (vs. St. Augustine Preparatory School), 2012 (vs. Don Bosco Preparatory High School), 2013 (vs. Seton Hall Preparatory School), 2014 (vs. Bergen Catholic), 2016 (vs. Bergen Catholic), 2017 (vs. Seton Hall), 2018 (vs. Seton Hall) and 2019 (vs. Don Bosco). The team won the Tournament of Champions in 2004 (defeating runner-up Mountain Lakes), 2005 (vs. Summit High School), 2006 (vs. Mountain Lakes), 2014 (vs. Summit), 2016 (vs. Pingry School), 2017 (vs. Moorestown High School) and 2018 (vs. Summit). The seven Tournament of Champion wins (starting in 2004), the 16 group titles and the streak of eight consecutive group titles from 2002 to 2009 are all the most of any team in the state.

Arts programs

Delbarton's Abbey Players produce three theatrical productions yearly: a fall play, a winter musical and a spring 'One Act' production featuring student written and directed plays. The productions attract participants from neighboring schools.

Delbarton has a range of instrumental ensembles, including a Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Abbey Orchestra, and Percussion Ensemble.

There are several a cappella and vocal ensembles. The group Schola Cantorum, commonly referred to as 'Schola,' is Delbarton's flagship chorus and features about 40 Delbarton students of all grades. Schola was founded by Dr. Roy Horton. The group performs all year in school concerts and at school masses. Schola Cantorum has performed across the United States and Europe. During the Summer of 2007 the Delbarton Schola Cantorum performed throughout Italy and in a Vatican mass service. Schola has also toured England, Ireland, and Scotland. The Benedictones is an a cappella group focusing primarily on pop classics and barbershop songs and is led by Mr. David Blazier, who inspired the group's formation in 2005. Gothicappella is led by Rev. Carol Horton and focuses primarily on music written before 1500. Gothicappella selections include plainsong and Gregorian chant, as well as other lesser-known songs.

On October 19, 2006, Delbarton officially opened its Fine Arts Center, which was constructed at a cost of $20 million. The arts and music departments were formerly housed in the school's historic "Old Main" building. The new 36,000 sq ft (3,300 m2) building includes a 622-person theater, several art studios, and rehearsal spaces for Delbarton's many musical groups. The school broke ground on the site during the Summer of 2005. After-school music lessons (voice lessons, various instruments) are also offered in the facility.

The Abbey Church also houses a pipe organ which was rebuilt in 2012. The space is known for its acoustic qualities.

Abbey Woods

After a six-year battle between state officials and the Monks at Delbarton School, as well as $2 million in legal fees, a decision was made on July 26, 2006, that the request for a sewer extension to the proposed $100 million Abbey Woods development, a continuing-care retirement community, would not be allowed. Environmentalists and several Morris Township residents had been working against the project that would develop 71 acres (290,000 m2) of zoned land adjacent to the Jockey Hollow Park. Rev. Elias R. Lorenzo commented in The Star-Ledger that "If the development is not passed, we will sell the land to other developers". In 2009, Delbarton sold 188 acres (0.76 km2) of the Abbey Woods to The Trust for Public Land for $13.75 million. While the acquisition was primarily handled by the Trust, ownership will mostly be held by the Morris County Park Commission, with Morris Township receiving 10 acres (40,000 m2).

Sexual abuse allegations

In 2012, various media outlets reported news of sexual misconduct by several monks from Saint Mary's Abbey who also worked at Delbarton School. Six former students accused several monks of sexual abuse in the 1970s and 1980s.

Headmasters

Rev. Augustine F. Wirth, O.S.B. (1939–1942)

Rev. Stephen W. Findlay, O.S.B. (1942–1967)

Rev. Francis D. O'Connell, O.S.B. (1967–1971)

Rev. James A. O'Donnel, O.S.B. (1971–1975)

Rev. Gerard P. Lair, O.S.B. (1975–1980)

Rt. Rev. Giles P. Hayes, O.S.B. (1980–1985)

Rev. Bruno A. Ugliano, O.S.B. (1985–1990)

Rev. Beatus T. Lucey, O.S.B. (1990–1995)

Rev. John Hesketh, O.S.B. (1995)

Rt. Rev. Giles P. Hayes, O.S.B. (1996–1999)

Rev. Luke L. Travers, O.S.B. (1999–2007)

Very Ven. Paul Diveny, O.S.B. (2007–2018)

Fr. Michael Tidd, O.S.B. (2018-)

Notable alumni

Kenny Agostino (born 1992, class of 2010), professional hockey player with the Toronto Maple Leafs

Jack Alexy (born 2003), competitive swimmer, 2024 Olympic gold medalist

Kary Antholis (born 1962, class of 1980), President for Miniseries at HBO and Academy Award Winner

William Antholis (born 1965, class of 1982), director and CEO, Miller Center, University of Virginia, former Brookings Institution managing director

Darryl M. Bell (born 1963), actor

Stephen Bienko (born 1979), entrepreneur behind the College Hunks Hauling Junk brand

Michael Patrick Carroll (born 1958), member of the New Jersey General Assembly who served from 1996 to 2020

John Cholish (born 1983), mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship

Dan Cocoziello (born 1985), professional lacrosse player

Steve Conine (born 1972/1973, class of 1991), co-founder and co-chairman of Wayfair

Ned Crotty (born 1986, class of 2005), Tewaaraton Award winner and professional lacrosse player

Peter Dinklage (born 1969), actor and Emmy and Golden Globe Winner

Christopher Durang (born 1949), playwright

John Farinacci (born 2001), ice hockey forward for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League