Wausau West High School
Wausau West High School | |
---|---|
Location | |
Wausau, Wisconsin USA | |
Coordinates | 44°58′28″N 89°39′04″W / 44.9744°N 89.6512°WCoordinates: 44°58′28″N 89°39′04″W / 44.9744°N 89.6512°W |
Information | |
Type | Public secondary |
Established | 1970 |
School district | Wausau School District |
Principal | Jeb Steckbauer |
Grades | 9–12 |
Enrollment | Approx. 1,775 |
Color(s) | Blue and Gold |
Mascot | The Warriors |
Newspaper | The Warrior's Word |
Yearbook | Aurora |
Wausau West High School is a public high school serving students in grades 9 to 12 of the Wausau School District. It was built in 1970 on the west side of the city of Wausau, Wisconsin to accommodate the growing city population. Its enrollment is approximately 1,775. Its rival school is Wausau East High School.
History
The first high school in Wausau was built in 1889 and later replaced by a larger building, Wausau High School, in 1898. By the mid-20th century the school was beginning to become overcrowded. This was exacerbated by a state law passed in the early 1960s that integrated schools from surrounding areas into the Wausau School District. By the end of the decade, the school district decided to build a second high school on the west side, and in 1970 Wausau's second high school opened its doors. Wausau High School was renamed Wausau East High School, and the new building on the west side of Wausau became Wausau West High School.[1]
Extracurricular activities
West provides extracurricular programs in the performing arts, athletics and academics (Science Olympiad).
Performing arts
West's drama program has performed musical and non-musical shows, such as "Little Shop of Horrors" (Fall 1995), "The Music Man" (1988), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Grease, Singin' in the Rain, Cinderella, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (Spring 1993), "As You Like It" (Spring 1994), "Romeo and Juliet" (Spring 1995), "The Orange Splot" (Spring 1996) and others. The drama program participates in the Central Wisconsin Educational Theatre Alliance, a group of local high school drama teachers and students that presents more challenging productions. With funding from grants, community donations, and the profits from past performances, the organization is able to produce plays and musicals on a larger scale than is possible at the high school level. Past shows include Peter Pan, Cats, Les Misérables, Romeo and Juliet, and The Phantom of the Opera.
Music
The school music department teaches choral music, orchestra, and band. The choral music program produces a pop concert each year, a revue of pop, rock, country, and Broadway music from all periods.
- Choir - four choirs (Freshmen, Men's Choir, Women's Choir, Concert Chorale) and one select group from Concert Chorale, Master Singers. The directors are Sarah Neinhuis and Brad Burril.
- Orchestra - directed by Kirsten Hornby
- Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Pep Band - directed by Charlene Kennebeck, alumna of University of Nevada- Las Vegas
Sports
Wausau West High School is in the WIAA Division 1 bracket. A school rivalry exists between the two Wausau High Schools, East and West, who both compete in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. During the "Log Game", the annual football game between the two schools, the schools play for possession of the traditional log. (The concept of the "log" comes from the fact that Wausau was once an important logging center.) The boys' soccer teams compete for the Wausau Rock each fall.The two schools also compete in ice hockey for possession of the Kuehlman Cup. The teams also compete, along with Mosinee and D.C. Everest, for the Marathon Cup in ice hockey.
Sports include:
- Ice hockey - Head coach, Pete Susens, is the all-time winningest coach in Wisconsin high school boys' hockey history. State runner-up 2009-2010, state champion in 2011. Conference champions in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.
- Wrestling - state runner-up in 2006-2007, state champion in 2007-2008, team state runner up in 2008-2009, state champion in 2012-2013
- Cross-country running
- Football - won first post-season football game in 2007.
- Curling- state champion in 2009, 2011 (Girls)
- Baseball
- Girls' swimming
- Volleyball
- Nordic skiing
- Alpine skiing
- Soccer - conference champions 2007 (boys)
- Track and field
- Golf
- Lacrosse - third place at state in 2007
- Basketball - state runner-up in 1981, conference champion 2008-2009
- Tennis
- Dance team
- Intramural Volleyball
- Intramural Bowling
- Intramural Basketball
Notable alumni
- Andy Brandt (class of 2001): professional ice hockey right winger[2]
- Marissa Mayer (class of 1993): technology executive, CEO of Yahoo![3]
- Jerry Wunsch (class of 1992): American football offensive tackle for NFL teams Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks[4]
References
- ↑ D.C. Everest Oral History Project. Local Voices: Stories of Wausau - Past and Present. Weston, WI: D.C. Everest Area Schools, 2006, pp. 518-520.
- ↑ "Andy Brandt", Wisconsin Men's Hockey Media Guide, University of Wisconsin, p. 28
- ↑ "Did You Know?" WSD Dialogue, Spring 2010, p. 11.
- ↑ Engh, Brent (August 27, 1992). "Recruiters covet state threesome". The Capital Times. Madison, Wisconsin. p. 20.