Waukee High School

Waukee High School (also known as Waukee Senior High School) is a three-year public high school in Waukee, Iowa, United States. The school hosts grades 10-12. It is run by the Waukee Community School District. Freshmen attend one of two separate 8/9 schools, Prairieview or Timberline.

Waukee High School
Location
Waukee High School
Waukee High School
555 SE University Avenue
Waukee, IA 50263
Coordinates
Information
TypePublic high school
School districtWaukee Community Schools
SuperintendentBrad Buck
PrincipalCary Justmann
Staff121.65 (FTE)[1]
Faculty112[2]
Enrollment2,081 (2018-19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio17.11[1]
Color(s)Purple and Gold          
Athletics conferenceCentral Iowa Metro League
NicknameWarriors
RivalValley High School Dowling Catholic Johnston High School
Information515-987-5163
Websitewaukeeschools.org

As of the 2017-18 school year, the school has an enrollment of 1,950 students and 112 faculty with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio.[3]

History

The high school first opened its doors in 1997.[3] Since then it has renovated and expanded in 2000, 2003, 2005, and 2012.[3] The latest renovation included "an additional 24 classrooms (including three new computer labs, a new media center, and three new science rooms), renovated classrooms, Waukee Fieldhouse, and additional locker rooms." The new fieldhouse has created some controversy because of its considerable cost (nearly $15 million).[4] The gym's large video screen features such amenities as instant replay and player introduction clips.

Enrollment

During the 2012-2013 school year, there were 1,350 students enrolled at the high school. This number has grown exponentially over the years, as Waukee is the fastest growing school district in Iowa.[3]

During the 2010-2011 school year, 90% of enrolled students were white (state average was 81%).[5]

Academics

Waukee High School uses a block-scheduling system which has students spending their day in just four classes per day for 90 minutes each. In the average high school class system (eight classes per day), students spend a whole year enrolled in their core classes with semester-long electives. Waukee's block-scheduling keeps students in their core classes for a semester with quarter-long electives. Research has shown that this system creates better attendance rates and more Honor Roll students than traditional class scheduling.[6]

The school has traditionally boasted good grades and test scores. In 2012, the school tested at a 92% proficiency rate for math (state average 83%) and a 94% proficiency rate for reading (state average 84%).[7] The school received the highest possible rating on greatschool.org. The class of 2011 held an ACT composite score average of 23.5 (state average was 22.3).[8]

Activities

Athletics

Since the 2006-2007 school year, Waukee High School [9]) has been competing in the CIML (Central Iowa Metro League).[10] In 1997, Waukee was one of the smallest schools in the state, competing at 1A and 2A levels (1A to 5A in order of increasing school size). The school spent several years at the 3A level and has since subsequently risen to 4A and now 5A (the largest class in the state of Iowa). Waukee initially joined the CIML in the Iowa conference; however, since Ankeny has split into two high schools, the league is now moving to a four-conference format for the 2013-2014 seasons.[11]

The school's Athletic Director is Jim Duea.

Since the school has risen to the highest level of competition so quickly, it has led to varying levels of success among all the sports. This inconsistent trend has since solidified into a tradition of talented and hard-working athletes throughout all the sports.

The 33 Athletic Achievement Award This award is to honor athletes who have lettered in a varsity sport for at least three years in at least three sports. Waukee High School aims to not only recognize athletes with significant talent and skill, but those athletes who have committed themselves to multiple sports.

Amy Nestingen (2012) Basketball, Volleyball, Track and Field

Jake Knott (2009) Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track and Field

Waukee's Athletic Programs and Achievements:

Fall Sports

Football: 2005 3A State QF[12] 2015 4A State Semifinalist Volleyball:

Boys' Cross-Country: 4A State Team Qualifier (2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006)

Girls' Cross-Country: 4A State Team Qualifier (2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005)

Boys' Golf: Boys' Golf first state championship was in Fall of 2010 at The Harvester Golf Club. Collin Foster led the team with an individual state medalist title. Team members included Foster, Brady Campbell(SR), Austin Howe(JR), Grant Campbell(SO), Mike Woofter(SO), and Jacob McKinney(SO). In 2011, the warrior golf team were state runners-up at Finkbine GC. in Iowa City. Team members were Austin Howe(SR),, Zach Knutson(SR), Grant Campbell(JR), Mike Woofter(JR), Connor Littlefield(SO), and Aaron Denucci(SO). In Fall of 2012 boys' golf won their second state title at Tournament Club of Iowa. Team members were Parker Howe(JR), Aaron DeNucci(JR), Connor Littllefileld(JR), Jacob McKinney(SR), Grant Campbell(SR), and Mike Woofter(SR). Boys' golf won the 2014 state championship (the team's third in four years) led by Aaron Denucci (Sr), Parker Howe (Sr), Connor Littlefield (Sr), Tripp Kinney (Jr), Tom McLaughlin (Jr), and Andrew O'Brien (Soph). In 2015 they are looking to go back to back under the direction of Head Coach John Kotz and Assistant Coach Justin Ohl. The Waukee boys won the 2015 State Championship at Elmcrest CC with Tripp Kinney (Sr.) and Andrew O'Brien (Jr.) tying for 2nd individually. Other team members: Tom McLaughlin (JR), Ross Vasquez (JR), Brett Dively(SR), Colby Nicodemus(SR). The Warriors placed 2nd in 2016 at the prestigious Tournament Club of Iowa losing to Valley, WDM. The team included, Andrew O'Brien (Sr.), Jordan Elliott (Sr.), Griffin Parker (So.), Bennett Pederson (So.), Cole Koester (Sr.), and Ross Vasquez (Sr.). Waukee placed 4th in the 2017 State Tournament held in Marshalltown at Elmwood CC. The team included, Griffin Parker (JR), Michael Vicente (JR), Bennett Pedersen (JR), Nathan Petsche (SR), Ben Meyer (SR), and Jackson Starr (FR). The Warrior boy golfers claimed fifth state title at the 2018 State Championship at Brown Deer GC in Coralville in a one day tournament due to day two rainout. Senior Griffin Parker claimed Runner-up medalist honors. Other team members were: Bennett Pedersen (SR), Michael Vicente (SR), Jack Starr (SO), Josh Nichols (JR), and Charlie Steer (JR). Waukee won their 6th state title in 2019 at The Tournament Club of Iowa in Polk City. Waukee defeated WDM Valley by one stroke. The back to back title team included: Matthew O'Brien (SR), Jack Starr (JR), Josh Nichols (SR), Charlie Andrews (SR), Charlie Steer (SR), and Jack Utsler (SR).

Girls' Swimming and Diving: 2011 was the teamt's inaugural season. Prior to 2011, the team members were competing on the combined Johnston-Urbandale-Waukee team; however, Waukee created its own team after the construction of a new YMCA in Waukee. Maddie Gehrke and Jenny Brown have led the emerging team with several podium finishes each.

2012 50-Yard Free State Champion (Maddie Gehrke)[13]

The Diving Team has also succeeded in qualifying two girls for the State Meet: Limay Vong and Jillian Loos.

Winter Sports

Boys' Basketball: 4A State Tournament Appearance (2008, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2018 (3rd) ,2019 (3rd), and 2020 (2nd).[14]

Girls' Basketball: 4A State Tournament Appearances (2008-2012); two Semi-Final Games. 2015 State Champions class 5A.

Bowling: The boys bowling team most recently made the state tournament in 2016 finishing 7th. The team also made state in 2014 when Jonah Starmer (Class of 2016) was the state individual champion. Waukee and the states first sophomore ever to the Individual title. The Boys Coach is Steve Bossenberger and the girls Coach is Dave Roberts

Wrestling: Waukee has produced several D1 wrestlers including Jon Anderson, a D1 NCAA qualifier for Drake University,[15] two time Iowa state finalist Jakob Allison,[16] and three time Iowa state champion Kyle Biscoglia.[17]

After over a forty-year drought without a state champion, Kyle Biscoglia became Waukee's first state champion in 2016.[18] In 2017, the team, behind Biscoglia's second championship, placed in the top eight at the Iowa state tournament for the first time.[19]

This led to a breakout season in 2018 in which the team had 8 state place winners, including a state champion (Biscoglia) and two additional state finalists (Anthony Zach, and Brandon Tessau).[20] The team captured second place in both the Iowa State Dual Tournament[20] and Iowa Traditional State Tournament.[21] The coaching staff, lead by head coach Chad Vollmecke, was named IAHSAA 3A coaching staff of the year.[22] The team finished the season ranked as the 42nd best program in the nation as ranked by Intermat Wrestling.[23]

Boys' Swimming: 2011 was the team's inaugural season. Prior to 2011 they were competing on the combined Johnston-Urbandale-Waukeee team, however Waukee created its own team after the construction of a new YMCA in Waukee. Multiple Podium finishes at State by Jordan Reinard and Jack Scafuri. 2016 and 2017 State Champions[24]

Spring Sports

Boys' Track and Field:

Girls' Track and Field: The team experienced much success in recent years with several star runners and record-holding relays. In total, they have three State Champion runners (Gnade/800m x2, Westrum/200m, Vojic/200m), 14 State Champion relay teams, and two State Champion field event winners (Bramble/Discus, Rouw/High Jump).[25]

2013 4A State Championship Team; 2012 4A State Championship Team; 2009 4A State championship Team

Boys' Soccer: The 2019 team finished 3rd nationally according to Top Drawer Soccer (https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/high-school-soccer/national-team-rankings/men/spring-2019-june-18/5027/1764) and 8th nationally according to USA Today/United Soccer Coaches Super 25 (https://unitedsoccercoaches.org/rankings/high-school-rankings/boys-spring/)

2019 3A State Championship Team (22-0); 2018 3A State Championship Team; 2001 1A State Championship Team; 1999 1A State Championship Team (undefeated)

Girls' Soccer: 2011 2A State Runner-up

Boys' Tennis:

Girls' Tennis:

Girls' Golf: 2013 5A State Championship Team and Individual (Kelsey Shay); 2012 4A State Championship Team and Individual (Payton Minear)

Girls' Lacrosse: Their inaugural season was 2010. They generally compete in five tournaments a year with one at home. The tournaments are located in Omaha, Kansas City, and multiple places in Missouri. The team is associated with the YMCA, which sponsors the tournaments. Combined with some students from Valley High School, this Girls' Lacrosse Team was the first high-school-age team in Iowa.

Summer Sports

Baseball: 2003 3A State Runner-up[26]

Softball: 2015 5A State Champions; 2009 4A State Runner-up; 2000 2A State Champions; 1999 2A State Champions; 1998 2A State 3rd-place finish

Cheerleading: 4A Cheer State titles (2012) Coed Cheer State titles led by Trevor Johnson (2015, 2016) 4A Stunt team State titles (2012) 2015 NATIONAL RUNNERS UP

Dance Team: Pom State titles (2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008); Hip Hop State titles (2013, 2012)

Vocal Music

Waukee's premier curricular ensemble, "A Cappella," has been honored with performances at the 2005 and 2015 National, and 2010 Regional Conventions of the American Choral Directors Association.

Waukee has three show choirs: Spirit, Millennium and Nova. Under the direction of Matt Huth until 2015, Millennium experienced remarkable success. From 2012 to 2015, they received the award for Best Vocals at every competition in which they performed - a total of 16. Additionally, they were crowned Grand Champion at 13 of the 16 competitions (they were awarded First Runner-Up at the other three), going entirely undefeated in both 2013 and 2014. At present, Millennium is choreographed by Jarad Voss and directed by Jeff Knutson, director of choral activities. Spirit, a highly competitive mixed JV ensemble, is choreographed by Nick Quamme and directed by Kathryn Mosiman.

Expansion/Growth

By itself, the town of Waukee is not very large. Waukee's school district, however, is immense in comparison, encompassing the suburbs as far east as West Des Moines and as far west as the edge of Adel. Because the district extends into West Des Moines, the district has been able to take advantage of enormous residential growth surrounding the Jordan Creek Town Center. This growth has led the district to open a new school each year for six years straight.

Waukee High School has had to expand four times to accommodate the ever-growing student population.

Due to projected growth, a new high school will open in the fall of 2021. This will be called Northwest High School.[27]

To see the school's enrollment data, including projected growth, visit here.

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Waukee Senior High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  2. https://www.waukee.k12.ia.us/school/waukee-high-school/staff/
  3. https://www.waukee.k12.ia.us/school/waukee-high-school/
  4. http://www.usatodayhss.com/desmoinesregister/article/high-school-insider-waukees-new-fieldhouse-rivals-some-college-venues--2012312010065
  5. http://www.greatschools.org/iowa/waukee/1444-Waukee-Senior-High-School/?tab=demographics#header
  6. http://coe.winthrop.edu/vawterd/block/research/research.html
  7. http://www.greatschools.org/iowa/waukee/1444-Waukee-Senior-High-School/#!/test-scores
  8. https://www.waukee.k12.ia.us/school/waukee-high-school/academic-achievements/
  9. http://www.cimlcentral.org/g5-bin/client.cgi?G5genie=79&school_id=8
  10. http://www.cimlcentral.org/g5-bin/client.cgi?G5genie=79
  11. ciml waukee history
  12. http://www.iahsaa.org/05_3A_2RDPLOFF.html
  13. http://www.ighsau.org/IGHSAUwebsite/swimming.htm
  14. http://www.iahsaa.org/basketball/index.html
  15. http://nwhof.org/NCAA-Brackets/PDF/NCAA%201986.pdf
  16. http://cyclones.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=9658
  17. http://unipanthers.com/news/2017/11/14/uni-wrestling-signs-cayd-lara-kyle-biscoglia.aspx
  18. https://www.waukeeschools.org/2016/02/biscoglia-is-waukees-first-state-wrestling-champion/
  19. https://www.waukeeschools.org/2017/03/waukee-wrestlers-place-8th-at-state-tournament-with-4-state-medalists/
  20. http://www.adelnews.com/sports/20180217/biscoglia-claims-third-state-wrestling-title-eight-warriors-medal
  21. http://www.adelnews.com/sports/20180215/waukee-takes-second-at-state-dual-wrestling-meet
  22. https://iawrestle.com/2018/02/16/iahsaa-announces-the-2018-coaches-and-official-of-the-year/
  23. https://iawrestle.com/2018/02/21/national-high-school-rankings-post-state-tournament/
  24. http://www.iahsaa.org/swimming/index.html
  25. http://www.ighsau.org/track/trackrecordbook.pdf
  26. http://www.iahsaa.org/baseball/2003.html
  27. https://2ndhs.waukeeschools.org/
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