West High School (Davenport, Iowa)
Encyclopedia
West High School is a public high school located in Davenport, Iowa
, United States
. The school is one of three public high schools in Davenport; Central
and North
are the other two.
The school has been undergoing renovations as a part of continued district-wide remodeling after approval of a 1 percent Local Option Sales Tax
, as well as continuing a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy.
The school's media center was moved to the main level in a newly renovated area in 2001, with four computer labs added at that time. The building's offices and main entrance were remodeled at the same time.
A YMCA
partnered with the school district was built in 2003 attached to the high school. The facility is open to the public as well as providing facilities to P.E. classes. The Y took over management and maintenance of the school's swimming pool when it opened.
Science classrooms were remodeled summer 2007.
, and athletic teams are known as the Falcons. School colors are red
and white
.
The school fields athletic teams in 21 sports, including:
The school also has a cheerleading squad and a competitive dance team.
Davenport West is classified as a 4A school (Iowa's largest 48 schools), according to the Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union; in sports where there are fewer divisions, the Falcons are always in the largest class (e.g., Class 3A for wrestling, boys soccer, and Class 2A for golf, tennis and girls soccer). The school is a member of the 10-team Mississippi Athletic Conference
(known to locals as the MAC), which comprises schools from the Iowa Quad Cities
, along with Burlington, Clinton and Muscatine high schools.
Davenport West's biggest rivalries are with intercity rivals Central and North high schools.
During the 1970s and 1980s, West enjoyed great success in football, winning state championships in 1974 and 1977. Several one-time Falcon football players later found success in the NFL, including T. J. Rubley
and Kenny Shedd
.
From the early 1970s through early 1990s, West also was considered a powerhouse in boys' basketball. Longtime coach Dave Wessel led eight Falcon teams to the state tournament, with his 1971 and 1994 teams winning state titles in Iowa's largest classes. The 1971 team had an 8-11 record prior to the post-season tournament, but rallied to win the state title; the 1994 team became the last (to date) undefeated high school basketball team amongst Davenport's three public high schools. Bill Fennelly
, one of the standout players during West's heyday, later became the women's basketball coach at Iowa State University
.
West's softball teams have also traditionally been successful, winning state titles in 1984 and 1986, and earning state runner-up in 1997.
The Shaheen: The school yearbook is released yearly and generally features a variety of photo spreads, student pictures, and individual club and group photos. The yearbook is also produced by students under an advisor. The word "Shaheen" is Persian for falcon.
The Eyas: The Eyas is West's literary magazine. It generally features a wide variety of writings and artwork. It also has a section reserved for seniors to publish a profile/biography and a picture. It is also released yearly and produced by students under an advisor.
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The school is one of three public high schools in Davenport; Central
Davenport Central High School
Davenport Central High School is a four-year comprehensive high school located in Davenport, Iowa. Opened in 1907 as "Davenport High School," Central is one of three public high schools part of the Davenport Community School District. The school, whose western side is located along U.S...
and North
Davenport North High School
Davenport North High School is a high school built in the northern area of Davenport, Iowa. North High School was established in 1985 in the building that was formerly Wood Junior High....
are the other two.
History
West was opened in 1960 to accommodate students from the fast-growing west part of Davenport, plus the surrounding rural areas of which the Davenport School District encompassed. Prior to the opening of West, Davenport Central was the district's only high school; that school was known simply as "Davenport High."The school has been undergoing renovations as a part of continued district-wide remodeling after approval of a 1 percent Local Option Sales Tax
Local Option Sales Tax
In the United States, a Local Option Sales Tax is a special-purpose tax implemented and levied at the city or county level...
, as well as continuing a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy.
The school's media center was moved to the main level in a newly renovated area in 2001, with four computer labs added at that time. The building's offices and main entrance were remodeled at the same time.
A YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
partnered with the school district was built in 2003 attached to the high school. The facility is open to the public as well as providing facilities to P.E. classes. The Y took over management and maintenance of the school's swimming pool when it opened.
Science classrooms were remodeled summer 2007.
Athletics
The school participates in the Mississippi Athletic ConferenceMississippi Athletic Conference
The Mississippi Athletic Conference is a high school athletic conference whose members are located in the Iowa Quad-Cities, plus three other schools in eastern and southeastern Iowa.-Member schools:...
, and athletic teams are known as the Falcons. School colors are red
Red
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
and white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
.
The school fields athletic teams in 21 sports, including:
- Summer: Baseball, softball.
- Fall: Football, volleyball, girls' swimming, boys' cross country, girls' cross country and boys' golf.
- Winter: Boys' basketball, girls' basketball, wrestling, boys' swimming and boys' and girls' bowling.
- Spring: Boys' track and field, girls' track and field, boys' soccer, girls' soccer, girls' golf, boys' tennis and girls' tennis.
The school also has a cheerleading squad and a competitive dance team.
Davenport West is classified as a 4A school (Iowa's largest 48 schools), according to the Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union; in sports where there are fewer divisions, the Falcons are always in the largest class (e.g., Class 3A for wrestling, boys soccer, and Class 2A for golf, tennis and girls soccer). The school is a member of the 10-team Mississippi Athletic Conference
Mississippi Athletic Conference
The Mississippi Athletic Conference is a high school athletic conference whose members are located in the Iowa Quad-Cities, plus three other schools in eastern and southeastern Iowa.-Member schools:...
(known to locals as the MAC), which comprises schools from the Iowa Quad Cities
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
, along with Burlington, Clinton and Muscatine high schools.
Davenport West's biggest rivalries are with intercity rivals Central and North high schools.
Successes
Throughout the school's history, Davenport West has enjoyed great success in many of its sports, earning many MAC conference titles and producing all-state athletes that have enjoyed success at the collegiate level and in their careers.During the 1970s and 1980s, West enjoyed great success in football, winning state championships in 1974 and 1977. Several one-time Falcon football players later found success in the NFL, including T. J. Rubley
T. J. Rubley
Theron Joseph "T. J." Rubley , is an American former professional football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 9th round of the 1992 NFL Draft. Rubley is a 1987 graduate of Davenport West High School. A 6'3", 205-lb. quarterback from the University of Tulsa, Rubley saw action in...
and Kenny Shedd
Kenny Shedd
Kendrick Dwayne Shedd is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders and the Washington Redskins. He also played a season in 1996 on the Barcelona Dragons in the World League of American Football...
.
From the early 1970s through early 1990s, West also was considered a powerhouse in boys' basketball. Longtime coach Dave Wessel led eight Falcon teams to the state tournament, with his 1971 and 1994 teams winning state titles in Iowa's largest classes. The 1971 team had an 8-11 record prior to the post-season tournament, but rallied to win the state title; the 1994 team became the last (to date) undefeated high school basketball team amongst Davenport's three public high schools. Bill Fennelly
Bill Fennelly
Bill Fennelly is the head women's basketball coach at Iowa State University. He is the dean of the Big 12 and is considered by many to be one of the best women's basketball coaches in the nation. He has an all time coaching record of 503-202 , coming from tenures as the head coach of the Toledo...
, one of the standout players during West's heyday, later became the women's basketball coach at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
.
West's softball teams have also traditionally been successful, winning state titles in 1984 and 1986, and earning state runner-up in 1997.
Publications
Beak 'n' Eye: The school newspaper is the Beak 'n' Eye. It is published monthly during the school year, usually releasing 8 or 9 in a year. Students manage all aspects of the publication. They have a lab area dedicated specifically for the newspaper. The paper is completely digital and is usually 8 to 12 pages.The Shaheen: The school yearbook is released yearly and generally features a variety of photo spreads, student pictures, and individual club and group photos. The yearbook is also produced by students under an advisor. The word "Shaheen" is Persian for falcon.
The Eyas: The Eyas is West's literary magazine. It generally features a wide variety of writings and artwork. It also has a section reserved for seniors to publish a profile/biography and a picture. It is also released yearly and produced by students under an advisor.
Notable alumni
- Bill FennellyBill FennellyBill Fennelly is the head women's basketball coach at Iowa State University. He is the dean of the Big 12 and is considered by many to be one of the best women's basketball coaches in the nation. He has an all time coaching record of 503-202 , coming from tenures as the head coach of the Toledo...
(class of 1975), women's basketball coach at Iowa State UniversityIowa State UniversityIowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
. - T.J. Rubley, NFL, Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...