West Valley High School (Yakima)
Encyclopedia
West Valley High School is a school in the West Valley School District of Yakima, Washington. It consists of two campuses divided by one road. The main campus consists of Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors. The other campus, next to Gotfred E. Clasen Field, is West Valley High School: Freshmen campus. The campuses are located in western Yakima, and have a student body of about 1, 600+.
original building was built for only 400 students, but now holds over 1,100 students. A new
levy was proposed in May, 2006, asking for money to build a brand new, state-of-the-art, high school near the original school. The new school was completed at the beginning of the 2009/10 school year.
After the completion of the new campus, construction crews headed to remodel the old campus. The exterior buildings of the school, including the portables, were destroyed/removed, except for the Auto Shop. Only the main building of the campus was kept and remodeled, including a new library and computer lab in a portion of the commons/cafeteria. The remodeled campus is named West Valley High School: Freshman Campus. As the name suggests, the campus is for the WV Freshman Class. The building was completed for the beginning of the 2010/2011 school year.
, especially in basketball. They also have rivalries with Davis
and Sunnyside. The 1963 Boy's Basketball team placed 2nd at the 1A State Basketball Championships...they were runners-up again in 1996. In 1989, the Rams Volleyball team won the 2A State Championship. The most prolific program for the Rams in terms of championship trophies has been the Boy's Soccer program, winning WIAA State titles in 1993, 1996, 1998, and 1999. They also placed 2nd in 1994, 1997 & 2009. Football has placed 2nd in State three times: 1986, 1987, & 1996. Girl's Basketball took the WIAA State Championship in 2001. The 2001 Girl's Soccer team won the WIAA State Championship as well. Most recently, in 2009, the Rams Baseball team took third place in the State Tournament and the Ram Boys Soccer team took 2nd. In 2010, the Ram Volleyball team went undefeated in league, won their district and regional championships, and took 3rd in State. In the 2011 campaign, the repeated as league, district and regional champions and as of this edit, are just days away from competing for the state championship as the top-ranked team in Washington State.
, former MLB baseball outfielder (Texas Rangers
, Cleveland Indians
, Milwaukee Brewers
.)
• Josh Pearce
, former MLB baseball pitcher (St. Louis Cardinals
).
• Lis Wiehl
, American author and legal analyst for Fox News
A Part of a Growing District
West Valley High School, located in West Yakima, Washington (State), is the culminating educational facility for students in the West Valley School District #208.History
West Valley High School was built in 1955. It was refurbished in the 1980s. Theoriginal building was built for only 400 students, but now holds over 1,100 students. A new
levy was proposed in May, 2006, asking for money to build a brand new, state-of-the-art, high school near the original school. The new school was completed at the beginning of the 2009/10 school year.
New Campus
The new school was completed in August 2009, just before the new school year. This new date was several months ahead of the original date of January 2010. It is much more enclosed than the old school, which was separated into several buildings. The new building has a large gymnasium with an elevated track. The new, state-of-the-art auditorium is large enough to fit over half of the student body, and is adjacent to the band room and the choir room, which are separate. The old band and choir rooms were in their own separate building and were highly incommodious for the current musical group. The new school has a very large band room, perfect for the band of over 100 students, as well as a choir room of ample size.After the completion of the new campus, construction crews headed to remodel the old campus. The exterior buildings of the school, including the portables, were destroyed/removed, except for the Auto Shop. Only the main building of the campus was kept and remodeled, including a new library and computer lab in a portion of the commons/cafeteria. The remodeled campus is named West Valley High School: Freshman Campus. As the name suggests, the campus is for the WV Freshman Class. The building was completed for the beginning of the 2010/2011 school year.
Athletics
West Valley is a 2A school (as of the 2010-12 WIAA classification cycle) that has opted up to 3A, competing in the hybrid 3A/4A Columbia Basin Big Nine League. Its mascot is the Ram and its colors are Scarlet Red, Columbia Blue, and White. Before the classifications changed in 2006, the school had an intense rivalry with Selah High, but the changes placed both West Valley and Selah into separate leagues, as the Mid-Valley League disbanded. West Valley has developed a rivalry with cross-town EisenhowerEisenhower High School (Yakima, Washington)
Dwight David Eisenhower High School in Yakima, Washington is a school named after U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower. It is one of four high schools in the Yakima School District with the others being Davis High School, Stanton Academy and O.I.C. Alternative...
, especially in basketball. They also have rivalries with Davis
A.C. Davis High School (Washington)
Davis High School is a high school in Yakima, Washington, USA, serving students in grades 9-12. It is part of the Yakima School District and has approximately 2,000 students.-History:...
and Sunnyside. The 1963 Boy's Basketball team placed 2nd at the 1A State Basketball Championships...they were runners-up again in 1996. In 1989, the Rams Volleyball team won the 2A State Championship. The most prolific program for the Rams in terms of championship trophies has been the Boy's Soccer program, winning WIAA State titles in 1993, 1996, 1998, and 1999. They also placed 2nd in 1994, 1997 & 2009. Football has placed 2nd in State three times: 1986, 1987, & 1996. Girl's Basketball took the WIAA State Championship in 2001. The 2001 Girl's Soccer team won the WIAA State Championship as well. Most recently, in 2009, the Rams Baseball team took third place in the State Tournament and the Ram Boys Soccer team took 2nd. In 2010, the Ram Volleyball team went undefeated in league, won their district and regional championships, and took 3rd in State. In the 2011 campaign, the repeated as league, district and regional champions and as of this edit, are just days away from competing for the state championship as the top-ranked team in Washington State.
Noted alumni
• Chris MagruderChris Magruder
Christopher James Magruder is a former Major League Baseball outfielder for the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, and Milwaukee Brewers....
, former MLB baseball outfielder (Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.)
• Josh Pearce
Josh Pearce
Joshua Ray Pearce is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals from to ....
, former MLB baseball pitcher (St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
).
• Lis Wiehl
Lis Wiehl
Lis Wiehl is an American author and legal analyst for Fox News.She is an adjunct professor of law at New York Law School, and formerly was an associate professor at University of Washington Law School. She formerly offered legal commentary for National Public Radio program and on Bill O'Reilly's...
, American author and legal analyst for Fox News