William F. West High School, commonly referred to as W. F. West, is a public high school in Chehalis, Washington, United States. It is the only high school in the Chehalis School District. It was named for local businessman William F. West, who donated money and land to the school district. The school prides itself in the amount of scholarships given out yearly. Many students travel out of district to attend. The school added a brand new science wing in 2018.
History
The school opened a combination gymnasium-music room in February 1954. Considered one of the largest in the state, it was constructed at a cost of $450,000. The addition to the campus officially held an open house with a ceremony and a basketball game between the Chehalis and Centralia boys' basketball teams. The gym, days later, held an Amateur Athletic Union tournament, with a game played that helped to raise funds for a local cerebral palsy charity. The music space, which contained a 1,800 square feet (170 m2) rehearsal room that accommodated up to 110 practice seats, was soundproofed and offered smaller areas for choir practice.[2] The school was expanded in 1971 to include an additional three rooms. One classroom was for laboratory use and included a darkroom for photography students undertaking a journalism course. The $500,000 project also included a resource center in the library and a choir room.[3]
The W.F. West Tennis Courts were renamed in February 2024 to Coach Jack State Tennis Courts in honor of Jack State. The process began under the district's Facility Naming Committee, with a recommendation passed to the Chehalis School Board which approved the name change unanimously. State, who died in January 2024, was both a teacher and coach at the high school, serving 50 years as the tennis coach.[4][5] In an additional remembrance, a small sign was placed above State's usual coaching position at the courts and a sign measuring 6 ft × 8 ft (1.8 m × 2.4 m) was installed, mirroring State's nickname that was based on his height, "Six-Eight Jack State".[6]
Academics and graduation rates
Academics
Students receive free access to the PSAT due to funding provided by a local organization, the Chehalis Foundation. With help from school officials, each senior is required to submit an application for acceptance to Centralia College, a program started by the school district to achieve high rates of graduation, college admission, and career opportunities for the students.[7]
The high school has been host to a University of Washington STEM camp since the early 2010s . A weeklong summer day-camp, the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics classes are held at W.F. West's STEM wing and are open to all students of high school age, regardless of school district. The educational opportunity is based on a partnership between the university and the Chehalis Foundation.[8][9] To bolster the STEM program further, the school purchased an electron microscope in the mid-2010s.[10]
Beginning in early 2023, students can participate in the "Crimson & Gray", a coffee shop in the school. The shop, part of a business and marketing class supported through the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), is run in-full by the students.[11]
Graduation rates
The graduation rate in 2010 was 77% and 1/3rd of those students achieved admission into a university or training school.[7] In 2018, 73% of seniors who graduated went on to further higher education.[12] That rate increased to 100% in 2019, beginning a four year stretch in which the entire graduating senior classes were accepted into college.[13] In 2019, the four-year graduation rate was 95%, bettering the state average by 14 points.[12]
Extracurricular activities
The school sponsors the following sports and extracurricular activities:
Winter: cheerleading, pep band, wrestling, girls' and boys' basketball, Knowledge Bowl, equestrian team, girls bowling, and forensics
Spring: theatre, baseball, boys' soccer, fastpitch, girls' golf and tennis, forensics, and boys' and girls' track
Sports
The school's athletic teams compete as the Bearcats as a member of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association in the 2A Evergreen Conference. The school has been home to state hall of fame coaches, including Mike Keen, who was elected into the Washington Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Keen won 333 games and three championships under his W.F. West tenure in the early 21st century. Denny "Doc" Daniels was elected to the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 2004 and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2013 for Lifetime Service to Wrestling. He coached 61 State Placers during his tenure as head coach from 1985-2001 (asst coach 1971-85) and his teams earned 9 League Championships and 4 Regional Championships. "National Wrestling Hall of Fame: Denny Daniels". nwhof.org. [14]
Millett Field was used as home turf for the Chehalis Bearcat's football team until 1932, moving to new grounds after flooding issues and the loss of the grandstand prohibited large crowds from attending the games.[16]
A football game, known as the Thanksgiving Day Game, was an annual event between Chehalis and Centralia from 1907 to 1963. The competition between the "Crimson & Gray" and the "Orange & Black" was hosted at Millett Field, various high school fields in the Twin Cities, and a few occasions at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds. A rivalry that was at times heated, fights broke out between spectators in the stands, with one instance of the fire department using fire hoses on the crowd during a game.[17] When the games were played on the Bearcat's home turf of Millett Field, the Chehalis teams never lost to Centralia.[18][19] The Bearcat's biggest win was in 1926, winning by a score of 61-0.[17] The Chehalis team lost the final Thanksgiving Day Game 22-6 in 1963.[20] W.F. West still plays Centralia every year, with the rivalry now known as "The Battle of the Swamp" or "The Swamp Cup."
State titles
The Bearcats softball team won their first state championship in 1999[21] and followed it up with a back-to-back title in 2000.[22] The team had an undefeated stretch in conference play between 2012-2017, winning state titles in 2012, 2015, and 2017.[14]
The Bearcats were baseball state champions in 2010 and 2013.[23]
The girls basketball team was awarded the Class 2A state basketball title in 2014 and 2018, the latter championship achieved by overcoming Archbishop Murphy High School by the score of 64-52.[24]
The boys basketball team won the 1960 state title by a score of 70-56 over Sumner High School.[25]
The boys cross country team won the 1968 state title.[26]
The boys track and field team won the 1978 state title.
The boys wrestling team won the 2007 state title.
Traditions
The graduating class of W.F. West High School holds a local parade that traverses through several neighborhood and business districts in Chehalis, ending at Stan Hedwall Park. It is customary for seniors to receive various gifts, including monetary, during the senior year and at graduation. The contributions are paid for by a fund raised by parents.[12] The graduating class also participates in a "Senior Walk", visiting the elementary and middle schools in Chehalis. Begun in the late 2010s, it allows seniors to meet with younger pupils and reconnect with previous teachers and staff.[27][28]
