Appleton West High School

{{For|schools of a similar name|West High School (disambiguation)}} '''Appleton West High School''' is a [[high school]] located at 610 North Badger Avenue in [[Appleton, Wisconsin|Appleton]], Wisconsin. It is a member of the [[Appleton Area School District]]. The building housing Appleton West High School was originally home to '''Appleton Senior High School'''. From 1915-1938, the school was at a different location. In 1938, the current facility was built. "Appleton Senior High School" is still etched into the front of the building. After [[Appleton East High School]] was built, the school was renamed to Appleton West in 1967. Appleton West has an enrolment of approximately 1,500 students. The mascot of Appleton West is the Terror, a cross between a wolf and a fox, as the school is situated in between the Wolf River and the Fox River. The Renaissance School for the Arts is also housed inside of West. This afternoon-only school allows aspiring artists in acting, dance, visual arts, music and writing to craft and perfect their arts through a series of courses offered by permanent and temporary staff. Students throughout the Appleton Area School District are eligible to participate. ==Athletics== The athletic department has a strong history of success. In 1992 the varsity football team won the Division 1 State Championship. The team also reached the championship game in 1991 and 1993. Following the creation of rival school [[Appleton North High School]] in 1995, West athletics experienced a period of decline as several coaches and players decided to leave their school and attend the new institution. Today West's athletics are successful once again, thanks partially due to a brand new, health club quality fitness center which was built in 2002. Highlights of Terror athletics over the past years have been a baseball state championship in 2004, two consecutive trips to the basketball state tournament in 2002 and 2003, a football playoff run in 2004, along with back to back trips to the state soccer tournament in 2002 and 2003. The 2007-08 season wrestling team did exceptionally well with a 3rd place conference finish, as well as sending 3 wrestlers to the sectional tournament, with two moving on to the state meet. Appleton West has a great history in [[baseball]]. The Terrors have brought home 19 [[FVA]] Conference Championships, 6 shared FVA Championships, and an FVA leading 7 [[WIAA|State]] Titles. 2008-2009 saw Appleton West Send two brothers, Ryan and Shane McQuade to the State wrestling meet. Shane became the very first wrestler from any Appleton High School to win a state title. 2009-2010 saw Ryan McQuade return to the State Wrestling meet this time winning his own state championship. He was the first junior to do so. Appleton West has a great history in [[basketball]]. ==Expansion controversy== Controversial planning for expanding the athletic facilities at West has been discussed for some time. The proposed plan calls for the addition of a sports complex to the northeast side of the school. This complex would include 8 new polo courts which are to be finished in July 2009,{{update after|2009|07|31}} a new football/soccer field, a new track, grandstand with press box, bathrooms, concessions, and storage, and long jump/ triple jump pits. The demolition of several homes bordering the school to the north-east is required for the addition of these features. Although some residents have agreed to sell their homes, others have yet to agree. Demolition on nine of the homes is scheduled to begin in September 2008, but the owners of 11 of the 21 homes have yet to come to selling terms with the school district.{{update after|2011|09|30}} The Appleton Common Council has refused to support the booster club plan. The athletic facilities are currently being built and are in its final stages all houses on Mason Street have been purchased and The field is planned to be ready by the end of the 2011-2012 school year. ==Notable alumni== *[[Donald Dafoe]] transplant surgeon *[[Willem Dafoe]] Actor *[[John Bradley (Iwo Jima)|John Bradley]], one of six U.S. Marines to raise the flag at [[Battle of Iwo Jima|Iwo Jima]] during World War II *[[Brian Butch]], 2003 [[McDonald's All-American]] basketball player, and former player of the [[Denver Nuggets]] *[[Matt Erickson]], major league baseball player, current manager of the Wisconsin TimberRattlers *[[William Beverly Murphy]], former CEO [[Campbell Soup Company]] *[[Daniel J. Piette]], 1975, Director of [[Petroleum Geo-Services]], President and [[CEO]] of [[OpenSpirit Corporation]] *[[David Prosser, Jr.]], [[Wisconsin Supreme Court]] *[[Kathi Seifert]], former Executive Vice-President of [[Kimberly-Clark]] and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Fox Valley Performing Arts Center ==External links== *[http://www.aasd.k12.wi.us/west/ Appleton West High School] {{coord missing|Wisconsin}}