Western Christian High School (Hull, Iowa)

Western Christian High School (commonly Western Christian, WCHS, or Western) is a private, coeducational, Calvinist private secondary school in Hull, Iowa, United States, serving students in grades 9–12. Western Christian High School is a member of Christian Schools International (CSI).[3] It is one of two private high schools in Hull, along with Trinity Christian High School.

Western Christian High School
Address
925 5th Street[1]

Hull
,
Iowa
51239

United States
Coordinates43.19292°N 96.132656°W / 43.19292; -96.132656
Information
School typePrivate high school
MottoLearning...To Serve the King[2]
Religious affiliation(s)Christian
DenominationReformed[3]
Established1919
NCES School ID00459529[3]
Head of schoolBrian Verwolf[4]
Grades9-12
Enrollment294 (2022-2023)[5]
Student to teacher ratio1:13.4[3]
Color(s)Maroon  
White  
Athletics conferenceIndependent
MascotWolfpack
Information712-439-1013
WebsiteSchool website

History

Western Academy began in 1919, with grades nine and ten.[6] The name was selected because there was an Eastern Christian Academy in New Jersey at the time, affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), and Western Academy was established to educate CRC members that had settled the furthest west.[7] The school was originally located in a three-story house on Hull's Main Street.[8] Prior to housing Western Academy, the building had served as Dorcas Hall, dormitories for the Hull Educational Institute, and as a parsonage for the First Reformed Church in Hull.[9] In 1934 Western Academy went bankrupt due to the Great Depression and was sold to Calvin College.[7][6] It was then reorganized and reopened as Western Christian High School.[8][6] The school's first sports teams were known as the Indians. In the mid-1990s, that mascot was dropped and athletics continued without an official team name until the Wolfpack moniker was chosen in 2005.[8][2][10]

During the 2017–18 school year, Western Christian began participating in a student exchange program with Greijdanus College.[11]

The school's 100th anniversary, which it celebrated in August 2019,[12] was recognized on the floor of the Iowa General Assembly on March 4, 2020.[13]

Athletics

The boys' basketball team has won ten state titles (1985, 1991, 1969, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021).[14] Former coach Jim Eekhoff is fourth among Iowa men's basketball coaches in wins, with 681.[15] Eekhoff eight men's championships are a state record, while his eighteen state tournament appearances have tied a state record.[16] The Wolfpack faced Boyden–Hull for the first time since 2005 in the 2021 championship game,[17] and defeated the Comets.[18] The 2021 2A championship game was also the first time in Iowa High School Athletic Association basketball history that two teams from the same city met in the final.[19]

The girls' basketball team has claimed four Class 2A state championships (2012, 2013, 2014, 2017).[20]

The volleyball team has won seventeen state titles (1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019)[21] and claimed second place in 1999, 2005, and from 2011–2014.[22][23]

The boys' cross country program won team championships four times.[24]

The Wolfpack football team advanced to the state playoffs for the first time in 2015,[25] losing the title game to Regina High School.[26] In 2016, Western defeated Regina to win its first state title in football.[27][28]

The boys' soccer team won the state championship in 1996.[29]

The girls' track and field has won three state championships (1977, 1978, 2013).[30]

Facilities

Western's first location was in a three-story house on Hull's Main Street, known as "The Mansion."[7][8] The school building was built in 1924 for $64,000.[7][31] The first expansion of the 1924 building was completed in 1948, and included a library and science laboratories. In 1957, a gymnasium, locker rooms, a stage, and two classrooms were added for $125,000.[7] In 1964, a space for music was built for $75,000.[7] By 1968, an addition to the science wing was finished for $175,000.[7] A new gymnasium was constructed in 1980 for $900,000.[7] Renovations to the whole building took place from May 1994 to September 1995 for $2 million.[7] A maintenance project in 2006 added a strength and conditioning room, as well as a bus barn to the school, for $1 million.[7] In June 2014, Western Christian received grants from the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball team and the Modern Woodmen of America for renovations to their baseball and softball fields.[32] New classrooms were added to the building in 2015.[33] The next year, air conditioning was installed and the student commons remolded.[34]

The football and track facilities at A. R. Hesla Field are shared with Boyden–Hull Junior/High School.[35]

Notable alumni

See also

References
  1. "Western Christian High School Homepage". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  2. "Hull Western Christian drops 'Indians' nickname". Spencer Daily Reporter. Google News. 3 August 1996. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  3. "Western Christian High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  4. Mahoney, Mark (December 15, 2018). "Michigan native hired as Western's leader". N'West Iowa Review. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  5. "Western Christian High School". Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  6. "85 Years of Christian Education". Sioux County Index Reporter. Google News. 16 November 2005. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  7. Mahoney, Mark (August 7, 2019). "Western Christian has seen many expansions". N'West Iowa Review. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  8. Bradstream, Lana (February 19, 2019). "Western Christian 100th set for Aug. 9-11". N'West Iowa Review. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  9. "Dorcas Hall to First Reformed parsonage to Western Academy". Sioux County Index-Reporter. November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  10. Viccarro, Eric (March 10, 2010). "As Indians or Wolves, WC is an unequaled tradition". Sioux County Index Reporter. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  11. Visser, Jeanne (August 16, 2017). "Western Christian introducing new exchange program". Sioux County Index Reporter. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  12. Paxton, Cole (August 5, 2019). "Western Christian to celebrate 100th anniversary". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  13. "Western Christian recognized on floor of House of Representatives". Sioux County Index Reporter. March 10, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  14. "2020 State Tournament Stat Book Basketball" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. 2020-01-29. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  15. "Iowa Boys' Basketball Coaches' Career W-L Records" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  16. Gallagher, Tim (4 March 2016). "Western Christian boys basketball coach to retire". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  17. Butz, Dolly (March 11, 2021). "Excitement in Hull as crosstown high school boys basketball squads meet for state title". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  18. Bain, Matthew (March 12, 2021). "Iowa boys' state basketball: Western Christian outlasts Boyden-Hull for Class 2A title". Des Moines Register. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  19. James, Zach (March 12, 2021). "TENTH TITLE :Western Christian defeats Boyden-Hull in All-Hull Class 2A boys basketball final". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  20. Naughton, John (23 November 2014). "State girls' basketball champs back for more". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  21. "Western Christian makes it back-to-back state titles". Sioux County Index Reporter. November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  22. Hersom, Terry (7 November 2011). "Western Christian volleyball: 'Tradition never graduates'". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  23. Harmelink, Jordan (24 November 2014). "Fast starts put Western Christian in title match". Sioux County Index Reporter. New Century Press. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  24. "2013 IHSAA Cross Country Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  25. Poe, Barry (23 October 2015). "Hull Western Christian wins first district football title". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  26. Hersom, Terry (23 November 2015). "Western Christian pushes Regina before falling in title game". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  27. "Class 1A football: Western Christian ends Regina's title streak". Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. Associated Press. November 18, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  28. Goodwin, Cody (November 18, 2016). "Western Christian stuns Iowa City Regina, wins Class 1A state title". Des Moines Register. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  29. "2020 Soccer Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. 2019-06-12. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  30. "2019 IGHSAU Track & Field Record Book" (PDF). Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. 2019-05-13. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  31. Forbes, Greg (October 13, 2014). "Western Christian hopes to raise $7M for school upgrades". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  32. Harmelink, Jordan (20 June 2014). "Minnesota Twins grant money to Western Christian High School for field renovation". Sioux County Index Reporter. New Century Press. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  33. Visser, Jeanne (November 3, 2014). "Western Christian plans $7 million project". Sioux County Index Reporter. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  34. "Great strides made in improvements". Sioux County Index Reporter. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  35. "Board, SIAC cover recommendations, reading and participation discussed". Sioux County Index Reporter. New Century Press. 22 September 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  36. Geleynse, Jesse (24 April 2011). "Iowa legislature needs to continue eligibility debate". Le Mars Daily Sentinel. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  37. "John J. Kooiker Plans to Study Chemistry at Calvin". Sioux County Index. July 2, 1964. p. 1. Retrieved January 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. Visser, Jeanne (4 July 2007). "Kooiker loses close race for Rapid City mayor". Sioux County Index Reporter. Small Town Papers News Service. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  39. "Iowa Sports Hall of Fame: Metcalf's big dreams took her to Olympics and beyond". Des Moines Register. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  40. "Nancy Metcalf Nebraska Cornhusker's Player Page". University of Nebraska. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  41. Dreeszen, Dave (26 December 2010). "Vander Plaats shakes off gubernatorial losses, leads fight to oust justices". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  42. Wolterstorff, Nicholas (2015) "Looking for Good Work: Western Christian High Commencement, May 19, 2015," Pro Rege: Vol. 44: No. 1, 39 - 42.
  43. "Fredrick Manfred." University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Great Plains Studies
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