West Warwick High School
West Warwick High School | |
---|---|
West Warwick Wizards logo | |
Address | |
1 Webster Knight Dr West Warwick , , 02893 United States | |
Coordinates | 41°42′32″N 71°30′58″W / 41.709°N 71.516°W |
Information | |
Type | Public high school |
Motto | Choose love[1] |
Founded | 1905[2] |
School district | West Warwick Public Schools |
NCES District ID | 4401140 |
Superintendent | Karen Tarasevich |
CEEB code | 400265 |
NCES School ID | 440114000318 |
Principal | Kristen Hinson |
Faculty | 88 |
Grades | 9–12 |
Gender | Coeducational |
Enrollment | 1,044 (2021–22)[3] |
Student to teacher ratio | 13:1 |
Campus type | Suburban |
Color(s) | Orange and Black |
Mascot | Wizard |
Nickname | Wizards |
Rival | Coventry[4] |
USNWR ranking | 7,534 |
Newspaper | The Magic Word |
Website | sites |
West Warwick High School (abbreviated as WWHS) is a public high school in West Warwick, Rhode Island, United States.[5] In 2022, the school ranked 29th out of 62 in Rhode Island by US News.[6]
Academics
Below is a list of career opportunities at the school's Career and Technical Center (as of 2023):[7]
- Academy of Finance
- Advertising Design
- Automotive Technology
- Aviation
- Children and the Elderly
- Cisco Academy
- Commercial Food Preparation
- Computer Technology
- Construction Trades
- Cosmetology
- Electronics/Computer Repair
- Electricity
- Engineering Graphics Technology
- Facilities Operation and Management
- Fashion Merchandising
- Health Occupation
- Machine Skills
- Marine Trades
- Travel and Tourism
Athletics
The school is a member of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League.[8]
List of sports programs
West Warwick High School's sports teams play in divisions II and III and consist of both male, female, and co-ed teams alongside the teams' JV counterparts.
Boys sports
- Basketball – Plays in Division III, most recently finishing 18–7 in 2022–23 with an appearance in the quarterfinals.[9] They have won six Division II championships in 1969, 1971, 1978, 1983, 1984, and most recently in 1994.[10] They will be celebrating their 100th season in 2023–2024.[citation needed]
- Soccer – Plays in Division II, most recently finishing 1–12–2 in 2022. They have won one Division IV championship in 2004.
- Cross country
- Tennis – Plays in Division II. They have won one Division III championship in 2015,[11] and they have also won one Division II championship in 2017.[12]
- Volleyball – Plays in Division II, most recently finishing 10–9 in 2021.
- Indoor track – Most recently were 2017 Division II champions. They also won in 2016.
- Outdoor track – They have won three Division III championships, winning in 1999, 2016, and most recently in 2017.
Girls sports
- Soccer – Plays in Division II, most recently finishing 5–9–1 in 2022. They have won five Division III championships, winning in 1989, 2000, 2001, 2013,[13] and most recently in 2014.[14] They also have two Division II championships in 1990 and 1991.
- Basketball – Plays in Division II, most recently finishing 20–5 and Division II champions 2023 after finishing as runner-ups in 2022.[15][16] They have won two Division II championship in 1989 and most recently in 2023. They have also won two Division I championships in 1991 and 1992.
- Softball – Plays in Division II, most recently finishing 12–7 in 2021. They were State champions in 1989 and 1992, they also won the Division II championship in 2003.
- Tennis – They most recently won the Division IV championship in 2005.
- Indoor track – They most recently won the Medium Class division in 2023.[17]
- Outdoor track – They most recently won their first state championship in 2023.[18]
- Cross country
Co-ed sports
- Football – Plays in Division III, most recently finishing 7–4 in 2022.[19] They have won nineteen Division II championships in 1936, 1937, 1939, 1949, 1950, 1951–1954, 1956, 1957 , 1959, 1962, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1977, 1989, 1990, 1993, 2002,[20] and most recently in 2013.[21] They have won one Division I championship in 1983. Every year on Thanksgiving, West Warwick plays their rivals Coventry.[22] West Warwick currently leads the series all time with 45 wins, Coventry has 12 wins, and the teams have tied twice. Coventry has won the last four match-ups, most recently winning 34–0.[23]
- Baseball – Plays in Division II, most recently finishing 8–13 in 2021. They have won two Division I championships in 1938 and 1961. They have won five Division II championships, winning in 1945, 1946, 1949, 2001, and most recently in 2002.
- Hockey – Plays in Division III, most recently finishing 9–9–1 in 2021. They have won four Division III championships in 1982, 1988, 2013, and most recently in 2020.[24]
- Golf – They have won ten golf championships. They were State champions in 1940, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1959, 1961–1963, 1969, and most recently in 1970.
- Cheerleading – In 2015 they were Medium School champions. In 2016 and 2017 they were Large School champions. In 2019 and 2020 they have won the state championship and the Co-Ed Division championship. Also in 2019 they were New England Co-Ed champions. In 2021, the cheerleading team won the Division III championship, Co-Ed Division championship, Division II championship, and Fall State champions.[25] In 2022, they won the Winter Co-Ed Division championship, Winter State championship, New England Co-Ed Division championship, Division II championship, and Fall State championship.
- Unified basketball – Play in the Central Division, most recently finishing 1–3 in 2021.[26]
- Gymnastics – They have won three Division II championships in 2004, 2012, and most recently in 2019.[27]
- Wrestling – They have won two Division III championships in 1992 and 1993.
Hazing allegations
On November 16, 2022, reports were released about hazing allegations regarding the West Warwick football team and the school itself, mainly having to due with the junior varsity players and team.[28][29] The superintendent was notified of the alleged incident and suspended seven football players as a result on November 10.[30] It was in question whether or not the team would be able to play in their next, and final, football game. The school had hired a private investigator.[31] The current head coach of the team has been connected to the North Smithfield High School's hazing allegations as well, as he was previously the head coach for the team prior to the reports being released.[32][33] A closed-door parent meeting held on November 17, 2022, proved to not be beneficial as parents were left with more questions than answers.[34] The annual Thanksgiving day game against the Coventry Oakers was played despite ongoing investigations being conducted on both teams.[35] The game resulted in a 34–0 win for the Oakers.[36] As of January 2023, no formal charges have been pressed and all parties involved have returned to school.
Matthew Dennison
On February 13, 2022, a drunk driver hit Matthew Dennison, a senior, and another student, leaving Dennison in critical condition.[37] The man was arrested and charged with DUI following the crash.[38] On March 10, 2022, after spending 27 days in a coma, Dennison passed away at seventeen years old.[39] On March 17, 2022, his funeral services were held and attended by West Warwick High School students and staff along with Dennison's former teammates on Exeter/West Greenwich hockey team.[40] The Boston Bruins honored Dennison during one of their games shortly after his passing.[41] After a few months, a memorial was approved to be erected in the honor of the 17-year-old hockey captain.[42] On December 10, 2022, Matthew Dennison's number 16 jersey was retired during the West Warwick/Exeter/West Greenwich hockey team's game against Cranston High School West.[43]
Clubs and activities
Below is a list of all clubs and extra curricular activities (as of 2023):[44]
- Broadcasting Club
- Chess Club
- Chorus
- Concert Band
- Wind ensemble
- Drama Club (see below)
- French Club
- Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA)
- Interscholastic League Sports (see above)
- Italian Club
- Jazz Band
- Leadership Circle
- Magic Club
- Magic Word (student newspaper)
- Math Club
- Mock Trial
- National Honor Society
- Rhode Island Honor Society
- SADD/DARE Role Models
- Ski Trip
- Spanish Club
- STEM Club
- Student Council
- Tri-M Music Honor Society
- VASSA
- Visual Arts Honor Society
- World Language Honor Society
- Yearbook Committee (West Warwick Chronicle)
Performing arts
The performing arts, have helped to bring national status to the school in recent years. The West Warwick High School Jazz Ensemble "A" Band has won numerous awards including placing in the Finals of the Berklee College of Music High School Jazz Festival in 2002 to 2007, 2009, and 2012 to 2014; winning the prestigious festival in 2007 and 2014.[45] The Concert Band and Concert Chorale have competed and won local and national awards and titles the past twenty years.
The West Warwick High School Players produce musical productions and have performed since 2009.[46]
In 2015, they were the first and only Rhode Island high school to participate in the Connecticut High School Theater Awards, the regional division of the National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA).
In 2022, West Warwick High School was chosen as the only school in Rhode Island to perform the play Frozen. It was chosen as the winner following a nationwide contest by the Disney Theatrical Group.[47]
Notable alumni
- Tom Garrick – (class of 1984) Professional basketball player and coach[48]
- Frank "Monk" Maznicki – (class of 1938) American football running back.[49] The West Warwick High School football field is named in his honor
- Jim Mello – (class of 1938) American football fullback and linebacker[50]
- Chuck Palumbo – (class of 1989) Professional wrestler and builder of custom motorcycles[51]
- Mike Roarke – (class of 1948) Professional baseball catcher[52]
- Adam Satchell – (class of 1999) American politician. He served as a teacher and a guidance counselor in the West Warwick school system. Served as dean of students for West Warwick High School in 2022.[53]
- Bob Wylie – (class of 1969) American football coach[54]
References
- ^ GRAVELLE, KENDRA. "WWHS rolls out Choose Love social and emotional learning program". RICentral.com. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
- ^ "Warwick keeps the Town Hall after the Separation of 1913". warwickhistory.com. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ "West Warwick High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- ^ "Coventry vs. West Warwick". rihssports.com. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
- ^ "WWHS". WWPS.
- ^ "West Warwick High School". US News.
- ^ "WWHS Handbook". www.westwarwickpublicschools.com. p. 17. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ "RI Interscholastic League".
- ^ "Juanita Sanchez Advances to Division III Boys' Basketball Championship". ABC6. 2023-02-24. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
- ^ "Boys Basketball Team W\L Records". www.rihssports.com. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
- ^ "Gallery: West Warwick Wins Div III Boys Tennis Team Championship Over St. Raphael". www.providencejournal.com. May 23, 2015. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ Gillooly, John (May 28, 2017). "Boys Tennis D-II championship: A magical finish for the Wizards". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ Thornton, Carolyn (November 10, 2013). ""Faith" wins it for West Warwick in DIII girls soccer championship". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ Benevides, Eric (November 11, 2014). "Upsetting! - West Warwick stuns NP girls' soccer team in Div. III finals". The Valley Breeze. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ NEWS, NBC 10 (2023-02-26). "West Warwick defeats Moses Brown for Division II title". WJAR. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Juanita Sanchez wins DII girls basketball title over West Warwick, retrieved 2023-02-26
- ^ "Girls indoor track: Chariho's vonHousen breaks school record in 3,000 at Class Medium meet". Westerly Sun. February 5, 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ "Hendricken Boys Take Home Program's 27th Title, West Warwick Girls Earn First Track & Field Crown". ABC6. 2023-06-04. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ "Schedule - West Warwick Wizards (West Warwick, RI) Varsity Football 22-23". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ "Division II Football Champions". www.rihssports.com. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ Staff Report (2013-12-09). "Rhode Island Football Playoff Brackets for 2013 - MaxPreps". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ Costa, Lauren (November 26, 2013). "2013 Thanksgiving Football Preview: Coventry vs. West Warwick". Coventry, RI Patch. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ Eric, Rueb (November 24, 2022). "Here are the final scores from Thursday's busy day of Thanksgiving Day football across Rhode Island". providencejournal.com. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ "West Warwick/EWG wins D-III boys hockey title over Pilgrim". WPRI.com. 2020-03-11. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ Steele, Ian (2021-11-07). "West Warwick Wins Grand Championship at State Cheerleading Competition". ABC6. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ "2022 Unified Basketball League Standings". rihssports.com. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ Perry, Rachael (2019-02-24). "Mount Hope, West Warwick Earn State Gymnastics Titles". ABC6. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ Pitts, Amanda (2022-11-17). "Allegations against West Warwick football players under investigation". WPRI.com. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
- ^ NEWS, NBC 10 (2022-11-17). "West Warwick parents frustrated with investigation into hazing allegations". WJAR. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ NEWS, NBC 10 (2022-11-16). "Several West Warwick football players suspended from team amid hazing allegations". WJAR. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Coates, Dan (2022-11-18). "West Warwick addresses hazing allegations against football team behind closed doors". ABC6. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
- ^ Rebello, Mikie (2021-11-02). "West Warwick High School hires 2019 D3 Superbowl winner Wes Pennington". 247 News Around The World. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
- ^ "Incident sparks investigation of West Warwick football players. Here's what we know". The Providence Journal. November 17, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
- ^ Pitts, Amanda (2022-11-18). "Parents frustrated with investigation into West Warwick football players". WPRI.com. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
- ^ Benoit, Katie (2022-11-24). "Coventry-West Warwick football rivalry goes on despite investigations". WJAR. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
- ^ Sponseller, Alex (November 19, 2022). "No surprises on Thanksgiving". Warwick Beacon. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
- ^ Milkovits, Amanda (December 6, 2022). "When they didn't have the words, a community sang for a grieving mother - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
- ^ Sisson, Carl (February 13, 2022). "Man charged with DUI after crash injures 2 teens". wpri.com. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ Doiron, Sarah; DaSilva, Melanie; Pitts, Amanda (March 10, 2022). "'It's an unspeakable loss': West Warwick teen critically injured in suspected DUI crash dies". wpri.com. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ Bentley, Jimmy (March 17, 2022). "Funeral Services Set For West Warwick Teen Killed In Crash". patch.com. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ Levin, Jake (March 12, 2022). "Bruins remember RI high school hockey player killed in crash". nbcsports.com. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ Dymowski, Cal (November 3, 2022). "Memorial area for Matthew Dennison, others in the works". turnto10.com. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ Adeleye, Temi-Tope (December 10, 2022). "Hockey player Matthew Dennison's jersey retired in ceremony". WJAR. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
- ^ "WWHS Handbook". www.westwarwickpublicschools.com. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ "Berklee HS Jazz Festival".
- ^ "WWHS Players".
- ^ Gravelle, Kendra (September 29, 2022). "WWHS Players chosen to present Rhode Island premier of 'Frozen'". RICentral.com. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ Langone, Matt (April 28, 2018). "Garrick brings no-nonsense approach, intense work ethic to UML hoop job". Lowell Sun. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ Lennon, Frank (September 19, 2022). "Veterans Voice: NFL player, Navy pilot 'Monk' Maznicki left a mark as local sports legend". The Providence Journal. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ Daigle, Katy (June 1, 2006). "MELLO, JAMES ANTHONY". Hartford Courant. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ Elsworth, Peter C. T. (April 19, 2014). "R.I. native Chuck Palumbo finishing first season of TV's 'Lords of the Car Hoards'". The Providence Journal. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ "Rhode Island baseball icon Mike Roarke dies at 88". WPRI.com. July 29, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ Gravelle, Kendra (April 29, 2020). "Teachers take to the streets to celebrate WWHS seniors". RICentral.com. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ McGair, Brendan (September 4, 2018). "SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS: Local coaching legend Bob Wylie gets star turn on HBO show". RICentral.com. Retrieved March 8, 2023.