Bellevue West High School
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Bellevue West High School is a public secondary school located in Bellevue, Nebraska. The school principal is Mr. Kevin Rohlfs. Their mascot is the Thunderbird and their school colors are purple, gold and white. The school's cross-town rival is Bellevue East. Bellevue West is accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. The school also serves as an off-campus location for the Omaha, Nebraska, Metropolitan Community College.
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[edit] Music
The school's instrumental music department has three concert bands (concert, symphonic, and wind ensemble), two jazz bands, and a marching band. The Thunderbird Marching band competes both at the regional and national level. [1] The school's vocal music department consists of three main choirs (Freshman Chorus, Puragold, and West High Singers) as well as a show choir (West Connection), a contemporary acapella group (Project 424) and various other extracurricular small ensembles. The varsity choir, West High Singers, has been invited several times over the past few years to perform with the Omaha Symphony.
[edit] AFJROTC
The Bellevue West Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Program participates in Hurricane Katrina relief, stocking a local food pantry, spear-heading the local Mothers Against Drunk Driving campaign in Bellevue as well as numerous other community outreach programs.
Drill Teams
Bellevue West's "silent" form of drilling was initiated in the Men's Varsity team during the 1990-91 school year by the team commander with the aid of a drill coach and input from the team. It differs from the "call and response" drill technique (used in previous years to floundering success) in that no commands are used during the entire performance. The team relies on an internal count, or beat, to guide the drill. This method was revolutionary in the region at the time. Today the men and women's drill teams are considered some of the best in the country and are the pinnacle from which other schools base their routines on. A video prepared by a member of and showcasing the 1990-91 Men's drill team can be found here: 1991 Drill Demonstration
[edit] Sports
Baseball- Have won one state championship (1978). Appeared in the state tournament four times (1978, 1983, 1989, 1991).
Basketball (Boys)- Have won three state championships (2000, 2004, 2005). Have been runner-ups four times (1991, 1999, 2006, 2007). Have appeared in 12 state tournaments (1989, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008).
Basketball (Girls)- Have won one state championship (2007). Have appeared in four state tournaments (2002, 2005, 2006, 2007).
Bowling (Boys and Girls) - Have won more state championships than any other high school team in Nebraska's history including for the girls recently in 2004, 2006, and 2007 and for the boys recently in 2001, 2005, and 2006. The boy's team had the only team baker 300 game in state history in 2006. Each team earns on average 7-9 medals out of 10 tournaments a season.
Cross Country (Boys and Girls) - Second place finish (1995) and Third place finish (2006-07). Recently, the teams have traveled around the country to compete.
Boys track finish 8th in 2007, their highest finish in the last 5 years
Drill Team (Boys and Girls)- Numerous trophies (anywhere from about 75-100 per year). Traveled to the National tournament in Washington D.C. (2005) where they took the trophy for Best Overall.
Football- Have been to nine state tournaments (1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007). The Thunderbirds have beaten cross-town rival, Bellevue East, nine times in a row. Also, went undefeated during the regular season in 2004.
Soccer (Boys)- Have one runner-up at the state tournament (1999). Have been to three state tournaments (1992, 1999, 2006).
Soccer (Girls)- Have appeared in one state tournament (1988).
Softball- Have appeared in one state tournament (2006).
Volleyball- Have won 12 state championships (1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006), and been runners-up once (1999). Have appeared in 20 state tournaments (1987-2006).
Wrestling- Had a second place team finish in 1980. Have had ten state champions, those include: Jerry McCaw (twice), Bob Lineberry , Jeff Peterson, Doug Hassel (twice), Mark Traynowicz, Mike Plambeck, Terry Bradshaw, Peter Isham.
More sports: Golf (Boys and Girls), Swimming and Diving (Boys and Girls), Ping-Pong (Boys and Girls), Tennis (Boys and Girls), Track and Field (Boys and Girls),
[edit] Notable alumni
- Leisha Hailey, actress and musician
- Mark Traynowicz, NFL player for the Buffalo Bills and Phoenix Cardinals[2][3]
- Mike Slaton, NFL player for the Minnesota Vikings[4][5]
- Erick Strickland, went on to play at the University of Nebraska, and then in the NBA
[edit] Fight song
The following lyrics are put to the song Oregon, Mighty Oregon.
We’re the Thunderbirds of West High
We’re the purple, gold and white
We will cheer our team to vict’ry
We will always prove our might. Thunderbirds are proud and loyal
And we'll always give our best
We will fight to win our battles
Thunderbirds of Bellevue West. Spoken:
Cheer, cheer for Bellevue West
Cause we are Nebraska’s best
Fight, fight with all your might
Thunderbirds win this game tonight!
(Repeat song)
