Waco High School

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This article is about a high school in Texas. For a high school in Iowa, see Waco High School (Iowa).

Waco High School is a Texas UIL Class 4A public high school located on N. 42 Street in Waco, Texas. As of August 2006, enrollment was 1680 with 139 teachers. The ethnicity is roughly 44.8% African American, 34.4% Hispanic, 20.1% White American and 0.7% Other. The school mascot is the lion. The school colors are scarlet, white, and gray.

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[edit] History

Waco High School was originally located in downtown Waco. And, later at another location on the corner of North 19th and College Drive. In 1986, Waco High School was consolidated with Jefferson Moore High School (now currently a magnet high school with no sports and called A.J. Moore Academy) with Richfield High School, which was located on the former Rich Field, a World War I air base. The newly constitued high school was renamed Waco High School.

When the schools were merged the school board agreed to take one thing from each school to form the “new” Waco High. The lion mascot from Jefferson Moore High, the school colors (scarlet, white, and gray) and the campus of Richfield High, and finally the name “Waco High” from the historic Waco High School Tigers.

With the merger, Waco High was classified as a Texas Class 5-A school.

[edit] Athletics

Waco High has had success in all sports. But, high school football is where the school flourishes.

In football the Lions under coach Johnny Tusa, have made the playoffs in the years 1986-88, 1990-92, 1994-2002, 2004, and 2006.

In 1991, Waco High's longest streak in the 5-A playoffs was 5 rounds deep to the semi-finals. Waco High lost to the famed Odessa Permian Panthers before a sell-out crowd, 37-8 at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas. During the playoffs that year, Waco High beat Austin Crockett, Conroe McCullough (now The Woodlands), Richardson, and Dallas Carter.

In 2006 Waco High was classified a Texas 4-A school and placed in District 16-4A by the UIL. 16-4A contained arch-rivals from 13-5A Copperas Cove, Brownwood, Killeen, and inner-city schools Waco University and Waco Midway. The Waco football team won the District 16-4A Championship defeating every team in the district. Waco High made a run through the playoffs defeating Corsicana, Dallas Hillcrest, Whitehouse, Brownwood, Frenship and into the 4-A D-II State Championship game held in San Antonio at the Alamodome. The team lost to La Marque 36-14.

In 2007 Waco High won the 16-4A District Championship un-defeated. Their only loss on the year was in non-district to Euless Trinity. Waco High lost in the first round of the playoffs in four over-times to Ennis.

[edit] Paul Tyson era

The “old” Waco High Tigers were known for their famous coach Paul Tyson. His career at Waco began in 1913. He was one of the best known, and one of the most successful high school coaches in America. His teams at Waco played in seven state championship games, including six consecutive 1922-27. Waco was state champions in 1922, 1925, 1926 and 1927, and runner up 1923, 1924 and 1939.

In 1927 Waco had one of the most dominant seasons ever in Texas high school football. The Tigers scored an average of 56 points per game – a record that would stand until 1975, when Big Sandy High School scored 824 points for the season – while giving up only 2.4 to their opponents.[1] On two occasions Waco scored more than 100 points, once in a play-off game versus Houston Jefferson Davis HS. Roy Needham, Jefferson Davis' coach, said “Waco could have beaten a good college team” that day.[2]

Later that 1927 season, Waco was recognized as the mythical national high school champion after defeating Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin High School of Chardon, Ohio in a post-season game by the score of 44 to 12.[3]

Waco was again crowned with the honor in 1948.

[edit] Facilities

Waco ISD Stadium was built during the year of 2000. The first game played at the stadium was Waco High vs Waco University High, September 8th 2000. Waco High won the game 22-0 in front of a crowd estimated at 14,000.

The stadium replaced varsity football use of historic 10,000 seat Paul Tyson Stadium. Located behind Waco High School on Lake Air Drive. Tyson Stadium is still in use today for football games and track events.

Waco ISD Stadium is located at the corner of New Road and Bagby Avenue, our address is 1401 S.New Road, Waco, Texas 76711. We are approximately one-half mile from IH 35. When traveling to the complex, use the New Road exit from IH 35 or the Bagby Avenue exit from Loop 340 (Highway 6).

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ratliff, Harold (1968). "Mr. Schoolboy Football Names His All-Time Greats". Dave Campbell's Texas Football: 101–106. 
  2. ^ McMurray, Bill (1985). Texas High School Football. Southbend, IN: Icarus Press, 522. ISBN 0896517837. 
  3. ^ Cashion, Ty (1998). Pigskin Pulpit: A Social History of Texas High School Football Coaches. Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 70–71. ISBN 0876111681. 

[edit] External links

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