Wikipedia

Traverse City West Senior High School

"TC West" redirects here. For the California politician, see T. C. West.

Traverse City West Senior High School (also known as West Senior High, TC West, or simply TCW) is a public, co-educational secondary school located outside Traverse City, Michigan, in neighboring Garfield Township. Along with Traverse City Central High School, TC West is part of the Traverse City Area Public Schools district, and one of six high schools in Traverse City. The school enrolls about 1,500 students each year, making it the largest high school in Michigan north of Kent County.[2][3] The school was established in 1997, and opened in early 1998.[4]

Traverse City West Senior High School
Address
Map
5376 North Long Lake Road

Traverse City
,
Michigan
49685

United States
Coordinates44°44′50″N 85°41′09″W / 44.7472°N 85.6857°W / 44.7472; -85.6857
Information
Other namesWest, Traverse City West, TCW, TCWSH, WSH
School typePublic secondary
Motto"Home of the Titans!"
EstablishedSeptember 2, 1997; 27 years ago (1997-09-02)
January 26, 1998 (1998-01-26) (building opened)
School districtTraverse City Area Public Schools
SuperintendentJohn VanWagoner
PrincipalJoe Esper
Teaching staff59.25 (on an FTE basis)[1]
Enrollment1,471 (2023–2024)[1]
Student to teacher ratio24.83[1]
Color(s)  Forest Green
  Metallic Gold
Fight song"The Fightin' Titan"
AthleticsMHSAA Class A; D-1
Athletics conferenceBig North Conference
Saginaw Valley League (football only)
MascotGreek titan
Team nameTitans
RivalTraverse City Central High School
PublicationWestside Weekly
NewspaperThe Occidentalist
YearbookOdyssey
Feeder schoolsElementary schools:
Blair
Central Grade
Glenn Loomis
Long Lake
Silver Lake
Westwoods
Willow Hill
Middle school:
Traverse City West
Websitewww.tcaps.net/schools/high-schools/wsh/

Since 2008, Traverse City West has offered grades 9 through 12. Additionally, students are given the option to dual enroll and attend classes at Northwestern Michigan College.[5] In addition to the dual enrollment program, a wide variety of honors and AP classes are offered.

A large metallic globe near one of the school's main entrances. This globe was removed in 2020.

History

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Prior to 1997, Traverse City only had one public high school, Traverse City Senior High School, built in 1959 at the base of the Old Mission Peninsula. Until this point, Traverse City Senior High was Michigan's largest high school, with over 3,000 students enrolled annually. A proposal for a new school was brought to the TCAPS board in June 1996, with a number of other proposed names listed, including:[6]

  • Traverse City Western High School
  • Traverse City West View High School
  • Traverse City West Hills High School
  • Traverse City Forest View High School

Other proposed school team names were listed in this proposal, too, including:[6]

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 7, 1996, and the new school was finally opened to students on January 26, 1998.[6][7] Since that time, West Senior High's enrollment has generally encompassed students living west of Division Street. In 2009, a new gymnasium and athletic hub was added to the school.[8]

In 2020, alumnus Chasten Buttigieg, spouse of United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, wrote I Have Something to Tell You. The memoir includes anecdotes about Buttigieg's time at Traverse City West, calling it Traverse City's "hick school", citing the school's tradition of "Bring Your Tractor to School Day".[9]

In 2016 and 2022, the Traverse City West student section, nicknamed the "Bleacher Creatures", won the Battle of the Fans, an MHSAA contest that determines the best student section in the state of Michigan.[10][11]

In 2022, after 25 years of competing in the Big North Conference, Traverse City West and rival Traverse City Central moved their football programs into the North Division of the Saginaw Valley League.[12]

In October 2023, construction began on a new "Innovation & Manufacturing Center" at the school, focusing on STEM education. The new wing is expected to open by the end of 2024.[13][14]

Principals

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In its history, Traverse City West has had two head principals:

Principal Tenure
Joe Tibaldi[15] 1997-2014
Joe Esper[16] 2014–present

Academics

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Traverse City West offers 132 classes to its students, including 17 AP courses.[17][18] In addition, students are also given the option to dual-enroll with Northwestern Michigan College.[19] Students can also attend the Career-Tech Center of TBAISD, which offers special technological education for juniors and seniors at West, as those of other districts under TBAISD.[20]

West's student body is divided into three "neighborhoods": Athens, Olympia, and Sparta. These neighborhoods offer smaller learning communities and the chance to form better bonds with their peers and educators.[17]

Demographics

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The demographic breakdown of Traverse City West's 1,509 students enrolled in 2022–23 was:[21]

  • Female – 50.8%
  • Male – 49.2%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native – 1.3%
  • Asian – 1.5%
  • Black – 1.6%
  • Hispanic – 3.8%
  • Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander – 0.1%
  • White – 88.5%
  • Multiracial – 3.4%

Additionally, 519 students (34.4%) were eligible for reduced-price or free lunch.

Athletics

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Traverse City West's sports teams are known as the Titans. Since 2022, the school has been part of the North Division of the Saginaw Valley League for football, and the Big North Conference for other school-sanctioned sports.[22] West is considered a Division-1 and Class A school by MHSAA, meaning it is in the highest enrollment class for the state. West offers the following sports:[23]

Fall sports
  • Boys' Soccer
  • Boys' Tennis
  • Cheerleading
  • Cross Country
  • Football
  • Girls' Golf
  • Rowing
  • Swimming
  • Volleyball
Winter sports
  • Basketball
  • Wrestling
  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Bowling
  • Figure Skating
  • Hockey
  • Skiing (Alpine)
Spring sports
  • Baseball
  • Boys' Golf
  • Equestrian Club
  • Girls' Soccer
  • Girls' Tennis
  • Lacrosse
  • Rowing
  • Sailing
  • Softball
  • Track and Field
 
The Titan Drumline performing in 2019

Traverse City West has won six Division 1 Alpine Ski State Championships; three boys (2021, 2022, 2023) and three girls (2015, 2023, 2024).[24][25][26]

Sports rivalries

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Traverse City Central High School

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Since Traverse City Senior High School split in 1997, there has been a natural rivalry between West and Central.[27] Every year since, the two schools have met at least once a year for each sport, with football, basketball, and ice hockey being the most intense matchups. Since 2012, this annual football game between the schools has been known as the Traverse City Patriot Game, and honors fallen members of the United States Armed Forces from Northwest Michigan.[28] The winning team is awarded the Nowak-Olson Trophy. In 2020, the game was known as the Celebrate Service Game, and honored frontline workers of the COVID-19 pandemic.[29] TC West has won 15 of the 29 football matchups with TC Central.[30][31]

Grand Haven High School

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Traverse City West also has a football rivalry with the Buccaneers of Grand Haven High School in Ottawa County. This began in 2016, and has been played as West's second game of the season in every year since.[30] This rivalry began because the two cities are both designated Coast Guard Cities by the United States Coast Guard.[32] The winning team is awarded the Coast Guard Cup.[33][34]

 
Pre-2009 logo

Notable Alumni

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Spirit Rock Controversy

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In 2017, the "spirit rock," a large stone often painted by students to celebrate various victories, suddenly went missing. After an investigation, it was discovered that principal Joe Esper directed vice principal Charles Kolbusz to bury the rock.[44] Kolbusz brought a backhoe to the school after-hours, and buried the rock in a hole he dug on school grounds. Superintendent Paul Soma reported that, upon initial questioning, both conspirators denied any knowledge of the events. Following the investigation, Esper was put on unpaid leave for five days.[44] In 2018, the administration put a new spirit rock in the old one's place.[45]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "West Senior High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  2. ^ "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for West Senior High". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  3. ^ "Michigan's 60 largest high schools in 2016–17 and their demographics". mlive. 2017-05-05. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  4. ^ "When Trojans Became Titans". The Ticker | Traverse City News & Events. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  5. ^ "High School Enrollment : Dual Enrollment : Northwestern Michigan College". Northwestern Michigan College. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  6. ^ a b c Raymer, Marjory (June 6, 1996). "It's the TC West High Titans". Traverse City Record-Eagle. pp. 1A, 2A.
  7. ^ "When Trojans Became Titans". The Ticker | Traverse City News & Events. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  8. ^ "Gymnasium Addition to Traverse City West Senior High School – Nealis Engineering". Retrieved 2019-12-01.
  9. ^ Buttigieg, Chasten (2020). I Have Something to Tell You (1st ed.). New York City: Atria Publishing Group. pp. 24–25. ISBN 978-1-9821-3812-7.
  10. ^ "TC West Wins MHSAA's Battle of the Fans". 9 & 10 News. 2022-02-18. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  11. ^ "TC West wins Battle of the Fans". miningjournal.net. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  12. ^ arosenthal@record-eagle.com, James Cook jcook@record-eagle com and Andrew Rosenthal (15 September 2021). "Traverse City Central, West football leaving Big North to join Saginaw Valley League". Traverse City Record-Eagle. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  13. ^ "Why TCAPS Is Investing Millions Of Dollars In New High School STEM Facilities". The Ticker | Traverse City News & Events. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
  14. ^ Newsroom, UpNorthLive (2023-10-29). "TCAPS seeks to expand STEM programs with new innovation centers". WPBN. Retrieved 2024-02-10. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  15. ^ "When Trojans Became Titans". The Ticker | Traverse City News & Events. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
  16. ^ "Joe Esper Profile - District Home". tcaps.net. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  17. ^ a b "Our School - TC West Senior High School". tcaps.net. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  18. ^ "Advanced Placement - High School Programs". tcaps.net. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  19. ^ "High School Enrollment : Dual Enrollment : Northwestern Michigan College". Northwestern Michigan College. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  20. ^ "Career-Tech Center". TBAISD. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  21. ^ "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for West Senior High". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
  22. ^ "TC West, Central Set to Join Saginaw Valley League for Football". MISportsNow. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  23. ^ "Traverse City West High School". Traverse City West High School. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  24. ^ Staff REPORTS (2022-12-29). "The Year 2022 in Sports No. 4: Traverse City, NoMI skiers dominate at state skiing championships". Traverse City Record-Eagle. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  25. ^ "Michigan high school skiing finals: Traverse City West wins boys, girls state titles". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  26. ^ Miller, Greg. "Traverse City West and Cadillac win Girls Skiing State Championships". 9&10 News. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  27. ^ "When Trojans Became Titans". The Ticker | Traverse City News & Events. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  28. ^ Cook, James (29 September 2012). "TC Central controls game for win over TC West". Traverse City Record-Eagle. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  29. ^ "TC Central shuts out TC West in Patriot Game, 32-0". Traverse City Record-Eagle. 20 September 2019. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  30. ^ a b "Traverse City West Titans Michigan High School Football Scores, Schedules, and Analytics". michigan-football.com. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  31. ^ "Traverse City Central Trojans Michigan High School Football Scores, Schedules, and Analytics". michigan-football.com. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  32. ^ "Coast Guard Cities". uscg.mil. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  33. ^ "Traverse City West Titans, Grand Haven Buccaneers to Play for Coast Guard Cup". 9 & 10 News. 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  34. ^ "Bucs' defense solid, but offense sputters in loss to TC West". Grand Haven Tribune. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  35. ^ McCarthy, Ellen (2019-05-01). "Chasten Buttigieg has been a homeless community college student and a Starbucks barista. Now, he could be 'first gentleman.'". Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  36. ^ "Buttigieg brings Michigan husband, Midwest roots to Democratic race". Detroit News. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  37. ^ Sommers, Brett (24 October 2015). "Fisher returns to TC West, has number retired". Traverse City Record-Eagle. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  38. ^ "Eric Gordon, Traverse City West, Outside Linebacker". 247Sports. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  39. ^ "Remember this Titan: Traverse City West tight end Ryan Hayes". northernexpress.com. September 9, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  40. ^ "Darren Keyton". Detroit Lions. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  41. ^ "A Life in Rugby: An Interview With Phillip Thiel". northernexpress.com. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  42. ^ Eckert, Mike (24 December 2010). "Townsend mulls options". Traverse City Record-Eagle. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  43. ^ "Home Stage Advantage". northernexpress.com. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  44. ^ a b "TC West Principals Suspended For Spirit Rock Cover-Up". The Ticker | Traverse City News & Events. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  45. ^ "West High School To Offer New Spirit Rock To Students". The Ticker | Traverse City News & Events. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
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