West Catholic High School

West Catholic High School
Address
1802 Bristol Avenue, N.W. Grand Rapids, Michigan, (Kent County) 49504 United States
Coordinates
Information
Type	Private, Coeducational
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Patron saint(s)	St. John Paul II
Established	1962
President	Tom Maj
Principal	Cynthia Kneibel
Chaplain	Fr. Scott Nolan
Grades	9–12
Color(s)	Green and White
Fight song	Fight! Fight! Falcons Fight! We'll go on to a victory! On the West Side of the Valley, there's a team we love so well. They're the boys from on the hilltop, Altogether hear us yell! We're the green and the white, and we're full of fight, We will challenge every foe, Whether cloudy or fair, we'll always be there with our cry of GO WEST GO! We're the green and the white, and we're full of fight, We'll go on to VIC-TO-RY! Fight! Fight! Falcons Fight! We'll go on to a Victory! Written by Eric Wendlandt and Sister Marcia
Athletics conference	Ottawa-Kent: Blue Division
Mascot	Freddy the Falcon
Team name	Falcon
Accreditation	North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Newspaper	The Westword
Athletic Director	Tony Fischer
Website	http://grwestcatholic.org

Grand Rapids West Catholic High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is a school and it was opened in 1962. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.

Academics

Grand Rapids West Catholic is known as a very prestigious academic institution in the state of Michigan. West Catholic has been honored each year since 2007 as one of the top Catholic high schools in the United States by the Cardinal Newman Society. The Washington Post listed West Catholic as one of the most challenging private high schools in the United States for 2013-14 and 2014-15. 99% of all West Catholic graduates attend college, including 100% of the Class of 2015.

Athletic

Grand Rapids West Catholic High School is member of Ottawa-Kent Conference Blue Division. Though the 2007-2008 school year, West Catholic was member of Grand Rapids City League. West Catholic is also a school of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). A new gymnasium was completed in 2008. Upon its completion, the new gymnasium took the place of the old gymnasium for most of the schools functions. The old gymnasium used to be called the new gymnasium.

State Championships (MHSAA unless noted):

• 1970 Boy's Football - Class B
• 1979 Girl's Basketball - Class B
• 1984 Girl's Gymnastics - Open Class
• 1990 Girl's Basketball - Class B
• 2003 Boy's Across Country - Division 3
• 2004 Boy's Team Track n' Field - Division 3
• 2008 Boy's Team Track n' Field - Division 3
• 2008 Girl's Team Track n' Field - Division 3
• 2009 Boy's Team Track n' Field - Division 3 (MITCA)
• 2010 Boy's Football - Division 5 Stats
• 2013 Boy's Football - Division 5
• 2014 Boy's Football - Division 5
• 2015 Boy's Football - Division 5

State Runners-up (MHSAA unless noted):

• 1974 Wrestling - Class B
• 1979 Football - Class B
• 1995 Girl's Basketball - Class B
• 1996 Girl's Across Country - Class B
• 2004 Boy's Across Country - Division 3
• 2005 Boy's Across Country - Division 3
• 2006 Boy's Team Track n' Field - Division 3
• 2006 Girl's Team Track n' Field - Division 3
• 2007 Boy's Across Country - Division 3
• 2010 Boy's Base ball - Division 2
• 2012 Boy's Football - Division 5 Stats
• 2013 Boy's Tennis - Division 4

Many West Catholic Athletes have gone on to play sports at the collegiate and professional level, including:

• Francis Berquist, Alma College Football
• Anna Berry, Grand Valley State University Swimming
• Lance Buitendyk, Grand Valley State University Baseball
• Tony Brechting, Michigan Tech University Football
• Mitch Bredberg, Ferris State University Football
• Cameron Burns, Davenport University Basketball
• Nick Buursma, Hope College Football
• Donovan Carpenter, Heidelberg University Basketball
• Andy Corey, Saginaw Valley State University Football
• Kirk Deering, Saginaw Valley State University Football
• Kory Deering, Ferris State University Football
• Dave Denbraber, Ferris State University Football, Dallas Cowboys
• Tony Fischer, Albion College Football
• Mike Franckowiak, Central Michigan University Football, Denver Broncos/Buffalo Bills
• Maggie Hassinger, Cornerstone University Bowling
• Joe Harmon, University of Detroit Track and Field
• Brody Heitzman, Aquinas College Track and Field
• Drew Hernandez, Aquinas College Baseball
• Jason Hickey, Adrian College Baseball
• Travis Hoving, Hope College Football
• Emily Kimball, Aquinas College Softball
• Matt Kloska, Aquinas College Track and Field
• Katie Long, Alma College Softball
• Lasavian Majewski, Davenport University Football
• Mary Mason, Aquinas College Track and Field
• Jason McDonough, Hillsdale College Football
• AJ Mohr, Grand Valley State University Baseball
• Corey Murphy, Davenport University Baseball
• Mackenzie Ondersma, Bethel College Golf
• Todd Peters, Aquinas College Baseball
• Dan Pittman, Hillsdale College Football
• Denny Pittman, Grand Valley State University Football
• Charlie Roberts, Elmhurst College Football
• Travis Russell, Ferris State University Football
• Billy Schaefer, Elmhurst College Football
• Nick Sieracki, Davenport University Football
• Nicolas Solarewicz, University of Detroit Mercy Tennis
• Heidi Spielmaker, Aquinas College Basketball
• Mitch Stanitzek, Central Michigan University Football
• Ben Sweedyk, Muskegon Community College Baseball
• Mason Theile, Albion College Basketball
• Bre Vanzyll, Cornerstone University Bowling
• Casey Wila, Aquinas College Baseball
• Bryce Witham, University of Minnesota Football
• Andy Zimmerman, Wayne State University Football

Student life

The Westword is West Catholic's student newspaper. It is published on monthly basis by members of Journalism class each month. The Westword, a staple of student-life at West Catholic, won Spartan Awards, the highest honor awarded by Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA). The name, Westword, is a pun on westward, which refers to a direction.

External links

• Website