Blue Valley West High School

History

Blue Valley West High School opened in August 2001 in order to help educate the increasing population of Overland Park. It was the fourth high school in the Blue Valley Unified School District to open, preceded by Blue Valley Northwest High School in 1993, and followed by Blue Valley Southwest High School in 2010.

Academics

The school offers 17 Advanced Placement classes, foreign language in Spanish, German, Latin and French, and performing and visual arts classes, among others. The Journalism department produces The Spotlight(newspaper) and The Illumination(yearbook). Its broadcasting class produces Jagged Edge TV. The class of 2013 achieved an average score of 1828 on the SAT and 25 on the ACT.

Extracurricular activities

The Jaguars compete in the Eastern Kansas League and are classified as a 6A-5A school according to the KSHSAA. Throughout its history, Blue Valley West has won several state championships in various sports. Many graduates have gone on to participate in Division I, NCAA Division IIDivision II, and Division III athletics. In the 2006-2007 school year the school won 2 state championships, was runner up for another, and had 4 other teams qualify for the state tournament. In the 2007 calendar year, BV West won the state title in football, boys' basketball, and baseball. This three-peat was the first of its kind in the history of KSHSAA competition.

Football

The Blue Valley West Jaguar football team has become a contender in Kansas 5A football. After reaching the state playoffs in only their second year, head coach Scott Wright and his teams have a 4-year record of 24-18 since their 3-6 start in the 2001-2002 inaugural season. The Jaguars qualified for the 2006 postseason as well.

The team's main rivals are Blue Valley High School and Saint Thomas Aquinas High School. Aquinas and West have met multiple times in the postseason, with Aquinas winning all except the game in 2007. Blue Valley West and Blue Valley have met in the final game of the season for the district championship nearly every year since West opened in 2001. Blue Valley West won the 2007 Eastern Kansas League title and went on to win the Kansas 5A State Championship on November 24, 2007, with an undefeated 13-0 season.

After struggling with a few rough years the team has gotten back to winning. In the 2012-2013 varsity season the team made the 5A state playoffs, winning its district, going 3-0 in district play. The team lost in the sectional round of the playoffs to Bishop Miege High School in multiple overtimes 38-37 after a controversial call near the goal line during a 2-point extra point attempt. The team ended the season with a record of 8-3.

The 2013-2014 varsity team was able to find success as well. The Jaguars made it to the state playoffs once again but lost in the sub-state round to rival Blue Valley High School 38-33. The team finished the season at 8-4.

Boys' basketball

The boys basketball team won their first state title during the 2006-2007 school year.

Bishop Miege and Saint Thomas Aquinas are the basketball team's two primary rivals with all three teams having experienced postseason success in recent years. Rival Bishop Miege is known for having a prominent home court advantage, although West won for three consecutive years at Bishop Miege from 2005–2007, sparking a new rivalry between the schools.

Golf

The Jaguars have won three team state titles. In 2002, the team won its first 5A State Championship. This was followed by 6A State Championships in 2006 and 2013.

Baseball

The baseball team has been coached by Bill McDonald since the school's opening in 2001. The school has won the Eastern Kansas League (EKL) title every year from the school's opening in 2001 to 2006, and did not lose a single game in conference until 2006. They carry a 92-22 overall record, 4 Regional Titles, and a 2nd-place finish at state in 2006. In 2007, the team did not win the EKL title, but were the first to bring the coveted state championship back to Overland Park. The program has sent numerous players to colleges throughout the country.

Girls' Bowling

The girls' bowling team was established during the 2011-2012 winter sports season to add more sports available to girls in the school. Although Lacrosse, gymnastics, and horseback-riding were considered, bowling made the cut because of the generality and low cost to fund the sport. It is currently coached by Denise Young.

Performing arts

The school has a theater group, that presents three shows a year as part of the school curriculum. For singing it has four options: Concert Choir, Choraliers, Chorale and Chamber. The last three require an audition.

Band

Blue Valley West has a Competitive Marching Band, a Concert Band, a Symphonic Band, and a Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

The program has a dedicated band for football games, named the "Spirit of Blue Valley West, whereas the Blue Valley West Competitive Marching Band is named "The Red and Silver Brigade". The Red and Silver Brigade has performed at various marching band competitions and festivals, including the 2011 New Year's Day Parade in London, England. The concert ensembles performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2006, in San Diego in 2014, California and at the Music For All National Festival in 2016.

Notable alumni