Woodford County High School (Kentucky)

Woodford County High School is a public high school located in Versailles, Kentucky, United States. It serves grades 9–12 and since 1963 has been the only public high school in Woodford County.

History

There were once three high schools in Woodford County: Midway High School, Versailles High School and Simmons High School. Simmons, an all-black school, closed in the 1950s, and its students then attended either Midway or Versailles. Midway High School was closed in the early 1960s.

The old Midway High School building became Midway Elementary, then was closed, remodeled and converted into historic building apartments. The old Versailles High School building became Woodford County Junior High (later renamed Woodford County Middle School) when the current Woodford County High School building was constructed in 1963. Since then, WCHS has been the only high school serving Woodford County.

Athletics

WCHS athletic teams include volleyball, cheerleading, wrestling, cross country, track and field, football, boys' basketball, girls' basketball, baseball, softball, boys' soccer, girls' soccer, swimming, diving, tennis, and golf.

The wrestling team has won 13 state championships, more than any other KHSAA school, and holds the record for most individual state champions, with 56. The wrestling teams championships span from 1972 to the most recent in 2006, where the Matjackets boasted an outstanding number of five individual state champions.

In 2006, the boys' cross country team celebrated the title of KHSAA Runner-Up. The girls' soccer team participated in the state championship in 2007, defeated by Sacred Heart Academy 2–0, and in the 2008 State Final Four, losing to Highlands 1–0.

Both the boys' and girls' basketball programs have a long competitive history, leading WCHS to sweet 16 berths in the mid-1980s to 1990s.

The boys' basketball team made a 1986 Sweet 16 State Basketball Tournament berth appearance after winning the 11th Region Boys' Basketball Tournament for the first time in school history. The girls' basketball team made a 1995 berth appearance after winning the 11th Region Girls Basketball Tournament for the first time in school history. Both boys' and girls' basketball programs have produced several student athletes who have gone on to earn scholarships and/or participate at the collegiate level.

The 1985 girls' golf team had many years as regional champions and celebrated the title of KHSAA 1985 State Girls' Golf Team Runner-Up. The 1985 girls' golf team included 3/4 players in the top 25, and opportunities for three players to receive Division I Golf Scholarships. The boys' golf team has included several players who have gone on to compete at the state level.

The WCHS swim team has celebrated several competitive seasons over the past 40 years.

The Woodford County baseball team was recently crowned 2012 KHSAA State Champions, winning their district and the 11th Region titles along the way.

Controversies

Woodford County High School has a dress code that requires that students cover their collarbones with their shirts. In 2015 several parents and students criticized the rule. Students made a documentary about the dress code.^[2]

Media program

Begun in 1974, the Media class was first named "Telecommunications" and taught students broadcasting skills. The program continues to operate over 40 years later. The class existed merely as a skills-based program until the early 1980s, when the team began to conjugate and create Media Yearbooks yearly. This slowly spread to the production of Channel 4s, short skit-and-information-based presentations aired through the school's video system, as well as the Live Afternoon Announcements, a daily series of announcements done through video live. The final Video Yearbook was produced in 2002, The program now mainly focuses on the latter two productions.

Notable alumni

• Shaun King, media personality and activist
• Trey Kramer, professional football and soccer player^[3]
• Sturgill Simpson, singer-songwriter^[4]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Woodford County High School (Kentucky).

Coordinates: 38°03′45″N 84°43′51″W / 38.06242°N 84.73081°W / 38.06242; -84.73081