Principal

Welcome Back!

On behalf of the staff and administration of Washburn Rural High School, I am excited to extend to you our best wishes for a productive and exciting new school year. Let me assure you that the educational opportunities for students at WRHS are excellent, both by reputation and by the measured accomplishments of our students.

We enjoy one of the best reputations of any public high school in the State of Kansas! Last year, for example, we produced six National Merit Finalists or Semi-Finalists, and three National Merit Commended Scholars! Additionally, once again we were named one of the Best High Schools in America by US News and World Report!

For those of you following the life of our school, you also know of our athletic and extracurricular successes last year. We were the City Champs in Boys' Cross Country, Girls' Cross Country, Boys' Swim, Girls' Tennis, Boys' Golf, Girls' Swim, Boys' Tennis, Girls' Track, and Boys' Track; we were the Centennial League Champions in Boys' Soccer, Girls' Tennis, Football, Girls' Wrestling, Boys' Wrestling, Girls' Cross Country, Boys' Swim, Boys' Bowling, Girls' Bowling, Volleyball, Softball, Girls' Soccer, Boys' Tennis, Girls' Swim, and Baseball; we were Regional or Sub-State Champions in Boys' Soccer, Girls' Tennis, Volleyball, Football, Girls' Cross Country, Girls' Wrestling, Boys' Wrestling, Girls' Bowling, Scholars Bowl, Girls' Basketball, Boys' Tennis, Softball, and Girls' Soccer; we were the State Champions in 4-Speaker Debate and Girls' Wrestling. In addition, we had two State Boys' Swim Champs: Brogan Meier 50-yard Freestyle and Jack Miranda 500-yard Freestyle, we had three State Boys' Wrestling Champs: Easton Broxterman 132 lb. weight class, Brody Byrne 157 lb. weight class, and Kristjan Marshall 150 lb. weight class, we had four State Powerlifting Champs: Keagan Loughney, Jamond Lane, Ashley Schwarz, and TaAni Rhoten; Josh Sulzen-Watson was the State Javelin Champ, and Shane Jueneman, Liam Morrison, Draden Chooncharoen, and Isaiah Terry were State Champs in the 4 x 400m relay.

Our extra-curricular and co-curricular programs continue to flourish. The WRHS Chorale, Concert Choir, Chamber Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble all received a 1-rating at the KSHSAA State Large Group Music Festival, and the Chamber Orchestra and Chorale were honored with performances at the KMEA conference in February. Our Marching Band received a Superior Rating for their performance at the Central States Marching Festival. They also placed 11th at the KBA Marching Championship! Our theatre program received 6 State Level Jester Awards Nominations from Music Theatre Wichita for their production of Fiddler on the Roof, including: Outstanding Production, Outstanding Chorus/Ensemble, Supporting Performer-Cade Nelson, Sound Design-Owen Tremblay, Outstanding Stage Crew, Design Guest (Costumes)-Linnea Hoyos, and Program Design-Maeghan Bishop. We also received 9 regional honors for Direction, Orchestra Direction, Vocal Direction, Leading Performer, Supporting Performer, Production Number, Artistic Guest (Choreography), Scenic Design, and Lighting Design. Additionally, Frankenstein was selected for a "main stage" performance at the Kansas Thespian Conference.

During the 2023-2024 season, our debate and forensics squads won over four hundred awards at invitational tournaments across the state, including an 8th consecutive state championship in 4-Speaker debate. We have 21 students qualified to the National Speech and Debate Tournament in Des Moines this June. Our speech and debate programs are ranked 14th in the nation in terms of our chapter strength (a combination of number of competitors and success) with the National Speech and Debate Association.

Our staff received numerous awards throughout this past year: Josh Hogan was named KWCA Regional Boys' Wrestling Coach of the Year; Kevin Bordewick-Volleyball, Matt Swedlund-Girls Cross Country, Steve Buhler-Football, Jay Mastin-Baseball, Joy Marie Galliart-Softball, and Brian Hensyel-Boys' and Girls' Soccer, all were named Centennial League Coach of the Year; Damon Parker-Girls' Wrestling and Josh Hogan-Boys' Wrestling were named Shawnee County Coach of the Year.

The parents, staff, students, and community which WRHS serves have much to be proud of. It was a truly exciting year!

In the coming year, I invite you to become a partner with us in your child's education, and in doing so, learn more about their "home away from home" - Washburn Rural High School. Attend their athletic events. Go to their concerts. Ask them about their school work. Talk with their teachers. Ask how you can volunteer in our building. By developing a deeper understanding of all that is available to your students at WRHS, you will help us to unlock the extraordinary potential within each one of them.

We look forward to the upcoming year with great hope and an unwavering belief in the promise of our young people. We wish all of you the very best! If we can ever be of service to you, please do not hesitate to call.