Wichita East History, Part 3 – Academics and Athletics

 

 

Academics

Wichita High School East is regionally recognized for both academic and athletic success. The school offers the Wichita Public Schools diploma and the International Baccalaureate Diploma, a magnet diploma that students earn through the International Baccalaureate program. In addition to offering many Advanced Placement, Honors, and college preparatory classes, East High now delivers the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program that helps prepare mid-level students for post-secondary education.

East consistently leads Wichita-area schools in academic awards. Both the high school’s newspaper, The Messenger, and yearbook, Echoes, have been recognized in national competitions. (Right, The Messenger Editors Marcia Qualley, Patty Pierce, and Lynne Roberts discuss the next page one layout with advisor Meredith Cromer.)

By 1960, The Messenger had won the “Kansas University Service to the School” award for 10 years, “All -American” top National Scholastic Press Association rating for 7 years, and the “Medalist” top honor for 5 years from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Meredith Cromer advised both The Messenger and the Echoes as well as taught journalism classes. The tradition of excellence he established at East High has continued in subsequent decades.

(Left, 1960 Echoes Yearbook leadership: Diana Woodward, Editor; Lee Bacon, Assistant Editor; Carol Zook, Copy Editor; Elaine Hill, Picture Editor.)

 

East High school has also known for consistently having many National Merit Scholars each year from students taking the PSAT/NMSQT. 

 (1960 Merit Finalists were Ann Curfman and Sally Campbell, seated; Roger Clawson, Gary Armstrong, David Kroenlein, David Divoky, Gary Byrd, Tom Tatlock, and Gene Carter)

East High has continued its tradition of excellence in strong performing arts programs, with all groups (band, choral, theatre, and orchestra) having won many city and state awards for outstanding performances throughout the years.  Its debate and forensics squads consistently qualify students for the national tournament.  In June 2007, East hosted the debate portion of NFL Nationals. East also has a very successful Scholar’s Bowl team, winning state championships in 1998, 2004, 2007, and most recently 2011. 

Athletics

East, a 6A school, competes in the Greater Wichita Athletic League against the city’s nine largest public high schools and two private Catholic high schools. Since 1928, East High teams have been known as the Blue Aces, and the school has been represented by its mascot, Max, a World War I flying ace with an oversized head and a pronounced cleft chin. A later version of the flying ace features a jet plane of the type manufactured in Wichita.

East High holds 96 state championships with all sports teams combined. Athletically, East is home to a consistently competitive basketball program with nine state championships. In addition, the Blue Aces football team, who have won four state championships, has been increasingly successful in recent years due to leadership changes as well as two highly acclaimed and heavily recruited brothers, Arthur (Class of 2008) and Bryce Brown (Class of 2009). East’s football team was Wichita State’s opponent in the first game in the program’s history. East’s Boys Swimming and Diving team has also been dominant, winning 14 State Championships, most recently in 2013.

Boys Basketball

East High is known for its historically successful boys basketball team. The team’s tradition for success dates back to its 1915 state title and has continued over 100 years to its 2015 Kansas 6A state title, a season during which the Aces posted an overall record of 24-1 and an average margin of victory of 23.7 points. 2015 marked the third consecutive year the Aces qualified for the state basketball tournament, as well as the Aces’ second state title in 10 years and the third since 2002. The Aces play home games in the East gym, which has a seating capacity of 2,400. (Right, Gerald Burton was selected as the All-State Tournament Team Forward in 1960. He maintained a 13-point game average his senior year. Below, the 1959-60 team, which placed 2nd at the State Tournament.) Above left, Coach Cy Sickles (record 221 wins-56 losses)

National Basketball Championship

The 1925 boys basketball team won the National Interscholastic Basketball Tournament in Chicago. The tournament was an attempt by Amos Alonzo Stagg, then head coach at the University of Chicago, to create a national high school champion.  This lasted from 1917 to 1930 before school administrators intervened to oppose the concept of a national tournament. Wichita defeated El Reno High School 27-6 in the 1930 final.

State Championships  

From 1913 to  2018, East has won 96 state championships.  The sport and number of championships are listed here:

Football – 4;   Boys’ Cross Country – 7; Boys’ Basketball – 10; Boy’s Golf – 11; Boy’s Swimming and Diving – 14; Boy’s Outdoor Track and Field – 28; Boy’s Indoor Track and Field – 4; Wrestling – 10; Baseball – 5; Girls’ Swimming and Diving – 2; Girls’ Bowling – 1

                                   

 

Above photos courtesy of Carol Weaverling Chambers’ Echoes ’56

 

State Championships 1958-1960

Cross Country: 1958, 1959

 

                         

 

 

 

 

 

Swimming and Diving: 1958, 1959, 1960

East High’s Swimming and Diving Team won state championships throughout the 50’s and 60’s, thanks to talented swimmers and the leadership of renowned Coach Bob Timmons.

(Left, John Van Slyke took individual state championships in the 200-yard and 400-yard freestyle events, leading the Aces to the 1960 Kansas state championship.)

 

 

Golf: 1960

In 1960, East High won the state championships in the two-man competition and the individual medalist. Three-year letterman in golf, Johnny Stevens, took the Men’s City Championship in ’59. Senior Kim Corbin and Johnny led the team to the 1960 state championship and Individual Medalist.  

 

Outdoor Track & Field:  1958, 1959

Three-sport athlete Bob Ware (at left)  was the nation’s top prep school miler in 1960. He led the cross-county squad to a state championship, swam on the  state championship swim teams, and ran track in the spring. 

Below, individual medalists at the State Track and Field Championship in 1960: East High’s record-setting Mile Relay team of Sherman McClellan, Lee Ayres, Bob Hanson, and Larry Reid; in front, shot-putter Calvin Ross.