Midway High School

Midway High School
Address
8200 Mars Drive Waco , Texas 76712-6575 United States
Coordinates	31.484008°N 97.199053°W / 31.484008; -97.199053
Information
School type	Public high school
School district	Midway ISD
Principal	Dr. Brent Merritt
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	2118 (2013)
Color(s)	Red, White & Blue
Athletics conference	UIL Class 6A
Mascot	Panther
Website	Midway High School

Midway High School is a public high school located in the city of Waco, Texas, USA and classified as a 6A school by the UIL. It is part of the Midway Independent School District, which serves the Waco, Texas area. Although the school is located in southwestern Waco, most students live in the suburbs of Woodway and Hewitt. The school was formerly located in Hewitt until the fall of 2003, when the current high school was built a half-mile away. The previous building is now Midway Middle School. In 2015, the school was rated "Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agency.

Demographics

The ethnic breakdown of Midway ISD is approximately 64.8% White, 17.1% Hispanic, 11.6% African-American, 4.3% Asian, 1.0% Native American, 0.1% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and 1.1% two or more ethnicities.

Athletics

The Midway Panthers compete in these sports -

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Football
• Golf
• Marching Band
• Powerlifting
• Soccer
• Softball
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Track and Field
• Volleyball
• Water Polo

Basketball

Midway and its late superintendent, M.T. Rice, were known as pioneers in the development of Texas girls' basketball. The M.T. Rice Holiday Tournament, which features boys and girls teams from across the state, is one of the oldest and largest basketball tournaments in the state. Midway won the Class 4A state girls' basketball championship in 1994 under coach Reggie Davis. Davis is one of a few coaches in Texas history to guide both a boys team (Midway boys in 1973) and a girls team to the state tournament. Midway alumni have gone on to play college basketball at programs across the state, including the University of Texas and Baylor.

Track & field

In 2008, the Midway mile relay team won the Class 4A state championship with a time of 3:16.09.

Swimming

In 2010, Will Chandler won state gold in diving.

Football

Since 2008, the football team has been a regional power, making deep playoff runs, including the school's first championship game appearance in 2011. Under previous head coach Terry Gambill, the team is 68-13 since 2010. Supported by multiple bond elections, the district renovated and expanded Panther Stadium for the 2010 season and built an indoor practice facility, slated to open in early 2015. After Coach Gambill transferred to Allen in the Spring of 2016, they have been currently led by Head Coach Jeff Hulme. Former Midway players have been recruited to college such as Baylor, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Houston, TCU, Stephen F. Austin, Oklahoma, SMU, and Oregon State.

State Titles

• Baseball -
  • 2003(4A)
• Girls Basketball -
  • 1955(B), 1969(2A), 1973(2A), 1975(3A), 1976(3A), 1994(4A), 2009(4A)
• Girls Cross Country -
  • 1982 (4A)
• Boys Soccer -
  • 2002(4A)
• Softball -
  • 1998(4A), 2010(4A)
• Tennis
  • Girls Singles - 2011 (4A)
  • Boys Doubles - 1982(4A), 1987(4A)
  • Boys Singles - 1992(4A)
  • Mixed Doubles - 2010(4A)
• Girls Track -
  • 1975(3A)
• Volleyball -
  • 2007(4A)

State Finalist

• Baseball -
  • 2005(4A)
• Girls Basketball -
  • 1977(3A), 1990(4A)
• Football -
  • 2011(4A/D1)
• Girls Soccer -
  • 2004(4A)
• Softball -
  • 1996(4A)
• Volleyball -
  • 2006(4A)
• Golf - 1990 regional champs With the Great Coach Charles Brewer

Tennis Mixed Doubles - 2009(4A)

Notable programs

Midway added a robotics program in 2010 and an astronomy club in 2011, which has received attention for its portable, inflatable planetarium. Although traditional FFA and agriculture studies programs are not new to Midway, the growing interest led to a renovated ag barn in 2012.

Midway's speech and debate teams were nationally competitive throughout the 1980s-90s, consistently qualifying students for the National Forensic League tournament. Midway has won state championships in Lincoln-Douglas Debate (1995), policy debate (1993, 1995, 1996, 2000), informative speaking (1993), and persuasive speaking (1964, 1965, and 1993).

The Midway orchestra program received international recognition when it was invited to perform at the 2012 Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Ill., for an audience of over 200 music educators. In 2012, the program was named a national finalist for the American Prize in Orchestra Performance, placing second. The orchestra program consistently produces UIL all-state musicians.

Lone Star Cup

In 2012, Midway ranked in the top 10 of UIL's Lone Star Cup Class 4A rankings for the fifth year in a row, before moving to 5A in the 2012-13 school year. The Texas Lone Star Cup is awarded based on a school district’s combined academic and athletic achievements.

In addition to strong athletics and academics, Midway was named "One of the Best Communities for Music Education" by the NAMM Foundation four straight years.

Midway High on television

Midway was the setting of the 2006 teen drama reality series Texas Cheer Moms on The Learning Channel.

Notable alumni

• Brian Barkley, Major League Baseball pitcher
• Zach Duke, 2001 graduate, Major League Baseball pitcher
• Casey Fossum, 1996 graduate, Major League Baseball pitcher
• Ryan Harlan, American decathlete
• Ahmad Dixon, 2010 graduate, Baylor Bears and NFL football player

External links

• Midway ISD website
• Panther Nation News site