Big Spring High School

Big Spring High School is a public high school located in Big Spring, Texas, and classified as a 4A Division I school by the University Interscholastic League (UIL). It is part of the Big Spring Independent School District located in north central Howard County. The high school building was dedicated on March 23, 1952. The dedication address was given by J.W. Edgar, State Commissioner of Education. This was the first new high school built in 35 years, and the third in the district's history. In 2015, the school was rated "Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agency. UIL academic events The Big Spring Steers compete in the following UIL academic events. Events below have both team and individual components unless specifically noted otherwise. Sanctioned high school academic events are: Accounting Calculator applications Computer applications (individual competition only) Computer science Congressional debate Current issues and events Literary criticism Mathematics Number sense Ready writing (individual competition only) Science Social studies Spelling and vocabulary Speech (an award is given to the top overall school in speech events; the award does not qualify students for advancement) Cross-examination team debate (team competition only) Lincoln-Douglas debate (individual competition only) Extemporaneous speaking (individual competition only) Poetry interpretation (individual competition only) Prose interpretation (individual competition only) Congressional debate Journalism (an award is given to the top overall school in journalism events; the award does not qualify students for advancement) Editorial writing (individual competition only) Feature writing (individual competition only) Headline writing (individual competition only) News writing (individual competition only) One act play (team competition plus individual awards that do not lead to advancement) UIL academic state meet State titles Individual Calculator applications 2022 (4A), 2023 (4A) Congressional debate 2016 (4A), 2024 (4A) Editorial writing 1990(4A) Feature writing 2008(4A) Lincoln-Douglas debate 2005(4A), 2011(3A), 2015(4A), 2016(4A) Mathematics 2022 (4A) News writing 1990, 2009(4A) Number sense 2009(4A) Persuasive speaking 2011(3A) Prose interpretation 1978(4A), 1979(4A) Spelling 1977(4A), 2001(4A), 2023 (4A) Typing 1948(2A) Team Journalism 2004(4A), 2009(4A) Speech 2016 (4A) Other state placings 1947 3rd place Shorthand 1990 2nd place News Writing 2002 Octa-finalists: cross-examination debate 2003 3rd place persuasive extemporaneous speaking 2004 2nd place Persuasive Extemporaneous Speaking 2nd place: Headline Writing 2nd place: News Writing 3rd place: Lincoln-Douglas Debate 4th place: News Writing 6th place Informative Extemporaneous Speaking 2005 3rd place Persuasive Extemporaneous Speaking 3rd place: Feature Writing 6th place Poetry Interpretation 2006 Quarter-finalists: cross-examination debate 2009 2nd place: Feature Writing 3rd place: Headline Writing 3rd place: Literary Criticism 2010 3rd place Persuasive Extemporaneous Speaking Octa-finalists: cross-examination debate 2012 3rd place Lincoln-Douglas Debate 2014 Octafinalist Cross-examination Debate 5th place Speaker, Cross-examination State Meet 3rd place Informative Extemporaneous Speaking 3rd place Lincoln-Douglas Debate 4th place Informative Extemporaneous Speaking 2015 5th place Congressional Debate 4A 4th place Editorial Writing 5th place Ready Writing 5th place Persuasive Extemporaneous Speaking 2016 2nd place Congressional Debate 4A 3rd place Cross-examination Debate 4A Bronze Gavel Speaker, Cross-Examination State Meet 2nd place News Writing 4A 2nd place Persuasive Speaking 4A 3rd place Persuasive Speaking 4A 5th place Editorial Writing 4A 2017 Octafinalist Cross-Examination State Meet 4A 3rd place Ready Writing 4A 3rd place Informative Speaking 4th place Editorial Writing 4A 2019 Octafinalist Cross-Examination State Meet 4A 2021 5th place Linconln-Douglas Debate 2nd place Calculator Applications 4th place Spelling & Vocabulary 2022 Quarter-finalist Cross-Examination State Meet 4A 5th place Speaker Cross-Examination 3rd place Persuasive Speaking 4A 3rd place Literary Criticism 5th place Spelling and Vocabulary 4A 6th place Informative Speaking 4A 2nd place Spelling and Vocabulary Team 4A 2023 5th place Congress 4A Octa-finalists Cross Examination State Meet 4A 4th place Speaker Cross-Examination 2nd place LD Debate 4A 2nd place Mathematics 4A 2nd place Science 4A 2nd Physics 2nd Chemistry 2nd place News Writing 4A 3rd place Persuasive Speaking 4A 4th place Number Sense 4A 5th place Informative Speaking 4A 2nd place Science Team 4A 3rd place Speech & Debate Team 4A 3rd place Spelling Team 4A 2024 3rd place LD Debate 4A 3rd place Poetry Interpretation 4A 6th place Informative Speaking 4A 2026 6th Place Cross-Examination State Meet 4A Silver Gavel Cross-Examination Athletics The Big Spring Steers compete in these sports: cross country, volleyball, football, basketball, powerlifting, swimming, golf, tennis, track, softball & baseball. The school competes in class 4A in all sports except for swimming and diving which competes in class 5A State titles Team Boys cross country 2006(4A) Individual Boys triple jump 2010(4A) Girls long jump 2011(3A) Boys 800 meter 2016 (4A) Boys 800 meter 2017 (4A) Girls triple jump 2017 (4A) State finalists Football 1953(3A) Baseball 1994(4A) State semi-finalists Volleyball 2013 (3A) Other state placings 2011(3A) 2nd place girls long jump 2nd place boys long jump 2nd place girls 400 relay 2nd place girls 800 relay 3rd place triple jump Girls track 2nd place team 2012(3A) 9th place boys powerlifting SHW 2017 (4A) 2nd place boys 1600 relay 4th place boys 400 meter 5th place boys 300 hurdles 6th place boys 400 relay 6th place boys 800 relay 4th place girls 400 meter 4th place girls discus 2021 (4A) 4th place boys discus 2022(4A D1) 7th Place Boys powerlifting 123 7th Place Girls powerlifting 132 7th Place Girls Powerlifting 220 8th Place Girls Powerlifting 259+ 2nd Place Girls Powerlifting 259 2023(4A D1) 5th Place Girls Powerlifting 220 4th Place Girls Powerlifting 259+ 2nd Place Girls Powerlifting 259+ Notable alumni Larry Arnhart- writer and scholar, graduated from Big Spring High School in 1967. Dan Birdwell - defensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders Ken Coffey - safety for the Washington Redskins Olie Cordill - halfback for the Cleveland Rams Jim Evans - wide receiver for the New York Jets Bob Flowers - center for the Green Bay Packers Bubba Franks - Green Bay Packers tight end; although born in California, was raised and played high school football in Big Spring. Tony Franklin - Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins; barefoot kicker set 18 NCAA records playing at Texas A&M, He led the NFL in scoring (140 points) and field goals made (32) in 1986 and was selected to represent the AFC in the Pro Bowl. Played in super Bowl XV and super Bowl XX Charley Johnson - quarterback for the St. Louis Cardinals Cliff Patton - guard for the Philadelphia Eagles Stephan Pyles - Chef and restaurateur. Owner of Stephan Pyles, Samar, and Stampede 66 in Dallas. J. T. Smith — wide receiver for the St. Louis and Phoenix Cardinals, Washington Redskins and Kansas City Chiefs. Played 13 years in the NFL, then coached the San Angelo indoor team. Played at North Texas State after finishing at Big Spring High School. He was inducted to the Big Spring Hall of Fame and in 2002. JT was named to the AFC Pro Bowl team in 1980 and the NFC Pro Bowl team in 1988. He also led the NFL in total punt returns in 1979 & 1980. Ryan Tannehill - quarterback for the Tennessee Titans Charlie West - safety for the Minnesota Vikings References External links Big Spring ISD