# Centralia High School (Centralia, Washington)

Centralia High School is a public high school located in the unincorporated Ford's Prairie neighborhood of Centralia, Washington. Centralia High School (CHS) is a part of the Centralia School District and is the only high school in the district.
The school opened in 1909 as a regular 9th-12 public high school. In 2017, Centralia passed a $74 million bond to renovate and modernize the CHS. The original high school was torn down and the new facility was finished during the fall of 2020.

## History

Centralia High School (CHS) was built in 1909. The current Centralia High School building is the second to bear the name. The first senior class graduated in 1970. In 2017, voters in Centralia passed a $74 million million bond that allowed the complete remodel and modernization of Centralia High School in two phases—-Phase 1 and Phase 2. The first Phase was completed by the fall of 2019. Phase 2 was completed in March 2020 and included the instrumental and vocal rehearsal rooms, art department, wood shop and metal shop, commons, and performing arts center. The entire building was fully finished by the fall of 2020.
Though connected to Centralia public utilities, CHS is located in the unincorporated community of Ford's Prairie.

## Administration

As of the 2022-2022 school year, the current principal of Centralia High School is Scot Embrey. Mr. Ahern serves as the athletic director. Additional assistant principals are Heather Cheek and Kelly Sneed. Austin Baker is the CTE Director.

## Athletics

The mascot of Centralia High School is the Tiger. Centralia High School is a member of the WIAA (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association) in the 2A Evergreen Conference. During the Fall season the school sanctions the following sports: Cheerleading, Football, Girls' Soccer, Cross Country, Boys' Tennis, Boys' Golf, Girls' Swimming, Volleyball. Winter season includes: Cheerleading, Wrestling, Girls' Basketball and Boys' Basketball, Vocal and Instrumental Solo and Ensemble contest. The Spring season includes: Baseball, Boys' Soccer, Fastpitch, Girls' Golf, Girls' Tennis and Track.
State Championships :
| Season | Sport | Number of Championships | Year |
| Fall | Cross Country, Girls | 1 | 1979, 1983 |
| Fall | Football | 4 | 1980, 2001, 2007, 2008 |
| Fall | Golf, Boys | 3 | 1985, 2006, 2013 |
| Fall | Soccer, Girls | 4 | 1997-2000 |
| Winter | Basketball, Boys | 5 | 1979, 1981, 2000, 2005, 2014 |
| Winter | Basketball, Girls | 2 | 2000, 2018 |
| Winter | Cheerleading, Girls | 3 | 2003, 2010, 2011 |
| Winter | Volleyball | 3 | 2015, 2017, 2019 |
| Spring | Baseball | 3 | 1982, 1993, 2015 |
| Spring | Golf, Girls | 1 | 2015 |
| Spring | Fastpitch Softball, Girls | 3 | 1980, 1986, 1991 |
| Spring | Slowpitch Softball, Girls | 1 | 1984 |
| Spring | Swimming, Girls | 2 | 1983, 2007 |
| Spring | Track and Field, Boys | 4 | 1938, 2006-2008 |
| Spring | Track and Field, Mixed | 1 | 2017 |
| Spring | Total | Total | 42 |

### Notes

* ↑ With the 1982 baseball title, combined with the 1980 football and 1979 basketball championships, the high school achieved a "Triple Crown" of the three major sports at the time. It is thought that Centralia High School was the first to accomplish this feat in the state.

### Swamp Cup

Centralia maintains a rivalry with W.F. West High School from neighboring Chehalis known as the "Swamp Cup" or the "Battle of the Swamp." The first football matchup between the schools took place on Thanksgiving Day, 1907, and the rivalry was continued on the holiday every year until 1963, when it began to move to other weeks. Today, matchups in all sports between the Tigers and Bearcats are known as the Swamp Cup, but the winner of the annual football matchup takes home the Swampman trophy, also known as "Swampy."

## Notable alumni

* Charlie Albright (born 1988), pianist and composer
* Calvin Armstrong (born 1982), NFL and CFL player
* Bob Coluccio (born 1951), MLB player
* Howard Costigan (1904-1985), political activist
* Merce Cunningham (born 1919), dancer and choreographer
* Sandy Marth Hill (born 1946), television journalist
* Dexter Kerstetter (born 1907), soldier and Medal of Honor recipient
* Soren Johnson (born 1976), video game programmer
* Angela Meade (born 1977), opera singer
* C.D. (Clyde) Moore (born 1958), 2-star general USAF
* Marcus O'Day (born 1897), physicist
* Lyle Overbay (born 1977), MLB player
* Ford Rainey (born 1908), actor
* Cindy Ryu, first female Korean-American mayor in the United States
* Detlef Schrempf (born 1963), NBA player