Cheyenne High School football player Myloe Lewis poses in the weight room at the school in North Las Vegas Tuesday, September 20, 2011.
Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012 | 12:32 a.m.
Prep Sports Now
The best players in town
Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Ray Brewer and Case Keefer talk Liberty's statement victory, Bishop Gorman's error-filled night and Centennial's time to shine against Arbor View. In the middle of the usual discussion, they break into an argument over which player is having the best season so far — D.J. Pumphrey or Niko Kapeli.
Like a rocket launched off a platform, there was no stopping Cheyenne’s Myloe Lewis.
Lewis spent as much time in the end zone as he did in school Friday. He scored eight times as the Desert Shields broke away from Western for a 72-47 victory.
“He stole the show,” Cheyenne coach David Cochran said. “When he plays and does what he does, that’s all we’re looking for this season. We’ll do our jobs and let him exploit the defense.”
Lewis wound up with more than 300 yards and could have gone for more if Cochrane wouldn’t have pulled him after one possession in the third quarter. He scored 50 percent of the time he touched the ball.
Winless Western actually hung with Cheyenne for the majority of the first half, trailing only 16-13 early in the second quarter. Cochran could tell the Warriors had improved.
“I’m happy to see that program experience some success,” he said.
A fresh coat of paint and a fresh perspective are among the changes being made around Western High School.
Western is one of five turnaround schools that missed the marks set by No Child Left Behind and now faces the challenge of increasing student achievement.
The school is the third oldest in the district and its campus lies near Decatur Boulevard and Veterans Memorial Highway. The majority of students attending Western are minorities from disadvantaged homes. Western is known for having a rough past, but students are optimistic about the future of their school.
Change is apparent according to students interviewed in September.
“When I was in eighth grade, I was told I was going to get shot or stabbed when I came to Western,” said senior Kole Yanez, 17. “That might have been true 15 years ago, but now, you don’t see that here.”
Rules are tightly enforced on campus. The school keeps a strict dress code policy and cell phone use during class time is not permitted.
Halls are designated by grade level giving students a sense of ownership and community. Pride is clearly visible at pep rallies and sporting events. The newfound pride might just be he medicine needed to alleviate the 8 percent dropout rate, the highest in the district.
“It’s like building a house. You need a strong foundation,” said Neddy Alvarez, principal. “You need those strong relationships. When kids know we care about them, the learning will take place.”
- Year built:
- 1960
- Mascot:
- Warriors
- Principal (Year Hired):
- Neddy Alvarez (2008)
- Mission Statement:
- “The mission of Western High School is to promote scholarship, encourage good citizenship, and embrace our cultural diversity.”
- Enrollment:
- Approximately 2,400
- Notable alumni:
- Frank Hawkins, former NFL player
Capt. Nicole Malachowski, first female Thunderbird
Ronnie Vannucci, drummer of The Killers
Tom Collins, Clark County commissioner - School Report Card:
- 2010-2011
Compiled by Gregan Wingert
Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
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