Idaho Falls High School

Idaho Falls High School (IFHS), commonly referred to as I.F., is a four-year public secondary school in central Idaho Falls, Idaho. The current building opened in 1952, though the school itself has been in operation for well over a century. Idaho Falls is the older of the two traditional high schools, the other is Skyline, in the Idaho Falls School District #91. The school colors are orange and black and its teams are the Tigers; the mascot is known as Teeger.

History

As the oldest high school in the city of Idaho Falls, IFHS originated around the turn of the 20th century. The first building was a three-story structure on the corner of North Water and Walnut Street, behind what would later became O. E. Bell Junior High School. Following the construction of a larger building that occupied the entire block between 6th and 7th Streets and S. Boulevard and South Lee Avenue (where the Wesley W. Deist Aquatic Center is presently located), the original school building became the school district administration building and was also used for overflow classrooms as part of O.E. Bell Jr. High. It was later razed and is now part of the parking lot behind the present O.E. Bell office building.

When the current campus on South Holmes Avenue opened in 1952, the building on 7th Street became Central Junior High School, which burned down on April 24, 1973. The Civic Auditorium was concurrently constructed by the city in 1952, adjacent to the then-new IFHS, and remains a major center for performing arts in the area. The school newspaper is the Tiger Times and the yearbook is The Spud Annual. Paul Haack wrote the school song Dear Old I.F. High in 1927.

The school district added the freshman class to the high schools in August 2012, and IFHS is now a four-year school, grades 9â€"12.

Academics

James Francis, teacher of advanced placement courses in European and U.S. history, was the recipient of the Idaho Teacher of the Year award in 1997. He was also awarded "Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities," by the Idaho Humanities Council in 2011.

Athletics

Idaho Falls competes in athletics in IHSAA Class 5A, with the largest schools in the state. It is currently a member of the High Country Conference (5A), competing against Skyline, Hillcrest, Madison, and Highland of Pocatello.

Rivalries

The primary rival is Skyline, the other traditional high school in the school district, opened in late 1960s on the west side of the city. Another rival is nearby Bonneville to the northeast, opened in 1957, which moved up to Class 5A in 2014. Hillcrest in Ammon, opened in 1992, is also in the adjacent Bonneville School District and is a conference foe. Prior to the late 1950s, the main rival was Pocatello.

State titles

Boys

• Football (4): fall (A-1 Div II, now 4A) 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991 (official with introduction of playoffs, fall 1979)
  • (unofficial poll titles - 0) (poll introduced in 1963, through 1978)
• Cross Country (3): fall 1995, 1996, 2002 (introduced in 1964)
• Basketball (8): 1931, 1932, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1960, 1961, 1988
• Wrestling (4): 1997, 1998, 2006, 2009 (introduced in 1958)
• Baseball (1): 2002 (records not kept by IHSAA, state tourney introduced in 1971)
• Track (3): 1927, 1943, 1967
• Golf (2): 1968, 2006 (introduced in 1956)
• Tennis (1): 2009 (combined team until 2008)

Girls

• Volleyball (5): fall 2003, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2014 (introduced in 1976)
• Tennis (2): 2011, 2012 (combined team until 2008)

Combined

• Tennis (2): 1990, 2001 (introduced in 1963, combined until 2008)

Notable alumni

• Mike Crapo - U.S. Senator from Idaho (1999â€"present), class of 1969
• Bethine Clark Church - wife of Senator Frank Church (attended, graduated from Boise High School)
• Jared Gold - fashion designer, featured on America's Next Top Model
• Gregg Hale - guitar player for Multi-platinum selling British band Spiritualized.
• Roland Minson - former basketball player.
• Yo Murphy - former NFL wide receiver. Played integral role for St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV, class of 1989
• Mel Peterson - Former NBA player
• Brandi Sherwood - model and actor who became Miss Teen USA, Miss Idaho USA, and Miss USA
• Todd Pedersen - entrepreneur who founded Vivint and VivintSolar, class of 1986

Gallery

References

External links

• Official website
• Idaho Falls School District #91