More than 85% of WLHS students participate in one or more co-curricular activity
Mr. Brad Wetzel (‘98)
• When Mr. Brad Wetzel (’98) attended WLHS, he played on both the offensive and defensive lines and was recognized as Wisconsin Little Ten Conference Lineman of the Year.
• Mr. Wetzel earned his MBA in Education Leadership from MSOE in 2019.
• Mr. Wetzel has four children and is an avid fisherman.
Mr. Mark Ricke
• Mr. Mark Ricke started WLHS’ first-ever Canoe Club. Throughout the school year, a dozen students worked together to build a 20’ canoe by hand. Once the cedar and redwood craft was finished, the club took it down the Wisconsin River as part of a two-day camping trip.
• Mr. Ricke has four children plus a bonus son. Ruizhe (Forest) Wu, an international student from China, lived with the Rickes and became part of their family.
Tuition assistance applications available at wlhs.org/tuitionassistance –
December 1-January 31
5th Grade Extravaganza RSVP at wlhs.org/5thgrade –
February 5
Milwaukee Parental Choice Program enrollment period, apply at dpi.wi.gov – February 1-20
Wisconsin Parental Choice Program enrollment period, apply at dpi.wi.gov – February 1–April 20
Make a Splash! for 4th & 6th grade parents and students. Advance registration is required at wlhs.org/splash – March 16
Future Freshmen Placement Testing at WLHS – March 11 & 18
73.8% of freshmen are from WELS grade schools
The Groth Family
Ethan (pictured right) attended Good Shepherd’s Lutheran School in West Allis and is now a sophomore at WLHS. He will be joined by his younger brother, Alexander, (pictured front) for the 2023-24 school year.
That’s the advice Christopher and Amanda (Gray) Groth (’03) have for parents who think Wisco isn’t an option for their family due to finances.
“We were nervous about the cost of tuition but we were able to share some of our unique financial concerns during the application process,” says Amanda. “Based on that, our son received scholarships and tuition assistance so that brought the amount down to something that we felt was reasonable and fair.”
Amanda and Christopher are both alums and believed Wisco was the ideal place for their three boys. Their son Ethan is currently a sophomore and this August he’ll be joined by Alexander. A few years later, Matthew will walk through the doors of WLHS.
“We like the Christian environment that Ethan is a part of. From his classes to the sports he participates in, God’s Word is all around him,” says Amanda. “Plus, my husband and I both got a good quality education at Wisco that gave us advantages in our careers so that’s what we wanted for our boys.”
$700,000
“Don’t let doubt stand in your way. Wisco has options that can help.”
Wisco Witnesses in the World is a serviceminded group. Students have the opportunity to practice the lessons they learn every day in school, including sharing the love of Jesus through outreach and community service activities.
Wisco Witnesses in the World Wisco Witnesses in the World is a serviceminded group. Students have the opportunity to practice the lessons they learn every day in school, including sharing the love of Jesus through outreach and community service activities.
103 15 students mission trips in 2022
103 15 students mission trips in 2022
WLHS’ best scores, as reported to colleges, show the top 75 percent of seniors averaged 22.8 (70th percentile) on the ACT.
at the 70th percentile means a student scored in the top third of all students nationwide.
WLHS’ best scores, as reported to colleges, show the top 75 percent of seniors averaged 22.8 (70th percentile) on the ACT. Achieving at the 70th percentile means a student scored in the top third of all students nationwide.
54% Worldwide
60% State 74% WLHS $276,750 potential savings
54% Worldwide
60% State 74% WLHS $276,750 potential savings
WLHS junior Jack Goelz, achieved a perfect ACT score on the first try of taking the test.
WLHS junior Jack Goelz, achieved a perfect ACT score on the first try of taking the test.
Of the 1.3 million students who took the exam nationally in 2021, only 4,055 achieved a perfect score (.5 percent).
Of the 1.3 million students who took the exam nationally in 2021, only 4,055 achieved a perfect score (.5 percent).
36 = Perfect ACT Score
36 = Perfect ACT Score
Students entering WLHS below grade level in math and language arts nearly doubled their projected yearly academic growth, based on their initial score.
From Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) standardized testing.
Students entering WLHS below grade level in math and language arts nearly doubled their projected yearly academic growth, based on their initial score. From Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) standardized testing.
37%
WLHS students scored 3 or higher (on a scale of 1-5) on 205 AP exams for a total of 615 college credit savings of seniors participated in at least one AP class
37%
WLHS students scored 3 or higher (on a scale of 1-5) on 205 AP exams for a total of 615 college credit savings of seniors participated in at least one AP class
Official Enrollment 938
5 total WLHS students who achieved a perfect ACT score in the past five years
5 total WLHS students who achieved a perfect ACT score in the past five years
Clubs, or Student Activities
Faculty Who Hold or Are Working Toward an Advanced Degree
Course Offerings 145 60+ 41% 64% 19
While each has a different background, they are all united in their love of sharing God’s word with young men and women.
“Our goal is to help students cultivate life-long habits that weave God and his Word into their daily life,” says Mr. Ben Carlovsky, the department coordinator who came to WLHS in 2020 from Abiding Word Lutheran School in Houston. “That means everything from going to God in prayer to turning to the Bible for guidance, inspiration, and comfort.”
In addition to daily chapel and religion classes, WLHS students are surrounded by Christian friends as well as adult Christian role models. Many teachers and coaches begin their classes and practices with an opening prayer or devotion.
“We want students to have Christ in all facets of their life and to know and truly believe that nothing will separate them from God’s love,” says Carlovsky.
“I share Romans 8:38-39 with my students all the time because I want that driven home to them throughout their high school years. God’s love doesn’t leave us.”
Freshman Year
• Heritage of Our Faith
Sophomore Year
• Proclaiming Christianity & Life of Christ
Junior Year
• Living Christianity
Seniors Choose Four Quarter-long Classes
• Apologetics
• Christian Life Planning
• Corinthians
• From Friendship to Marriage
• Hermeneutics
• Non-Christian Religions
• Religion and Science
International Students
• Introduction to Christianity & Foundations of Christianity
At WLHS, the theology department includes a wide variety of individuals – pastors, teachers, coaches, and a professor from Wisconsin Lutheran College.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Romans 8:38-39)Pictured (top) Dr. Phil Huebner, campus pastor, and (bottom) Mrs. Tammy Leyrer, Introduction to Christianity & Foundations of Christianity teacher
While Mr. Bill Plamann has been with the WLHS wrestling program for 29 years, 2018 marked his first year as head coach.
Going into the season, he wanted to make a statement to the team.
“We always talk about being a great team and a family but I really wanted the boys to own that this year,” says Coach Plamann. “I wanted to set them up for success and then let them take it from there.”
Since the team’s wrestling mats were 22 years old, he focused on getting new ones.
“It was important for them to know that I was going to put in everything I could to develop them as wrestlers and I expected the same from them,” says Plamann. “The new mats were significant since we were able to wrestle live on them throughout the season.”
Theology teacher & wrestling coach Mr. Bill Plamann is committed to weaving Christ’s love into his classes and co-curriculars. In 2018, Coach Plamann secured new wrestling mats with “One in Christ” printed on them to unite the team around their ultimate goal.
Through an outpouring of gifts from alumni and those who love the sport, he was able to collect the $24,000 needed to purchase two new mats.
Then he turned customization of the mats over to the boys. The team came together and selected two mottos – One in Christ and OTF, an acronym for Only the Family.
“Wrestling is a brotherhood and the two mottos are about that,” says senior Jason Bonow (’19), Trinity Lutheran Grade School, Waukesha. “We come together for Christ. We’re representing him on the mat and we’re always supporting and cheering for each other like family.”
Bonow advanced through regionals and sectionals to qualify for State but lost to a wrestler who ended up taking third place. Bonow plans to attend Waukesha County Technical College to pursue business.
The WLHS wrestling team has always considered itself a family in Christ. A testament to that tight bond is the fact that alumni – young and old, near and far – continue to support the program.To director
