| THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
Let’s change gears for a moment, but remember, STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS first! Well, the Arlington High School Cardinals have two more to their credit. The IHSA offers several team and individual competitions in Speech, Acting, and Debate. Arlington High was a multi-talented school with several great departments and programs. The Speech Individual Team and the Debate Team both won STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. In addition, there were several top ten state finishes and several individual medalists.
Debate Team
The Debate Team as stated above won one state championship. It also earned three additional top-five finishes. The team’s accomplishments are listed below.
1957-58 Team Finished FOURTH in STATE Competition
Sectional Champions
1958-59 TEAM CROWNED STATE CHAMPIONS!!
1961-62 Team Won a Sectional Championship
1964-65 Team Finished FOURTH in STATE Competition
1968-69 Team Finished THIRD in STATE Competition
Speech Individual Competition
The Cardinals won a STATE CHAMPIONSHIIP in this event as well. The top finishes and many individual medals are listed below.
1953-54 Individual Medalist – Violet Jeffery Serious 3RD Place
1955-56 Individual Medalist – Jan Davenport Serious 3RD Place
1956-57 TEAM WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!!
Individual Medalists
John Mroz Verse 2ND Place
Linda Clemens Original Comedy 3RD Place
Jan Davenport Serious 3RD Place
1957-58 Individual Medalsits
John Peterson Extemporary 4TH Place
Linda Clemens Original Comedy 5TH Place
1958-59 Individual Medalists
Jean Conroy Original Oratory 4TH Place
Mary Kay Tamulis Serious 5TH Place
1959-60 Team Finished SECOND in STATE Competition
Individual Medalist
Tom Bergstrom Comedy 3RD Place
Tom Bergstrom Oratory Declamation 3RD Place
1963-64 Team Finished NINTH in STATE Competition
Districy / Sectional Champions
Individual Medalist
Donald DePollo Original Comedy STATE CHAMPIONS!!
1966-67 Individual Medalist
Glenn Mitchell Original Oratory 5TH Place
1967-68 Team Finished FIFTH in STATE Competition
Individual Medalists
Glenn Mitchell Original Oratory 2ND Place
Coug Daughtry Original Comedy 4TH Place
1968-69 Individual Medalist – Craig Howard Original Oration 2ND Place
1969-70 Individual Medalist – Barbara Pamp Serious 2ND Place
1970-71 Individual Medalist – March Tindall Verse 3RD Place
Speech Sweepstakes Team
The Speech Sweepstakes competition found the Cardinals earning four top ten finishes. These accomplishments are listed below.
1955-56 District Champions
1956-57 Team Finished THIRD in STATE Competition
1957-58 Sectional Champions
1958-59 Team Finished SECOND in STATE Competition
1959-60 Team Finished SEVENTH in STATE Competition
1968-69 Team Finished FOURTH in STATE Competition
GREAT JOB ARLINGTON THESPIANS!!!!
GIRLS’ GYMNASTICS
The history of the girls’ gymnastics program at Arlington High is one that probably repeated itself all over the state as girls athletics were sanctioned by the IHSA in the early 1970s’. The following information was supplied by former gymnast Beth (Kleinsmith) Anderson.
“The school year was 1972-73 when a young coach by the name of JoAnna Murdoch began her career at Arlington High. Coach Murdoch was hired as the girls’ gymnastics coach and later would coach the girls’ swimming team as well. The first few years the gymnatics programs at AHS and in the area in general were not very strong. It was obvious, however, that the movement to make the sport competitive was quite sincere. By the 1974-75 season, gymnastics programs were taken VERY seriously. Gymnastics academies were were opening up throughout the area and girls were taking advantage of the this to improve their skills. Being such a new venue, the IHSA at the time frowned upon this with a feeling of the academies being called “teaching schools,” and an improper source of learning. This rule lasted only a short time before being changed.
“The 1974-75 school year brought about one other significant change. Schools were allowed to set up “optional routines.” Until this year, coaches were given the routine their athletes had to follow, so each athlete on each team had to perform the same routine for each event. In 1974-75, coaches were allowed to create routines for their athletes to perform.
“From the 1972-73 through the 1975-76 school years, only conference level competition was enjoyed by the gymnastics programs. Arlington High was very successful in the MSL conference. It was in the 1975-76 school year this was changed to include regular State Meet Competition with Districts, Sectionals, and State Finals.
“The Lady Cardinals had some nice success in gymnastics. Their best seasons and individual medalists are listed below. Coach Murdoch should be acknowledged for her hard work and dedication to the school and its gymnastics program, truly one of the coaching pioneers of the sport.”
1975-76 Team Won Conference Championship Coach JoAnna Murdoch
1976-77 Team Finished EIGHTH in STATE MEET Competition Coach JoAnna Murdoch
Individual Medalist
Donna Wasielewski Balance Beam 4TH Place
Floor Exercises 5Th Place
1977-78 Individual Medalist Coach JoAnna Murdoch
Donna Wasielewski Balance Beam 4Th Place
1978-79 Team Finished EIGHTH in STATE MEET Competition Coach JoAnna Murdoch
Individual Medalist
Jill Wollenburg All Around 3RD Place
Floor Exercise 5TH Place
Vault 5Th Place
1981-82 Individual Medalists Coach JoAnna Murdoch
Mary Joe Burke Balance Beam 2ND Place
Jill Wollenburg Vault 6TH Place
1982-83 Individual Medalist Coach JoAnna Murdoch
Mary Joe Burke Balance Beam 5Th Place
Floor Exercise 6Th Place
GIRLS’ TENNIS
The girls’ tennis team also earned some state-wide success with top-ten finishes in five different seasons. Included was their best in school history, 4TH Place, in the school’s last year of existence. The team’s best seasons and individual medalists are listed below.
1972-73 Individual Medalists
Mary Baines Doubles 5TH Place
Diane DeWitt Doubles 5TH Place
Clare Gates Singles 5TH Place
1973-74 Team Finished NINTH in STATE MEET Competition
District Champions
Individual Medalists
Diane DeWitt Doubles 5TH Place
Amy Redeen Doubles 5TH Place
1974-75 District Champions
1975-76 District Champions
1976-77 Team Finished FIFTH in STATE MEET Competition
District Champions (no individual medalists)
1977-78 Team Finished FIFTH in STATE MEET Competition
Distrrict Champions (no individual medalists)
1978-79 District Champions
1980-81 Team Finished EIGHTH in STATE MEET Competition
District Champions
Individual Medalists
Nancy Ericson Doubles 4TH Place
Leslie Shoemaker Doubles 4TH Place
1981-82 Team Finished FIFTH in STATE MEET Competition
District Champions
Individual Medalists
Leslie Shoemaker Doubles 3RD Place
Julie Torrence Doubles 3RD Place
1983-84 Team Finished FOURTH in STATE MEET Competition
Sectional Champions
Individual Medalists
Leslie Shoemaker Doubles STATE CHAMPION!!
Julie Torrence Doubles STATE CHAMPION!!
GIRLS’ SWIMMING
Who needs a court to succeed? It seems the Arlington Cardinal athletes were comfortable in EVERY venue they entered. Swimming was no exception. The Lady Cardinal swim team had no less than FIVE top ten State Meet finishes!! This included 23 individual medals. The accomplishments of the swim team program are listed below.
1975-76 Individual Medalists
Sue Cripe 100 Free Style 2ND Place
200 Free Style 3RD Place
Kelly Holland Diving 5Th Place
1976-77 Team Finished NINTH at STATE MEET Competition
District Champions
Individual Medalists
Sue Cripe 100 Free Style 3RD Place
50 Free Style 5TH Place
Relay Team 400 Free Style 4TH Place
Kelly Holland Diving 3RD Place
1977-78 Team Finished FOURTH in STATE MEET Competition
Individual Medalists
Relay 200 Medley STATE CHAMPIONS!!
Sue Cripe 100 Free Style 2ND Place
200 Free Style 4TH Place
Chris Takata 100 Back Stroke 3RD Place
1978-79 Team Finished FOURTH in STATE MEET Competition
District Champions
Individual Medalists
Relay 200 Medly Relay 3RD Place
Chris Takata 200 Intermediate 4TH Place
100 Breast Stroke 5TH Place
Jane Schram 100 Back Stroke 5TH Place
Kim Bornam Diving 5TH Place
1981-82 Team Finished SIXTH in STATE MEET Competition
District Champions
Individual Medalists
Lori Spirek 100 Back Stroke 4TH Place
Barbara England 100 Free Style 5TH Place
Relay 200 Medly Relay 6TH Place
1982-83 Team Finished FIFTH in STATE MEET Competition
Individual Medalists
Barbara England 50 Free Style 3RD Place
100 Free Style 6TH Place
Lisa Doherty 500 Free Style 4TH Place
Relay 400 Free Style 4Th Place
BOYS’ TRACK & FIELD
You ready for five more top ten finishes in State meet competition? That is what the Arlington High School Cardinal boy thinclads accomplished! The program was especially strong in the 1950’s, which is when the five successful seasons occurred. The track program also won two District titles in the late 1960’s.
In addition, the school won five conference titles during a period between 1926-1937 in the Northwest Suburban Conference. Unfortunately, coaches’ names of these teams are not available. Included below are the many individual medals won at the state track meet.
1926 Northwest Suburban Conference Champions
1928 Northwest Suburban Conference Champions
1934 Northwest Suburban Conference Champions
1935 Northwest Suburban Conference Champions
Individual Medalist – Norbert Rohlwing 880 Yard Run STATE CHAMPION!!
1937 Northwest Suburban Conference Champions
1950 Individual Medalist – Gordon Busse Long jump 3RD Place
220 Yard Dash 4TH Place
1953 Team Finished SIXTH in STATE MEET Competition
Individual Medalist
Dick Winterbauer Shot Put STATE CHAMPION!!
Discus 2ND Place
1954 Team Finished SEVENTH in STATE MEET Competition
Individual Medalist
Dick Winterbauer Shot Put STATE CHAMPION!!
Discus 3RD Place
1955 Individual Medalist – William Palmer High Jump STATE CHAMPION!!
1956 Individual Medalists – William Palmer High Jump 2ND Place
Dennis Striegel Shot Put 3RD Place
1957 Team Finished SIXTH in STATE MEET Competition
Individual Medalists
William Palmer High Jump STATE CHAMPION!!
*Palmer set the new Illinois State High Jump Record by breaking the oldest
State Track & Field record on the books, up to that time (a 24 year old record!).
Stanley Norman Long Jump 3RD Place
Robert Mors 440 Yard Dash 5TH Place
1958 Team Finished THIRD in STATE MEET Competition
Individual Medalists
Robert Mors 440 Yard Dash STATE CHAMPION!!
Robert Lockwood 180 Yard Hurdles 2ND Place
120 Yard Hurdles 3RD Place
Jack Weber Shot Put 5TH Place
1959 Individual Medalists – Rich Bader 220 Yard Dash 3RD Place
Ed Whitelaw 120 Yard Hurdles 3RD Place
1960 Team Finished FOURTH in STATE MEET Competition
Individual Medalists
Mike Dundy 440 Yard Dash 2ND Place
Chuck Phelan 880 Yard Run 2ND Place
Relay Team 1 Mile Relay 5TH Place
1964 Individual Medalist – Bill Truax Discus 2ND Place
1968 Team Won District Championship
Individual Medalists
Tom Chandler Discus 3RD Place
Dave Steele 120 Yard Hurdles 4TH Place
Dave Dieters 880 Yard Run 5TH Place
Gary Fagerson Pole Vault 5TH Place
1969 Team Won District Championship (no state medalists)
1984 Individual Medalist – Tom Cutlip Shot Put 8TH Place
BOYS’ WRESTLING
The wrestling program at Arlington High also succeeded on a State-wide level. The team of 1954-55 managed a 5th Place finish at the State Meet. The program also won a District and Sectional title. A total of 19 individual medals were also won at the state meet. These successes of the Cardinal grapplers are listed below.
1951-52 Individual Medalist
Norbert Lechband 138 Lbs. Class 2ND Place
1953-54 Individual Medalists
William Schaeffer 145 Lbs. Class 3RD Place
Vic Carlino 95 Lbs Class 4TH Place
1954-55 Team Finished FIFTH in STATE MEET Competition
Individual Medalists
Ralph Carlino 103 Lbs. Class 3RD Place
Walter Mulso 145 Lbs. Class 3RD Place
John Heintz 154 Lbs. Class 4TH Place
1955-56 Individual Medalist
Ralph Carlino 103 Lbs. Class 3RD Place
1955-57 Team Won Sectional Championship (no individual medalsits)
1957-58 Individual Medalist
Ralph Carlino 112 Lbs. Class STATE CHAMPION!!
1959-60 Individual Medalist
George Shartle 120 Lbs. Class 4TH Place
1962-63 Individual Medalist
Hal Selleck 180 Lbs. Class 3RD Place
1966-67 Team Won District Championship
Individual Medalists
Brad Somers 165 Lbs. Class 3RD Place
Mike Jones 180 Lbs. Class 6TH Place
1969-70 Individual Medalist
Don Stumpf 155 Lbs. Class 3RD Place
1970-71 Individual Medalist
Frank Del Campo 98 Lbs. Class 3RD Place
1971-72 Individual Medalist
Pete Anderson 138 Lbs. Class 2ND Place
1976-77 Individual Medalist
Paul Preissing 105 Lbs. Class 5TH Place
Dan Weber 119 Lbs. Class 3RD Place
1977-78 Indicidual Medalist
Paul Preissing 112 Lbs. Class 4TH Place
1978-79 Individual Medalist
Dave Shoemaker 167 Lbs. Class STATE CHAMPION!!
GIRLS’ TRACK & FIELD
Though no state team hardware was won by the Lady Cardinal tracksters, two of the Lady thinclads won individual medals at the State Track Meet.
1972-73 Peggy Klein 880 Yard Run 5TH Place
1980-81 Tamara Donnellan 3200 Meter Run 7TH Place
BOYS’ SWIMMING TEAM
The Arlington High School boys swim team brought home two top-ten finishes from the State Swim Meet. The team members also won 12 individual medals. The accomplishments of the boys swim team are listed below.
1955-56 Individual Medalists
Tom Ocasek 50 Yard Free Style 4TH Place
Stanley Norman 50 Yard Free Style 6Th Place
100 Yard Free Style 6TH Place
1962-63 Individual Medalist
Doug Rice 400 Yard Free Style 6TH Place
1977-78 Team Won District Championship
Individual Medalist
Jim Burns 500 Yard Fly 6TH Place
1978-79 Team Finished TENTH in STATE MEET Competition
Individual Medalists
Mike Amtmann Diving 5TH Place
Bob Barrett 100 Yard Fly 5TH Place
1979-80 Team Finished EIGHTH in STATE MEET Competition
Individual Medalists
Bob Barrett 100 Yard Fly 2ND Place
Relay Team 200 Yard Medly 4TH Place
Scott Beutler 100 Yard Backstroke 5TH Place
1980-81 Individual Medalist
Bob Barrett 100 Yard Fly STATE CHAMPION!!
1981-82 Individual Medalist
Jon Staley Diving 5TH Place
BOYS’ BASEBALL
The diamond men of Arlington High had one season where an IHSA title of sorts was won, The team of 1977 won the Regional Championship. Unfortunately, this is the only mention of the Arlington High School baseball program found on the IHSA web site. We are aware thru the research of our good friend and IHSA historian Robert Pruter that the school won three Northwest Suburban Conference titles between 1929 & 1934. The team record and coach’s name of the 1977 squad and other great teams are not known.
1929 Northwest Suburban Conference Champs
1930 Northwest Suburban Conference Champs
1934 Northwest Suburban Conference Champs
1977 15-11 Regional Champions Coach Fran Somers
The following was submitted by Bill Grabitz regarding the baseball Regional Championship Team:
Team members included: Chris Birkett, Mike Pfau, Frank Desimone, Marty Schell, Gary Kempton, John Mertens, Bill Grabitz, Chuck Gilman, Scott Hofeld, Dave Mayerck, Scott Kempton, Andy Hazucha, Dan Frase, Doug Harth, Mike Mayerck, Brian Sanders
***Team Record was 15-11 overall, 8-9 in Conference and 7-2 out of Conference
Beat St. Viator, Hershey, and Buffalo Grove to win the District Crown
Defeated Gordon Tech and Maine West for the Regional Crown
GIRLS’ SOFTBALL
The Lady Cardinals held their own on the diamond as well. One team in particular nearly made it to the championship game of the State Tournament. The Lady Cardinals of 1983-84 (the school’s final year) made it to the Final Four before falling in the semi-final game. Their excellent record is listed below.
1983-84 27-3-1 Regional/Sectional Champions Coach Mary Welpton
Team lost semi-final game
to Oak Lawn (Richards) 2 – 0
GIRLS’ BOWLING
The Arlington High School Lady Cardinal bowling team won a District Championship in 1976-77 qualifying them for the State Meet!
1976-77 District Champions
Qualified for State Meet
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
The Lady Cardinal netters won a District Title as well. Team records and coach’s names of this other great Cardinal teams are not available.
1974-75 District Champions
BOYS’ FOOTBALL
The autumn air found the school abuzz with anticipation for the Friday Night Lights
soon to come. Sports writer and AHS alum Bob Frisk (class of 1954) was able to supply a very detailed account of each football season the Cardinals competed in. Included are the overall records and conference records of the best of these seasons.
1928-29 4-1-2 Conference Runner-up (4-1-1) Coach Jack Grose
1932-33 6-1-1 Conference Runner-up (5-1-1) Coach Jack Grose
1933-34 7-1 Conference Runner-up (5-1) Coach Jack Grose
1934-35 7-1 Conference Champions (6-0) Coach Jack Grose
1936-37 7-1-1 Conference Runner-up (4-1-1) Coach Jack Grose
1937-38 4-2 Conference 3rd Place (4-1) Coach Jack Grose
1938-39 7-0-1 Conference Co-Champs (5-0-1) Coach Jack Grose
1939-40 4-1-2 Conference 3rd Place (3-1-2) Coach Jack Grose
1942-43 4-2 Conference 3rd Place (4-2) Coach Jack Grose
1944-45 6-1-1 Conference 3rd Place (4-1-1) Coach Armond Seidler
1946-47 4-3-1 Conference 4th Place (3-3-1) Coach Larry Priddy
1947-48 6-1-1 Conference Runner-up (5-1-1) Coach Curtis Larsen
1948-49 6-2 Conference Champions (2-0) Coach Curtis Larsen
1955-56 4-3-1 Conference Runner-up (4-2-1) Coach Bus Ormsbee
1957-58 5-2-1 Conference 3rd Place (4-2-1) Coach Bus Ormsbee
1958-59 5-3 Conference 3rd Place (4-3) Coach Bus Ormsbee
1959-60 6-2 Conference 3rd Place (5-2) Coach Bus Ormsbee
1965-66 5-3 Conference 4th Place (4-3) Coach Al Allen
1966-67 7-0-1 Conference Co-Champs (5-0-1) Coach Al Allen
1967-68 6-2 Conference Co-Champs (6-1) Coach Bob Walther
1968-69 9-0 Conference Champions (7-0) Coach Bob Walther
1970-71 8-0 Conference Champions (7-0) Coach Bob Walther
1971-72 5-2-1 Conference Runner-up (3-2-1) Coach Bob Walther
1972-73 5-3 Conference 4th Place (4-3) Coach Bob Walther
1973-74 5-3 Conference 4th Place (4-3) Coach Chuck Haines
1974-75 5-3 Conference 3rd Place (4-3) Coach Chuck Haines
1975-76 7-2 Conference Runner-up (3-2) Coach Chuck Haines
1976-77 5-4 Conference Runner-up (3-2) Coach Chuck Haines
1979-80 6-3 Conference Co-Champs (5-1) Coach Chuck Haines
1981-82 6-3 Conference Runner-up (4-2) Coach Chuck Haines
1983-84 5-4 Conference 6th Place (2-4) Coach Chuck Haines
School’s Final Season
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
The boys of Arlington High could shoot the rock, too! In fact, the program was taking flight just as the school was about to close. The Cardinals made it to the Elite 8 and Sweet 16 in consecutive season in the early 1980’s. The boys also won a total of 10 Regional titles, two Sectional titles, and one trip to the State Finals. Team records and Conference finish were again supplied by Bob Frisk. The better records and team finishes are listed below.
1930-31 Conference Co-Champs
1945-46 Conference Champions
1948-49 19- 8 Coach Gene Bell
1949-50 Coach Gene Bell
1954-55 6-18 Regional Champions Coach Howard Lester
1955-56 7-17 Regional Champions Coach Howard Lester
1956-57 12- 9 Conference 5th Place (7-7) Coach Howard Lester
1958-59 14- 9 Conference 3rd Place (8-6) Coach Frank Bohac
1959-60 13-12 Regional Champions Coach Frank Bohac
1961-62 16- 9 Conference 4th Place (8-6) Coach Norm Patberg
1962-63 12-10 Conference 5th Place (7-7) Coach Norm Patberg
1964-65 15-10 Regional Champions Coach Ted Wissen
Conference 3rd Place (9-5)
1965-66 17- 7 Conference Runner-up (9-5) Coach Ted Wissen
1966-67 20- 4 Conference Champions (11-1) Coach Ted Wissen
1968-69 18- 6 Regional Champions Coach George Zigman
Conference Runner-up (12-2)
1969-70 18- 7 Conference Champions (13-1) Coach George Zigman
1970-71 19- 6 Regional Champions Coach George Zigman
Conference 3rd Place (5-3)
1971-72 15- 7 Conference Runner-up (6-2) Coach George Zigman
1972-73 16- 7 Conference Co-Champs (9-1) Coach George Zigman
1973-74 20- 6 Conference Champions (9-1) Coach George Zigman
1974-75 20- 5 Regional Champions Coach George Zigman
Conference Champions (10-0)
1976-77 21- 8 Regional Champions Coach George Zigman
Conference Runner-up (6-4)
1977-78 15-10 Conference 3rd Place (7-5) Coach George Zigman
1978-79 22- 6 Regional Champions Coach George Zigman
Conference 3rd Place (8-4)
1981-82 25- 6 Regional/Sectiional Champions Coach George Zigman
Conference Champions (11-1)
Elite 8 Finalists
Beat Highland Park 68 – 59
Lost to East St. Louis Lincoln 60 – 46
East St. Louis Lincoln eventual State Champs
1982-83 23- 5 Regional/Sectional Champions Coach George Zigman
Conference Champions (11-1)
Sweet 16 Finalists
Lost to Westchester St. Joseph 49 – 38
1983-84 16-10 Conference Champions (11-1) Coach George Zigman
School’s Final Season
*George Zigman continued to coach for Hersey High School, accumulating a career record of 392-213 as head coach for Delavan, Arlington and Hersey.
*Arlington HS basketball competed in the annual Centralia HS Tourney with its best results as follows:
1973 4th place lost to Wheeling
1976 2nd place lost to Homewood-Flossmoor 64-45
1981 2nd place lost to Belleville (West) 59-58
Players who made the All-Tourney Team at Centralia:
1970 John Brodnan
1973 Dan Donahue
1981 Larry Tellschow (tourney MVP)
THE CORONETS
From Robert M. Jackson:
“I was searching your site for information on your girls Drill Team called the Coronets. I know several people that were members during the 70’s but I didn’t notice this activity mentioned? They were very strong competitors and won many competitions. I also believe the Physical Education teacher Lynn Lindstrom was the creator and director of this group in the beginning.”
If You Have ANY More Information…
…to add regarding the many other great accomplishments attained by the students, faculty, and townspeople involved with Arlington High School of Arlington Heights, Illinois, please write to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us via real mail at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il. 60631
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