| Athletics
Aviston High School definitely competed in baseball. This is evidenced by the District titles won by AHS on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org). We are certain that basketball and track were also offered to the boys. The school closed before girls athletics were required. Conference affiliation, team nickname, colors, fight song, great records and stories are all being sought.
Boys Baseball
The boys baseball program had three excellent seasons in which District titles were won. This is the extent of the knowledge we have of the AHS hardballers. Team records and coach’s names of these and other great Aviston teams are being sought.
1946-47 District Champions
1950-51 District Champions
1955-56 District Champions
1968-69 District Champions
Title Game – Beat Muscoutah 3-2
(Muscoutah was heavily favored after beating
tourney favorite Mater Dei HS in the semi-final.)
Regional Tourney
Lost to Freeburg 12-2 in 1st Rd.
Boys Basketball
The Aviston boys must have had some great success in its time as an Illinios High School. At least we know that one individual at Aviston was a great at putting the ball in the hole. Dan Imming, who starred at Aviston High in the late 1960s, is one of the top scorers in Illinois HIgh School history in the following categories according to the IHSA website address of http://www.ihsa.org/activity/bkb/records/aindiv.htm.
Highest Scoring Average, Career
[4.] 24.6, Dan Imming, Aviston, 1965-69 (97 games, 2,384 pts.)
Highest Scoring Average – One Season
[4.] 31.8, Dan Imming, Aviston, 1968-69 (797 pts., 25 games)
Most Consecutive Games, 20+ Points
[5.] 32, Dan Imming, Aviston, 1967-69
Most Free Throws Attempted, Game
*[5.] 30, Dan Imming, Aviston vs. Coulterville, Jan. 7, 1969 (23 of 30)
Most Free Throws Made, Game
[10.] 23, Dan Imming, Aviston vs. Coulterville, Jan. 7, 1969 (23 of 30)
Most Games, 10+ Points, Career
[29.] 87, Dan Imming, Aviston, 1965-69 (13-24-25-25; 87 of 97)
Most Points, Career
[37.] 2,384, Dan Imming, Aviston, 1965-69
Basketball scores involving Aviston High School participating in the IHSA State Tournament were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are transposed from this site below.
1921-22 through 1941-42 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed
1942-43 Centralia Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. lost to Farina 28-26
Farina lost in semi-final round
1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1944-45 Sandoval Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. lost to Salem 94-32
Salem lost in title game
1945-46 Centralia Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. lost to Sandoval 70-38
Sandoval lost in semi-final round
1946-47 Salem Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. lost to Salem 73-27
Salem lost in semi-final round
1947-48 Sandoval Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. lost to Centralia 89-25
Centralia won Regional title
1948-49 Centralia Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. lost to Breese 54-37
Breese lost in semi-final round
1949-50 Salem Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. Beat Breese 42-38
Semi-final lost to Salem 62-48
Salem lost in title game
1950-51 Centralia Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. lost to New Baden 33-32
New Baden lost in title game
1951-52 Salem Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. lost to Salem 57-33
Salem lost in title game
1952-53 Centralia Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. lost to Odin 73-49
Odin lost in semi-final round
1953-54 Salem Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. lost to Centralia 83-43
Centralia won Regional title
1954-55 Greenville Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. Beat Mulberry Grove 87-51
Semi-final lost to Greenville 78-55
Greenville lost in title game
1955-56 Carlyle Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. Beat Pocahontas 82-59
Semi-final lost to Greenville 96-66
Greenville lost in title game
1956-57 Centralia Regional Runner-up! Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. Beat Salem 79-69
Semi-final Beat Carlyle 74-73 (O/T)
Title game lost to Centralia 98-51
Centralia lost in Sectional game
1957-58 Salem Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd. lost to Centralia 65-54
Centralia won Regional title
1958-59 Trenton District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Breese 64-47
Other scores unavailable
1959-60 Breese District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Breese 59-45
Breese lost to Patoka in title game
1960-61 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1961-62 Wesclin District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Breese 52-48
Semi-final lost to Odin 65-58
Odin won District title.
1962-63 Odin District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Odin 61-51
Odin lost to Patoka in semi-final round
1963-64 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1964-65 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1965-66 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1966-67 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1967-68 Odin District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Breese 62-56
Semi-final lost to Patoka 82-62
Patoka lost to Odin in title game
1968-69 Patoka District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd score unavailable
Semi-final lost to Odin 84-65
Odin beat Patoka for District title
|
Aviston HS vs. Venice HS 1959 |
 |
|
Courtesy of Donn Hornberger (Left click on photo to view larger version) |
MEMORIES
From Donn Hornberger (Venice HS):
“There were TWO other remarkable basketball players at Aviston in addition to Dan Imming. This was 6’9” Tom Book and 6’9″ Bob Klosterman. Both Bob and Tom played on the same team in the mid-1950’s. They both graduated Aviston about 1958 and went to NIT winning St. Louis University where they played all four years. At that time, StLU was consistently in the top ten USA basketball teams.
Both players led Aviston to conference winning seasons more than once. I don’t know how the did in district. At Venice, my team faced off with the talented two many times while I was playing and we never won a single game against them. Our tallest guys, 6’3″ Bill Ohlendorf, 6’1″ Clarence Hand and me, 6’2″ Donn Hornberger struggled against Tom and Bob and during the mid-1950’s, they simply out talled us on the boards. I had to guard Tom Book one evening and we bet how many points he’d score. We thought of it as a victory because I hit 19 pts and Tom only hit 25 pts. Meanwhile, Bill Ohlendorf hit 29 points that night being able to get free of Tom. We still lost because the other Aviston tower hit 30 pts. On yet another evening on our home court, we could manage only 36 pts in four quarters as Book and Klosterman simple took the game away from us.”
Searching For More Information
Aviston High School and those who worked hard to make it successful deserve to be remembered. If you have ANY information, especially a photo of the AHS school building, please share it with us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva Ave.
Chicago, Il. 60631
|
Aviston High School Class of 1930 |
 |
|
Submitted by Susan Mandalke (Left Click on Photo for Enlarged View) |
|
