Yankee Emblem of Union High School |
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Submitted by Justin Parsons |
Athletics
The boys were competitive in basketball, football, track, and possibly baseball. The girls competed in basketball, volleyball, track, and possibly softball. We are in need of the school fight song and some of the better team records, and great stories, of the history of the Biggsville Union Yankees.
Sarah Seitz-Bigger sent us this information about the Bi-County Conference that
Union High competed in:
“The Bi-County Conference was conference our school was in before the Lincoln Trail. This conference constisted of Biggsville Union, Stronghurst Southern, Roseville, Avon, Yorkwood, Monmouth Warren, La Harpe, Sciota Northwestern.”
Boys Basketball
Two Regional Championships hi-lited the Yankee hardwod court success. The better season records attained by the BUHS boys as found on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org) are listed below.
1960-61 21 – 4 Macomb Regional Tourney Coach J. Reynolds
1st Rd Beat Stronghurst 72-59
Semi-final Monmouth 64-51
Monmouth beat Macomb in title game
1961-62 20 – 4 Macomb Regional Tourney Coach J. Reynolds
1st Rd Beat Abingdon 61-56
Semi-final Galesburg 91-52
Galesburg beat Monmouth in title game
1962-63 Bushnell Regional Tourney Coach J. Reynolds
1st Rd lost to Galesburg 57-49
Galesburg beat Abindon in title game
1963-64 Postseason scores & record needed. Coach J. Reynolds
1964-65 Sciota District Tourney Coach J. Reynolds
1st Rd lost to Roseville 79-65
Macomb Western beat Sciota NW in title game
1965-66 Postseason scores & record needed. Coach J. Reynolds
1966-67 Postseason scores & record needed. Coach J. Reynolds
1967-68 Stronghurst District Tourney Coach J. Reynolds
1st Rd lost to Macomb Western 91-54
Macomb Western beat Stronghurst in title game
1968-69 Sciota District Tourney Coach J. Reynolds
1st Rd lost to Avon
Roseville beat Sciota NW in title game
1969-70 Stronghurst District Tourney Coach J. Rima
1st Rd lost to Roseville 54-36
Roseville beat Stronghurst in title game
1970-71 17 – 5 Macomb Regional Tournament Coach J. Rima
1st Rd lost to Knoxville 82-38
Macomb Beat Galesburg in title game
1971-72 16 – 7 Sciota Class ‘A’ Regional Coach J. Rima
1st Rd lost to Roseville 80-66
Bushnell-Prairie City beat Roseville in title game.
1972-73 10 – 10 Sciota Class ‘A’ Regional Coach J. Rima
1st Rd lost to Stronghurst Southern 83-66
Bushnell-Prairie City beat Stronghurst Southern in title game
1973-74 Sciota Class ‘A’ Regional Coach J. Rima
1st Rd lost to Stronghurst Southern 60-48
Sciota NW beat Bushnell-Prairie City in title game
1974-75 14 – 10 Sciota Class ‘A’ Regional Coach J. Rima
1st Rd lost to Avon 59-55
Bushnell-Prairie City beat Sciota NW in title game
1975-76 16 – 8 Sciota Class ‘A’ Regional Runner-Up Coach J. Rima
1st Rd Beat Roseville 74-53
Semi-final Beat Stronghurst Southern 69-58
Title game lost to Bushnell-Prairie City 49-41
1976-77 Roseville Class ‘A’ Regional Coach T. Avery
1st Rd lost to B-PC 55-52
Stonghurst Southern beat Bushnell-Prairie City in title game
1977-78 London Mills Class ‘A’ Regional Coach D. Renwick
1st Rd lost to Sciota NW 85-40
B-PC beat Valley in title game
1978-79 12 – 12 Macomb Regional Tourney Coach D. Renwick
1st Rd Beat Avon 62-57
Semi-final lost to B-PC 93-58
Bushnell-Prairie City beat Stronghurst Southern in title game
1979-80 Roseville Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Dan Dillard
1st Rd lost to Valley 74-42
Sciota NW beat Bushnell-Prairie City in title game
1980-81 London Mills Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Dan Dillard
1st Rd Beat B-PC 65-64
Semi-Final lost to Roseville 77-63
Farmington beat Roseville in title game
1981-82 20 – 7 Roseville Regional Champions Coach Dan Dillard
1st Rd Beat Spoon River Valley 65-51
Semi-Final Beat Abingdon 50-48
Title Game Beat Roseville 59-49
Sherrard Class ‘A’ Sectional Tourney
Semi-Final Beat Williamsfield 55-53
BIGGSVILLE UNION (55): Gray 21, Simpson 12, J. Johnson 8, T. Johnson 6, Hamilton 6, Gray 2, Ferguson 2.
WILLIAMSFIELD (53): Moore 22, Howard 19, McClellan 6, Lunberry 6, Newell 2.
Title Game Lost to Monmouth 61-42
MONMOUTH (61): Hayes 16, Biasi 15, Miller 13, Birditt 9, McCurdy 5, Lovdahl 2, Kinney 1.
BIGGSVILLE UNION (42): Simpson 13, J. Johnson 11, Hamilton 6, Ferguson 5, P. Gray 5, J. Gray 2.
NOTE: Monmouth went on to a 2nd place finish in the state tournament losing to Lawrenceville.
1982-83 Abingdon Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Russ Galusha
1st Rd lost to Stronghurst Southern 59-44
Abingdon beat Southern in title game
1983-84 Roseville Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Russ Galusha
1st Rd lost to Stronghurst Southern 77-51
Southern beat Knoxville in title game
1984-85 17 – 9 Knoxville Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Russ Galusha
1st Rd Beat SR Valley 65-52
Semi-Final lost to Avon 61-45
Avon beat Roseville in title game
1985-86 Roseville Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Russ Galusha
1st Rd lost to Avon 84-49
Avon beat Abingdon in title game
1986-87 Monmouth Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Russ Galusha
1st Rd lost to Monmouth 89-59
Roseville beat Monmouth in title game
1987-88 Abingdon Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Russ Galusha
1st Rd Beat Roseville 85-76
Semi-Final lost to Avon 64-54
Avon beat Abingdon in title game
1988-89 Monmouth Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Monmouth 66-43
Stronghurst Southern beat Monmouth in title game
1989-90 Abingdon Class ‘A’ Reg. Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Stronghurst Southern 66-56
Semi-final Beat Monmouth 68-60
Title game lost to Avon 69-62
1990-91 Abingdon Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Abingdon 79-36
Avon beat Abingdon in title game
1991-92 Abingdon Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Avon 62-42
Abingdon beat Avon in title game
1992-93 Abingdon Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Avon 60-37
Monmouth beat Avon in title game
1994-94 Abingdon Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Roseville 87-54
Roseville beat Monmouth in title game
1994-95 Roseville Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Stronghurst Southern 60-44
Abingdon beat Monmouth in title game
1995-96 Abingdon Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Galen Noard
1st Rd lost to Stronghurst Southern 47-22
Abingdon beat Southern in title game
1996-97 18 – 11 Monmouth Regional Champions Coach Galen Noard
1st Rd Beat Monmouth Warren 63-47
Semi-Final Beat Abingdon 78-73
Title Game Beat Monmouth 81-75
Sherrard Sectional Tournament
Semi-Final Beat Rockridge 67-45
BIGGSVILLE UNION (67): Meyer 26, Robbins 11, Noard 9, Shutwell 8, Cole 7, Hetrick 6.
ROCKRIDGE (45): Peschang 21, Hafermann 8, Lund 6, Stevens 4, Wheatley 2, Wynes 2, Jo. Dunnett 2.
Title Game Lost to Williamsfield 84-65
1997-98 14 – 13 Abingdon Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Galen Noard
1st Rd Beat Roseville 61-42
Semi-Final lost to Abingdon 74-47
1998-99 15 – 11 Biggsville Class ‘A’ Reg. Runner-Up Coach Galen Noard
1st Rd Beat Monmouth Warren 73-70
Semi-Final Beat Stronghurst Southern 50-38
Title Game lost to Monmouth 72-60
1999-00 16 – 10 Monmouth Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Galen Noard
1st Rd Beat Roseville 46-42
Semi-Final lost to Alexis 46-29
2000-01 Alexis Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Craig Rima
1st Rd lost to Alexis 47-42
2001-02 Roseville Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Craig Rima
1st Rd lost to Roseville 67-39
2002-03 Monmouth Class ‘A’ Regional Coach John Vandenburg
1st Rd lost to Monmouth Yorkwood 65-46
2003-04 Alexis Class ‘A’ Regional Coach John Vandenburg
**1st Rd lost to Monmouth 69-59
**Final boys varsity basketball game for Biggsville Union High School.
Girls Volleyball
The Lady Yankee netters, after some tough early years, developed a great volleyball program in the 1990s:
The BUHS girls won a total of six Regional titles, five in the 1990s!
They won four straight Lincoln Trail Conference championships from 1998 to 2001! The Lady Yankees also won the LTC Tournament three straight times from 1999 to 2001!
1977-79 Coach Deborah Mass
1979-80 Coach Dan Ashton
1980-81 Coach Ray Sykes
1981-82 Coach Dan Ashton
1982-83 Coach Pat Olson
1983-84 10 – 6 Coach Pat Olson
1984-87 Coach Pat Olson
1987-88 13 – 12 Coach Pat Olson
1989-90 Regional Champions Coach Pat Olson
1990-91 Regional Champions Coach Pat Olson
1992-93 Regional Champions Coach Pat Olson
1995-96 26 – 4 – 1 Bi-County Conference Champs Coach Pat Olson
1996-97 Regional Champions Coach Pat Olson
1997-98 Regional Champions Coach Pat Olson
1998-99 LTC Champions Coach Pat Olson
1999-00 LTC Champions
2000-01 Regional and LTC Champions
2001-02 LTC Champions
Union High School Football Bleachers |
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Football
The Union Yankees made three trips to the IHSA State Football playoffs. They made the most of their opportunity in 1981, making all the way to the Championship Game before falling to finish 12 – 1!! The Yankee grid iron hi-lites are listed below, at least those from 1975 through 2004.
1975-76 Coach Joe Jake
1976-80 Coach Dale Grawe
1980-81 7 – 2 Coach Dan Dillard
1981-82 12 – 1 IHSA CLASS 2A RUNNER-UP!! Coach Dan Dillard
Undefeated Regular Season (9 – 0)
Beat Hamilton 18 – 0
Beat Havana 16 – 13
Beat Dupo 38 – 0
Lost Championship Game
to Danville Schlarman 28 – 6
1982-83 5 – 4 Coach John Mowery
1985-86 5 – 4
1990-91 Coach Edward Smith
1992-93 5 – 4
1993-94 5 – 4
1994-95 Coach Jeff Flater
1995-96 Coach Galen Noard
1996-97 8 – 3 IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Galen Noard
Sweet 16 Finalist
Beat Lewistown 52 – 22
Lost to Sciota Northwestern 41 – 0
Sciota Finished 2nd in Class 1A
1997-98 8 – 3 IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Galen Noard
Sweet 16 Finalist
Beat Deer Creek-Mackinaw 21 – 6
Lost to Villa Grove 45 – 20
1998-99 Coach Galen Noard
1999-00 Coach Galen Noard
2000-02 Coach Brad Crisco
2002-04 Coach Patrick Lynch
In a October 23, 1992 game against Monmouth Warren, their regular season finale, Union’s Brandon Clark recovered a fumble and ran 92 yards for a touchdown, setting a school record for such a run.
Biggsville Union High School Football Field 2020 |
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Biggsvile Union HS Football Scoreboard 2020 |
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Boys Golf
From the “where there’s a will, there’s a way” category of life:
Biggsville Union did not have a notable golf program per say, however one athlete represtented the school incredibly well in the sport. Does the name Todd Hamilton ring a bell to any of you sports fans? Todd Hamilton won the IHSA State Class A Individual Championship in consecutive years in 1981-82 and 1982-83, his junior and senior years. Todd’s career did not fade away there. He went on to a career on the Professional Golf Association Tour, and was crowned Champion of the British Open in 2004!
1981-82 Todd Hamilton IHSA Class A STATE CHAMPION!!
1982-83 Todd Hamilton IHSA Class A STATE CHAMPION!!
Boys Track & Field
One male athlete brought home a medal from the IHSA Class A State Track Meet!
1974-75A Rod Slover Long Jump 3RD Place
Girls Track & Field
The Lady Yankee tracksters had four different girls bring home a total of 14 medals from the IHSA State Meet. Megan Shutwell led the way with a total of NINE individual medals won in her career. This includes at least two in each of her last three years of high school!! Stephanie Higgins faired well too winning two medals each in two different seasons.
The efforts of Megan Shutwell and Stephanie Higgins led the Lady Yankee thinclads to a SEVENTH PLACE FINISH in the 2000-01 State Class A Track Meet!!
1993-94 Tara Rice Shot Put 8TH Place
1998-99 Megan Shutwell 100 Meter Dash 8TH Place
400 Meter Dash 5TH Place
1999-00 Megan Shutwell 100 Meter Dash 7TH Place
200 Meter Dash 7TH Place
400 Meter Dash 4TH Place
2000-01 Team Finished SEVENTH in STATE MEET Competition!!
Individual Medalists
Megan Shutwell 100 Meter Dash 7TH Place
200 Meter Dash 9TH Place
400 Meter Dash 4TH Place
Long Jump 7TH Place
Stephanie Higgins High Jump 4TH Place
Triple Jump 3RD Place
Final Team Standings
1) Elmhurst (Timothy Christian) 63
2) South Holland (Seton Academy) 37
3) Braidwood (Reed-Custer) 34½
4) Kewanee (Wethersfield) 31
5) Aurora (Central Catholic) 28
6) Wheaton (St. Francis) 27
7) BIGGSVILLE UNION HIGH SCHOOL 26
7) Milledgeville 26
9) Eureka 24
9) St. Joseph (S.J.-Ogden) 24
2001-02 Stephanie Higgins High Jump 2ND Place
Triple Jump 3RD Place
Girls Golf
BUHS had a successful Girls Golf program during the turn of the 21st century. They won two Lincoln Trail Conference championships during that time.
1999-00 LTC Champions
2001-02 LTC Champions
MEMORIES
From Justin E. Parsons (Class of 2001):
“I was a student at Union High School from 1997-2001. I mainly remember the rivalry between Union and Southern. We always talked about how much we hated Southern, but we never really had a reason why. For most of us it was just passed down from our parents since that was how it’s been for years.
I was a Senior when both Union and Southern school districts started talking about co-oping for sports. I was fairly on the fence, but leaned more towards no. Mainly due to the fact that I was afraid someone was going to be better than me in the Shot-Put in track.
It was later that we realized that there wasn’t going to be a co-op in sports, but instead, a consolidation of both schools. We found out that it wouldn’t happen until much later, after I graduated.
I will say, I do miss Union High School. It still doesn’t seem right to not have a Union vs. Southern rivalry. I know I’m not the only one.”
Seeking Your Assistance
If you have ANY further information about Biggsville Union High School, please share it with us. Special thank you to Patrick Devitt for his contributions to this page. Photos and information can be e-mailed to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can write to us via real mail at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il. 60631
Biggsville Union HS Football Visitors Bleachers |
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