Casey High School “Warriors”

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Original Casey HS Bldg – Built in late 1800s?
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Found at http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/il/clark/postcards/casyhs.jpg submitted by Gerry Halpin
Casey HS Bldg (on right) From 1917-2007
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As viewed at http://www.cw.k12.il.us/highschool/index.htm & Submitted by Gerry Halpin

The History of Casey High School

Casey (population 2,942) is located in lower-eastern Illinois in the eastern portion of Clark County.  Interstate Highway 70 runs to the north of town.  U.S. Route 40 and Illinois Route 49 intersect in Casey.  The Conrail Railroad passes through town. There is a small airport on the northwest side of Casey called the Casey Municipal Airport. Birch Creek and Quarry Branch creeks both flow through Casey as well.

According to the web address of  http://genealogytrails.com/ill/clark/communities/casey.html the area in which Casey is now situated was first settled in 1854.  It was not incorporated until 1871.  The history of the educational system in town is in need of research.  We are certain a school was established in the 1850s.  Our guess is that a high school was set in place by the late 1800s.  Casey High School served the community on a solo basis for nearly 100 years.

The 1980s brought consolidation talks between the residents of Casey and their neighbor to the north, Westfield.  This effort became a reality in 1986 with the creation of the Casey-Westfield School District.  The high school for the new district remained in Casey. For more history regarding Casey High School check out the web address of http://c-waa.org/History.htm .

The Casey High School building built in 1917 served the town of Casey through the year 2006 when it was declared unsafe.  This building, pictured above and to the right, was demolished in December of 2007.  To view information on the Casey-Westfield Alumni Association check out http://c-waa.org/ .

Casey High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                       late 1800s

Year consolidated:               1986

Consolidated to:                   Casey-Westfield High School

Casey HS team nickname:    the “Warriors”

Casey HS team colors:         Purple & Gold

School Fight Song:               “Cheer the Team of Dear Old Casey”

Sung to the tune of “Wave the Flag”

Lyrics provided by HOWARD D. LOFTIS (Class of 1970)

                                          Cheer the team of dear old Casey,

                                          Battling for her fame,

                                          Wave the flag of gold & purple,

                                          Honor to her name.

 

                                          With the Warriors out to lead us,

                                          We do not fear our foe, FEAR OUR FOE!

                                          Cheer the team of dear old Casey,

                                          With a mighty “GO TEAM GO!”

 

                                          Go Casey Go, Go Casey Go,

                                          Smash ’em, bust ’em,

                                          That’s our custom,

                                          Go Casey Go!
ATHLETICS

The Casey High School athletic program was nothing short of incredible.  STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS were won in girls softball and boys football.  Both sports also earned runner-up finishes as well.  Other sports winning IHSA hardware in tournament action include baseball, boys and girls basketball, and boys track.  In addition trophies were earned in Drama and Speech competitions.

School team nicknames, colors, fight song, and several team records are being sought.

GIRLS SOFTBALL

Back to Back, that’s how the Casey girls softball team enjoyed their state championships!!  In fact how about the season before the back to back years the ladies almost started the first of a triple by finishing second in 1983-84!!  Coach Denny Throneburg was a great fit for the Casey lady softballers leading them to some incredible finishes, even before there was a two class system!!

1977-78    8 – 2                                                                 Coach Denny Throneburg


1978-79  10 – 2     Team Qualified for State Finals           Coach Denny Throneburg

                           One-Class System!!!!

                           Regional Champions

                           Sectional Champions

                           SWEET 16 Finalist

                           ELITE 8 Finalist

                           Beat Champaign (Central)  6 – 4

                           FINAL 4 Finalist

                           Lost to Cahokia 4 – 1

Cahokia Eventual State Champions

1979-80  19 – 2     Regional Champions                            Coach Denny Throneburg
1980-81  22 – 1     Regional Champions                            Coach Denny Throneburg
1981-82  20 – 3                                                                  Coach Denny Throneburg

1982-83  18 – 4                                                                  Coach Denny Throneburg


1983-84  25 – 3     Team Qualified for State Finals            Coach Denny Throneburg

                           One-Class System!!!!

                           Regional Champions

                           Sectional Champions

                           SWEET 16 Finalist

                           ELITE 8 Finalist

                           Lost to Oak Lawn Richards 3 – 0

Richards finished in 2ND Place

  

1984-85  24 – 3     TEAM FINISHED 2ND IN STATE!!          Coach Denny Throneburg

                           CLASS 1A Finalist 

                           Regional Champions

                           Sectional Champions

                           SWEET 16 Finalist

                           ELITE 8 Finalist

                           Beat St. Joe-Ogden    6 – 1

                           FINAL 4 Finalist

                           Beat Quincy Notre Dame 1 – 0

                           CHAMPIONSHIP GAME FINALIST!

                           Lost to Freeburg 1 – 0 

                          

1985-86  30 – 1     STATE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS      Coach Denny Throneburg

                           CLASS 1A Finalist 

                           Regional Champions

                           Sectional Champions

                           SWEET 16 Finalist

                           ELITE 8 Finalist

                           Beat Pleasant Plains  2 – 0

                           FINAL 4 Finalist

                           Beat Delevan  5 – 0

                           STATE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!!

                           Beat Genoa-Kingston   5 – 0  

FOOTBALL

Casey High School football has had some incredible moments in its history.  The boys made sure the final solo season for the school went out with a “bang”.  The grid iron warriors of 1985-86 won the IHSA Class 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!! Add to this the school’s RUNNER-UP Finish in the 1982-83 season and you have a pretty impressive run. Coach Keith Sinclair was the catalyst for these two teams as well as for the program from 1981-82 through the 1985-86 season.  Coach Sinclair continued the Casey tradition when Westfield joined the fold.

 

1927-28    8 – 0
1928-29    8 – 0 – 1

1969-74                                                                                  Coach Robert Durham

1974-75                Team Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs   Coach Robert Durham

                             ELITE 8 Finalist

                             Beat Broadlands ABL 10 – 7

                             Lost to Villa Grove 18 – 16

Casey Football Team of 1974
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Submitted by Richard Savage (From IHSA State Playoff Program)

1975-77                                                                              Coach Robert Durham

1977-78                                                                              Coach John Harland

1978-79    6 – 3                                                                    Coach John Harland

1979-80    5 – 4

1981-82    6 – 3                                                                    Coach Keith Sinclair

1982-83  11 – 2      TEAM PLACED SECOND in CLASS 2A!   Coach Keith Sinclair

                            Beat Eldarado 8 – 6

                            Beat Tuscola 28 – 22 (O/T)

                            Beat East St. Louis Assumption 20 – 3

                            Lost to Blomington Cent. Cath. 38 – 0

1983-84    7 – 2                                                                    Coach Keith Sinclair

1984-85    8 – 2      Team Qualified for Class 2A Playoffs     Coach Keith Sinclair

                            Lost to Dupo 29 – 16

1985-86  14 – 0      CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONS!!!!!          Coach Keith Sinclair

                            Beat Ziegler-Royalton   22 – 20

                            Beat Dupo   14 – 0

                            Beat Maroa-Forsyth   53 – 20

                            Beat Hamilton   22 – 0

                            Beat Woodstock Marian  34 – 6

                            Class 2A STATE CHAMPS!!!!!!!    

BASEBALL

The boys of the baskeball diamond at Casey High had three Regional Championships come their way too.  Unfortunately the coach’s names and team records of these and other great Casey High School baseball teams are not currently available.

1979-80         Regional Champions
1980-81         Regional Champions
1985-86         Regional Champions

BOYS BASKETBALL

EIGHT REGIONAL Titles, two District titles, and one Sectional title highlighted the hardwood court success for the boys of CHS. Again, unfortunately the coach’s names and team records of these and other great Casey High School basketball teams are not currently available. 

1925-26                 District Champions
1927-28                 District Champions


1939-40   20 – 9     SWEET 16 FINALIST!!          Coach Glen Rose

                            Regional Champions

                            Sectional Champions

                            SWEET 16 Finalist

                            Lost to Moline HS 28 – 23

Moline HS Finished 3RD


1959-60                 Regional Champions

1971-72                 Regional Champions
1975-76                 Regional Champions
1976-77                 Regional Champions
1977-78                 Regional Champions
1981-82                 Regional Champions
1983-84                 Regional Champions

Vandalia Holiday Tournament highlights as researched by Mark Jurenga:

1974 – 3rd Place Casey got 4th.

1975 – 2nd Place Dieterich 77 Casey 58

All-Tournament Team

1975 – Al Weaver

**David Collins was named the Decatur Herald & Review Small School Player of the Year in 1978

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Coach Denny Throneburg showed his diverse coaching abilites by guiding the ladies of the hardwood court to two Sweet 16 appearances in the early 1980s!! 

1979-80    17 – 7       SWEET 16 FINALIST                        Coach Denny Throneburg

                               Regional Champions

                               Sectional Champions

                               SWEET 16 Finalist

                               Lost to Sidell Jamaica 74 – 64

Jamaica Finished 2ND


1981-82                    SWEET 16 FINALIST                        Coach Denny Throneburg

                               Regional Champions

                               Sectional Champions

                               SWEET 16 Finalist

                               Lost to Argenta-Oreana 59 – 46

1982-83                    Regional Champions

1984-85                    Regional Champions

BOYS TRACK & FIELD

A District Championship and a TOP-FIVE Finish at the State Track Meet highlight the Casey boys track and field program success.  Mike Simpson led the team of 1977-78 to the Fifth Place finish by winning the gold medal in the 100 and 220 Yard Dashes as well as finishing 4TH in the 440 Yard Dash!!  Mike also won the State 100 Yard Dash title in the 1976-77 State Meet!!

1915-16B   Individual Medalists

                 ??  LeMay              Hammer Throw      3RD Place

                 ??  Harrison           100 Yard Dash         3RD Place

1919-20B   Individual Medalist

                 Julian House          440 Yard Dash         2ND Place

1920-21B   Individual Medalists

                 Glen Adams           Long Jump              2ND Place

                 Clarence Chrysler  Shot Put                  3RD Place

1921-22B   Individual Medalist

                 Clarence Chrysler  Shot Put                  4TH Place

1923-24B   Individual Medalist

                 Harold Luckey        High Jump               2ND Place

                 Harry Foster           220 Yard Dash          5TH Place

1924-25B   Individual Medalist

                 Harry Foster           220 Yard Dash          3RD Place

1942-43      Individual Medalist

                 Donald Galey         Discus                      5TH Place

1947-48     Team Won DIstrict Championship!!

1976-77A   Individual Medalist

                 Mike Simpson        100 Yard Dash          STATE CHAMPION!!
220 Yard Dash          4TH Place

1977-78A   TEAM FINISHED FIFTH AT STATE MEET Competition!!

                 Individual Medalist

                 Mike Simpson         100 Yard Dash           STATE CHAMPION!!
220 Yard Dash            STATE CHAMPION!!
440 Yard Dash            4TH Place

                 Final Team Standings

                 1)  Robinson                                     35

2)  Madison                                      32

3)  St. Anne                                      31

4)  Gibson City                                  28

5)  CASEY HIGH SCHOOL                25

                 6)  Rushville                                      24

7)  Spring Valley (Hall)                       18

7)  Peru (St. Bede)                            18

7)  Riverton                                       18

10)  Highland (St. Paul)                        16

1978-79A   Individual Medalist

                 Toby Simpson         100 Yard Dash          4TH Place

1979-80A   Individual Medalist

                 Toby Simpson         100 Meter Dash        5TH Place

1984-85A   Individual Medalists

                 Relay Team             4X200 Meter Relay   3RD Place

1985-86A   Individual Medalists

                 Relay Team             4X400 Meter Relay   STATE CHAMPION!!

                                                 4X200 Meter Relay   5TH Place

                                                 4x100m relay            7TH Place

 

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

1985-86   18 – 6

ACADEMIC COMPETITION

The Casey High School kids proved to be a well-rounded bunch bringing home both individual and team hardware from State Meet Competition.

DRAMA

1950-51         Team Qualified for State Competition

                     Sectional Champions

SPEECH INDIVIDUAL EVENTS

1941-42         Individual Medalist – Maxine Perisho      Comedy            5TH Place

1971-72         Individual Medalist – Betsy Dillier            Orig Comedy    4TH Place

1972-73         District Champions
1973-74         District Champions

                     Individual Medalist – Linda Harned         Orig Oratory      6TH Place

 

Need Your Assistance 

If you have any information regarding Casey High School and its many successes, both athletic and other, please send us a note via the Guest Commentary Form.  We are especially anxious to share a photo of the school building and gym.  You can e-mail these items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or you can write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days 

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.  60631


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