1949-53 11 – 21 – 4 Coach Bob McDonald
| Octavia’s First Football Team |
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| The 1949-50 Rockets |
1954-55 5-2 Coach Warren Cooper
1955-56 7-1 Conference Co-Champs Coach Warren Cooper
1956-57 6-2 Conference 3rd Place Coach Warren Cooper
1958-59 5-4 Conference 4th Place Coach Warren Cooper
1959-60 4-4 Conference 3rd Place Coach Warren Cooper
1961-62 6-1-1 Conference Runner-up Coach Warren Cooper
1962-63 7-1 Conference Runner-up Coach Warren Cooper
1963-64 7-1 Conference Champions Coach Warren Cooper
1964-65 4-4-1 Conference 5th Place Coach Warren Cooper
1965-66 8-1 Conference Champions Coach Warren Cooper
1966-67 8-1 Conference Runner-up Coach Warren Cooper
1967-68 9-0 Conference Champions Coach Warren Cooper
| Undefeated Conference Champs |
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| 1967-68 Rockets 9 – 0 |
1969-70 8-0-1 Conference Champions Coach Warren Cooper
1970-71 6-3 Conference 3rd Place Coach Warren Cooper
1974-75 5-4 Conference 5th Place Coach Leon Kellar
1975-76 9-2 IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Leon Kellar
Conference Champions (8-1)
Elite 8 Finalist!
Beat Carlinville 24 – 0
Lost to Danville Schlarman 7- 6
| Elite 8 Finalists |
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| 1975-76 Octavia High School Rockets |
1976-77 7-2 Conference Runner-up Coach Leon Kellar
1978-79 9-2 IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Leon Kellar
Conference Champions (8-1)
Elite 8 Finalist!
Beat Chatsworth 40 – 19
Lost to Stronghurst Southern 18 – 0
1979-80 6-3 Conference 3rd Place Coach Leon Kellar
1981-82 7-3 IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Tom Atwell
Conference Champions (7-2)
Lost to Gilman 20 – 6
1982-83 8-2 IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Tom Atwell
Conference Champions (8-1)
Lost to Bement 6 – 0
1983-84 5-4 Conference 3rd Place Coach Tom Atwell
1987-88 8-2 IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Dean Bartges
Conference Champions (8-1)
Lost to Chenoa 19 – 8
1988-89 8-2 IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Dean Bartges
Conference Champions (8-1)
Lost to Lexington 28 – 12
Octavia High School Football Overall Record 1949 – 1988
198 – 137 – 10
BOYS BASKETBALL
The Octavia Rockets boys basketball program had some great success on the hardwood as well. A total of 4 Regional titles and 6 District titles were earned by the Rockets. The six District titles were won in succession from 1966-71. Also of note, Octavia won the prestigious McLean County Tournament 13 times while representing the Maroon and White of eastern McLean County.
Two coaches set the mark for the rest of the Octavia basketball coaches. Coach Ralph Sackett led the Rockets for only four seasons, but what a mark he left! Sackett’s teams went 84-16 and won three consecutive Regional Championships! Don Carlson coached at COHS for 13 seasons (1965-66 through 1977-78). The six District titles were won during Coach Carlson’s first six seasons at the school. Coach Carlson had 10 seasons with winning records and 5 seasons of 20 or more games won. Every season that Octavia competed in is listed on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org).
Scores from the IHSA State Tournament involving Colfax Octavia were found on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores and the located of the tournament are posted below.
1949-50 3-17 Octavia’s First Season Coach Paul Orr
Chenoa Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Normal U-High 55-47
U-High lost title game to Lexington
1950-51 2-19 Coach Paul Orr
Postseason scores unavailable
1951-52 5-6 Coach Paul Orr
Lexington Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Chenoa 64-62
Chenoa lost in semi-final round
1952-53 11-10 Coach Bob McDonald
Fairbury Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Normal 70-63
Normal won title over Lexington
1953-54 15- 7 Coach Loren Laub
Fairbury Regional Runner-Up!
1st Rd Beat Forrest 58-57 (O/T)
Semi-final Beat Chenoa 71-56
Title Game lost to Lexington 72-63
1954-55 11-11 Coach Loren Laub
Fairbury Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Forrest 72-54
Forrest lost in semi-final round
1955-56 19- 4 McLean Co. Tourney Champs Coach Loren Laub
Fairbury Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Forrest 58-36
Forrest lost in title game
1956-57 17- 4 McLean Co. Tourney Champs Coach Loren Laub
Normal Regional Semi-finalist
1st Rd Beat Chenoa 56-53
Semi-final lost to Fairbury 68-60
Fairbury lost title game to Forrest
1957-58 10- 11 Coach Loren Laub
Fairbury Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Fairbury 67-48
Fairbury won Regional title
1958-59 17- 5 McLean Co. Tourney Champs Coach Loren Laub
Normal Regional Runner-Up!
1st Rd Beat Fairbury 72-59
Semi-final Beat Forrest-S-W 65-54
Title Game lost to Normal 94-60
1959-60 6- 14 Coach Loren Laub
Postseason scores unavailable
1960-61 19- 6 Coach Charles Brannon
Normal Regional Runner-up!
1st Rd Beat Fairbury 37-36
Semi-final Beat Normal 63-62
Title Game lost to Lexingotn 62-47
1961-62 17- 8 McLean Co. Tourney Champs Coach Ralph Sackett
Fairbury Regional Champions!
1st Rd Beat Fairbury 53-51
Semi-final Beat Lexington 60-52
Title Game Beat Normal U-High 64-58
Peoria Sectional Tournament
Semi-final lost to Lincoln 60-51
Lincoln lost title game to Washington
1962-63 23- 2 McLean Co. Tourney Champs Coach Ralph Sackett
Normal Regional Champions!
1st Rd Beat Chenoa 74-54
Semi-final Beat Lexington 76-63
Title Game Beat Normal U-High 59-55 (O/T)
Peoria Sectional Tournament
Semi-final lost to East Peoria 74-52
East Peoria lost title game to Peoria Central
1963-64 23- 2 McLean Co. Tourney Champs Coach Ralph Sackett
Fairbury Regional Champions!
Semi-final Beat Normal U-High 74-58
Title Game Beat Lexington 74-61
Normal Sectional Tournament
Semi-final lost to Decatur 71-40
Decatur won title over Rantoul
1964-65 21- 2 Coach Ralph Sackett
Postseason scores unavailable
1965-66 18- 6 McLean Co. Tourney Champs Coach Don Carlson
IHSA District Champions!
Semi-final Beat Heyworth 66-50
Title Game Beat Farmer City 83-60
IHSA Regional Qualifier
1st Rd Lost to Bloomington Trinity 58-55
1966-67 21- 4 McLean Co. Tourney Champs Coach Don Carlson
IHSA District Champions!
1st Rd Beat Chenoa 77-50
Semi-final Beat Heyworth 54-50
Title Game Beat Farmer City 63-56
Fairbury Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Bloomington 82-71
Bloomington lost in semi-final round
1967-68 21- 4 McLean Co. Tourney Champs Coach Don Carlson
Heyworth District Champions!
Semi-final Beat Tri-Valley 90-60
Title Game Beat Lexingotn 79-60
Normal Regional Semi-Finalist
1st Rd Beat Bloomington 73-54
Semi-final lost to Normal 72-68 (O/T)
Normal lost title game to Normal U-High
1968-69 18- 7 Coach Don Carlson
Colfax Octavia District Champions!
Semi-final Beat Gridley 63-58
Title Game Beat Wapella 65-59
Bloomington Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Bloomington 55-36
Bloomington lost in semi-final round
1969-70 24- 3 McLean co. Tourney Champs Coach Don Carlson
Leroy District Champions!
Semi-final Beat Lexingotn 72-52
Title Game Beat Wapella 63-49
Normal Regional Runner-Up!!
1st Rd Beat Bloomington CC 59-57
Semi-final Beat Bloomington 43-42 (2 O/Ts)
Title Game lost to Normal U-High 71-62
1970-71 23- 4 Coach Don Carlson
Leroy District Champions!
Semi-final Beat Tri-Valley 75-55
Title Game Beat Wapella 74-66
Bloomington Regional Tournament
1st Rd Beat Bloomington Central Catholic 79-78
Semi-final lost to Bloomington 58-40
Bloomington lost to U-High in title game
1971-72 19- 6 Coach Don Carlson
Fairbury Regional Runner-Up!
1st Rd Beat Bloomington CC 74-42
Semi-final Beat Gridley 76-67
Title Game lost to Normal U-High 61-51
1972-73 22- 2 McLean Co. Tourney Champs Coach Don Carlson
IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Runner-Up
Semi-Final Beat Gridley 70-52
Title Game lost to Lexington 73-70
1973-74 19- 5 Coach Don Carlson
IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney
1st Rd Beat Fairbury-Cropsey 70-52
Semi-final lost to Normal U-High 47-39
1974-75 12-10 Coach Don Carlson
IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney
1st Rd lost to Normal U-High 73-44
1975-76 8- 14 Coach Don Carlson
IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney
1st Rd Beat Fairbury-Cropsey 68-56
Semi-final lost to Gridley 73-57
1976-77 12-10 Coach Don Carlson
IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney
1st Rd lost to Eureka 76-59
1977-78 7- 18 Coach Don Carlson
IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney
1st Rd lost to Normal U-High 74-66
1978-79 17- 8 Coach Lou Hagenbruch
Postseason scores unavailable
1979-80 8- 18 Coach Lou Hagenbruch
Postseason scores unavailable
1980-81 10- 16 Coach Gale Thoroman
Postseason scores unavailable
1981-82 17- 9 Coach Gale Thoroman
Postseason scores unavailable
1982-83 15-13 IHSA Regional Champions! Coach John Dolan
Regional Scores Unavailable
Normal Sectional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Flanagan 63-39
Flanagan won Sectional over Bloomington CC
1983-84 14-11 Coach John Dolan
Postseason Scores Unavailable
1984-85 7-17 Coach John Dolan
Postseason Scores Unavailable
1985-86 13-11 Coach John Dolan
Postseason Scores Unavailable
1986-87 22- 2 McLean Co. Tourney Champs Coach Rodney Kellar
Postseason Scores Unavailable
1987-88 20- 8 IHSA Regional Champions! Coach Rodney Kellar
Postseason Scores Unavailable
1988-89 17- 9 McLean Co. Tourney Champs Coach Rodney Kellar
Postseason Scores Unavailable
**School’s Final Season, became Ridgeview High School in 1989.
GIRLS BOWLING
For a small school, Octavia High faired extremely well in the sport of Girls Bowling. The Lady “Queenpins”, led by head coach Carmen Blair, won three consecutive District titles (1978, ’79, ’80) and qualified for the State Finals in 1981. In fact, Coach Blair’s bowling team of 1979-80 finished SIXTH in the State Finals. Coach Blair was Octavia High’s only girls bowling coach. One athlete, Joan Dowell, took a top-ten finish in 1982 as well!
1977-78 District Champions Coach Carmen Blair
Qualified for State Finals Tournament
1978-79 District Champions Coach Carmen Blair
Qualified for State Finals Tournament
1979-80 District Champions Coach Carmen Blair
Team Finished SIXTH in State Finals Tournament
Final Team Standings
1.) Rich Central 10,136 pts.
2.) Dixon 9,913
3.) Abingdon 9,706
4.) Chillicothe IVC 9,476
5.) Gurnee Warren 7,177
6.) COLFAX OCTAVIA 7,124
7.) Midlothian Bremen 7,036
8.) Lemont 6,935
9.) Evergreen Park 4,666
10) Hoffman Estates 4,640
1981-82 Individual Medalist Joan Dowell 10th Place
BOYS TRACK & FIELD
The boys track and field team brought home a total of 7 individual medals in State Competition. One athlete in particular, Gayln Sweet, excelled to the point that earned a gold medal (STATE CHAMPION) for two consecutive years in the high jump. Making this feat even more incredible is that it was accomplished when there was only one class in track & field in Illinois! Gayln’s effort in 1969 even earned the team a 9th place finish!
For more excellent information on the Octavia High School Track Program check out www.ridgeviewtrack.com/halloffame.htm, a site developed by current Ridgeview High Coach Mike Benton.
1968-69 Team Finished NINTH in STATE Meet Competition
Individual Medalist
Gayln Sweet High Jump STATE CHAMPION!!
Final Team Standings
1.) Alton 25
2.) East Moline 16
3.) Chicago Englewood 15
4.) Chicago Hts. Bloom 13
5.) Morton West 10
6.) Proviso West 9
7.) Proviso East 8
7.) Palatine 8
9.) COLFAX OCTAVIA 6
York, Thornton. North Chicago, Wheaton North, St. Charles
also tied at 9th with 6 points
1969-70 Individual Medalist
Gayln Sweet High Jump STATE CHAMPION!!
FOURTH BEST HIGH SCHOOL HIGH JUMP IN THE NATION!!
1976-77 IHSA Class ‘A’ Sectional Champions Coach Don Carlson
1977-78 Individual Medalist
Jeff Brinkman 330 Yard Hurdles 5TH Place
1979-80 Individual Medalist
Mike Peterson 880 Yard Run 6TH Place
1980-81 Individual Medalist
Mike Peterson 880 Yard Run 2ND Place
1985-86 Individual Medalist
Kregg Ummell 1600 Meter Run 5TH Place
1986-87 Individual Medalist
Kregg Ummell 1600 Meter Run 2ND Place
BOYS BASEBALL
The Rocket baseball program also earned a Regional Title. Unfortunately, this is all that is known about their success. If you have any more information, especially season records and coaches’ names, please drop us an e-mail.
1954-55 Conference Champions
1960-61 Regional Champions
1965-66 District Champions Coach Don Carlson
1973-74 Sangamon Valley Conference Champs Coach Lyle Miner
GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Lady Rocket roundballer’s records are listed for the seasons of 1980-81 through 1987-88. Their best record during that time is the last one listed (11-9). The coach during these 8 seasons was Lou Hagenbruch.
1987-88 11 – 9 Coach Lou Hagenbruch
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Only three seasons of the Lady Rockets volleyball records are covered on the IHSA web site (1986-87 through 1988-89). The coach of the team during this time was Cathy Weber.
| Dennie Bridges/Octavia Class of 1957 |
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| Courtesy of Illinois Wesleyan University (www.iwu.edu) |
OUTSTANDING ALUMNUS
In addition to being at a three-sport athlete at Octavia, Dennie Bridges (see photo to the right) was able to communicate to his players as a successful basketball coach at Illinois Wesleyan University. The Class of 1957 graduate went on to attend IWU and continued representing the university in three sports until he graduated in 1961. Bridges became the Titans’ mens’ basketball coach in 1965, staying on the job for the next 36 seasons as his Titans compiled a record of 667-319 before stepping down after the 2000-01 season. The 667 wins are the second-most by any Division III mens’ basketball coach, winning the Division III title in 1997, & bringing home third place finishes in 1996 and 2001. Along with that, Bridges’ teams won 17 conference titles and qualified for the NCAA Division III tournament 14 out of 18 seasons. Today, the former Rocket is still serves at Illinois Wesleyan as its athletic director.
IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION
If you would like to provide ANY more information on the successes of Octavia High School please e-mail us. Additional photos and other information can be e-mailed to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il. 60631 |
Octavia was made up of Colfax, Cooksville and Anchor. Anchor High School “Aces”
Not Fairbury-Cropsey.