| Athletics
There is a great listing of most of the Cornell High School Cardinal boy’s basketball seasons on the IHSA web site. The Cardinals also had one male athlete excel in track and cross-country. Football was offered through the 1970 school year, too. Baseball was also offered to the boys. The girls competed in basketball and volleyball, and probably track as well.
The Cornell Cardinals competed in the Midstate Conference (El Paso, Gridley, Chenoa, Lexington, Flanagan, and Streator Woodland) and the Vermillion Valley Conference. Please forward any further information on the Conference championship teams or great seasons in CHS history so we can add it to this page.
Boys Basketball
The Cornell High School boys’ basketball team won a total of 7 District Titles!! Five of those titles came in the 1920’s and the other two were earned in the early 1960’s. The win-loss records and coaches’ names of the early Cardinal teams are not available. We are told the Cornell Cardinals hosted their own basketball tourney in the early 1980’s during Thanksgiving as well. The Cardinals maintained their competitive edge all the way to the end, having two nice seasons to complete their existence. In addition, the Cardinals won the conference sportsmanship award in 1959, 1961, 1962, and 1967. The years of the titles, better records, and coaches’ names which are listed are available below.
Several scores from the IHSA Tournament were located on a site titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are printed below as well.
1921-22 Fairbury District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Cropsey 33-20
(Subsequent scores needed)
1922-23 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
District Scores Needed
Peoria Sectional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Galesburg
1923-24 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
District Scores Needed
Peoria Sectional Tournament
1st Rd Beat Pekin 20-16
(Subsequent Scores Needed)
1924-25 Postseason scores, records, and coach’s name needed.
1925-26 IHSA District Champions Coach Maurice Macy
Pontiac Holiday Tourney–2ND Place
(Normal U-High – Champions)
(Season Record & District Scores Needed)
Peoria Sectional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Canton 26-15
Canton beat Tremont in title game
Canton Finished SECOND in State Tourney!
1926-27 IHSA District Champions Coach Maurice Macy
Pontiac Holiday Tourney Champs
Defeated Chicago Tilden for Title
Livingston County Tournament Champs
(Season Record & District Scores Needed)
Urbana Sectional Tournamnent
1st Rd lost to Normal U-High 15-14
Normal U-High lost to Champaign in title game
Champaign placed FOURTH in State Tourney
1927-28 IHSA District Champions Coach C.S. Mendenhall
Pontiac Holiday Tourney Cons. Champs
Livingston County Tournament Champs
(Season Record & District Scores Needed)
Normal Sectional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Streator 40-23
Streator beat Champaign in title game
Streator lost in Elite 8 Rd.
1928-29 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1929-30 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1930-31 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1931-32 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1932-33 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1933-34 Dwight District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Chenoa 32-16
2nd Rd lost to Fairbury 23-19
Fairbury lost to Mazon in semi-final
Mazon lost to Dwight in title game
1934-35 Streator District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Harding 89-16
2nd Rd lost to Seneca 37-29
Seneca beat Streator in title game
1935-36 Kempton District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Kempton 27-16
Semi-final lost to Reddick
Reddick beat Cullom in title game
1936-37 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1937-38 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1938-39 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1939-40 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1940-41 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1942-43 26- 3 Wenona Regional Runner-Up Coach Clarence Louderback
1st Rd Beat Toluca 44-33
Semi-final Beat Minonk 25-21
Title Game lost to Granville Hopkins 33-31
*Leading scorer Kenny Turner.
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Cornell HS Basketball Team of 1942-43 |
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Record 26 – 3 |
1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
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Cornell Basketball 1943-44 |
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1945-46 Wenona Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Lacon 52-25
Semi-final lost to Toluca 36-28
Toluca beat Henry in title game
1945-46 25- 4 Wenona Regional Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Toluca
Semi-final Beat Minonk 47-40
Title Game lost to Granville Hopkins 46-32
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Cornell HS Cardinals 1945-46 |
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Team Record of 25 – 4 |
1946-47 Wenona Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Longpoint 37-30
Longpoint lost to Granville Hopkins in semi-final
Granville beat Minonk in title game
1947-48 Wenona Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Minonk 74-44
Minonk lost to Henry in title game
1948-49 Cullom District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Odell St. Paul 55-42
St. Paul lost to Cullom in semi-final
Cullom beat Kempton in title game
1949-50 12-13 Wenona Regional Tournament Coach Keith Scott
1st Rd lost to Toluca 36-33
Toluca lost to Wenona in semi-final
Wenona lost to Minonk in title game
1950-51 7-18 Wenona Regional Tournament Coach Keith Scott
1st Rd lost to Minonk 63-44
Minonk beat Toluca in title game
1951-52 Granville Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Long Point 63-39
Long Point lost to Varna Mid County in semi-final
Mid County beat Henry in title game
1952-53 Henry Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Varna Mid County 68-55
Mid County beat Henry in title game
1953-54 10-16 Postseason scores needed. Coach Ben Kristal
1954-55 8-17 Postseason scores needed. Coach Ben Kristal
1955-56 2-23 Postseason scores needed. Coach Paul Henkel
1956-57 3-22 Postseason scores needed. Coach Paul Henkel
1957-58 4-20 Postseason scores needed. Coach Marty Stromberger
1958-59 12-13 Wenona District Champions Coach Richard Dishinger
Semi-final Beat Wenona 64-50
Title Game Beat LaRose 56-48
Granville Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Minonk-Dana-Rutland 51-45
M-D-R lost to Granville Hopkins in semi-final
Granville lost to Toluca in title game
1959-60 17- 8 Toluca District Runner-Up Coach Richard Dishinger
3rd Place in Mid-State Conf
District Scores
1st Rd Beat Lostant 75-53
Semi-final Beat Sparland 68-56
Title Game lost to Toluca 75-51
1960-61 8-16 Postseason scores needed. Coach James Hermes
1961-62 5-18 Lostant District Tournament Coach Marty Stromberger
1st Rd Beat Hennepin 46-41
Semi-final lost to Sparland 43-42
Sparland beat Tonica in title game
1962-63 10-13 Lostant District Champions Coach Ron Metz
Semi-final Beat Tonica 68-66
Title Game Beat Sparland 60-48
Granville Regional Tournament
1st Rd Beat Minonk-Dana-Rutland 46-45 (O/T)
Semi-final lost to Toluca 81-44
Toluca beat Wenona in title game
1963-64 4-18 Postseason scores needed. Coach Ron Metz
1964-65 5-17 Postseason scores needed. Coach Dale Engelhorn
1965-66 4-19 Postseason scores needed. Coach Dale Engelhorn
1966-67 2-19 Postseason scores needed. Coach John Jacobson
1967-68 5-16 Odell District Tournament Coach Ronald Lawson
1st Rd lost to Saunemin 73-47
Saunemin lost to Reddick in semi-final
Mazon beat Reddick in title game
1968-69 3-18 Odell District Tournament Coach Kenneth Miller
1st Rd lost to Odell 72-62
Odell lost to Reddick in title game
1969-70 11-14 Odell District Runner-Up Coach Kenneth Miller
1st Rd Beat Mazon 68-59
Semi-final Beat Flanagan 51-44
Title Game lost to Reddick 57-50
1970-71 11-12 Lostant District Tournament Coach Kenneth Miller
1st Rd Beat Cullom Tri-point 61-54
Semi-final lost to Odell 59-52
Odell lost to Reddick in title game
1971-72 3-19 Streator Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach Kenneth Miller
1st Rd lost to Tonica 70-36
Tonica lost to Streator Woodland in semi-final
Woodland beat Lostant in title game
1972-73 1-21 Postseason scores needed. Coach Jim Stowe
1973-74 5-18 Postseason scores needed. Coach Jim Stowe
1974-75 2-19 Postseason scores needed. Coach Kurt Lauritzen
1975-76 3-21 Postseason scores needed. Coach Kurt Lauritzen
1976-77 0-23 Postseason scores needed. Coach Kurt Lauritzen
1977-78 0-23 Postseason scores needed. Coach Jerry Gray
1978-79 2-21 Postseason scores needed. Coach Jerry Gray
1979-80 3-19 Postseason scores needed. Coach Tim Hovanec
1980-81 8-14 Postseason scores needed. Coach Tim Hovanec
1981-82 7-16 Postseason scores needed. Coach Tim Hovanec
1982-83 8-15 Postseason scores needed. Coach Tim Hovanec
1983-84 2-19 Postseason scores needed. Coach Will Van Weeldan
1984-85 6-17 Postseason scores needed. Coach Will Van Weeldan
1985-86 17-9 Postseason scores needed Coach Will Van Weelden
*1986-87 12-13 Postseason scores needed Coach Will Van Weelden
*1986-87 was the final season for Cornell High School.
**Cornell may be the only town with a population of 500 that has produced two high school basketball coaches who have each aquired over 500 wins. John Snyder, (Bloomington Central Catholic), and Jack Murphy (Tremont, Taylorville and Pontiac) accomplished this feat coaching high school basketball in Illinois after their graduation from Cornell High School and Illinois State University. More information of each coach is written below.
Girls Basketball
The Lady Cardinals competed in basketball with only one season listed on the IHSA web site. The year and team’s coach are listed below.
1979-80 8-11 Coach Jody Smith
Boys Cross-Country
One athlete at Cornell High excelled in Cross-Country. John Jacobson medaled in three consecutive years, winning the State Individual Championship in 1982 with a time of 14:43.2!!
Cornell did not compete in cross-country as a team or school. However, they realized John’s talent and found ways for him to compete in several meets in the area.
John became associated with the Streator Woodland team and entered several meets in which they were a part of. John then entered the State meet as a solo athlete from Cornell. John’s three great seasons are listed below.
1980-81 John Jacobson 9th Place
1981-82 John Jacobson 6th Place
1982-83 John Jacobson STATE CHAMPION !!
Boys Track & Field
John Jacobson didn’t rest on his laurels from cross-country. John added to his state medaling ability in Track as well. In fact, John Jacobson’s efforts won him a total of 6 medals including 4 individual gold medals!! His efforts further gave the Cornell High School thinclads two consecutive top ten finishes in the Class A State Track Meet. John’s incredible efforts are listed below.
In addition to Jacobson’s efforts, the Cardinals of 1954 finished second to Chenoa in the Mid-State Conference track meet. Two Cardinal tracksters were three-time conference champions as well. John Snyder (see famous alumni below) won the mile in 1949-50-51 as well as adding the 880 championship in 1950. Roger Ernhardt took the 880 championship in 1951-52-53.
1953-54 Mid State Conference Runner-up
1980-81 John Jacobson 800 Meter Run 3rd Place
John Jacobson 1600 Meter Run 5th Place
1981-82 Cornell High School Cardinals Finished 5th at the Class A Track Meet
Individual Medalist
John Jacobson 1600 Meter Run STATE CHAMPION!
John Jacobson 3200 Meter Run STATE CHAMPION!
1981-82 Final Team Standings – Class A State Track Meet
1) St. Anne – 52
2) Rochester – 28
3) Lisle – 25
West Frankfort – 25
5) CORNELL HIGH SCHOOL – 20
Buffalo Tri-City – 20
Providence St. Mel – 20
8) Tiskilwa – 18
Glasford Illini Bluffs – 18
10) Paxton – 17
1982-83 Cornell High School Cardinals Finished 6th at the Class A Track Meet
Individual Medalist
John Jacobson 1600 Meter Run STATE CHAMPION !!
John Jacobson 3200 Meter Run STATE CHAMPION !!
1982-83 Final Team Standings – Class A State Track Meet
1) Cairo 45
2) St. Anne 40
3) Chicago Leo 34
4) Walther Lutheran 29
5) Christopher 23
6) CORNELL HIGH SCHOOL 20
McLeansboro 20
Riverton 20
9) Tuscola 19
10) Fulton 18
Football
The Cardinal athletic program included football through the 1970-71 school year. The team was one of the charter members of the Mid-State Conference competing against the likes of El Paso, Gridley, Flanagan, Lexington, Chenoa, Minonk-Dana-Rutland, Fairbury, and Streator Woodland. The Cardinals had some very strong teams.
Their best year in the conference was in 1959 when the boys of the gridiron shared the conference title with El Paso. The team was led by running back Claude Jacobson (leading scorer with 61 points), along with all-conference selections Francis Hinshaw (offfensive tackle), Bill Meyer (defensive back), and Bob McMenamin (quarterback/defensive end).
The best of the Cornell High School football seasons from 1949 through 1970 are listed below.
1953-54 5-3-1
1954-55 5-5
1959-60 6-2 Conference Champions Coach Marty Stromberger
(5-1 in Conference Play)
1960-61 4-4 Finished 3rd in Conference
1961-62 4-3
The football team won the conference sportsmanship award in 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1965!
Baseball
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Cornell Baseball Field 2013 |
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Left click on photo for a larger view |
The Cornell High School Cardinals baseball teams of 1959 and 1960 also finished well in Mid-State Conference play. Both finished in second place.
1958-59 4-2 in conference play – Conference Runner-Up
1959-60 Conference Runner-Up
GREAT ATHLETES / ALUMNI / COACHES
*John Jacobson has to be one of the greatest long distance runners in Class A history in Illinois. John won a total of 9 individual medals in IHSA competition. Truly incredible performance and athletic career at Cornell High by John Jacobson!!!
*Coach John Snyder (Cornell HS Class of 1951) – Member of Illinois High School Coaches Association Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame for compiling over 500 victories as a head basketball coach for Bloomington Trinity/Central Catholic High School (Trinity was renamed Central Catholic). Coach Snyder is also a member of the Illinois State University Athletic Hall of Fame as well as the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame.
*Coach Jack Murphy (Cornell HS Class of 1950) – Also a member of the Illinois High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame for compiling over 500 victories as a head basketball coach in Illinois at high schools in Tremont, Pontiac, Taylorville, Pawnee, and Minonk-Dana-Rutland.
*Cornell Grads who played for Illinois State – Normal University and Coach Joe Cogdal in the 1930’s include: Charles Beck, Pete Miner, and Mose Moore. Dick Murphy, who played at CHS in the early 1940’s, also went on to compete at ISNU.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Sports were not the only thing that occupied the time of the kids of Cornell High School. Chorus, FFA, Band, Student Government, Dances, and Plays were all offered at CHS.
To view a very brief video clip of the Cornell High School Marching Band in action during the 1980 Northern Illinois University Homecoming parade in DeKalb check out this YouTube video sent to us by “Tom”:
http://youtu.be/sC-hq3JrAuU?t=2m45s
CORNELL HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIAL PARK
The village of Cornell and the Cornell High School Alumni have created a very nice park on the site of the former Cornell High School building. The park includes a memorial stone, personalized brick display, the cornerstones of the former high School building, and a wonderful mural on the side of the former school agriculture and shop building.
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Cornell HS Memorial Park Brick Display |
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Cornell HS Dedication |
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Cornell HS Mural |
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SPECIAL ALUMNI GATHERING FOR CORNELL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES AND TOWNSPEOPLE
From Jo Morrison (Class of 1967):
It was a very special event in Cornell that took place on October 02, 2010.
This was a glorious day. A great celebration of our school, community, roots, and memories being rekindled.
“Cornell Alumni Tribute to Mrs. Godden.”
We honored all alumni and faculty by a tree planting and plaque at the site of the former school and we paid tribute to longtime teacher Jean Godden. “
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Cornell Tree and Plaque Dedication 2010 |
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Cornell Tribute October 02, 2010 |
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