| Athletics
For such a short life span, the Farmer City-Mansfield Blue Devils and Lady Blue Devils certainly made some waves in the area as well as on state-wide level. The boys competed in football, basketball, track, and probably baseball. The girls were offered basketball, volleyball, track, and the unique sports of field hockey and bowling.
The above photo of the Farmer City-Mansfield football field has an interesting story in itself. The field is named after former Blue Devil football player Kenneth Rittenhouse and is aptly named “Kenneth Rittenhouse Memorial Field.” Kenneth was a player on the 1974-75 squad when a play on the field caused him to be paralyzed from the neck down. Kenneth survived for a few weeks before succumbing to his injuries. The field is located in Farmer City and serves today as the Blue Ridge High School football field.
Boys Track & Field
The Blue Devil thinclads had one really nice season which was, ironically, their last as Farmer City-Mansfield. In addition, a total of seven individual medals were won at the state meet.
1974-75 Individual Medalist
Mike Maynard Discus 6TH Place
1976-77 Individual Medalist
Dana McCoy Long Jump 7TH Place
1977-78 Individual Medalist
Dana McCoy Long Jump 2ND Place
1983-84 Individual Medalist
Jeff Rolson Discus 5TH Place
Shot Put 8TH Place
1984-85 Team Finished FIFTH at STATE MEET Competition!!
Individual Medalists
Jeff Rolson Shot Put STATE CHAMPION!!
Chris Campbell 100 Meter Hurdles 2ND Place
Final Team Standings
1.) Cairo HS 54
2.) Savana HS 25
3.) St. Anne HS 19
3.) Byron HS 19
5.) FARMER CITY-MANSFIELD HS 18
5.) Pontiac HS 18
5.) Princeton HS 18
8.) Walter Lutheran HS 17
9.) Carlinville, Yorkville, Beecher Tied 16
Girls Track & Field
The girls track program brought home a total of 8 individual medals and one relay medal from the State Meet. The 1984-85 team just missed a top-ten finish, placing 11th by one point in the final staandings.
1977-78 Individual Medalist
Cindy Emmerson 220 Yard Hurdles 4TH Place
120 Yard Hurdles 5TH Place
1979-80 Individual Medalists
Relay Team 4 X 400 Meter Relay 5TH Place
1982-83 Individual Medalists
Annie Waite High Jump 7TH Place
Brenda Schumacher Shot Put 8TH Place
1983-84 Individual Medalist
Brenda Schumacher Shot Put STATE CHAMPION!!
Discus 5TH Place
1984-85 Individual Medalist
Brenda Schumacher Discus STATE CHAMPION!!
Shot Put STATE CHAMPION!!
Brenda Schumacher finished her track career at FCMHS with three gold medals, a 5TH, and an 8TH place medal…great job Brenda!
Football
The football program was run by only one head coach during the school’s existance. Coach Bud Maynard continued his career at FCMHS after serving the Farmer City HS district for the previous 16 years. Coach Maynard was the coach at FGMHS from 1974 to 1985, all eleven seasons the school was in operation. He then continued for a few more years at Farmer City Blue Ridge before retiring as one of the winningest coaches in Illinois HS history! Coach’s best season at FCMHS is listed below.
1980-81 6 – 4 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Bud Maynard
Lost in first round
1984-85 The football team tied for going on to Coach Bud Maynard
the Class 1A playoffs with Leroy but since
Leroy won the regular season match up they
went on to the playoffs. Both the “named”
track stars, Chris Campbell and Jeff Rolson,
were on the football team as well. Chris
was usually double teamed because of his
re-known and Jeff, well Jeff just hit people HARD!!!
Girls Basketball
The girls basketball team had some nice seasons though it is confusing on when the program was begun. Keeping with the thought that the girls’ program started when we believe the school was established, the following are the best of the Lady Blue Devil seasons. Note that the main coach at FCMHS was Mike Hendricks, who coached the Lady Blue Devil program from 1975-76 through 1984-85.
1974-75 7 – 2 Coach Joe Basillo
1976-77 7 – 6 Coach Mike Hendricks
1977-78 9 – 6 Coach Mike Hendricks
1978-79 20 – 1 Undefeated Regular Season Coach Mike Hendricks
District Champions
1979-80 18 – 5 Coach Mike Hendricks
1980-81 17 – 6 Coach Mike Hendricks
1981-82 12 – 11 Coach Mike Hendricks
1982-83 19 – 5 Regional Champions Coach Mike Hendricks
1983-84 15 – 7 Coach Mike Hendricks
1984-85 19 – 4 Coach Mike Hendricks
Coach Hendricks finished his career at Farmer City-Mansfield HS with a record of 139 – 59 for a .696 winning % in his ten years at the helm!!
The Lady Blue Devils could score some points as well. On January 16th, 1981, Farmer City-Mansfield defeated Fisher in Sangamon Valley Conference play 104-2 (that is correct) for one of the widest margins of victory in IHSA history. FC-M started out with 68 points in the first half before settling down to win the game.
Boys Basketball
The boys’ basketball team won their only regional title in the first year of existence. The 1971-72 and 1973-74 teams won their Regional titles. The 1973-74 team was led under the guidance of Coach Don Steers. Unfortunately, no other Blue Devil teams or records are listed on the IHSA web site.
1971-72 Regional Champions
1973-74 20 – 7 Regional Champions Coach Don Steers
Girls Bowling
The Lady Bowlers of Farmer City-Mansfield High had a great year their first year of competition. The team of 1973-74 won their DIstrict and qualified for the State Meet.
1973-74 District Champions/Qualified for State Meet Competition!
Girls Field Hockey
For a small school, FCMHS did not mind mixing with the big schools. The girls competed in field hockey while it was offered by the IHSA. The teams of 1977 and 1978 in fact, won their sectionals and found themselves in the top 8 and final 4, respectively. The 1978 team just missed a championship match by losing in the semifinals, 1-0, to a school about 10 times their size, New Trier West!!
1976-77 10 – 1 Undefeated Regular Season
Sectional Champions
Elite 8 Qualifier
Lost to New Trier West in quarterfinals, 3-2
1977-78 Sectional Champions
Final Four Qualifier
Beat Chicago University High School in quarterfinals, 1-0
Lost to New Trier West HS 1-0, in semifinals
Boys Baseball
The boys baseball program had some nice seasons as well. In their inaugral season of 1971-72, the team won the Sangamon Valley Conference championship that spring!
1971-72 Sangamon Valley Conference Champions
If You Have Any More Information Regarding FCMHS
Please contact us via e-mail at veemonster1@yahoo.com. We are interested in all facets of Farmer City-Mansfield High School, not just the sports. We are especially interested in a photo of the school building. You can also write to us via real mail at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva
Chicago, Il. 60631 |
