Genoa High School

Posted on by davenanninga in Uncategorized
Early Genoa H.S. Building
A building with trees in front of it Description automatically generated with medium confidence
Genoa, IL

The History of Genoa High School

Genoa (population 4,169) is located in northeastern Illinois in the northeastern portion of DeKalb County.  The Illinois Routes of 23 and 72 intersect in Genoa.  The Soo Line Railroad and the Chicago, Central, & Pacific Railroads intersect in Genoa as well.  The Kishwaukee River flows by the west side of town.

The history of the town can be found on Genoa’s official website www.genoa-il.com.  The town was first settled in 1835.  Genoa was incorporated in as a village in 1876.  It was further incorporated as a city in 1911.  It was known as an important farm community early in its history and recently has become a more urban area.

Genoa probably began a school system for its children in the late 1800s.  A high school was likely established by the late 1800s.  Genoa High School served the town on a solo basis for about forty years.  It was in 1947 when the town of Genoa and its neighbor to the west, Kingston, agreed to consolidate their educational efforts.  The result was the formation of the Genoa-Kingston School District.

The high school for the district remained in Genoa.  The fate of the original Genoa High School is being sought.

Genoa High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                                 late 1800s / early 1900s

Year closed:                                  1947

Consolidated to:                            Genoa-Kingston School District

Genoa HS team nickname:             unavailable

Genoa HS team colors:                  unavailable

School Fight Song:                        unavailable
Athletics

The IHSA website (www.ihsa.org) acknowledges Genoa High School in boys basketball. It is probable that basekball and track were also offered at the school in its early years.  School team nickname, team colors, fight song, team records, and coach’s names are all items we are seeking.

Boys Basketball

The Genoa High School boys basketball program won a District title in 1939-40.  At this time this is all of the information we currently have availalble on this or any other GHS team. Records and coach’s names are being sought. Some scores involving Genoa High School in the IHSA State Tournament were located at a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are printed below.

1933-34                Dekalb District Tournament                        Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Sycamore 64-25

Sycamore beat Dekalb in title game

1934-35                Dekalb District Tournament                        Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Kingston 36-15

Kingston lost in 2nd Rd to Kingston

Waterman beat Dekalb for title.

1935-36                Hampshire District Tournament                Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Plato Center 38-24

Plato Center lost to Burlington in title game

1936-37                Dekalb District Tournament                        Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Sycamore 22-17

Sycamore lost to Dekalb in semi-final

Dekalb beat Waterman in title game

1937-38  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

Genoa HS Basketball Team 1937-38
A group of men posing for a picture Description automatically generated with medium confidence
Submitted By Tom Parker (Ted Parker Standing Left of Coach)

1938-39                DeKalb Regional Runner-Up                       Coach Walter Nieman

                               1st Rd Beat Hampshire 42-27

                               Semi-final Beat Sycamore 37-27

                               Title Game lost to Waterman 39-22

(Top two in Regional advance to Sectioinal)

Elgin Sectional Qualifier

                               1st Rd Beat New Trier 29-28

                               Semi-final lost to Dundee 30-12

Morton beat Dundee in title game

Genoa HS Basketball Team of 1938-39
A group of men posing for a picture Description automatically generated with medium confidence
Regional Runner-UP (Submitted by Victor Stott)

Front Row, L – R: Don Eicklor, Emerson Medine, Malon Davis, Jim Stott, Harlod Brandenuikl, Harold “Slippery” Weiss,

Second Row, L – R:  Bernie Frazier, Ed Drake, George Calhoun, John Montgomery, Phillip Gormley, George McNichols, Coach Walter Nieman

Third Row, L – R:  Stanley Hobson, Don Duval, Warren, Brown, Wayne Hammer, John Frazier Jr.  

1939-40                     IHSA District Champions!                    Coach’s name & record needed

District & Regional Scores Needed

1940-41  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1941-42  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1942-43                     Sycamore Regional Tournament        Coach’s name & record needed

                                     1st Rd lost to Waterman 43-31

Waterman lost to Sycamore in title game.

1943-44  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

1944-45                     Dekalb Regional Tournament             Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Waterman 38-34

Waterman beat Shabonna in title game

1945-46                     Sycamore Regional Tournament        Coach’s name & record needed

                                     1st Rd lost to Dekalb 39-35

Dekalb lost to Marengo in semi-final

Marengo lost to Sycamore in title game

1946-47                     Dekalb Regional Tournament             Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Dekalb 51-28

Dekalb beat Maple Park in title game

Need Your Assistance

Help us remember the many successes earned by the students of Genoa High School before there are gone forever.  We are especially seeking a photo of the old school building.  You can e-mail photos and information 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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