Green Valley High School “Hornets”

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Green Valley School
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Green Valley, Illinois
Green Valley’s First School Building
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Photo Courtesy of Clark Oltman

The History of Green Valley High School

Green Valley (population 630) is located in southern portion of Tazwell County approximately 10 miles south of Pekin.  The main roadway leading to and through Green Valley is Illinois Route 29. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad curves its way through the town.  The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad also passes by the western edge of town and a branch of the G. M. & O. Railroad runs by the eastern side of town.

The area in which Green Valley is located had begun being settled as early as 1853. A post office was established here in 1866. The village was platted in 1872. It is believed the town name comes from settlers who were originally from Green Valley, New Jersey. (“Place Names of Illinois” by Edward Callary). Green Valley reached a peak population of 768 in 1980.

Green Valley has a long and storied history of providing education for its children.  The school system was probably started in the late 1800s. A three-year high school was started in the late 1890s. The first high school graduating class earned their diplomas in 1898. High school education continued for more than 90 years until the late 1980s when consolidation talks with nearby Manito Forman High School took place. This consolidation took place in the summer of 1991 with the creation of the Midwest Central School District.  Midwest Central High School was located in Manito.  Green Valley has remained the home for the Midwest Central Elementary School for grades 6 – 8.

The building used now for the Midwest Central Middle School in Green Valley was an addition built in 1960 for the grade school, but it was connected to the high school gymnasium by a breezeway.  The gymnasium is the only building still standing which was used for the High School, and it has since been completely renovated. The original Green Valley High School building has been razed.

The official mascot of the high school athletic teams was the “Hornets” but the students often referred to themselves as the “Green Hornets.”  Also, the colors were historically green and white, but gold was added to the green & white in 1976.

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Green Valley High School Quick Facts

Year opened:             late 1890s

1st graduating class:  1898

Year closed:              1991

Consolidated to:       Midwest Central School District (Manito)

School nickname:      the “Hornets” or “Green Hornets”

School colors:           Green, Gold,  & White

School Fight Song:    Fight Them Green Valley

Sung to the tune of “Anchor’s Aweigh.”

                                  Fight them Green Valley,

                                 Fight them GV!

                                 We know that you can win

                                 A vic-to-ry for Green Val-ley!

                                 So, roll up that score you boys,

                                 Roll up that score!

                                 Take them right down the floor and

                                 Beat ’em boys! Beat ’em boys!

                                             Ra, Ra, Ra!

                                  Chanted after the song:

                                 G,G, Gre, e,e, een

                                 V,V, VAl, l,l,ley!

                                 Oooooh Boy!,  Oooooh Joy!

                                 Green Valley, Illinois

GVHS Circa-1929
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Green Valley Gymnasium Entrance
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Athletics

IHSA hardware was won in boys basketball, boys baseball, and girls softball (www.ihsa.org).  It is thought that GVHS also offered track for the boys as well as basketball and track for the girls.  Very limited information is available regarding the many great accomplishments of Green Valley High.  The ones we are able to research are listed below.

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Boys Basketball

The Green Valley High School Hornets won a total of FIVE District titles. The first title came in 1938 and the last in 1968.  We are sure Green Valley had many other great seasons on the hardwood court.  The years of the District titles are listed below. Unfortunately the records are not yet available.

1914-15      Undefeated Season!   14-0

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1915-16 through 1918-19  Postseason scores, record, and coaches’ names needed.

  —–  

1919-20       Peoria District Tournament                     Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Armington 37-14

Peoria Manual beat Peoria Central in title game. 

  —–  

1920-21       Peoria District Tournament                     Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Minonk 24-20

Peoria Central beat Peoria Manual in title game. 

  —–  

1921-22       Mason City District Runner-Up              Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Manito 32-7

2nd Rd Beat Minier 23-10

Semi-Final Beat New Holland 20-17

Title game lost to Athens 32-31

Athens lost in Sectional Semi-Final 

  —–  

1922-23 through 1929-30  Postseason scores, record, and coaches’ names needed.

  —–  

1930-31      Pekin District Tournament                       Coach’s name & season record needed.

1st Rd Beat Mackinaw 30-10

All other postseason scores for this season are needed.

  —–  

1931-32       Pekin  District Runner-Up                     Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Minier 17-16

Semi-Final Beat Delavan 27-22

Title game lost to Pekin 20-19

Pekin lost in Sectional Semi-Final 

  —–  

1932-33      Pekin District Tournament                        Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Delavan 28-23

Peoria Kingman beat Pekin in title game.

  —–  

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

1st Rd Beat Farmington 26-16

2nd Rd lost to Pekin 49-12

Pekin beat Peoria Kingman in title game.

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

1st Rd Beat Armington 29-23

Seni-Final lost to Pekin 44-16

Pekin beat Peoria Manual in title game.

  —–  

1935-36      Delavan District Runner-Up                    Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Tremont 28-21

Semi-Final Beat Manito 32-24

Title Game lost to Delavan 21-20

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

1st Rd Beat Forest City 38-8

2nd Rd lost to San Jose 27-26

Petersburg beat Kilbourne in title game.

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1937-38      San Jose District Champions                  Coach  J.A. Jones

1st Rd Beat Easton 41-22

Semi-Final Beat Tallula 37-26

Title Game Beat Bath 36-34

Regional Scores Needed

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1938-39      Hopedale District Tournament              Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Carlock 25-16

Semi-Final lost to Stanford 41-26

Stanford beat Deer Creek in title game.

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1939-40       Mackinaw District Runner-Up                  Coach’s name & record needed.

Early Round Scores Needed.

Title game lost to Stanford 33-31

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1940-41        Minier District Tournament                       Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Minier 37-18

Minier beat Mackinaw in title game.

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1941-42       Postseason scores, record, and coaches’ names needed.

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1942-43        Minier District Tournament                       Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Congerville 59-15

Semi-Final lost to Minier 47-28

Minier beat Deer Creek in title game.

  —–  

1943-44       Postseason scores, record, and coaches’ names needed.

  —–  

1944-45        Minier District Tournament                       Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Stanford 46-37

Minier beat Stanford in title game.

  —–  

1945-46        Minier District Runner-Up                          Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Stanford 62-16

Semi-Final Beat Deer Creek 47-34

Title Game lost to Minier 53-39

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1946-47        Minier District Tournament                       Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Carlock 72-35

Semi-Final lost to Minier 44-35

Minier beat Hopedale in title game.

  —–  

1947-48        Minier District Tournament                       Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Carlock 62-36

Semi-Final lost to Minier 53-38

Minier beat Manito in title game.

  —–  

1948-49      San Jose District Champions                       Coach Harry Koch

1st Rd Beat Armington 55-28

Semi-Final Beat McLean 57-41

Title Game Beat Hopedale 44-33

Lincoln Regional Tournament

1st Rd Beat Elkhart 47-35

Semi-Final lost to Mt. Pulaski 42-36

Mt. Pulaski beat Lincoln in title game.

  —–  

1949-50        Armington District Tournament                  Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Armington 66-33

McLean beat New Holland in title game.

  —–  

1950-51        Green Valley District Tournament                Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Hopedale 49-47

San Jose beat Minier in title game.

  —–  

1951-52        Green Valley District Tournament                Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Hopedale (score needed)

Semi-Final lost to Danvers 41-31

Minier beat Danvers in title game.

  —–  

1952-53        Green Valley District Tournament                Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to San Jose 60-40

San Jose beat Danvers in title game.

  —–  

1953-54        Green Valley District Tournament                Coach’s name & record needed.

Green Valley Scores Needed

Minier beat San Jose in title game.

  —–  

1954-55       Postseason scores, record, and coaches’ names needed.

  —–  

1955-56        Green Valley District Tournament                Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to San Jose 85-44

Minier beat San Jose in title game.

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1956-57        Tremont District Tournament                       Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to San Jose 72-62

Minier beat Danvers in title game.

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1957-58        Stanford District Tournament                       Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Armington 63-40

Minier beat Danvers in title game.

  —–  

1958-59        Green Valley District Runner-Up                   Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Tremont 53-45

Semi-Final Beat Hopedale 63-61 (O/T)

Title Game lost to Danvers 60-57

  —–  

1959-60      Tremont District Champions                            Coach Myers

1st Rd Beat Minier 63-47

Semi-Final Beat Danvers 78-66

Title Game Beat Delavan 67-56

Bartonville Limestone Regional Tournament

1st Rd Beat Morton 69-62

Semi-Final lost to Pekin 68-57

Pekin beat East Peoria in title game. 

  —–  

1960-61        Green Valley District Tournament                   Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Stanford 82-68

Semi-Final lost to Tremont 76-51

Tremont beat Danvers in title game.

  —–  

1961-62        Tremont District Tournament                          Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Danvers 66-50

Semi-Final lost to Delavan 54-48

Tremont beat Delavan in title game.

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1962-63      Green Valley District Champions                      Coach Don Lowe

1st Rd Beat Stanford 74-48

Semi-Final Beat Minier 65-52

Title Game Beat Tremont 61-45

Bartonville Limestone Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Washington 55-43

East Peoria beat Limestone in title game. 

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1963-64       Postseason scores, record, and coaches’ names needed.

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1964-65        Green Valley District Tournament                   Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Tremont 55-49

Semi-Final lost to Delavan 73-64

Minier beat Delavan in title game.

  —–  

1965-66        Tremont District Tournament                       Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to San Jose 93-57

San Jose beat Delavan in title game.

  —–  

1966-67        Delavan District Runner-Up                         Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Minier 79-59

Semi-Final Beat Tremont 67-64

Title Game lost to Delavan 69-63

  —–  

1967-68      Green Valley District Champions                   Coach Richard Streitberger

1st Rd Beat Delavan 61-44

Semi-Final Beat Hopedale 57-51

Title Game Beat San Jose 53-52

East Peoria Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to East Peoria 49-42

Pekin beat Limestone in title game. 

  —–  

1968-69        Tremont District Tournament                      Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Danvers 58-56

Semi-Final lost to San Jose 80-58

San Jose beat Stanford-Minier in title game.

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1969-70        Tremont District Tournament                      Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Tremont 64-59

Semi-Final lost to Stanford 63-59

Hopedale beat Stanford-Minier in title game.

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1970-71        Green Valley District Runner-Up                  Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat San Jose 87-46

Semi-Final Beat Delavan 72-56

Title Game lost to Hopedale 79-70

  —–  

1971-72        Mason City Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney         Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat San Jose 45-42

Semi-Final lost to Illini Bluffs 41-38

Illini Bluffs beat Easton in title game.

  —–  

1972-73        Manito Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney                 Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Manito Forman 65-56

Mason City beat Manito Forman in title game.

  —–  

1973-74        Mason City Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney         Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Easton 74-51

Mason City beat Illini Bluffs in title game.

  —–  

1974-75        Manito Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney                 Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to San Jose 63-52

Manito Forman beat Illini Bluffs in title game.

  —–  

1975-76        Mason City Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney         Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to New Holland-Middletown 70-67

Mason City beat Manito Forman in title game.

  —–  

1976-77        Manito Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney                 Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Manito Forman 62-60

Mason City beat Manito Forman in title game.

  —–  

1977-78        Manito Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney                 Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Manito Forman 57-51

Mason City beat Manito Forman in title game.

  —–  

1978-79        Mason City Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney         Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Mason City 73-60

Semi-Final lost to Manito Forman 69-66

Manito Forman beat Illini Bluffs in title game.

  —–  

1979-80       Mason City Class ‘A’ Regional              Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Mason City 64-62

Mason City beat New Holland-Middletown in title game.

**One of the best players to grace the hardwood of Green Valley High School was Brice “Skipp” Reining. In a December 7, 1979 game against Greenview, he scored an incredible 59 points in the game. He went 23-for-46 from the field.

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1980-81        Hartsburg Class ‘A’ Regional                 Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Mason City 69-66

Manito Forman beat Delavan in title game.

  —–  

1981-82        Delavan Class ‘A’ Regional                 Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Hartsburg-Emden 65-60

Manito Forman beat Delavan in title game.

  —–  

1982-83        Glasford Class ‘A’ Regional                 Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Tremont 36-33

Delavan beat Tremont in title game.

  —–  

1983-84        Manito Class ‘A’ Regional                    Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Manito Forman 39-33

Manito Forman beat Mason City in title game.

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1984-85        Mason City Class ‘A’ Regional                Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Delavan 66-60

Mason City beat Stanford Olympia in title game.

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1985-86        Tremont Class ‘A’ Regional                     Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Illini Bluffs 54-45

Stanford Olympia beat Mason City in title game.

  —–  

1986-87        Delavan Class ‘A’ Regional                       Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Illini Bluffs 70-58

Stanford Olympia beat Illini Bluffs in title game.

  —–  

1987-88        Glasford Class ‘A’ Regional                       Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to San Jose 50-49

Stanford Olympia beat Illini Bluffs in title game.

  —–  

1988-89        Manito Class ‘A’ Regional                         Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Illini Bluffs 78-65

Stanford Olympia beat Tremont in title game.

  —–  

1989-90        Mason City Class ‘A’ Regional                   Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Tremont 85-59

Stanford Olympia beat Illini Central in title game.

  —–  

1990-91     Tremont Class ‘A’ Regional                      Coach’s name & record needed.

**1st Rd lost to Tremont 69-62

Olympia beat Illini Central in title game. 

**Final varsity boys basketball game for Green Valley High School. 

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Boys Baseball

The diamond men of Green Valley High School also won a District title. It was during the 1940-41 season when the Hornets were the best of the little schools in their area.  Again, the coach’s name and team record is not available.

1936-37   Tazewell County Champions                     Coach Harry Mount  (SEE TEAM PHOTO BELOW)
1940-41   District Champions

1944-45   Corn Belt Conference Champions              Coach Ewell Lindsey
1970-71   Mackinaw Valley Conference Champions  Coach Norm English
1976-77   Tomahawk &

               Lincolnland Conference Champions          Coach Don Harris
1981-82   Lincolnland Conference Champions           Coach Steve McAdams
1983-84   Lincolnland Conference Champions           Coach Steve McAdams

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Girls Softball

The Green Valley Lady Hornets softball team won the school’s last IHSA title during the 1988-89 school year.  The girls won the Regional title just two years before the school closed.  The year is available but the team’s record is not.

1988-89     Regional Champions        Coach Jack Olson

As of 2005 Jack Olson still coaches Midwest Central Girls Softball

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Girls Track

1985-86 Lincolnland Conference Champions  Coach unknown

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Extra-Curricular Activities

Below are photos of the “Women’s Club” taken in 1915 and the Junior/Senior Banquet taken in 1950.  “Left click” on the photos to view an enlarged version.

GVHS Jr.-Sr. Banquet – 1950
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GVHS Women’s Club – 1915
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Looking for More Information…

…regarding the many successes and accomplishments of Green Valley High School.  There were many other great seasons in GVHS history besides those listed on the IHSA web site.

Thanks to Clark Oltman, a 1977 Green Valley graduate, for having supplied much of the information included and some of the photos.  Clark’s father was a school administrator for many years in Green Valley.  Their family attends Princeville Public Schools and St. Mary of the Woods Church.

Thanks also to Jon Wheat for providing the photos on this page.

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We are always looking for more information on the athletic and other  accomplishments  as well as a photo of the old school building. You can e-mail information to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net 
GREEN VALLEY BASEBALL TEAM OF 1937 – SUBMITTED BY JOHN WERTZ

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