| Homer School Gymnnasium 2015 |
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Athletics
The Homer High School Panthers competed in basketball, football, and track for the boys and probably basketball, track, and volleyball for the girls. It is possible other sports were offered but we will need in-put from a resident or alum to provide further information.
There were some real successful seasons on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org) in boy’s basketball. There were also two male athletes who brought home IHSA hardware from the state meet. Only one season is listed on the site for football, though we are confident there were many more that were quite successful. There was no listing of athletic accomplishments for the girls teams. If you can provide any information regarding Homer High School athletics please follow the directions at the bottom of this page. The best seasons according to the IHSA web site are listed below.
Boys Basketball
The Homer Panthers brought home 7 District titles and 6 Regional titles during their existence. They also enjoyed several great seasons on the hardwood. One game of note is listed on the IHSA web site. It involves a District Tournament game played on March 6, 1930 between Georgetown and Homer. The game is tied for the all-time lowest scoring game in IHSA history and is listed in the National Federation Record Book. Final score: Georgetown 1 Homer 0. On Feb. 14, 1979, Homer and Bement played in a marathon seven-overtime game in which Homer won 97-89! Below are the more successful seasons listed at Homer High.
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1921-22 Urbana District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Mahomet 34-8
Mahomet lost to Odgen in 2nd Rd
Ogden lost to Fisher in semi-final
Fisher beat Villa Grove in title game
Fisher lost to Atwood in Sectional
Atwood lost to Centralia in State Title Game
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1922-23 through 1931-32 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.
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1930-31 St. Joseph District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Urbana 19-10
Urbana beat Fisher in title game.
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1931-32 Urbana District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Urbana University H.S. 18-7
2nd Rd lost to Urbana 32-8
Urbana beat Ogden in title game.
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1932-33 Urbana District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Mansfield 18-15
Mansfield lost to Champaign in semi-final
Mahomet beat Champaign in title game
Mahomet lost to Harvey Thornton in Elite 8 Rd
Harvey Thornton beat Springfield in State Title Game
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1933-34 Urbana District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Urbana U-High 22-13
Semi-final lost to Champaign 40-15
Champaign lost to Urbana in title game
Urbana lost to Moline in Elite 8 Rd
Moline finished 4th in State Tourney
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1934-35 Fisher District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Urbana U-High 27-19
2nd Rd Beat Bellflower 32-30
Semi-final lost to Urbana 31-14
Urbana beat Fisher in title game
Urbana lost in Sectional
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1935-36 11 – 11 Westville Regional Tourney Coach Ray Litherland
1st Rd lost to Danville 43-12
Danville beat Caitlin in title game
Danville lost to Decatur in State Title Game
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1936-37 10 – 12 Danville District Tournament Coach Ray Litherland
1st Rd Beat Ridge Farm 25-21
Semi-Final lost to Sidell 23-16
Ogden beat Sidell in title game.
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1937-38 Sidell District Tournament Coach Ray Litherland
1st Rd lost to Sidell 18-12
Allerton beat Sidell in title game.
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1938-39 18 – 6 Sidell District Tournament Coach Ray Litherland
Lost to Allerton 40-37
Sidell beat Indianola in title game.
| The Homer Basketball Team of 1938-39 |
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| With Their Great Coach R.S. Litherland |
1939-40 28 – 3 IHSA District Champions Coach Ray Litherland
Early Round District Scores Needed
Title Game Beat Indianola 27-19
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Danville Regional Champions
1st Rd beat Westville 39-31
Semi-Final beat Catlin 43-24
Title Game Beat Georgetown 22-18
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Champaign Sectional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Urbana 35-33 (2 O/Ts)
Urbana lost to Champaign in semi-final
Champaign beat Paxton in title game
Champaign placed 4th in State Tournament
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1940-41 34 – 1 Mansfield District Champs Coach Ray Litherland
Undefeated Regular Season!
District Scores
1st Rd Beat Sydney 41-12
Semi-Final Beat Tolono 55-18
Title Game Beat Ogden 43-30
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Danville Regional Champions
1st Rd Beat Urbana U-High 34-14
Semi-Final Beat Sadorus 22-16
Title Game Beat Urbana 41-31
(This season both teams advanced to the Sectional)
Champaign Sectional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Potomac 37-28
Potomac lost to Champaign in semi-final
Champaign lost to Urbana in title game
Urbana lost to Morton in State Title Game
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1941-42 27 – 5 Danville Regional Champs Coach Ray Litherland
Not Assigned to a District Tourney this season.
Regional Scores
1st Rd Beat Catlin 44-31
Semi-final Beat Westville 32-31
Title Game Beat Danville 26-24
Casey Sectional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Vandalia 36-32 (O/T)
Vandalia lost to Paris in semi-final
Paris beat Mattoon in title game
Paris beat Moline in State Title Game
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1942-43 Hume District Tournament Coach Ray Litherland
Semi-Final lost to Ogden 44-39
Allerton beat Ogden in title game.
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1943-44 Postseason scores & record needed Coach Ray Litherland
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1944-45 Champaign Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
Not assigned to District Tournament
1st Rd lost to Sadorus 50-36
Sadorus lost to Urbana in semi-final
Urbana lost to Champaign in title game
Champaign lost to Decatur in State Title Game
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1945-46 Fisher Regional Tournament Coach Ray Litherland
Season Record Needed
Did not play in District
1st Rd Beat Bellflower 47-39
Semi-final lost to Fisher 49-41
Fisher lost to Champaign in title game
Champaign beat Centralia in State Title Game!
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1946-47 24 – 5 Champaign Regional Tourney Coach Ray Litherland
Not Assigned to District Tourney
1st Rd lost to Champaign 82-22
Champaign beat Urbana in title game
Champaign lost to Paris in State Title Game
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1947-48 Mansfield District Runner-Up Coach Ray Litherland
Season Record Needed
1st Rd Beat Sidney 36-29
Semi-final Beat Philo 33-29
Title Game lost to Tolono 43-20
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1948-49 Longview District Champion Coach Ray Litherland
Season Record Needed
District Scores
Semi-final Beat Philo 38-26
Title Game Beat Sidney (?)
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Champaign Regional Tournament
1st Rd Beat Urbana 46-44
Semi-final lost to Monticello 57-44
Monticello lost to Champaign in title game
Champaign lost in Sweet 16 Round
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1949-50 Danville Regional Tournament Coach Ray Litherland
Season Record Needed
Did not play in District
1st Rd lost to Westville 54-44
Westville lost to Oakwood in semi-final
Oakwood lost to Danville in title game
Danville lost to Mt. Vernon in State Title Game
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1950-51 Westville Regional Tourney Coach Ray Litherland
Season Record Needed
Did not play in District
1st Rd lost to Westville 58-35
Westville lost to Danville in title game
Danville won Sectional, lost in Sweet 16 Rd
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1951-52 27 – 4 Danville Regional Champs Coach Ray Litherland
Not Assigned to District Tournament
1st Rd Beat Catlin 52-43
Semi-final Beat Georgetown 57-40
Title Game Beat Danville 51-50
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Champaign Sectional Tourney
Semi-final lost to Champaign 53-44
CHAMPAIGN (53): Leach 15, Burks 14, McKinney 9, Butts 6, Hopkins 4, Koch 3, Kellerhals 2.
HOMER (44): J. Lewis 19, B. Lewis 14, Umbarger 8, Temple 2, Dodd 1.
Champaign beat Bloomington in title game
Champaign lost to Hebron in Sweet 16 Rd
Hebron won IHSA State Title over Quincy
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1952-53 14 – 12 Westville Regional Tourney Coach John Brown
Did not play in District
1st Rd lost to Westville 71-67
Westville lost to Schlarman in semi-final
Schlarman beat Georgetown in title game
Schlarman won Sectional, placed 4th in IHSA Tourney
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1953-54 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
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1954-55 IHSA District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
District Scores Needed
Westville Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Danville 86-55
Danville lost to Georgetown in title game
Georgetown won Sectional, lost in Sweet 16 Rd
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1955-56 Chrisman District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Ridge Farm 89-61
Ridge Farm lost to St. Joseph in title game
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1956-57 Ridge Farm District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Chrisman 73-48
Chrisman beat Metcalf Young America in title game
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1957-58 Homer District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Ridge Farm 62-49
Ridge Farm lost to Chrisman in semi-final
Chrisman beat St. Joseph in title game
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1958-59 Broadlands District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Ogden 49-48
Ogden lost to Broadlands ABL in title game
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1959-60 Homer District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Homer scores needed
Catlin beat ABL in title game
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1960-61 Broadlands District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to ABL 74-47
ABL lost to St. Joseph in title game
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1961-62 Homer District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Homer scores needed
ABL beat Catlin in title game
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1962-63 Broadlands District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to ABL 58-55
ABL beat Ogden in title game
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1963-64 Homer District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Homer scores needed
ABL beat Ridge Farm in title game
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1964-65 Broadlands District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to ABL 81-59
ABL lost to Catlin in title game
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1965-66 Homer District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
Semi-Final lost to ABL 67-36
ABL beat Sidell Jamaica in title game.
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1966-67 Ridge Farm District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Ridge Farm 62-52
ABL beat Ridge Farm in title game
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1967-68 16 – 11 Broadlands District Champs Coach Bob Gilhaus
Semi-final Beat ABL 68-55
Title Game Beat Ridge Farm 54-52
Danville Schlarman Regional
1st Rd Beat Danville 58-56
Lost to 3rd Ranked Schlarman 83-49 in semi-final
Schlarman beat Oakwood in title game
Schlarman won Sectional, lost in Sweet 16 Rd
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1968-69 Homer District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Ridge Farm
Other scores needed
1969-70 8 – 17 Ridge Farm District Tourney Coach Bob Gilhaus
Season Record Needed
Semi-final lost to ABL 65-53
ABL lost to Sidell Jamaica in title game
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1970-71 20 – 7 IHSA District Champions Coach Richard Burgmeier
District Scores Needed
Danville Regional Tourney
1st Rd lost to Danville Schlarman 72-58
Danville beat St. Joe-Ogden in title game
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1971-72 22 – 5 Broadlands Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Richard Burgmeier
1st Rd Beat Villa Grove 64-56
Semi-final Beat ABL 61-60
Title Game lost to St. Joe-Ogden 66-58
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1972-73 19 – 5 Little Okaw Conf. Champs Coach Jim Skinner
2nd place- conf. tourney Asst Coach Jim Trask
Lost to Cerro Gordo – Elite 8 finalist
Tolono Regional Tourney
1st Rd lost to Villa Grove 62-60
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1973-74 18 – 10 Broadview Regional Champs Coach Jim Trask
Jamaica Tourney 3rd Place Asst Coach Randy Wadell
Little Okaw Tourney 2nd Place
Broadlands Regional Champs
1st Rd Beat Newman 66-58
Semi-final Beat ABL 83-59
Title Game Beat Tuscola 60-58
Tuscola Sectional Tourney
Semi-final lost to Cerro Gordo 69-55
Cerro Gordo beat Chrisman in title game
Cerro Gordo lost to State Champ Lawrenceville in Elite 8 Round
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1974-75 15 – 12 Broadlands Reg. Runner-Up Coach Jim Trask
2nd Place Little Okaw Tourney Asst Coach Randy Waddell
Broadlands Regional Scores
1st Rd Beat Normal U-High 79-36
Semi-final Beat St. Joe-Ogden 57-50
Title Game lost to Villa Grove 53-32
Villa Grove lost in 1st Rd of Sectional
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1975-76 23 – 4 Tolono Regional Runner-Up Coach Jim Trask
Little Okaw Tourney Champs Asst Coach Randy Waddell
Little Okaw Reg Season Runner-Up (12-2)
Regional Scores
1st Rd Beat ABL 65-60
Semi-final Beat Tolono Unity 78-62
Title Game lost to St. Joe-Ogden 85-56
St. Joe-Ogden lost in Sectional Semi-to Monticello
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1976-77 9 – 14 Broadlands Regional Tourney Coach Jim Trask
1st Rd Beat Villa Grove 52-44
Semi-final lost to St.Joe-Ogden 73-60
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1977-78 7 – 16 St. Joseph Regional Tourney Coach Jim Trask
1st Rd lost to ABL 61-47
ABL beat St. Joe-Ogden in title game.
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1978-79 15 – 10 IHSA Regional Champions Coach Jim Trask
Regional Scores Needed
Tuscola Sectional Tournament
Semi-final lost to Decatur St. Theresa 72-57
St. Theresa beat Georgetown in title game
St. Theresa lost in Sweet 16 Round
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1979-80 17 – 9 St. Joseph Regional Tourney Coach Randy Waddell
1st Rd Beat ABL 88-67
Semi-Final lost to Mahomet-Seymour 58-55
Mahomet Seymour beat Tolono Unity in title game
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1980-81 1 – 21 Broadlands Regional Tourney Coach Mike Spezia
1st Rd lost to ABL 84-45
St. Joe-Ogden beat Villa Grove in title game
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1981-82 7 – 16 Tolono Regional Tournament Coach Bob Gilhaus
1st Rd Beat Villa Grove 77-75
Semi-Final lost to St. Joe-Ogden 87-46
Tolono Unity beat St. Joe-Odgen in title game.
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1982-83 12 – 12 Ogden Regional Tournament Coach Bob Gilhaus
1st Rd lost to Oakwood 73-71
St. Joe Ogden beat Tolono Unity in title game.
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1983-84 15 – 7 Broadlands Regional Tourney Coach Bob Gilhaus
1st Rd Beat Urbana U-High 76-35
Semi-Final lost to Villa Grove 68-57
Villa Grove beat Oakwood in title game.
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1984-85 Tolono Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Oakwood 73-53
Tolono Unity beat St. Joe-Odgen in title game.
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1985-86 St. Joseph Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Villa Grove 88-65
St. Joe Ogden beat Tolono Unity in title game.
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1986-87 Broadlands Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to St. Joe-Ogden 93-68
Tolono Unity beat Tuscola in title game.
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1987-88 Tolono Regional Tourney Coach Bill Burns
**1st Rd lost to Villa Grove 87-63
Tuscola beat St. Joe-Ogden in title game.
**Final varsity boys basketball game for Homer High School.
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One of the all-time winningest coaches in state history, Don Kemp, started his coaching career at sometime at Homer High School. After stops at Arenzville and Concord Triopia, he had a cumulative record of 564-236. Another great coach, Don Vandersnick, had a coaching stop at Homer along with stops at Batavia, Galva, Wheaton and Lincoln and had a record of 363-203.
*Greg Bange – Great player named to the 1980 Decatur Herald & Review All-Area team with a 24.3 points per game average. Greg is also still listed (2015) on the IHSA website as having the 19th highest scoring average for a career at 21.3 points in 71 games!
(http://ihsa.org/SportsActivities/BoysBasketball/RecordsHistory.aspx)
Basketball Coaches of Homer High School (1968 – 1980)
Bob Gilhaus- 1968 (15-11), 1969 (15-12), 1970 (8-17)- Total (38-40)
(2) District Titles and (1) Regional win against Danville (1968)
(2) Runner-up finishes in Champaign County Tournament (Losing to Unity in 1968, 1969)
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Richard Bergmeier- 1971 (20-7), 1972 (22-5)- Total 42-10
2nd Place Fisher Tournament 1971
2nd Place County Tournament (lost to St. Joe- Last Champaign County Tournament) 1971
ECC League Co-Champs (w/ St. Joe) at 8-1 (1971)
Broadlands District Champs 1971
Consolation Champs at Charleston Holiday Tourney 1972
1st Little Okaw regular Season Champs (13-1) 1972
1st Little Okaw Conference Tournament Champs 1972 (Beating Cerro Gordo 72-69 in OT) 1972
Regional Runner up 1972 (Losing to St Joe 66-58) 1972
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Jim Skinner- 1973 (19-5)
Little Okaw Regular Season Champs (13-1; beating out 2nd ranked Elite 8 Cerro Gordo 12-2)
Little Okaw Conference Tournament 2nd Place (Losing to 2nd ranked Elite 8 Cerro Gordo 64-60 OT)
One of (3) teams to beat 2nd ranked Cerro Gordo (IHSA Class A Champion Lawrenceville & Oakland were the other two)
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Jim Trask- 1974 (18-10), 1975 (15-12), 1976 (23-4), 1977 (9-14), 1978 (7-16), 1979 (15-10)- Total (87-66)
Regional Champs 1974, 1979, Regional Runner-ups, 1975, 1976
Little Okaw Tournament Champs 1976, Runner ups in 1974, 1975
3rd Place Jamaica Tourney 1974, Jamaica Consolation Tourney Champs 1975, 1976
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Randy Waddell- 1980 (17-9)
2nd Place Little Okaw regular season (10-4)
2nd Place Little Okaw Tournament (losing to Cerro Gordo)
3rd Place Jamaica Tournament
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BOYS TRACK & FIELD
Two individuals from the Homer High School Panther track teams brought back a total of 5 medals from the State Track Meet. There accomplishments are listed below.
1970-71 Bill Edwards Discus 4th Place
1971-72 Bill Edwards Discus 3rd Place
1974-75 Eric Miller 330 Yard Low Hurdles 8th Place
1975-76 Eric Miller 120 Yard High Hurdles 3rd Place
Eric Miller 330 Yard Low Hurdles 4th Place
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