| ATHLETICS
As you will see, the Hoopeston Cornjerkers enjoyed varying levels of success in several different sports and academic competitions. The boys competed in basketball, cross country, track, and wrestling. It is likely that football and baseball were also part of the athletic program. The school has had some success in speech conpetition held by the IHSA as well (www.ihsa.org).
Boys Basketball
The Cornjerkers have always been known for their excellent basketball program. It was no different in the times before consolidation took effect. No less than 10 Regional titles and one District title were earned by the Hoopeston High School hardwood court men. Unfortunately the team records and coach’s names of these and other great Hoopetson High basketball teams are not currently available.
1922-23 District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
District Scores Needed
Peoria Sectional Tourney
1st Rd lost to Cambridge
1923-24 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1924-25 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1925-26 13 – 8 Postseason Scores Needed Coach Brasel
1926-27 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1927-28 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
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 Milford District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Crescent City 31-18
2nd Rd lost to Watseka 40-18
Watseka lost title game to Potomac
1934-35 Hoopeston District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Bismarck 33-14
2nd Rd lost to Potomac 13-10
Potomac lost title game to Milford
1935-36 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Hoopeston did not compete in District
1st Rd Beat Sheldon 30-10
Sheldon lost title game to Potomac 20-18
1936-37 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Hoopeston did not compete in District
1st Rd lost to Cissna Park 18-15
Cissna Park beat Milford in title game
1937-38 Hoopeston Regional Champions Coach’s name & record needed
Hoopeston did not compete in District
Title Game Beat Cissna Park 36-34
Champaign Sectional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Urbana 27-21
Urbana lost in semi-final round
1938-39 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Hoopeston did not compete in District
1st Rd Beat Potomac 25-15
Semi-final lost to Cissna Park 26-23
Cissna Park beat Armstrong in title game
1939-40 IHSA Regional Champions Coach’s name & record needed
Regional Scores Needed
Champaign Sectional Tournament
1st Rd Beat St. Joseph 42-30
Semi-final lost to Paxton 29-26
Paxton lost to Champaign in title game
1940-41 IHSA Regional Champions Coach’s name & record needed
Regional Scores Needed
Champaign Sectional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Urbana 47-34
Urbana won title game over Champaign
1941-42 Hopeston Regional Champions Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Cissna Park 44-23
Semi-final Beat Rankin 53-44
Title Game Beat Watseka 31-28
Champaign Sectional Tournament
1st Rd Beat Danville 38-29
Semi-final lost to Urbana 36-35
Urbana Beat Champaign in title game
1942-43 Watseka Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Cissna Park 44-39
Cissna Park beat East Lynn in title game
1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1944-45 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Hoopeston did not compete in District
1st Rd Beat Rankin 55-38
Semi-final lost to Rossville 25-22
Rossville lost title game to Milford
1945-46 Milford Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Bismarck 66-42
Semi-final lost to Milford 40-32
Milford lost to Cissna Park in title game
1946-47 Hoopeston Regional Champions Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Potomac 52-24
Semi-final Beat Cissna Park 30-27
Title Game Beat Rossville 42-32
Champaign Sectional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Champaign 66-32
Champaign beat Danville in title game
1947-48 Milford Regional Champions Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Milford 48-35
Semi-final Beat Rossville 51-41
Title Game Beat Bismarck 59-38
Hoopeston Sectional Tournament
1st Rd Beat Onarga Military 69-48
Title game lost to Champaign 50-30
1948-49 Hoopeston Regional Runner-up Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Armstrong 70-37
Semi-final Beat Rankin 64-34
Title Game lost to Potomac 42-37
1949-50 Milford Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Semi-final lost to Rossville 43-38
Rossville lost title game to Armstrong
1950-51 Hoopeston Regional Champions Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Bismarck 59-40
Semi-final Beat Cissna Park 56-35
Title Game Beat Watseka 39-36
Danville Sectional Tournament
Semi-final Beat Champaign 41-39
Title Game lost to Danville 59-51
1951-52 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Watseka 42-34
Watseka lost to East Lynn in semi-final
East Lynn lost title game to Armstrong
1952-53 Watseka Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Rossville 55-51
Semi-final lost to Cissna Park 52-41
Cissna Park beat Watseka in title game
1953-54 Hoopeston Regional Champions Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Bismarck-Henning 52-35
Semi-final Beat East Lynn 56-50
Title Game Beat Watseka 45-40
Champaign Sectional Tournament
Semi-final Beat Champaign 67-65 (O/T)
Title Game lost to Danville 58-47
1954-55 Watseka Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Potomac 68-54
Potomac beat Cissna Park in title game
1955-56 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Bismarck-Henning 45-41
Semi-final lost to Armstrong 41-33
Armstrong lost to Potomac in title game
1956-57 4 – 20 Watseka Regional Tournament Coach Bill Campbell
1st Rd Beat Rossville 46-42
Semi-final lost to Cissna Park 57-35
Cissna Park beat Watseka in title game
1957-58 8 – 18 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach Bill Campbell
1st Rd lost to Watseka 58-50
Watseka lost to Cissna Park in title game
1958-59 Watseka Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Milford 50-49
Semi-final lost to Armstrong
Armstrong lost to Watseka in title game
1959-60 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Armstrong 57-55
Semi-final lost to Rossville-Alvin 59-47
Rossville-Alvin beat Watseka in title game
1960-61 Watseka Regional Runner-up Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Armstrong 53-46
Semi-final Beat Rossville 50-42
Title Game lost to Sheldon 50-44 (O/T)
1961-62 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Potomac 61-55
Semi-final lost to Watseka 58-47
Watseka lost to Sheldon in title game
1962-63 Watseka Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Armstrong 60-53
Semi-final lost to Cissna Park 51-50
Cissna Park lost to Watseka in title game
1963-64 Hoopeston Regional Champions Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Rossville-Alvin 85-41
Semi-final Beat Sheldon 62-47
Title Game Beat Milford 65-47
Champaign Sectional Tournament
Semi-final lost to Arcola 64-39
Arcola beat Champaign in title game
Arcola lost to 3rd Pl Winner Stephen Decatur in Sweet 16 Rd
1964-65 Watseka Regional Champions Coach’s name & record needed
(early round scores needed)
Title Game Beat Milford 54-50
Urbana Sectional Tournament
Semi-Final Beat Rantoul 54-41
Title Game lost to Danville 73-51
Danville lost in Sweet 16 Rd.
1965-66 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1966-67 Hoopeston Regional Runner-up Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Bismarck-Henning 61-51
Semi-final Beat Donovan 70-56
Title Game lost to St. Anne 73-54
1967-68 Watseka Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Milford 55-41
Semi-final lost to Bismarck-Henning 61-58
Bismarck-Henning beat Rossville-Alvin in title game
1968-69 Rossville Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Bismarck-Henning 49-36
Bismarck-Henning lost to Rossville-Alvin in title game
1969-70 Hoopeston Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Rossville-Alvin 35-33
Rossville-Alvin lost semi-final to St. Anne
St. Anne beat Bismarck-Henning for title
1970-71 Watseka Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Milford 79-57
Milford lost to Cissna Park in semi-final
Cissna Park beat Bismarck-Henning in title game
1971-72 Bismarck Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach Ed Byrd
1st Rd lost to Bismarck-Henning 60-55
Bismarck-Henning lost to Potomac in semi-final
Potomac lost to Schlarman in title game
**Hoopeston consolidated with East Lynn in the summer of 1972 to form the Hoopeston-East Lynn High School District.
Notable Roundball Athletes
Vernon Fink and Don Cade – Helped lead the Cornjerkers on the court during the late 1930s and early 1940s Regional championship teams, eventually garnering All-State honorable mention honors in 1940-41.
Boys Cross Country
The Hoopeston High School harriers won a District title as well. Coach Quentin Ryder started the Cross Country program in 1967 at Hoopeston and coached it for 33 years. He held the Illinois State High School Association record for most wins in Cross Country (311-159) from 1967-1999. He now stands at 3rd place. Coach is tied for 1st place in most dual meet wins at one school. .
1972-73 District Champions Coach Quentin Ryder
Boys Track & Field
A pair of NINTH place finishes in the Class ‘B’ Meet Competition in the early 1920s hi-lited the Hoopeston HS boys track & field successes. In addition a total of fouteen medals were won by ten different boys and one Relay team!
1913-14 Individual Medalist – Ralph Webber Discus 4TH Place
1915-16B Individual Medalist – Stanton Boardman Discus 3RD Place
1921-22B Individual Medalists – Frank Foster 220 Yard Hurdles 4TH Place
Wallace Tyler Pole Vault 3RD Place
1922-23B Individual Medalist – Wallace Tyler High Jump 4TH Place
Pole Vault 3RD Place
1923-24B Team Finished NINTH in STATE MEET Competition!!
Individual Medalists
Lowell Hall Pole Vault STATE CHAMPION!!
Harold Lucas 440 Yard Dash STATE CHAMPION!!
Final Team Standings
1) Girard 20
2) Chesterfield 16
2) White Hall 16
4) Carlinville 15
5) Gridley 13
5) Hinsdale (Twp.) 13
7) Wheaton (H.S.) 12
7) Bridgeport 12
9) HOOPESTON HIGH SCHOOL 10
10) Chicago (Pullman Manual) 8
10) Abingdon 8
1924-25B Team Finished NINTH in STATE MEET Competition!!
Individual Medalists
Scott Ingle Pole Vault 2ND Place
RELAY TEAM 880 Yard Relay 4TH Place
Harold Lucas 440 Yard Dash 5TH Place
Alan Miller Shot Put 5TH Place
Edgar Potts 100 Yard Dash 5TH Place
Final Team Standings
1) Hinsdale (Twp.) 28
2) Carlinville 22½
3) Wenona 11
4) Fisher 10½
5) Carrollton 10
5) Wheaton (H.S.) 10
7) Elmwood 9½
8) Staunton 9
9) HOOPESTON HIGH SCHOOL 7½
9) Chandlerville 7½
1947-48 Individual Medalist – Herbie Neathery 880 Yard Run 5TH Place
**Coach Bob Doty, and his wife Nancy each worked for 27 years at Hoopeston High School, Hoopeston-East Lynn (H-EL), and Hoopeston Area High School from 1967-1994. Hoopeston Area High School has elected Coach Bob Doty into its Athletic Hall of Fame for his track and football coaching. Coach Doty is a former State of Illinois champion in the 100 yd. dash & silver medalist in the 200 yd. dash – 1959 St. Elmo Illinois High School. He came to Hoopeston to assist the sprinters under head coach Dick Hobbs. Coach Doty retired from Hoopeston after 27 years; became the head men’s and women’s track and cross-country coach at Murray State University in Murray, KY, where he and his wife continue to live. Coach Doty’s daughter, Jill Doty, also won the State of Illinois 100 m. dash and 2nd in the 200 m. dash while competing for Hoopeston-East Lynn High School in the spring of 1987.
Wrestling
Hoopeston High’s grapplers won a District title in the school’s final year of exstence.
1971-72 17 – 1 Coach Jim Richards
1972-73 14 – 4 District Champions Coach Jim Richards
Football
The boys competed in football each Fall as well. Dean Bentley located the following season records and coaches’ names listed below. If you have any other information regarding the Bison football program contact us via e-mail.
1925-26 6 – 2 Coach Brasel
1956-57 6 – 2 Coach Robert Sanders
1957-58 4 – 4 Coach Robert Sanders
1971-72 8 – 0 Coach Anthony Velasco
Drama
The Drama team also had a great year of IHSA success. In team competition the Hoopeston thespians won a sectional and qualified for the State Competition!
1942-43 Team Qualified for State Competition
Sectional Champions
Speech Sweepstakes
The Speech Sweepstakes competition saw Hoopeston High School win back to back Sectional titles. There must be a good coach/teacher story there waiting to be told. Three Individual Medalists came from Hoopeston High School as well.
1943-44 Sectional Champions
Individual Medalist
Martha Holmes Verse 5TH Place
1944-45 Sectional Champions
Individual Medalist
John Leeman Extemporary 5TH Place
1945-46 Individual Medalist
Bob Calvin Serious 3RD Place
Need More In-Put
We are requesting further information regarding Hoopeston High School. If you can provide any information you would like to share please complete a School Submission Form or a Guest Commentary Form. We especially enjoy photos of the old school buildings and great teams, players, and coaches of Hoopeston’s storied past. You may also contact us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or write us at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il. 60631 |
