| Joliet Central High School | |||||||||
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| Designed by alum Louise Lentz Woodruff, courtesy of http://www.jths.org | |||||||||
The History of Joliet Central High School
Joliet (population 129,519) is located in northeastern Illinois in west-central Will County. In fact, is the county seat of Will County and spills over into Kendall County to the west. Joliet was platted in 1834 and officially incorporated in 1852. After much discussion over the town’s early name (it was known as Juliet from 1834 to 1845), the Joliet was settled upon to honor Louis Joliet, famous explorer who first viewed the area in 1673.
According to MapQuest (www.mapquest.com), Joliet has several major roadways and railways leading to and from it. Interstate Highway 80 is the main thoroughfare leading to Joliet, which is located just east of Interstate Highway 55. The Illinois Routes of 7, 53, and 171 as well as the U.S. Routes of 6, 30, and 52 all lead to Joliet. The Des Plaines River flows through town as it has for thousands of years. Railroad tracks include Amtrak, the Atchison, Topeka & Sante Fe, the Elgin, Joliet, & Eastern, and the Illinois Central Gulf.
Joliet’s excellent location led to its population bursting soon after its incorporation. A high school for the children of the town was opened in 1880 when students from both sides of the river came together for educational purposes under the guidance of Colonel D.H. Darling. The Joliet Township district was created in 1899, extending past the city limits to widen its tax base, and build the four-story castle-like structure you see at the top of the page.
Construction began in 1900 by the Adam Groth Construction Company, using Joliet limestone, Bedford stone, and marble to construct the school. A week-long series helped opened the school in April 1901, which included electric lights. Two hundred and thirty-five students moved into the new school, and it grew to more than one thousand within the next fifteen years. School additions were made in 1908, 1917, 1922, and again in 1931, and is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The residents of Joliet were served by one high school (Joliet Township High School) for several years. The student population continued to grow each decade, finally forcing the issue of having more than one high school to appropriately serve the community. In 1964, two new high schools, Joliet West & Joliet East, were opened to relieve overcrowding at Joliet Township High (which was renamed Joliet Central).
All three schools served the community tremendously for two decades until declining enrollment forced board of education members to make some tough choices. In the fall of 1981, the board decided to close the school after the 1981-82 school year, but after three members were voted in on a platform of reversing that decision, and public outcry in the form of petitions with over 15,000 signatures were presented to the board presidents, the Joliet Township board reconsidered and kept Central open. However, a year later it closed Joliet East as it merged with Joliet Central.
Ten years later in 1993, it was decided to keep both Joliet Central & Joliet West open, but all extra-curricular activities were combined as if they were only one high school district. This arrangement continued until the fall of 2010 when both Joliet Central and Joliet West resumed their separate extra-curricular activities. Due to the resumption of their own programs and given the unusual turn of events, it has been decided by the site authors not to add information to this page as well as Joliet West’s beginning with the 2010-11 school year, but rather leave them as if each school stopped their program as of 1993.
FACTS ABOUT JOLIET CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Year opened at JTHS: 1880
Year that high school building opened: 1901
Year opened as Joliet Central: 1964
Year it reverted back to JTHS: 1993
Resumption of Central HS: 2010
School colors: Blue & Gold
School nickname: “Steelmen”
School newspaper: “JTC Journal”
School yearbook: “The J”
School song: “JT Central Loyalty”
(written by Warren Wood, Florence Martin, Claude Robison, & Allen Touzalin, all JTHS class of 1927 members)
Joliet High, we’re always loyal
To thee we’ll e’re be true
With a battle cry of “Onward,”
We will fight for Gold and Blue
Rah! Rah!
Joliet High is on to battle
We’ll conquer ev’ry foe
We have a fighting spirit
on to vict’ry we will go!
J-J-JOL
I-I-IET
J-O-I-L-E-T
JOLIET!!
| ATHLETICS
Joliet Central offered a wide-variety of sports and activities for its students. The boys had their choice among football, cross-country, soccer, basketball, wrestling, swimming, baseball, tennis, and track. On the other hand, the girls could compete in volleyball, tennis, basketball, track, softball, and bowling, According to the IHSA website (www.ihsa,org) no records were found for cross-country, golf, and gymnastics for both genders, and soccer, swimming, and softball for girls. We are aware that several of those sports were offered, and would appreciate more information if it is available by contacting us at the addresses listed below, BOYS’ BASKETBALL From the moment Joliet Township split into three schools, Central staked its reputation as a basketball school. Coaches Ed Woods, Dale Glenn, and Greg Peden all had winning percentages of at least .575 to keep the school at the forefront of top basketball teams in the state of Illinois. The 1969-70 team is considered the best team to have represented the school, getting third in the single-class state tournament, and led by All-Stater Roger Powell, the father of University of Illinois hoops star Roger Powell, Jr. from the 2005 Fighting Illini squad that took second in the NCAA Division I mens’ tournament. 1964-65 15-12 First season as Joliet Central Coach Ed Woods Centralia Tourney Cons. Champs 1965-66 24- 8 Regional Champions Coach Ed Woods Ottawa Sectional Champions Peoria Super Sectional Winners—Beat Pekin 63-50 Lost in Elite Eight to Belleville 74-72 Albert Crusoe named to All-Tournament Team 1966-67 20- 6 Coach Ed Woods 1967-68 10-15 Coach Ed Woods 1969-70 27- 7 3rd in State!! Coach Dale Glenn Joliet Regional Champions Lockport Sectional Champions Evanston Super Sectional Winners Beat Park Ridge Maine South 71-68 Beat in Okawville in Elite Eight 56-43 Lost to LaGrange Lyons 63-52 in semifinals Downed Peoria Spalding 82-75 for third place (LaGrange Lyons eventual state champ) Roger Powell leading scorer & was all-tournament 1970-71 26- 4 Joliet Regional Champions Coach Dale Glenn Lost to eventual state champ Dolton Thornridge in Joliet Central Sectional finals 68-63 Rated #3 in final Regular Season Associated Press Poll 1971-72 23- 6 AA Regional Champions Coach Dale Glenn Lost to Lockport Central in Joliet Central AA Sectional Finals 59-58 1972-73 24- 4 AA Regional Champions Coach Dale Glenn Rated #8 in final regular season Associated Press Poll 1973-74 15-11 Coach Dale Glenn 1974-75 25- 4 AA Regional Champions Coach Dale Glenn Rated #15 in final regular season Associated Press Poll 1975-76 26- 5 AA Regional Champions Coach Dale Glenn Lost to Bloomington HS in Kankakee Westview AA Sectional Finals 87-63 Rated #12 in final regular season AP poll 1976-77 21- 5 AA Regional Champions Coach Dale Glenn 1977-78 24- 7 AA Regional Champions Coach Dale Glenn Lost to Danville HS in Normal AA Sectional Finals 57-52 1978-79 14-11 Coach Dale Glenn 1979-80 19- 7 Coach Dale Glenn 1980-81 15-10 Coach Dale Glenn 1981-82 16-10 Coach Greg Peden 1982-83 21- 6 Coach Greg Peden 1983-84 20- 7 Coach Greg Peden 1984-85 15-12 Coach Greg Peden 1985-86 12-15 Coach Greg Peden 1986-87 15-12 AA Regional Champions Coach Greg Peden 1987-88 11-14 Coach Greg Peden 1988-89 21- 9 AA Regional Champions Coach Greg Peden AA Sectional Champions Lost in AA Aurora East Super Sectional to Chicago Hts. Bloom Twp. 69-68 1989-90 23- 7 Coach Greg Peden 1990-91 17- 8 Coach Greg Peden 1991-92 22- 5 Coach Greg Peden 1992-93 21- 8 Coach Greg Peden **Success attained at the Bloomington-Normal State Farm Holiday Classic Tournament as submitted by Mark Jurenga: All-Tournament Selections 1979 – Novel Woods 1977 – Isiah Williams WRESTLING Wrestling did not take a back seat to basketball in the winter as a sport; in fact, it produced seven state champions along with a team title under legendary coach Eural “Mac” McLaughlin. 1969-70 Individual Placer Mike Barden STATE CHAMPION– Heavyweight 1970-71 7- 9 Coach Eural “Mac” McLaughlin 1971-72 9- 5 Coach Eural “Mac” McLaughlin Individual Placer Greg Maxey 4th place—98 pounds 1972-73 13- 2 1 District Champions Coach Eural “Mac” McLaughlin Individual Placer Greg Maxey 2nd place—105 pounds 1973-74 Individual Placer Greg Maxey STATE CHAMPION —112 pounds 1974-75 Individual Placer Scott Trizzino STATE CHAMPION—132 pounds 1975-76 6th in State Coach Eural “Mac” McLaughlin Individual Placers George Barefield 5th place—126 pounds Scott Trizzino STATE CHAMPION—132 pounds 1976-77 Individual Placer Andy Tomala 4th place—167 pounds 1977-78 Individual Placer Mark Trizzino STATE CHAMPION—105 pounds 1978-79 Individual Placer Mark Trizzino STATE CHAMPION—112 pounds 1980-81 Individual Placer Louis Reed 3rd place—167 pounds 1983-84 Individual Placer Joei Bales 2nd place—126 pounds 1984-85 21- 0 STATE AA CHAMPIONS!!! Coach Eural “Mac” McLaughlin Regional Champions Sectional Champions Individual Placers Joei Bales STATE CHAMPION—126 pounds Carl Barefield 6th place—138 pounds Sam Parker 2nd place—132 pounds 1985-86 20- 2 SECOND IN AA FINALS!! Coach Eural “Mac” McLaughlin Regional Champions Sectional Champions Individual Placers Ray Palacios 2nd place—98 pounds Steve Harmon 6th place—155 pounds Scott Edman 2nd place—167 pounds 1986-87 Individual Placers Tim Chaplin 2nd place—132 pounds Mike Poloskey 3rd place—-Heavyweight 1987-88 Individual Placers Tim Chaplin 3rd place—138 pounds 1988-89 Individual Placers Joe Esparza 2nd place—103 pounds George Hoffman 2nd place—140 pounds 1989-90 Individual Placer Warren Snapp 6th place—135 pounds GIRLS’ TRACK & FIELD There must have been something in the water in Joliet to produce outstanding track athletes at Joliet Central. Just like Joliet West, these girls could complete on the oval track and in field events. One team came home with a fifth place finish at the state meet one year, while several others came home to the City of Champions with medals. 1974 Individual Placer coach unknown Helen Walker 2nd place-discus 1975 Individual/Relay Placers coach unknown 880-yard relay 6th place Marsha Tate 4th place-440-yard dash 1976 Individual/Relay Placers coach unknown 880-yard medley relay 4th place Yoland Summitt 7th place-long jump Marsha Tate 2nd place-440-yard dash 1977 Individual Placer coach unknown Marsha Tate 3rd place- 440-yard dash 1978 Individual Placer—AA finals coach unknown Rhonda Winfrey 8th place-100-yard dash 1980 Individual Placer—AA finals coach unknown Marilyn Mitchell 5th place-high jump 1981 Individual/Relay Placers—AA finals coach unknown 4 x 400 meter relay 8th place 800 meter medley relay 5th place Theresa Kula 6th place-discus Beverly Neal 4th place-100 meter hurdles 1982 AA District Champions coach unknown Individual/Relay Placers—AA finals 800 medley meter relay 7th place Cynthia Mitchell 3rd place-100 meter hurdles 3rd place-long jump Sheila Thomas 8th place-400 meter dash 1983 Individual/Relay Placers—AA finals coach unknown 4 x 200 meter relay 6th place Jody Sims 2nd place-100 meter dash 1985 Individual/Relay Placers—AA finals coach unknown 4 x 100 meter relay 6th place 4 x 200 meter relay 5th place 800 meter medley relay 7th place Rhonda Price 6th place-long jump Beverly Thomas 6th place-200 meter hurdles 1986 AA Sectional Champions coach unknown Individual/Relay Placers—AA finals 4 x 100 meter relay 4th place 4 x 200 meter relay 5th place 1987 AA Sectional Champions coach unknown Individual Placers—AA finals Lusonji Childs 6th place-100 meter dash 1988 AA Sectional Champions coach unknown Individual/Relay Placers—AA finals 4 x 200 meter relay 6th place Lusonji Childs 5th place-100 meter dash 6th place-200 meter dash 1989 5th in AA State Finals coach unknown Team Standings 1 East St. Louis Lincoln 98 2 Evanston 66.5 3 Wheaton North 33 4 Wheeling 30 5 Joliet Central 20 6 Blue Island Eisenhower 19 Hinsdale Central 19 8 Belvidere 18 Edwardsville HS 18 Olympia Fields Rich Central 18 Individual Placers Sharron Evans STATE CHAMPION!!–100 meter hurdles 2nd place-300 meter hurdles 7th place-long jump 1991 Individual/Relay Placers—AA finals coach unknown 4 x 100 meter relay 8th place Dela Cooper 7th place-long jump 1992 Individual Placer—AA finals coach unknown Sue Dixon 4th place-high jump 1993 Individual Placer—AA finals coach unknown Sue Dixon 3rd place-high jump BADMINTON
The Steelwomen were active indoors on the badminton courts during the spring, winning three sectional titles in five years and placing in the top 10 of the state on one occasion, along with having two players place in the top five in singles. 1986 Sectional Champions coach unknown 7th in State Standings— 1 Palatine HS 13½ 2 Villa Park Willowbrook 13 3 Des Plaines Maine West 12 4 Winnetka New Trier 11½ 5 Evanston Twp 10½ 6 Mt. Prospect Prospect 9½ 7 Tinley Park Andrew 8 Joliet Central 8 9 Aurora West 7½ Deerfield 7½ Individual Medalist Terry Hibner—–4th in singles 1989 Sectional Champions coach unknown 1990 Sectional Champions coach unknown Individual Medalist Kris Sitar——5th in singles BASEBALL The Steelmen program was tremendous on the diamonds of Joliet under Coach Jerry Pius, establishing a winning tradition and taking home a second place in state prior to the two-class system. One player went on to play in the Major Leagues… Jesse Barfield. 1972-73 26- 2 Coach Jerry Pius 1973-74 27- 4 Regional Champions Coach Jerry Pius 1974-75 36- 4 2nd in State Coach Jerry Pius Regional Champions Sectional Champions Elite Eight Qualifier Beat Aurora West 2-1 in 9 innings Edged Decatur MacArthur 3-2 Lost to Skokie Niles West in Championship game 7-4 1975-76 27- 4 Coach Jerry Pius 1976-77 13-12 Coach Jerry Pius FOOTBALL After a slow start following the opening of Joliet West & East, Central began to assert itself with a good football program in Joliet and in the Illini-8 Conference, taking on East, West, Joliet Catholic, Lockport, Romeoville, Summit Argo, and Marian Catholic of Chicago Heights for the conference title. The school later moved over the SICA West before merging the Central & West athletic programs in 1993. Here are some of the better records compiled by the Steelmen: 1967 5- 3- 1 coach unknown 1969 7- 2 Coach Ken Robbins 1970 6- 3 Coach Ken Robbins 1974 6- 3 Coach George Legan 1976 8- 2 4A State Quarterfinalist Coach George Legan Illini-8 Co-Conference Champion Lost to Roselle Lake Park 28-22 1977 5- 4 Coach unknown 1989 5- 4 Coach unknown GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Joliet Central was a player in the prep basketball wars, winning three consecutive AA regionals before Joliet West and Central merged their athletic departments. One of its’ better players was All-State guard Chris Prieboy, who won the honor three consecutive years in the late 1970’s and went on to set the career scoring record at the University of St. Francis right there in Joliet. 1990-91 AA Regional Champions coach unknown 1991-92 AA Regional Champions coach unknown 1992-93 AA Regional Champions coach unknown VOLLEYBALL One team made it all the way to the supersectional before losing, but their win-loss record and coaches’ name is unknown. If you have any information, please contact us at the address below. 1979-80 District Champions Coach unknown Sectional Champions BOYS’ SOCCER The Joliet Central soccer program built itself up at the school in the mid-‘80’s and early ‘90’s, proving their worth to the school’s athletic department under coaches Pat O’Connell and Mark Wilson. 1985 13- 1 Coach Pat O’Connell 1986 12- 4 Coach Pat O’Connell 1987 12- 9 Coach Pat O’Connell 1991 17- 1- 1 Coach Mark Wilson 1992 10- 8 Coach Mark Wilson BOYS’ SWIMMING & DIVING While there are no win-loss records or coaches’ names to report, the Steelmen were represented at the state swimming meet on three occasions with as many medalists in the top six of their events. Individual medalists Curt Cramer 1965 100 back 5th place 1966 200 free 5th place Steve Weston 1970 100 free 6th place BOYS’ TRACK & FIELD The men of Steel were also stars on the track and field circuit, with several of them bringing home medals from the state track meet. Here’s a listing of those individual medalists: 1965 Al Crusoe 440 yard dash—4th place 1974 Steve Martin triple jump—5th place 1975AA Steve Martin long jump—4th place 1981AA Craig Easley 100 meter hurdles—4th place 1986AA Mike Poloskey discus–5th place 1986AA Phil Whitehead 100 meter hurdles—4th place 1987AA Jeep Bales 300 meter hurdles—5th place Mike Poloskey shotput—6th place 1988AA Darrell Stuckey 800 meter run—7th place 1991AA 4 x 400 meter relay—6th place 1993AA 4 x 200 meter relay—4th place 4 x 400 meter relay–5th place GIRLS’ BOWLING The Steelwomen could also roll the ball down the lane. One individual was able to advance to the state bowling meet and place in the top five. Individual Medalist Lisa Larsen 1985 4th place—2,187 pins BOYS’ TENNIS Joliet Central’s boys brought home some hardware from the state tournament series and even qualified one team for the state meet in 1985. If you have more information regarding the individuals or the boys’ tennis program, please contact us. 1970 District Champions coach unknown 1975 District Champions coach unknown 1985 Sectional Champions coach unknown State Qualifiers DRAMA The Joliet Central drama club was prominent in the state as being one of the better thespian groups in the state, going to state three times and picking up some hardware in the process. 1974-75 District Champions sponsor unknown 1978-79 State Qualifiers sponsor unknown 1981-82 District Champions sponsor unknown 1982-83 Regional Champions sponsor unknown 1987-88 Regional Champions sponsor unknown 1990-91 State Qualifiers sponsor unknown 4th in State Standings— 1 Harvey Thornton 7 2 Charleston 7 3 Oak Lawn Richards 10 4 Joliet Central 11 5 Roselle Lake Park 15 6 Tremont 16 7 Gurnee Warren 19 8 Glen Ellyn Glenbard West 21 9 Benton 24 10 Peoria Richwoods 29 1992-93 State Qualifers coach unknown |
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| OUTSTANDING PLAYERS AND COACHES
–Chris Prieboy (class of 1979), three-time all-state basketball player, later attended the University of St. Francis and scored 2,377 pts—best in Lady Saints’ history. Chris won 15 letters at JT Central HS in five sports (4 in basketball, 3 in softball, 4 in volleyball, 1 in tennis, 1 in track, and 2 in swimming. –Jesse Barfield (class of 1977), drafted (1977, 9th round) & played with Toronto (1981-89), then traded to the New York Yankees (1989-92). He hit .289 with 40 HR & 108 RBI in 1986 during his best season with Toronto, along winning two Gold Gloves, and led AL outfielders in assists from 1985-87, which gave proof to having a strong and accurate arm from rightfield. Barfield was an American League All-Star in 1987, and played in what some baseball analysts consider one of the finest all-around outfields in the Major Leagues during the 1980’s with George Bell and Lloyd Moseby in Toronto. Son Josh (second baseman) played with San Diego in 2006, and another son, Jeremy, was drafted by the New York Mets in 2006 as well as the Oakland Athletics in 2008. Jesse’s Major League career totals are 241 home runs, 716 runs batted in, and a batting average of .256. –Roger Powell (class of 1970), all-state basketball player in 1970, led the Steelmen to a third-place finish in one of the final single-class state tournaments, losing to eventual champion LaGrange Park Lyons in the semifinals. Powell was an all-tournament selection and later played his collegiate ball at Illinois State. His son Roger Junior starred at Joliet Township and at the University of Illinois where he was a member of the NCAA Division I tournament runnersup in 2005. Roger was named to the All-Time IHSA Tournament team in 2007! Check out his bio at http://www.ihsa.org/initiatives/legends/index.htm. –Ed Woods, basketball coach 1964-68. In just four seasons, his Steelmen cagers were 67-41, but made a trip to the Elite Eight in 1965, and left the program in good hands for Dale Glenn. –Dale Glenn, basketball coach 1968-81. Glenn picked up where Woods left off as his teams won seven regionals in eight years, had 20 wins or more in eight seasons, plus were state-ranked squads. Glenn’s Joliet Central teams were 270-96 for a winning percentage of .738 in 13 seasons, and took third in the 1970 tournament. –Greg Peden, basketball coach 1981-93. JT Central continued their winning ways under Peden, who had six 20-win seasons and two regionals, plus a sectional and a supersectional appearance in 1989. The school had three consecutive 20-win seasons in as many years before Central & West consolidated their athletic programs. –Jerry Pius, baseball coach 1973-77. In five seasons, Pius’ boys of spring won 129 games against just 26 losses (an .832 winning percentage), took two regional titles and second place at the state tournament in 1975. –Eural “Mac” McLaughlin, wrestling coach. Coach Mac got the most of the wrestlers he had and produced a team championship in 1985, along with a second in 1986, and sixth in 1976. His teams were undefeated in 1984-85 at 21-0 and went 20-2 the following season. –Scott (class of 1976) and Mark (class of 1979) Trizzino, wrestlers. Both Trizzinos were state champions on the mat for the Steelmen, winning not once, but back-to-back state championship in their weight classes. Scott took home the gold at 132 pounds in 1975 & 1975, while Mark won the 105 pound title in 1978, following it up with the 112 championship in 1979. –Pat O’Connell, soccer coach 1985-87. O’Connell’s teams may not have won any state tournament trophies, but they did win a fair share of their matches in his three years as skipper of the Steelmen soccer program, going 37-14 (.725 percentage) in those seasons. –Marsha Tate, (class of 1977), track. She was Joliet Central’s first female medalist, bringing home three in successive seasons for her work in the 440-yard dash by placing seventh, second, and third, respectively, in those seasons. –Sharron Evans (class of 1989), track. As the Steelwomen were placing sixth in the state AA track finals, Evans was state champion in the 100-meter hurdles, second in the 300-meter hurdles, and seventh in the long jump. There are other notable alums from Joliet Central, To find out who they are, this link has all the details: http://www.jths.org/community_alumni/alumni_default/central_history.aspx DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION OR PHOTOS WE CAN USE? Then we invite you to contact us so we can possibly use the information. You can either email us at veemonster1@yahoo.com or by using the USPS at: Illinois High School Glory Days 6439 North Neva Chicago, IL 60631 |