| BOYS’ GOLF
The Tigers were known for honing their game on the Joliet-area courses to the point that they were in the top 10 of the team standings at the state tournament
four times in nine years. Also to be considered is that three players were in contention for state medalist honors in two of those seasons.
1968 10th in State Coach unknown
District Champs & Qualified for State
1969 3rd in State Coach unknown
District Champs & Qualified for State
Team Standings
1-Belleville West 628
2-St. Charles 630
3-Joliet West 633
4-Homewood-Flossmoor 634
5-Galesburg 639
Northfield New Trier W. 639
7-Champaign Central 646
8-Freeport 647
Glen Ellyn Glenbard W. 647
Park Ridge Maine E. 647
Individual Efforts
Ted Meier tied for 7th (153)
John Wilson tied for 13th (155)
1970 Tied for 4th at State Meet Coach unknown
District Champs & Qualfied for State Finals
Team Standings
1-Homewood-Flossmoor 618
2-Belleville West 628
Waukegan 628
4-Galesburg 629
Joliet West 629
Champaign Central 629
7-Northfield New Trier W. 630
Park Ridge Maine E. 630
9-Quincy 632
10-Dixon 634
Individual Effort
Dave Johnson tied for 8th (152)
1974 Sectional Champions Coach unknown
Qualified for State Tournament
1977 7th in AA State Coacn unknown
District & Sectional Champs
1978 District Champs Coach unknown
Qualified for State Tournament
BOYS TRACK & FIELD
The Tiger thinclads of Joliet West High School had some incredible successes over the years. Led by Hall of Fame coach John Harr, the boys won the IHSA State Class AA Championship in 1990!! The team also finished thrid in 1988 and eighth in 1972. Several boys placed in the top 8 including SIX Gold Medalist performances. The record of the Joliet West Boys Track & Field team, as found on www.ihsa.org is listed below.
1966-67 District Champions
1968-69 Individual Medalist
Bob Cipolle 120 Yard Hurdles 3RD Place
1969-70 District Champions
1970-71 District Champions
Individual State Meet Medalists
Gary Woolford 180 Yard Hurdles 3RD Place
Bob Hertel 120 Yard Hurdles 6TH Place
1971-72 Team Placed EIGHTH in IHSA State Meet!!
District Champions
Individual State Meet Medalist
Gary Woolford 120 Yard Hurdles STATE CHAMPION!
180 Yard Hurdles 3RD Place
Final Team Standings
1) Evanston (Twp.) 28
2) Chicago Heights (Bloom Twp.) 20
3) Alton (Sr.) 13
4) Harvey (Thornton) 12
4) Lebanon 12
6) Hillside (Proviso West) 11
7) East St. Louis (Sr.) 10
8) Joliet (West) 9
1972-73 District Champions
1976-77 Individual State Meet Medalist
Dan Reinhardt Discus 4TH Place
1978-79 Individual State Meet Medalist
Terry Matichak Long Jump 8TH Place
1980-81 Individual State Meet Medalist
Brian Phillips Discus 3RD Place
1983-84AA Sectional Champions
Individual State Meet Medalists
Charles Hogue 100 Meter Dash 4TH Place
Derrick Foster High Jump 5TH Place
Relay Team 4×100 Meter Rel. 6TH Place
Felix Adams Triple Jump 8TH Place
1984-85AA Individual State Meet Medalists
Paul Jones Long Jump 4TH Place
Triple Jump 3RD Place
Derrick Foster High Jump 7TH Place
1985-86AA Individual State Meet Medalist
Paul Jones Long Jump 2ND Place
Triple Jump 4TH Place
1986-87AA Individual State Meet Medalist
Steve Kelly 400 Meter Dash 3RD Place
Relay Team 4×100 Meter Relay 7TH Place
1987-88AA Team Placed THIRD in IHSA State ‘AA’ Meet!!
Individual State Meet Medalists
Relay Team 4×100 Meter Relay STATE CHAMPIONS!!
Steve Kelly 100 Meter Dash STATE CHAMPION!!
400 Meter Dash STATE CHAMPION!!
Relay Team 4×400 Meter Relay 6TH Place
Final Team Standings
1) Chicago Heights (Bloom Twp.) 38
2) East St. Louis (Sr.) 37
3) Joliet (West) 33
4) Rock Island (H.S.) 29
5) Aurora (West) 22
1988-89AA Individual State Meet Medalists
John Foskett 1989AA pole vault 1
Tony Marion 1989AA high jump 7
Rich Walters 1989AA 400m dash 7
1989-90AA TEAM WON IHSA ‘AA’ CHAMPIONSHIP!! Coach John Harr
Sectional Champions
Individual State Meet Medalists
Relay Team 4×400 Meter Relay STATE CHAMPIONS!!
Terry Collins 110 Meter Hurdles STATE CHAMPION!!
300 Meter Hurdles 3RD Place
Relay Team 4×100 Meter Relay 2ND Place
Tony Marion High Jump 2ND Place
John Foskett Pole Vault 2ND Place
Relay Team 4×200 Meter Relay 6TH Place
Darnell Jordan 400 Meter Dash 6TH Place
Final Team Standings
1) Joliet (West) 56
2) East St. Louis (Sr.) 61
3) Danville (H.S.) 38
3) Waukegan (West) 38
5) Elmhurst (York) 27
1990-91AA Individual State Meet Medalists
Relay Team 4×100 Meter Relay 2ND Place
Terry Collins 110 Meter Hurdles 2ND Place
Relay Team 4×200 Meter Relay 8TH Place
GIRLS TRACK & FIELD
The Lady Tiger track program was among the elite at the state AA finals, placing in the top ten three times within a four-year period, and having a relay along with one individual (Chris Crowther) bring home gold in three events.
1974 Carolyn Davis 6th Place—High Jump
1975 Mickey Barnes 7th Place—Shotput
1977 Mickey Barnes 3rd Place—Shotput
3rd Place—Discus
1978 DISTRICT CHAMPS Coach unknown
Mickey Barnes 4th Place—Shotput
1979 3RD IN AA MEET Coach unknown
TEAM STANDINGS
1-East St. Louis Lincoln 64
2-East St. Louis Senior 54
3-Joliet West 29.5
4-Bensenville Fenton 24
5-Chicago Dunbar 20
Dolton Thornridge 20
Rock Falls 20
8-Chicago Lindblom 19
9-Wheaton North 18
10-Chicago Calumet 17
880 YD Medley Relay STATE CHAMPIONS!!!
(Members: Chris Crowther, Sylvia Freudenthaller, Shirley Hayes, Sheila Stobart)
440 YD Relay 2nd Place
Chris Crowther 5th Place—440 dash
7th Place—220 dash
Darlene Swank 3rd Place—1 mile
1980 4TH IN AA STATE FINALS Coach unknown
TEAM STANDINGS
1-East St. Louis Lincoln 61.5
2-Chicago South Shore 45
3-East St. Louis Senior 35.5
4-Joliet West 29
5-North Chicago 25
6-Evanston 23
7-Chicago Hts. Bloom Trail 22
8-Downers Grove North 18
Wheaton North 18
10-Oak Lawn 15.5
400 meter relay 4th Place
Sheila Stobert 8th Place—Long Jump
Chris Crowther 8th Place—200 Dash
2nd Place—200 Hurdles
2nd Place—400 Dash
Lisa McCollum 3rd Place—Shotput
1981 10th IN AA STATE FINALS Coach unknown
TEAM STANDINGS
1-Chicago South Shore 52
2-East St. Louis Lincoln 48
3-East St. Louis Senior 44
4-Chicago Hts. Bloom Trail 35
5-Blue Island Eisenhower 29
6-Country Club Hills Hillcrest 24
7-Addison Trail 23
8-Park Ridge Maine East 18
9-Harvey Thornton 17
10-Joliet West 16
Moline 16
Glen Ellyn Glenbard West 16
400 Meter Relay 7th Place
Lisa McCollum 7th Place—Discus
Chris Crowther 3rd Place—200 Hurdles
3rd Place—400 Dash
1982 6th IN AA STATE FINALS Coach unknown
Chris Crowther 200 Hurdles—STATE CHAMPION!!!
400 Dash—STATE CHAMPION!!!
1987 Kim Whitener Long Jump—5th Place
1988 Kim Whitener Long Jump—7th Place
1990 Laurie Goolsby 800 Run—5th Place
1991 800 Relay 3rd Place
Lakesha Drains 100 Dash—8th Place
1992 Lakesha Drains 100 Dash—6th Place
200 Dash—6th Place
BASEBALL
The Tigers won seven regionals and qualified for the state tournaments on three occasions before ceasing play as a school. We are in need of win-loss records and coaches’ names from the three regional winners of the late ’60’s, so please contact us if you have that information. One Joliet West player even went onto a Major League career…Jeff Reed (class of 1980) and played for six teams before hanging up his spikes in 2000.
1966 Regional Champions Coach unknown
1969 Regional Champions Coach unknown
1970 Regional Champions Coach unknown
1973 18- 7 Regional & Sectional Champs Coach Frank Miller
Qualified for State Tournament
Lost to Belleville West 3-1 in quarterfinals
1976 20-10 Regional Champs Coach Frank Miller
1978 15- 6 AA Regional & Sectional Champs Coach Frank Miller
Qualified for AA State Tournament
Lost to Mundelein H.S. 2-0 in quarterfinals
1983 28- 4 AA Regional & Sectional Champs Coach Craig Spiers
Qualified for AA State Tournament
Beat Winnetka New Trier 3-0 in quarterfinals
Lost to Collinsville 9-4 in semifinals (Collinsville wound up 2nd)
GIRLS’ CROSS-COUNTRY
Chris Crowther had good reason to be competitive in track for the Lady Tigers…she was also a star for the Joliet West girls’ cross-country team, which was good conditioning for the track standout. Crowther placed in the top 11 of the states’ top AA runners twice, which gathered all-state honors on both occasions. Four other individuals were also all-staters, and the last five teams in school history won AA regionals and qualified for state.
1979 Chris Crowther–4th Place (11:50/11 seconds behind champ) Coach Roger Swank
Darlene Swank–13th Place (12:09)
1981 Chris Crowther–11th Place (11:52) Coach Roger Swank
1983 Barbie Lambert–21st Place Coach Roger Swank
1988 REGIONAL CHAMPIONS
Qualified for AA State Meet
1989 REGIONAL CHAMPIONS Coach unknown
Qualified for AA State Meet
1990 REGIONAL CHAMPIONS Coach unknown
Qualified for AA State Meet
1991 REGIONAL CHAMPIONS Coach unknown
Qualified for AA State Meet
Crista Fabrycki–3rd Place (12:11/five seconds behind champ)
1992 REGIONAL CHAMPIONS Coach unknown
Qualified for AA State Meet
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
The Tigers were on the prowl when taking to the hardwood, winning five regionals and two sectionals while advancing to the state AA supersectionals twice in the school’s final ten years under coach Mike O’Connell.
1964-65 First season Coach Leroy Lesile
1966-67 14- 9 Coach Leroy Lesile
1967-68 22- 6 (good record!) Coach Leroy Lesile
1968-69 17-10 Coach Bill Edwards
1969-70 13-11 Coach Bill Edwards
1970-71 18- 9 Coach Bill Edwards
1971-72 21- 6 (good record!) Coach Bill Edwards
1976-77 19- 9 Coach Bob Parker
1978-79 14-12 Coach John Harr
1979-80 18- 9 Coach John Harr
1983-84 20-10 REGIONAL CHAMPS Coach Mike O’Connell
SECTIONAL CHAMPS
Lost 66-59 to Champaign Centennial at Normal AA Supersectional
1984-85 19-10 REGIONAL CHAMPS Coach Mike O’Connell
1987-88 20- 6 (good record!) Coach Mike O’Connell
1988-89 15-10 Coach Mike O’Connell
1989-90 23- 7 REGIONAL CHAMPS Coach Mike O’Connell
SECTIONAL CHAMPS
Lost to Chicago Heights Bloom Trail 65-49 in Aurora East AA Supersectional
1991-92 Regional Champs Coach unknown
1992-93 Regional Champs Coach unknown
GIRLS’ SWIMMING
Boy, could these girls make some waves! The Lady Tigers had a third place finish at the state meet and had three state champions come home with gold in the late 70’s-early 80’s.
1975 200 Medley Relay 6th Place
1976 Paula Hummel 100 Freestyle—2nd Place
200 Freestyle—4th Place
1979 (Nov.) 3rd IN STATE FINALS Coach unknown
TEAM STANDINGS
1-Hinsdale Central 178
2-Winnetka New Trier East 157
3-JOLIET WEST 91
4-Wheaton St. Francis 62
5-St. Charles HS 45
6-Northfield New Trier West 44
Northbrook Glenbrook North 44
8-Macomb 42
Glenview Glenbrook South 42
10-Evanston 35
200 Medley Relay 2nd Place
400 Freestyle Relay 4th Place
Donna Decker 100 Freestyle—STATE CHAMPION!!
Carol Wiegand 100 Backstroke—STATE CHAMPION!!
1980 Carol Wiegand 100 Butterfly—STATE CHAMPION!!
1981 Carol Wiegand 100 Backstroke—2nd Place
100 Butterfly—5th Place
1983 Lisa Rakoski 100 Butterfly—3rd Place
1984 Lisa Rakoski 100 Butterfly—4th Place
200 Freestyle—5th Place
1986 Lisa Rakoski 100 Butterfly—3rd Place
200 Individual Medley—5th Place
1990 Kristen Rakoski 100 Butterfly—10th Place
200 Ind. Medley–12th Place
FOOTBALL
The Tiger gridders were successful in the late 60’s under coach Ray Klootwyk, going undefeated in 21 consecutive games and winning back-to-back Illini-8 Conference titles in 1968 & 1969. According to our conference guru and good friend Tom Sikorski, Joliet West never won more than five games in a season after 1969, and had only one conference finish above third when they took second in the SICA West in 1991. The Tigers’ only chance to make the IHSA playoffs came the following season, when they lost the final game of the season to Romeovillle, 21-17, in what would be the school’s final football game in its history. Three Joliet West players went on to sign professional contracts and dress in the NFL: John Arp, Gary Woolford, & Brent Snyder.
1964 First season Coach Ray Klootwyk
1967 4-4-1 Coach Ray Klootwyk
1968 9-0 ILLINI-8 CONFERENCE CHAMPS Coach Ray Klootwyk
1969 7-1-1 ILLINI-8 CONFERENCE CHAMPS Coach Ray Klootwyk
1970 5-2-1 4th Place Illini-8 Conference Coach Ray Klootwyk
1972 5-4 Coach Ray Klootwyk
1975 5-3 3rd Place Illini-8 Conference Coach Frank Miller
1979 5-4 Coach Dean Goldie
1983 5-4 Coach Dale O’Connell
1991 5-4 2nd Place SICA West Conference Coach Brett Kooi
1992 5-4 Coach Alan Greenburg
SOFTBALL
Joliet West had several good seasons on the skinned infields of Joliet, including two that wound up at the state tournament finals. Just like Dale O’Connell, Jo Streit was successful as a coach of more than one sport at the school, taking the softball team towards the top of state’s best in addition to the girls’ basketball program.
1976 Regional Champions Coach unknown
1977 19- 4 Regional Champions Coach Jo Streit
Sectional Champions/Qualified for State Finals
Lost to Richton Park Rich South in quarterfinals 7-2
1978 20- 2 Regional Champions Coach Jo Streit
Sectional Champions/Qualified for State Finals
Lost to Winnetka New Trier East in quarterfinals 5-4
1993 19- 8 (good record) Coach Dale O’Connell
BOYS’ TENNIS
As a team, the Tigers brought home hardware six times, taking three district titles and three regional plaques, and had a player place in the top eight of the state singles finals. We are in need of win-loss records and coaches’ names of these teams.
1973 District Champions
1978 District Champions
1979 District Champions
1987 Regional Champions
1988 Regional Champions
Individual Medalist—Mickey Chaudhuri–7th in Singles
1989 Regional Champions
GIRLS’ BOWLING
The Lady Tigers sent two individuals to the state meet and came back home with honors for placing in the top three of the state.
1988 Nicole Brandolino STATE CHAMPION!!! (2,387 pins)
1989 Nicole Brandolino 2nd Place (2,262 pins)
Cathy Hoth 3rd Place (2,261 pins)
NOTE: The 1989 state champ wound up with 2,278 pins, so it was a tight finish!!!
BOYS’ CROSS-COUNTRY
Joliet West was competitive on the hills and dales of northeastern Illinois during the time that the school was open, just like the girls’ cross-country program. One of the boys’ teams came home with a district title, but the name of the coach is missing.
1974 District Champions Coach Roger Swank
GIRLS’ TENNIS
During the 1970’s, the Lady Tiger netters had success at the state meet level, taking four district championships in five years and had one player place in the top eight in singles. We are in need of the win-loss records and coaches’ names of those teams.
1974 District Champions
1975 District Champions
1976 District Champions
1977 Individual Medalist—
Sandy Lesile 7th in Singles
1978 District Champions
VOLLEYBALL
Joliet West competed and had some success in volleyball during the fall season with three plaques being added to the trophy case by the Lady Tiger spikers. Coaches’ names are missing, so we are hoping that a Joliet West alumnus might be able to tell us along with the win-loss records of these teams.
1978 District Champions
1988 30 – 3 AA Regional Champions Coach Traci Djerf
1989 24 – 16 AA Regional Champions Coach Traci Djerf
GYMNASTICS
Even the Lady Tigers competed on the uneven parallel bars, vault, balance beam, and in floor exercises along with all-around performance. They were competitive enough that they won one district title at the state level. Again, the name of the head coach and the win-loss record are unknown at this time.
1982 District Champions
DRAMA & THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
DRAMA
In its early years, Joliet West put its best foot forward to show the public that opening the school was a worthy choice, taking a first place in state competition in just its second year in operation, followed by a third place three years later.
1966 STATE CHAMPIONS!!! Sponsor B.F. Johnston
SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS
Performed “Camino Real”
TEAM STANDINGS
1-JOLIET WEST
2-Peoria Woodruff
3-Northbrook Glenbrook North
Macomb Western
Urbana
East Alton-Wood River
1969 3RD IN STATE Sponsor unknown
Qualified for State Finals
TEAM STANDINGS
1-Bensenville Fenton
2-Homewood-Flossmoor
3-JOLIET WEST
Deerfield
Freeport
Normal University
East Alton-Wood River
1974 District Champions Sponsor unknown
1976 District Champions Sponsor unknown
SPEECH
Again, the intellectual side of Joliet West was instrumental in providing success in the school’s first years, as the 1966 speech team was third at the IHSA state finals, and had a number of individuals place high in their specialty events.
1966 3rd IN STATE Sponsor unknown
TEAM STANDINGS
1-Peoria Woodruff 14
2-Pekin 12
3-Joliet West 11
Winnetka New Trier East 11
5-Park Forest Rich East 10
6-Bradley-Bourbonnais 9
7-Highland Park 8
8-Aurora East 6
Ottawa Township 6
Macomb Western 6
Northbrook Glenbrook North 6
INDIVIDUAL MEDALIST
Don Hagen Radio Speaking–6th Place
1969 Arnold Tracy Comedy–2nd Place
1970 Sami Porter Prose Reading–3rd Place
1971 Scott Johnson Original Comedy–5th Place
1976 Dean Hunter Dramatic Interpretation–5th Place
1977 Deide McFadden Oratorical Declamation–2nd Place
1978 Deide McFadden Verse Reading—STATE CHAMPION!!
1985 Mike Bryson Humorous Interpretation–5th Place
1986 Don Dees Radio Speaking–6th Place
DEBATE
Joliet West showed its talents in trying to convince an audience with their debate team, winning one sectional title while the school was open.
1967-68 Sectional Champions Sponsor unknown
INDIVIDUAL EVENTS & GROUP INTERPRETATION
The Tigers won a district title in each category that is connected with the Speech team to add IHSA hardware to the school’s trophy case. We definitely would like to know more about these categories, so please contact us if you have information at the addresses listed below.
1969 Individual Events———-District Champions
1974 Group Interpretation——District Champions
Notable Joliet West Faculty & Alumni
—Ray Klootwyk—football coach, 1964-72. Klootwyk led the Tigers to their best seasons ever on the gridiron in 1968 & 1969 with conference championships and had a win-loss record of 41-33-6 in those nine seasons. As a tribute, the football field at Joliet West was named after him.
–Jo Streit—girls’ basketball & softball coach, 1976-78. In only two seasons, Streit’s teams went to the state tournament quarterfinals in each sport, winning the state girls’ basketball championship in just the second year of the IHSA’s history of having a tournament for the ladies. Her teams were 55-4 on the hardwood, and 39-6 on the softball diamond.
—Mike O’Connell— boys’ basketball coach, 1983-90. O’Connell’s Tigers won three Class AA regionals, and advanced to the Sweet 16 twice, compiling a record of 112-77 in seven seasons.
—Bill Edwards–boys’ basketball coach. 1968-72. Edwards took over a program that was just starting to take off when he replaced Leroy Lesile, and kept the winning tradition going with a 69-36 record in his four years at the helm of Joliet West hoops.
—Frank Miller–football coach and baseball coach (circa 1972-78). Twice during his coaching career as Tiger baseball mentor, Miller’s teams went to state before bowing in the quarterfinals in 1973 & 1978. All told, Joliet West won three regionals under Miller, and won 20 games in 1976.
—Greg McCallum–wrestler, 1975-77. McCallum was the only Tiger wrestler to win two state championships, winning at 126 pounds in 1976, then following it up at 132 pounds the next season.
—Gary Woolford, John Arp, & Brett Snyder—football players. Each one of these Tiger gridiron stars wound playing in college and was on the roster of an NFL roster for at least part of one season. Woolford was drafted by Houston in 1977 out of Florida State, but got his NFL experience with the New York Giants in 1980 as a defensive back in 12 games. Arp was a member of the Chicago Bears in 1987 during a season where the regular players were on strike and the owners used replacement players in their place for two games. Since the Chicago Bears’ website only has Arp listed as playing in two games, it could have possible he was a replacement player in those two games (thus, could he have been a “spare Bear?”). Snyder later spent time with the Bears in 1989 and 1990 as a practice squad member and dressed with the team for the final game of the 1989, but there is no record of statistics that showed that he got into the game.
—Cathy Boswell–basketball player, 1976-79. In a time when the Joliet area had some girls that could play basketball like Pam Gant at Joliet East and Chris Prieboy at Joliet Central, Boswell was a starter from freshman year and led her team to the first two state tournaments for girls’ hoops. She was named to the all-tournament teams both years, and an all-stater three times by the Chicago Tribune. Boswell was also head and shoulders above her classmates in the class of 1980, graduating one year ahead of schedule and going to Illinois State University on scholarship. As a Lady Redbird, Boswell set the school career scoring mark (2,005) which still stands as of this writing in June 2006, set several other school records, was an All-American, led her team to post-season play each season from 1980-83, and was a member of the 1984 USA Olympic team that won the gold medal. Her jersey number at ISU (#44) is only one of two female basketball players to have her name retired at the school.
—Chris Crowther–Without question, she may be the most decorated athlete in Joliet West history, bringing home two gold medals from the 1982 state AA track finals, two seconds in 1980, two thirds in 1981, a fifth and a seventh in 1979 along with an eighth in 1980. She also was fourth in the state cross-country finals in 1979 and had an 11th in 1981. All told, Crowther received 11 medals at IHSA state finals.
—Carol Wiegand–swimmer, 1979-81. As a sophomore, Wiegand won the 100 backstroke in 1979, then followed it up with a win in the 100 butterfly finals at the 1980 IHSA state finals. She qualified for the finals in both events in 1981, taking second in the backstroke, and fifth in the butterfly. Wiegand was also part of the school’s 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays that took second at state in 1979.
—Andy Dick—actor, comedian, class of 1984. Before becoming a cast regular of prime-time television comedy programs “Newsradio” and “Less Than Perfect,” Dick was voted homecoming king during his senior year in 1983 and referred to as the class clown. After high school, he attended Columbia College in Chicago where he was later discovered as a comedian and led to his appearances on TV.
–John Barrowman—actor, musician, performer, class of 1985. Barrowman was similar to Dick as an actor, and acted in school plays. He is a British native, and came to Joliet when his father was transferred to a job at a Joliet industrial plant. Barrowman continues to perform, but back in Great Britain, where he still maintains a dual citizenship with both the US and Great Britain.
WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
If you have additional information about Joliet West High School, photos of teams and individuals, or even the words and music to the school fight song, we could use your help. You can forward your items and comments to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or send it via USPS to:
Illinois High School Glory Days
6439 N. Neva
Chicago, IL 60631 |
