| ATHLETICS
The La Harpe High School Eagles had some memorable seasons in several different sports. The boys competed in football, basketball, baseball, and track. The girls competed in softball, volleyball, basketball, and track. On the academic side the kids of La Harpe High School faired well in Speech Sweepstakes, Individual Events, and the Scholastic Bowl competitions.
We do need several season records and coach’s names from each sport. We would also like to share information regarding the school’s fight song.
BOYS BASEBALL
The boys of the baseball diamond had four seasons in which they earned some hardware in the IHSA State Tournament. Regional titles were won in 1997, 2002, 2004, and 2006. Former Coach Todd Porter tells us of the co-ops that La Harpe High School was a part of during the 1990s and 2000s:
“I was the varsity baseball coach for the LaHarpe-Northwestern Thunder from 1992-2003, which was the last year that co-op existed. I was also the varsity coach for what then became the LaHarpe-West Prairie Cyclones from 2004-2006.”
As you can tell by looking at the records below, Coach Porter’s teams had some incredible seasons. Coach Porter has carried on his winning tradition as the current head coach of Carthage Illini West High School.
1992-LH/NW 7 – 9 Coach Todd Porter
1993-LH/NW 8 – 4 Coach Todd Porter
1994-LH/NW 9 – 8 Coach Todd Porter
1995-LH/NW 16 – 8 Coach Todd Porter
1996-LH/NW 18 – 2 Coach Todd Porter
1997-LH/NW 20 – 6 Regional Champions Coach Todd Porter
1998-LH/NW 14 – 6 Coach Todd Porter
1999-LH/NW 22 – 7 Coach Todd Porter
2000-LH/NW 22 – 7 Coach Todd Porter
2001-LH/NW 27 – 6 Coach Todd Porter
2002-LH/NW 27 – 4 Regional Champions Coach Todd Porter
2003-LH/NW 8 – 17 Coach Todd Porter
2004-LH/WP 25 – 8 Regional Champions Coach Todd Porter
2005-LH/WP 19 – 6 Coach Todd Porter
2006-LH/WP 18 – 9 Regional Champions Coach Todd Porter
GIRLS SOFTBALL
The lady Eagles earned a trophy for their school as well. The girls of 1975-76 earned a Regional title trophy for the school. Team record and coach’s name of this and other softball teams at LCHS are needed.
1975-76 Regional Champions
BOYS BASKETBALL
The boys of the hardwood court earned three Regional titles in a very tough basketball area. One of the titles was won in the original one-class IHSA Tournament. Several scores involving La Harpe High School while participating in the annual IHSA Tournament were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores“. These scores are printed below. Again, coach’s names and team records are needed to help make this section complete.
1922-23 through 1932-33 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.
1933-34 Macomb District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Augusta 48-34
Augusta won District Tournament
1934-35 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.
1935-36 Carthage District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Burnside 44-22
Burnside won District Tournament
1936-37 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.
1937-38 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.
1938-39 Carthage District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Bowen 38-23
Bowen lost title game to Hamilton
1939-40 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.
1940-41 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.
1941-42 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Plymouth 22-21
Plymouth lost in semi-final round
1942-43 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Dallas City 35-17
Dallas City won Regional Tournament
1943-44 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.
1944-45 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Dallas City 48-29
Dallas City won Regional Tournament
1945-46 Carthage Regional Champions! Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Dallas City 42-33
Semi-final Beat Elvaston 34-24
Title Game Beat Warsaw 32-20
Macomb Sectional Tournament
Semi-final lost to Canton 54-31
Canton lost title game to Galesburg
1946-47 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Hamilton 40-25
Hamilton lost title game to Dallas City
1947-48 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Dallas City 55-27
Dallas City lost title game to Carthage
1948-49 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Dallas City 56-29
Dallas City won Regional Tourney over Hamilton
1949-50 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Carthage 59-38
Carthage won Regional Tournament over Bowen
1950-51 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Plymouth 74-40
Plymouth lost title game to Bowen
1951-52 8-15 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach Bob Jones
1st Rd lost to Carthage 66-26
Carthage lost in semi-final round
1952-53 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Bowen 71-39
Bowen won Regional over Carthage
1953-54 Carthage Regional Runner-up Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Hamilton 48-31
Semi-final Beat Augusta 44-40
Title Game lost to Bowen 48-36
1954-55 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Warsaw 53-44
Warsaw lost in semi-final round
1955-56 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Augusta 69-62
Augusta lost in title game
1956-57 Hamilton Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Carthage 61-45
Carthage lost title game to Plymouth
1957-58 Warsaw Regional Tournament Coach Evemeyer
1st Rd lost to Warsaw 82-35
Warsaw beat Carthage for title
1958-59 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Warsaw 70-40
Warsaw beat Carthage for title
1959-60 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.
1960-61 LaHarpe Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Warsaw 67-63
Warsaw lost in semi-final round
1961-62 Hamilton Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Hamilton 62-47
Hamilton lost to Carthage in title game
1962-63 Dallas City Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Warsaw 56-45
Warsaw beat Dallas City for title
1963-64 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Warsaw 70-51
Warsaw beat Dallas City for title
1964-65 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1965-66 Dallas City Regional Runner-up Coach’s name & record needed
Title Game lost to Hamilton 72-56
1966-67 LaHarpe Regional Runner-up Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Carthage 52-42
Semi-final Beat Hamilton 62-53
Title Game lost to Dallas City 58-57 (2 O/Ts)
1967-68 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Hamilton 68-37
Hamilton lost title game to Carthage
1968-69 18-7 Hamilton Regional Tournament Coach Logan
1st Rd lost to Augusta 63-53
Augusta lost in semi-final round
1969-70 Dallas City Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Carthage 57-40
Carthage lost title game to Warsaw
1970-71 LaHarpe Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Carthage 80-50
Carthage lost to Hamilton in title game
1971-72 Hamilton Class ‘A’ Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Augusta SE 47-40
Augusta won Regional Title over Hamilton
1972-73 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ name needed.
1973-74 23-3 Regional Champions Coach Steve Mitchell
Title Game Beat Nauvoo-Colusa 68-59
Quincy Sectional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Quincy Catholic Boys 77-63
Quincy Catholic Boys won Sectional over Havana
Quincy Catholic Boys placed 4th at State Tourney
1974-75 through 1981-82 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ name needed.
1982-83 Regional Champions Coach’s name & record needed
Regional Scores Needed
Lewistown Sectional Tournament
Semi-final lost to Beardstown 78-50
Beardstown lost title game to Havana
Havana placed 4th at State Tournament
1983-84 through 2000-01 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
2001-02 Coach David Billitor (partial season 2 – 7)
2001-02 through 2006-07 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.
*LaHarpe High School closed after the 2006-07 school year to join the Carthage Illini West School District.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
The girls did not win any IHSA tourney hardware, but we are confident there were some nice seasons in the school’s history. Coach Jim Cox led the charge in the late 1980s. More team records and coach’s names are needed to complete the history of this sport for La Harpe High School.
1987-88 6 – 16 Coach Jim Cox
1988-89 2 – 20 Coach Jim Cox
BOYS FOOTBALL
The football program at La Harpe High School ventured into the IHSA State football playoffs twice in the late 1980s. Coach Tim Lafferty led the grid iron heroes from at least 1986 through 1991. We know that the La Harpe boys played football through the close of the school as they were part of the West Prairie co-op between LHS and Sciota Northwestern. Any further information on this program is welcome.
1951-52 5 – 2 – 1 Coach Bob Jones
1957-58 Coach Don Corry
1968-69 3 – 4 – 1 Coach Ray Downs
1985-86 5 – 4 (Coach’s name needed)
1986-87 6 – 4 IHSA Class 1A Qualifier Coach Tim Lafferty
Lost to Warsaw 16 – 8
1987-88 6 – 4 IHSA Ciass 1A Qualifier Coach Tim Lafferty
Lost to Roseville 20 – 0
1988-89 0 – 9 Coach Tim Lafferty
1989-90 0 – 9 Coach Tim Lafferty
1990-91 2 – 7 Coach Tim Lafferty
1991-92 3 – 6 Coach Tim Lafferty
We are told that La Harpe High School co-oped with with Sciota Northwestern and were known as the “Thunder” in football through the consolidation of Northwestern and Colchester (who formed the West Prairie School District). The West Prairie – La Harpe co-op was then called the “Cyclones”.
As a part of this co-op arrangement, the La Harpe folks enjoyed some incredible football success, including SECOND place finishes in the IHSA State Finals in 1996 and 2000!
La Harpe football results as part of the co-op with Sciota Northwestern and West Prairie schools:
As Sciota Northwestern – La Harpe “Thunder”:
1992-95 Coach Tim Lafferty
1995-96 10 – 2 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty
Elite 8 Finalist
Beat Stronghurst Southern 34 – 8
Beat Flanagan 34 – 8
Lost to Carthage 14 – 0
Carthage State Champions
1996-97 13 – 1 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty
TEAM FINISHED SECOND IN STATE!!
Beat ROWVA 26 – 0
Beat Biggsville Union 41 – 0
Beat Monmouth Warren 20 – 13
Beat Greenfield 14 – 10
Lost to Chenoa 35 – 28
1997-98 9 – 1 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty
Undefeated Regular Season
Lost to Villa Grove 14 – 9
1998-99 7 – 3 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty
Lost to Sterling Newman 35 – 8
Newman finished 2ND
1999-00 10 – 2 Qualified for Class 2A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty
Elite 8 Finalist
Beat Forreston 30 – 8
Beat Walter Lutheran 36 – 35 (O/T)
Lost to Fulton 34 – 7
2000-01 13 – 1 Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty
Undefeated Regular Season
TEAM FINISHED SECOND IN STATE!!
Beat Yorkwood 39 – 8
Beat Forreston 32 – 14
Beat Lexington 35 – 7
Beat East Dubuque 23 – 16
Lost to Carthage 14 – 0
2001-02 11 – 1 Qualified for Class 2A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty
Undefeated Regular Season
Elite 8 Finalist
Beat Iroquois West 42 – 0
Beat Tuscola 28 – 15
Lost to Moweaqua 26 – 18
Moweaqua Finished 2ND
2002-03 10 – 2 Qualified for Class 2A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty
Elite 8 Finalist
Beat Virginia 50 – 6
Beat Beardstown 38 – 13
Lost to Carthage 30 – 8
Carthage Finished 2ND
As West Prairie-La Harpe Cyclones:
2003-04 9 – 2 Qualified for Class 3A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty
Beat Petersburg PORTA 42 – 20
Lost to Tolono 21 – 14
2005-06 7 – 3 Qualified for Class 2A Playoffs Coach Tim Lafferty
Lost to Bushnell-Prairie City 38 – 27
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
One District title and two Regional Championships were the highlights of the lady netters program. This includes one great “last hurrah” as the Cyclones won the last Regional title in the school’s history in the school’s final year of existence. Team records and coach’s names of these and other great Eagle volleyball teams are needed.
1981-82 District Champions
1997-98 Regional Champions
2006-07 Regional Champions
BOYS TRACK & FIELD
The Eagle thin clads had four boys earn medals at the IHSA State Track meet. Two of those individuals, a gentleman named Claycomb and Gene Maynard, earned Gold Medals! In fact, Gene Maynard earned his under the old one-class system, earning him the unquestionable state championship in his event, the 880 Yard Run !!
1921B Individual Medalists
Claycomb 440 Yard Dash State Champion!!
Hancock 100 Yard Dash 4TH Place
Nelson Pole Vault 4TH Place
1949 Gene Maynard 880 Yard Run 3RD Place
1950 Gene Maynard 880 Yard Run State Champion!!
GIRLS TRACK & FIELD
The Eagle lady tracksters had one individual medal at the IHSA State Meet. Jaimie Jones earned medals in FOUR consecutive trips to the State Finals in her specialty, the high jump!! In her junior and senior years Jamie captured the IHSA Class ‘A’ STATE CHAMPIONSHIP as part of the Northwestern-LaHarpe Girls Track Coop effort!!
1995A Jaime Jones High Jump 3RD Place
1996A Jaime Jones High Jump 2ND Place
1997A Jamie Jones High Jump STATE CHAMPION!!
1998A Jamie Jones High Jump STATE CHAMPION!!
OTHER EXTRA-CURRICULAR COMPETITIONS
The IHSA also offers competition in non-sporting events as well. La Harpe High School faired well, bringing home hardware in the “Speech Individual Events”, “Speech Sweepstakes”, and “Scholastic Bowl” competitions!!!!
INDIVIDUAL EVENTS
1958 Individual Medalist – Delbert Dahl After Dinner 4TH Place
1959 Individual Medalist – Karen Moyes After Dinner 3RD Place
1960 Individual Medalist – Karen Moyes Orat. Declam. 5TH Place
1960-61 Team Won District and Sectional Championships!!
1961-62 Team Won District Championship
1961 Individual Medalist – David Louden Orig. Comedy 3RD Place
1968-69 Team Won Sectional Championship
1969 Individual Medalist – Jackie Howd Orat. Declam. 3RD Place
SCHOLASTIC BOWL
1999-00 24 – 4 Team Place FOURTH in IHSA Competition!! Coach Barbara Ramsey
Team Won Sectional Championship
SPEECH SWEEPSTAKES
1953-54 Team Won District Championship
1957-58 Team Won District Championship
1959-60 Team Won District and Sectional Championship
LA HARPE HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
*Charlie Apt – Principal 1984-85 to 2003-04
We Are Seeking Further Information…
…regarding La Harpe High School’s Cyclones. If you can help us out please contact us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. We are especially looking for a photo of the school building. You may also write us at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il. 60631
| La Harpe High School Building Entrance Letters |
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