Minonk (population 2,168) is located in northeastern Woodford County about 30 miles south of LaSalle. Illinois Route 251 is the main route in town and County Roads 2100 and 2200 border the north and south sides of town. There is an exit for Minonk on Interstate Highway 39, which runs within a half mile of the west side of town. Two major railroad companies, the AT & SF Railroad and the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad, have lines that intersect in the middle of Minonk.
Minonk has a rich history of educating its children. Schooling dates back to the mid-1800’s, specifically 1857, and continues in town today. Minonk flew solo as its own school system until 1948. That fall, the kids from nearby Dana were annexed into the Minonk system. The school was renamed Minonk-Dana for six years until 1956 when the kids of Rutland were annexed into the Minonk-Dana School. Again, the school was renamed to Minonk-Dana-Rutland. The nickname and school colors remained consistent. In 1992, the schools from Wenona and Toluca closed, sending their children to Minonk, also. The school was renamed the Fieldcrest School District with the high school located in Minonk
Minonk High School performed quite well on its own. The male athletes excelled in sports. A great deal of information regarding Minonk and its educational history can be found at the following web site: http://www.minonktalk.com/schoolhs.htm.
Minonk High School Quick Facts
Year opened: late 1800’s
Year became “Minonk-Dana”: 1949
Year became “Minonk-Dana-Rutland”:1956
School nickname: the “Mohawks”
School colors: Orange & Black
School Fight Song: “Minonk High School Loyalty”
Illinois Loyalty Fight Song Tune
Thank you to Albie Johnson
We’re Loyal to you, Minonk High,
We’re Orange & Black, Minonk High.
We’ll back you to stand,
‘gainst the best in the land
for we know you can stand, Minonk High!
Rah Rah!!
So crack out the ball, Minonk High
We’re backing you all, Minonk High!
Our team is our fame protector:
On! Boys for we expect a
Victory from you Minonk High!!
Athletics
The Minonk High School Mohawks were successful on many levels in boys sports. IHSA hardware (www.ihsa.org) was won in boys’ basketball, boys’ track, and many years of Friday night lights were enjoyed by the boys’ football team. The greatest success of the Minonk teams on a State competition level was the Track team of 1903. One male athlete listed below brought home two second place finishes placing the Minonk thinclads in 5th overall that year. If you wish to share more information on the Minonk High School ahtletic program, please write to us at eganann@sbcglobal.net.
Boys Track & Field
Minonk High School had a great track & field history during its early existence. Medals were brought home by 4 different individuals. In 1903an athlete with the last name of Parks brought home two second place finishes to place Minonk 5th overall in the State Track meet. A complete recap of that year and the medal winners of the other years are listed below.
1903 Parks Long Jump 2nd Place
Parks Standing Broad Jump 2nd Place
Minonk High School placed 5th Overall!!
1903 Team Final Standings
1) Chicago Hyde Park 24
2) Jacksonville 14
3) Pontiac 10
4) Anna 7
5) MINONK 6
Chicago Manuel 6
Chicago South Division 6
Evanston 6
Henry 6
10) Cuba, Chicago Englewood, Elmwood, Oak Park/River Forest, Taylorville
All Tied With 5 Points
1904 Parks Pole Vault 3rd Place
1923 Volk Javelin 3rd Place
1927 W. Morrison Pole Vault STATE CHAMPION!!
Boys Basketball
The Minonk Mohawks won a District title and a Regional title in boys basketball while going solo. Unfortunately, the team records and coaches’ names of these and other great Mohawk teams of pre-1948 Minonk are not all available. The picture to the above right is of the Minonk basketball team of 1947-48. This team was one of the most successful in school history. The Mohawks finished with a record of 26-2 advancing to the championship of the Regional, where they lost a controversial game to Henry.
Several postseason basketball scores from the IHSA Tournament were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are listed below as well.
1921-22 Bloomington District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat El Paso 32-18
2nd Rd Beat Normal U-High 24-13
Lost in 3rd Rd, score unavailable
1922-23 through 1925-26 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.
1926-27 Woodford Co. Tourney ChampsCoach Bill Whitler
Postseason scores & record needed
1927-28 Woodford Co. Tourney ChampsCoach Bill Whitler
Postseason scores & record needed
1928-29 21-4 District Champs Coach Bill Whitler
District Scores Needed
Peoria Sectional Tourney
1st Rd Lost to Streator 23-21
Streator lost in semi-final round
1929-30 through 1932-33 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.
1933-34 Wenona District Runner-up! Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Tonica 27-13
Semi-final Beat Toluca 34-25
Title game lost to Granville 28-19
1934-35 Wenona District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Lost to Granville 21-17
Granville lost in 2nd Rd.
1935-36 Wenona Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Minonk HS did not play in District
1st Rd Beat Lacon 29-13
Lost in semi-final round
1936-37 Wenona Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Minonk HS did not play in District
1st Rd Lost to Toluca 25-16
Toluca won Regional title
1937-38 Wenona Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed
District scores unavailalbe
Wenona Regional Tourney
Title Game BeatToluca 34-28
Peoria Sectional Tourney
1st Rd Beat Toulon 29-14
Semi-final lost to Pekin 42-19
Pekin won Sectional tourney.
Pekin lost in Sweet 16 round.
1938-39 Wenona Regional Runner-up! Coach’s name & record needed
Minonk HS did not play in District
Wenona Regional Scores
1st Rd Beat Henry 32-28
Semi-final Beat Lacon 19-14
Title game lost to Toluca 41-31
1939-40 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1940-41 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1941-42 Wenona Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Minonk HS did not play in District
1st Rd Beat Lacon 49-19
Semi-final lost to Wenona 36-21
Wenona lost in title game
1942-43 Wenona Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Minonk HS did not play in District
1st Rd Beat Lacon 60-22
Semi-final lost to Cornell 25-21
Cornell lost in title game
1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed
1944-45 Wenona Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Minonk HS did not play in District
1st Rd Lost to Henry 50-32
Henry lost in title game
1945-46 Wenona Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Minonk HS did not play in District
1st Rd Beat Toluca
Semi-final lost to Cornell 47-40
Cornell lost in title game
1946-47 Wenona Regional Runner-up! Coach’s name & record needed
1948-49 Lacon Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
Minonk HS did not play in District
Lost to Granville Hopkins 43-42
Hopkins lost in title game
*Minonk HS consolidated with Dana HS in the fall of 1949 to form Minonk-Dana High School.
Boys Football
The Mohawks definitely offered football as the team records are listed on the IHSA web site from 1925 to 1928. The complete season by season history is available for the 1948-89 seasons. Those seasons listed for when Minonk was its own high school are listed below, at least what is available on the IHSA web site.
1925-28 Coach Bill Whitler
1947-48 Coach Elmer Hampton
Extra-Curricular Activities
We are certain that other activities besides athletics were a part of the student life at Minonk High School. Band, chorus, dances, student government, and other clubs were likely offered and a vital part of the curriculum at MHS.
Always Wanting More
We are hopeful we can “spark” the interest of a Minonk history buff to help us fill in the blanks. There are also pages on this site for Dana, Rutland, Wenona, and Minonk-Dana-Rutland High Schools. If you have any further information on Minonk High School, especially photos and facts about great teams, please e-mail them to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write us at:
