Nauvoo (population 1,063) is located on Illinois Route 96 in upper-western Illinois. The town is located on the banks of the Mississippi River in far western Hancock County. Nauvoo is located about 35 miles west of Macomb. The town was platted in 1835 and originally named Commerce. In 1839 Joseph Smith and the Latter Day Saints moved into town and set off a population explosion. The town was renamed Nauvoo (which literally means “beautiful location”) and quickly spread its wings.
Colusa (estimated population 25) is located in upper-far-western Illinois about 25 miles northwest of Macomb. This little hamlet is located in the north-central area of Hancock County. According to Map Quest (www.mapquest.com) Colusa is about two blocks long from north to south and one block wide from the east to the west. Colusa is situated on County Roadway 1750 between roadways 2500 and 2600. The nearest well-traveled roadway might be Illinois Route 94 located 1 1/2 miles to the east of Colusa. Colusa has a distinction of being both ten miles east of the Mississppi River and four miles south of the Mississippi River. Branches of the Camp Creek flow to the west and east of town. An unnamed set of railroad tracks runs through town as well.
Both towns supported their own high schools on a solo basis for several years. It was in 1961 that the residents agreed to pool their educational resources and merge the two school districts. The new district created by the merger of Nauvoo High School and Colusa High School was aptly named Nauvoo-Colusa High School. The high school was located in Nauvoo.
This arrangement worked well for the next 47 years. Dwindling enrollment and financial strife began to take their toll. It was decided in 2007 that the final school year for Nauvoo-Colusa High School would be the 2007-08 year. At that point Nauvoo-Colusa High School was deactivated with all students now attending high school in nearby Warsaw.
Nauvoo-Colusa High School Quick Facts
Year opened: 1961
Year HS deactivated: 2008
Consolidated to: Warsaw High School
NCHS team nickname: the “Vikings”
Uniform colors: Black & White
School Fight Song: unavailable
Mauvoo-Colusa “Viking” Mascot
Submitted by Christopher Flynn
ATHLETICS
Many successful seasons followed in various sports after the Nauvoo and Colusa boys and girls joined forces in high school sports. By far the most successful season was the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP won in boys basketball during the 1997-98 season!! All totalled the Vikings and Lady Vikings brought home 9 Regional titles, 1 Sectional title, 1 Super-Sectional title, and a State Championship during their 47 years of existence. We are searching for the school fight song, team uniform colors, and several season records/coach’s names.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Playing in a “hot bed” of basketball the Nauvoo-Colusa HS boys basketball program held their own and then some. A total of 5 Regional Championships were won by the boys. As mentioned above, one magical season took the team all the way to the Class ‘A’ State Championship.
Coach Reno Pinkston had a great run with the Vikings, winning 201 games and losing only 65 in one eight year stretch. Coach Pinkston was also the head coach of the State Champs.
All of the information listed below was located on the IHSA website, www.ihsa.org . Scores involving Nauvoo-Colusa High School in the IHSA Tournament were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are also printed below.
1961-62 Macomb Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
(N-CHS did not compete in District)
1st Rd lost to Colchester 60-53
Colchester lost in semi-final round
1962-63 Dallas City Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
(N-CHS did not compete in District)
1st Rd lost to Dallas City 74-55
Dallas City lost in title game
1963-64 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1964-65 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1965-66 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1966-67 LaHarpe Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
(N-CHS did not compete in District)
1st Rd lost to Warsaw 62-56
Warsaw lost in semi-final round.
1967-68 Carthage Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
(N-CHS did not compete in District)
1st Rd Beat Industry 57-48
Semi-final lost to Hamilton 78-47
Hamilton lost in title game
1968-69 Hamilton Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
(N-CHS did not compete in District)
1st Rd Beat Hamilton 60-59
Semi-final lost to Warsaw 72-59
Warsaw won Regional title
1969-70 Dallas City Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
(N-CHS did not compete in District)
1st Rd lost to Hamilton 74-61
Hamilton lost in semi-final round
1970-71 LaHarpe Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
(N-CHS did not compete in District)
1st Rd lost to Hamilton 78-66
Hamilton won Regional title.
1971-72 Hamilton Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
(N-CHS did not compete in District)
1st Rd lost to Plymouth 71-68
Plymouth lost in semi-final round
1972-73 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1973-74 20 – 8 Nauvoo-Colusa Regional Runner-upCoach Dan Cook
1st Rd Beat Carthage 54-48
Semi-final Beat Hamilton 55-47
Title game lost to LaHarpe 68-59
1974-75 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1975-76 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1976-77 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1977-78 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1978-79 IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champions! Coach’s name & record needed
Regional Scores Needed
Lewistown Sectional Tournament
Semi-final lost to Payson-Seymour 64-53
Payson-Seymour lost title game to Havana
1979-80 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1980-81 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1981-82 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1982-83 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1983-84 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1984-85 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1985-86 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1986-87 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1987-88 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1988-89 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1989-90 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1990-91 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1991-92 11 – 17 Coach Kevin Long
(Postseason scores needed)
1992-93 10 – 17 Coach Kevin Long
(Postseason scores needed)
1993-94 16 – 12 Coach Reno Pinkston
(Postseason scores needed)
1994-95 17 – 10 Coach Reno Pinkston
(Postseason scores needed)
1995-96 21 – 6 Coach Reno Pinkston
(Postseason scores needed)
1996-97 23 – 6 Coach Reno Pinkston
(Postseason scores needed)
1997-98 32 – 3 IHSA CLASS ‘A’ STATE CHAMPS! Coach Reno Pinkston
Regional Champions! (Scores needed)
Sectional Champions
Semi-Final Beat Mt. Sterling Brown Co. 60-57 (O/T)
Title Game Beat Quincy Notre Dame 53-50
Super-Sectional Champions
Beat Ashland (A-C Central) 59 – 56
Elite 8 Finalist
Beat Chrisman 59 – 52
Final Four Finalist
Beat Farmington 48 – 47
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Beat Spring Valley (Hall) 45 – 39
2006-07 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
2007-08 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
**The Vikings are also listed among the State’s elite for the following categories:
3-Point Field Goals Made – Season
[49.] 199, Nauvoo (N.-Colusa), 1997-98 (199 of 507)
Individual 50-point Club
[138.] 54, Kellen Fernetti, Nauvoo (N.-Colusa) vs. Kinderhook (West Pike), Feb. 1, 2001
2001 3-Point Shooting Contest
1. Cody Driskin, Farmer City Blue Ridge High School
2. Kellen Fernetti, Nauvoo-Cousa High School
GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Lady Vikings also had some nice seasons. Only two are listed on the IHSA website. One Regional title highlighted the program’s successes. Several season records and coach’s names are needed.
1973-74 through 2001-02 Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.
2002-03 23 – 9 Postseason scores & coach’s name needed.
2003-04 IHSA Regional Champions! Coach’s name & record needed
(Regional Scores Needed)
Sectional Tournament
Semi-final lost to Camp Point Central 43-39
CPC lost in title game.
2004-05 Postseason scores, record, & coach’s name needed.
2005-06 Postseason scores, record, & coach’s name needed.
2006-07 Postseason scores, record, & coach’s name needed.
2007-08 Postseason scores, record, & coach’s name needed.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
The harriers of Nauvoo-Colusa High School qualified for the IHSA State Meet in the 1977-78 season. Unfortunately this is the extent of the information we have regarding the boys cross-country program.
1977-78 Team Qualified for the IHSA State Meet!!
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
The lady harriers had one runner place at the IHSA State Meet. Kortney Ellingboe was a top-ten finisher in 2005 and followed that effort with a top-twenty finish in 2006!
Back to back Regional Championships brought a great ending to the boys baseball program at N-CHS. Team records and coach’s names are needed for these and other great seasons.
2002-03 9 – 9 CoachRichard McGhghy
2005-06 Regional Champions
2006-07 Regional Champions
GIRLS SOFTBALL
The girls won a Regional Championship in softball during the 2001-02 season. Information is requested regarding this and other great seasons on the softball diamond.
2001-02 Regional Champions
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
The IHSA website only lists five seasons from the mid-1980s. We are certain there are many others. Please contact us if you have further information regarding the lady netters of Nauvoo-Colusa High School.
1983-84 9 – 11 Coach Carrie Fiatt
1984-85 3 – 18 Coach Carrie Fiatt
1985-86 4 – 19 Coach Eileen Betcher
1986-87 5 – 18 Coach Leslie Jefferson
1987-88 11 – 14 Coach Leslie Jefferson
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
We are certain that sports were not the only thing offered at Nauvoo-Colusa High School. Plays, band, chorus, student government, and clubs were likely all a part of the NCHS experience. If you have information regarding these activities please send it to us for inclusion on this page.
NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE
We hope to document the history of Nauvoo-Colusa High School as completely as possible. If you have any information you would like to share regarding this school, especially a photo of the high school building, please forward it to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also mail items to us at the following address:
