INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT PEORIA BERGAN HS
Year opened: 1963
Year closed: 1988
Now used as: Peoria Notre Dame High School
School colors: Black & White
School nickname: “Trojans”
School song: “Hey Look Us Over, We’re Bergan High”
sung to “Hey Look Us Over”
Lyrics provided by JEFFREY FLEXER & CATHY SAUER MCQUILLAN
Hey, look us over,
We’re from Bergan High!
They call us the Trojans,
And here’s the reason why:
We’re rough and ready,
Colors Black and White;
And when we meet the enemy
We’ll fight with all our might!
And (So,) we’ll be loyal to Bergan,
We’ll always be true.
Win for Alma Mater, that’s the thing to do
We’re a school with class
You can’t surpass,
We’ll never say die
We’re the Trojans of Bergan High!
ATHLETICS
Peoria Bergan was a competitive school, as it was a member of the Mid-State Conference with other Peoria-area schools such as Woodruff, Central, Manual, Richwoods, Academy of Our Lady/Spalding, Pekin, East Peoria, and Bartonville Limestone being on the Bergan schedules. The Trojans offered baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field, and wrestling to the boys, and girls could compete in basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field, volleyball. There is no record of a swimming team for either boys or girls, and no softball at Bergan according to the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org), although we do welcome any information someone might have.
GIRLS TRACK
Let’s start with a bang with this notable sport in Bergan history. Three was a magic number for the Bergan girls track team. In addition to making its name noteworthy, the Lady Trojans won three state Class A titles in succession under three different coaches, and having three relays along with three individuals come home with gold medals for winning their events. Suzy Tuffey won four titles in establishing herself as one of the best distance runners in state history. She still holds the state records for the 1600 (4:46.5) and 3200 (10:03.0) as of March 2007. Tuffey also has the third fastest two-mile time in prep indoor track history at 10:05.15, set in 1985.
1979AA Individual Medalist
Sandra Geier long jump—6th place
1980A Tied for 6th in State Coach unknown
STATE FINAL STANDINGS
1 Mahomet-Seymour 36
6 Greenville 18
6 Elmhurst Immaculate Conception 18
6 Peoria Bergan 18
Relay/Individual Medalists
400-meter relay—3rd place
Sandra Geier 100-meter hurdles—8th place
200-meter hurdles—3rd place
Long Jump—4th place
1981A STATE CHAMPIONS !!! Coach Luis Rubio
STATE FINAL STANDINGS
1 Peoria Bergan 42
2 New Lenox Providence 36
3 Chicago University 29
4 Chicago Luther South 28
5 Elmwood 24
Relay/Individual Medalists
400-meter relay—STATE CHAMPIONS!! (:49.9)
(Cheryl Geier, Sandy Geier, Diane Joseph, Julie Szidon)
1600-meter relay—STATE CHAMPIONS!! (4:03.9)
(Bary Beyers, Carrie Eggerichs, Karol Heid, Maria Pasquel)
Carrie Eggerichs 400-meter dash—3rd place
Sandra Geier 200-meter dash—4th place
200-meter hurdles—3rd place
Long Jump—4th place
1982A STATE CHAMPIONS!!! Coach Sr. Diane Francque
District Champions
STATE FINAL STANDINGS
1 Peoria Bergan 49
2 Teutopolis 37
3 Downs Tri-Valley 31
4 New Lenox Providence 30
5 Mt. Olive 28
Relay/Individual Medalists
400-meter relay—4th place
800-meter relay—6th place
1600-meter relay—3rd place
Sandra Geier 200-meter dash—6th place
200-meter hurdles—2nd place
Suzy Tuffey 1600-meter run—2nd place
800-meter run—2nd place
Carrie Eggerichs 400-meter dash—4th place
Joan Murphy 3200-meter run—7th place
1983A STATE CHAMPIONS Coach Tim Dougherty
Sectional Champions
STATE FINAL STANDINGS
1 Peoria Bergan 51
2 Chicago Luther South 48
3 Teutopolis 42
4 Monticello 20
4 Aurora Rosary 20
Relay/Individual Medalists
800-meter medley relay—STATE CHAMPIONS (1:48.8)
(Carrie Eggerichs, Cheryl Geier, Jill Mattern, Julie Szidon)
400-meter relay—2nd place
1600-meter relay—6th place
Carrie Eggerichs 400-meter dash—STATE CHAMPION!! (:57.7)
Suzy Tuffey 800-meter dash—STATE CHAMPION!!! (2:14.6)
1600-meter run—STATE CHAMPION!! (5:06.0)
1984A Seventh in State Coach Tim Dougherty
Sectional Champions
STATE FINAL STANDINGS
1 Teutopolis 46
7 Peoria Bergan 26
Relay/Individual Medalists
Suzy Tuffey 1600-meter run—STATE CHAMPION!! (4:52.8)
3200-meter run—STATE CHAMPION!! (state-record time 10:03.0)
Jill Mattern 100-meter dash—5th place
Chaille Torrey Long Jump—7th place
1985A Fifth in State!!! Coach unknown
STATE FINAL STANDINGS
1 Teutopolis 51
2 Aurora Rosary 35
3 Urbana University 34
4 Cairo 30
5 Peoria Bergan 28
Relay/Individual Medalists
400-meter relay—2nd place (:49.7—:00.1 behind!!)
800-meter relay—4th place (1:45.0)
Jill Mattern 100-meter dash—5th place (:12.6)
200-meter dash—6th place (:26.5)
Stephanie Stump 1600-meter run—4th place (5:13.3)
800-meter run—8th place (2:21.3)
Chaille Torrey Long Jump—7th place (16’ 8¼”)
1986A 3rd in State!!! Coach unknown
Sectional Champions
STATE FINAL STANDINGS
1 Chicago Luther South 57
2 Stanford Olympia 36
3 Peoria Bergan 35
4 Madison 34
4 Maple Park Kaneland 34
Relay/Individual Medalists
3200-meter relay—8th place (10:02.0)
Chaille Torrey Long Jump—STATE CHAMPION!!! (18’ 9¼”)
100-meter hurdles—5th place (:16.01)
Stephanie Stump 1600-meter run—3rd place
800-meter run—4th place (2:23.2)
Jill Mattern 100-meter dash—4th place (:13.17)
200-meter dash—5th place (:26.46)
1987A Sectional Champions Coach unknown
Relay/Individual Medalists
1600-meter relay—3rd place
Stephanie Stump 1600-meter run—2nd place
1988A Individual Medalist
Stephanie Stump 1600-meter run—3rd place
INCREDIBLE JOB BY THE LADY TROJAN TRACKSTERS!!!
BOYS CROSS-COUNTRY
Bergan was known as one of the top boys’ cross-country teams in the state during the 1980’s, gathering two state championships, a second, and a sixth place finish in four consecutive seasons under coach Mike Sullivan. In addition, six harriers gained all-state honors by placing in the top 25 at the finish line.
1980 STATE CHAMPIONS!! Coach Mike Sullivan
State Qualifer
STATE FINAL STANDINGS
1 Peoria Bergan 89
2 Princeton 123
3 Elmhurst Immaculate Conception 142
4 Paxton 148
5 Trenton Wesclin 178
State Medalists
Eric Volkert STATE CHAMPION!! (time: 14:46.9)
Dan Ray 15th place (15:27.0)
John Spring 16th place (15:28)
1981 STATE CHAMPIONS!! Coach Mike Sullivan
State Qualifier
STATE FINAL STANDINGS
1 Peoria Bergan 92
2 Trenton Wesclin 111
3 Prophetstown 161
4 Aurora Marmion 163
5 Petersburg PORTA 169
State Medalists
Richard Spring 3rd place (15:04.0)
Dan Ray 4th place (15:10.0)
1982 2ND in STATE!! Coach Mike Sullivan
Regional Champions
Sectional Champions
STATE FINAL STANDINGS
1 Trenton Wesclin 91
2 Peoria Bergan 134
3 Streator Woodland 148
4 Elmwood 174
5 Elmhurst Immaculate Conception 204
State Medalist
John Stein 12th place (15:22)
1983 6th in STATE Coach Mike Sullivan
State Qualifier
STATE FINAL STANDINGS
1 Elmwood 62
6 Peoria Bergan 197
State Medalist
John Stein 2nd place
(15:03.0-:00.2 behind state champion Ron Speletich of Beecher)
BASEBALL
During the 1980’s, the Trojans brought home some hardware from the ball diamonds of Central Illinois, winning five Class A regionals, two sectionals, and having two appearances at the state finals in Springfield.
1980 23-14 Elite 8 Finalist Coach Rich Coleman
Regional/Sectional Champions
Class A State Qualifiers
Lost to Mount Carmel, 3-2, in quarterfinals
1981 22-15-1 Elite 8 Finalist Coach Rich Coleman
Regional/Sectional Champions
Class A State Qualifiers
Lost to Aurora Central Catholic, 5-0, in quarterfinals
1984 Regional Champions coach unknown
1986 22-14 Regional Champions Coach Jerry Rashid
1987 24-12 Coach Jerry Rashid
1988 18-10 Regional Champions Coach Jerry Rashid
BOYS BASKETBALL
The Trojans had their share of success, including a second-place finish at the state class A tournament under Rudy Keeling, who would go on to be head coach at the University of Maine. The best seasons in Bergan history are listed below.
1965-68 Coach Jerry Faye
1968-69 12-11 Coach Don Mathews
1969-70 19- 8 Coach Don Mathews
1970-71 17- 9 Coach Don Mathews
1972-73 26- 2 Regional Champions Coach Terry Knapp
1973-74 18- 8 Coach Terry Knapp
1974-75 12-12 Coach Bob Swigris
1975-77 Coach John Lucas
1977-79 Coach Rudy Keeling
1979-80 23- 9 Class A State Tourney 2ND Place!! Coach Rudy Keeling
Regional Champs
Sectional Champions
Defeated Sterling Newman 56-55 at Moline Supersectional
Downed Gibson City in quarterfinals 66-55
Beat Madison 57-51 in semIfinals
Lost to Chicago Luther South in championship game, 56-51
Rated 11th in final regular AP Class A Poll
Scott McCabe and Tom Gilles named All-Tournament
1980-81 3-16 Coach Dan Corken
1981-84 Coach Tom Eder
1984-85 14-12 Coach Tom Eder
1985-86 12-16 Coach Tom Eder
1986-87 10-18 Coach Jim Carlson
1987-88 14-16 Class A Sweet 16 Qualifers Coach Jim Carlson
Regional Champs
Sectional Champs
Lost to Lena-Winslow 56-54 at Rock Island Supersectional
Macomb High School Boys Basketball Tourney Highlights for Bergan HS:
1969 Champion def. East Peoria 59-43
1970 Champion def. East Peoria 55-50
1972 Champion def. Macomb 83-64
1973 Champion def. Monmouth 82-72
All-Tourney Selections
1969 1st team-Larry Gallway & Tom Howe
2nd team- Mark Kedzior
1970 1st team- Bill Schlicksup (MVP)
1971 2nd team- Steve McLinden
1972 1st team-Bill Knaub
2nd team- Jim Carlson, Jeff Ralph
1973 1st team-Jeff Ralph & Bill Ricca
2nd team- Jim Kelly
Tournament records
Highest Average score by one team, tournament
1972 Peoria (Bergan) 92.8pts (4 games)
Most points scored one team, GAME
1972 Peoria (Bergan) 122 vs. Sherrard
Most Field Goal Attempts one team, tournament
1972 Peoria (Bergan), 319
Most Field Goals made one team, tournament
1972 Peoria (Bergan), 157
Most Free Throws Made by one team, tournament
1970 Peoria (Bergan), 82
Most Rebounds team, tournament
1973 Peoria (Bergan), 175
Most Rebounds by one team, game
1973 Peoria (Bergan) 61 vs. Macomb.
GIRLS GOLF
In the first year of the girls’ state tournament, Bergan was represented at the finals by Dotti McLaughlin, who nearly took top medalist honors from Bloomington’s Ann Atwood.
1975 Individual Medalist
Dotti McLaughlin 2nd place—one stroke behind (177)
GIRLS TENNIS
Bergan was involved in the first IHSA state meet and without having a singles or doubles entry even finish in the top eight of the state, they still had enough points to finish in the top 10, tied with two other schools. The Lady Trojans also sent three other teams to state after winning either a district or sectional championship.
1972-73 Tied for 8th in State Coach unknown
STATE FINAL STANDINGS
1 Oak Park-River Forest 26
8 Des Plaines Maine West 12
8 Homewood-Flossmoor 12
8 Peoria Bergan 12
1973-74 District Champions
State Qualifiers
1982-83 Sectional Champions Coaches Virginia Hederle & Connie Alexander
State Qualifiers
1983-84 Sectional Champions
State Qualifiers
BOYS TRACK & FIELD
The Trojans were active on the cinder tracks and competed with some of the best in the state. In fact, the boys’ team came home with a fourth place finish at the state Class A meet in 1984, led by event winners Kevin Jakopin and John Stein.
1980A Individual Medalists
Mike Driscoll 3200 meter run—8th place
Eric Volkert 800 meter run—3rd place
1981A Individual Medalist
Eric Volkert 1600 meter run—3rd place
1984 4TH IN STATE!! Coach unknown
STATE FINAL STANDINGS
1 Melrose Park Walther Lutheran 52
2 Cairo 42
3 Farmington East 28
4 Peoria Bergan 25
5 Elgin St. Edward 24
Sullivan 24
Individual Medalists
Kevin Jakopin 400 meter dash—STATE CHAMP!! (:49.89)
John Stein 3200 meter run—STATE CHAMP!!! (9:14.89)
John Stein 1600 meter run—4th place
BOYS SOCCER
Before Peoria Notre Dame was formed and became a perennial favorite to win a state title, the Bergan program was already laying the cornerstone of a perennial powerhouse into place which would help Notre Dame get to the position they were in the 1990’s and early 2000’s.
The Trojans went out with a bang in 1987. That season, Bergan set the IHSA state record for fewest goals allowed in one season at seven. It has since been tied by Quincy Notre Dame’s 1994 squad. The Trojans also had nine consecutive shutouts during the season, which is tied for tenth best in a single season on the IHSA list. Mark Alaksiewicz shined in goal that season, allowing seven goals and recording 14 shutouts.
1978 9- 0 First season Coach Bill Fulton
1979 12- 6-2 Coach Jerry Crabtree
1980 15- 7-3 Coach Jerry Crabtree
1981 10- 3-3 Coach Jerry Crabtree
1982 15- 8-4 Regional Champions Coach Jerry Crabtree
1983 Coach Jerry Crabtree
1984 13- 7-2 Regional Champions Coach Jerry Crabtree
1985 13- 9 Coach Jerry Crabtree
1986 12- 6-2 Coach Danny Driscoll
1987 18- 2-1 Coach Danny Driscoll |