Peoria Woodruff High School “Warriors”

Peoria Woodruff High School Building

The History of Peoria Woodruff High School, in brief …

Peoria (population: 113,000) is located in central Illinois along the Illinois River, and is deep in history. The community was once the home of the Peoria Indians, who were part of the Algonquin tribe, and were part of the Illinois Confederacy with the Tamaroa, Kaskaskia, Michigamea, and Cahokia tribes.

French explorers Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette were the first Europeans to come thru the area in 1673 as the French took over control of the land. That would change in 1765 when the British gained control after victory over the French in the French & Indian War. However, that would be short-lived as George Rogers Clark would claim the area for the state of Virginia in 1778.

The community began to take shape and grew as the country would go westward in the 19th century. Peoria would be incorporated as a town in 1835, then repeat the process as a city ten years later.

Interstate 74 is the major route in the area, with Interstate 474 being a bypass for those who wish to go around the city. Other routes include US 24 & 150, in addition to Illinois 6, 8, 29, 40, 91, and 116. Rail service is offered by ten different carriers, including BNSF, Canadian National, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific.

Woodruff High School was built in 1937 as a replacement for Kingman High School that was located in the Averyville neighborhood. You can read about Kingman High (and it’s predecessor, Averyville High) HERE.

The school building, located at 1810 N. Perry, was built as a Works Project Administration concept (itself a concept of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal” to help escape from the Great Depression). The architectulal firm of Jamison & Harrison of Peoria built the structure. The building was occupied on September 16, 1937 and a formal dedication ceremony was held on October 12. According to an article in the Peoria Journal, “taxpayers put more than $610,000 into the educational building.” Woorduff High School was so named in honor of E.N. Woodruff, a ten-time mayor of Peoria.

Louis R. McDonald was the first principal of Woodruff, serving until 1969. As time passed, the school would see many changes. One of them was a change of the demographic of the neighborhood. During the 1960’s, the school would experience some racial tension.

Peoria’s overall population would also shift during the latter half of the 20th century. During the start of the 21st century, talks began to start about closing one of Peoria’s public high schools (Peoria High and Peoria Manual are the other two). It was decided, after many years of studies, that Woodruff would close at the end of the 2009-10 school year.

Class of 1953 60th Reunion:

From John Keach, please click on the following link – http://1953whs.webs.com/. This site includes some great newspaper articles and photos regarding the Peoria Woodruff HS Class of 1953. Thank you for sharing John!

Peoria Woodruff High School Quick Facts

Year opened: 1937

Year closed: 2010

Team nickname: “Warriors”

Uniform colors: Blue & Gold

Fight Song: Listed below:

Come and fight now Woodruff show what you can do;
We will keep our pep and also help to cheer for you;
So keep on fighting all the while and we’ll win this game.
Always wear a cheery smile and we’ll do the same, Rah! Rah! Rah!
Fight team, fight, Rah! Rah! Rah!
Fight team, fight, Rah! Rah! Rah!

Come on team now fight, U, Rah! Rah!
What’s the matter with our team?
Why they’re all right, That’s the way they’ll always be–
If they fight! fight! fight! Rah!

ATHLETICS

The Woodruff High School boys and girls competed in many sports. Woodruff also offered GAA programs up until State competition was offered as a result of Title IX. If you have any other facts regarding the athletic accomplishments of WHS please contact us via e-mail at eganann@sbcglobal.net.

BASEBALL

Tommy Correll founded the baseball program at Woodruff’s predecessor, Kingman High, in the 1930’s. Correll would coach the program until 1962 (with the exception of a brief stint). The program under Correll would win four District Championships, and took second place at the IHSA State Tournament in 1947. Woodruff also won three Regional championships in a span of ten years during the 1980’s and 1990’s.

1937-38 N.R.A. Coach Tommy Correll

1938-39 3 – 8 Coach Tommy Correll

1939-40 5 – 6 Coach Tommy Correll

1940-41 12-6 District Champions Coach Tommy Correll

1941-42 17-5-2 Coach Tommy Correll

1942-43 6 – 7 Coach Tommy Correll

1943-44 12 – 6 Coach Tommy Correll

1944-45 13 – 5 Coach Tommy Correll

1945-46 17 – 4 District Champions Coach Tommy Correll

1946-47 19 – 3 IHSA State Tournament 2ND Place!! Coach Tommy Correll

District Champions

Sectional Champions

Elite 8 Finalist

Beat Summit Argo 1 – 0 (11 innings)

Final 4 Finalist

Beat Chicago Gage Park 3 – 1

State Title Game

Lost to Belleville 1 – 0 (7 innings)

1947-48 12-8-2 Coach Tommy Correll

1948-49 12 – 10 Coach Tommy Correll

1949-50 12-12-1 Coach Tommy Correll

1950-51 11 – 7 Coach Tommy Correll

1951-52 13-6-2 Coach Tommy Correll

1952-53 15 – 8 Coach Tommy Correll

1953-54 18-2-1 District Champions Coach Tommy Correll
Illini Conference Champions
Greater Peoria Champions

1954-55 6 – 13 Coach Tommy Correll

1955-56 12 – 10 Coach Tommy Correll

1956-57 7-10-1 Coach Tommy Correll

1957-58 8 – 14 Coach Tommy Correll

1958-59 6 – 21 Coach Jack Blakeman

1959-60 N.R.A. Coach Tommy Correll

1960-61 N.R.A. Coach Tommy Correll

1961-62 N.R.A. Coach Tommy Correll

1962-63 N.R.A. Coach Gerald McDermid

1963-64 3 – 7 Coach Gerald McDermid

1964-65 10 – 8 Coach Gerald McDermid

1965-66 N.R.A. Coach Gerald McDermid

1966-67 N.R.A. Coach Don Matthews

1986-87 N.R.A. Class AA Regional Champions

1987-88 N.R.A. Class AA Regional Champions
1994-95 N.R.A. Class AA Regional Champions

Chuck Rager was one of Woodruff’s early baseball stars. In 1946, Rager had an unbelieveable start against city rival Spalding, striking out 22 of the minumum 27 batters! The 22 strikeouts in a game may have been an IHSA record until 1972.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The Woodruff boys enjoyed many successes on the hardwood. They made two trips to the Huff Gym on the campus of the University of Illinois for the IHSA State Tournament. In addition to coaching baseball, Tommy Correll also coached basketball from the Kingman days into the 1960’s. He compiled 307 career wins during this time. The success comtinued under coach Jim Ingold with a Sectional championship in 1971. Four more Regional championships were won by the Woodruff boys after that, including three in a span of six years (1975-81).

A black and white photo of a document

Description automatically generated with low confidence

Submitted by John Keach (left click on image to view larger version)

Submitted by John Keach (left click on image to view larger version)

Woodruff played on two different gym floors in it’s history. A newer gym was built in 1978.

1937-38 15 – 8 Coach Tommy Correll

1938-39 23 – 6 IHSA Elite 8 Finalist!! Coach Tommy Correll

Sectional Champions

Sweet 16 Finalist

Beat Gillespie 45 – 39

Elite 8 Finalist

Lost to Paris 51 – 42

Paris would finish in 2nd Place

1939-40 15 – 13 Coach Tommy Correll

1940-41 17 – 7 Coach Tommy Correll

1941-42 23 – 5 Coach Tommy Correll

1942-43 15 – 11 Coach Tommy Correll

1943-44 14 – 11 Coach Tommy Correll

1944-45 14 – 8 Coach Tommy Correll

1945-46 9 – 11 Coach Tommy Correll

1946-47 18 – 7 Regional Champions Coach Tommy Correll

1947-48 12 – 11 Coach Tommy Correll

1948-49 8 – 19 Regional Champions Coach Tommy Correll

Ten losses forfeited

1949-50 9 – 14 Coach Tommy Correll

1950-51 20 – 7 IHSA Elite 8 Finalist!! Coach Tommy Correll
Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

Sweet 16 Finalist

Beat Odell St. Paul 76 – 62

Elite 8 Finalist

Lost to Decatur HS 73 – 50

Decatur would finish in 4th place.

1951-52 14 – 8 Coach Tommy Correll

1952-53 12 – 13 Coach Tommy Correll

1953-54 20 – 4 Coach Tommy Correll

1954-55 14 – 11 Coach Tommy Correll

1955-56 8 – 16 Coach Tommy Correll

1956-57 13 – 10 Coach Tommy Correll

1957-58 6 – 18 Coach Tommy Correll

1958-59 1 – 21 Coach Tommy Correll

1959-60 4 – 16 Final season under Correll Coach Tommy Correll

1960-61 12 – 10 Coach Don Matthews

1961-62 13 – 5 Regional Champions Coach Don Matthews

1962-63 9 – 13 Coach Don Matthews

1963-64 17 – 10 Regional Champions Coach Don Matthews

1965-66 N.R.A. Coach Don Matthews

1966-67 5 – 13 Coach Don Matthews

1970-71 10 – 17 IHSA ‘AA’ Sweet 16 Finalist! Coach Jim Ingold

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

Sweet 16 Finalist

Lost to Springfield Lanphier 81 – 68

Lanphier would place 4th.

1974-75               IHSA ‘AA’ Regional Champions
1975-76               IHSA ‘AA’ Regional Champions
1980-81              IHSA ‘AA’ Regional Champions
1990-91              IHSA ‘AA’ Regional Champions

1999-00    4 – 22                                                            Coach Ed Brooks

2000-01 11 – 16 Coach Ed Brooks

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

The ONLY Athletic State Championship in Woodruff High School History came from the Boys Cross Country program in 1952. The State Meet was held in Peoria that year, which proved to be a home course advantage. Coach Roy Gummerson was in charge of a very successful Cross Country program since Woodruff’s inception in 1937. In a span of nine years, the program placed in the Top 10 at State eight times (1946-54). Gummerson left Woodruff in 1955 for Oak Park and River Forest High School, where his teams had four more top ten finishes before retiring in 1977.

Even after Gummerson’s departure Woodruff had success, with another State Top 10 finish in 1956 and had three more state qualifying efforts throughout the rest of it’s history.

1937-38 N.R.A. Coach Roy Gummerson

1938-39 2 – 0 Coach Roy Gummerson

1939-40 6 – 0 Geneseo Invite Champions Coach Roy Gummerson
Kewanee Invite Champions
Woodruff Invite Champions

1940-41 4 – 0 Coach Roy Gummerson

1941-42 1-2-1 Coach Roy Gummerson

1942-43 N.R.A. Coach Roy Gummerson

1943-44 N.R.A. Coach Roy Gummerson

1944-45 N.R.A. Coach Roy Gummerson

1945-46 N.R.A. Coach Roy Gummerson

1946-47 N.R.A. 10th at STATE!! Coach Roy Gummerson

Final Team Standings

1. Paris 90

2. Chicago Lane 102

3. LaGrange Lyons 115

4. Chicago Harrison 147

5. Chicago Heights Bloom 149

6. East St. Louis 218

7. Moline 249

8. Christopher 268

9. LaSalle-Peru 289
10. Woodruff 316

1947-48 N.R.A. 9th at STATE!! Coach Roy Gummerson

Final Team Standings

1. Paris 30

2. Des Plaines Maine Twp. 89

3. Chicago Lane 107

4. Chicago Schurz 125

5. Rock Island 142

6. Maywood Proviso Twp. 156

7. Collinsville 167

8. Springfield 168

9. Woodruff** 170

10. LaSalle-Peru 237

**Woodruff Individual Medalist: Moore (Third)

1948-49 7 – 0 Illini Conference Champions Coach Roy Gummerson
Geneseo Invite Champions

1949-50 5 – 0 4th at STATE!! Coach Roy Gummerson
Illini Conference Champions
Normal Invite Champions
Kewanee Invite Champions
Greater Peoria Champions

Final Team Standings

1. Paris 36

2. Evanston 72

3. Downers Grove 87

4. Woodruff 103

5. Chicago Steinmetz 127

6. Rock Island 129

7. Collinsville 179

8. Marseilles 186

9. Buffalo Tri-City 224

1950-51 5 – 1 4th at STATE!! Coach Roy Gummerson
Illini Conference Champions
Geneseo Invite Champions

Final Team Standings

1. Chicago Heights Bloom 49

2. Paris 70

3. Des Plaines Maine Twp. 99

4. Woodruff 104

5. Lincoln 117

6. Chicago Englewood 126

7. Moline 155

8. East Alton-Wood River 165

9. Christopher 248

1951-52 3 – 0 3rd at STATE!! Coach Roy Gummerson
Illini Conference Champions
Geneseo Invite Champions

Final Team Standings

1. Urbana 21

2. LaGrange Lyons 61

3. Woodruff** 72

4. Franklin Park Leyden 85

5. Dixon 139

6. East Alton-Wood River 179

7. Christopher 183

8. Moline 197

9. Marseilles 252

**Woodruff Indivdual Medalists: Charles Hakes (Eighth)

Tom Walton (Ninth)

1952-53 7 – 0 STATE CHAMPIONS!!!! Coach Roy Gummerson

Illini Conference Champions

Final Team Standings

1. Woodruff** 37

2. Urbana 80

3. Evanston 87

4. Geneseo 104

5. Chicago Heights Bloom 109

6. Alton 132

7. Marseilles 193

8. Dixon 213

9. Chicago Austin 215

10. Christopher 302

**Woodruff Individual Medalists: Charles Hakes (CHAMPION!!)

1953-54 6 – 0 4th at STATE!! Coach Roy Gummerson
Illini Conference Champions

Final Team Standings

1. Evanston 111

2. Toledo Cumberland 119

3. Alton 136

4. Woodruff 144

5. Urbana 149

6. Geneseo 172

7. Maywood Proviso Twp. 178

8. LaGrange Lyons 179

9. Rockford East 206

10. Dixon 257

1954-55 11 – 1 STATE RUNNER-UP!!!! Coach Roy Gummerson
Illini Conference Champions

21-meet winning streak snapped

Final Team Standings

1. Maywood Proviso Twp. 71

2. Woodruff** 121

3. Alton 140

4. Urbana 155

5. Toledo Cumberland 158

6. Oak Park and River Forest 185

7. Geneseo 210

8. Peoria Central 218

9. LaGrange Lyons 234

10. Dixon 237

**Woodruff Individual Medalist: Bill Norton (Ninth)

1955-56 N.R.A. Coach John Wilkerson

1956-57 7 – 2 9th at STATE!! Coach John Wilkerson

Final Team Standings

1. LaGrange Lyons 102

2. Rock Falls 113

3. Chicago Englewood 151

4. Maywood Proviso Twp. 156

5. Alton 171

6. Rockford East 197

7. Downers Grove 205

7. Edwardsville 205

9. Woodruff** 242

10. Moline 252

**Woodruff Individual Medalist: Bill Gillingham (Second!)

1957-58 2 – 6 Bill Gillingham Third at State! Coach Don Matthews

1958-59 6 – 6 Coach Don Matthews

1959-60 10 – 1 State Qualifiers! Coach Don Matthews
Mid-State 8 Conference Champs

1961-62 7 – 3 Coach Don Matthews

1962-63 0 – 7 Coach Don Matthews

1963-64 5-4-1 Coach Ralph Ginn

1974-75 N.R.A. State Qualifiers!

1976-77 N.R.A. Class AA State Qualifiers!

2005-06 3 – 3 Coach Brien Dunphy

2006-07 4 – 2 Coach Brien Dunphy

BOYS FOOTBALL

Woodruff teams qualified for the IHSA Playoffs six times throughout its history. Before the days of the State Playoffs, Woodruff had two unbeaten seasons. The first one was in 1955, which would be regarded as one of the best seasons in not only Peoria history, but perhaps State history as well. The Virgil Boucher-coached team outscored opponents 285-7 in ten wins! The other unbeaten season was in 1957. Woodruff’s lone playoff win occurred in 1986.

1937-38 1 – 6 Coach Tommy Correll

1938-39 1 – 5 – 2 Coach Tommy Correll

1939-40 7 – 3 – 1 Coach Tommy Correll

1940-41 2 – 5 – 1 Coach Tommy Correll

1941-42 3 – 4 – 1 Coach Tommy Correll

1942-43 1 – 7 – 2 Coach Tommy Correll

1943-44 2 – 7 Coach Tommy Correll

1944-45 4 – 5 – 1 Coach Tommy Correll

1945-46 7 – 3 Coach Tommy Correll

1946-47 3 – 6 – 1 Coach Virgil Boucher

1947-48 2 – 8 Coach Virgil Boucher

1948-49 6 – 4 Coach Virgil Boucher

1949-50 2 – 6 – 1 Coach Virgil Boucher

1950-51 5 – 3 – 2 Coach Virgil Boucher

1951-52 6 – 4 Coach Virgil Boucher

1952-53 7 – 1 – 2 Coach Virgil Boucher

1953-54 7 – 2 – 1 Coach Virgil Boucher

1954-55 8 – 1 – 1 Coach Virgil Boucher

1955-56 10 – 0 Illini Conference Champions Coach Virgil Boucher
City Champions
Greater Peoria Champions
Outscored opponents 285-7!!

1956-57 8 – 1 – 1 Coach Virgil Boucher

1957-58 9 – 0 – 1 Unbeaten Season Coach Virgil Boucher

1958-59 5 – 5 Coach Virgil Boucher

1959-60 2 – 8 Coach Virgil Boucher

1960-61 5 – 5 Coach Virgil Boucher

1961-62 4 – 6 Coach Virgil Boucher

1963-64 6 – 3 – 1 Coach Virgil Boucher

1964-65 1 – 8 Coach Virgil Boucher

1965-66 1 – 9 Coach Virgil Boucher

1966-67 N.R.A. Coach Carl Traficano

1978-79 N.R.A. Class 4A Playoff Qualifier Coach William Sissel

Lost to LaSalle-Peru 18-12

LP would be runner-up

1986-87 N.R.A. Class 4A Playoff Qualifier Coach Mike Bresko

Beat Champaign Central 39-20*

Lost to Springfield Griffin 10-7

*Only Playoff win in school history

1987-88 N.R.A. Class 4A Playoff Qualifier Coach Mike Bresko

Lost to Geneseo 27-7

1994-95 0 – 9 Coach Graylin McLeod

1995-96 2 – 7 Coach Graylin McLeod

1996-97 3 – 6 Coach Graylin McLeod

1997-98 0 – 9 Coach Graylin McLeod

1998-99 2 – 7 Coach Graylin McLeod

1999-00 2 – 7 Coach Graylin McLeod

2000-01 4 – 5 Coach Graylin McLeod

2001-02 2 – 7 Coach Graylin McLeod

2002-03 2 – 7 Coach Jim Donahue

2003-04 3 – 6 Coach Jim Donahue

2004-05 0 – 9 Coach Tim Thornton

2005-06 2 – 7 Coach Tim Thornton

2006-07 7 – 3 Class 5A Playoff Qualifier Coach Tim Thornton

Lost to Taylorville 36-12

2007-08 7 – 3 Class 5A Playoff Qualifier Coach Tim Thornton

Lost to Normal U-High 24-6

2008-09 7 – 3 Class 5A Playoff Qualifier Coach Tim Thornton

Lost to Dunlap 35-34

2009-10 2 – 7 School’s final season Coach Tim Thornton

one win forfeited

Total win-loss record: 270 wins, 397 losses, 19 ties.

BOYS GOLF

The Woodruff Golf program started at Kingman in 1933. The golfers of 1938-39 did real well, placing in the top five at the State Meet. Harry Landis coached the golfers in Woodruff’s early days until 1944. Coach Armitage took over in 1945, followed by Roland Sanders (1946-1949), Harold Burkholder (1950-1958) and P. Englebrecht from 1959 into the 1960s. Walt Durdle was a three-time state medalist for Woodruff, winning the State Championship in 1951! Larry Walden was a top five finisher in 1957. Below are some of the records we’ve researched. If you have more to add, please let us know.

1937-38 5-4-1 Coach Harry Landis

1938-39 12-1-1 5th at STATE!! Coach Harry Landis

District Champions

Final Team Standings

1. LaGrange Lyons 10 pts.

2. Highland Park Deerfield-Shields 10 pts.

3. Urbana 8 pts.

4. Danville 6 pts.

5. Woodruff 4 pts.

6. Galesburg 3 pts.

7. Antioch 2 pts.

1939-40 6-10-1 Coach Harry Landis

1940-41 2-5-1 Coach Harry Landis

1948-49 N.R.A. Walt Durdle 4th at STATE Coach Roland Sanders

1949-50 N.R.A. Durdle 9th at STATE Coach Harold Burkholder

1950-51 N.R.A. DURDLE WINS STATE MEET!! Coach Harold Burkholder

Illini Conference Champions

Conference Meet Individual Scores

Dick Heise – 75, Walt Durdle – 76,

Jim Stone – 77, John Rowe – 78

1956-57 7 – 6 STATE QUALIFIERS Coach Harold Burkholder

District Champions

Larry Walden 4th at STATE

1959-60 7-4-1 Coach P. Englebrecht

1961-62 12 – 4 Coach P. Englebrecht

1962-63 4-9-2 Coach P. Englebrecht

1963-64 1 – 3 Coach P. Englebrecht

BOYS SOCCER

Despite not winning any postseason championships, the Woodruff Boys Soccer team had four ten-win seasons during the 1980’s. Below are some of the records we’ve researched. If you have more to add, please let us know.

1979-80 5 – 10 Coach Chris Perry

1980-81 3 – 11 – 2 Coach Chris Perry

1981-82 9 – 8 – 1 Coach Chris Perry

1982-83 12 – 3 – 1 Good Season Coach Chris Perry

1983-84 10 – 7 – 1 Coach Chris Perry

1984-85 10 – 10 – 1 Coach Chris Perry

1985-86 5 – 14 Coach Chris Perry

1986-87 2 – 17 Coach Chris Perry

1987-88 13 – 8 Good Season Coach Thom Lacy

BOYS TENNIS

The Boys Tennis program began the same year Woodruff was founded, 1937. Bill Draglin was the program’s first coach. Armitage took over the following year and coached until Paul Culver took over in 1947. Football coach Virgil Boucher took over the tennis helm in 1952 and coached until Byron McCormick took over in 1956. The program’s only postseason success came in 2000 when coach Pete Sanflip‘s team won the Sectional Championship. Below are some of the records we’ve researched. If you have more to add, please let us know.

1938-39 0 – 6 – 1 Coach Bill Draglin

1939-40 N.R.A. Coach Armitage

1940-41 0 – 6 – 2 Coach Armitage

1941-42 2 – 4 – 3 Coach Armitage

1954-55 5 – 4 Coach Virgil Boucher

1955-56 4 – 8 Coach Brian McCormick

1956-57 1 – 9 Coach Brian McCormick

1957-58 2 – 9 Coach Brian McCormick

1958-59 5 – 5 Coach Brian McCormick

1962-63 9 – 9 Coach Brian McCormick

1963-64 3 – 17 Coach Brian McCormick

1964-65 1 – 18 Coach Brian McCormick

1965-66 8 – 12 Coach Brian McCormick

1999-00 N.R.A. Sectional Champions! Coach Pete Sanflip

Alex Gomez Sectional Champ!

BOYS TRACK & FIELD

Roy Gummerson also had a fine Track and Field program at Woodruff in addition to Cross Country. The Woodruff harriers won five District Championships in a span of six years from 1950 to 1955. Below are some of the records we’ve researched. If you have more to add, please let us know.

In addition to team success, ten Woodruff individuals placed at the IHSA State Meet. Two athletes, Jerry Kats and Torry King, took home STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS in the 120-yard hurdles and the discus, respectively.

Season Summaries

1941-42 1 – 1 – 1 Coach Roy Gummerson

1942-43 6 – 0 Greater Peoria Champions Coach Roy Gummerson

Lincoln Relay Champions

1943-44 4 – 4 Coach Roy Gummerson

1944-45 0 – 2 Coach Roy Gummerson

1946-47 6 – 0 Coach Roy Gummerson

1947-48 5 – 1 Coach Roy Gummerson

1949-50 8 – 1 District Champions Coach Roy Gummerson

Illini Conference Champions

Kewanee Invite Champions

1950-51 7 – 0 District Champions Coach Roy Gummerson

Illini Conference Champions

Kewanee Invite Champions

Geneseo Invite Champions

Normal Invite Champions

1951-52 8 – 0 District Champions Coach Roy Gummerson

Illini Conference Champions

1952-53 8 – 0 District Champions Coach Roy Gummerson

Illini Conference Champions

1953-54 6 – 2 Coach Roy Gummerson

1954-55 9 – 0 District Champions Coach Roy Gummerson

Illini Conference Champions

Kewanee Invite Champions

1955-56 3 – 0 Illini Conference Champions Coach John Wilkerson

Decatur Invite Champions

Normal Invite Champions

Woodruff Invite Champions

1956-57 3 – 0 Illini Conference Champions Coach John Wilkerson

Greater Peoria Champions

Normal Invite Champions

Woodruff Invite Champions

1957-58 6 – 0 Illini Conference Champions Coach Charley Gross

Final Year for Illini Conference

Normal Invite Champions

1958-59 9 – 1 Mid-State Conference Runner-up Coach Charley Gross

1959-60 N.R.A. Coach Charley Gross

1960-61 N.R.A. Coach Charley Gross

1961-62 3 – 4 Coach Charley Gross

1962-63 2 – 3 – 1 Coach Ralph Ginn

1963-64 0 – 7 Coach Ralph Ginn

1964-65 N.R.A. Coach Ralph Ginn

1965-66 1 – 5 Coach Ralph Ginn

Individual Medalists

1947-48 Jerry Kats STATE CHAMPION 120-Yard Hurdles

1948-49 Joel McNulty 2nd Place 120-Yard Hurdles

1951-52 Names N/A 3rd Place One-Mile Relay

1951-52 Charles Hakes 4th Place One-Mile Run

1952-53 Charles Hakes 2nd Place One-Mile Run

1955-56 Names N/A 5th Place One-Mile Relay

1956-57 Paul Moore 5th Place 180-Yard Hurdles

1957-58 Will Gillingham 4th Place 880-Yard Run

—all above before class expansion

1979-80 Joe Wyatt 6th Place 400-Meter Dash

1984-85 Trenton Harper 7th Place 400-Meter Dash

1989-90 Torry King STATE CHAMPION Discus

6th Place Shot Put

1990-91 Warfield O’Lawrence 2nd Place Discus

1990-91 Walter Young 7th Place 300-Meter Hurdles

—all above in Class AA

BOYS WRESTLING

Wrestling was organized at Woodruff in 1941. The Woodruff wrestling program won seven Regional championships and three District championships. Of the seven Regional championships, four of them were won in a five-year span in the early 1990’s, and the other three were won consecutively during the late 2000’s. Below are some of the records we’ve researched. If you have more to add, please let us know.

In addition to team success, 11 Woodruff individuals placed at the IHSA State Meet. Two athletes, Vern Jones and Jeff Sutherland took home STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS! Jones did so in the very first year of the program’s existance, in 1942.

During Coach Jim Querciagrossa’s tenure as Warrior head coach, Woodruff wrestling compiled a win-loss record of 303-102 with six ties from 1968-92. Twenty-two of those seasons wound up with winning records, and WHS wrestling won five conference titles as well as four regionals. His son, Jayson, took over the program and won 165 matches along with six conference titles and three regional plaques.

Season Summaries

1941-42 1 – 3 Vern Jones wins STATE! Coaches name N/A

1952-53 5 – 9 Coach Charley Gross

1954-55 8 – 8 Coach Charley Gross

1955-56 10-7-1 Coach Charley Gross

1956-57 5-10-1 Coach Charley Gross

1957-58 15 – 7 Coach Charley Gross

1958-59 9 – 7 District Champions Coach Charley Gross
1961-62 District Champions Coach Charley Gross

1963-64 3 – 7 Coach Charley Gross

1966-67 2 – 8 Coach Charley Gross

1981-82 Class ‘AA’ District Champs Coach Jim Querciagrossa

1989-90              Jeff Sutherland wins STATE! Coach Jim Querciagrossa
1990-91              Class ‘AA’ Regional Champs  Coach Jim Querciagrossa
1991-92    24-1    Class ‘AA’ Regional Champs  Coach JIm Querciagrossa
1992-93              Class ‘AA’ Regional Champs  Coach Paul Bussone
1994-95              Class ‘AA’ Regional Champs  Coach Paul Bussone
2006-07              Class ‘AA’ Regional Champs  Coach Jayson Querciagrossa
2007-08              Class ‘AA’ Regional Champs  Coach Jayson Querciagrossa
2008-09   17-5   Class ‘2A’ Regional Champs  Coach Jayson Querciagrossa

2009-10 17-8 Final season Coach Jayson Querciagrossa

Individual Medalists

1941-42 Vern Jones STATE CHAMPION 125 lbs.

1942-43 Robert Alberti 4th Place 165 lbs.

1950-51 Bob Schoch 4th Place 138 lbs.

1951-52 Jerry Werner 4th Place Heavyweight

1972-73 James Taylor 5th Place Heavyweight

–all above before class expansion

1973-74 James Taylor 3rd Place Heavyweight

1978-79 Steve Little 3rd Place Heavyweight

1982-83 Scott Gordon 6th Place 119 lbs.

1989-90 Jeff Sutherland STATE CHAMPION 160 lbs.

1991-92 Jayson Querciagrossa 4th Place 140 lbs.

1995-96 Tim Thornton 4th Place 275 lbs.

1997-98 Dan Thornton 3rd Place 275 lbs.

—all above in Class AA

BOYS BOWLING

Bowling was considered a new sport when Woodruff opened her doors in 1937, and over the years a team would organize at different times. The first meets were against fellow Peoria schools Central, Manual and Spalding. Clem Colgan was the first coach of the program. We’ve only been able to find one year with a documented win-loss record. If you have more to add, please let us know.

1942-43 6 – 8 Coach W. G. Carlin

BOXING

Large schools of the 1920s and 1930s sometimes offered boxing as an interscholastic sport. Woodruff had a boxing program for its first three years of existance. The 1937-38 team was coached by Bill Draglin and the 1938-39 team was coached by Al Schurra. The latter name may be familiar to those in the Peoria boxing scene, as Schurra was a boxer himself.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

The girls basketball program at Woodruff won five Class AA Regional championships. The 2002-03 team was exceptionally good, as they were a Sweet 16 Finalist with a 28-4 record! We are looking for more records regarding Woodruff Girls Basketball.

1984-85 Class ‘AA’ Regional Champs
2001-02 Class ‘AA’ Regional Champs

2002-03   28 – 4   Class ‘AA’ Sweet 16 Finalist!          Coach Steve Harper

                          Regional Champions
Sectional Champions
Sweet 16 Finalist
Lost to Champaign Centennial 61-58

                          Centennial lost in Elite 8 round

2003-04 Class ‘AA’ Regional Champs
2005-06 Class ‘AA’ Regional Champs

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

We are looking for more records regarding Woodruff Girls Cross Country.

2005-06 2 – 3 Coach Mike Lewellyn

2006-07 0 – 3 Coach Mike Lewellyn

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

The Woodruff Volleyball program had a couple of tastes of postseason success, one of which was during the early years of IHSA volleyball.

1974-75 District Champions
1982-83 Class ‘AA’ Regional Champs

ACTIVITIES

The Woodruff High School boys and girls also participated in many activities. If you have any other facts regarding the activity accomplishments of WHS please contact us via e-mail at eganann@sbcglobal.net.

DEBATE

The Woodruff Debate team could sure get their message across. During the 1950s, Woodruff debate teams placed in the Top Five in the IHSA State Meet FIVE times! The program won six Sectional meets during its existence. We are looking for a more detailed history of the program, including the instructors who helped guide the young men and women.

1947-48 Sectional Champions

1952-53      STATE RUNNER-UP!!
1953-54       Sectional Champions
3rd at STATE!!
1955-56       STATE RUNNER-UP!!
1956-57       Sectional Champions
4th at STATE!!
1957-58       4th at STATE!!

1963-64 Sectional Champions
STATE RUNNER-UP!!

1964-65 Sectional Champions

DRAMA

Woodruff’s Drama department put up great performances, especially during the 1980s when they placed in the Top 10 at the IHSA State Meet seven times in ten years! In all, Woodruff clubs placed in the IHSA State Meet Top 10 eleven times in 40 years, qualified for State 16 times, and won nine Sectionals, three Regionals and one District championship. We are looking for a more detailed history of the program, including the instructors who helped guide the young men and women.

1949-50 5th at STATE!!
Sectional Champions

1957-58 Sectional Champions

1958-59 5th at STATE!!
1965-66 STATE RUNNER-UP!!

Sectional Champions

1966-67 Sectional Champions

1971-72 Sectional Champions

1974-75 District Champions

1978-79        9th at STATE!!
1979-80        8th at STATE!!
1981-82        7th at STATE!!
Sectional Champions
1982-83        6th at STATE!!
Sectional Champions
Regional Champions
1983-84        7th at STATE!!
1985-86        7th at STATE!!

Sectional Champions

1986-87 State Qualifiers

1987-88 7th at STATE!!
Sectional Champions
Regional Champions

1988-89 9th at STATE!!
Regional Champions

1996-97 State Qualifiers

GROUP INTERPRETATION

The Woodruff Group Interp club qualified for the IHSA State Meet six times in a span of 13 years from 1984 to 1997. They enjoyed one IHSA State top ten finish in 1984. We are looking for a more detailed history of the program, including the instructors who helped guide the young men and women.

1983-84 7th at STATE!!
Regional Champions

1986-87 State Qualifiers

1989-90 State Qualifiers

1990-91 State Qualifiers

1991-92 State Qualifiers

Sectional Champions

1996-97 State Qualifiers

SPEECH SWEEPSTAKES

The Woodruff Debate team could sure get their message across. The program brought home Woodruff’s first activity STATE CHAMPIONSHIP in the 1965-66 school year! In a span of less than 20 years, Woodruff teams placed in the IHSA State Meet top ten a total of ten times! Seven Sectional championships and two District championships were won. We are looking for a more detailed history of the program, including the instructors who helped guide the young men and women.

1947-48 7th at STATE!!
Sectional Champions
1949-50 6th at STATE!!
Sectional Champions

1950-51 Sectional Champions

1952-53 8th at STATE!!
1953-54 STATE RUNNER-UP!!
Sectional Champions

1954-55 Sectional Champions

District Champions

1955-56 STATE RUNNER-UP!!

1957-58 Sectional Champions

District Champions

1959-60        7th at STATE!!
Sectional Champions
1963-64        5th at STATE!!
1964-65        10th at STATE!!

1965-66 STATE CHAMPIONS!!!!

1966-67 3rd at STATE!!

INDIVIDUAL EVENTS

The Woodruff boys and girls of the “IE” club could certainly perform well. The program brought home another Woodruff activity STATE CHAMPIONSHIP in the 1966-67 school year! Throughout its history, the club placed in the IHSA State Meet top ten 17 times in 60 years, including 11 times in a span of 24 years. We are looking for a more detailed history of the program, including the instructors who helped guide the young men and women.

Season Summaries

1940-41       3rd at STATE!!
1947-48       3rd at STATE!!
1949-50       6th at STATE!!
1953-54       STATE RUNNER-UP!!
1954-55       10th at STATE!!
1955-56       STATE RUNNER-UP!!
1959-60       STATE RUNNER-UP!!
1961-62       6th at STATE!!
1962-63       9th at STATE!!
1964-65       8th at STATE!!
Sectional Champions
1965-66       4th at STATE!!
District Champions

1966-67 STATE CHAMPIONS!!!!
Sectional Champions
District Champions

1967-68 7th at STATE!!
Sectional Champions

1968-69 District Champions

1971-72 Sectional Champions

1979-80 6th at STATE!!
1981-82 10th at STATE!!

1983-84 Sectional Champions

Regional Champions

1992-93 5th at STATE!!
Regional Champions
1993-94 Regional Champions

1996-97 9th at STATE!!
Sectional Champions
Regional Champions

1997-98 Sectional Champions

Regional Champions

1999-00 Regional Champions

2000-01 Sectional Champions Advisor Pete Sanfilip

State Meet Efforts (sorted by placing)

Year Name Place Event

1941   Lyle Crawford      STATE CHAMPION        Original Oratory
1948   Stanley Rives       STATE CHAMPION        Original Oratory
1950   James Beches     STATE CHAMPION        Original Oratory
1954   Richard Mathison STATE CHAMPION        Oratorical Declamation
1956   John Harris          STATE CHAMPION        Original Oratory
Richard Venesky STATE CHAMPION        Extemporaneous
1962   Steve Arnold        STATE CHAMPION        Comedy
1967   Dan Taylor           STATE CHAMPION        Extemporaneous
1968 Sue Schelly         STATE CHAMPION        Prose
1979   Bruce Thompson  STATE CHAMPION        Radio
1982   Mark Crede          STATE CHAMPION        Radio
1989   Mike Riley            STATE CHAMPION        Original Oratory
1991   Rachel Delap        STATE CHAMPION       Original Oratory
1992   Andrew Morris      STATE CHAMPION        Verse
1995   James Butler        STATE CHAMPION        Humor Interpretation

1954 Spero Margaris 2nd Place Original Oratory

1960 James Bond 2nd Place Extemporaneous

1961 James Bond 2nd Place Extemporaneous

1963 Nick Georgianni 2nd Place Original Oratory

1964 Cliff Shell 2nd Place Radio

1966 Dan Taylor 2nd Place Extemporaneous

1967 Roger Leach 2nd Place Serious

1980 Dan Allar 2nd Place Radio

1993 Mindy Hammontree 2nd Place Drama Duet

Andrew Morris 2nd Place Drama Duet

1997 Tagwana Holmes 2nd Place Oratorical Declamation

1963 Nick Georgianna 3rd Place Oratorical Declamation

1965 Marcia Schunk 3rd Place Prose

1969 Marty Sausser 3rd Place Comedy

1948 Mary Hoffman 4th Place Serious

1949 James Baches 4th Place Original Oratory

1954 Joy Randolph 4th Place Serious

1960 John Schunk 4th Place Original Oratory

1965 Sally Cleaver 4th Place Verse

1966 Dan Mitchell 4th Place Original Comedy

1967 Charlene Willis 4th Place Original Oratory

1980 Dan Allar 4th Place Drama Duet

Jim Loar 4th Place Drama Duet

1988 David Ellison 4th Place Radio

1993 Andrew Morris 4th Place Prose

Patrick Murray 4th Place Radio

1999 Scott Pyle 4th Place Humor Duet

Joe Stoltz 4th Place Humor Duet

2001 Scott Pyle 4th Place Original Comedy

1951 William Linsley 5th Place Extemporaneous

1954 David Sills 5th Place Verse

1958 Phillip Owen 5th Place Extemporaneous

1959 Phillip Owen 5th Place Extemporaneous

1970 Mark Absher 5th Place After Dinner

1973 Ron Rudd 5th Place Dramatic Interpretation

1980 Peggy Gerkin 5th Place Original Oratory

1989 Stephen Pearce 5th Place Original Comedy

1992 Michelle Burr 5th Place Drama Duet

Andrew Morris 5th Place Drama Duet

1996 Tracy Draksler 5th Place Special Occasion

1997 Dennis Warr 5th Place Original Oratory

1998 Tuan Ngo 5th Place Impromptu

1985 Lamont Robinson 6th Place Humor Interpretation

1988 Mike Riley 6th Place Original Oratory

1990 Dawn Robb 6th Place Radio

1996 Cherita Freeman 6th Place Oratorical Declamation

1997 Brandon Shockley 6th Place Original Comedy

SCHOLASTIC BOWL

The Woodruff “Schol Bowl” team qualified for the IHSA State Meet in 1986-87 and 1991-92. Advisor Chuck Fabish was in charge of the team during both of these runs. We are looking for a more detailed history of the program, including the instructors who helped guide the young men and women.

1986-87   6 – 2      State Qualfiiers                                Advisor Chuck Fabish
Sectional Champions
1991-92   35 – 10   State Qualifiers                               Advisor Chuck Fabish
Sectional Champions

2006-07 N.R.A.      Advisors Farley and Roffman

IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE …

There’s a lot more to Woodruff High School than athletics, and the athletic records. We’d like to make this page even bigger with personal memories you may have about the school (and we know there are plenty of them).

Among the many things we are looking for about Woodruff, include gaps in our athletic information, noteable alumni, teachers, and academia.

If you have any further information you would like to share regarding Woodruff High School before its closure, please e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Peoria Woodruff High School “Warriors”

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