Savanna, Illinois (population 3,542) is located along the Mississippi River and on US Rt. 52 and Ill. Rts 64 and 84 in Carroll County in Northwest Illinois. It is home to the Mississippi Palisades Park and the only stoplight in Carroll County. It was also home to the Savanna Army Depot, which employed most of the workers in Carroll County. It opened in 1917 and closed in 2000 and caused a lot of economic troubles around the area.
Savanna High School opened in the mid-1890s, which was the first high school opened in western Carroll County. A 1957 fire consumed the building that is pictured above and a new building was built on the northeast side of town, which is pictured below the first one. For many years, academically and athletically, Savanna High School prospered as one of the most advanced schools in the county.
Savanna High School Building
1902-1952
During the early 2000s as mentioned there were a lot of economic troubles in this area of Carroll County. In turn, the schools in the area were strapped for funds as well. Savanna and fellow schools Thomson and Mount Carroll started co-oping their sports programs (except for Boys and Girls Basketball) in 2004. Finally, a consolidation effort was successful in 2005 with the three schools. Savanna High School is in use as West Carroll High School.
Savanna High School “Quick Facts”:
Year opened: mid-1890s
Year newer school built: 1957
Year Closed: 2005
School Colors: Red & White (black trim)
School Mascot: the “Indians”
School Song:“Savanna Loyalty”
Sung to Illinois Loyalty
Lyrics Submitted by Jean Ferris
We’re loyal to you, Savanna High
We’re red and we’re white, Savanna High
We’ll back you to stand ‘gainst the best in the land
For we know you have sand, Savanna High!
Rah! Rah!
So take what you want, Savanna High
The game’s what we want, Savanna High
Our team is our school protector
On boys, for we expect a victory from you, Savanna High
Savanna High School has always had a rich tradition of high school athletics. Their teams have been at times really good, and there have been some downtimes here and there. However, the support of their athletic programs has always been excellent. The last three conferences Savanna competed in were the Ill-Iowa Conference, the TRAC-8 Conference and later, and finally, the Northwest Upstate Illini.
Savanna High School Gymnasium
Wrestling
WRESTLING WAS KING IN SAVANNA!!!!
The most storied program in Savanna High School and even in the state of Illinois has been their Wrestling program. Take a glance at this …6 STATE TITLES!! The wrestling program has always been a strong one and just take a look at these seasonal records posted by teams since 1941 and the dominance posted in the late 1970s and early 1980s:
1941-42 2-5-1 Coach L.M. Gundlach
1956-57 1-8 Coach Robert Lueders
1957-58 10-4 Coach Robert Lueders
1958-59 10-4 Coach Robert Lueders
1959-60 15-2 Coach Robert Lueders
1960-61 15-1 District Champions
Sectional Champions Coach Robert Lueders
1961-62 13-4-1 State THIRD PLACERS Coach Robert Lueders
1962-63 15-4 Coach Robert Lueders
1963-64 14-3 Coach Donald Robinson
1964-65 9-3-1 District Champions Coach Charles Anderson
1965-66 3-13 Coach Charles Anderson
1966-67 6-10-1 Coach Charles Anderson
1967-68 3-13 State FOURTH PLACERS Coach Charles Anderson
1968-69 5-9 State SIXTH PLACERS Coach Charles Anderson
1969-70 8-8-1 Sectional Champions Coach Charles Anderson
1970-71 6-8-1 Coach Charles Anderson
1971-72 7-10 Coach Charles Anderson
1972-73 6-12 District Champions Coach Charles Anderson
1973-74 8-15 STATE CHAMPIONS! Coach Charles Anderson
1974-75 11-13 District Champions
Sectional Champions
STATE CHAMPIONS! Coach Charles Anderson
1975-76 20-1-1 District Champions
State FIFTH PLACERS Coach Charles Anderson
1976-77 20-5 STATE CHAMPIONS!Coach Charles Anderson
1977-78 20-4 Sectional Champions
State THIRD PLACERS Coach Charles Anderson
1978-79 14-6 District Champions
STATE CHAMPIONS! Coach Charles Anderson
1979-80 22-1 District Champions
Sectional Champions
STATE CHAMPIONS! Coach Charles Anderson
1980-81 23-0 Undefeated Record
State SEVENTH PLACERS Coach Charles Anderson
1981-82 19-1 District Champions
Sectional Champions
STATE CHAMPIONS! Coach Charles Anderson
1982-83 16-6 State THIRD PLACERS Coach Charles Anderson
1983-84 13-11 Regional Champions Coach Charles Anderson
1984-85 13-10-1 Regional Champions Coach Charles Anderson
1985-86 20-5 Regional Champions Coach Charles Anderson
1986-87 7-16 Regional Champions Coach Charles Anderson
1987-88 10-14 Regional Champions Coach Charles Anderson
1995-96 15-8 Coach Phil Sexton
1996-97 16-7 Coach Phil Sexton
2002-03 N.R.A. Regional Champions Coaches name unavailable
Savanna’s State Wrestling Tournament appearances at a glance:
From 1974 on, Savanna wrestled in Class A. Up until 1983, the state Wrestling championship was decided through efforts from individual wrestlers.
1962 Team Standings:
1. Burbank Reavis 62
2. Waukegan 36
3. Savanna 34
4. Moline 29
5. Evanston 28
6. LaGrange Lyons 18
7. Palatine 16
Granite City 16
9. Park Forest Rich East 15
Berwyn Morton West 15
Winnetka New Trier 15
Maywood Proviso East) 15
1968 Team Standings:
1. DeKalb 27
2. Franklin Park East Leyden 26
3. Decatur Stephen Decatur 23
4. Savanna 19
5. Sterling 18
6. Normal U-High 17
7. Deerfield 16
New Lenox Lincoln-Way 16
9 North Chicago 15
Barrington 15
1969 Team Standings:
1. Moline 33
2. North Chicago 32
3. Maywood Proviso East 28
4. Decatur 24
Northlake West Leyden 24
6. Savanna 23
7. Burbank Reavis 20
8. Franklin Park East Leyden 17
Fox Lake Grant 17
Tinley Park 17
1974 Team Standings:
1. SAVANNA 36 1/2
2. Yorkville 35
3. Stillman Valley 32
4. Harvard 31
5. Port Byron Riverdale 30 1/2
6. Normal U-High 26 1/2
7. Erie 24 1/2
8. St. Jacob Triad 15
9. Minooka 14
10. Carrollton 12
Fithian Oakwood 12
Dakota 12
1975 Team Stanings:
1. SAVANNA 51 1/2
2. Normal U-High 44 1/2
3. Maple Park Kaneland 26 1/2
4. Georgetown 26
5. Yorkville 25 1/2
6. Stillman Valley 24
7. Port Byron Riverdale 14 1/2
8. Fulton 12 1/2
9. Kankakee McNamara 11
10. Mahomet-Seymour 10
Sterling Newman 10
Palos Heights Chicago Christian 10
Tolono Unity 10
1976 Team Standings:
1. Yorkville 90
2. Port Byron Riverdale 55
3. Normal U-High 43
4. Minooka 28 1/2
5. Savanna 27
6. Stockton 22 1/2
7. Maple Park Kaneland 20
8. Sterling Newman 14
9. Delavan 13 1/2
10. Bismarck-Henning 13
1977 Team Standings:
1. SAVANNA 64
2. Yorkville 59
3. New Lenox Providence 42 1/2
Normal U-High 42 1/2
5. Wilmington 40
6. Sterling Newman 34
Stillman Valley 34
8. Port Byron Riverdale 30 1/2
9. Delavan 30
10. Dakota 23
1978 Team Standings:
1. New Lenox Providence 56 1/2
2. Yorkville 53 1/2
3. Savanna 48
4. Mt. Pulaski 47
5. Sterling Newman 41
6. Stockton 35 1/2
7. Harvard 34
Stillman Valley 34
9. Delavan 30
10. Mahomet-Seymour 29 1/2
1979 Team Standings:
1. SAVANNA 75 1/2
2. Port Byron Riverdale 59
3. Yorkville 53
4. Byron 40
5. Hoopeston-East Lynn 39 1/2
Mahomet-Seymour 39 1/2
7. Dakota 39
8. New Lenox Providence 33
9. Wilmington 31 1/2
10. Fisher 29
1980 Team Standings:
1. SAVANNA 101 1/2
2. New Lenox Providence 59 1/2
3. Mahomet-Seymour 41 1/2
4. Erie 40
5. Fairbury-Cropsey 32 1/2
6. Dakota 32
7. Princeton 29
8. Yorkville 28
9. London Mills Spoon River Valley 26
10. Westville 24
1981 Team Standings:
1. New Lenox Providence 88
2. Coal City 53
3. Mahomet-Seymour 48
4. Dakota 46 1/2
5. Glasford Illini Bluffs 38
6. Stillman Valley 37
7. Savanna 36
8. Harvard 32
Port Byron Riverdale 32
10. Ashton 31
1982 Team Standings:
1. SAVANNA 83
2. New Lenox Providence 69
3. Glasford Illini Bluffs 56
4. Mahomet-Seymour 45 1/2
5. Stillman Valley 43
6. Dakota 42
7. Erie 39 1/2
8. Polo 37
Maple Park Kaneland 37
10. Pontiac 35
1983 Team Standings:
1. Mahomet-Seymour 62 1/2
Harvard 62 1/2
3. Savanna 60
4. Pontiac 48
5. Minooka 42
6. Kankakee McNamara 41
7. Coal City 33
8. Fairfield 28
Eureka 28
10. Aurora Waubonsie Valley 24
Individual State Champions
Check out this alphabetical-ordered list of all Savanna High School state wrestling placers! Ninteen State Championships! Fifty-one athletes for 66 state places!
Jeff Acuff 1977A 132 Fourth Place
Brad Anderson 1980A 98 STATE CHAMPION
Brad Anderson 1982A 119 Fourth Place
Dan Anderson 1980A 112 Fourth Place
Dan Anderson 1981A 119 STATE CHAMPION
Mark Anderson 1988A 132 Fourth Place
Robbie Bearce 1977A 105 Second Place
Robbie Bearce 1978A 105 Second Place
Ron Brown 1965 112 Fourth Place
Jeremy Castro 1992A 125 Second Place
Jeremy Castro 1993A 130 Second Place
Ryan Castro 1997A 145 STATE CHAMPION
Paul Engaldo 1975A 132 STATE CHAMPION
Mark Ernst 1982A 98 Second Place
Mark Ernst 1983A 98 Second Place
Mike Ernst 1980A 132 Third Place
Richard Ernst 1962 165 Second Place
Paul Evans 1978A 112 STATE CHAMPION
Tom Evans 1979A 112 Third Place
Jerry Ferris 1962 133 Third Place
Joe Fosdick 1974A 155 STATE CHAMPION
Joe Fosdick 1975A 155 Third Place
Joe Fosdick 1976A 167 STATE CHAMPION
Chuck Haas 1979A 185 STATE CHAMPION
Chuck Haas 1980A 185 Second Place
Mike Hergert 1969 112 Fourth Place
Tony Herrell 1998A 145 Fourth Place
Marv Holmes 1974A 167 Third Place
Pat Johnson 1975A 105 Second Place
Pat Johnson 1976A 105 Second Place
Pat Johnson 1977A 119 STATE CHAMPION
Bob Kallemeyn 1993A 160 Fourth Place
Joel Kallenberger 1981A 167 Fourth Place
Joel Kallenberger 1982A 167 Second Place
Dave Kampas 1974A 126 Second Place
Scott Klippert 1971 155 Fourth Place
Brian Knop 1985A 132 Third Place
Jim Kurth 1982A 155 STATE CHAMPION
Mike Kurth 1983A 155 STATE CHAMPION
Scott Law 1984A 126 Third Place
Mike Lindeman 1980A 167 STATE CHAMPION
Mark Massery 1968 112 STATE CHAMPION
Mark Massery 1969 120 STATE CHAMPION
Michael McIntyre 2003A 140 Fourth Place
Dave Melhus 1975A 98 STATE CHAMPION
Dave Melhus 1977A 126 STATE CHAMPION
Jeff Melhus 1974A 138 Second Place
Mike Melhus 1979A 132 Second Place
Marty Morfey 1982A 185 Second Place
Dick Nally 1961 127 Second Place
William Nehrkorn 1959 154 Third Place
Jack Nickels 1979A 126 STATE CHAMPION
Adam Powers 2000A 119 Second Place
Adam Powers 2001A 125 Second Place
Bob Powers 1968 154 Fourth Place
Kevin Powers 1971 145 Sixth Place
Steve Ramirez 1977A 167 Fourth Place
Larry Rice 1990A 140 Third Place
Lonnie Robinson 1975A 145 STATE CHAMPION
Ron Schafer 1973 167 Fifth Place
David Seward 1962 103 STATE CHAMPION
Mark Shaw 1983A 167 Second Place
Andy Smith 1986A 119 Second Place
Sean Smith 1988A 126 Third Place
Sean Smith 1989A 135 Fourth Place
Chris Stallings 1991A 130 Fourth Place
*Another individual wrestler who had an excellent career at Savanna High was Jack Fosdick. Jack is said to have set every PIN record in the school, district and state, many of which still hold today. These included fastest pin, most pins in a season, and most pins in a career. Injuries kept Jack out of the state tournaments, however he was integral to the team reaching the finals.
To view some of the memorabilia of the Savanna High School westling program check out the display Manny’s Pizza in Savanna.
What an INCREDIBLE story and tradition for the Savanna High School wrestling program!
Boys Basketball
Over the course of the past 103 years, Savanna Boys Basketball has enjoyed some great seasons:
1902-03 1-3 First Season Coach V.C. Keys
1903-04 6-2 Coach V.C. Keys
1904-05 11-3 Coach Paul Lucas
1905-06 6-2 Coach Paul Lucas
1906-07 5-3 Coaches name unavailable
1907-08 7-1 Coaches name unavailable
1908-09 4-5 Coaches name unavailable
1909-10 5-5 Coaches name unavailable
1910-11 6-7 Coaches name unavailable
1911-12 3-3 Coach Higgins
1912-13 1-3 Coach Higgins
1913-14 4-8 Coaches name unavailable
1914-15 5-10 Coaches name unavailable
1915-16 7-8 Coaches name unavailable
1916-17 3-8 Coach Freude
1917-18 7-5 Coach Allan
1918-19 7-2 Coach Allan
1919-20 6-10 Coach W.F. Hafeman
1920-21 10-6 Coach W.F. Hafeman
1921-22 14-6 Coach W.F. Hafeman
1922-23 16-5 Coach W.F. Hafeman
1923-24 15-8 District Champions Coach W.F. Hafeman
1924-25 17-6 Coach W.F. Hafeman
1925-26 23-2 District Champions Coach W.F. McCarthy
1926-27 19-3 Coach W.F. McCarthy
1927-28 17-7 Coach W.F. McCarthy
1928-29 7-15 Coach W.F. McCarthy
1929-30 15-9 District Champions Coach W.F. McCarthy
1930-31 18-6 Coach W.F. McCarthy
1931-32 18-9 District Champions Coach W.F. McCarthy
1932-33 19-6 District Champions Coach W.F. McCarthy
1933-34 9-12 Coach W.F. McCarthy
1934-35 13-8 Coach W.F. McCarthy
1935-36 10-13 Coach Strahecker
1936-37 13-5 Coach Strahecker
1937-38 10-13 Coach Lathrop
1938-39 11-12 Coach W.F. Massey
1939-40 18-6 Coach W.F. Massey
1940-41 14-8 Coach W.F. Massey
1941-42 21-6 Regional Champions Coach W.F. Massey
1942-43 14-10 Regional Champions Coach W.F. Massey
1943-44 17-9 Coach W.F. Massey
1944-45 9-13 Coach W.F. Massey
1945-46 10-12 Coach W.F. Massey
1946-47 20-7 Coach W.F. Massey
1947-48 12-14 Coach W.F. Massey
1948-49 4-17 Coach W.F. Massey
1949-50 17-8 Coach W.F. Massey
Joe Parker ended his high school career with a season’s total of 367 points for a 15 point average per game. Richard Adams bagged 329 points for a 13 point average in the team’s success.
1950-51 11-13 Coach W.F. Massey
1951-52 18-8 Regional Champions Coach E.J. Krumm
This basketball team was one of the best that has ever been turned out from the Savanna Township High School. In the 1951-52 season, out of 26 games played, the team won 18 and lost 8. They won the regional tournament at Lanark for the first time in 10 years and got second at the Sectional in Moline. Dick McCue broke the record for the school by making 72% of his free-throws. Jack Hussey made 56% and John Rivera 53%. John Rivera averaged 43% for shooting field goals, and Jack Hussey 40%. Jack Hussey broke two records for the school, scoring 398 points during the year and the previous two seasons, scored 741 points. John Rivera was second high point man for the season, scoring 324 points.
1952-53 4-18 Coach E.J. Krumm
1953-54 2-20 Coach E.J. Krumm
Though short on wins the 1953-54 season was not without talent. Don Siedenburg was not the area’s tallest player at 5′ 03″ but he was one of the most talented. Don earned Second Team all-conference honors (the first and second teams each only consisted of five players). Don recalls his high school playings days:
“I graduated in l954 and played on the team. Unfortunately, back then everyone also played on the football team. Two of our better players got hurt and we only had a 2-20 record. The coach was E. J. Krumm who eventually went to Thornton High School in Harvey, Illinois. I went to two and a half years at Mt. Carroll High School, ten miles away, where I did not get much playing time. In the finally game against Mt. Carroll I scored 31 points. I made the second team all conference, which was the Illowa (meaning four teams from Iowa and four teams from Illinois. In l953 the St Marys of Clinton, Iowa high school team won the Iowa State Championship. They beat us by only eight points and I scored 21 points against them. I was fourth high scorer in the league and broke the free throw shooting record with a 78% shooting. There is an old saying about old high school athletes,”the older we get the better we were!” I don’t want to get in that category. I would like to mention that my height was and is 5’3″.
1957-58 8-14 First year in new gym Coach Jerry Gray
1958-59 16-13 Coach Jerry Gray
1959-60 23-5 Regional Champions Coach Jerry Gray
1960-61 24-3 Coach Jerry Gray
1961-62 10-15 Coach Loren Moen
1962-63 12-11 Coach Loren Moen
1963-64 3-18 Coach Loren Moen
1964-65 8-14 Coach Ron McCready
1965-66 8-12 Coach Ron McCready
1966-67 10-12 Coach Ron McCready
1967-68 3-20 Coach Ron McCready
1968-69 10-14 Coach Ron McCready
1969-70 6-16 Coach Ron McCready
1970-71 3-19 Coach Dewayne Wherer
1971-72 7-15 Coach Ron McCready
1972-73 4-20 Coach Ron McCready
1973-74 5-21 Coach Ron McCready
1974-75 0-24 Coach Anril Guilinger
1975-76 2-21 Coach Anril Guilinger
1976-77 2-20 Coach Anril Guilinger
1977-78 3-20 Coach Mike Dergo
1978-79 5-20 Coach Mike Dergo
1979-80 5-20 Coach Mike Dergo
1980-81 6-19 Coach Larry Halverson
1981-82 11-14 Coach Larry Halverson
1982-83 12-14 Coach Larry Halverson
1983-84 21-5 Coach Larry Halverson
1984-85 10-16 Coach Larry Halverson
1985-86 3-22 Coach Rich Grossi
1986-87 0-25 Coach Jeff Herkelman
1987-88 7-19 Coach Jeff Herkelman
1988-89 10-16 Coaches name unavailable
1989-90 7-18 Coaches name unavailable
1990-91 11-14 Coaches name unavailable
1991-92 21-5 Coaches name unavailable
1992-93 18-7 Coaches name unavailable
1993-94 8-17 Coaches name unavailable
1994-95 12-14 Coaches name unavailable
1995-96 7-18 Coaches name unavailable
1996-97 1-24 Coaches name unavailable
1997-98 5-21 Coach Chris Buikema
1998-99 N.R.A. Coach Chris Buikema
1999-00 N.R.A. Coach Brian McCormack
2000-01 N.R.A. Coaches name unavailable
2001-02 N.R.A. Coaches name unavailable
2002-03 N.R.A. Coaches name unavailable
2003-04 22-7 Coach Josh Knuth
2004-05 N.R.A. Coach Josh Knuth
Football
Savanna started their football program in 1919. Over the course of the past 85 years, Savanna Boys Basketball has enjoyed some great seasons, including undefeated seasons in 1922, back-to-back in 1941 and 1942, 1947 and 1950:
Two team members chosen for All-Conference…..Mike Ramirez, high scoring half back, and Jack Ferris, who had been on the All-American conference for two years before.
1949-50 3-3-2 Coach Horst Rickert
Indians finished third in the Illowa conference. Mike Ramirez, speedy halfback, was named to the All-Conference team and received All-State honorable mention. Gordon Fowler and Wayne Bousman were given honorable mention on the All-Conference team.
1950-51 8-0 Coach Horst Rickert
Undefeated and untied in eight straight games, the Indians finished the first undefeated, untied season Mr. Rickert had the opportunity of coaching. The Indians were well represented on the Illowa All-Conference Team when they placed three on the first eleven. The three chosen were Wayne Bousman, guard; Jason Truninger, fullback; and Keith Thayer, end. Jason Truninger was elected to the second team all-state for small schools and received special mention on the regular all-state team.
1951-52 2-5-1 Coach Horst Rickert
1952-53 4-5 Coach John Shimp
1953-54 3-5 Coach John Shimp
1954-55 2-7 Coach John Shimp
1955-56 1-7 Coach John Shimp
1956-57 4-4 Coach John Shimp
1957-58 1-6-1 Coach John Shimp
1958-59 6-2 Coach John Shimp
1959-60 4-3-1 Coach John Shimp
1960-61 4-4 Coach John Shimp
1961-62 3-5 Coach John Shimp
1962-63 3-5 Coach Bob Leuders
1963-64 1-7 Coach Don Robinson
1964-65 6-2 Coach Don Robinson
1965-66 6-2 Coach Carl Stebbins
1966-67 7-1 Coach Carl Stebbins
1967-68 7-1 Coach Carl Stebbins
1968-69 3-5 Coach Dewayne Wehrer
1969-70 5-3 Coach Dewayne Wehrer
1970-71 5-3 Coach Dewayne Wehrer
1971-72 4-4 Coach Dewayne Wehrer
1972-73 4-4 Coach Wayne White
1973-74 4-4 Coach Wayne White
1974-75 0-9 Coach Wayne White
1975-76 0-8-1 Coach Wayne White
1976-77 8-1 Coach Wayne White
1977-78 4-5 Coach Wayne White
1978-79 4-5 Coach Wayne White
1979-80 6-3 Coach Wayne White
1980-81 1-8 Coach Bill Wright
1981-82 4-5 Coach Don Greenfield
1982-83 1-8 Coach Don Greenfield
1983-84 3-6 Coach Don Greenfield
1984-85 0-9 Coach Don Greenfield
1985-86 0-9 Coach Don Greenfield
1986-87 3-6 Coach Lee Hansen
1987-88 0-9 Coach Lee Hansen
1988-89 1-8 Coaches name unavailable
1989-90 7-3 IHSA Playoff qualifiers Coach Wayne White
1990-91 N.R.A. Coaches name unavailable
1991-92 N.R.A. Coaches name unavailable
1992-93 N.R.A. Coaches name unavailable
1993-94 N.R.A. Coaches name unavailable
1994-95 3-6 Coaches name unavailable
1995-96 3-6 Coaches name unavailable
1996-97 0-9 Coach Phil Sexton
1997-98 0-9 Coaches name unavailable
1998-99 0-9 Coach Trent Sellers
1999-00 0-9 Coach Trent Sellers
2000-01 0-9 Coach Dave Baisden
2001-02 0-9 Coach Dave Baisden
2002-03 0-9 Coach Dave Baisden
2003-04 0-9 Coaches name unavailable
2004-05 1-8 Co-op with Mt. Carroll Coach Brandon Farrell
In week four of the 2004-05 season, the newly formed West Carroll co-op with Mount Carroll and Thomson broke a 74-game losing streak with a 41-14 win against Polo. The losing streak is the longest in state history and was even mentioned in a Sports Illustrated article. Nevertheless, the kids played hard game in and game out.
Boys Track and Field
The Indians offered Track and Field to their students and in two seasons they placed at the State Tournament For four straight seasons (1982-1985), Savanna placed athletes at the state tournament.
**1896-97 Team Finished NINTH at the State Meet!!
Individual Medalists
George Pulford 800 Yard walk STATE CHAMPION!!
Final Team Standings
1. Chicago Englewood 22
2. DuQuoin 20
3. Chicago Hyde Park 17
4. Peoria Central 16
5. Aurora East 14
6. Chicago Lake View 13
7. Aurora West 10
8. Lewistown 8
9. Pontiac 5
LaGrange Lyons 5
Savanna 5 Coaches name unavailable
1948-49 – Savanna broke the Illowa League record in the shot put with V. Tracey throwing forty-four feet three and five-eights inches. This established a new school record for Savanna. Vic Tracey was awarded the trophy for the most outstanding track and field athlete of the season.
1951-52 – One outstanding athlete this year….Jason Truninger, setting two records, one at Davenport (49’1 1/2″) and one at the Illowa League (47’9″). He placed third in the District Meet and traveled to the State Meet.
**1984-85 Team Finished SECOND at the State Meet!! Also won Sectional Championship! Coach Greg Stott
Individual Medalists
Ron Arb High Jump Third place
LeRoy Young 100 Meter dash Fifth Place
200 Meter dash Fourth Place
400 Meter dash Third Place
Long jump Fifth Place
Final Team Standings
1. Cairo 54
2. Savanna 25Coach Greg Stott
3. Byron 19
St. Anne 19
5. Pontiac 18
Princeton 18
Farmer City 18
8. Melrose Park Walther Lutheran 17
9. Carlinville 16
Yorkville 16
Beecher 16
Other State Tournament Medalists:
1929-30 Lyle Hutton – One-mile Run (1600M) Fourth Place
1981-82 Dave Bullock – 400 Meter Dash Eighth Place
1982-83 Kevin Zeeryp – Discus Seventh Place Coach Greg Stott
1983-84 4×200 Meter Relay Team Eighth Place Coach Greg Stott
(LeRoy Young, Craig Newcomb, Noel Sy, Mike Pigford)
Ron Arb – High Jump Third Place
Craig Newcomb – 100 Meter Hurdles Sixth Place
(10 points- tied for 14th place in team standings)
The 1983-84 team also placed 3rd at the State Meet in in exhibition event (non point scoring)4×400 meter Weightman’s Relay (strictly for season-long non-running field events athletes only) (Antoni Ragunas, David Weidman, Mike Pigford, Ron Arb)
Girls Basketball
1974-75 2-11 Coach Darlene Destival
1975-76 3-8 Coach Darlene Destival
1976-77 3-8 Coach Darlene Destival
1977-78 9-14 Coach Darlene Destival
1978-79 6-16 Coach Darlene Destival
1979-80 3-18 Coach Darlene Destival
1980-81 4-15 Coach Darlene Destival
1981-82 2-18 Coach Dwayne Hartle
1982-83 0-21 Coach Erik Torrison
1983-84 1-21 Coach Erik Torrison
1984-85 0-22 Coach Erik Torrison
1985-86 0-23 Coach Erik Torrison
1986-87 4-18 Coach Erik Torrison
1987-88 N.R.A. Coach Erik Torrison
2002-03 3-23 Coaches name unavailable
Girls Volleyball
The Savanna Girls Volleyball team was the only girls sport at Savanna to take home an IHSA state tournament series championship, that being a District Championship in 1977.
1977-78 N.R.A. District Champions Coaches name unavailable
Individual Events
Let’s not forget the activity clubs at Savanna! The SHS Individual events team had wonderful success in the 1940s and 1960s, including a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP team in 1940-41!
1940-41 IHSA STATE CHAMPIONS Coaches name unavailable
1948-49 State 6th Place Coaches name unavailable
1966-67 State 9th Place Coaches name unavailable
Great Coach
Charles Anderson will go down in IHSA Wrestling History as one of the most successful coaches of all time. He coached the Indian Wrestling program from 1964-1988. In his 24 year career, Anderson had a record of 289-194-6 (.597). His teams won seven district championships, six regional championships, five sectional championships, and an incredible SIX STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS! Fifty-one of his wrestlers placed at the state tournament and coached individual wrestlers to 19 state championships.
He is a 2003 inductee of the National High School Hall of Fame – Illinois Chapter (Lifetime Achievement).
Wright F. Massey coached basketball at Savanna from 1938-1951, coming over from Fulton High School. He had a career record of 345-203. He is also believed to be the first coach at Fulton, starting in 1928. He would have two sons who would continue in his footsteps in teaching and education, Mark and Evan.
Notable Alumni
Evan Massey (’70) An athlete at Savanna High, Evan Massey atteneded Knox College, where he lettered in basketball, and Western Illinois University and started teaching at Galesburg High School in 1974. Massey coached cross country, football and is currently the head girls basketball coach. Ever since taking over the girls basketball program in 1978, Massey has accumulated a record of 624-216. Galesburg has a third place finish in 1996, a fourth place finish in 1997, 2000, 2001, an Elite-Eight appearance in 1998 and 2003, to go along 1999’s second place finish.
Massey is a 2000 inductee of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. He was State Coach of the Year in 1997 and 1999 by the Illinois Girls Coaching Association. Also in 1997, Massey was selected as the National Federation of Coaches State Coach of the Year and Regional Coach of the Year. Massey is also an inductee of the Galesburg High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Knox College Hall of Fame.
Dale Gardner ’66 — was an astronaut for NASA,
Dennis Radabaugh ’61 –played basketball at Savanna.graduated in ’61. Held Savanna BB scoring records. Dennis’ high point game was a whopping 58 point effort! He went to the U of Kentucky on a basketball scholarship, finished at the U of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Played on the ’60 regional champions & ’61 conference champions.
Robert Johnson – ’43 Star of TWO undefeated football seasons, as well as TWO Regional Champion basketball teams. This was Savanna’s only two Regionals “back2back”, and possibly the only undefeated football “back2back”.
Mike Tracey- ’70. Currently A.D. at UTHS (East Moline)… long time successful football coach at Rock Island Alleman High School. Inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2004. Also inducted into the Alleman High School Hall of Fame in 2000. Mike Tracey was named Athletic Director of the Year for Class AA District 4, in 2006-2007
The following Savanna High School alumni were awarded the Savanna High School Board of Education’s “Most Distinguished Alumni Award” :
Savanna HS’s Most Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
“Another interesting Savanna team was the 1979-80 Lincoln Jr High Warriors Basketball team (became theSavanna HS class of 1983-84) 22-1 with only loss to Sterling Challand Jr High (a AA school 5 times the size with 2 future collge players)
Sargeant Rice was leading scorer with over 35 points per game, and the team had 3 players who dunked in junior high games (Mike Pigford, transfer due to family coming to the Savanna US Army Depot), Antoni Ragunas (a Lithunian transfer student) and Greg Truninger (Future Illinois All-Stater and son of the legendary Jason Truniger mentioned on your site). 12 times they scored over 100 points in a game, and against Chadwick High School (a team with 2 future Class A all-staters Brian Scheidigger and Ryan Schave) both teams scored over 100 points each, the only time this happened in Carroll County Jr high history)
The nucleus of this of this team formed the 1983-84 Savanna High team that went 21-5. In one of the games, against Fulton and their star player Mike Foster (a 6-5 guard who won numerous dunking competions) the 2 teams combined for 15 dunks, a broken backboard (Mike Pigford), and made the Rockford television news.
The US Army Depot was a source of many great African-American athletes at Savanna throughout the years-Savanna was the only small Illinois school in the area for years with many A-A athletes. Mike Hill, who lived next to Savanna and was one of the stars of the great Thomson High School 1972 4th place in Class A State baskball team was another. Another great black athlete from the Depot is mentioned on your site, already (Rob Johnson), but what is not listed is that he ran a hand-timed 100 yard dash in 9.4 seconds in 1943 at a home meet on Savanna cinder-track. This unofficially tied the world’s record, held by Jesse Ownes at the time.”
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The History of Savanna High School
