ATHLETICS
The Niles East High School Trojans excelled in MANY different sports and events in state-wide competition. The IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org) lists a Niles East HS success in nearly every sport and event in which records are kept. The Trojans competed in the Suburban League Conference with New Trier, Evanston, Oak Park, Proviso, Highland Park, Morton, and Waukegan.
Though no team State Championships were won, the Trojans did have several top ten finishes. There were several individual state champions in various events. The school was known as Skokie Niles High School until the early 1960s when the name was changed to Niles East. The extensive history of the Niles East High School Trojans is listed below.
BOYS BASEBALL
The Trojan baseball teams had three trips to the state baseball tournament. Twice the Trojans finished in the Sweet 16, once in the Elite 8. The 1957-58 team nearly took it all, losing the State Championship game in 8 innings to Maine Township High School of Des Plaines. The great accomplishments and game scores of the 1958 team are listed below.
As Skokie Niles High School
1947-48 20 – 4 Regional / Sectional / Elite 8 Qualifier Coach Jim Phipps
1950-51 District Champions
1957-58 20 – 5 Regional / Sectional / STATE 2ND PLACE FINISH! Coach Jim Phipps
Elite 8 – Niles HS 16 – Highland HS 5
Semi-Final – Niles HS 4 – Danville HS 3 (12 innings)
FINAL – Niles HS 2 – Des Plaines Maine HS 3 (8 innings)
1960-61 15 – 8 Regional / Sectional / Elite 8 Coach Jim Phipps
As Skokie Niles East
1967-68 13 – 9 Regional / Sectional / Elite 8 Coach Nick Odlivak
BOYS BASKETBALL
The boys basketball team won two Regional titles on the hardwood court. Both titles were won as the Niles HS Trojans. Only four other seasons are listed but none are better than a .500 season. Coach Dick Haselton made one of seven coaching stops here in the 1960s.
As Skokie Niles HS
1944-45 Regional Champions
1951-52 Regional Champions
GIRLS BOWLING
The Lady Trojan bowling team wona District title and qualified for the State tournament. Unfortunately the team record and coach’s name are not available.
1975-76 District Champions / State Qualifier
BOYS FOOTBALL
There is no mention of the Niles or Niles East High School football Trojans on the IHSA web site. The 1958 squad was said to have been a good one, defeating their arch-rivals Evanston during the course of the season. The squad of 1978 finished at 4 wins and 5 losses, good enough for 3RD Place in the conference standings. If you have any further information on the Niles HS or Niles East HS boys football teams please forward it to us so we can share it with others.
BOYS GOLF
The Niles East HS boys golf team had one individual place 2nd in the State meet competition. On a team level the Trojans also brought home a District Title.
1972-73 District Champions
Individual Medalist
1946-47 Bob Dombrowski 2ND PLACE MEDALIST!!!
BOYS GYMNASTICS
The north-suburban area of Chicago has a long history of great success in gymnastics. The Niles / Niles East High School boys gymnastics teams had no less than EIGHT (8) top ten finishes in boys gymnastics. There were also 18 individuals who medaled in state competition! The coaches at the head of this success were John Riccitelli through the 1963-64 season and Tom Sokalski who became head coach in the 1964-65 season. The incredible success of the NEHS boys gymnastics program is listed below.
1961-62 Team Finished FOURTH in State Competition
Individual Medalists
Elliot Pearl Rings STATE CHAMPION
Dale Hardt Trampoline 3rd Place
1961-62 Final Team Standings
1.) Proviso East – 61.5
2.) Willowbrook – 36
2.) Elmhurst York – 36
4.) NILES EAST HS – 35
1962-63 Team Finished SECOND in State Competition
Individual Medalists
Dale Hardt Trampoline STATE CHAMPION!!
Ike Heller Parallel Bars 2ND PLACE
All-Around 2ND PLACE
Rick Block Tumbling 3RD Place
Mark Slotten Horse 3RD Place
1962-63 Final Team Standings
1.) Evanston HS – 67
2.) NILES EAST HS – 54
3.) Prospect HS – 53
1963-64 Team Finished SECOND in State Competition
Individual Medalists
Dale Hardt Tumbling STATE CHAMPION!!
Mark Slotten Horse STATE CHAMPION!!
Ron Rapper Parallel Bars 2ND PLACE
Mark Kahn Rings 2ND PLACE
Rick Block Tumbling 3RD PLACE
1963-64 Final Team Standings
1.) Willowbrook HS – 56.5
2.) NILES EAST HS – 54
3.) Evanston HS – 53
1964-65 Team Finished EIGHTH in State Competition
Individual Medalist
Steve Alleman Trampoline 4TH PLACE
1964-65 Final Team Standings
1.) Evanston HS – 53.50
2.) Proviso East HS – 43.83
3.) Niles West HS – 42.50
4.) Willowbrook HS – 39
5.) Arlington Hts. HS – 38.50
6.) Thornton HS – 29.50
7.) Prospect HS – 28.50
8.) NILES EAST HS – 22
1965-66 Individual Medalist – Barry Slotten Tumbling STATE CHAMPION!!
1966-67 Team Finished FIFTH in Team Competition
Individual Medalists
Barry Slotten Tumbling STATE CHAMPION!!
Trampoline STATE CHAMPION!!
Seymour Rifkin Parallel Bars 4TH PLACE
1966-67 Final Team Standings
1.) Evanston HS – 51.5
2.) Prospect HS – 36.5
3.) Maine East HS – 32
4.) Niles West HS – 30.5
5.) NILES EAST HS – 29.5
6.) New Trier East HS – 29
1967-68 Team Finished FOURTH in State Competition
Individual Medalists
Seymour Rifkind Parallel Bars 3RD PLACE
1968-69 Final Team Standings
1.) Arlington Hts. – 64
2.) Maine East HS – 53
3.) Prospect HS – 31
4.) NILES EAST HS – 22
5.) Wheeling HS – 21.5
1968-69 Team Finished THIRD in State Competition
Individual Medalists
Seymour Rifkind All-Around STATE CHAMPION!!
Parallel Bars STATE CHAMPION!!
Rings 3RD PLACE
Horizontal Bars 5TH PLACE
Bob Quintanales Parallel Bars 5TH PLACE
Al Weiner Trampoline 5TH PLACE
1968-69 Final Team Standings
1.) Arlington Hts. HS – 221
2.) Hinsdale Central HS – 182.5
3.) NILES EAST HS – 121.5
4.) New Trier East HS – 88.5
1969-70 Individual Medalist – Al Weiner Trampoline 2ND PLACE
1971-72 Individual Medalist – Dave Apple Free Exercise STATE CHAMPION!!
1973-74 Individual Medalist – Steve Kozub Rings 5TH PLACE
1974-75 Team Finished FOURTH in State Competition
Individual Medalists
Neal Sher Horizontal Bars 2ND PLACE
Parallel Bars 2ND PLACE
All-Around 3RD PLACE
Steve Pollice Trampoline 2ND PLACE
Mike Burke Horse 3RD PLACE
1974-75 Final Team Standings
1.) Hinsdale Central HS – 194
2.) Niles West HS – 133.50
3.) Hersey HS – 125.83
4.) NILES EAST HS – 109.50
5.) Oak Park-River Forest HS – 109.33
1977-78 Individual Medalist – Chris Besser Rings 4TH PLACE
INCREDIBLE RUN BY THE NILES EAST HS BOYS GYMNASTICS PROGRAM!!
GIRLS GYMNASTICS
One Lady Trojan gymnast brought home three medals (including a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP) in State Meet Competition.
1979-80 Individual Medalist
May Ann Kostyniuk Uneven Bars STATE CHAMPION!!
Balance Beam 2ND PLACE
All-Around 2ND PLACE
BOYS SWIMMING
The boys swimming team at Niles East High School also excelled on the state level. As Niles High School the boys earned 4 top ten finishes in State Competition. They earned an additional top ten finish as Niles East High. This of course means there were several Trojan individual winners as well. The results of the top ten finishes and individual medalists are listed below.
1948-49 Team Finished SIXTH in State Competition
Individual Medalists
Dick Provost Diving 3RD PLACE
Robert Lindahl 50 Yard Free Style 3RD PLACE
100 Yard Free Style 5TH PLACE
1948-49 Final Team Standings
1.) New Trier HS – 43
2.) Lane Tech HS – 32
3.) Proviso HS – 26
4.) Evanston HS – 19
5.) Rockford West HS – 13
6.) NILES HIGH SCHOOL – 7
7.) Chicago U-High – 6
1951-52 Team Finished NINTH in State Competition
Individual Medalists
Relay Team 150 Yard Medley 4TH PLACE
Don Larson 50 Yard Free Style 5TH PLACE
George Lockwood 100 Yard Breast Stroke 5TH PLACE
1951-52 Final Team Standings
1.) New Trier HS – 42
2.) Evanston HS – 30
3.) Maine Township HS – 13
3.) Highland Park HS – 13
5.) Oak Park-River Forest HS – 12
5.) Chicago Harrison HS – 12
5.) Rockford West HS – 12
8.) Proviso HS – 6
9.) NILES HIGH SCHOOL – 5
9.) Chicago Lane Tech HS – 5
1952-53 Team Placed FOURTH in State Competition
Individual Medalists
George Lockwood 100 Yard Breast Stroke STATE CHAMPION!!
Don Larson 50 Yard Free Style 2ND PLACE
Roy Yocum Diving 3RD PLACE
Relay Team 150 Yard Medley Relay 4TH PLACE
1952-53 Final Team Standings
1.) Evanston HS – 45
2.) New Trier HS – 31
3.) Maine Township HS – 22
4.) NILES HIGH SCHOOL – 16
5.) Oak Park-River Forest HS – 14
1953-54 Team Finished EIGHTH in State Competition
Individual Medalists
Dean Ness 50 Yard Free Style 3RD PLACE
1953-54 Final Team Standings
1.) Evanston HS – 67
2.) New Trier HS – 56
3.) Maine Township HS – 37
4.) Rockford West HS – 19
5.) Oak Park-River Forest HS – 18
6.) Peoria HS – 15
7.) Chicago Lane Tech HS – 8
8.) NILES HIGH SCHOOL – 4
8.) Rockford East HS – 4
1955-56 Individual Medalists
Relay Team 200 Yard Medley Relay 5TH PLACE
1959-60 Individual Medalsits
Phil Karafotas 200 Yard Free Style 6TH PLACE
200 Yard IM 6TH PLACE
1964-65 Individual Medalist
Marty Chalfie 100 Yard Fly 5TH PLACE
1967-68 Team Finished NINTH in State Competition
Individual Medalists
Jim Hawkins 100 Yard Breast Stroke 3RD PLACE
Relay Team 200 Yard Medley Relay 4TH PLACE
Paul Katz 50 Yard Free Style 6TH PLACE
1967-68 Final Team Standings
1.) Hinsdale Central HS – 191
2.) New Trier East HS – 136
3.) Evanston HS – 127.5
4.) Thornridge HS – 110
5.) Moline HS – 83
6.) Peoria Richwoods HS – 81
7.) Rock Island HS – 69
8.) New Trier West HS – 52
9.) NILES EAST H.S. – 43
10.) Danville HS – 34
BOYS TENNIS
The boys tennis team at Niles East High School also excelled, especially in the 1960s. The Trojan’s placed in the top ten 4 times in their history. Their best effort was a 3rd Place finish in the 1960-61 meet. Individual medalists and final team standings are listed below.
1960-61 Team Finished THIRD in State Competition
Individual Medalist
Mike Baer Doubles 2ND PLACE
Paul Bishop Doubles 2ND PLACE
1960-61 Final Team Standings
1.) Evanston HS – 13
2.) Hinsdale HS – 12
3.) NILES HIGH SCHOOL – 5
3.) Decatur Stephen HS – 5
5.) Oak Park-River Forest HS – 4
5.) New Trier HS – 4
5.) Rock Island HS – 4
5.) Danville HS – 4
1964-65 Team Finished SIXTH in State Competition
Individual Medalists
Mark Bishop Doubles 3RD PLACE
Steve Williams Doubles 3RD PLACE
1964-65 Final Team Standings
1.) Decatur MacArthur HS – 10
1.) New Trier East HS – 10
3.) Arlington Heights HS – 8
4.) Hinsdale HS – 6
4.) Oak Park-River Forest HS – 6
6.) NILES EAST HIGH SCHOOL – 4
6.) Belleville HS – 4
6.) Rockford West HS – 4
6.) Evanston HS – 4
1966-67 Team Finished SEVENTH in State Competition
Individual Medalist
Mark Bishop Singles 3RD PLACE
1966-67 Final Team Standings
1.) New Trier East HS – 15
2.) Hinsdale Central HS – 8
3.) Arlington Heights HS – 7
4.) Danville HS – 6
5.) Oak Park-River Forest HS – 5
5.) Rock Island HS – 5
7.) Decatur MacArthur – 3
7.) NILES EAST HIGH SCHOOL – 3
7.) Ottawa HS – 3
7.) Evanston HS – 3
1967-68 Team Finished FIFTH in State Competition
Individual Medalist
Mark Bishop Singles STATE CHAMPION!!
1967-68 Final Team Standings
1.) Hinsdale Central HS – 9
2.) Evanston HS – 7
3.) Arlington Heights HS – 6
3.) Rock Island HS – 6
5.) NILES EAST HIGH SCHOOL – 5
5.) Granite City HS – 5
5.) New Trier East HS – 5
1972-73 Team Finished SEVENTH in State Competition
Individual Medalist
Pete Stearns Singles 5TH PLACE
1972-73 Final Team Standings
1.) Hinsdale Central HS – 15
1.) Highland Park HS – 15
3.) Arlington Heights HS – 11
4.) Galesburg HS – 8
5.) New Trier East HS – 7
5.) Oak Park-River Forest HS – 7
7.) NILES EAST HIGH SCHOOL – 6
7.) Ottawa HS – 6
7.) Rock Island HS – 6
7.) Evanston HS – 6
GIRLS TENNIS
The Niles East High School Lady Trojans won some State hardware of their own. Mindy Epstein led the 1977-78 girls tennis team to a SIXTH place finish. The year and Mindy’s great season are listed below.
1977-78 Team Finished SIXTH in State Competition
Individual Medalist
Mindy Epstein Singles 4TH PLACE
1977-78 Final Team Standings
1.) Hinsdale Central HS – 17.5
2.) Crystal Lake HS – 17
3.) New Trier East – 11
4.) Lake Forest HS – 11.5
5.) Arlington Heights HS – 10
6.) Peoria Richwoods HS – 9
6.) NILES EAST HIGH SCHOOL – 9
8.) Maine East HS – 8 |