Courtesy of “Sacred Heart-Griffin: A Century of Excellence 1895-1995”
The History of Springfield Cathedral & Griffin High School
Springfield (population 111,454) is located in south central Illinois and is home to the State Capital. Springfield is also the county seat of Sangamon County, having been founded around 1821, became the county seat in 1823, and received its city charter in 1840. It was made the capital of Illinois in 1837, and the Legislature convened here for the first time in 1839 after moving from Vandalia. Interstates 55 & 72 are the major thoroughfares thru Springfield, as are US 36, Illinois 4, 29, 54, and 97. Also, the “Mother Road,” US Route 66 ran thru town while it was in service, and still serves Springfield as the Dirksen Parkway in honor of former US Senator Everett Dirksen.
According to a source, the community was founded when Zachariah Peter, William Drennan, and Rivers Cormack drove a stake in the ground at a place described when the transaction was recorded as “a point in the prairie near John Kelly’s field on the water of Spring Creek.” By 1837, due in large part to the political maneuverings of a young politician named Abraham Lincoln, Springfield became the State Capital. From that point the City’s history, and indeed its future, has been and will always be inexorably tied to this famous American.
According to the Illinois High School Association’s website (www.ihsa.org), the earliest known date that a parochial high school for boys in Springfield was 1930-31 when basketball was offered at Cathedral High School. Over time, the school grew in enrollment and was forced to relocate into a former grade school in Springfield. Cathedral existed until 1959 when the name was changed to Griffin in honor of the late Bishop James Griffin, who was the first bishop to oversee the Catholic Diocese of Springfield from 1924-48, and was the founder of Cathedral High School. A new complex was also completed in 1959 to coincide with the name change.
It is a known fact that Griffin was an all-boys’ parochial school as a companion school to the all-girls’ Sacred Heart Academy. The schools merged into one institution after the 1987-88 school to form what is now known as Sacred Heart-Griffin High School.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SPRINGFIELD CATHEDRAL/GRIFFIN HIGH SCHOOL
Note: SGHS Class of 1965 graduate Chuck Clark had this information to share about the Griffin HS fight song.
“It was adapted from a popular song of the 1950s called “Make America Proud of You” by Jack Fulton. The original song is still in use by the Boy Scouts for ceremonial purposes.”
The Springfield Cathedral High School Fight Song was found in a 1946 Cathedral yearbook by our good friend Phil Shadid:
“Cathedral Song”
BRAVE COMRADES TRUE, LOYAL DEFENDERS, HAIL TO YOU!
GO MARCHING BOLDLY ON TO VICTORY
WITH OUR BANNERS FLOATING FREE.
IT’S GOLD AND PURPLE HUES WILL LEAD YOU,
AND SPUR YOU ON TO VICT’RIES NEW!
LET’S GIVE A CHEER (RAH TEAM,RAH, RAH)
COME MUSTER YOUR MEN AND MARCH ON TO VICTORY!
Springfield Griffin High School Complex – 1959
Courtesy of “Sacred Heart-Griffin: A Century of Excellence 1895-1995”
ATHLETICS
Cathedral offered at least boys’ basketball, baseball, and track up until the name change of the school to Griffin took place in 1959. Football was also offered, but very little is known. Under the new name, golf, swimming, tennis, and cross-country were added. If you know if the school offered more than these sports, please contact us at dr.veeman@gmail.com.
BASEBALL
The Springfield area has had its share of successes on the diamond, and both Cathedral along with Griffin were at the state finals a total of seven times, bringing home two firsts and a second.
As Cathedral
1945 IHSA Elite 8 Qualifier Coach John Hendricks
District Champions
Sectional Champions
Qualified for State Finals
Lost to Maywood Provison 6-0 in quarterfinals
1947 District Champions
1950 17- 4 IHSA Elite 8 Qualifier Coach Luke Gleason
District Champions
Sectional Champions
Qualified for State Finals
Lost to Elgin HS 3-1 in quarterfinals
1956 District ChampionsCoach John Finigan
As Griffin
1963 Regional Champions
1964 23- 8 IHSA STATE CHAMPIONS! Coach Dick Murawski
Regional & Sectional Champions
Qualified for State Finals
Edged Rock Island Alleman 4-3 in quarterfinals
Got Past Danville HS in semifinals, 3-2
Defeated Skokie Niles West in title game, 6-5
1968 28- 5 IHSA Elite 8 Qualifier Coach Dick Murawski
Regional Champions
Sectional Champions
Qualified for State Finals
Lost to Champaign Central 7-3 in quarterfinals
1969 Regional Champions
1981 Regional Champions
1982 31- 7 IHSA State Tourney Runner-Up! Coach Robin Cooper
Regional & Sectional Champions
Qualified for AA State Finals
Edged Peoria Spalding 1-0 in quarterfinals
Defeated Dolton Thornridge 8-2 in semifinals
Lost to Darien Hinsdale South in title game, 5-2
1983 Regional Champions
1987 37- 4 IHSA STATE CHAMPIONS!!! Coach Ron Wojcicki
Regional & Sectional Champions
Qualified for State AA Tournament
Beat Chicago Vocational 14-1 in quarterfinals (5 innings)
Topped Belleville East 7-2 in semifinals
Defeated Barrington 9-1 in championship game
1988 20-20 IHSA Elite 8 Qualifier Coach Ron Wojcicki
Regional Champions
Sectional Champions
Qualified for State AA Tournament
Lost to Chicago Marist in quarterfinals, 4-2
TREMENDOUS JOB BY CATHEDRAL AND GRIFFIN BASEBALL!!!
BASKETBALL
Before they changed their name from Cathedral to Griffin, the school won a state championship as a member of the former Illinois State Catholic High School Athletic Association (ISCHSAA). The school was admitted to the IHSA in 1941 and reached the state’s single-class Sweet 16 three times during the same decade. But what makes it more interesting is that the Cyclones did it with three different coaches. As you can tell below, the basketball program had its share of successes almost from the time that the school opened.
As Cathedral
1930-31 9-10 (first season) Coach Earl Reavy
1931-32 10-10 Coach Earl Reavy
1932-33 14- 7 Coach Earl Reavy
1933-34 23- 6 Coach Earl Reavy
1934-35 12-10 Coach Don Anderson
1935-3622- 2Illinois Catholic State Tourney 3RD Place!Coach Don Anderson
Springfield Cathedral “Starting 5” – 1935-36
Coach Don Anderson,Rich Holmes,Joe Kohorst,Dick Brooks,Frank Kohorst,John Miller
Springfield Cathedral Season Summary 1935-36
Submitted by Jim Miller
Submitted by Jim Miller
Submitted by Jim Miller
1936-37 5-17 Coach Charles Dirksen
1937-38 13-13 Coach Greg Sloan
1938-39 22- 8 State Catholic Tourney Champs!!! Coach Greg Sloan
1939-40 13-12 Coach Jack Fabri
1940-41 14-15 Coach Jack Fabri
1941-42 27- 4 IHSA Sweet 16 Qualifier Coach Jack Fabri
Springfield Regional Champs
1st Rd Beat Auburn 41-18
Semi-final Beat Pawnee 34-20
Title Game Beat Springfield Lanphier 38-29
Jacksonville Sectional Champions
1st Rd Beat Roodhouse 48-43
Semi-final Beat Pittsfield 33-31
Title Game Beat Winchester 36-29
Sweet 16 Qualifiers
1st Rd lost to Cicero Morton 47-32
Morton placed 4th in State Tourney
1942-43 19- 5 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach Jack Corcoran
1st Rd Beat Middletown 52-42
Semi-final lost to Lincoln 33-31
Lincoln beat Mt. Pulaski in title game
1943-44 25- 4 IHSA Regional Champions Coach John Hendricks
Beat Athens 35-34
Springfield Sectional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Taylorville 57-26
Taylorville beat Jacksonville in title game
(Taylorville would win IHSA State Title
with a season record of 45-0.)
1944-45 10-17 Virden Regional Runner-UpCoach John Hendricks
1st Rd Beat to Farmersville 56-49
Semi-final Beat Virden 39-35
Title Game lost to Springfield 48-20
Springfield lost in Sweet 16 Round
1945-46 22-12 IHSA Sweet 16 Qualifier Coach Al Lewis
Springfield Regional Champions
1st Rd Beat Auburn 41-30
Semi-final Beat Spfld Feitshans 45-37
Title Game Beat Springfield 41-32
Pekin Sectional Champions
Semi-final Beat Peoria Manual 44-38
Title Game Beat San Jose 43-32
IHSA Sweet 16 Qualifier
Lost to Collinsville 50-28
Collinsville lost in Elite 8 Round
1946-47 19- 9 Lincoln Regional Tournament Coach Al Lewis
1st Rd Beat Elkhart 60-29
Semi-final lost to Mt. Pulaski 47-34
Mt. Pulaski beat Lincoln in title game
1947-48 23- 6 IHSA Elite 8 Qualifier Coach Luke Gleason
Springfield Regional Champions
1st Rd Beat Raymond 62-27
Semi-final Beat Springfield 46-36
Title Game Beat Springfield Lanphier 42-32
Springfield Sectional Champions
Semi-final Beat Decatur 44-43
Title Game Beat Clinton 39-34
IHSA Sweet 16 Qualifiers
Beat Harvey Thornton 57-50
IHSA Elite 8 Finalists
Lost to Pinckeyville 58-36
(Pinckeyville won state championship)
1948-49 16- 9 Virden Regional Tournament Coach Luke Gleason
1st Rd Beat Raymond 49-38
Semi-final lost to Girard 49-46
Girard lost to Springfield in title game
1949-50 18- 7 Springfield Regional Tournament Coach Luke Gleason
1st Rd Beat Glenarm Ball Township 50-29
Semi-final lost to Spfld Lanphier 44-37
Lanphier lost to Springfield in title game
1950-51 10-13Havana Regional Tournament Coach Luke Gleason
1st Rd lost to Mason City 62-52
Mason City beat Easton in title game
1951-52 18- 7 Springfield Regional Champions Coach Luke Gleason
SPRINGFIELD CATHEDRAL (58): Urbankus 17, Aiello 13, Flanagan 11, Denny 6, Masterson 5, Teer 2, Miles 2, Faxer 2.
1953-54 12-12 Springfield Regional Runner-UpCoach Luke Gleason
1st Rd Beat Athens 61-55
Semi-final Beat Spfld Feitshans 64-56
Title Game lost to Springfield 61-45
1954-55 14-12 Lincoln Regional Runner-UpCoach John Finigan
1st Rd Beat Atlanta 61-52
Semi-final Beat Hartsburg-Emden 53-52
Title Game lost to Lincoln 55-48
Lincoln lost in Elite 8 Round
1955-56 7-19 Springfield Regional Runner-UpCoach John Finigan
1st Rd Beat Raymond 63-58
Semi-final Beat Spfld Feithshans 86-75
Title Game lost to Spfld Lanphier 71-51
Lanphier lost in Sweet 16 Round
1956-57 0-26 Morrisonville Regional Tournament Coach John Finigan
1st Rd lost to Auburn 59-32
Auburn lost to Girard in semi-final
Girard lost to Springfield in title game
Springfield lost In Sweet 16 Round
1957-58 19- 9 Springfield Regional Tournament Coach Jim Belz
1st Rd Beat Palmyra NW 47-20
Semi-final lost to Springfield 28-23
Springfield beat Spfld Feitshans in title game
Springfield lost in Elite 8 Round
1958-59 18- 7 Springfield Regional Tournament Coach Jim Belz
1st Rd Beat Virden 74-58
Semi-final lost to Spfld Feithshans 64-50
Feitshans lost to Springfield in title game
Springfield won IHSA State Tourney!
As Griffin
1959-60 15- 9 Postseason scores needed Coach Jim Belz
1960-61 18- 8 Springfield Regional Runner-UpCoach Jim Belz
1st Rd Beat Auburn 69-51
Semi-final Beat Chatham Glenwood 69-36
Title Game lost to Springfield 55-53
Springfield lost in Elite 8 Round
1961-62 13-13 Springfield Regional Tournament Coach Jim Belz
1st Rd won – score needed
Semi-final lost to Springfield 65-47
Springfield beat Spfld Lanphier in title game
Springfield lost in Sweet 16 Round
1962-63 20- 6 Springfield Regional Tournament Coach Jim Belz
1st Rd Beat Virden 75-37
Semi-final lost to Springfield 51-45
Springfield lost to Spfld Lanphier in title game
Spfld Lanphier placed 3rd in IHSA State Tourney!
1963-64 23- 4 Springfield Regional Runner-UpCoach Jim Belz
1st Rd Beat Virden 95-47
Semi-final Beat Raymond Lincolnwood 75-40
Title Game lost to Springfield Lanphier 73-68
Lanphier lost in Sweet 16 Round
1964-65 10-15 Springfield Regional Tournament Coach Jim Belz
1st Rd Beat Chatham-Glenwood 55-36
Semi-final lost to Raymond Lincolnwood 59-44
Lincolnwood beat Spfld Lanphier in title game
1965-66 17-10 Springfield Regional Runner-UpCoach Jim Belz
Early Rd Scores Needed
Title Game lost to Springfield 63-42
Springfield lost in Sweet 16 Round
1966-67 17-10 Springfield Regional Runner-UpCoach Jim Belz
1st Rd Beat Raymond Lincolnwood 71-54
Semi-final Beat Chatham Glenwood 64-55
Title Game lost to Springfield 67-61
Springfield placed 3rd in State Tourney
1967-68 12-15 Springfield SE Regional Runner-Up Coach Bob Martin
1st Rd Beat Chatham Glenwood 75-50
Semi-final Beat Springfield SE 76-65
Title Game lost to Springfield Lanphier 86-63
Lanphier lost in Sweet 16 Round
1968-69 2-23 Springfield Regional Tournament Coach Bob Martin
1st Rd lost to Chatham Glenwood 91-74
Glenwood lost to Spfld Lanphier in title game
1969-70 3-21 Springfield Regional Tournament Coach Bob Martin
1st Rd lost to Spfld SE 73-69
Spfld SE lost to Spfld Lanphier in title game
1970-71 9-17 Springfield Regional Tournament Coach Bob Martin
1st Rd Beat Virden 92-58
Semi-final lost to Raymond Lincolnwood 87-78
Lincolnwood lost to Spfld Lanphier in title game
Lanphier placed 4th in State Tourney
1971-72 8-17 Quincy Class AA Regional Tourney Coach Larry Sellinger
Semi-final lost to Quincy 75-52
Quincy beat Jacksonville in title game
Quincy placed 2nd in State Tourney!
1972-73 14-11 Postseason scores needed Coach Larry Sellinger
1973-74 6-18 Postseason scores needed Coach Larry Sellinger
1974-75 9-15 Postseason scores needed Coach Larry Sellinger
1975-76 10-14 Postseason scores needed Coach Larry Sellinger
1976-77 14-13 IHSA Regional Champions Coaches Larry Sellinger
& Bill Fleischli
Regional Scores Needed
Decatur Sectional Tournament
Semi-final lost to Springfield Lanphier 70-66
Lanphier placed 2nd in State Tourney!
1977-78 15-12 Postseason scores needed Coach Bill Fleischli
1978-79 13-14 IHSA Regional Champions Coach Bill Fleischli
Regional Scores Needed
Decatur Sectional Tournament
Semi-final lost to Decatur Eisenhower 59-57
Eisenhower lost to Quincy in title game
Quincy placed 2nd in State Tourney!
1979-80 16-11 Postseason scores needed Coach Bill Fleischli
1980-81 24- 4 IHSA Regional Champions Coach Bill Fleischli
Regional Scores Needed
Decatur Eisenhower Sectional
Semi-final lost to Quincy 69-44
Quincy beat Springfield in title game
Quincy won State Championship!
**Griffin Won Breese Mater Dei Christmas
Tourney During Season
1981-82 20- 8 IHSA Regional Champions Coach Gary Dorr
Regional Scores Needed
Springfield Sectional Tourney
Semi-final lost to Quincy 71-42
Quincy beat Lincoln in title game
Quincy placed 3rd in State Tourney!
1982-83 0-27 Postseason scores needed Coach Gary Dorr
1983-84 18- 9 Postseason scores needed Coach Gary Dorr
1984-85 15-10 Postseason scores needed Coach Gary Dorr
1985-86 7-17 Postseason scores needed Coach Gary Dorr
1986-87 6-18 Postseason scores needed Coach Gary Dorr
1987-88 5-20 Postseason scores needed Coach Gary Dorr
Final season as Springfield Griffin H.S.
Notable Roundball Athlete
Tom McDermott – Helped lead the Cyclones on the court during the early 1940s, eventually garnering All-State honorable mention honors in 1941-42, the year his team won the Regional and Sectional championships, and made it to the Sweet 16.
**The following information regarding Griffin’s paticipation in the annual Breese Mater Dei Christmas Classic Tournament was sent to us by our good friend Mark Jurenga:
“The Twentieth Annual Tournament (1980-81 season) found Griffin, led by future Major League shortstop Dick Schofield, beating Mater Dei in the Championship.”
Breese (Mater Dei) Tourney Facts Regarding Springfield Griffin HS:
All-Time Record: 24 wins 14 losses
Championships- 1980
2nd Place- 1982, 1983
3rd Place- 1981
All-Tournament Team Selections:
1975- Jeff Edmunds
1980- Dick Schofield
1982- Dave Snedecker
1983- Mike Hatman
NOTE: Through the 2004 Tournament, Schofield was #26 in career scoring with 200 pts.”
Cathedral Football Team of 1935
Courtesy of “Sacred Heart-Griffin: A Century of Excellence 1895-1995”
FOOTBALL
By far and way, the gridiron successes of the Cyclones started early and have continued today even after the Sacred Heart-Griffin merger. Tremendous coaching & talent were the reasons why football was a successful sport for the Purple & Gold.
As Cathedral
1933 3-3-1 Coach Earl Reavy
1934 1-8 Coach Earl Reavy
1935 4-4 Coach Don Anderson
1936 3-5 Coach Charles Dirksen
1937 5-3 Coach Charles Dirksen
1938 5-4 CoachGregory Sloan
*1938 saw tragedy strike the Cyclones as John dalBello died of injuries sustained while making a tackle vs. Carlinville HS
1939 6-2 CoachGregory Sloan
1940 2-6-1 Coach John Fabri
1941 7-0-2 Coach John Fabri
1942 2-6 Coach John Corcoran
1943 6-2-2 Coach John Hendricks
1944 4-3-1 Coach John Hendricks
1945 6-2 Coach John Hendricks
1946 5-2-1 Coach Al Lewis
1947 0-6-1 Coach Luke Gleason
1948 2-5 Coach Luke Gleason
1949 8-1 Coach Luke Gleason
1950 7-1 Coach Luke Gleason
1951 2-6 Coach Luke Gleason
1952 5-2-1 Coach Luke Gleason
1953 5-3 Coach Luke Gleason
1954 0-9 Coach Joe Beja
1955 1-7-1 Coach Joe Beja
1956 6-0-2 Coach James Weithman
1957 7-1-1 Coach James Weithman
1958 4-4-1 Coach James Weithman
As Griffin
1959 4-5 Coach James Weithman
1960 3-5 Coach James Weithman
1961 7-2 Coach Bob Astroth
1962 3-6 Coach Bob Astroth
1963 3-6 Coach Bob Teater
1964 2-7 Coach Bob Teater
1965 5-3 Coach Bob Teater
1966 8-0Undefeated Season! Coach Bob Teater
1967 6-2 Coach Bob Teater
1968 4-5 Coach Bob Teater
1969 8-1 Coach Bob Teater
1970 6-2-1 Coach Bob Teater
1971 8-1 Coach Bob Teater
1972 6-2-1 Coach Bob Teater
1973 4-5-1 Coach Bob Teater
1974 2-7 Coach Bob Teater
1975 10-3 IHSA CLASS 4A RUNNER-UP!!!! Coach George Fleischli
1st Rd Beat Lincoln 9-8
2nd Rd Beat Carbondale 33-6
Semi-Final Beat La Salle-Peru 12-0
Title Game Lost to Joliet Catholic 34-14
1976 8-1 Coach George Fleischli
1977 9-3 IHSA CLASS 4A SEMI-FINALIST Coach George Fleischli
1st Rd Beat Bloomington HS 34-14
2nd Rd Beat Danville HS in OT 20-14
Semi-Final lost to La Salle-Peru 22-12
L-P lost to Joliet Catholic in title game
1978 10-1 IHSA CLASS 4A ELITE 8 FINALIST Coach George Fleischli
1st Rd Beat Roxana 33-7
2nd Rd lost to Danville HS 16-6
Danville lost to LaSalle-Peru in Semi-finals
L-P lost to Joliet Catholic in title game
1979 8-4 IHSA 4A PLAYOFF QUALIFIER Coach George Fleischli
1st Rd lost to Belleville Althoff 27-14
Althoff lost to LaSalle-Peru in Semi-finals
L-P lost to Wheaton North in title game
1980 9-1 IHSA 5A PLAYOFF QUALIFIER Coach Robin Cooper
1st Rd lost to Peoria Central 27-21
Peoria lost to Calumet City TF North in 2nd Rd
TF North lost to Chicago Mt. Carmel in semi-final
Mt. Carmel beat Hinsdale South in title game
1981 9-2 IHSA 5A PLAYOFF QUALIFIER Coach Robin Cooper
1st Rd Beat Granite City North 15-7
2nd Rd lost to Champaign Central 14-13
C.C. lost to Joliet Catholic in semi-final
Joliet Catholic beat Deerfield in title game
1982 12-1 IHSA CLASS 4A RUNNER-UP!!!!Coach Robin Cooper
1st Rd Beat Mt. Zion 33-0
2nd Rd Beat Champaign Central 13-9
Semi-final Defeated Roxana 29-8
Lost to Geneseo Darnall 44-36 in title game
1983 8-2 IHSA 4A PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS Coach Robin Cooper
1st Rd Lost to Washington 27-6
Washington lost to Woodstock in title game
1984 8-2 IHSA 4A PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS Coach Ken Leonard
1st Rd lost to Lincoln 10-6
Morris beat Lincoln in 2nd Rd
Morris won state title
1985 10-1 IHSA 4A PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS Coach Ken Leonard
1st Rd Beat Mount Zion 35-15
2nd Rd lost to Washington 21-18
Washington won state title
1986 12-1 IHSA CLASS 4A ELITE 8 FINALIST Coach Ken Leonard
1st Rd Beat Peoria Central 10-6
2nd Rd Beat Peoria Woodruff 10-7
Quarter-final lost to Rock Island Alleman 15-6
Alleman lost in title game
1987 10-1 IHSA 4A PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS Coach Ken Leonard
1st Rd Beat Mount Zion 29-7
2nd Rd lost to Rantoul 18-14
Rantoul lost to Roxana in semi-final
Roxana lost to Providence Catholic in title game
Two players that wore the Purple and Gold of Griffin later went on to play in professional football. Doug Bartlett was a lineman with the Philadelphia Eagles during the 1988 season, while defensive back Jim Rockford played with the 1985 San Diego Chargers before spending the next four seasons at Hamilton in the Canadian Football League.
GOLF
In addition to having a state champion medalist (J.C. Anderson won in a playoff after shooting a 146 to win the 1979 AA title), Griffin’s linksters were prominent in the state prep golf circles by placing in the top 10 five times over an eight-year period with two of them being state championships under coach Ron Brian.
1973 Ninth Place at State Finals Coach Bob Martin
1 Belleville West 619
2 Pekin 623
3 Hinsdale Central 627
Homewood-Flossmoor 627
5 Peoria Richwoods 633
6 Rockford Guilford 634
7 Decatur Lakeview 635
8 Edwardsville HS 638
9 Decatur MacArthur 642
Springfield Griffin 642
Normal University 642
Mt. Prospect 642
1974 Qualified for State Tournament Coach Bob Martin
1976 District Champions Coach unknown
1977 Seventh in AA State Finals Coach unknown
1 Winnetka New Trier East 616
2 Palatine Fremd 620
3 McHenry 625
4 Moline HS 626
5 Freeport HS 628
6 Hinsdale Central 633
7 Springfield Griffin 635
8 Homewood-Flossmoor 637
9 Northfield New Trier West 639
10 Franklin Park East Leyden 645
Individual Medalist
J.C. Anderson–5th place—150, finished four strokes back
1978 AA STATE CHAMPIONS!!! 633 Coach Ron Brian
2 Peoria Spalding 646
3 Hinsdale Central 651
Arlington Heights Hersey 651
5 Naperville North 652
6 Rockford Guilford 653
7 Homewood-Flossmoor 654
8 Freeport HS 657
LaGrange Lyons 657
10 Libertyville 663
District Champions
Sectional Champions
Individual State Medalists
J.C. Anderson–2nd—152, lost by three strokes
Doug Williams–8th—158 (three-way tie)
1979 AA STATE CHAMPIONS!!! 630 Coach Ron Brian
2 Peoria Richwoods 633
3 Naperville North 635
4 Champaign Central 639
Winnetka New Trier East 639
6 West Frankfort Frankfort 640
7 South Holland Thornwood 641
8 LaGrange Lyons 644
9 Belleville West 647
10 Homewood-Flossmoor 649
District Champions
Sectional Champions
Individual AA State Medalist
J.C. Anderson–STATE CHAMPION!!! 146 (won in playoff)
1980 Fifth in AA State Finals Coach unknown
1 Crystal Lake South 626
2 Naperville North 629
3 Belleville West 635
4 Barrington 637
5 Springfield Griffin 644
6 Lincoln 647
DeKalb 647
8 McHenry 650
9 Rock Island HS 655
LaGrange Lyons 655
District Champions
1982 Individual AA State Medalist Coach unknown
Todd Gedaminski –9th—tied at 154
OUTSTANDING WORK BY THE CYCLONE LINKSTERS!!!!
SWIMMING
The Griffin Cyclones made some waves in the pool during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s by winning some state hardware and having one swimmer come home with three finishes in the top three of the state, including a state championship.
1977-78 Individual State Medalist Coach unknown
Rich Suhs–100 backstroke 3rd place (lost by .18!!)
1978-79 District Champions Coach unknown
Individual State Medalist
Rich Suhs–100 butterfly STATE CHAMPION!!! (:51.236)
100 backstroke 2nd place
1980-81 District Champions
1981-82 District Champions
1982-83 Sectional Champions
(NOTE: Suhs lost to future Olympian and five-time gold medalist Tom Jager of Collinsville in the 100 backstroke finals in 1979. Jager went onto to become the world’s fastest swimmer with a time of :21.8 in the 50 freestyle.)
TRACK
As both Cathedral and Griffin, the school was represented by individuals who brought home medals from the state track meet as one of the best in their respective events.
As Cathedral
1953 Al Urbanckas–High Jump 3rd place Coach Leo Kilfoy
1954 Al Urbanckas–High Jump STATE CHAMPION!! Coach Leo Kilfoy
As Griffin
1978AA Brad Gair–2 mile run 6th place
CROSS-COUNTRY
Even the harriers were successful, qualifying for the state AA finals in 1978. According to Griffin alum Todd Schneider (Class of 1979), this team was one of 27 that made it to state that year, under head coach Joe Galassi. Co-MVPs of the 1978 harriers were Mark Brahler and Todd Schneider.
TENNIS
The Griffin netters won a pair of titles at the state tournament level, including one that might be considered one of the final championships as an all-boys’ school before the merger with Sacred Heart.
1982 District Champions
1988 Sectional Champions
Great Athletes
Al Urbanckas (Class of 1954) – Al holds a basketball record at Cathedral as SHG has a huge banner up in the gym spotlighting Al’s accomplishment. He held the high jump record at the University of Illinois for 14 years before they changed the method of jumping to the flop. Al is one of the charter members in the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame.
Dick Schofield (class of 1981) – played major league baseball for the California Angels after being drafted right out of high school.
Special Thanks
In researching information, we’d like to thank Sr. Diana Doyle from Sacred Heart-Griffin for helping us out. As a 1948 graduate of Sacred Heart Academy, Sr. Diana furnished us with a copy of “Sacred Heart-Griffin: A Century of Excellence 1895-1995” that helped tell the story of Cathedral, Griffin and Sacred Heart as high schools that educated youth in the Springfield. Some of the photos that you see on these pages are from the book, so we appreciate the assistance!
DO YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT SPRINGFIELD CATHEDRAL OR GRIFFIN?
If so, we’d like to hear from YOU! Information such as the words and music to the school song. names of coaches and athletes, win-loss records, and great memories are all welcome. You can email your information to us at dr.veeman@gmail.com or by regular mail:
