Tonica High School “Warriors”

**TONICA HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING 2025 / NOW PART OF TONICA GRADE SCHOOL**

The History of Tonica High School

Tonica (population 685) is located in north-central Illinois. The southwestern LaSalle County town is found at the intersection of Illinois Route 251 and Illinois Route 178. Interstate Highway 39 runs just west of Tonica. Bailey Creek flows through the town as well. A city for reference would be LaSalle located 8 miles due north of Tonica. According to the web site http://villageoftonica.tripod.com/ Tonica was founded in 1853 as a stop along the Illinois Central Railroad line. A man named A.J. West named the town Tonica after a Native American Chief named Tonica back in his home state of New York.

The residents of Tonica probably started a high school and educational system for their children in the late 1800s. The town supported schooling for grades K – 12 for many decades. It was after the 1990 school year that Tonica High School was deactivated. The Tonica high school-aged kids now earn their diplomas in LaSalle.

Tonica still supports its own school as its kids in grades PK – 8 attend Tonica Grade School, which uses the former Tonica High School building as part of its facility, as evidenced by photos on this page..

Memories – This great story was relayed to us by Dolores (Wiertz) Valle, Tonica Class of 1952. What are the odds of this in any one town!:

“The class of 1952 graduated a class of 18 girls and no boys. As freshman, we were a class of 26 with only two boys — by the end of the first semester, the two boys had quit school and we became a class of girls for the next three and a half years. Some of the girls moved and others dropped out so by the time we graduated in 1952 there were only 18 girls left. The high school coach at that time was Mr. Herbert Hungerford, so needless to say, we didn’t have much in sports during those years. At that time there were no girls sports offered in high school. Poor Mr. Hungerford was lost for words with not many boys available for sports as when we were juniors and seniors, our class had nothing to offer !!“

An article regarding the students of Tonica High School from 1874 is available at http://genealogytrails.com/ill/lasalle/TonicaNews.html#Roll .

Tonica High School Quick Facts

Year opened: 1874 (probably even a few years earlier)

Year closed: 1990

School nickname: the “Warriors”

School colors: Blue & White

School Fight Song: “On Tonica” (sung to “On Wisconsin” – click play button below left)

Tonica High School

Gymnasium

Tonica HS boys’ basketball team

1977-78

Athletics

The Tonica High School Warriors were very competitve on many different levels in athletics as a member of the Tri-County Conference. The school won IHSA hardware (www.ihsa.org) in the boys sports of basketball, cross country, and track & field. The Lady Warriors won a District title in volleyball, however, there is no other mention of their other successful seasons. The girls also competed in basketball and track & field. The best of the THS seasons are listed below.

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Boys Basketball

The Tonica boys’ basketball program won one Regional and seven District Titles. Unfortunately, the coach’s names and team records for these and other great teams in Tonica HS history are not available. Five teams made it to the title game of the prestigious Tri-County Conference Tournament. The 1954-55 boys faired the best, winning their District and Regional titles before falling in the Sectional. This placed Tonica in the top 64 teams in the state for that year.

Several IHSA Tournament basketball scores were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason High School Basketball Scores. These scores have been transcribed below.

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1918-19 Joliet District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Morton 29-19

Morris beat Waukegan in title game

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1919-20 LaSalle District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Franklin Grove 60-22

2nd Rd lost to Magnolia Swaney 25-11

Streator beat LaSalle in title game

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1920-21 LaSalle District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Franklin Grove 32-17

2nd Rd lost to Streator 13-11

Streator beat LaSalle in title game

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1921-22 Joliet District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Lostant 25-18

Title game not listed.

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1922-23 through 1930-31 IHSA Postseason scores, coaches’ names, and season records needed.

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1926-27 Tri-County Conference Tourney Runner-Ups

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1930-31 Wenona District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Lostant 21-14

2nd Rd lost to Wenona 11-8

Wenona beat Minonk in title game

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1931-32 Wenona District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Lacon 20-17

Wenona beat Minonk in title game.

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1932-33 Wenona District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Magnolia 44-15

2nd Rd lost to Minonk 36-16

Long Point Beat Henry in title game

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1933-34 Wenona District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Dana 25-16

2nd Rd lost to Minonk 27-13

Granville beat Minonk in title game

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1934-35 Tri-County Tourney Runner-Ups Coach’s name & record needed.

Wenona District Tournament

1st Rd lost to Varna 39-33

Lacon beat Henry in title game.

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In 1935 District Tournaments were designed to allow smaller schools a play-in tournament for the Regional to face the bigger schools.

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1935-36 Wenona District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Long Point 26-16

Dana beat Lostant in title game.

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1936-37 Wenona District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Lostant 33-11

Semi-Final Beat Varna 19-17

Title Game lost to Lacon 24-20

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1937-38 Wenona District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat McNabb Swaney 19-16

2nd Rd lost to Rutland 33-29

Rutland beat Varna in title game

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1938-39 Wenona District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Lostant 24-19

Wenona beat Lostant in title game.

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1939-40 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1940-41 Wenona District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Rutland 47-13

Sparland beat Dana in title game.

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1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1942-43 Varna District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to McNabb Swaney 25-24

Sparland beat Dana in title game.

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1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1944-45 Varna District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Dana 39-31

Rutland beat Varna in title game.

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1945-46 Wenona District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Dana 49-30

Semi-Final Beat Lostant 40-36

Title Game lost to Rutland 27-24

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1946-47 Varna District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Dana 42-31

Semi-Final lost to Rutland 34-33

Long Pointy Beat Rutland in title game.

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1947-48 Varna District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Varna 49-32

Semi-Final Beat Lostant 42-36

Title Game lost to Toluca 36-32

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1948-49 Varna District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Lostant 69-48

Long Point beat Lostant in title game.

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1949-50 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1950-51 Varna District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Dana 39-32

Long Point beat Sparland in title game.

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1951-52 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1952-53 Henry Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

Tonica assigned to Regional Tourney this season, did not play in District Tourney.

1st Rd lost to Henry 66-57

Mid County beat Henry in title game.

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1953-54 Granville Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

Tonica assigned to Regional Tourney this season, did not play in District Tourney.

1st Rd Magnolia 65-46

Semi-Final lost to Mid-County 57-51

Wenona beat Mid County in title game.

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1954-55 District / Regional Champions Coach’s name & season record needed.

One of Top 64 Teams in the State

Tri-County Tourney Runner-Ups

***Tonica District Tournament Champions

Early Round Scores Needed

Title Game Beat Magnolia Swaney 62-54

***Henry Regional Tourney Champions

1st Rd Beat Minonk 78-52

Semi-Final Beat Mid County 60-58

Title Game Beat Wenona 57-51

TONICA (57): Barton 22, Cave 11, Sidlowski 11, Huss 9, Hildebrand 4.

WENONA (51): Richard 15, Kemp 12, Pickard 12, Manley 10, Mulera 2.

**Ottawa Sectional Tournament

Semi-Final lost to Streator 58-49

Princeton beat Streator in title game.

Princeton placed 4TH in IHSA State Tourney

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1955-56 Tonica District Tourney Champs Coach’s name & record needed.

Semi-Final Beat Magnolia Swaney 69-50

Title Game Beat Sparland 65-41

Granville Regional Tourney

1st Rd lost to Granville Hopkins 37-34

Mid County Beat Granville in title game.

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1956-57 Lostant District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.

Tri-County Tourney Runner-Ups

Lostant District Tournament

Semi-Final Beat Hennepin 64-61

Title Game lost to Sparland 50-48

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1957-58 Wenona District Champions Coach’s name & record needed.

Tri-County Tourney Runner-Ups

Wenona District Tournament

Semi-Final Beat Hennepin 51-36

Title Game Beat Wenona 56-51

Henry Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Minonk-Dana-Rutland 57-54

Streator Woodland beat M-D-R in title game.

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1958-59 Wenona District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Hennepin 65-63

Cornell beat LaRose in title game.

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1959-60 Wenona Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

Tonica assigned to Regional Tourney this season, did not play in District Tourney.

1st Rd lost to Minonk 72-47

Toluca beat Mid-County in title game.

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1960-61 Lostant District Champions Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat LaRose 67-37

Semi-Final Beat Lostant 59-57

Title Game Beat Cornell 59-55

Streator Woodland Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Henry 69-56

Toluca beat Streator Woodland in title game.

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1961-62 Lostant District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.

Semi-Final Beat Lostant 65-63 (O/T)

Title Game lost to Sparland 64-48

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1962-63 Lostant District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Magnolia Swaney 62-52

Semi-Final lost to Cornell 68-66

Cornell beat Sparland in title game.

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1963-64 Lostant District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.

Semi-Final Score Needed

Title Game lost to Lostant 65-61

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1964-65 Lostant District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Sparland 64-63

Sparland beat Hennepin in title game.

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1965-66 Tonica District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

Semi-Final lost to Sparland 65-52

Hennepin beat Sparland in title game.

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1966-67 Tonica District Champions Coach’s name & record needed.

Semi-Final Beat Cornell 83-59

Title Game Beat Lostant 60-51

Wenona Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Henry 92-53

Toluca beat Wenona in title game.

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1967-68 DePue District Champions Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Lostant 62-46

Semi-Final Beat LaMoille 64-45

Title Game Beat Malden 63-35

LaSalle Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Princeton 64-41

LaSalle-Peru beat Mendota in title game.

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1968-69 Manlius District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to DePue 63-60 (O/T)

Tiskilwa beat Malden in title game.

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1969-70 DePue District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Lostant 72-66

Tiskilwa beat Malden in title game.

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1970-71 Manlius District Champions Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Tiskilwa 53-39

Semi-Final Beat Ohio 52-41

Title Game Beat Manlius 60-46

Princeton Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Princeton 78-51

Mendota beat LaSalle-Peru in title game.

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IHSA began 2-Class Tournament labeling them Class ‘A’ and Class ‘AA’. District Tournaments for boys were eliminated.

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1971-72 Streator Woodland Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Cornell 70-36

Semi-Final lost to Woodland 63-51

Woodland Beat Lostant in title game.

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1972-73 Streator Woodland Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Woodland 59-52

Wenona beat Minonk-Dana-Rutland in title game.

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1973-74 Streator Woodland Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Lostant 79-59

Lostant beat Wenona in title game.

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1974-75 Lostant Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Lostant 67-63

Semi-Final lost to Woodland 81-58

Woodland Beat Wenona in title game.

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1975-76 Streator Woodland Regiional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Wenona 97-51

Ottawa Marquette beat Henry in title game.

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1976-77 Streator Woodland Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Wenona 84-71

Ottawa Marquette beat Henry in title game.

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1977-78 Henry Regional Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Streator Woodland 75-74

Semi-Final Beat Henry 44-39

Title Game lost to Ottawa Marquette 71-52

OTTAWA MARQUETTE (71): McCormick 32, Renkoskik 18, McDonald 7, Alderman 5, Cobler 4, Jankowski 3, Gibson 2. McCormick

TONICA (52): Ashley 22, Jasiek 14, Christman 6, Dillard 4, Schmidt 2, Edgecomb 2, Schiffbauer 2.

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1978-79 Streator Woodland Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Wenona 79-57

Ottawa Marquette beat Seneca in title game.

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1979-80 Granville Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Streator Woodland 70-57

Ottawa Marquette beat Woodland in title game.

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1980-81 Peru Regional Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd Beat Spring Valley Hall 56-54 (2 O/Ts)

Semi-Final Beat Henry Senachwine 49-44

Title Game lost to Putnam County 72-50

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1981-82 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

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1982-83 Varna Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Peru St. Bede 96-58

Mid-County Bbeat DePue in title game.

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1983-84 Henry Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Putnam County 83-56

Mid-County beat Sparland in title game.

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1984-85 Princeton Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to DePue 81-65

Peru-St. Bede beat Princeton in title game.

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1985-86 Granville Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Mid-County 79-28

Princeton beat Putnam County in title game.

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1986-87 Varna Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Spring Valley Hall 78-41

Hall beat Peru St. Bede in title game.

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1987-88 Seneca Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Streator Woodland 70-49

Woodland beat Ottawa Marquette in title game.

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1988-89 Streator Woodland Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Streator Woodland 75-52

Woodland beat Serena in title game.

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1989-90 Seneca Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.

**1st Rd lost to Lostant 82-54

Ottawa Marquette beat Seneca in title game.

**Final varsity boys basketball game for the Tonica Warriors. High School was dissolved in the summer of 1990.

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Along with Herbert Hungerford, another great coach, Ron Oloffson, started his coaching career at Tonica and went onto have a career coaching record of over 300 wins. One of the best players to grace the hardwood of Tonica was Jon Janz. His 50 points in a January 19, 1971 game against Sparland is a school record.

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Girls Volleyball

The Girls Volleyball team of 1980-81 won the only girl’s IHSA hardware as District Champions. The record and coach’s name of this team, and other teams in Lady Warrior history, are not available.

1979-80 Coach Marcia Robertson

1980-81 District Champions Coach Marcia Robertson

1981-82 Coach Marcia Robertson

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Boys Cross Country

The boys Cross Country team of 1979-80 also brought home a District title plaque. Led by long-distance standout Mike Clark, the boys made a run at the state meet but failed to place. Mike Clark placed in the top 25 individually during consecutive years. Mike’s accomplishment as well as the team’s are listed below:

1978-79 Mike Clark 23rd Place

1979-80 Team Won the District Championship Coach Alex Clark

Mike Clark 19th Place

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Boys Track

Mike Clark did not rest on his laurels earned in cross country. He carried his distance ability over into the track season as well. The Wildcat thinclad brought home two medals from state meet competition. This included a Gold Medal in the 880 yard run in the 1980-81 season.

The track at Tonica High School was 330 yards long instead of the norm of 440 yards. This fact makes Mike’s accomplishment even more incredible. Mike was coached by his father, Coach Alex Clark, who also coached nearly every other sport at the school. Mike Clark’s great feats (feets?) are listed below.

1978-79 Mike Clark 880 Yard Run 7th Place

1980-81 Mike Clark 880 Yard Run STATE CHAMPION!!

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Noteable Alumni / People

*Mike Clark (Class of 1981) – After his gold medal performance in the state track meet Mike went on to star at Illinois State University in the same sport. He now serves as Assistant Principal at Normal Community High School.

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If You Have ANY Further Information

There were many other accomplishments at Tonica High School that are not touched upon here. If you can provide this information (and not just sports only), please write to us so we can share it with others. Photos of great teams and others associated with THS are especially being sought. You can e-mail items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or you can write to us via real mail at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631