| Athletics
For information on the Blackhawk Conference check out John Ballentine’s article on the GREAT CONFERENCES page of this site.
FOOTBALL
The following information regarding Toulon-LaFayette High School football was provided to us by John Ballentine:
Toulon-LaFayette High School’s football program began in the fall of 1970 and continued through the fall of 1991 for 22 seasons until Stark County High was formed. Students from LaFayette had in football another sport available to them that LaFayette High had not offered for decades.
T-L had fourteen winning seasons against 8 losing years. A State football tournament became available for the first time in the fall of 1974. In 1985, T-L tied with the Cambridge Vikings for the Lincoln Trail Conference championship, but lost a coin toss to the Eureka Hornets to enter the State tournament that year. In 1990, the T-L Trojans qualified for the State tournament, but lost 24-16 in the opening round to the Manlius-Tampico Red Warriors.
TOULON-LaFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACHES
Year Record Head Assistants
1970-71 6-3 Cecil Duffy Darryl Sturgill, Robert Eden, Jim Simpson
1971-72 4-5 ” Mike Minneart, ” , __?__ Jordan
1972-73 5-3-1 Robert Eden Jim Simpson, Al Harland
1973-74 6-4/ 5-4 ” ” “
(Illinois State playoffs began with the fall of 1974)
1974-75 7-2 ” ” “
1975-76 7-2 ” ” “
Blackhawk Conference membership ended
_______________________________________________________________________ Lincoln Trail Conference membership began (8 members)
(*= Conference Champion)
season/conference
1976-77 4-5/ 3-4 Robert Eden Jim Simpson
1977-78 5-4/ 5-2 ” ” , Roger Fox
1978-79 4-5/ 3-4 J. R. Hofman ” , “
(Sophomores Conference Champs
beating Wethersfield for title)
1979-80 5-4/ 4-3 Robert Eden ” , John Cromion
1980-81 2-7/ 1-6 ” “
1981-82 5-4/ 5-2 ” ” , Tim Carstens
1982-83 6-3/ 5-2 ” ” , “
1983-84 3-6/ 3-4 ” ” , “
1984-85 4-5/ 3-4 ” ” , “
1985-86 6-3/ 6-1 * ” ” , “
(Tied 1st Place w/ Cambridge Vikings: Lost coin toss to Eureka Hornets for playoff spot)
1986-87 5-4/ 4-3 Tim Carstens ” , Larry Freeman
1987-88 6-3/ 5-2 ” ” , “
1988-89 5-4/ 3-3 (7 members)” ” , “
1989-90 4-5/ 2-5 ” ” , “
1990-91 7-3/ 5-2 # ” ” , “
# = (Lost playoff 24-16 to Manlius–Tampico Red Warriors)
1991-92 2-7/ 1-6 ” “
Toulon-LaFayette last independently fielded a football team in 1991
____________________________________________________________________________
Stark County High School began for 1992-93.
BOYS BASKETBALL
John Ballentine provided the following information on the Toulon-LaFayette High School basketball program:
In 1970-71, Toulon-LaFayette High School continued the tradition of hitting the hardwoods every Tuesday and Friday evening from November to March. T-L was a combination of 2 separately good teams from both communities who formed an exceptionally strong team in 1970-71. T-L High brought home the Blackhawk championship trophy for the first time in 10 years with an 11-2 conference record.
In 1972-73, T-L was co-champion of the Inter County Athletic Conference with Elmsood having both achieved 4-1 records. T-L once more became co-champion of the ICAC with Brimfield both at 4-1 in T-L’s final year (1975-76) in the ICAC and the Blackhawk Conference. T-L joined the newly formed Lincoln Trail Conference for the 1976-77 school year and competed as Toulon-LaFayette until 1992 when Stark County High was established for the 1992-93 school year.
TOULON-LaFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL COACHES
Year Record Head Assistants
Season / Blackhawk Conf. / Inter County Athletic Conf.[ */*= Conf. Champion]
1970-71 17-7/11-2*/4-2 Wayne Jenkins Robert Eden, Al Harland
1971-72 16-10/9-4/2-3 ” ” , Jim Simpson
1972-73 10-14/5-8/4-1 * ” ” , Gregg Moutoux
{Co-Champion w/ Elmwood}
1973-74 5-19/2-10/1-4 Robert Eden Al Harland
1974-75 9-17/1-8/3-2 Jim Simpson Robert Eden
1975-76 9-15/2-7/4-1 * ” “
{Co-Champion w/ Brimfield}
Blackhawk Conference and Inter County Athletic Conference memberships ended
___________________________________________________________________________
Lincoln Trail Conference membership began
1976-77 10-13/ 5-9 Jim Simpson Robert Eden
1977-78 7-14/5-9 Gary Blessman Jim Howard
1978-79 5-17/4-10 ” J. R. Hofman
1979-80 10-15/ 5-9 ” John Cromion
1980-81 4-19/3-11 Mike Mandele
1981-82 16-9/8-6 Gary Blessman Jim Simpson
1982-83 10-16/6-8 ” “
1983-84 8-17/6-8 ” “
1984-85 2-21/1-13 ” “
1985-86 8-17/6-8 John Rumley Adam Keenum
1986-87 13-15/7-7 Larry Freeman “
1987-88 18-9/10-4 ” Jim Simpson
1988-89 5-17/2-10 ” David Wallace
1989-90 8-15/5-9 ” “
1990-91 10-14/5-9 ” “
1991-92 7-18/2-12 Al Curry “
____________________________________________________________________________
Stark County High School began for 1992-93
BOYS TRACK & FIELD
The following individuals won medals at the IHSA State Track Meet:
1974-75 Mark Duncan 440 Yard Dash 8th Place
Shane Milroy High Jump 8th Place
Team Won Blackhawk Conf. Championship
1976-77 Shane Milroy High Jump 5th Place
The following history of the Toulon-LaFayette High School track program was sent to us by our good friend John Ballentine:
Toulon-LaFayette High competed in the 10 team Blackhawk Conference from 1971-76. They won the track & field conference championship in 1971, ’73, and ’75. T-L joined the newly formed 8 team Lincoln Trail Conference which also included Alexis, Alwood, Cambridge, Galva, Ro(w)va, Wethersfield, and Winola in 1976-77 competing through 1992. T-L’s best LTC meet occurred in 1983 with a second place finish. T-L won the Stark County Meet dominating 17 times in 19 years. T-L became part of Stark County High for the 1992-93 school year, which continued competing in the LTC.
TOULON-LaFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD COACHES
* = Blackhawk Conference Champion / * = ICAC Champion/
# = Stark County Track Meet winner
Year Record Head Assistants
1970-71 # * Al Harland Cecil Duffy, ___?___ Van Dyke
1971-72 # ” “
1972-73 # * ” ” , Greg Moutoux
1973-74 # ” “
1974-75 # * ” “
1975-76 # ” “
Blackhawk Conference & ICAC memberships ended
____________________________________________________________________________
Lincoln Trail Conference membership began
1976-77 # Al Harland Cecil Duffy
1977-78 # “
1978-79 # “
1979-80 # ” Robert Eden
1980-81 # “
1981-82 # Robert Eden
1982-83 # / (2nd place) ” Tim Carstens
1983-84 # “
1984-85 ” Gary Blessman
1985-86 # ” John Rumley
1986-87 # Jim Simpson Adam Keenum
1987-88 “
1988-89 # “
———————-Stark County Track Meet ended————————————————————-
1989-90 Jim Simpson
1990-91 “
1991-92 Al Curry
____________________________________________________________________________
Stark County High School began for 1992-93
In addition to individual accomplishments, the Toulon-LaFayette High School boys won a few Stark County High School Track Meets over the years. The following information regarding this meet was provided to us by John Ballentine:
“The Stark County track/field and declamatory meet was a major event for decades. It was fiercely fought in order to win that particular year and claim county bragging rights. Businesses and schools, even the grade schools, were closed early in order to attend the afternoon meet. Main streets resembled ghost towns because a majority of the county’s population was at the contest.
Records were kept and trophies, plaques, ribbons, etc. were awarded. Yet, in 1990 the county meet could no longer be held. Castleton High no longer existed, Toulon and LaFayette Highs were consolidated, and Bradford began co-opting with Tiskilwa to form a track team. Since Tiskilwa was not part of Stark County, this eliminated Bradford’s participation leaving only Toulon-LaFayette and Wyoming as the competitors from the original 5 schools. Therefore, the meet was permanently discontinued after 1989.”
Toulon-LaFayette High School boys reigned as champions of this once annual event during the following spring seasons:
1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989.
If you count the 1970 meet won by Toulon High School, the boys from this school swept the 1970s and won a total of 18 Stark County Boys Track & Field Meet Championships as Toulon-LaFayette High School!!
GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Lady Trojans earned some IHSA hardware also. More information is need regarding the better seasons enjoyed by the Toulon HS Lady Trojan basketball teams.
1980-81 N.R.A. Regional Champions Coach Sharon Wise
Lincoln Trail Conference Champs
| Girls Basketball Hi-Lites – 1980-81 |
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| Submitted by Karmella Reining (Left click on photo for enlarged version) |
| Regional Champs – 1980-81 |
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| Submitted by Karmella Reining (Left click on photo for enlarged version) |
From John Ballentine:
TOULON-LaFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACHES
Year Record Head Assistants
1974-75
1975-76 Gary Jackson
Blackhawk Conference membership ended
______________________________________________________________________________
Lincoln Trail Conference membership began
1976-77 Gary Jackson
1977-78 Sharon Wise
1978-79 “
1979-80 “
1980-81 ” Karen Horman
1981-82 “
1982-83 N. Smith
1983-84 Sharon Wise Donna Henson
1984-85 “
1985-86 ” Donna Henson
1986-87 ” Nicole Fairman
1987-88 ” “
1988-89 ” “
1989-90 Scott Paxson
1990-91 “
1991-92 “
VOLLEYBALL
More information is being sought about the Toluon Volleyball program. They won the Lincoln Trail Conference championship in 1980.
1980-81 Lincoln Trail Conference Champions Coach Karen Horman
TOULON-LaFAYETTTE HIGH SCHOOL WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL COACHES
Year Record Head Assistants
1974-75 ___?__ Newman
1975-76 ___?__ Blair
Blackhawk Conference membership ended
_______________________________________________________________________________
Lincoln Trail Conference membership began
1976-77 Al Harland Cecil Duffy
1977-78 Sharon Wise
1978-79 “
1979-80 Karen Horman
1980-81 “
1981-82 Jean Anthony
1982-83 “
1983-84 Donna Henson
1984-85 “
1985-86 “
1986-87 “
1987-88 Nicole Fairman B____ West
1988-89 “
1989-90 __?___ Harmon
1990-91 __?___ Schindel __?__ West
1991-92 Charles Mueller Nancy Zook
GIRLS TRACK & FIELD
The Toulon Lady Trojans, led by standout Brandi Mock, finished in the top-ten of the IHSA Class A State Track Meet three consecutive years. In 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1989 Brandi Mock established herself as one of the all-time premier performers in Class ‘A’ history by bringing home a total of NINE individual medals from the IHSA State Meet. Brandi’s credentials read as foillows:
1985-86: 400 Meter Dash – 3RD Place
1986-87: 200 Meter Dash – State Champ, 400 M. Dash – 2ND Place
1987-88: 200 Meter Dash – State Champ, 400 M. Dash – State Champ, 100 M. Dash – 5TH Place
1988-89: 400 Meter Dash – State Champ, 200 M. Dash – 2ND Place, 100 M. Dash – 3RD Place
Brandi Mock’s Medal break down:
FOUR Gold Medals
TWO 2ND Place Medals
TWO 3RD Place Medals
ONE 5TH Place Medal
In addition, two Relay Teams of the late 1970s earned IHSA medals and the Lady Trojans of 1981 won the Lincoln Trail Conference championship.
1977-78 880 Yard Relay Team 5TH Place
1978-79 880 Yard Relay Team 5TH Place
1980-81 Lincoln Trail Conference Champions
1986-87 Team Finished EIGHTH in IHSA Class A State Meet!!
Final Team Standings
1 Maple Park (Kaneland) 48
2 Chicago (Luther South) 46
3 Mahomet (M.-Seymour) 41
4 Hoopeston (H.-East Lynn) 39
5 Lexington 34
6 Madison 20
6 Riverton 20
8 Stanford (Olympia) 18
8 TOULON HIGH SCHOOL 18
8 Arthur 18
1987-88 Team Finished SIXTH in IHSA Class A State Meet!!
Final Team Standings
1 Maple Park (Kaneland) 41
2 Chicago (Luther South) 36
3 Stanford (Olympia) 28
3 Carlinville 28
5 Georgetown (G.-Ridge Farm) 25
6 TOULON HIGH SCHOOL 24
1988-89 Team Finished SEVENTH in IHSA Class A State Meet!!
Final Team Standings
1 Genoa (G.-Kingston) 39
2 Chicago (Luther South) 37½
3 Manteno 36
4 Gardner (G.-South Wilmington) 33
5 Riverton 30
6 Georgetown (G.-Ridge Farm) 24
7 TOULON HIGH SCHOOL 23
7 Coal City 23
TOULON-LaFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL GIRL’S TRACK & FIELD COACHES
Year Record Head Assistants
1974-75 __?___ Newman
1975-76
Blackhawk Conference membership ended
______________________________________________________________________________
Lincoln Trail Conference membership began
1976-77 Peggy Brown
1977-78
1978-79 Sharon Wise
1979-80
1980-81 Sharon Wise Mike Minneart
1981-82 “
1982-83
1983-84 Sharon Wise
1984-85 ” Gary Blessman
1985-86 “
1986-87 “
1987-88 “
1988-89 “
1989-90 “
1990-91 “
1991-92 “
BOYS BASEBALL
The following team won the Blackhawk Conference Championship:
1971-72 Blackhawk Conference Co-Champions
The following was provided by our good friend John Ballentine:
TOULON-LaFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL COACHES
Year Record Head Assistants
1970-71 Wayne Jenkins
1971-72 * ” Blackhawk Conference Champions
1972-73 “
1973-74 Robert Eden Al Harland
1974-75 ” ”
## Blackhawk Conference membership ended the next school year.
____________________________________________________________________________
### Baseball was discontinued at Toulon-LaFayette High from 1975-76 to 1991-92 when in the Blackhawk and Lincoln Trail Conferences ; Stark County High School reinstated baseball beginning with the 1993-94 school year.
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