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Varna High School 2005
Varna, Illinois
The History of Varna High School
Varna (population 436) is located at the intersection of Il. Route 89 and Il. Route 17. This places Varna in the center of Marshall County. A city of reference would be Metamora located 20 miles southwest of Varna. The following Varna history was provided by our own Kev Varney:
Varna was platted in 1870, and grew due to the development of the Chicago & Alton & St. Louis Railroad, which ran a spur to the west to Lacon. That coincided with another spur that ran through LaRose (which, not only was platted in the same year as Varna, but is also represented on this website) as Varna grew quickly. Varna is named after a town of the same name in the country of Bulgaria.
The history of education in Varna goes back before the town was laid out as in 1869, the school district was organized with Thomas Quaintence as the first teacher. A two-year high school was opened on 1905, later to be expanded to four years in 1915. The school grew in numbers so much that an addition was built in 1922. A new high school building was constructed in 1940 and is pictured above. Varna High continued to stay in business until after the end of World War II when the school district merged with the Lacon district to form Mid-County.
Mid-County H.S. was housed in the old Varna High School until 1972 when a modern facility was built between the two communities along Illinois 17. Another consolidation effort took place in 1995 with the addition of Sparland High School. The Midland High School District was established and, though located in a country setting, has a Varna address. .
The original Varna High School building still stands today. It is believed to be in use as an apartment building.
Varna High School Quick Facts
Year opened: late 1800s / early 1900s
Year closed: 1949
School nickname: “Green Dragons”
School colors: Green & White
School Fight Song: unavailable
Athletics
Athletics were definitely offered at Varna High School. The Green Dragons competed in basketball, as well as possibly baseball and track. Varna was one of the original members of the Tri-County Conference. Information is being sought regarding the better teams in Varna High School history. We could find no mention of Varna High School winning IHSA hardware, but we are confident they enjoyed many competitive seasons.
Boys Basketball
1927-28 Tri-County Tourney Runner-Ups Coach’s name & record needed
1928-29 Tri-County Tourney Champs!!! Coach’s name & record needed
1931-32 Wenona District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd score needed
2nd Rd Beat Magnolia 20-12
Semi-final lost to Minonk 26-23
Wenona beat Minonk in title game
1932-33 Wenona District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Rutland 42-28
Long Point beat Henry in title game
1933-34 Wenona District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Toluca 34-27
Granville beat Minonk in title game
1934-35 Wenona District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Tonica 39-33
2nd Rd lost to Toluca 37-26
Lacon beat Henry in title game
1935-36 Wenona District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Magnolia Swaney 41-33
Dana beat Lostant in title game
1936-37 Wenona District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat McNabb 32-19
Semi-Final lost to Tonica 19-15
Lacon beat Tonica in title game
1937-38 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1938-39 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1939-40 Postseason scores & record needed Coach LeRoy Peterson
1940-41 Wenona District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Lostant 26-16
Sparland beat Dana in title game
1941-42 Varna District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
Early Rd Scores Needed
Sparland beat Dana in title game
1942-43 Varna District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Lostant 31-24
Lostant beat Dana in title game
1943-44 Varna District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed
Early Rd Scores Needed
Title Game Varna lost to Lostant 45-34
1944-45 Varna District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Magnolia Swaney 50-18
Semi-Final Beat Lostant 36-33
Title Game lost to Rutland 45-34
1945-46 Varna District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Hennepin 61-32
2nd Rd Beat Long Point 40-35
Semi-Final lost to Rutland 39-27
Rutland beat Tonica in title game
1946-47 Varna District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Long Point 51-26
Long Point beat Rutland in title game
1947-48 Varna District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Hennepin 49-40
2nd Rd lost to Tonica 49-32
Toluca beat Tonica in title game
1948-49 Varna District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Sparland 59-54
**Semi-Final lost to Lostant 55-43
Long Point beat Lostant in title game
**Final boys basketball game for Varna High School. Became known as Mid-County High School in the summer of 1949 after consolidating with Lacon HS.
Need your Help
If you have ANY information you would like to share regarding Varna High School and the Green Dragon athletic prowess, please complete a Guest Commentary Form. We are extremely interested in photos of the old high school building and the great teams and players who donned the green and white of Varna HS. You can also e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net .
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