THE HISTORY OF WATAGA SPARTA TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL Wataga is a community of 857 residents located on US. Route 34 and Il. Route 167 approximately 10 miles northeast of Galesburg in Knox County. The AT & ST Railroad runs through the center of town. Wataga was established in 1853 as Urn however its’ name was changed to Wataga in 1856. The town name comes from a Cherokee Native American village of the same name. There are also towns named Wataga (or “Watauga”) in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. (Source “Place Names of Illinois” by Edward Callary.) Wataga High School was likely established in the late 1800s. Wataga High School closed in 1949. The residents of Wataga at the time chose to send their students to the Galesburg school system after graduating from Wataga Grade School. However Wataga maintained control of its grade school. In the mid-1980s the residents of Wataga chose to detach from the Galesburg school system. The children of Wataga were accepted into the R.O.V.A. school district in 1987, effectively putting the “W” in R.O.W.V.A. In 1987 Wataga officially joined the original 1948 consolidation of the high schools from Rio, Oneida, Victoria, and Altona. All five of these schools are now listed on this site. The grade school in Wataga served as home to “ROWVA West Grade School” until the end of the 2009-10 school year. From Sharon Karpinski: “According to the Galesburg Register-Mail, this building was constructed in 1888! ROWVA Consolidated School District, faced with a million dollar budget shortfall and extensive boiler and roof repairs needed at Wataga, has decided to close this school.” The Wataga School Building still stands majestically on a hill on the south side of Wataga. Today (2022) it is privately owned and being remodeled into a single-family home. WATAGA HIGH SCHOOL QUICK FACTS: Year opened: 1888 Year closed: 1949 Consolidated to: Galesburg School District (Joined ROWVA in 1987) School nickname: the “Spartans” School colors: Blue & White School Fight Song: “Wataga Loyalty Song” (Provided by Roger Scriven)
ATHLETICS We were unable to locate any information regarding Wataga High School on the IHSA website www.ihsa.org. We are seeking your help in offering information regarding Wataga High School and its “Spartans” sports program. **GREAT PLAYER / ATHLETE – Former St. Louis Browns pitcher Ed Kuhl is a product of Wataga High School!! —- BOYS BASKETBALL Several scores involving Wataga High School playing in the IHSA State Tournament were found on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are posted below. — 1924-25 Galesburg District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed. 1st Rd Beat Oquawka 22-10 2nd Rd lost to Altona 25-23 — 1925-26 Galesburg District Tourn. Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed. 1st Rd Beat Altona 18-14 2nd Rd Beat New Windsor 27-25 Semi-final Beat Victoria (score needed) Title Game lost to Galesburg 51-9 1926-27 Galesburg District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed. 1st Rd lost to Keithsburg 19-14 —- 1932-33 Galesburg District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd Beat Oneida 17-1o 2nd Rd lost to Matherville 11-10 Galesburg beat Abingdon in title game —- 1933-34 Galesburg District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd lost to Oneida 22-20 Galesburg Beat Knoxville in title game —- 1934-35 Galesburg District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd Beat Rio 26-10 2nd Rd lost to Abingdon 51-9 Galesburg beat Knoxville in title game —- 1935-36 Galesburg District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd lost to Avon 37-7 Avon lost to Abingdon in title game 1936-37 Maquon District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd lost to Prairie City 19-8 Avon beat Maquon in title game —- 1937-38 Maquon District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed. 1st Rd lost to Altona 28-26 (O/T) Altona beat Victoria in title game. —- 1938-39 Maquon District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed. 1st Rd lost to Yates City 33-14 Victoria beat Yates City in title game. —- 1939-40 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. —- 1940-41 Oneida District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd Beat Rio 41-20 2nd Rd lost to Altona 27-22 Maquon beat Oneida in title game —- 1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. —- 1942-43 Oneida District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd lost to Maquon 38-32 Avon beat Oneida in title game —- 1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. —- 1944-45 Oneida District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd lost to Altona 43-37 Avon beat Woodhull in title game —- 1945-46 Oneida District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd Beat Gilson 47-41 Semi-Final lost to Altona 60-26 Oneida beat Altona in title game —- 1946-47 Oneida District Tourney Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd lost to Oneida 69-33 Oneida beat Woodhull in title game —- 1947-48 Oneida District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd Beat Gilson 59-24 Semi-Final Beat Victoria 46-37 Title Game lost to Oneida 55-24 Oneida & Wataga advanced to Regional Galesburg Regional Tournament 1st Rd lost to Abingdon 51-49 (2 O/Ts) Galesburg beat Galesburg Corpus Christi in title game —- 1948-49 Galesburg Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed **1st Rd lost to Abingdon 51-28 ROVA beat Princeville in title game Wataga did not compete in District Tourney this season **Final game for the Wataga High School “Spartans.” —- MEMORIES **From Nancy Hoagland: “Going through the papers in my (deceased) parents house I’ve just learned that my grandfather, Henry E. Hoagland, was principal / superintendent of Wataga H.S. in 1906.” Mr. Hoagland was born in 1887 and would go on to become a professor at Ohio State University and a member of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Home Loan Bank Board in the 1930s.
SEEKING YOUR HELP If you have any information you can share regarding Wataga, its high school, and the programs offered there please complete a Guest Commentary Form. We especially enjoy photos of the old school building, great teams, and/or activities. You may also e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net write to us at: Illinois HS Glory Days 6439 N. Neva St. Chicago Il. 60631
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