The History of the Winola High School “Jets”
New Windsor (population 720) is situated on Il. Rt. 17 seven and one-half miles east of US. Rt. 67. If you are unfamiliar with the area, New Windsor is about 23 miles (as the crow flies) south and a little east of the Quad Cities. New Windsor sits on the far east-central edge of Mercer County. The town hosts an annual rodeo which draws competitors and spectators from all over the midwest. Viola (population 956) is located in upper western Illinois on Iliniois Route 17 at the intersection of U.S. Route 67. The town sits in the eastern portion of Mercer County. Viola is situated about 20 miles south of the Quad Cities. Winola High School is the result of a consolidation effort of the towns of Viola and New Windsor. The consolidation of the two high schools took place before the 1952 school year began. The high school students recieved their education in the HS building in Viola.
Winola School District enjoyed four decades of many successes before being deactivated in 1988. As a result of the deactivation the high school students from New Windsor and Viola now attend Sherrard High School in Sherrard. The Winola High School building still rises tall and proud in the town of Viola, though now used for private purposes.
Winola High School Quick Facts Year school opened: 1952 Year “new” gym opened: 1968 Year school closed: 1988 Consolidated to: Sherrard School District School Nickname: Jets School Colors: Maroon and White School Fight Song: “Go You Winola” The tune of “Washington and Lee Swing” Go you WINOLA through that fighting line, Show that Maroon and White that you are mighty fine, To trumpet forth your wisdom and your fame, To fill the air with lots of fight for evermore We work and strive through all sincerity To bring to our fair school a victory. Fly high, the banners of the Maroon and White, For we will fight on To VICTORY!!!!
Athletics Very limited information is available on the IHSA web site regarding athletics offered at Winola High School. Successes were only found in boys basketball, and boys and girls track. It is probable that football, girl’s volleyball, and girl’s basketball were also offered. Winola spent several years competing in the old Cornbelt Conference. The IHSA success of the Winola teams is listed below. Assistance is being sought regarding the many great Winola teams that did not bring home IHSA hardware.
Bill Mack was a Winola coach then. He went on to coach at Crystal Lake, then North Central College and, after he retired he volunteered as an assistant at Beloit. I imagine his record is available on the website for Hall of Fame coaches. It certainly wasn’t because of his Winola record that he made the Hall of Fame but in his defense we had a lot of injuries.
Boys Basketball
The boys basketball program won a District title in the school’s first year of existence. We are in need of the team’s record and coach’s name. In fact, we are searching for all of the school’s team records, coach’s names, and individual accomplishments. Several scores were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores” which involved Winola High School in the IHSA Stae Tournament. The scores we located are listed below. 1952-53 District Champions! Coach’s name & record needed District Scores Unavailable Aledo Regional Tourney 1st Rd Beat Alwood 78-66 Semi-final lost to Joy 66-58 Joy won Regional title.
Front row: Tom Frakes, Terry Brown, Gordy Miller, Coach Bill King, Tad Yarde, Cletus Moseley, Pete Peterson
1953-54 Joy Regional Tourney Runner-up! Coach’s name & record needed Winola did not compete in District Joy Regional Tourney Scores 1st Rd Beat Alexis 63-46 Semi-final Beat Aledo 55-33 Title Game lost to Joy 59-51 1954-55 Sherrard Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed Winola did not compete in District Sherrard Regional Tourney Scores 1st Rd Beat Reynolds 55-50 Semi-final lost to Aledo 65-44 Aledo lost in title game 1955-56 Aledo Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed Winola did not compete in District Aledo Regional Tourney Scores 1st Rd Beat Alexis 73-44 Semi-final lost to Little York 63-60 Little York won Regional title. 1956-57 Sherrard Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed Winola did not compete in District Sherrard Regional Tourney Scores 1st Rd lost to Little York 64-57 Little York lost in semi-final round 1957-58 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed 1958-59 Alexis Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed Winola did not compete in District Alexis Regional Tourney Scores 1st Rd lost to Rockridge 64-56 Rockridge lost in semi-final round 1959-60 Sherrard Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed Winola did not compete in District Sherrard Regional Tourney Scores 1st Rd score unavailable Semi-final lost to Sherrard 69-62 Sherrard won Regional title 1960-61 Woodhull Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed Winola did not compete in District Woodhull Regional Tourney Scores 1st Rd lost to Alexis 72-59 Alexis lost in title game 1961-62 Alexis District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd lost to Alwood 69-56 Alwood lost in title game 1962-63 Alexis District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd lost to Monmouth Warren 59-41 Warren lost in semi-final round 1963-64 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed 1964-65 Postseason scores & record needed Coach Battershell 1965-66 Postseason scores & record needed Coach Battershell
1966-67 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed 1967-68 Aledo Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed Winola did not compete in District Aledo Regional Tourney Scores 1st Rd Lost to Galva 78-59 Galva won Regional title 1968-69 Alexis District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed 1st Rd lost to Monmouth Warren 69-61 Warren won District title 1969-70 Oneida Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed Winola did not compete in District Oneida Regional Tourney Scores 1st Rd Lost to Oneida ROVA 76-60 ROVA lost in title game 1970-71 Sherrard Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed Winola did not compete in District Sherrard Regional Tourney Scores 1st Rd lost to Galva 71-63 Galva won Regional title 1971-72 Viola Regional Tourney Runner-up! Coach’s name & record needed 1st year of IHSA two class tournament 1st Rd Beat Rockridge 77-61 Semi-final Beat Aledo 75-65 Title game lost to Orion 57-52 1975-76 9 – 9 Coach Kennelly **All other season records, coaches’ names, and postseason scores are needed. Boys Track & Field Two individuals brought home hardware from the IHSA Boys State Track Meet! 1974-75 Duane Peterson 2 Mile Run 8th Place 1986-87 Mike Goben Triple Jump 8th Place Girls Track & Field Two ladies also earned medals at the IHSA Girls State Track Meet. Julie Goben earned a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP in the high jump in 1983!! Lisa also won two other medals in the high jump, making her a three-time medal winner at the meet. 1981-82 Julie Goben High Jump 5th Place 1982-83 Julie Goben High Jump STATE CHAMPION!! 1983-84 Julie Goben High Jump 8th Place 1987-88 Lisa Bisom Shot Put 7th Place
Boys Football
We know the Jets played football. So far this is the extent of the information we have obtained. Evan Thomas tells us: “The initial Winola football coach was Leo Traister, who had been at Viola prior to consolidation. He later moved to VIT and Eureka College. Bill Mack, now in the IHSA coaches Hall of Fame, began his career at Winola in 1960. I believe he was there 4 years.”
1964-65 Asst. Coach Battershell 1965-66 Asst. Coach Battershell 1975-76 0 – 9 Coach Stubbs Boys Wrestling Research by Dean Bentley showed the Winola High School boys competed in wrestling as well. A 1976 Winola High School yearbook revealed the grapplers of this year had a record of 7 – 10. Any other information regarding Winola HS wrestling is welcome. 1975-76 7 – 10 Coach Wyffels Girls Volleyball The 1976 yearbook shows that Winola High School also participated in girls volleyball. In that particular season in fact they were quite good at it! 1975-76 13 – 2 Coach Nederbrock Girls Basketball The Lady Jets competed in basketball as well. We only have the record from the 1975-76 season currently available. Please contact us if you have further informaton to share. 1975-76 2 – 8 Coach Nederbrock MEMORIES **From Evan Thomas: “I grew up in New Windsor and attended Winola High School. Bill King came to New Windsor to coach in 1950 and continued as the Winola coach until the ’70’s I have several yearbooks with records from the late 50’s and 60’s.I will try to uncover some additional information. The first Winola football coach was Leo Traister who had been at Viola and stayed after the merger. He moved over to VIT and then to Eureka College. The Winola qb, Ron (Butch) McCready, played for him at Eureka. Butch later coached at Roseville and Savannah before moving into administration. Bill Mack was a Winola coach then. He went on to coach at Crystal Lake, then North Central College and, after he retired he volunteered as an assistant at Beloit. I imagine his record is available on the website for Hall of Fame coaches. It certainly wasn’t because of his Winola record that he made the Hall of Fame but in his defense we had a lot of injuries. One of my classmates at Winola, Bob Frase, was a letterman fencer at the U of Illinois. He won a Big Ten title and competed in NCAA tourney. I would guess he may be one of a very few Cornbelt grads who ever competed in collegiate fencing. Also, the “new” high school in New Windsor was designed by Albert Heino, a Chicago architect who was married to my aunt Doris from New Windsor. After Al’s death she moved back to New Windsor and spent a number of years teaching in the Winola system. It’s been a long time, but there are still great memories of days at Winola.” **From Gordy L.: “I love the concept of your site and I think I can be of some help. Winola HS opened in 1952 (class of ’53 was the first graduating class). The school closed with the graduation of the class of 1988.” Seeking More Information We are aware Winola had many more successful seasons than those listed. We are seekng information regaring the teams, players, and coaches who graced the courts and fields of Winola High School. If you can offer any assistance in documenting this information please complete a . You can also send items to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net . You may also write to us at: Illinois HS Glory Days 6439 N. Neva St. Chicago, Il. 60631 The photos below were sent courtesy of Michael Reick
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