| Athletics
Worden High School competed in boys basketball for sure having some great success in the 50s and 60s (www.ihsa.org). Worden High also competed in track & field as well as football, golf and baseball. Other activities offered included softball and volleyball for the boys. The girls probably also competed in track, basketball and volleyball. If you have any information on the WHS athletic program, please write and help us clarify the information on this page.
| Worden High School Gymnasium 2016 |
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| Photo by Cody Cutter |
Boys Basketball
Established in 1930, the Worden High School boys were the kings of small school basketball in their area during the 1950s (four in a row) and 1960s under the one-class system in which area teams included the likes of Edwardsville, Collinsville and Brooklyn. The Worden boys won a total of 12 District titles during their existence!
In the beginning, the school voted one room for use for basketball practice. Before the construction of the gymnasium, games were played in space made available at Ruffman’s Store (on the corner of Wall and Lincoln).
Unfortunately, many of the teams do not have records or coach’s names listed on the IHSA web site. If you have this information on these and other great Worden teams please send us an e-mail. Several scores involving Worden High School in the IHSA State Tournament were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are posted below.
1932-33 Edwardsville District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Grafton 22-18
Granite City beat Collinsville in title game
1933-34 Edwardsville District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Collinsville 49-11
Granite City beat Collinsville in title game
1934-35 Wood River District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Bunker Hill 16-15
2nd Rd lost to Alton 47-7
Granite City beat Alton in title game
1935-36 Highland District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Troy 49-14
Venice beat Troy in title game
1936-37 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
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, and coach’s name needed.
1940-41 Sorento District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Reno 44-25
Semi-final Beat Irving 34-32
Title Game Beat Pocahontas 35-31
Highland Regional Tournament
1st Rd Beat Staunton 40-33
Semi-final lost to Collinsville 41 – 27
Edwardsville beat Collinsville in title game
1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1942-43 Sorento District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Panama 49-28
Panama lost to Reno in title game
1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1944-45 Sorento District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Alhambra 44-22
2nd Rd St. Jacob 47-27
St. Jacob beat Panama in title game
1945-46 Sorento District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Irving 41-38
Livingston beat Sorento in title game
1946-47 21-12 Sorento District Runner-Up Coach Harlie Hatfill
1st Rd Beat Alhambra 44-22
Semi-final Beat Sorento 50-39
Title Game lost to Livingston 33-28
1947-48 Sorento District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Alhambra 77-32
2nd Rd lost to Livingston 53-26
Livingston beat Fillmore in title game
1948-49 19-5 Sorento District Tournament Coach Walter Birmingham
1st Rd lost to Sorento 57-55
Livingston beat Panama in title game
1949-50 9-15 Sorento District Tournament Coach Walter Birmingham
1st Rd lost to Sorento 51-50
Coffeen beat Livingston in title game
1950-51 8-18 Sorento District Runner-Up Coach Walter Birmingham
Semi-final Beat Sorento 62-55
Title Game lost to Witt 38-29
1951-52 Witt District Tournament Coach Jack Olive
Season record needed
1st Rd Beat Coffeen 72-46
Semi-final lost to Witt 52-46
Title Game Witt beat Sorento
1952-53 16-8 Witt District Runner-Up Coach E. Biznek
Semi-final Beat Panama 90-50
Title Game lost to Witt 49-46
1953-54 22-9 Coffeen District Champions Coach E. Biznek
Early Rd Scores Needed
Title Game Beat Livingston 43-35
Highland Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Highland 53-52
Greenville beat Carlyle in title game
1954-55 27-2 Livingston District Champions Coach E. Biznek
Early Rd Scores Needed
Title Game Beat Livingston 47-34
Greenville Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Carlyle 66-60
CARLYLE (66): Essington 20, Zachry 17, Wells 11, Johnson 7, Tricky 5, Winn 4, Koehler 2.
WORDEN (60): Blume 24, Welch 12, Woodward 10, J. Bagaglio 7, Opel 7.
Greenville beat Highland in title game
MBC Tournament runner-up
(lost to Venice, later avenged with a 77-56 win)
Started season 15-0
1955-56 21-8 Livingston District Champions Coach E. Biznek
Semi-final Beat Bunker Hill 64-49
Title Game Beat Livingston 52-49
Carlinville Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Carlinville 47-44
Litchfield beat Gillespie in title game
1956-57 19-9 Bunker Hill District Champions Coach Don Doerle
Semi-final Beat Bunker Hill 68-56
Title Game Beat Benld72-56
Staunton Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Litchfield 73-62
Hillsboro beat Gillespie in title game
1957-58 12-12 Livingston District Tournament Coach Don Doerle
Semi-final Rd lost to Livingston 33-32
Livingston beat Bunker Hill in title game
1958-59 10-17 Worden District Runner-Up Coach Paul Moyes
Semi-final Rd Beat Benld 65-59
Title Game lost to Livingston 52-47
1959-60 4-18 Bunker Hill District Runner-Up Coach Paul Moyes
Semi-final Rd Beat Bunker Hill 63-46
Title Game lost to Livingston 72-44
1960-61 10-18 Worden District Runner-Up Coach Norm Jenkins
Semi-final Rd Beat Benld 67-57
Title Game lost to Mt. Olive 50-40
1961-62 26-3 Worden District Champions Coach Norm Jenkins
Semi-final Beat Witt 91-29
Title Game Beat Mt. Olive 79-41
Litchfield Regional Tournament
1st Rd Beat Carlinville 81-80
Semi-final lost to Litchfield 73-71
Litchfield beat Gillespie in title game
1962-63 17-9 Mt. Olive District Champions Coach Gerald Foley
Semi-final Beat Witt 77-43
Title Game Beat Mt. Olive 53-38
Hillsboro Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Staunton 58-48
Hillsboro beat Staunton in title game
1963-64 Livingston District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed
Title Game lost to Livingston 79-58
1964-65 Worden District Runner-Up Coach Ron Hampton
Semi-final Rd Beat Benld 67-57
Title Game lost to Mt. Olive 50-40
1965-66 Mt. Olive District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
Semi-final Beat Mt. Olive 77-59
Title Game Beat Livingston 69-39
Litchfield Regional Tournament
1st Rd Beat Carlinville 72-54
Semi-final lost to Gillespie 71-54
Gillespie beat Litchfield in title game
1966-67 Livingston District Champions Coach’s name & record needed
Semi-final Beat Witt 47-42
Title Game Beat Mt. Olive 72-58
Hillsboro Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Litchfield 84-78
Bethalto beat Bunker Hill in title game
1967-68 13 – 11 Worden District Tournament Coach Lee McKinney
Semi-final Rd lost to Highland St. Paul 67-66
Livingston beat Highland St. Paul in title game
1968-69 21 – 8 Mt. Olive District Champions Coach Lee McKinney
Semi-final Beat Witt 65-48
Title Game Beat Highland St. Paul 50-45
Litchfield Regional Tournament
1st Rd Beat Gillespie 66-61
Semi-final lost to Hillsboro 67-54
Hillsboro beat Litchfield in title game
1969-70 26 – 3 Livingston District Champions Coach Lee McKinney
Semi-final Beat Livingston 93-42
Title Game Beat Mt. Olive 74-49
Hillsboro Regional Runner-Up
1st Rd Beat Carlinville 60-54
Semi-final Beat Bethalto 75-55
Title Game lost to Litchfield 61-55
LITCHFIELD (61): Cooper 17, Robinson 15, Hollis 13, Becker 12, Hittmeier 4.
WORDEN (55): Schneider 17, Hesi 16, Vazzi 16, Halley 5, Coffman 2.
1970-71 Worden District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed
Semi-final Rd Beat Mt. Olive 71-54
Title Game lost to Highland St. Paul 59-57
1971-72 Greenville Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Alton Marquette 92-77
Semi-final lost to Highland St. Paul 86-85
Highland St. Paul beat Triad in title game
1972-73 Greenville Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd Beat Livingston 84-45
Semi-final lost to Highland St. Paul 85-59
Highland St. Paul lost to Triad in title game
1973-74 17 – 9 St. Jacob Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Roy Witthoft
Semi-final Rd Beat Alton Marquette 71-58
Title Game lost to Highland St. Paul 68-60
HIGHLAND ST. PAUL (68): Friedrich 23, Fergesen 14, Stallard 12, Hebrank 7, Cygan 6, Lengermann 4, Hemann 2.
WORDEN (60): Shrum 17, Blak. Pazero 16, Wiesemann 15, Saladin 8, Stevenson 2, Blai. Pazero 2.
1974-75 2 – 22 St. Jacob Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Roy Witthoft
1st Rd lost to Wesclin 81-63
Lebanon beat Triad in title game
1975-76 2 – 22 Postseason scores needed Coach Roy Witthoft
1976-77 0 – 21 St. Jacob Class ‘A’ Regional Coach Roy Witthoft
1st Rd lost to Wesclin 120-35
Lebanon beat Wesclin in title game
1977-78 St. Jacob Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Wesclin 81-63
Lebanon beat Triad in title game
1978-79 Trenton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Wesclin 81-63
Highland St. Paul beat Lebanon in title game
1979-80 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1980-81 Trenton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Lebanon 78-74
Wesclin beat Greenville in title game
*One of the best players to grace the hardwood of Worden High School was Vernon Harris. His 54 points in a February 3, 1981 game against Belleville St. Henry set a school record.
1981-82 Staunton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed
1st Rd lost to Alton Marquette 86-32
Staunton beat Bunker Hill in title game
1982-83 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1983-84 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1984-85 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1985-86 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1986-87 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
1987-88 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
Football
We know that Worden High School had football in 1936, according to the research we’ve conducted. However, that’s all we’ve been able to find. If you have this information on Worden High School football and other great Worden sports teams – mentioned below – please send us an e-mail.
Track and Field
We know that Worden High School had track and field in the 1930s and 1940s, according to the research we’ve conducted.
1939-40 3rd place MBM Conference Meet
Baseball
We know that Worden High School had baseball and field in the 1940s and 1950s, according to the research we’ve conducted.
1946-47 3-3 Coach Harlie Hatfill
1949-50 7-13 Coach Walter Birmingham
1950-51 6-11 Coach Walter Birmingham
Great game – On May 5, 1950, a player by the name of Nickell was the winning pitcher in a game against Staunton. Nickell won the game by hitting a grand slam with two outs in the seventh and final inning.
Golf
We know that Worden High School had golf by the 1960s, according to the research we’ve conducted. We do know that they finished as champions of an interscholastic golf tournament in the 1965-66 school year.
Boys Volleyball
We know that Worden High School had boys volleyball by the 1960s, according to the research we’ve conducted. During the 1965-66 school year, the Worden “spikers” were champions of a tournament involving several nearby high schools. The following year, the volleyball team placed first at a tournament at Bunker Hill, and placed second at a tournament in Worden. During both years, the volleyball players used the school’s basketball uniforms while in competition.
1965-66 N.R.A. Coach’s name unavailable
1966-67 N.R.A. Bunker Hill Tournament champions Coach’s name unavailable
Worden Tournament runner-up
Boys Softball
We know that Worden High School had boys softball during the 1939-40 and 1946-47 school years, according to the research we’ve conducted.
1939-40 2-1 Def. Bunker Hill 6-1 Coach’s name unavailable
Swept by Bethalto 7-2, 16-9
1946-47 1-1 Coach’s name unavailable
Junior High School Basketball
The great Worden teams of the 1940s, 50s and 60s wouldn’t have been possible without the successes the boys achieved during their year in junior high school. One three occasions (1950, 1951 and 1968), the Worden lightweights advanced to the Illinois State Tournament, and won it all in 1950!
Pictured above is the state championship team from 1950.
Top row L to R: Coach Forrest Loch, Blume, Bagaglio, Bryan, Hartman, Randle, Spanks
Bottom row L to R: Anderson, Schrage, Jenkins, Woodward (Bond is not pictured)
The 1950 squad went 23-9 and won the Illinois State Championship Tournament held at Forrest High School. The team included future Worden High School regional championship-winning coach Norm Jenkins (#14). The following year, the junior high squad finished in third place at the State Tournament.
| Worden High School Junior High Champs 1950 |
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| Provided by Cody Cutter |
| Worden Junior High Championship Bracket |
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| Submitted by Cody Cutter |
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