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Wapella High School Gymnasium
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The Thunderdome!! (courtesy of David Taylor)
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Athletics
Wapella High School offered many sports for the boys and “Lady Wildcats” teams. It is known boys’ and girls’ basketball, boys’ and girls’ track, volleyball, cross-country, golf, and baseball were all offered at one time. Before closing its doors, the Wildcats co-opped with Heyworth in several sports, includng football when Heyworth made the playoffs in 1993. Unfortunately, the only sport listed on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org) is boys’ basketball. If you have any other information regarding the athletic programs offered at Wapella HS, please send us a note.
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Wapella Wildcats of 1975-76
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Boys Basketball
The Wildcats brought home three District Championship plaques, a country title, and a Regional trophy during the 90+ year run. The best seasons are listed below.
According to the 1994 Wapella HS yearbook, the Retro, the Wapella basketball program had an excellent and storied history:
The school offered boys’ basketball as early as 1922-23, playing in 16 games and averaging 23 points a game that season. At that time, a tournament was held for DeWitt County schools in which Wapella won four times between 1929-33, including a 27-24 victory over Waynesville in the 1933 title game.
In 1956-57, the Wildcats went thru the entire Kickapoo Conference circuit undefeated until losing to Danvers in the last game of the season on a long shot at the end of the game. Other schools in the Kickapoo were Armington, Beason, Downs, Deland-Weldon, Stanford, Ellsworth, Bellflower, and Heyworth.
During the 1968-69 season, Wapella was second in the Kickapoo standings, but won the conference title the next season. The Wildcats also won the Kickapoo and Lincolnland Conference titles in 1984-85, which was the last season for the Kickapoo. As a result, the “Traveling Tomahawk Trophy” was permanently retired to the Wapella trophy case.
1922-23 First season
1922-23 through 1929-30 Post season scores, records, and coaches’ names needed.
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1927-28 DeWitt County Tourney Runner-Ups Coach’s name & record needed.
1928-29 DeWitt County Tourney Runner-Ups Coach’s name & record needed.
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1930-31 Decatur District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd beat Blue Mound 23-13
Semi-Final Beat Clinton 21-18
Title Game lost to Decatur 45-8
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1931-32 Bloomington District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Bloomington 24-21
Normal beat Downs in title game.
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1932-33 DeWitt County Tourney Champs Coach’s name & record needed.
District Tournament Score
1st Rd lost to Illiopolis 23-17
Decatur beat Clinton in title game.
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1933-34 Decatur District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Mt. Zion 37-17
Clinton beat Decatur in title game.
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1934-35 Lincoln District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Middletown 32-31
Mt. Pulaski beat Hartsburg in title game.
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1935-36 Maroa District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd beat Mt. Auburn (forfeit win)
Semi-Final Beat Kenney 53-31
Title Game lost to Maroa 42-35
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1936-37 Wapella District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd beat Heyworth 26-19
Semi-Final Beat Welson 30-23
Title Game lost to Niantic 32-21
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1937-38 Wapella District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to DeLand 31-24
Weldon beat Downs in title game.
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1938-39 Wapella District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Ellsworth 57-12
Semi-Final lost to Waynesville 34-30
Kenney beat Waynesville in title game.
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1939-40 15 – 10 Wapella District Champions Coach Bob Rissor
Early Round Scores Needed.
Title Game Beat Kenney 22-19
Clinton Regional Runner-Up
1st Rd Beat Heyworth 33-26
Semi-Final Beat Farmer City 33-21
Title Game lost to Clinton 62-23
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1940-41 14 – 11 Wapella District Champions Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Waynesville 36-18
Semi-Final Beat Cisco 23-20
Title Game Beat DeLand 23-22
Clinton Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Argenta 35-24
Clinton beat Bloomington in title game.
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1941-42 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
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1942-43 16 – 9 Wapella District Champions Coach Feldman
1st Rd Beat Waynesville 56-33
Semi-Final Beat Weldon 45-39
Title Game Beat Heyworth 37-35
Clinton Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to LeRoy 49-34
Bloomington beat Clinton in title game.
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1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
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1944-45 Wapella District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Heyworth 55-18
DeLand beat Heyworth in title game.
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1945-46 Wapella District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Downs 73-36
Semi-Final lost to DeLand 64-38
DeLand beat Heyworth in title game.
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1946-47 Wapella District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Downs 64-24
Semi-Final lost to DeLand 47-32
DeLand beat Heyworth in title game.
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1947-48 Wapella District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Downs 49-44
Semi-Final lost to DeLand 57-31
DeLand beat Heyworth in title game.
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1948-49 Waynesville District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Kenney 38-28
Maroa beat Beason in title game.
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1949-50 Waynesville District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Downs 65-62
Semi-Final Beat Beason 66-53
Title Game lost to Maroa 46-44.
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1950-51 15 – 10 Waynesville District Tournament Coach George Kidd
Semi-Final lost to Beason 53-47
Argenta beat Beason in title game.
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1951-52 McLean District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Kenney 27-17
Beason beat McLean in title game.
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1952-53 Argenta District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Argenta 54-42
Beason beat Waynesville in title game.
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1953-54 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
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1954-55 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
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1955-56 Wapella District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Beason 64-62
Heyworth beat Beason in title game.
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1956-57 Argenta District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Downs 77-75
Argenta beat Downs in title game.
*Another one of the best players to grace the hardwood of Wapella is Marvin Morris. His 50 points in a November 27, 1956 game against Heyworth is a school record.
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1957-58 Wapella District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Beason 63-48
Heyworth beat Beason in title game.
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1958-59 Heyworth District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Beason 79-48
Beason beat Heyworth in title game.
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1959-60 Farmer City District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Farmer City 61-47
Beason beat Farmer City in title game.
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1960-61 Farmer City District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.
Semi-Final Beat Farmer City 76-69
Title Game lost to Beason 84-73
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1961-62 Wapella District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.
Semi-Final Beat Downs 74-70
Title Game lost to Beason 101-73
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1962-63 Wapella District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Beason 82-58
Beason beat Downs in title game.
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1963-64 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
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1964-65 Wapella District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Heyworth 97-67
Lexington beat Heyworth in title game.
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1965-66 Heyworth District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Farmer City 78-58
Colfax Octavia beat Farmer City in title game.
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1966-67 Colfax Octavia District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Heyworth 67-53
Octavia beat Farmer City in title game.
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1967-68 Heyworth District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Gridley 60-54
Semi-Final lost to Lexington 54-52
Octavia beat Lexington in title game.
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1968-69 19 – 6 Colfax Octavia District Runner-Up Coach James Bryan
1st Rd Beat Heyworth (score needed)
Semi-Final Beat Chenoa (score needed)
Title game lost to Octavia 65-59
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1969-70 21 – 7 Kickapoo Conf. Champs Coach Jim Carrona
LeRoy District Runner-Up
1st Rd Beat Downs Tri-Valley 68-55
Semi-Final Beat Chenoa 66-55
Title game lost to Octavia 63-49
Note about the 1969-70 Team:
Allan Lord was the team’s leading scorer and second leading scorer in the state that year. The team was involved in one memorable game against Tri-Valley, a six overtime affair!!
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1970-71 19 – 8 LeRoy District Runner-Up Coach Lynn Curtis
1st Rd Beat Heyworth 70-62
Semi-Final Beat Chenoa 93-72
Title Game lost to Colfax Octavia (score needed)
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1971-72 LeRoy Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & rec ord needed.
1st Rd lost to Heyworth 57-53
Farmer City Beat Heyworth in title game.
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1972-73 Clinton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & rec ord needed.
1st Rd lost to LeRoy 98-53
Heyworth beat Farmer City in title game.
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1973-74 DeLand-Weldon Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & rec ord needed.
1st Rd lost to Downs Tri-Valley 77-50
Farmer City Mansfield beat Tri-Valley in title game.
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1974-75 DeLand-Weldon Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & rec ord needed.
1st Rd lost to LeRoy 80-73
LeRoy beat DeLand-Weldon in title game.
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1975-76 19 – 9 DeLand-Weldon Class ‘A’ Regional Champs Coach Jerry Peroutka
1st Rd Beat LeRoy 74-54
Semi-Final Beat DeLand-Weldon 52-41
Title Game Beat Mahomet-Seymour 48-41
Normal Sectional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Bloomington Central Catholic 90-64
BLOOMINGTON CC (90): Legner 23, Messamore 22, Barnett 11, Holtz 10, Kernes 6, Moews 6, Mikel 4, Champagne 3, Nafziger 2, Benjamin 2.
WAPELLA (64): Thorp 21, Lord 13, E. Toohill 12, T. Toohill 8, Johnson 4, Burris 3, McCubbin 2, D. Whitted 1.
BCC beat Gridley in title game
**Memories of the 1975-76 Squad from Penny Clifton-Pennell:
“The boys on the Regional Champ team of 75-76 made up ALL the boys in the class of ’76. My sister was one of the five varsity cheerleaders. The boys of the team all shaved their heads in a show of spirit and unity. Coach (as we called Coach Peroutka) was fabulous. Many long night were spent in the gym, packed from floor to top bleacher, cheering on our guys.”
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1976-77 Delavan Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Heyworth 65-52
Bloomington CC beat Tremont in title game.
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1977-78 Tremont Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Delavan 50-48
Bloomington CC beat Hartsburg-Emden in title game.
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1978-79 Delavan Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Tremont 83-41
Bloomington CC beat Hartsburg-Emden in title game.
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1979-80 Clinton Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Bellflower 78-42
Semi-Final lost to Bloomington CC 60-43
Bloomington CC beat Clinton in title game.
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1980-81 Clinton Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat LeRoy 60-56
Semi-Final lost to Bloomington 87-59
Heyworth beat Bloomington CC in title game.
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1981-82 Downs Tri-Valley Class ‘A’ Regional Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat LeRoy 60-51
Semi-Final Beat Clinton 56-55 (O/T)
Title Game lost to Bloomington CC 59-41.
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1982-83 Clinton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to LeRoy 57-43
Maroa-Forsyth beat LeRoy in title game.
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1983-84 Clinton Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Heyworth 74-71 (O/T)
Semi-Final lost to LeRoy 51-34
Bloomington CC beat LeRoy in title game.
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1984-85 16 – 11 Lincolnland Con. Champs Coach Jerry Peroutka
Kickapoo Con. Runner-up
Downs Class ‘A’ Regional Tourney
1st Rd Beat DeLand-Weldon 49-48
Semi-Final lost to LeRoy 66-61
LeRoy beat Heyworth in title game.
Memories of the 1984-85 season:
- The 84-85 basketball record was 16-11—some academic difficulties early in the season contributed to a slow start but an eight-game winning streak ended in a 66-61 defeat in the Regionals to eventual Regional Champ Leroy as Leroy went 24-28 from the foul line in that game.
- The 84-85 basketball team was the Kickapoo runner-up but recaptured the Kickapoo basketball traveling Tomahawk trophy in the final year of the Kickapoo conference in the regional opener against DeLand-Weldon. The game was a squeaker (49-48) and the Wildcats pulled it out on a last second shot by all –conference player Todd Davis. Coach Peroutka’s quote from the Clinton Journal said about Davis, “Todd’s come through before in tough situations and made some winning buckets. It’s nothing new for him. It’s a nice thrill every time he does it.”
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1985-86 LeRoy Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Clinton 57-44
Heyworth beat Farmer City Blue Ridge in title game.
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1986-87 DeLand-Weldon Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Farmer City Blue Ridge 57-41
Clinton beat Blue Ridge in title game.
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1987-88 Clinton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Heyworth 75-45
Heyworth beat Downs Tri-Valley in title game.
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1988-89 Downs Tri-Valley Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to DeLand-Weldon 49-42
Tri-Valley Beat LeRoy in title game.
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1989-90 Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.
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1990-91 Clinton Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to LeRoy 55-51
Heyworth beat Clinton in title game.
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1991-92 Downs Tri-Valley Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Tri-Valley 62-50
Heyworth beat Tri-Valley in title game.
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1992-93 DeLand-Weldon Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Clinton 70-56
Clinton beat DeLand-Weldon in title game.
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1993-94 LeRoy Class ‘A’ Regional Coach’s name & record needed.
**1st Rd lost to Farmer City Blue Ridge 59-56
Clinton beat Heyworth in title game.
**Final boys varsity basketball game for Wapella High School.
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Other sports
BASEBALL
**The Wapella High School 84-85 baseball record was 15-2. That baseball team won the Kickapoo outright and were co-champs of the Lincolnland with San Jose.
The 1994 Retro yearbook showed pictures of a baseball team at Wapella as early as 1961, boys’ track from 1962, and boys’ cross-country in 1980. Golf was also offered in the 1980’s. In 1971, Allan Lord qualified for the state track meet in the 180-yard low hurdles, becoming the first WHS track athlete to make it to the state meet. The Wildcat baseball team won both the Kickapoo and Lincolnland Conference titles in 1985 while having its best record (15-2).
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GIRLS ATHLETICS
**On the girls’ side, GAA actitivies were offered for a number of years until track was started in the spring of 1974, followed by basketball in 1975-76, volleyball in 1978, and softball was started during that same period. In fact, the softball team won the Kickapoo Conference title for four consecutive years from 1979-82, along with the Lincolnland Conference title in 1982.
Kelley Fryman was the first female athlete from the school to compete at the state track meet, qualifying in the discus. Angie Olson starred for the Lady Wildcat basketball team during the early ‘80’s, setting a single-game scoring record of 43 points in 1984.
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CO-OP TEAMS WITH HEYWORTH
In its’ final years, Wapella formed several co-ops with its neighbor to the north, Heyworth, in several sports. The football program at Heyworth benefited from this agreement, especially in 1993 when the Hornets reached the state class 1A playoffs, winding up with a 8-3 record.
What made this so unique was that in 1992, Heyworth had to forfeit the entire season due to the lack of varsity players, but with the extra year of junior varsity play and the addition of several Wildcats, it enabled them to reach the second round in 1993. Other co-op agreements between the two schools were in baseball, softball, and track.
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FAMILIAR FACULTY MEMBERS
The school was also known for its involvement in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) from the organization’s beginning. Even before then, Wapella students were offered agriculture classes as early as 1920, had a stock judging team that competed in 1922 at the University of Illinois, and in 1923, formed a forerunner to the FFA called the Vo-Ag club. This organization was formed to promote farming as a way of life.
Under faculty members such as Charlie Schettler (33 years) and Vera Fulton (22 years), the school thrived as a place that trained the citizens of tomorrow, while becoming a part of family and community life. Schettler’s FFA program had a total of four American Farmer recipients, 40 State Farmers, 4 District Star winners, 65 Sectional Foundation Award winners, 11 District & three State Foundation Award recipients, not to mention that the Wapella chapter received 14 gold, 10 silver and seven bronze awards at the state level, along with four bronze nationally. Schettler himself was named the National Vo-Ag Teacher of the Year in 1973, which earned him a trip to Switzerland paid for by CIBA-GEIGY.
Fulton spent her 22 years at Wapella as an English and History teacher, not to mention being a class sponsor and involved with the Retro and the school newspaper, the Retro Jr. Miss Fulton moved to Saunemin in 1947 to be close to family and teach in that community before retiring and passing away there.
Another faculty member worthy of mention is Maurietta Cusey, who sponsored the Future Homemakers of America (FHA) chapter at the school for 19 years. She not only taught Home Economics, but sewing, tailoring, and cooking as well. Under her leadership, Wapella was represented by 15 winners of the state Homemaker Award in a 10-year period.
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NOTABLE ALUMNI
The FFA had one of its own go on to become an Undersecretary of Agriculture during the mid-70s. Richard (Dick) Bell graduated from Wapella in the early ‘50’s, having served a FFA Section president and District Director of State in 1952. Bell credited Charlie Schettler as an “inspiration” and being a “great teacher with great values.” Bell was Undersecretary of Agriculture from 1973-77 during the Richard Nixon/Gerald Ford administrations.
A pair of brothers, Joseph and John Bernard Powers, also made their mark in the world. Joseph is a 1979 grad of WHS that received his bachelors’, masters’ and doctorate degrees from the University of Illinois. He is now a member of the faculty at the University of Notre Dame. Bernard was one of the founders of Fieldlink, which is now known as PayPal.
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Theatre
The Illinois Theatre Festival is the largest, non-competetive high school theatre festival in the world. It was organized in 1976 by teachers from the Chicago suburbs. This festival is still going strong as they perform at the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) and Illinois State University every other January. Wapella High School participated in this festival from 1986 to 1988.
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Memories
From Penny Clifton-Pennell:
“Kelley Fryman, the first female Wapella athlete to compete at state, had a twin sister, Kim. I was on track with both of them. Angie Olsen went on to teach PE at Clinton High School, where all Wapella students go since Wapella closed down.
“You could stand at the end of the “old” part of the high school and see all the way to the end of the “new” part. We didn’t do bad for a “small” school – we even had tennis courts!
“No other school can come close to what Wapella Jr/Sr High gave us – small and close knit, there were truly some of us who did NOT want graduation day to come. We were just like the school in the Tom Cruise film “All The Right Moves,” minus the football team (we were too small)!”
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