Blog

The Mt. Assisi Academy “Eagles” had some nice success stories in Athletics. Regional titles, Sectional titles, and individual accomplishments were abundant.

VOLLEYBALL

By far the most successful sport at Mt. Assisi as far as IHSA hardware won, the Eagles had some really great seasons in volleyball. The netters won a total of 11 Regional titles and three Sectional titles.

1988-89               IHSA Class ‘AA’ Sweet 16 Finalists        Coach’s name & record needed

IHSA Regional Champions

Regional Results Needed

IHSA Sectional Champions

Sectional Results Needed

IHSA Super-Sectional Runner-Up

Lost title game to Wheaton St. Francis

St, Francis won IHSA State Championship

1989-90               IHSA Class ‘AA’ Regional Champs        Coach’s name & record needed

Regional Results Needed

IHSA Class ‘AA’ Sectional Qualifier

Sectional Results Needed

1991-92               IHSA Class ‘AA’ Regional Champs        Coach’s name & record needed

Regional Results Needed

IHSA Class ‘AA’ Sectional Qualifier

Sectional Results Needed

1996-97               IHSA Class ‘AA’ Regional Champs        Coach’s name & record needed

Regional Results Needed

IHSA Class ‘AA’ Sectional Qualifier

Sectional Results Needed

1999-00               IHSA Class ‘AA’ Regional Champs        Coach’s name & record needed

Regional Results Needed

IHSA Class ‘AA’ Sectional Qualifier

Sectional Results Needed

2002-03  10 – 23                                                                    Coach Karen Van Assen

2003-04  21 – 17  IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champs           Coach Karen Van Assen

2004-05               IHSA Class ‘A’ Sweet 16 Finalists          Coach Karen Van Assen

IHSA Regional Champions

Regional Results Needed

IHSA Sectional Champions

                            Semi-final Beat Herscher (2-0)

                            Title Game Beat Illiana Christian (2-1)

                            IHSA Super-Sectional Runner-Up

Title Game lost to Wheaton St. Francis (0-2)

Wheaton St. Francis won IHSA State Title

2005-06  28 – 12  IHSA Class ‘A’ Sweet 16 Finalists          Coach Karen Van Assen

IHSA Regional Champions

Regional Results Needed

IHSA Sectional Champions

Semi-final Beat Mendota (2-1)

Title Game Beat Wheaton Academy (2-0)

IHSA Super-Sectional Runner-Up

Title Game lost to Spring Valley Hall (1-2)

Hall placed 4th at IHSA State Tourney finals

2007-08               IHSA Class ‘3A’ Regional Champs        Coach’s name & record needed

Regional Results Needed

IHSA Class ‘3A’ Sectional Qualifier

Sectional Results Needed

2008-09               IHSA Class ‘3A’ Regional Champs        Coach’s name & record needed

Regional Results Needed

IHSA Class ‘3A’ Sectional Qualifier

Sectional Results Needed

2013-14               IHSA Class ‘2A’ Regional Champs        Coach’s name & record needed

Regional Results Needed

IHSA Class ‘2A’ Sectional Qualifier

Sectional Results Needed

TRACK & FIELD

Two Eagle athletes brought home hardware from the IHSA State Meet. Cassidy Wall brought home a total of four medals over a three year period including two GOLD medals!

1993-94       Cassidy Wall     1600 Meter Run   IHSA ‘AA’ State Champion

1994-95       Cassidy Wall     3200 Meter Run   IHSA ‘AA’ State Champion

                                               1600 Meter Run   IHSA ‘AA’ 5th Place

1995-96       Cassidy Wall     3200 Meter Run   IHSA ‘AA’ 6th Place

2004-05       Laura Cis           Discus                  IHSA ‘A’ 5th Place

CROSS_COUNTRY

One Mt. Assisi athlete faired quite well in the IHSA State Finals in the mid-1990s. Cassidy Wall brought home two IHSA State medals including an individual STATE CHAMPIONSHIP in the 1994-95 season!

1994-95       Cassidy Wall          IHSA Class AA State Champion!

1995-96       Cassidy Wall          IHSA Class AA 9th Place

BASKETBALL

Three seasons are recorded on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org) for the Mt. Assisi Academy basketball program. The Eagles had their best seasons, as far as the IHSA State Tourney was concerned, during their final two years of operation. In each year, the Eagles won an IHSA Class 2A Regional title! Information on these and other Mt. Assisi Academy basketball seasons is needed.

2008-09    14 – 8                                                         Coach Mark Murphy

2010-11                IHSA 2A Regional Tournament     Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Lisle HS 38-17

Lisle lost to Westmont in 2nd Rd

2011-12                IHSA 2A Regional Tournament     Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Plano 44-40

Plano lost to Aurora Central Cath. in title game

A.C.C. placed 4th in State Tournament

2012-13                IHSA 2A Regional Champions   Coach’s name & record needed

Semi-final Beat Chicago Maria 57-4

                             Title Game Beat Chicago Ag Science 41-30

                             Sectional Tournament Qualifier

                             Semi-final lost to St. Francis de Sales 55-45

St. Francis lost to Seton Academy in title game

2013-14                IHSA 2A Regional Champions   Coach’s name & record needed

Sweet 16 – Sectional Finalists

                             Sectional Championship Game

Lost to Seton Academy 45-36

Seton Academy lost in Elite 8 Rd.

GOLF

The Mt. Assisi girls of 2013-14 won their only IHSA Regional Championship for golf during their last year of existence.

2013-14       IHSA Class 1A Regional Champions

SOCCER

Only one mention of Soccer is available on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org). The team of 2013-14 had a nice season. Other records and information are welcome.

2013-14     10-10-1     Coach Scott Dunmore

SOFTBALL

The Mt. Assisi Academy girls had some very nice seasons competing in softball. The Eagles won a total of three of IHSA Regional Championships in three different classes over the years. The girls were members of the Sweet 16 in 2008-09 falling in the Sectional Championship game to eventual State Champion Oak Forest by a score of 1-0!

2003-04           IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champions    Coach’s name & record needed

                        IHSA Sectional Finalist

                        Semi-final Beat Westmont 2-0

                        Title game lost to Newark 1-0

Newark lost in Super-Sectional round

2008-09           IHSA Class ‘3A’ Regional Champions  Coach’s name & record needed

IHSA Sweet 16 Finalists!

                        Regional Tournament

                        Title Game Beat Morris 8-1

                        Sectional Tournament Runner-Up

                        Semi-final Beat Tinely Park 2-0

                        Title game lost to Oak Forest 1-0

Oak Forest won IHSA State Champioship

2011-12           IHSA Class ‘2A’ Regional Champions  Coach’s name & record needed

Semi-final Beat Timothy Christian 5-0

                        Title Game Beat Immaculate Conception 6-5

                        Sectional Tournament Qualifier

                        Semi-final lost to Lisle HS 10-4

Lisle won Sectional

Lisle lot in Elite 8 Rd.

COMPETITIVE DANCE

The Mt. Assisi girls, coached by Alanna Groszek, qualified for the IHSA Class 1A State Finals in this event during the 2012-13 school year.

SEEKING MORE INFORMATION

We are seeking further information regarding Lemont Mt. Assisi Academy High School. If you are able to provide information please contact us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.  You may also write us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il.     60631

Year opened:           1856

Year closed:             1865

Became dormitory:   1875

Torn down:               1895

School Song:            unknown

School Colors:          unknown

BLOOMINGTON — In the mid-19th century, at the dawn of the free public school era, teenage girls from area middle- and upper-class families often attended private boarding or finishing school. Locally, there were at least four in Bloomington, including Major’s Female College on the city’s northwest side.

Erected in 1856, the four-story brick “college” originally accommodated some 60 boarders and an even larger number of off-campus pupils. This preparatory (that is, pre-college) school later served as an early and important Illinois Wesleyan University female residence hall, making it a landmark in women’s education in the Twin Cities.

Bloomington’s first such school, the Bloomington Female Academy, dates to the mid-1830s. Its curriculum was quite similar to the other boarding schools that would follow — including Major’s College. In the 1850s, this academy offered a primary department of reading, spelling, penmanship, primary arithmetic, geography and English grammar, while the advanced department included geometry, philosophy, chemistry, astronomy, physiology, history, elocution, rhetoric, botany, natural history and composition.

Major’s Female College owes its existence (and name) to William Trabue Major, founder of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Bloomington, the city’s oldest continuing congregation now celebrating its 175th anniversary. Major once said he was struck by the language of the Second Epistle to Timothy in the New Testament, in which Paul writes that Timothy’s faith first dwelt in his grandmother and then mother. “That feeling, and knowing the influence of a Christian mother upon her children, he desired to do something towards educating the mothers of the future generation,” memorialized The Pantagraph upon William Major’s death on Jan. 11, 1867.

He also built Major’s Hall, a three-story commercial building in downtown Bloomington that hosted the May 29, 1856, organizing convention of the Illinois Republican Party, an event that culminated in Abraham Lincoln’s famous “Lost Speech.”

From 1857 to 1861, Major’s Hall also served as the first home for Normal University (now Illinois State).

Meanwhile, the “college” building was located on the city’s far north side, bordered by Seminary Avenue (formerly Beecher Street — the school bringing about the name change) on the north and Union Street on the south. Today, the old First United Brethren Church (later Evangelical United Methodist and now Child’s View Cooperative Preschool) occupies part of this block.

In the fall of 1857, Major’s College faculty included “teacher, minister, and Christian gentleman” William Hatch as “president,” as well as three instructors. Boarding at the college cost $2.50 a week, while tuition in the primary department was $12 per 20-week session. By 1866, H.O. Snow was principal and instructor in Latin, French and mathematics, while the faculty included T.V. Berry, who taught Greek, moral and intellectual philosophy and the subject “evidences of Christianity.”

Although Major’s College appeared to be a well-run concern, state adoption in 1855 of a free public school system marked the beginning of the end for many such academies, seminaries and pre-college colleges.

In 1865, William Major decided to get out of the education business and donate his building and grounds to a board of trustees connected to the Christian Church. “There was an attempt to carry out the instructions of Mr. Major in this respect, but on account of the rapid increase of public educational institutions, the attendance at the school was small,” noted a 1903 essay on education in McLean County. Not unexpectedly, the college then reverted back to the heirs of William Major, and it apparently became, at least for a brief time, a “water cure” sanatorium devoted to the quack therapy involving the immersion of patients in cold water.

The college then had a second life as an Illinois Wesleyan University dormitory. In 1875, the Woman’s Educational Association of IWU leased the old building as a boarding hall, and two years later purchased it and three surrounding acres. In 1884, Charles and Henrietta Cramp donated $4,000 to liquidate the indebtedness on the property, and the aging edifice was renamed Henrietta Hall.

Thus it came to pass that the former Major’s College building provided a safe harbor of sorts for many of Wesleyan’s women pioneers, not only students but also faculty. For example, Sue M.D. Fry, professor of belles letters and lone female faculty member, served as matron of the hall.

Yet in the end Major’s College proved too old and too far from the Wesleyan campus to serve as a viable, long-term dormitory. In 1895, the university’s trustees agreed to tear down the landmark, and the grounds were subsequently subdivided into residential lots.

If you have more information…..

about Major’s Female College or any of the schools featured here on the Illinois High School Glory Days website, please contact us. Our email address is ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or you can write to us at:

Illinois High School Glory Days

6439 North Neva

Chicago, IL  60631

Woodson HS Letter

Submitted by Beth Crowcroft Wisdom

It is quite likely that the Woodson boys competed in baseball, and possibly track. We are in need of this information as well. School team nickname, fight song, and coach’s names are also being sought.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The boys competed in basketball for certain. Photos from the Woodson High School yearbook of 1947 provide a summary of the season and photos of the basketball team and cheerleading squad. It appears that Woodson did not have a gymnasium and practiced outside when weather allowed.

The following IHSA District Tournament basketball scores were located on a website titled “Illinois High School Postseason Basketball Scores.”

1934-35              Jacksonville District Tournament        Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Girard 43-24

Murrayville beat Jacksonville in title game.

1935-36              Jacksonville District Tournament        Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Virginia 33-15

New Berlin beat Franklin in title game.

1940-41              Meredosia District Tournament            Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Arenzville 33-16

Chambersburg beat Murrayville in title game.

The following information was located in the Woodson High School 1947 yearbook.

1946-47  10 – 11  2nd Place in Tri-County Tournament   Coach’s name needed.

Woodson HS Basketball Team 1947

Submitted by Beth Crocroft Wisdom

Woodson HS Basketball Cheerleaders 1947

Submitted by Beth Crowcroft Wisdom

Woodson HS Basketball Summary 1946-47 Season

Submitted by Beth Crowcroft Wisdom

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

The students of Woodson High School enjoyed a very diverse curriculum. Glee Club and Boys Chorus were activities the students participated in. It is probable that student government, dances, FHA, FFA, and GAA were all offered as well.

Woodson HS Glee Club 1947

Submitted by Beth Crowcroft Wisdom

HELP US IF YOU CAN

There is a ton of information we are missing. There are also many accomplishments which should be remembered and documented. If you have any information, including a photo of the high school building, please forward it to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il    60631

Woodson HS Yearbook 1947

Submitted by Beth Crowcroft Wisdom

Woodson HS Diploma Cover 1947

Submitted by Beth Crowcroft Wisdom

Wapella High School

Courtesy of David Taylor

Wapella High School 1913 – 1923

Wapella Grade School after 1923 (courtesy of David Taylor)

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.

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.

  —–  

1927-28              DeWitt County Tourney Runner-Ups   Coach’s name & record needed.

1928-29              DeWitt County Tourney Runner-Ups    Coach’s name & record needed.

  —–  

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

  —–  

1931-32              Bloomington District Tournament    Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Bloomington 24-21

Normal beat Downs in title game.

  —–  

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.

  —–  

1933-34              Decatur District Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Mt. Zion 37-17

Clinton beat Decatur in title game.

  —–  

1934-35              Lincoln District Tournament             Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Middletown 32-31

Mt. Pulaski beat Hartsburg in title game.

  —–  

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

  —–  

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

  —–  

1937-38              Wapella District Tournament             Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to DeLand 31-24

Weldon beat Downs in title game.

  —–  

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.

  —–  

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

  —–  

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. 

  —–    

1941-42     Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. 

  —–  

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.

  —–  

1943-44     Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. 

  —–  

1944-45              Wapella District Tournament             Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Heyworth 55-18

DeLand beat Heyworth in title game.

  —–  

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.

  —–  

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.

  —–  

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.

  —–  

1948-49              Waynesville District Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Kenney 38-28

Maroa beat Beason in title game.

  —–  

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.

  —–  

1950-51   15 – 10 Waynesville District Tournament         Coach George Kidd

Semi-Final lost to Beason 53-47

Argenta beat Beason in title game.

  —–  

1951-52              McLean District Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Kenney 27-17

Beason beat McLean in title game.

  —–  

1952-53              Argenta District Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Argenta 54-42

Beason beat Waynesville in title game.

  —–  

1953-54     Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. 

  —–  

1954-55     Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. 

  —–  

1955-56              Wapella District Tournament             Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Beason 64-62

Heyworth beat Beason in title game.

  —–  

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.

  —–  

1957-58              Wapella District Tournament             Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Beason 63-48

Heyworth beat Beason in title game.

  —–  

1958-59              Heyworth District Tournament           Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Beason 79-48

Beason beat Heyworth in title game.

  —–  

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.

  —–  

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

  —–  

1961-62              Wapella District Runner-Up                Coach’s name & record needed.

Semi-Final Beat Downs 74-70

Title Game lost to Beason 101-73

  —–  

1962-63              Wapella District Tournament             Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Beason 82-58

Beason beat Downs in title game.

  —–  

1963-64     Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed. 

  —–  

1964-65              Wapella District Tournament             Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Heyworth 97-67

Lexington beat Heyworth in title game.

  —–  

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.

  —– 

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.

  —–  

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.

  —–  

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

  —–  

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!!

  —–    

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)

  —–  

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. 

  —–  

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. 

  —–  

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. 

  —–  

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. 

  —–  

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.”  

  —–  

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. 

  —–  

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. 

  —–  

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. 

  —–  

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.

  —–  

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.

  —–  

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.

  —–  

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. 

  —–  

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.

  —–  

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.”

  —–  

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. 

  —–  

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. 

  —–  

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. 

  —–  

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. 

  —–  

1989-90    Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

  —–  

1990-91               Clinton Class ‘A’ Regional                               Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to LeRoy 55-51

Heyworth beat Clinton in title game. 

  —–  

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. 

  —–  

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. 

  —–  

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)!”

IN PARTING…..  

TO OUR SCHOOL

Here at the end of Main Street

In a most convenient spot

Stands our school WCHS

The school we love a lot

In spring, we were glad to leave

In the fall, glad to come back

For there was always some excitement

To brighten our usual path

We like your fun at parties

Your lively basketball

Your sportsmanship unfailing

When someone took a fall

We liked your daily lessons

Your studies weren’t bad

And so in leaving you

We feel a trifle sad

Now as we give you a fond goodbye

We have just this to say

We’ll cherish and remember you

When we are old and grey.

(taken from the 1994 Retro)

GREAT JOB WAPELLA HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI!!!!

  ——————————————————————–

SPECIAL THANKS….

to Wapella resident David Taylor for his photos and information he was able to provide to this page. His copy of the school’s last yearbook was invaluable in the amount of information that we put together as well as the photos of the three basketball teams you see above.

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Need More Info

If you have any information you would like to share regarding Wapella High School, please complete a CONTACT US Form. As always, we are looking for other items of interest regarding Wapella High School. You can e-mail them to us at dr.veeman@gmail.com 

Wyoming High School Gymnasium

Home of the

Athletics

Wyoming High School has a very rich tradition of competitive teams and good athletes.   The school competed in the old Black Hawk and Lincoln Trail Conferences. For more information on the Blackhawk Conference check out John Ballentine’s article on the GREAT CONFERENCES page of this site. There is an extensive football record on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org) however the other sports are somewhat skimmed over.  If you have more information to share regarding athletics and the better teams at WHS please complete a School Submission Form.

Football

The boy’s football team enjoyed many great Friday nights of success.  The team qualified for the IHSA playoffs on 3 occassions making it to the Sweet 16 during the 1986 season. You cannot write about Wyoming HS football and not mention Coach Gary Johnson.   The years in which he coached at Wyoming HS berfore the merger with Toulon are difficult to follow.  However when you include his record upon taking over the Stark County HS football program he finished his career with an overall mark of 180 – 113!  The better records of the Wyoming HS Indian football teams are listed below.

1927    7 – 1                                                          Coach’s name unavailable

1950    5 – 3        4th place Blackhawk Conference

1952    5 – 2 – 1   3rd place Blackhawk Conference

1953    6 – 2        3rd place Blackhawk Conference

1954    7 – 1        Blackhawk Conference Co-Champs        Coach Howard Budreau

1955    4 – 1 – 3    2nd place Blackhawk Conference             Coach Howard Budreau

1956    7 – 1 – 1    2nd place Blackhawk Conference             Coach Howard Budreau

1958    6 – 3                                                                                    Coach Larry Leadley

1959    5 – 2 – 1    4th Blackhawk Conference

1968    5 – 3 – 1    5th place Blackhawk Conference

1971    7 – 1 – 1    2nd place Blackhawk Conference              Coach Gary Johnson

1972    7 – 2         3rd place Blackhawk Conference                Coach Gary Johnson

1973    8 – 1 – 1    2nd in the Blackhawk Conference              Coach Gary Johnson

1974    6 – 1 – 2    4th in the Blackhawk Conference               Coach Gary Johnson

1978    8 – 2         Class 2A Qualifier                                          Coach Gary Johnson

1st Rd Lost to Sherrard 34 – 0

1980    8 – 2         Class 1A Qualifier                                          Coach Gary Johnson

                              Black Hawk Conf. Champs

                              1st Rd Lost to Lexington 43 – 6

Lexington finished 2nd

1983    7 – 2        3rd place Indian Valley East                           Coach Gary Johnson

1986    8 – 3         Class 1A Sweet 16                                         Coach Gary Johnson

                              Beat Monmouth Warren 21 – 14

                              Lost to Annawan 25 – 7

**Wyoming last independently fielded a football team in 1989.  In 1990 and 1991 they Co-op’d with Princeville and consolidated with Toulon in 1992.

Boys Basketball

The boy’s basketball team also brougth home some IHSA hardware.  Their best seasons are listed below.  Information is being sought on the 20 game winners and better teams that failed to win IHSA hardware. Blackhawk Conference championship teams were provided to us by John Ballentine.

Scores involving Wyoming HS boys in the IHSA Tournament were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are printed below.

1921-22                   Galesburg District Tournament               Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Galesburg 43-13

Galesburg beat Williamsfield in title game

1922-23 through 1929-30  Postseason scores, records, and coaches’ names needed

1930-31                    IHSA District Champions                        Coach’s name & record needed

District scores needed

Peoria Sectional Tournament

                                   1st Rd lost to Wenona 24-14

Wenona lost to Peoria Manual in title game

1931-32  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

1932-33  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

1933-34                    Elmwood District Tournament              Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Maquon 20-18 (O/T)

                                   2nd Rd lost to Yates City

Yates City lost to Peoria Central in semi-final

Peoria Central beat Farmington for title

1934-35                    Galva District Tournament                      Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Geneseo 27-26

                                   2nd Rd lost to Galva 24-19

Galva lost to Alpha in semi-final

Alpha lost to Kewanee in title game

1935-36                    Princeville District Tournament              Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Yates City 19-17

                                   Semi-final lost to Peoria Central 18-9

Peoria Central beat Toulon in title game

1936-37                    Elmwood Regional Tournament           Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Brimfield 21-18

                                   2nd Rd Beat Toulon 31-23

Semi-final lost to Dunlap 25-20

Dunlap lost title game to Peoria Manual

1937-38  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

1938-39                   Princeton Regiional Tournament           Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Mendota 61-20

Mendota beat DePue 29-25 in title game

1939-40  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

1940-41  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

1941-42                    Galesburg Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Knoxville 25-24

Knoxville lost to MaQuon in title game

1942-43                     Blackhawk Conf. Champs                     Coach’s name & record needed

Galesburg Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Galesburg Corpus Christi 38-25

Corpus Christi lost to Galesburg in semi-final

Galesburg beat Knoxville for title

1943-44                     Blackhawk Conf. Champs                     Coach’s name & record needed

                                    Postseason scores needed 

1944-45      7 – 16    Kewanee Regional Tournament           Coach Ralph Zech

1st Rd lost to Wethersfield 32-21

Wethersfield lost to Geneseo in semi-final

Geneseo lost to Kewanee in title game

1945-46      5 – 15    Kewanee Regional Tournament           Coach Sam St. John

1st Rd Beat Toulon 50-37

                                    Semi-final lost to Kewanee 61-22

Kewanee beat Wethersfield for the title

1946-47                     Kewanee Regional Tournament           Coach William Herdee

Season record needed

1st Rd lost to Galva 39-30

Galva lost to Kewanee in title game

1947-48                     Kewanee Regional Tournament           Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Bradford 54-46

                                    Semi-final lost to Galva 48-33

Kewanee beat Galva for the title

1948-49                     Kewanee Regional Tournament           Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Atkinson 47-33

Atkinson lost semi-final to Galva

Galva lost to Kewanee in title game

1949-50                     Kewanee Regional Tournament           Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Bradford 39-35

Bradford lost to Kewanee in semi-final

Kewanee beat Galva for title

1950-51                     Kewanee Regional Tournament           Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Cambridge 69-48

Cambridge lost to Kewanee in semi-final

Kewanee beat Galva for title

1951-52                      Princeville Regional Tournament        Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Kewanee 71-48

Kewanee beat Mineral for title

1952-53                     Kewanee Regional Runner-Up             Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Atkinson 50-48

                                    Semi-final Beat Bradford 72-69

                                    Title game lost to Kewanee 63-61

1953-54                     Kewanee Regional Runner-Up             Coach’s name & record needed

 1st Rd Beat Buda 86-61

                                    Semi-final Beat Bradford 77-72

                                    Title game lost to Kewanee 67-57

1954-55                     Princeville Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Buda 68-55

Buda lost to Kewanee in title game

1955-56                     Kewanee Regional Tournament           Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Princeville 61-55

Princeville lost to Toulon in semi-final

Toulon lost to Kewanee in title game

1956-57                     Kewanee Regional Champions            Coach Gerald “Chic” Anderson

                                    Blackhawk Conf. Champs

                                    Kewanee Regional Tourney

                                    1st Rd Beat Dunlap 59-49

                                    Semi-final Beat Wethersfield 46-44

                                    Title Game Beat Princeville 82-56

                                    Ottawa Sectional Tournament

                                    Semi-final lost to LaSalle-Peru 66-61

LaSalle-Peru lost to Ottawa in title game

**Coach Gerald “Chic” Anderson went on to coach at Conant High Schooland Palatine High School from the early 1960s through 1982. He was inducted into the IBCA Hall of Fame honoring his long and successful career, which likely started at Wyoming High School! (Thank you to J.V. Boltz for this information.)

1957-58                     Princeville Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Toulon 42-34

                                    Semi-final lost to Wethersfield 64-39

Wethersfield lost to Kewanee in title game

1958-59                     Kewanee Regional Tournament           Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Princeville 64-54

                                    Semi-final lost to Dunlap 68-51

Dunlap lost title game to Kewanee

1959-60                     Kewanee Regional Tournament           Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Princeville 81-61

Princeville lost to Bradford in semi-final

Bradford lost to Kewanee in title game

1960-61     12 – 12   Bradford Regional Tournament             Coach Charles Westphal

1st Rd lost to Princeville 66-53

Princeville beat Kewanee in semi-final

Princeville beat Bradford in title game

1961-62                     Princeville Regional Tournament         Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Annawan 56-54

Annawan beat Kewanee in semi-final

Annawan lost to Princeville in title game

1962-63       7 – 16   Kewanee Regional Tournament           Coach Don Talbot

1st Rd lost to Princeville 55-44

Princeville beat Bradford in semi-final

Princeville beat Annawan in title game

1963-64       8 – 16   Kewanee Regional Tournament           Coach Don Talbot needed

1st Rd lost to Wethersfield 45-44

Wethersfield beat Princeville in semi-final

Wethersfield lost to Kewanee in title game

1964-65      6 – 17     Kewanee Regional Tournament           Coach Don Talbot

1st Rd lost to Princeville 77-55

1965-66  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

1966-67                     Kewanee Regional Tournament          Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Annawan 54-36

Annawan lost to Dunlap in semi-final

Dunlap lost to Wethersfield in title game

1967-68                     Kewanee Regional Tournament          Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Wethersfield 95-75

Wethersfield beat Princeville in  semi-final

Wethersfield beat Kewanee in title game

1968-69    12 – 13    Princeville Regional Tournament          Coach Don Talbot

1st Rd lost to Wethersfield 80-65

Wethersfield lost to Annawan in semi-final

Kewanee beat Annawan in title game

1969-70                     Kewanee Regional Tournament          Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Henry 82-44

Henry beat Princeville in  semi-final

Henry lost to Kewanee in title game

1970-71      6 – 18     Henry Regional Tournament                 Coach John Cromein

1st Rd lost to Princeville 67-52

Princeville lost to Kewanee in  semi-final

Kewanee beat Henry in title game

1971-72      5 – 15    Galva Class 1A Regional Tourney        Coach Jerry Hill

1st Rd lost to Bradford 80-73

Bradford lost to Toulon in semi-final

Princeville beat Toulon in title game

1972-73      5 – 15    IHSA Class 1A Regional Tourney         Coach Jerry Hill

1st Rd lost to Bradford 89-74

1973-74    11 – 14    Postseason scores needed                  Coach Frank Cittadino

1974-75    15 – 11    Postseason scores needed                  Coach Tom Hensel

1975-76    17 – 8      Postseason scores needed                  Coach Tom Hensel

1976-77                    Postseason scores, record needed     Coach Tom Hensel

1977-78      7  – 17   Postseason scores needed                  Coach Tom Hensel

1978-79    20 – 6      Blackhawk Conf. Co-Champs              Coach Tom Hensel

                                    Postseason scores needed

1979-80                     Postseason scores, record needed   Coach Ron Norman

1980-81    17 – 9       Postseason scores needed                Coach Ron Norman

1981-82                     Postseason scores, record needed   Coach Ron Norman

1982-83                     Postseason scores, record needed   Coach Ron Norman

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

1988-89  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

1989-90  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

1990-91                     IHSA Class 1A Regional Champions   Coach’s name & record needed

Regional scores needed

Sectional scores needed

*1991-92  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed

*Final season as the Wyoming High School “Indians”.

Boys Track

Wyoming High School enjoyed some success in the early 1920s with two individuals bringing home IHSA medals.  The two led the Wyoming team to a 9th place finish in the state track meet in 1921.  This is incredible considering the one-class system being operated under at the time.

1919-20    Oliver Graves      880 Yard Run        4th Place

1920-21    Team Finished in 9th Place at the State Track Meet

                 Individual Medalists

                 Oliver Graves      440 Yard Dash      2nd Place 

                 Gale Stout            Discus                     2nd Place

In addition to individual accomplishments, the Toulon High School boys won a few Stark County High School Track Meets over the years.  The following information regarding this meet was provided to us by John Ballentine:

“The Stark County track/field and declamatory meet was a major event for decades.  It was fiercely fought in order to win that particular year and claim county bragging rights.  Businesses and schools, even the grade schools, were closed early in order to attend the afternoon meet.  Main streets resembled ghost towns because a majority of the county’s population was at the contest.

Records were kept and trophies, plaques, ribbons, etc. were awarded.  Yet, in 1990 the county meet could no longer be held.  Castleton High no longer existed, Toulon and LaFayette Highs were consolidated, and Bradford began co-opting with Tiskilwa to form a track team.  Since Tiskilwa was not part of Stark County, this eliminated Bradford’s participation leaving only Toulon-LaFayette and Wyoming as the competitors from the original 5 schools.  Therefore, the meet was permanently discontinued after 1989.”

Wyoming High School boys reigned as champions of this once annual event during the following spring seasons:

1914, 1921, 1922, 1959, 1963 

The Indian thinclads earned a total of 5 Stark County Track Meet Championships over the years.

Girls Basketball

The “Injuns” (as the girls’ teams were nicknamed) were not to be outdone, bringing home 3 Regional titles of their own.  The records and coaches of the better Wyoming girl’s basketball teams are being sought.

1976-77   15 – 3     Regional Champions           Coach Ron Eisenbarth

                                 Beat Henry 60 – 29

                                 Beat Chillicothe IVC 57 – 41

                                 Regional Champ. Game

                                 Beat Dunlap 37 – 27

                                 Sectional Semi-Final

                                  Lost to Washington 47 – 41

**Enrollments:  Washington HS 1,690, Wyoming HS 202

This was before the two-class system.

1977-78   12 – 2     Regional Champions           Coach Ron Eisenbarth

                                 Beat Dunlap 45 – 38

                                 Regional Champ. Game

                                 Beat Bradford 63 – 34

                                 Sectional Semi-Final

                                 Lost to Kewanee 55 – 37

**Enrollments:  Kewanee HS approx. 800, Wyoming HS approx. 200

The two-class system for girls started in the 1979-80 season.

Thank you to Mariann Harmon Griggs for the playoff information regarding the Regional Champs of 1978 and 1979!

1982-83   21 – 4      Regional Champions        Coach Ron Carrothers 

                                  Regional scores needed

Sectional scores needed

Girls Volleyball and Track

Information is being sought regarding the volleyball and girl’s basketball teams at Wyoming High School. Please complete a School Submission form if you would like to share this information with us.

Great Coach

Coach Gary Johnson is one of the legends of high school football in Illinois.  His overall record of 180 – 113 ranks # 42 all-time in IHSA football history. Coach Johnson is truly an icon not only in Wyoming but in the upper midwest region of Illinois also.

Sadly Coach Johnson passed away on June 12, 2006 at the young age of 63.  He will be sorely missed by the people of Wyoming and Stark County. During the 2006 football season, the Wyoming football field was renamed Gary Johnson Field in the late coach’s honor.

Wyoming High School Enrollment (Grades 9 – 12)

1954-55         209

1955-56         200

1956-57         201

Seeking Further Information

We are seeking any further information regarding Wyoming High School.  Please drop us an e-mail via the School Submission Form or Guest Commentary.  We are also seeking a photo of the old Wyoming High School building.  You may write us at:

ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net

OR

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago. Il.  60631

Gary Johnson Field

Wyoming, IL

Wyoming High School

Front View

The Wyanet Eagles Football Team

1961 Conference Champions

Football

The Eagles also enjoyed many great seasons on the grid iron. Help is needed in researching some of the more successful seasons (conference champs, 1-loss years,ect.). The Eagles lone appearance in the IHSA football playoffs occurred in the 1988-89 season. The Eagles co-oped with Western and DePue for the final 5 football seasons of the high schools existence.

1948  4 – 3 – 1      2nd place tie Little 8                        Coach Al Versypt

1949  6 – 3           2nd place Little 8                             Coach Al Versypt

1952  7 – 2           2nd tie Little 8                                  Coach Jack Churchill

1953  6 – 3                                                                   Coach Gil Demay

1958  4 – 2 – 1                                                              Coach Jim Boone

1959  4 – 3                                                                   Coach Jim Boone

1960  8 – 0           Little 8 Conference Champs         Coach Carl Cherrie

1961  4 – 2 – 1                                                              Coach Carl Cherrie

1962  6 – 2                                                                   Coach Jim Shook

1965  6 – 4                                                                   Coach Al Crandall

1966  8 – 0           Little 8 Conference Champs         Coach Al Crandall

1967  7 – 1           Little 8 Conference Champs         Coach Bill Harris

1972  5 – 3                                                                   Coach Lou Zecca

1973  5 – 2 – 1                                                              Coach Lou Zecca

1974  5 – 2                                                                   Coach Lou Zecca

1980  5 – 4           3rd Indian Valley East                      Coach Bill Evans

1988  6 – 4          IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier    Coach Bill Estes 

                           2nd Place – Indian Valley East

                           Lost playoff game to Marseilles 22 – 18

Marseilles lost to Walnut in 2nd Rd

Walnut lost to Orangeville in quarter-final Rd

Orangeville lost to Carthage in semi-final

Carthage lost to Arcola in title game

1988 was Wyanet High’s last independent football team. They began co-oping with Buda Western High School in 1989.

Former Eagle Gib Foulke remembers the 1960-61 season well, as he does other great items about the school:

   “I am a 1963 graduate of Wyanet High. I am #11 in the 60-61 football picture (upper right-hand corner). We captured the Little 8 football championship that night by defeating the LaMoille Lions. This was the first year the conference went from 8-man to 11-man football. Being a small school of only 100 students, the “upgrade” provided an opportunity for lower classmen to make the Varsity team.  Three of us Sophomores won our varsity letters that year, Brian Hochstatter,  Bill Davis and me. The “Eagles” went undefeated in the season, but could go no further. There was not a state playoff system then.

In the following two years, the Eagles gave up the title on the last game of each season, ’61 to the Tiskilwa Indians  and ’62 to the Western Rams (both schools now gone like Wyanet). Wyanet was a three sport school, as were the other schools in the conference, football, basketball & track. When the conference went from 8 to 11 man football, we lost the Malden and Neponset football programs, they couldn’t compete due to lack of boys, but we gained Annawan and Tampico in the 61 and 62 seasons. The conference did not have any athletic programs for the girls until well after I graduated.

As for previous sports, my mother, Edna (Ellis) Foulke, graduated from Wyanet, class of 1929. Besides being a cheerleader, she played on a girls hockey team for Wyanet. The men Eagles also fielded a football (8-man single wing), basketball and track team.

In the early 1950’s, besides Dick Hamrick’s basketball skill, the Eagles boasted of having a University of Kansas track star, David Tams, as a graduate.  For more info on the school, go to the Wyanet.com site.”

Boys Track

Boys track and field success in the state meet can be summed up in one last name, Heuer.  We are told by a classmate of Marlon’s, James Hamrick, that Duane Heuer was the father of Marlon.  This is probably one of very few father-son combinations in IHSA history to have medaled at the IHSA State Track & Field Meet.  Below are listed the track success of the boys from Wyanet named Heuer.

1953   Duane Heuer    Pole Vault        5th Place

1977   Marlon Heuer   1 Mile Run        5th Place

Girls Athletics

It is known that Wyanet High School offered girls athletics in the form of volleyball, basketball, and track. However, no information is available regarding these sports. If you have knowledge you wish to share please complete a school submission form or a guest commentary form and it will be added to the site.

Individual Events

Wyanet won a Regional Championship from the IHSA in Individual Events in 1973-74.

Memories

From Deanna Foran:

“The high school is very special because I lived a block away on Locust street. My parents also went to school there. I would like to see a music/band section honoring out band directors. That is how I came to know the other high schools around us, like Western and Tiskilwa, from band competitions. Gene Montgomery was our music teacher and he was an awesome musician. He started a jazz band which my brother and I played in. Thank you for the memories.”

Seeking More Information

If you have further information you would like to share regariding Wyanet High School and its athletic prowess, please complete the school submission or the guest commentary forms.

To write:     Illinois HS Glory Days

                   6439 N. Neva St.

                   Chicago, Il.   60631

To e-mail:    ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net        

Wyanet High School

August, 2005

Wyanet HS

Rearview – HS on Right / GS on Left

Wyanet HS Football Concession Stand

August, 2005

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

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

Provided by Cody Cutter

Worden Junior High Championship Bracket

Submitted by Cody Cutter

There are far too many missing items on the Worden High School page that need to be added. School fight song, other boys’ sports and expecially the lady athletic accomplishments at WHS, all are in need of research and sharing on this page. You can e-mail us information at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago,  Il.  60631

Worden High School Diploma

Submitted by Cody Cutter

The history of the Todd Seminary dates back to 1873 and was founded by the Reverend Richard K. Todd. The grounds, which had at least ten buildings during the time of it’s existance, were located in a triangular block in Woodstock along McHenry and Seminary Streets. The buildings were: Wallingford Hall, Clover Hall, Rogers Hall, Grace Hall, the Gymnasium, the Headmasters Cottage, West Hall, Cozy Hall and North Hall. The Seminary welcomed boys from ages 6 to 18 from all over the country. It had at least 110 students from 17 different states in the 1920’s with ten grades being taught. The education was based on those principles given by the Presbyterian Parish of Woodstock.

Noble Hill came to the Seminary in 1888 and purchased it in 1892, the year renovations were made. Noble ran the Seminary until 1929, when his son Roger took over.

Below is an excerpt from the statures in the Todd Seminary rule book:

“Use of cards, gambling, tobbaco, bad language, firearms, reading of trashy books (et al The Catcher in the Rye) and papers, contracting debts, going off-grounds, going downtown without being accompanied with a teacher, leaving after evening prayers are prohibited.”

Todd Seminary prospered for 81 years, closing down in 1954 and torn down some years later. Grace Hall, a former building that was a part of the school, is still standing; however, plans have been made to raze the building. A community movement is hoping to preserve the structure.

A nursing home now occupies the location where Todd Seminary once stood.

Todd Seminary “Quick Facts”:

Year Opened:                1874

Year Closed:                  1954

Building status:              demolished

Religious Affiliation:      Presbyterian

School Colors:               N/A

School Song:                 N/A

Nickname:                     N/A

Athletics

There is miniscule information out there about the existance of athletics and other extra-curriculars at Todd Seminary. We do know that they had an Athletics Director. Tony Roskie was the A.D. at Todd Seminary before leaving for Woodstock High School, where he was A.D. for a number of years.

Orson Welles

Todd Seminary Graduate

Famous Alumni

*Orson Welles, Class of 1931 – Welles was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin in 1915, and lived in Grand Detour, Illinois (along the Rock River northeast of Dixon) at one point in his early life. Welles attended Todd Seminary from age 9 to 16 and acted in numerous plays.

Welles would go on to become one of America’s most prolific men, having acted on radio, television, movies and even wrote a few books. Welles’ most memorable roles were playing lead roles in Citizen Kane (1941), Journey Into Fear (1942), and The Stranger (1946). He is even more noted for his shocking radio broadcast in “The War of the Worlds” in 1938 for CBS where listeners actually believed his words that aliens were invading Earth. Welles died on October 11, 1985 at the age of 70.

*Harris Eberhart, Class of 1909 – Graduated with honors at Todd Seminary, attending four years from 1905-1909. In the summer of 1909 Eberhart, a native of Mishawaka, Indiana, attended YMCA Summer Camp at Corey Lake, near South Bend. Sadly, he and a friend from the Seminary were coming back home from the camp and died tragically in a train crash. Eberhart left behind plans for a permanent campsite at Corey Lake, which today is known as Camp Eberhart.

Seeking More Information

More information is being sought about the Todd Seminary. Corrections are welcome as well. If you have more Information about the Seminary, including photos of the school and memories you would like to share, please use the Guest Commentary Form or you may also write us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net, or:

Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago,  IL  60631

Newspaper Advertisement of Todd Seminary

Woodson HS Letter

Submitted by Beth Crowcroft Wisdom

It is quite likely that the Woodson boys competed in baseball, and possibly track. We are in need of this information as well. School team nickname, fight song, and coach’s names are also being sought.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The boys competed in basketball for certain. Photos from the Woodson High School yearbook of 1947 provide a summary of the season and photos of the basketball team and cheerleading squad. It appears that Woodson did not have a gymnasium and practiced outside when weather allowed.

The following IHSA District Tournament basketball scores were located on a website titled “Illinois High School Postseason Basketball Scores.”

1934-35              Jacksonville District Tournament        Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Girard 43-24

Murrayville beat Jacksonville in title game.

1935-36              Jacksonville District Tournament        Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Virginia 33-15

New Berlin beat Franklin in title game.

1940-41              Meredosia District Tournament            Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Arenzville 33-16

Chambersburg beat Murrayville in title game.

The following information was located in the Woodson High School 1947 yearbook.

1946-47  10 – 11  2nd Place in Tri-County Tournament   Coach’s name needed.

Woodson HS Basketball Team 1947

Submitted by Beth Crocroft Wisdom

Woodson HS Basketball Cheerleaders 1947

Submitted by Beth Crowcroft Wisdom

Woodson HS Basketball Summary 1946-47 Season

Submitted by Beth Crowcroft Wisdom

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

The students of Woodson High School enjoyed a very diverse curriculum. Glee Club and Boys Chorus were activities the students participated in. It is probable that student government, dances, FHA, FFA, and GAA were all offered as well.

Woodson HS Glee Club 1947

Submitted by Beth Crowcroft Wisdom

HELP US IF YOU CAN

There is a ton of information we are missing. There are also many accomplishments which should be remembered and documented. If you have any information, including a photo of the high school building, please forward it to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il    60631

Woodson HS Yearbook 1947

Submitted by Beth Crowcroft Wisdom

Woodson HS Diploma Cover 1947

Submitted by Beth Crowcroft Wisdom