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The Deer Creek High School Deer definately competed in boys basketball.  It is thought that baseball and track may have been offered as well.  However there is no mention of the Deer Creek High School athletic program winning any IHSA hardware during its existence.  We are hopeful an area resident can help us here by filling in the missing information.

Basketball

We know that the Deer Creek High School boys competed in basketball.  We are searching for more season records and accomplishments.

1925-26   12 – 8

1926-27                Tazwell County Tourney Champs

The Deer Creek High School Deer of 1927 had a good run.  The boys won the Tazwell County Championship as was told to us by Robert A. Chaffer:

“I am attaching a photo of the Deer Creek High School basketball team from about 1927. My father and uncle are included. I believe that the plaque being displayed indicates that the team won the Tazewell County championship that year.” 

Deer Creek HS Basketball Team of 1927

Submitted by Robert A. Chaffer

Memories

**From Robert A. Chaffer:

“A school annual was published in 1952 when I was in the 7th grade at the Deer Creek Grade School that had been the Deer Creek High School in 1947. The attached picture of the school building was included on page 1. It appears to be the same building with a little remodeling of windows etc in the newer version.

I also found the season schedule and record of the 1925-26 Deer Creek boys basketball team. They won 12 and lost 8 games (one of the wins was against the alumni team.) They had a high-powered scoring machine, rolling up 30 or more points on four occasions. No opponent scored over 26. Part of their success was due to Theodore (Ted) Maybee who played “standing guard” and was over 6 ft. in height.”

Need your Assistance

If you have ANY further information about Deer Creek High School and its historic past, please send it to us via e-mail.  Athletic accomplishments, as well as overall high school information is being sought.  Photos and information can be sent to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.   You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St. 

Chicago, Il.  60631

Boys Basketball

If you’ve been to the restroom lately, then settle in for some good reading about this historic hoops program in the state of Illinois. John Schneiter would lead a team to a title in 1962, two years after Gay Kintner died from a heart attack at a game in 1960 against cross-town rival MacArthur. Decatur and Stephen Decatur wound placing in the final four on 10 occasions out of 23 times it qualified, ensuring that they would take home a trophy from the state finals. The “two” schools combined record is also one of a handful in state history that won over 1,000 varsity contests, winning 1,352 games while losing 912 for a percentage of .597 in games played between 1913 and 2000.

Stephen Decatur High School’s basektball records are listed below. SDHS made the Sweet 16 of IHSA basketball tourney eight times, the Elite 8 six times, and the Final Four four times, coming away with one State Championship!!

1958-59      14-10                                                         Coach Gay Kintner

1959-60      26-4    Fourth in State                               Coaches Gay Kintner/John

                                                                                  Schneiter           

                           Won Regional & Sectional titles
Beat Danville Schlarman at

                           Decatur Super-Sectional 52-45
Edged Maywood Proviso East in quarterfinals 53-52

Lost to eventual state champion

Chicago Marshall in semifinals 74-62

Lost to West Frankfort in third place game 75-53

1960-61  12-12    Regional Champs                             Coach John Schneiter

Stephen Decatur HS State Champions of 1961-62

1961-62  31- 4      STATE CHAMPIONS!!                     Coach John Schneiter
Won Regional & Sectional titles
Decatur Super-Sectional –

                           Edged Urbana 41-40

                           Elite 8 Game –
Beat Washington 45-37

                           Semi-Final Game –
Got by Quincy 47-44

                           Championship Game –
Beat Chicago Carver 49-48

1962-63   25-  6    Elite 8 at State                               Coach John Schneiter
Won Regional & Sectional titles
Decatur Super-Sectional –

                           Defeated Watseka 93-73 at
Quarter Final Game –

Lost to Peoria Central 60-45

1963-64   33-  2    3rd Place at State                          Coach Jack Kenny
Won Regional & Sectional titles
Normal Super-Sectional –

                           Beat Arcola 53-37

                           Quarter-Final Game –
Downed Evanston 73-59

                           Semi-Final Game

Lost to Cobden 44-38

Third Place Game –

                           Beat Rock Island Alleman 73-54

1964-65    29- 3   Elite 8 at State                                Coach Jack Kenny
Won Regional & Sectional titles
Normal Super-Sectional

                           Edged Danville 54-53

                           Quarter-Final Game

Lost to Quincy 71-62

1965-66    25-  7   4th Place at State                          Coach Jack Kenny
Won Regional & Sectional titles
Normal Super-Sectional

                           Beat Urbana 68-56

                           Quarter-Final Game
Downed Rockford West 57-44

                           Semi-Final Game

Lost to Harvey Thornton 67-45

Harvey Thornton won State Title.

1966-67    22-10  Sweet 16 Qualifier                           Coach Jack Kenny

                         Regional & Sectional Champs

                         Normal Super-Sectional              

                         Lost to Champaign 36-35

1967-68    26-  5  Regional Champs                            Coach Dean Padgett

1970-71    17-  9  (good record)                                  Coach Dean Padgett

1973-74    15- 10 (good record)                                  Coach Dean Padgett

1977-78    10- 15  Regional Champs                            Coach Rease Binger

1979-80    13- 12                                                         Coach Rease Binger

1980-81    14- 13                                                         Coach Rease Binger

1984-85    18-  9  (good record)                                  Coach Rease Binger

1985-86    21-  9  Class AA Sweet 16                           Coach Rease Binger

                           Regional & Sectional Champions

                           Normal Super-Sectional

                           Lost to Romeoville 65-49                          

1992-93    15- 11                                                         (coach unknown)

1995-96    13- 12                                                         (coach unknown)

1996-97    18-  9  Regional Champs                            (coach unknown)

1999-2000 15-11  Final school year                            Coach Mel Roustio

Thanksgiving Tourney

Consolation Champs

Pekin Holiday Tourney

Consolation Champs

The Last of the “Runnin’ Reds” – Team of 1999-2000

Photo Taken in 2000 After Last Home Game (A Victory) – Courtesy of David Lee, Jr.

Totals                 12 Regionals Titles
8 Sectionals Titles
8 Sweet 16 Qualifiers
6 Super-Sectional Championships

                            6 Elite Eight Qualifiers
4 Final Four Appearances
2 Fourth Place Finishes
1 Third Place Finish
1 State Championship!!!!
9 Seasons of 20 Wins or More
2 Seasons of 30 Wins or More

                            1 Macomb HS Tournament Championship (1996)

EXCELLENT JOB RUNNIN’ REDS BOYS’ BASKETBALL!!!!!!!

Other tournament highlights for the Runnin’ Reds were submitted by Mark Jurenga:

*The Stephen Decatur boys were often participants in the annual Centralia HS basketball tourney.  Their best results are as follows:

1963 Champion According to the 52nd (1994) Centralia Holiday Tounament program:”Decatur, behind the first three quarters, upset Belleville 52-46.”

1966 Third Place def. Champaign

1967 Champion “Decatur battled Edwardsville and took the championship by a score of 68-63.”

All-Tourney Team Selections:

1963 Jack Sunderlik & Charles Currie

1964 Dave Schotz

1967 Robert Moser

1971 Mike Moore

*Macomb Holiday Tourney Highlights:

1995 3rd place def. Canton 77-74

1996 Champion def. Warsaw 74-54

All-tourney Selections

1995 Tarise Bryson & Michael Wilder

1996 Tarise Bryson (MVP) & Michael Wilder

Tourney Record – Individual

Highest free throw % (Min. 10 attempts)

Tarus Cook 15-15 1995

*Bloomington-Normal State Farm Holiday Classic

1985 – Grand Championship – Normal (Comm.) 56 Stephen Decatur 44

Tournament Records

Most Field Goals, Game: Stephen Decatur 46, 1979

All-Tournament Selections

1985 – Dan Cole, Troy Leonard

1984 – Freddie Outlaw

1980 – Mark Morris

BOYS TRACK

Once the basketballs were put away, the Red and White excelled on the cinder tracks, winding up in the top 10 list of teams at the state meets on one occasion, along with winning two district titles. The Decatur thinclads wound up with a FIFTH place finish in 1971. Individuals representing the school would win the medals on seven occasions.

1967   District Champs                                                         Coach Ed Madix

1968   District Champs                                                         Coach Ed Madix
1969   Mark Stevens         4th Place                 880 Run     Coach Ed Madix

1971   Team Finished FIFTH at STATE Meet                       (coach unknown)
Dave Berg             3rd Place                 1 Mile Run
Jerry Thomas        4th Place                 100 Dash
880 Relay Team    4th Place

1983AA   James Morton    STATE CHAMPION   High Jump
1998AA   Justin Bennett    4th Place                 High Jump
2000AA   James Wills        4th Place                 Shot Put

GREAT JOB RUNNIN’ RED TRACKSTERS!!!!!!!

FOOTBALL

Maybe not as successful as the boys’ basketball and track teams, Stephen Decatur did field a team on the gridiron from 1957 until 1999, winning many contests before the doors closed. The Runnin’ Reds had some solid seasons and were very competitive, sporting winning records at the end of eleven different seasons.

1958    5-3-1    Coach Jim Tate

1961    5-3-1    Coach Jim Tate

1962    8-1       Coach Jim Tate (excellent record)

1963    7-2       Coach Jim Tate (good record)

1965    7-2       Coach Jim Tate (good record)

1966    5-4       Coach Jim Tate

1967    5-4       Coach Jim Tate

1969    7-2       Coach Jim Tate (good record)

1976    5-4       Coach Frank Chizevsky

1992    7-4      Coach Dwight Simmons

Qualified for IHSA Class 4A Playoffs

Defeated Jerseyville (Jersey) 35-24 in first round

Eliminated by Decatur Eisenhower 35-12 in second round

1993    5-4       Coach Dwight Simmons

1999                 Coach Tim Cruz (last season)

In a 1993 game against Bloomington, Decatur’s Rhassan Smith received a kickoff at his one-yard line and ran all the way to score a touchdown, making for a 99-yard return.

From Mary Berry Badgley:

“In 1976 the Reds broke St. Teresa’s 37-game winning streak which included back-to-back state titles. That was a most memorable game in which several thousand fans packed Piggott Field to watch. It bears a mention in the scheme of memorable moments at SDHS.”

GOOD JOB RED & WHITE GRIDDERS!!!!

WRESTLING

Stephen Decatur High School made a splash on the wrestling mats, taking home a third and two fourth place finishes as a team in the state meet, along with winning five district titles and having four state champions.

An excellent coach for the Runnin’ Reds’ grapplers was Terry Simons. Coach Simons coached several top placers in the State Meet and had two teams finish in the top-four. Scott Morford, Class of 1968, tells us this about Coach Simons:

“You’ll find Coach Simons in 2004 Illinois Wrestling Hall of Fame. He ended his career at Glenbard. He was a great guy who taught me a lot. I wrestled HW in 1968 weighing 177 lbs. I never won, but never was pinned, and was typicallly outweighed by over 50 pounds (my first match was me at 177 lbs. versus Charles Sharp at 264 lbs.!…I lost 9-6)”

1964-65     4th Place in State                                               Coach Terry Simons

                 Ben Cooper         STATE CHAMPION   154 lbs.
Aaron Holloway  STATE CHAMPION   165 lbs.

1965-66     Ben Cooper          2nd Place                165 lbs.   Coach Terry Simons

1966-67     District Champs                                                  Coach Terry Simons
Jim Hunt               6th Place                 112 lbs.

1967-68     3rd Place in State                                               Coach Terry Simons
District Champs
Mark Malley         STATE CHAMPION    145 lbs.
Rusty Cunningham   2nd Place             112 lbs.

1968-69       4th Place in State                                             Coach Terry Simons
District Champs
Mark Malley       STATE CHAMPION   145 lbs.
Rusty Cunningham    3rd Place          112 lbs.

1969-70      Dave Taylor                3rd Place         145 lbs.  Coach Terry Simons
Ty McMillan                 3rd Place         175 lbs.

1972-73      Kevin Simcox              6th Place           98 lbs.
1978-79      District Champs
1979-80      District Champs
1983-84AA  Scott Mitchell              4th Place         132 lbs.

BOYS TENNIS

Stephen Decatur High School short netters were worthy representatives for Central Illinois to the state tennis meets, even bringing home a third place finish once, along with two other top-ten finishes. Who says that a school from downstate couldn’t compete with the Chicagoland schools that have usually dominated this event?  The Runnin’ Reds proved this “theory” wrong!

1961        District Champs                                 (coach unknown)
3rd in State
Mike Nolan–3rd in Singles
1962        6th in State                                        (coach unknown)
Kent Ayers & Mike Nolan–2nd in Doubles
1963        8th in State                                        (coach unknown)
Mike Nolan–3rd in Singles
1964         Dick Bowers–5th in Singles

BOYS GOLF

The Runnin’ Red linksters made a name for themselves on the golf course, winning IHSA hardware along the way. It was a team game for Stephen Decatur, as only two individuals were considered finalists for the medalist position at the state finals.

1974        Sectional Champs                                     (coach unknown)
State Qualifier/Finished 6th in State Finals
1976        District Champs                                         (coach unknown)
1982        Regional Champs                                      (coach unknown)
1986        State Qualifier
1988        State Qualifier/Finished 10th in State Finals
1994AA   Andrew Laegeler              6th in State Finals as individual
1998AA   Zachary Hayes                  10th in State Finals asindividual

BASEBALL

On three occasions Stephen Decatur won Regional Titles. The Runnin’ Reds made their way to the Elite 8 of the IHSA Baseball Playoffs once.

1967               Regional Champs                            Coach Dale Rutz
1970               Regional Champs                            (coach unknown)
1977  15-10     Regional & Sectional Champs      Coach Mike Buttz
Qualified for State Finals
Beat Nokomis 8-4 in quarterfinals

Lost to Proviso East 4-2 in semifinals

(Proviso East eventual champs)

BOYS’ CROSS-COUNTRY

Success carried over hill and dale for the Stephen Decatur boys’ cross-country team, qualifying for the state meet three times over a four-year period during the late 1960’s. The coach for these teams is unknown.

1965    Qualified for State Finals
1967    Qualified for State Finals
1968    Qualified for State Finals

           Individual Medalist:      Mark Stevens (10th Place)                 

BOYS’ SWIMMING

Even the tankmen of Stephen Decatur were successful to an extent, bringing home two individual golds at the state meet.

1987    Ryan Schwanke       3rd Place                   100 backstroke
1988    Ryan Schwanke       2nd Place                  100 backstroke
1993    Kostaki Chiligiris    3rd Place                    200 freestyle
1994    Kostaki Chiligiris    STATE CHAMPION     200 freestyle
Kostaki Chiligiris    STATE CHAMPION      100 freestyle

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Just like their male counterparts, Stephen Decatur’s girls’ hoops program made a name for itself. During the 1980’s, one team qualified for the Class AA Sweet Sixteen.

1974-75   0-10    (first season)                    Coach Jean Gift

1980-81 15-10    (good record)                   Coach Jean Gift

1982-83 22-  5    Class AA Sweet 16        Coaches Jean Gift & Brenda Clark
Regional Champions

                         Sectional Champions

                         Normal Super-Sectional

Lost to Peoria Richwoods 72-45

(Peoria Richwoods eventual AA State Champs)

1983-84 17-  6     (good record)                 Coaches Jean Gift & Brenda Clark

1987-88 11-10                                            Coach Brenda Clark

GIRLS’ BOWLING

Stephen Decatur had a successful bowling program for the girls that chose to go to the bowling houses, sending two girls to the state finals. Both ladies received medals for placing as one of the top 10 individuals.

1980 Laurie Mintun—7th place

1987 Shelley Lourash—4th place

GIRLS’ TENNIS

The Stephen Decatur netters held their own in Central Illinois, winning three sectionals to qualify for the state meet. Unfortunately, the name of the coach for these teams is unknown.

1989    Sectional Champions–Qualified for State Finals
1990    Sectional Champions–Qualified for State Finals
1992    Sectional Champions–Qualified for State Finals

VOLLEYBALL

Inside the school, Stephen Decatur’s volleyball squad came away with two trophies from the IHSA in the state tournament, taking a district in the old one-class system, then a AA regional. Win-loss records are unknown.

1982            District Champions                  Coach unknown
1997 17-16   Regional Champions              Coach Nanci Day-LeMaster

From Coach Nanci Day-LeMaster: “Hello, I was the coach for Stephen Decatur High School Volleyball team in 1997. (My) assistant coach was Debi Kwasny and team members were: Lindsay LeMaster, Nikki Kasserman, Christain Keifer, Stephanie Gruenewald, Sheree Gruenewald, Megan Denison, and Alicia Joyner.” 

GIRLS’ TRACK

The Stephen Decatur girls tracksters were just as fortunate as the boys’ team was to have placed high enough to bring home medals from the state track meet, with most of them in relay events.

1982    Susie Hunt           8th Place          100 Dash
1984    Julie Foertsch      6th Place          800 Run
1986    Julie Foertsch      6th Place          800 Run
Julie Foertsch      3rd Place         1600 Run
1987    800 Relay             8th Place
1988    800 Relay             3rd Place
1989    Katrina Green      8th Place          100 Hurdles
400 Relay             6th Place
800 Relay             4th Place
800 Medley Relay 6th Place

GIRLS’ SWIMMING

One athlete in particular put Stephen Decatur’s girls’ swimming program on the map over a three-year period in the 1990s prior to the school’s closure. Erin Didde brought home four medals from the state finals, confirming that there was a girls’ swim team at the school.

1992    Erin Didde          3rd Place       100 backstroke
1993    Erin Didde          7th Place       100 backstroke
Erin Didde          7th Place        200 freestyle
1994    Erin Didde          8th Place       100 backstroke

OUTSTANDING COACHES AND ATHLETES IN SCHOOL HISTORY

—Gay Kintner – won 649 games as basketball coach from 1928-60, including three state titles, for a winning percentage of .708. Also coached football and baseball, with one state Elite Eight qualifier in baseball.

—John Schneiter – won one state title in four-plus years (1960-63) as head basketball coach with a record of 79-24 for a mark of .767. Schneiter later captured a second and third place at the state basketball finals while coaching at Winnetka New Trier East, and had eight teams win the team championship at the IHSA Boys’ Tennis Finals, along with a second place and two third places.

—Jack Kenny – was 109-22 (.832) coaching boys’ basketball from 1963-67, winning a third and a fourth place at the state finals. Later became principal of the school.

—Jim Tate – 69-66-8 in 16 years of coaching football, with eight of those squads finishing with winning records, including 8-1 in 1962.

—Mark Malley – state champion wrestler, winning the 145-pound class in 1968 & 1969.

—Kostaki Chiligiris – won the 100 and 200 freestyle events at the state meet in 1994.

—Michael Tate – played three years’ football from 1970-72, believed to have set the school record for tackles at 114 in 1972.

MEMORIES

from Jack Sunderlik (class of 1964): The 1963-64 SDHS “Runnin’ Reds” won the Decatur City Tournament and the 1963 Centralia Christmas Holiday Basketball Tournament., along with winning the Decatur City Tournament, and the Big 12 Conference. The team also had a 28 game-winning streak. I played on the ’62 State Champs, the ’63 Elite Eight Team, and the 1964 3rd Place team.

“This year (November 2012) at the Decatur Thanksgiving Tournament, the school district will be honoring the 1963-64 Stephen Decatur Runnin’ Reds Basketball Team that finished 3rd in the IHSA State Tournament. Eleven of the players have already confirmed that they will be there for the presentation. We should have won the Championship that year. I believe that we were the best team in the glorified history of Stephen Decatur H.S. and the city of Decatur. To this day, the game against the (Cobden) Apple Knockers still haunts me and leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”

From student Mike Johnson (dated April 1, 2020):

“I don’t see Bob Warnsley mentioned. I recall from my time at SDHS (“64 to ’67) that was he quite the star as well. I don’t have specific dates, but I know he was at least a two-sport starter in basketball (small forward or guard) and football (halfback). He played defense as well (I think) at safety and cornerback. He may run track as well-he was quite fast.”

OUR WORK IS JUST STARTING…

to tell the story about the history of Stephen Decatur High School, and we need your help. If you have any additional information or pictures, we would be most happy to use them. Please email your information to us at dr.veeman@gmail.com or send it to the address listed below. Special thanks go to longtime Decatur sportswriter Tom McNamara for his help, along former Chicago sportswriter Jim Enright’s book March Madness: The History of High School Basketball in Illinois (1977) for photos and valuable information in preparing this page.

Illinois High School Glory Days
6439 N. Neva
Chicago, Il  60631

Boys Basketball

The basketball team was the top of the heap at the school, winning three state championships in the single-class era, all under the leadership of Gay Kintner in 1931, 1936, and 1945. Several other great seasons combined to make Decatur High a perenial powerhouse in high school basketball each year in Illinois.

1911-12    NRA   Fourth in State                       Coach William H. Duerr

Defeated Galesburg 27-26 in first round

Final 4

Lost to Galesburg 26-23

Galesburg placed 2nd

3rd Place Game
Lost to Hillsboro 38-31

1914-15    8- 7    District Tournament Champs  Coach C. E. Howell

                         Qualified for State

Lost to Carbondale 22-21 in first round

Carbondale finished 4th

1915-16  23-4    (outstanding record!)           (coach unknown)

1916-17   10-5    District Champions               Coach Verne Rogers

                         Qualified for State

Lost to Bloomington 18-12 in first round

Bloomington finished 3rd

1918-19   13-3    (good record)                       (coach unknown)

1919-20   11-7    District Champions                Coach Lee Cook

                         Qualified for State

Lost to Marion 23-17 in first round

Marion finished 3rd

1920-21   21-4    District Champs                     Coach W. G. Muir

                         Qualified for State

Lost to Winnetka New Trier in first round 34-31

New Trier finished 3rd

1921-22   10-4                                                  (coach unknown)

1922-23     9-8                                                  (coach unknown)

1923-24   11-8                                                  (coach unknown)

1924-25   22-12   District Champions              (coach unknown)

1925-26     9-6                                                  (coach unknown)

1926-27   16-7                                                  (coach unknown)

1928-29   17-5     District Champions              Coach Gay Kintner

1929-30   21-7                                                  Coach Gay Kintner

Decatur HS State Champions of 1930-31

1930-31   29-4        STATE CHAMPIONS!!          Coach Gay Kintner
Won District & Sectional 

Elite 8                                        

Beat Collinsville 24-23

Final 4
Defeated Chicago Harrison 27-20

Championship Game
Beat Galesburg 30-26

1931-32   12-9                                                     Coach Gay Kintner
1932-33   16-12       District Champions              Coach Gay Kintner

1934-35   17-10                                                   Coach Gay Kintner

Decatur HS State Champions of 1935-36

1935-36   24-11      STATE CHAMPIONS!!            Coach Gay Kintner
Won Regional & Sectional titles

                             Sweet 16
Defeated Peoria Manual 17-13

                             Elite 8
Downed Hull 30-27

                             Final 4
Edged Johnston City 20-19

                             Championship Game
Beat Danville 30-26

1936-37    23-12    Second in State Tourney!     Coach Gay Kintner
Won Regional & Sectional titles

                            Sweet 16
Won over LaSalle-Peru 21-10

                            Elite 8

                            Rallied past Moline 14-11

                            Final 4
Beat Pekin 23-15

                            Championship Game

Lost to Joliet 40-20

1937-38    12-17    Qualified for Sweet 16          Coach Gay Kintner
Won Regional & Sectional titles

                           Sweet 16

Lost to Paris HS 33-20

Paris would finish in 3rd Place

1938-39    18-10    Regional Champs                 Coach Gay Kintner
1939-40    19-4      Regional Champs                Coach Gay Kintner
1940-41    19-8      Regional Champs                 Coach Gay Kintner

1941-42    32-5      Elite 8 Finalist                      Coach Gay Kintner
Won Regional & Sectional titles

                            Sweet 16
Defeated Dixon 53-37

                            Elite 8

Lost to Morton HS of Berwyn-Cicero 47-45

Morton would finish in 4th Place

1942-43    28-7      Qualified for Sweet 16       Coach Gay Kintner
Regional & Sectional champs

                            Sweet 16

Lost to West Frankfort (Frankfort) 55-39

1943-44    24-8      Regional Champs               Coach Gay Kintner

Decatur HS State Champions of 1944-45

1944-45    37-2        STATE CHAMPIONS!!          Coach Gay Kintner
Won Regional & Sectional crowns

                              Ranked #2 in final regular season AP poll

                              Sweet 16
Beat Collinsville 77-46

                              Elite 8
Edged Galesburg 73-72 (2 O/T)

                              (lead changed hands 33 times!)

                              Final 4
Downed Moline 62-46

                              Championship Game
Topped Champaign 62-54

1945-46     26-10    Qualified for Elite 8              Coach Gay Kintner
Won both Regional & Sectional titles

                             Sweet 16
Defeated Pana 59-41

                             Elite 8

Lost to Dundee 55-48

Dundee would place 3rd

1946-47     28-9      Regional Champs                Coach Gay Kintner
1947-48     19-7      Regional Champs                 Coach Gay Kintner

1948-49     21-9      Elite 8 Finalist                      Coach Gay Kintner
Won Regional & Sectional titles

                             Sweet 16
Defeated Pittsfield 82-48

                             Elite 8

Lost to eventual state champ

Mount Vernon 71-51

1949-50     23-5      Regional Champs                 Coach Gay Kintner

1950-51     22-10    Fourth Place in State             Coach Gay Kintner
Won Regional & Sectional titles

                             Sweet 16
Downed Danville 68-58

                             Elite 8
Beat Peoria Woodruff 73-50

                             Final 4

Lost to eventual state champ

Freeport in semifinals 88-60

Third Place Game
Edged by Quincy 60-58

1951-52      20-7     Regional Champs                   Coach Gay Kintner

                             (17th consecutive)

1952-53      15-11                                                 Coach Gay Kintner
1953-54      20-8     Regional Champs                 Coach Gay Kintner

1954-55      24-5     Sweet 16 Qualifier                Coach Gay Kintner
Won Regional & Sectional titles

                             Sweet 16

Lost to eventual state champ

West Rockford 58-54

1955-56      15-10                                                 Coach Gay Kintner

1956-57      14-11    (Last year as Decatur HS)    Coach Gay Kintner

Boys Tennis

The boys tennis program showed a real “love” for the game from the beginning. A State Championship, two runner-up finishes, and a total of SIX top-ten finishes hi-light the Decatur High School tennis successes.

1927  (??) Connell & (??) Dunning—2nd in Doubles @IHSA Finals

1941  District Champs                                    (coach unknown)
1942  Otho Mendenhall & Charles Norman – 3rd – Doubles  Coach Elmer Kunze 

1943  District Champs                                    Coach Elmer Kunze
1945  District Champs                                    Coach Gerald Cox
1946  District Champs        2nd in State         Coach Gerald Cox

1947  District Champs        STATE CHAMPS!  Coach Gerald Cox
Bennett Bradley  —  STATE CHAMPION IN SINGLES

           Roger Brady & Paul Schumacher—2nd in Doubles @IHSA Finals

1950  District Champs       10th in State          Coach Ray Nelson 

1951                                   9th in State           Coach Ray Nelson
Roger Bielfield & Harold Stafford—5th in Doubles @IHSA Finals

1952  Roger Bielfield—5th in Singles             Coach John Allen

1954  District Champs                                     Coach John Allen
1955  District Champs                                     Coach John Allen
Elliott Bell—5th in Singles @ IHSA Finals

1956  District Champs        5th in State           Coach John Allen
Charles Lockhart & Bruce Stafford—3rd in Doubles @IHSA Finals 

1957  District Champs        2nd in State          Coach John Allen
Charles Lockhart—2nd in Singles @IHSA Finals

            Bruce Stafford & Jim Kohl—3rd in Doubles @IHSA Finals

Boys Golf

Two top-ten finishes and six District Championships were won by the Decatur High School Reds linksters.

1938   District Champs                                        (coach unknown)
1939   District Champs                                        (coach unknown)
State Qualifier
1940   District Champs                                        (coach unknown)
State Qualifer
1949   District Champs                                        (coach unknown)
4th in State Finals
1953   District Champs                                        (coach unknown)
6th in State Finals
1955   District Champs                                        (coach unknown)
State Qualifier

Boys Baseball

Eight District titles and four Sectional Championships made the DHS Reds a team capable of winning the state title each year. The Reds advanced to the Elite 8 on four occasions and the Final Four once.

1941  NRA  District Champs                             (coach unknown)
1947  13-4  District & Sectional Champs          Coach Gay Kintner
Qualified for State Finals

Lost to LaSalle-Peru 5-4 in quarterfinals

1950  NRA  District Champs                             (coach unknown)
1951  15-5   District & Sectional Champs         Coach G.C. Galbreath
Qualified for State Finals
Defeated Murphysboro 5-2 in quarterfinals

Lost to Pekin 3-0 in semifinals (Pekin eventual state champion)

1952  NRA   District Champs                            (coach unknown)
1953  NRA   District & Sectional Champs        Coach Dave Batthauer
Qualified for State Finals

Lost to Murphysboro 6-5 in quarterfinals

1954  NRA   District Champs                           (coach unknown)
1955  NRA   District & Sectional Champs        Coach Dave Batthauer
Qualified for State Finals

Lost to North Chicago 2-0 in quarterfinals

Boys Track & Field

The Decatur High School tracksters earned a ton of medals and garnered nine top-ten finishes and eight District titles during its tenure.

1898  Team Finished SIXTH at IHSA STATE Meet    (coach unknown)
Individual Medalists 

           Frank Lindsay  2nd Place                       440 Dash
2nd Place                       1 Mile Run
Will Murray      2nd Place                       1 Mile Bicycle
1899   Team Finished SIXTH at IHSA STATE Meet    (coach unknown)

           Indiividual Medalists
Frank Lindsay   2nd Place                       880 Run
3rd Place                        1 Mile Run
Will Murray       2nd Place                       1 Mile Bicycle
1900   Team Finished THIRD at IHSA STATE Meet    (coach unknown)
Individual Medalists

             Ed Keller           STATE CHAMPION          880 Bicycle

                                       2nd Place                       440 Bicycle

                   (only time both events were contested at state finals)

Ray Leonard     3rd Place                        Pole Vault
Frank Lindsay   STATE CHAMPION           880 Run
2nd Place                        1 Mile Run
1901   Team Finished FOURTH at IHSA STATE Meet (coach unknown)
Individual Medalists      

             Clarence Neiman STATE CHAMPION!!      High Jump
???? Murray         2nd Place                     880 Run
George Duhigg     3rd Place                      1 Mile Bicycle
1902      ???? Garland       2nd Place                     Standing Broad Jump
1909     Clarence Bowers   4th Place                      Hammer Throw
1911   Team Finished FIFTH at IHSA State Meet       (coach unknown)
Individual Medalists

             Will Noonan         STATE CHAMPION        1 Mile Run
STATE CHAMPION         880 Run
M. Allen                4th Place                      Hammer Throw
1912   Team Finished TENTH at IHSA STATE Meet    (coach unknown)
Individual Medalists

             Floyd Miller          2nd Place                     120 Hurdles
4th Place                      220 Hurdles
Art Harry               4th Place                      880 Run
1914A  Stanley Smith         3rd Place                     120 Hurdles
1915A  Garth Glasgow        4th Place                     1 Mile Run
Bernard Simmons   4th Place                    120 Hurdles
1916A  Team Finished SEVENTH at STATE Meet    (coach unknown)
Individual Medalist  

               Paul Powers        STATE CHAMPION       100 Dash
STATE CHAMPION       220 Dash
1924A  John Hanks              2nd Place                    880 Run
1926     Lee Sentman          4th Place                     220 Hurdles
1927     Lee Sentman          2nd Place                    220 Hurdles
1932    District Champs                                           (coach unknown)
1937    District Champs                                           (coach unknown)
Team Finiished SIXTH in STATE Meet

             Individual Medalists
Walter Stroyek      STATE CHAMPION       200 Hurdles
Walter Stroyek      2nd Place                    120 Hurdles
Walter Fedora       5th Place                     Javelin
1940     District Champs                                           Coach Francis White
Individual Medalist   

              Robert Dansby       3rd Place                     Discus
1941     District Champs                                           Coach Francis White
Individual Medalist

               Robert Dansby      3rd Place                     Discus
1942     Roy Hudspeth           4th Place                    120 Hurdles
1947     District Champs                                           Coach Francis White
1948     District Champs                                           Coach Francis White
Individual Medalists

              William Stuckey     2nd Place                    1 MIle Run
Dave Bernard         4th Place                     120 Hurdles
1949     District Champs                                            Coach Francis White
1950     District Champs                                            Coach Francis White
1951    Team Finished FIFTH in STATE Meet           Coach Francis White

               Individual Medalists

               Laudell Jackson    2nd Place                     Long Jump
Laudell Jackson    3rd Place                      100 Dash
Arthur Day             4th Place                      440 Dash
1954       Darrell Adcock         5th Place                      Pole Vault

Actor Ronald Reagan Crowns the DHS Hmecoming Queen

Queen Nancy Jo Black – 1955-56 School Year

Great Coaches and Athletes

—Gay Kintner – won 649 games as basketball coach from 1928-60 at Decatur and later Stephen Decatur High School, including three state titles, for a winning percentage of .708.

—Van Howe – compiled a 43-24-5 record in football from 1948-56 (.632), with three seasons of seven wins each.

—Gerald Cox – coached boys’ tennis team to state title in 1947

—Frank Lindsay – brought home six medals from the state track meet between 1898-1900, winning once, taking four seconds, and one third. The football stadium and track at nearby Millikin University are named for him.

—Will Noonan – won state titles in the 880 and one mile runs at the state track meet in 1911

—Paul Powers – a double winner in the 100 and 220 yard dashes at the 1916A state track meet.

We Are Requesting Your Assistance…

to tell the story about the history of Decatur High School. If you have any additional information or pictures, we would be most happy to use it. Please email your information to us at dr.veeman@gmail.com or send it to the address listed below. Special thanks go to longtime Decatur sportswriter Tom McNamara for his help, along former Chicago sportswriter Jim Enright’s book March Madness: The History of High School Basketball in Illinois (1977) for valuable information in preparing this page.

Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva
Chicago, Il  60631

Decatur High School Building

Submitted by Sally Hursh

Decatur High School Building

Submitted by Sally Hursh

We know the Davis High School boys played basketball. It is likely that baseball and track were offered as well. We are searching for further information regarding the Davis High School athletic program. School team nickname, uniform colors, and fight song.  Team records and coaches’ names are needed.

Basketball

Basketball was one of the sports offered at Davis High School. They played in the Stevenson County Conference during it’s existance. In 1921, their final year as a four-year high school, Davis won the Stevenson County Conference Tournament. The Davis High School basketball team competed in the annual IHSA State Tournament. We did locate a few scores involving Davis High School on a website titled Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores” which are listed below.

1920-21         Stevenson Cty. Conf. Champions        Coaches name & record needed

——————————–

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

Davis forfeited 1st Rd to Warren

——————————–

1922-23 through 1932-33  Postseason scores, record, and coach’s name needed.

———————————

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

1st Rd Beat Seward 18-12

2nd Rd lost to Winnebago 34-15

Winnebago lost to Freeport in title game

——————————-

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

1st Rd Beat Galena 21-18

2nd Rd lost to Stockton 40-13

Stockton beat Hanover in title game

——————————

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

1st Rd Beat Scales Mound 26-23

2nd Rd score needed

——————————-

1936-37         Freeport District Tournament                    Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Stockton 51-6

Stockton lost to Freeport in title game

——————————-

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

1st Rd lost to Pearl City 35-20

Orangeville beat Winslow in title game.

——————————–

1938-39           Orangeville District Tournament             Coach’s name & record needed.

1st Rd lost to Winslow 42-12

Winslow beat Orangeville in title game.

——————————–

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

——————————–

**1940-41          Pearl City District Tournament                   Coach’s name & record needed.

Semi-Final Beat Pearl City 25-16

Title game lost to Durand 55-24.

——————————–

**This is the final season in which Davis High School is listed on the Illinois Postseason High School Basketball Scores website.

——————————–

Seeking Your Assistance

If you have ANY further information about Davis High School, please share it with us.  Photos and information can be e-mailed to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.

http://www.journalstandard.com/article/20140119/ENTERTAINMENTLIFE/sthash.I6rfC9Uo.gbpl?tag=1

By Harriett Gustason
For The Journal-Standard

Posted Jan. 19, 2014 @ 8:00 am

Back in 1839, a colony of Norwegians chose the site that would become the village of Davis as the place they wanted to live. They supposed themselves to be the first colony of Norwegians in the United States.

These folk chose to settle on the Ridge Road just east of Rock Run creek. The village is located in Rock Run Township. Prominent names among the settlers were the Olsons, Andersons, Knudsons and Eversons. According to the “History of Stephenson County 1970,” most of these families were farmers. Canute Canuteson ran the first blacksmith shop in the township and Ole Civertson, the first wagon shop, two of the most vital businesses to the future of any village at that time.

A listing of early Davis businesses in the history includes nine doctors, nine druggists, plus shoemakers, blacksmiths, wagon makers, carpenters, hotel keepers, lumber dealers, livestock and grain dealers, clothiers, grocers, butchers, barbers, brick manufacturers, painters, harness makers, tailors, coopers and grain dealers, as well as stores for hardware, furniture and coffins.

The pioneer businesses

Two enterprising brothers, John A. and Samuel Davis, when they learned the Racine and Southwestern Railroad was coming through, saw opportunities. Samuel Davis, when he learned this good news, bought up more land around where the railroad planned to build a station. He hired Ludwig Stanton, a former school friend of his to plat the land. Thomas Turner, whose name was prominent in early Freeport lore, was also in on the enterprise. Edward McMahon did the surveying. By 1857, more than 157 years ago, lots in the village were being sold. The rails had reached Davis by 1858.

You know what happened in 1858. Railroads were laying track right and left heading from east to west and north to south, and Stephenson County was no exception. When the Rail Splitter and the Little Giant faced off in a debate here in Freeport, folks piled into the city in droves, many coming by rail.

James B. Wright was the first storekeeper and postmaster. That same year a stone school house was built with a Mr. Gleasman as teacher, states the 1970 history.

Wright and Bonn opened a brickyard. In 1970, the history states, four of the first brick buildings from this yard were still in use in the village. Is there anyone who can say whether or not any of them are still in use?

John A. Davis, Samuel’s brother and associate, was also promoting the growth of the village, that is until the Civil War broke out. John Davis “was instrumental in raising a regiment of about 1,000 men from Stephenson County. Recruiting meetings were held throughout the county with men and boys in their teens among them. Most of the volunteers from Rock Run and Rock Grove townships became members of the 46th Regiment commanded by Colonel Davis who was well liked by all under his command. Col. Davis died before the war was over, a victim of wounds and illnesses. He was buried in Davis Cemetery after one of the largest war-time funerals in the county.”

Most of the owners of businesses wanted their establishments close to the depot. “Mr. Gold built a hotel in the Kramer Addition but later moved it to Stanton Street.”

The first home built in Davis was the house later occupied by a Becker family and later the Julius Untersees. Several houses were moved from Epplyanna to Davis, “pulled on rollers by horses and oxen.”

In spite of the hard times caused by the war, the village added a two-story, two-room addition to its school. The first village trustees were elected in 1871 at Claren Gold’s hotel. Thomas Hays was elected temporary town clerk and Thomas Cronemiller, temporary president. On March 6, 1871, the temporary trustees met at the Bates furniture store and heard J.B. Smith take the oath of office for the presidency of the Village Board.

In 1872, W.A. and N.L. Colby of Pecatonica started the “Davis Weekly Gazette.” The paper changed hands several times until the middle 1880s when there was no paper in Davis. The “Davis Sentinal” served the village for a time but no records were found as to its duration.

The village develops

A steam-powered flour mill had been constructed in 1876 by the Davis Manufacturing Co., but “the black-rust disease” had cut down the growing of wheat so the mill was closed in 1880 and the building eventually destroyed.

The history states that in 1880 the town now had 12 stores of dealers in dry goods, groceries, drugs and other commodities; two blacksmith shops “in one of which a superior quality of plow is made”; three churches, one newspaper, one mill and “other evidences of prosperity.” Kerosene street lights were installed during the 1880s and a creamery was started in 1882 by the Kunz brothers.

Additional land was purchased in the west side of the school ground and when the present school was built in the spring of 1897 it was located in the center of the school property about 100 feet to the west of the old building.

The Farmers Bank of Davis was organized in 1895 and occupied a new brick building on Stanton Street. Thurston Stabeck and T. Briggs were founders. Clement Stabeck was cashier for many years. The bank closed briefly for reorganization in 1928 and again in 1931.

Telephones were brought to Davis in 1904 by the Peoples Mutual Telephone Co. and purchased in 1955 by the Northern Illinois Telephone Co. Electric lights came next when the Davis Electric Light Co. went into business in 1915, replacing the kerosene street lights. That company was organized by Jacob Best.

In 1921, an addition was built to the Davis schoolhouse to be used by the just-formed four-year community high school district. Like others in the county, the history states, the district was declared illegal by the Circuit Court. The village then operated a three-year high school until 1949 when it became part of Dakota Unit District No. 201. The Davis school was used for the grades until 1965 when the new Dakota grade school building was completed and the Davis building was sold and razed.

During the one year Davis had a four-year high school, there were only nine boys in the school. Eight of these boys played basketball and won the conference tournament.

A rejuvenation of Davis

A volunteer fire department was organized and a truck purchased in 1927. The village was rejuvenated in 1929 and 1930 when Illinois State Highway 75 was constructed. Since then village streets have been paved and county roads improved.

The history goes on to tell of the evolving of churches, organizations and social and recreational institutions, and it gives listings of the businesses there in 1970 when the county history was published. Somewhat surprising is the type of stores supported at that time. Included were a confectionery store, an arts and crafts store, a floral shop and miscellaneous trade services, taverns and the bank.

We can’t help wondering how many of those old Norwegian names still prevail in Davis. Whatever, the village remains a picturesque place to live where its people remain by choice.

Two sports are listed on the IHSA web site as having been offered at Danvers High School. Boys Basketball and boys Track & Field both saw IHSA hardware come home with them. The Danvers High School kids were also offered baseball (both fall and spring). We are seeking assistance from an area enthusiast regarding the DHS athletic program.

Danvers Basketball Team of 1952-53

Boys Basketball

The Danvers HS gymnasium was in a “quonset hut” style building. The basketball floor was flanked by a raised stage at one end. The locker rooms were described this way by former student Steve Graves: “The locker rooms, a level down and flanking the stage…were just like the ones in the basketball movie of the period “Hoosiers.”

Though only winning two District Titles, the Danvers boys had many successful seasons. The best of those seasons as listed on the IHSA web site are mentioned below. One interesting note: since Danvers was only a three-year school at the time, three members from the 1928-29 district champion transferred to Bloomington for their senior year and led that school’s team to a second-place finish at the IHSA state tournament. Donald Argo, Clarke Buescher, and Gerald Cooke (also known as the “ABC Boys”) were instrumental in helping the Purple Raiders after being members of the Dragon varsity.

1928-29      N.R.A.    District Champions       Coach George Clinebell

1953-54      17 – 7      (good record)                 Coach Joe Nicolay

1955-56      18 – 6      (good record)                 Coach Joe Nicolay

1957-58      20 – 8      (good record)                 Coach Maurice Hesses

1958-59      21 – 6      District Champions      Coach Maurice Hesses

1959-60      21 – 6      (good record)                 Coach Tony Rolinski

Boys Track & Field

The boys track program had one individual bring home two medals from the State Track Meet. Ron Schieber’s efforts resulted in a 10th Place finish for the Danvers Track Team in 1958. 

1957-58     Ron Schieber       440 Yard Run         3rd Place

                 Ron Schieber       220 Yard Run         4th Place

Great Athletes

Former student Steve Graves described the Schieber brothers (Ron and Jerry) in this manner:

“Ron Schieber, as you mention, was an outstanding runner. Although he never played high school football, Ron emerged as a star running back and most valuable player selection at Illinois State and played pre-season games with the Detroit Lions as a free agent in 1963. He was also one of the key sprinters on a national contending mile relay team at ISU.

Probably an equally amazing story was his brother Jerry Schieber. Danvers had no community pool-just an 18′ in length pool built by the local undertaker. Jerry had not only never been in a swim meet but had never seen a swim meet until he also enrolled (Illinois State Normal University, Normal, Illinois). He went on to not only swim well (breast stroke was his event) but he qualified (national time standard) to go to the US Olympic Trials in 1960.”

Thank you to Steve Graves for sharing this information.

Boys Baseball

We are told the Dragons had a good baseball program as well, having won the 1942 McLean County Championship over defending titlist Bellflower, 10-9.. If you have any further information on the diamond men of Danvers High School please send it to us so we can share it on this site. We do know that baseball was offered in the fall and spring.

Danvers HS Bldg. – Side View (2009)

Submitted by Jason Smith (Left Click on Photo for Enlarged Version)

School Building Entrance

Submitted by Jason Smith

Danvers HS Building – Rear View

Submitted by Jason Smith (Left Click on Photo for Enlarged Version)

Need Your Help

If you have any information you can add regarding the Danvers High School District and their athletic accomplishments, please submit a Guest Commentary Form or a School Submission Form. We are always glad to add a photo of any of the great teams from Danvers HS past. You may also e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or write us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago,  Il.    60631

Danvers High School (Photo by Kev Varney )

Now Olympia School District Grade School

Danvers High School Building

1915 building to far left, 1938 addition in foreground

Danvers School / New Addition

Click to Enlarge

Danvers High School Side View

Click to Enlarge

Danforth (population 587) is located in the upper eastern portion of Illinois.  The town is located in the west-central portion of Iroquois County about 20 miles south (and a little west) of Kankakee.  U.S. Route 45 is the main roadway to and from Danforth while Interstate Highway 57 travels just west of Danforth. The Illinois Central Railroad passes through Danforth as well.

A nice article regarding the history of the town of Danforth can be read at the web address of  http://www.genealogytrails.com/ill/iroquois/Danforth.htm .  In summary the village of Danforth was “laid out” in 1872.  This is after the railroad line had been established in the area in 1865. The town is named after the original land owners, George and A.H. Danforth.

The history of the Danforth school system has proven harder to research. We would guess that a school was set up by the late 1860s.  It is probable that high school courses were established by the late 1800s, though it would be conceivable that the high school was not instituted until the early 1900s.

Rick Scharp, Danforth Class of 1945, provides the following information regarding Danforth High School:

“The last year Danforth offered any high school courses was during the school year of 1944-45. I was a sophomore that year and finished with two years at Gilman. Danforth only offered two years at that time, but I understand that they had offered three years of high school at sometime prior to that, but it was never a four-year high school.”

Danforth High School Class of 1926

Submitted by Lee Nemnich / Edith Schriefer Center Row, Far Right

Danforth High School was annexed into the Gilman School District in 1945.  The kids of Danforth today attend school as part of the Iroquois West school district.  Danforth currently hosts an elementary for Iroquois West.

Danforth High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                           late 1800s / early 1900s

Year closed:                            1945

Consolidated to:                      Gilman Iroquois West

Danforth HS team nickname:  “Tigers”

Danforth HS uniform colors:    Orange & Black

School Fight Song:                  unavailable

Dana High School Rear View

Gymnasium Windows on Left

Athletics

The Dana High School Demons competed in boys basketball and probably track and baseball as most small towns of its day. IHSA hardware was earned in basketball; however, there is no mention of any other sport on the site (www.ihsa.org).

Boys Basketball

The Dana Demons earned two IHSA District titles during their existence. Those years are listed below.  Unfortunately, the team records and coaches names are not available. We are hopeful an area fan or alum can provide further information regarding Dana’s boys basketball program.

Some basketball scores involving Dana High School in the IHSA Tourney were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores.” These scores are listed below.

The photo of the Dana High School scoreboard shown below was submitted by James Bane who provided this bit of information:

“I have the scoreboard that was used in the school. I was told it was installed sometime in the 50’s. My ather John Bane purchased at the school auction and we used in our farm shop when we played ball.’

Dana High School Scoreboard 2018

Submitted by James Bane

1932-33      Wenona District Tournament                 Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Lost to Long Point 33-18

Long Point won District Championship

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

1st Rd Lost to Tonica 25-16

Tonica lost in 2nd round

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

1st Rd Lost to Toluca 39-16

Tonica lost in 2nd round

1935-36      Wenona District Champs!                   Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Magnolia 27-16

                   Semi-final Beat Long Point

                   TItle Game Beat Lostant 28-21

                   Wenona Regional Tourney

1st Rd lost to Granville 25-12

Granville lost in title game

1936-37 through 1938-39 Postseason scores, record, and coaches’ names needed

1939-40      Wenona District Champs                    Coach Lyle Lawson

Early Rd Scores Needed

                   Title Game Beat Wenona 36-33

                   Wenona Regional Tournament

                   1st Rd Beat Minonk 28-27

                   Semi-final lost to Granville 36-21

Granville beat Toluca in title game

1940-41      Wenona District Runner-Up                Coach Lyle Lawson

                   1st Rd Beat Magnolia 26-23

                   Semi-final Beat Long Point 30-26

                   Title Game lost to Sparland 29-23

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

Dana did not compete in District tourney

Wenona Regional Scores

                   1st Rd Lost to Wenona 43-32

Wenona lost in title game

1942-43      Varna District Runner-Up                      Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Long Point 65-18

                   Semi-final Beat Rutland 33-29

                   Title Game lost to Lostant 36-31

1943-44      Postseason scores, record, and coaches’ names needed.

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

1st Rd Beat Tonica 39-31

                    Semi-final lost to Rutland 54-39

Rutland beat Varna in title game

1945-46      Varna District Tournament                     Coach’s name & record needed

Semi-final Lost to Tonica 49-30

Tonica lost in title game

1946-47      Varna District Tournament                     Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Hennepin 58-24

2nd Rd Lost to Tonica 42-31

Long Point Beat Rutland I title game

1947-48      Varna District Tournament                     Coach’s name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Sparland 52-50

Toluca beat Tonica in title game

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

1st Rd Beat Tonica 39-32

**Semi-final lost to Long Point 48-31

Long Point won District title

**Last game played by Dana High School. Consolidated with Minonk High School in the Fall of 1949 to form Minonk-Dana High School.

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Track & Field

It is a fact that Dana High School offered Track & Field. Though no IHSA hardware was won, one interesting story emerged recently. According to a Minonk-Dana graduate the Dana High School track team of the mid-1940s consisted of one athlete. His name was Gene O’Connell and it is believed in some meets he competed in every event (except relay races of course).

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Girls Basketball

Dana High School also had girls basketball, at least through the early 1920s. The photo below was submitted by Connie Cinnamon. It is a photo of the Dana “Hot Shots” girls basketball team of 1922-23. Connie’s mother, Anna Swanberg Cinnamon, is seated in the front row in the center and is holding the basketball.

Dana HS Girls Basketball Team 1922-23

Submitted by Connie Cinnamon – Anna Swanberg Cinnamon Holding Ball

Memories

From Diane Crook:

“I’m enjoying your website which got me digging through an old box of clippings I inherited from my mother  She saved clippings of all the Dana Cagers games from when my dad, Gerald Clegg was center. I also have tournament flyers from the IHSA district tournaments for 1938, 1939, and 1942.  She filled in the scores and the winners. I will copy & send when I have a chance. There is an article about the Dana basketball banquet which was decorated in purple and gold which I think were the school’s colors.”

Dana HS Class of 1924

Submitted by Connie Cinnamon – Anna Swanberg Cinnamon in Front Row on Right

Need Your In-Put

The great stories of Dana High School and its many successes may be fading fast. We need your help to record them and share them with others before they are lost forever. If you have a photo of the school and/or other activities by the students please e-mail them to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631