Avon High School was a very well-rounded school in terms of the programs it offered to the students. The school competed on a state-wide level in many areas of competition, including athletics, band, choir, and other scholastic contests.

                

Of all of the activities offered at AHS, none were more successful than the teams that competed in the IHSA's Music Sweepstakes. As you will see below, Avon had one of the elite music programs in the state for a school of its size. Here is a breakdown of Avon High School's accomplishments in the Music Sweepstakes competition:

                   

10 - IHSA Top-Five Finishes in all!! 

                

We are interested in the instructors' names for each of these years. Any information would be welcome. Congrtulations to Avon High School on their excellent accomplishments.

1972-73      Team Placed FIFTH in IHSA Finals!!            (Instructor's name needed)

                  1.) Roberts-Thawville

                  2.) Piper City

                  3.) Tiskilwa

                  4.) Melvin Sibley

                  5.) AVON

1973-74      Team Placed FIFTH in IHSA Finals!!            (Instructor's name needed)

The Avon High School Trojans and Lady Trojans had many successful seasons in various athletic events. The basketball teams won several titles in District and Regional tournaments. The football team, in spite of being one of the smaller schools in the area, made the IHSA playoffs on four occasions. There were also several successful seasons in softball and volleyball, with many athletes earning medals in the IHSA State Track Meet as well.

 

We are not certain about the year, but at some point Avon joined in a cooperative agreement with nearby Bushnell-Prairie City High School. This likely occurred in the early 2000s. This agreement included all sports at both schools. If you have information regarding the coop please contact us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.

                 

 

The Avon High School "Trojans" had some excellent success stories on the hardwood court. The boys won a total of FIVE Regional Championships and THREE District Championships! What made the District titles of 1923, 1924, and 1936 so special was that they were won at a time where there was a one-class system. The teams played by Avon were in some instances 10 - 15 times larger in enrollment than Avon HS. 

 

Avon High School had a real nice run in basketball during the era of 1984-85 through 1990-91. In this seven year span Avon won all five of their Regional titles. Their best season in terms of post season success was likely the 1985-86 team that lost the Sectional title game by three points to Kewanee.

 

We are missing several season records and coaches names from the list below. The postseason scores were found on a website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores." If you have any further information you can add to this section please contact us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.

1922-23           District Champions!!                                 Coach's name & record needed

                       (District Scores Unavailable)

                       Sectional Tourney

                       1st. Rd. - Lost to Canton

                       Canton won Sectional &

                       Placed Third in State Finals

    

1923-24            District Champions!!                                 Coach's name & record needed

 

The gridiron warriors of AHS faired quite well over the years. The only records found on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org) are listed below. It is likely that Avon had football teams well before the 1971 season. Season records and coaches names from these seasons and some of the seasons listed below are needed.

 

AHS made the coveted IHSA playoffs on four occasions. The first time the program made the playoffs only 16 teams were invited to participate in each of 5 classes. In two of tho other three seasons the teams advanced into the second round becoming part of the Sweet 16 for the Class 1A playoffs before bowing out.  

                     

1971-72                                                                         Coach Dick Carlson

1972-73                                                                         Coach Dick Carlson

1973-74                                                                         Coach Dick Carlson

1974-75                                                                         Coach Dick Carlson

1975-76  7 - 2                                                                 Coach Dick Carlson

1976-77  3 - 6                                                                 Coach Dick Carlson

1977-78  7 - 2                                                                 Coach Dick Carlson

1978-79  7 - 2                                                                 Coach Dick Carlson

1979-80  6 - 3                                                                 Coach Dick Carlson

1980-81  0 - 9                                                                 Coach Dick Carlson

1981-82  0 - 9                                                                 Coach Dick Carlson

1982-83  3 - 6                                                                 Coach Dick Carlson

                       1st Rd.- Lost to Monmouth Yorkwood 37-0

                       Yorkwood won IHSA State Championship!

                     

1984-85  6 - 3                                                                 (Coach's name needed)

1985-86  4 - 5                                                                 (Coach's name needed)

1986-87  3 - 6                                                                 (Coach's name needed)

1987-88  1 - 8                                                                 (Coach's name needed)

1988-89  1 - 8                                                                 Coach James O'Flaherty

1989-90  3 - 6                                                                 Coach James O'Flaherty

 

 

**From former assistant coach Jason Bates: 

 

"I was an assistant coach for Avon-Roseville football coop for one year in the 1994 season while I was attending WIU briefly.  Head Coach was Don Farr and one of the assistants was Chad Carlson. They had just come off back to back conference titles of the Bi-County Conference and I believe you have that info.  I know the co-op lasted for a few years in the 1990's.  I don't know the year it ended but whenever the first year of Avon joining Bushnell Prairie City was, would be the end of the (AR Cougars Co-op).  Colors were Black/Silver/White.  Helmets were black with a big block "A & R" put together and offset.  Home jersey's were black, road jerseys were white with a silver/grey pant.  Home games were split with half in Roseville and half in Avon.  practices were sometimes in Roseville and sometimes in Avon depending on where we played a game that week whether home or away.  So practices and games were split very evenly between the two towns. The Cougars also had a homecoming game in each town."

                               

1990-91  8 - 2   IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier!!      Coach James O'Flaherty

1991-92  5 - 4                                                                (Coach's name needed) 

                              

1992-93  8 - 3   IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier!!      Coach Rick Kirkton 

 

The lady netters of Avon High School made one trip to the Sweet 16 and won a total of THREE Regional Championships and one District Championship. The team of 1987-88 also won a Sectional title! The 1985-86 team won all 17 regular season games before losing in the Regional tournament.

 

We do not have any records or game results for the championship seasons. We also do not have records or coaches names for the seasons beginning with 1993-94 through the coop with Bushnell-Prairie City. Please contact us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net if you have any information you can add to this section.

                         

1973-74                                                                         Coach Phyllis Brown

1974-75    1 - 11                                                             Coach Phyllis Brown

1975-76    6 - 3                                                               Coach Phyllis Brown

1976-77  12 - 2                                                               Coach Phyllis Brown

1977-78  13 - 2        District Champions!!                       Coach Phyllis Brown

1978-79    7 - 13                                                             Coach Phyllis Brown

1979-80  13 - 9                                                               Coach Phyllis Brown

1980-81  12 - 2                                                               Coach Phyllis Brown

1981-82  13 - 3                                                               Coach Phyllis Brown

1982-83  11 - 7                                                               Coach Phyllis Brown

1983-84  10 - 6                                                               Coach Phyllis Brown

1984-85  11 - 5                                                               Coach Phyllis Brown

1985-86  17 - 1        Undefeated Regular Season!          Coach Julie Gomes

1987-88  (need record) Sweet 16 Finalist!!!!                    Coach Cindy Paulus

                              (Postseason scores needed)

                                 Regional Champions!!

                

1988-89 & 1989-90 Records and coaches names needed.

                            

1990-91  (need record) Regional Champions!!                (Coach's name needed)

                    

1991-92  (need record) Regional Champions!!                (Coach's name needed)

             

1992-93 through coop with BPC - Season records and coaches names needed.

                              

 

There are no season records listed on the IHSA website for Avon High School girls basketball. We were able to locate some postseason efforts recorded on the site and have listed them below. We do not know if the coop with Bushnell-Prairie City included girls basketball, and if it did we are not certain when the coop agreement took place.

 

We are in need of season records and coaches names for every season of girls basketball at Avon High School. Please contact us if you have this information to share in this section.

2008-09  (record needed)  Regional Tourney - 2nd Place!      Coach's name needed

                                Title Game - Lost to London Mills 56-48

                                London Mills SRV lost in Sectional 1st. Rd.

2009-10  (record needed)  Regional Champions!!!             Coach's name needed

                                Title Game - Beat Abingdon 38-29

                                1st Rd. - Lost to Ridgewood 68-50

                                Ridgewood placed 3rd in State Finals

                

2010-11  (record needed)                                                    Coach's name needed

                                Regional Tourney

                                Beat Biggsville 60-37

                                Semi-final lost to Knoxville 68-44

                                Knoxville won Regional title

                                Knoxville lost in Sectional semi-final

                   

                                Ridgewood = Cambridge/Alwood Coop

            

2011-12  (record needed)                                                    Coach's name needed

The Avon High School girls competed in softball. We believe the school entered into a coop agreement with BPC in the latter years, possibly in the early 2000s. If this is incorrect please let us know. We do know that the IHSA website credits Avon HS with winning a Regional title in 2008 and lists Avon HS as competing in the Regional tourney in 2011 and 2012.

 

We are in need of records and coaches names for each of the seasons on the diamond for the Avon HS girls. If you have this information and any other items you would like to share please contact us.

2007-08                Regional Champions!!                  (Coach's name & record needed)

                   Title game - Beat London Mills SRV 4-0

                   1st Rd. - Lost to Tremont 2-0

                   Tremont lost in Sectional final.

   

2010-11                Regional Tourney                            (Coach's name & record needed)

                   Quarter-final rd. - lost to Biggsville WC 12-2

                   Biggsville WC lost in semi-final round.

          

2011-12                Regional Tourney                            (Coach's name & record needed)

The Avon High School boys thinclads earned a total of TEN individual medals at the IHSA state track meet! Steve Repp (5 total medals) and Dan Schisler (4 total medals) led the way. Steve Repp's 2nd Place finish in the 400 meter dash and three medals won in the 1985 state meet was the best season for any individual in AHS history. Information is being sought to fill this section out more completely such

as coaches names and conference success.

              

1982-83        Individual Medalist - Class A                  Coach's name needed 

1983-84        Individual Medalist - Class A                  Coach's name needed                                    

 

The Avon lady tracksters won a District title in 1978! They also had one individual, Kelli Krause, place at the IHSA Class 1A state track meet! Coaches names and other information is needed to make this section more complete. A photo of the 1978 District champs is also bing sought. Coach Ross Richardson coached track and field at Avon - Spoon River Valley in the 1990s. Coach Richardson now coaches at Harvard University!

 

1977-78        District Champions!!                               Coach's name needed

                         

1997-98        Individual Medalist - Class A                  Coach Patrick Murphy 

    (Kelli was a student at London Mills Spoon River Valley H.S.

     Spoon River Valley and Avon H.S. co-opted girls track this season

     with Avon H.S. as the hosting school.)

             

 

.....to share regarding the history, accomplishments, and experiences of Avon High School please write to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. Photos and memories are always welcome and make each page on the Glory Days website unique. You can also contact us via the U.S. Postal Service at the following address:

 

Chicago, Il....60631

Avon HS Junior Class Photo of 1927-28 (above)

Front row: Alf Raymond, Lewis Palmer, Lachlan Crissey, Donald Hatch, Eugene Pattison, Ralph Davis

Second row: Eula Buck, Lucille Swanson, Eileen Grey, Urith Cutforth, Bernadine Spurgeon, Gertrude Mills

Third Row: Catharine Gillett, Doris Lemon, Grace Potter, Evelyn Niles, Lucy Shumaker

Back Row: Edward Brown, Russell Meachum, Bert Alden

Juanita Sebree was absent.