Fairbury-Cropsey High School "Tartars"
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Fairbury-Cropsey High School Building
fairburyhsdav.jpg

 
                              The History of Fairbury-Cropsey High School
 
The cities of Fairbury (population 3,968, southeast Livingston County) and Cropsey (population 240, northeast McLean County) are located in east-central IIlinois. Both cities are located about 30-35 miles northeast of Bloomington. The history and backgrounds of each city can be reviewed on their individual pages on this site.  
 
The towns of Fairbury and Cropsey both supported their own high schools from the late 1800s through 1951. The year 1951 is exact, in fact, as to when the high schools located in Fairbury and Cropsey joined forces to create the Fairbury-Cropsey School District. The high school was located in Fairbury, while the school in Cropsey was used as part of the Fairbury-Cropsey School System until it was declared unsafe during the 1970's.
 
Fairbury-Cropsey faired quite well for exactly 35 years. It was at the end of the 1984-85 school year when a new consolidation effort took place with Chatsworth and Forrest-Strawn-Wing High Schools. It was then, in 1985, that the Prairie Central School District was formed. Though technically the Fairbury-Cropsey High School District was deactivated, the location of the high school and atmosphere for the students of both towns did not change. Prairie Central High School remained located in the Fairbury-Cropsey High School buildiing.
 
Fairbury-Cropsey High School Quick Facts
 
Year opened:                   1951
Year deactivated:            1985
Consolidated to:              Prairie Central High School (Fairbury)
School nickname:           the "Tartars"
School colors:                 Green & Gold
School Fight Song:         "F.C. High"
                                    
 

To F.C. High the school we love, we sing a song of praise

To all her many victories won, and high her banners raise

To glorify our alma mater and work for her with zest

To show that all the word around that F.C. High is best...

 

So let’s sing out a cheer while we’re all gathered here

Cheer for old F.C. High.  Rah, rah!

We are ready and bold for the green and the gold

Of dear old F.C. High

For her honor and fame and her glorious name

We will send every loyal man.

So let’s cheer, cheer, the gang’s all here

All out for F.C. High.

tartarlogo.jpg

Athletics
 
The Fairbury-Cropsey Tartars had many great teams and successful athletes in their short run together. IHSA hardware (www.ihsa.org) was won in the boys sports of track & field, wrestling, and one journey into the state football playoffs. The boys had some nice sesons in basketball as well. The girls also won some hardware in track & field, including several individual medals, as well as some good success in volleyball. It is believed the Lady Tartars also competed in basketball.
 
A very informational blog by Jim Munz helps chronicle the athletic history of Fairbury-Cropsey: www.rememberthetartars.blogspot.com. What is a Tartar, you ask? A Tartar was a Mongolian Warrior. And a brave sole at that!    
 
Boys Basketball
 
The Tartars were competitive in both the Mid-State and Sangamon Valley Conferences while the school was open, taking one IHSA regional title and three conference plaques to go along with some nice seasons recorded on the IHSA web site. The best of those are listed below. Scores from the IHSA State Tourney located on a website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores" are also listed below.
 
1951-52               Lexington Regional Tournament        Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Lexington 69-43
                            Lexington won Regional over Normal U-High
   
1952-53   15- 9    Mid-State Conf. 3rd Place (10-4)        Coach John Reakes
                            Fairbury Regional Tournament
                            1st Rd Beat Normal U-High 69-57
                            Semi-final lost to Normal HS 81-69
                            Normal HS beat Lexington in title game
   
1953-54               Fairbury Regional Tournament           Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd Beat Normal HS 55-53 (O/T)
                            Semi-final lost to Lexington 68-56
                            Lexington beat Colfax Octavia in title game
 
1954-55               Fairbury Regional Tournament           Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd Beat Chenoa 74-56
                            Semi-final lost to Normal 81-68
                            Normal beat Normal U-High in title game
                           
1955-56   16-11   MId-State Conf. Champs (10-2)       Coach George Fyke
                            Fairbury Regional Tournament           
                            1st Rd Beat Normal U-High 69-65
                            Semi-final lost to Normal 70-62
                            Normal beat Forrest in title game
  
1956-57   23- 7    Mid-State Conf. Champs (11-1)       Coach George Fyke
                            Normal Regional Runnner-Up
                            1st Rd Beat Lexington 82-76
                            Semi-final Beat Colfax Octavia 68-60
                            Title Game lost to Forrest-Strawn-Wing 79-69
FORREST-STRAWN-WING (79): Rieger 35, J. Bachtold 18, R. Bachtold 14, Merritt 6, Aellig 4, E. Bachtold 1.
FAIRBURY (69): Moore 26, Bach 12, Doran 12, Kafer 11, Bazzell 6, Yeck 2.
      
1957-58   24- 6    Fairbury Regional Champions        Coach George Fyke
                            1st Rd Beat Colfax Octavia 67-48
                            Semi-final Beat Normal U-High 72-61
                            Title Game Beat Forrest-Strawn-Wing 69-66
                            LaSalle Sectional Tournament
                            Semi-final lost to Ottawa 71-58
                            Ottawa beat Tiskilwa in title game
OTTAWA (71): Varland 20, Clements 16, Lindemann 15, Parkins 13, Martin 7.
FAIRBURY (58): Kafer 18, Doran 16, Moore 12, Bach 5, Goembel 4, Ward 3
      
1958-59   15- 8    Normal Regional Tournament            Coach George Fyke 
                            1st Rd lost to Colfax Octavia 72-59
                            Octavia lost to Normal HS in title game
  
1959-60               Fairbury Regional Runner-Up          Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd Beat Colfax Octavia 58-54
                            Semi-final Beat Forrest-Strawn-Wing 58-52
                            Title Game lost to Normal HS 102-68
   
1960-61               Normal Regional Tournament             Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Colfax Octavia 37-36
                            Octavia lost to Lexington in title game
 
1961-62               Fairbury Regional Tournament            Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Colfax Octavia 53-51
                            Octavia beat Normal U-High in title game
 
1962-63   13- 8    Normal Regional Tournament              Coach Dwayne Roe
                            1st Rd lost to Lexington 52-43
                            Lexington lost to Octavia in semi-final
                            Octavia beat Normal HS in title game
   
1963-64               Fairbury Regional Tournament            Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Normal HS 64-54
                            Octavia beat Normal in semi-final
                            Octavia beat Lexington in title game
   
1964-65               Normal Regional Tournament              Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Bloomington Trinity 61-42
                            Trinity beat Normal U-High in title game
    
1965-66               Bloomington Regional Tournament      Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Normal U-High 59-42
                            Normal lost to Bloomington in semi-final
                            Bloomington lost to Normal U-High in title game
     
1966-67               Fairbury Regional Tournament            Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Normal HS 64-54
                            Normal U-High lost to Normal in semi-final
                            Normal beat Bloomington Trinity in title game
  
1967-68               Normal Regional Tournament              Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Bloomington C.C. 63-36
                            B.C.C. lost to Normal U-High in title game
                            Normal U-High beat Normal in title game
                             
1968-69               Bloomington Regional Tournament      Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Normal HS 74-39
                            Normal beat Bloomington C.C. in title game
  
1969-70               Normal Regional Tournament              Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Normal U-High 77-44
                            Normal U-High beat Colfax Octavia in title game
   
1970-71   16- 8   Sangamon Valley Conf. Champs      Coach Bill Winn
                            Bloomington Regional Tournament  
                            1st Rd lost to Normal HS 93-60
                            Normal lost to Normal U-High in semi-final game
                            Normal U-High beat Bloomington HS in title game
 
1971-72               Fairbury Class 'A' Regional Tourney   Coach's name & record needed
                            1st Rd lost to Gridley
                            Gridley lost to Colfax Octavia in semi-final
                            Octavia lost to Normal U-High in title game
  
1972-73 through 1979-80  Postseason scores, records, and coaches' names needed.
   
1980-81   18- 8    Sangamon Valley Conf. Champs     Coach Dennis Kagel
                             Postseason scores needed.
 
1981-82 through 1984-85  Postseason scores, records, and coaches' names needed.
   
 
Football
 
The boys football team at Fairbury-Cropsey High School also had some good seasons on record. Starting with the first year that the school was in existence, F-C was a contender for the Mid-State Conference title, winning the conference in 1956 and stopped Chenoa's 44-game unbeaten conference streak that season. 
 
During their stint in the Mid-State as Fairbury or Fairbury-Cropsey, the Tartars sported a conference record of 40-12-2 (.769 winning percentage)!! In Sangamon Valley play, the 1970 & 1973 teams won confernece titles as the 1970 squad was undefeated! The team of 1983-84 even ventured into the 2A state playoffs. The best of the Fairbury-Cropsey Tartar football seasons are listed below. 
 
 
1951-52    6-2      Mid-State Conf. Runner-up (6-2)            Coach Bob Hainline
1955-56    5-2-2  Mid-State Conf. Runner-up (5-1-1)         Coach Pat Zuchowski
1956-57    8-1      Mid-State Conf. Champs (7-0)               Coach Pat Zuchowski
1970-71    9-0     Undefeated Regular Season                   Coach John Feely
                                Sangamon Valley Conf. Champs
1973-74    7-2     Sangamon Valley Champions                Coach John Ayres    
1974-75    7-2                                                                       Coach John Ayres
1975-76    6-3                                                                       Coach Ken Johnson
1979-80    6-3                                                                       Coach Curt Christenson
1982-83    7-2                                                                       Coach Randy Clifton
1983-84    9-1     Sangamon Valley Champs                     Coach Randy Clifton
                                Undefeated Regular Season
                                  Lost to Dwight 34-6 in State 2A Playoffs
 
Wrestling
 
The Fairbury-Cropsey Tartars had two individuals win medals at the state wrestling tournament. Their efforts led the FCHS grapplers to a 5th place finish in the IHSA tournament in 1980. This was Fairbury-Cropsey's best finish on a state competition level in its short history. 
 
Jim Farley followed up his FOURTH place effort of 1980 in the 105 LBS. Weight Class with a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP in the 112 LBS. Weight Class in 1981!!
 
1978-79     District Champions                                     Coach Curt Christenson
                      Individual Medalist
                          Tom Odom      Weight Class - 138          3rd Place
 
1979-80    Fifth Place at IHSA Tournament                 Coach Curt Christenson
                      Individual Medalists 
                         Tom Odom        Weight Class  - 138       3rd Place
                         Jim Farley         Weight Class  - 105       4th Place
 
                  Final Team Standings
 
                  1.)  Savanna HS                                        101.5
                  2.)  New Lenox Providence HS                 59.5
                  3.)  Mahomet-Seymour HS                        41.5
                  4.)  Erie HS                                                   40
                  5.)  FAIRBURY-CROPSEY TARTARS        32.5
                  6.)  Dakota HS                                              32
                  7.)  Princeton HS                                          29
                  8.)  Yorkville HS                                            28
                  9.)  London Mills Spoon River Valley HS 26
                 10.) Westville HS                                           24
 
1980-81   21- 2                                                              Coach Randy Clifton
              Individual Medalist
                 Jim Farley          Weight Class - 112         STATE CHAMPION!!
 
Girls Track & Field
 
The Fairbury-Cropsey Lady Tartars had some great success in track & field. A total of eight medals were brought back from the State Track Meet. The girls also won a District title.
 
1977-78       Team Won a District Championship
                  
                   Individual Medalists   
 
                         Kathy Ward             Long Jump                                4th Place
                                                            440 Yard Relay Team             7th Place
 
1978-79        Teresa Bachtold      440 Yard Run                              2nd Place
                                                            440 Yard Relay Team             2nd Place
1979-80        Teresa Bachtold      400 Meter Dash                           4th Place                                             
1980-81                                            800 Meter Medley Relay           3rd Place
                                                           4 X 100 Meter Relay                6th Place
                                                           4 X 200 Meter Relay                8th Place
 
Girls Volleyball
 
The Lady Tartar netters won four District titles, two Regional Titles, and a Sectional title. Unfortunately, the team records and coach's names are not available.
 
1974-75       District Champions
1977-78       District/Sectional Champions
1978-79       District Champions
1981-82       District Champions
1983-84       Regional Champions
1984-85       Regional Champions
 
Boys Baseball
 
The Tartars knew their way around the baseball diamond as well. The teams of from 1952-55 were in the thick of the Mid-State Conference race by staking a claim to a conference title in those years, plus in 1970 and 1971, Fairbury-Cropsey won Sangamon Valley Conference Championships completing their run with only one defeat each season.
 
1950-51    6-  3                                                                       Coach unknown
1951-52    8 - 2   Mid-State Conf. Champions                     Coach Bob Foard
1952-53  12 - 4   Mid-State Conf. Co-Champs (5-1)            Coach John Reakes
1953-54    7 - 8   Mid-State Conf. Co-Champs (4-1)            Coach John Reakes
1954-55               Mid-State Conf. Co-Champs (4-1)           Coach John Reakes
1967-68  10-5-1                                                                      Coach Dave Jeffries 
1968-69  10-  5                                                                       Coach Dave Jeffries
1969-70              Sangamon Valley Conf. Champs             Coach Dave Jeffries
1970-71   16- 1  Sangamon Valley Conf. Champs              Coach Dave Jeffries
 
Boys Track
 
The Male thinclads showed great speed and agility as well in their neck of the woods, taking the runner-up position in the Mid-State Conference three times during the 1950's along with a title in 1956-57, and in 1970-71, the Tartars won the Sangamon Valley Conference Championship.
 
1952-53     Mid-State Conference Runner-up                                
1954-55     Mid-State Conference Runner-up
1955-56     Mid-State Conference Runner-up
1956-57     Mid-State Conference Champions                    Coach George Fyke
1969-70     8-7 record in duals                                                Coach Bruce Nofftz
1970-71     8-1-1 Sangamon Valley Conf. Champs             Coach John Feely
 
*Dick Stevens won the Mid-State Conference high jump championship during three consecutive seasons in 1953, '54, and '55.
 
Boys Golf
 
The Tartars also took the links while the school was open and even though they didn't come home with IHSA hardware, they did have some winning teams. Here's a look at some of those squads:
 
1967-68                                                                                 Coach George Fyke
1968-69    8- 8                                                                       Coach George Fyke
1980-81  11-1-1                                                                     Coach George Fyke
1981-82  10-1-1                                                                     Coach George Fyke
 
Memories
 
From Cindy Helmers:
 
"Especially during the 1970’s, FCHS also had an extraordinarily great award-winning band….the “Marching Tartars” directed by Mr. Bruce Hammitt. 
 
Seeking More Information
 
The Fairbury-Cropsey High School Tartars existed for 34 years and deserve to be remembered for their many accomplishments. If you have any information you can share, you can e-mail it to us at dr.veeman@gmail.com or you can write to us at:
 
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il.  60631