Chicago Luther South High School "Braves"

The History of Chicago Luther South High School

Chicago (population 2.8 million) is located along the shores of Lake Michigan and is the third largest city in the United States, settled first as Fort Dearborn in 1803. From there, it grew and was incorporated as a city in 1837. Chicago attracted many immigrants during the second half of the 19th Century, even with the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, and was considered to have been the fastest growing city in the US during that 50-year period.

Those who wish to reach the "City of Big Shoulders" can do so by travelling on Interstates 55, 57, 90, and 94, along with various state and US highways, or taking train service into Union Station along the Chicago River with many carriers coming into the city daily, or by flying into Midway Airport or one of the busiest airports in the world, O'Hare International Airport. The city is known for many things and its numerous celebrities, and was the starting point of the former US Route 66 for those heading West from the eastern part of the US. The Chicago and Des Plaines Rivers also flow in or near the city, and served as a port for barge traffic from those on the East Coast that wished to ship their goods to New Orleans by using the Illinois and Michigan Canal to connect with the Illinois River at LaSalle, then southward to the Mississippi River where it reached its destination.

Luther South High School opened her doors in 1953. It is located at 3100 W. 87th Street in Chicago. Luther South was created as a result of the success of the former Luther Institute. The Institute's successful educational means created three schools in the early 1950s; Luther North High School, Walther Lutheran High School, and Luther South High School.

Luther South High School enjoyed several years of its own success, providing a parochial education for children on the city's south side amidst an established Catholic school system. It was in the 2000s that Luther South began to feel the economic crunch. After several fund raising efforts succeeded in temporarly extended the life of the school, it was decided in 2009 that a new direction would be taken. Academics became the focus and the school changed its name to Luther South Math, Science & Performing Arts High School.

The teams and school who were identified as the Luther South High School "Braves" were no more. The school's alumni have some great memories though, as you will read below.

Luther South High School Quick Facts

Year opened: 1953

Year closed: 2009

Name Changed to: Luther South Math, Science & Performing Arts High School

School Team Nickname: "Braves"

School Team Colors: Red & White

School Fight Song: "Go Braves of Luther South!"

Submitted by Kevin Triplett

Go Braves of Luther South,

We'll fight on to victory.

Win Braves and you will see,

The leaders you will be!

So go Braves of Luther South,

And hold your heads up high.

We'll stand up and give a cheer

For a victory at Luther South!

ATHLETICS

Chicago Luther South High School enjoyed successful seasons and individual accomplishments at several levels and in several different areas of competition. We are missing several team and individual accomplishments. Coach's names are also needed. Please contact us at eganann@sbcglobal.net if you have any further information you would like to have posted on this page. The information below was located on the IHSA web site found at www.ihsa.org.

BOYS TRACK & FIELD

The Luther South High School Braves had a tremendous boys track & field program. The thinclads won a total of FIVE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, two second place finishes, and two third place finishes. In addition, several of the athletes won gold medals as well as having numerous top-9 medalists.

The most famous of the many great track athletes from Luther South is Mike Conley. Conley still holds the Illinois high school record for the triple jump with a jump of 51' 11" in 1981. He is also in the top five all-time for the long jump with a jump of 24' 9.75" also in 1981. Mike Conley went on to become a world class track superstar at Arkansas University, winning 16 NCAA long jump and triple jump titles. He also earned an Olympic Silver Medal in the Triple Jump in 1984 and an Olympic GOLD MEDAL in 1992 for the same event. Mike earned the World Championship Gold Medal in 1993 as well. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Conley,_Sr.) .

1975-76 IHSA Class A State Meet Medalists

Cliff Dunn - Discus - 2nd Place

Al Kennedy - 440 Yard Dash - 4th Place

1976-77 IHSA Class A State Meet Medalists

1-Mile Relay - STATE CHAMPS:

(Craig Chandler, Eric Gilbert, Chuck Hudson, Al Kennedy)

Al Kennedy - 440 Yard Dash - 2nd Place

Chuck Hudson - 440 Yard Dash - 5th Place

1977-78 IHSA Class A State Meet Medalists

440 Yard Relay - 5th Place

Jeff Jackson, Daryl Davis,

Derrick Harris, Eugene Dipeolu

Eugene Dipeolu - 100 Yard Dash - 2nd Place

1978-79 IHSA CLASS 'A' STATE CHAMPIONS! Coach Norm Meier

Mike Conley - Triple Jump - STATE CHAMP

Mark Kinnard - 120 Yard High Hurdles - STATE CHAMP

Mark Kinnard - Triple Jump - 2nd Place

Mike Conley - Long Jump - 4th Place

Mark Kinnard - 330 Yard Low Hurdles - 7th Place

Tony Martin - High Jump - 7th Place

Derrick Harris - 330 Yard Low Hurdles - 8th Place

1-Mile Relay - (names needed) - 4th Place

1979-80 IHSA CLASS 'A' STATE CHAMPIONS! Coach Norm Meier

Mike Conley - Long Jump - STATE CHAMP

Mike Conley - Triple Jump - STATE CHAMP

Mike Conley - 100 Yard Dash - 4th Place

Versye O'Berry - 800 Meter Run - 7th Place

4 X 100 Relay - 6th Place

4 X 400 Relay - 7th Place

1980-81 IHSA CLASS 'A' STATE SECOND PLACE!

Mike Conley - 100 Meter Dash - STATE CHAMP

Mike Conley - 200 Meter Dash - STATE CHAMP

Mike Conley - Long Jump - STATE CHAMP

Mike Conley - Triple Jump - STATE CHAMP

1982-83 IHSA Class 'A' Sectional Champions

State Meet Medalists

Peter Thurston - 110 Meter High Hurdles - 2nd Place

Brian Little - 300 Meter Low Hurdles - 6th Place

4 X 400 Meter Relay - (names needed) - 3rd Place

1983-84 IHSA Class 'A' State Meet Individual Medalists

Chris Bodley - Triple Jump - 2nd Place

4 X 200 Meter Relay - (names needed) - 7th Place

1984-85 IHSA Class 'A' State Meet Individual Medalists

Cary Chandler - 100 Meter Dash - 2nd Place

4 X 100 Meter Relay - names needed - 5th Place

4 X 200 Meter Relay - names needed - 8th Place

1985-86 IHSA CLASS 'A' STATE CHAMPIONS! Coach Oscar Kieschnick

Sectional Champions

State Meet Medalists

Cary Chandler - 100 Meter Dash - STATE CHAMP

Cary Chandler - 200 Meter Dash - STATE CHAMP

4 X 100 Meter Relay - STATE CHAMPS

(Derek Bodley, Cary Chandler, Torrey Price, Ernest Woods)

4 X 200 Meter Relay - STATE CHAMPS

(Derek Bodley, Cary Chandler, Mike Wilson, Ernest Woods)

Ernest Woods - 200 Meter Dash - 2nd Place

1988-89 IHSA Class 'A' State Meet Medalists

Tony Ewell - 110 Meter High Hurdles - 3rd Place

4 X 100 Meter Relay - (names needed) - 7th Place

4 X 200 Meter Relay - (names needed) - 7th Place

1989-90 IHSA CLASS 'A' STATE SECOND PLACE!

Steve Conley - Triple Jump - STATE CHAMP

Steve Conley - Long Jump - 3rd Place

Steve Conley - 200 Meter Dash - 6th Place

Tony Ewell - 110 Meter High Hurdles - 4th Place

4 X 100 Meter Relay - (names needed) - 3rd Place

4 X 200 Meter Relay - (names needed) - 8th Place

1990-91 IHSA CLASS 'A' STATE CHAMPIONS! Coach Tony Rainey

Sectional Champions

State Meet Medalists

Steve Conley - Triple Jump - STATE CHAMP

4 X 100 Meter Relay - STATE CHAMPS

(Steve Conley, Tim Edwards, Robert Forrest, Yemi Sashi)

4 X 200 Meter Relay - STATE CHAMPS

(Tim Edwards, Robert Forrest, Squire Pettis, Yemi Sashi)

Steve Conley - Long Jump - 2nd Place

Tim Edwards - 200 Meter Dash - 2nd Place

Yemi Sashi - 400 Meter Run - 6th Place

Robert Forrest - 100 Meter Dash - 7th Place

Robert Forrest - 300 Meter Low Hurdles - 7th Place

1991-92 IHSA Class 'A' State Meet Medalists

Tim Edwards - 100 Meter Dash - 2nd Place

1993-94 IHSA Class 'A' State Meet Medalists

Tyrone Roberts - 400 Meter Dash - 7th Place

Tyrone Roberts - High Jump - 8th Place

1994-95 IHSA Class 'A' Sectional Champions Coach Tony Rainey

State Meet Medalists

4 X 400 Meter Relay - 5th Place

(Sherman Armstrong, Tyrone Roberts, Edmond Triplett, Maurice Wellington)

4 X 100 Meter Relay - 6th Place

(Greg Beacham, Tyrone Roberts, Edmond Triplett, Maurice Wellington)

Tyrone Roberts - Long jump - 8th Place

1995-96 IHSA CLASS 'A' Third Place Coach Tony Rainey

Sectional Champions

State Meet Medalists

Sherman Armstrong - 300 Meter Hurdles - STATE CHAMP

Terrence Roberts - 110 High Hurdles - 2nd Place

4 X 200 Meter Relay - 2nd Place

(Sherman Armstrong, Greg Beacham, Jason Owens, Terrence Roberts)

Sherman Armstrong - High Jump - 7th Place

1996-97 IHSA CLASS 'A' STATE CHAMPIONS! Coach Tony Rainey

Sectional Champions

State Meet Medalists

Sherman Armstrong - 110 Meter High Hurdles - 2nd Place

Sherman Armstrong - 200 Meter Dash - 2nd Place

Sherman Armstrong - 300 Meter Hurdles - 2nd Place

Terrence Roberts - 110 Meter High Hurdles - 3rd Place

4 X 100 Meter Relay - 3rd Place

(Tavoris Guider, Allen Leonard, Jason Owens, Tertrence Roberts)

4 X 200 Meter Relay - 3rd Place

(Sherman Armstrong, Allen Leonard, Daniel Rush, Terrenc Roberts)

Terrence Roberts - 300 Meter Hurdles - 7th Place

1997-98 IHSA Class 'A' State Meet Medalists

Cliff Perry - Long Jump - 3rd Place

4 X 100 Meter Relay - 4th Place

(Brandon Cade, Tavoris Guider, Jason Owens, Daniel Rush)

4 X 200 Meter Relay - 5th Place

(Brandon Cade, Tavoris Guider, Jason Owens, Cliff Perry)

Cliff Perry - 400 Meter Run - 8th Place

1998-99 IHSA Class 'A' State Meet Medalists

Daniel Rush - 100 Meter Dash - 2nd Place

Daniel Rush - 200 Meter Dash - 2nd Place

4 X 100 Meter Relay - 6th Place

(Shannon Armstrong, Brandon Cade, Daniel Rush, Marc Willie)

1999-00 IHSA CLASS 'A' Third Place

Shannon Armstrong - 110 Meter High Hurdles - STATE CHAMP

Shannon Armstrong - 300 Meter Hurdles - STATE CHAMP

Daniel Rush - 100 Meter Dash - 2nd Place

Daniel Rush - 200 Meter Dash - 3rd Place

Daniel Rush - 400 Meter Dash - 5th Place

Shannon Armstrong - 200 Meter Dash - 5th Place

4 X 100 Meter Relay - 5th Place

(Jeremy Howell, Terrence McCants, Daniel Rush, Marc Willie)

2000-01 IHSA Class 'A' State Meet Medalists

4 X 200 Meter Relay - 3rd Place

(Jeremy Howell, Terrence McCants, Marcel Morgan, Marc Willie)

4 X 100 Meter Relay - 4th Place

(Jeremy Howell, Terrence McCants, Marcel Morgan, Marc Willie)

Marcel Morgan - Long Jump - 8th Place

2007-08 IHSA Class 'A' State Meet Medalist

Anthony Mays - Triple Jump - 3rd Place

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

The Lady Braves were fleet of foot as well. One STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, four second place finishes, and four Sectional titles high-light the team efforts. As you will see below, there were several individual and relay champions as well.

1973-74 IHSA State Meet Medalist - One Class

Audrey Marrocco - 50 Yard Dash - 6th Place

Audrey Marrocco - 100 Yard Dash - 6th Place

1974-75 IHSA State Meet Medalist - One Class

Audrey Marrocco - Long Jump - 3rd Place

Audrey Marrocco - 50 Yard Dash - 6th Place

1979-80 IHSA Class 'A' Medalist

Melvina Witherspoon - 100 Meter Dash - 2nd Place

1980-81 IHSA Class 'A' Medalists

Bridgette Cartwright - 100 Meter Hurdles - STATE CHAMP

Bridgette Cartwright - 200 Meter Hurdles - 2nd Place

Melvina Witherspoon - 100 Meter Dash - 3rd Place

Melvina Witherspoon - 200 Meter Dash - 6th Place

1981-82 IHSA Class 'A' District Champs

State Meet Medalist

Bridgette Cartwright - 100 Meter Hurdles - 4th Place

Melvina Witherspoon - 100 Meter Dash - 4th Place

Melvina Witherspoon - 200 Meter Dash - 7th Place

1982-83 IHSA CLASS 'A' 2ND PLACE!

Sectional Champions

State Meet Medalists

Melvina Witherspoon - 100 Meter Dash - STATE CHAMP

4 X 200 Meter Relay - STATE CHAMPS

(Bridgette Cartwright, Lynn Lockett, Germelina Rambo, Melvina Witherspoon,

Melvina Witherspoon - 200 Meter Dash - 2nd Place

Bridgette Cartwright - 100 Meter Hurdles - 3rd Place

Bridgette Cartwright - 200 Meter Hurdles - 3rd Place

4 X 100 Meter Relay - 3rd Place

(names needed)

1983-84 IHSA Class 'A' Sectional Champs

State Meet Medalist

Monique Odom - 100 Meter Hurdles - 4th Place

1984-85 IHSA Class 'A' Sectional Champs

State Meet Medalists

Monique Odom - 100 Meter Hurdles - 7th Place

1985-86 IHSA CLASS 'A' STATE CHAMPIONS!

State Meet Medalists

Remel Duncan - Shot Put - STATE CHAMP

4 X 100 Meter Relay - STATE CHAMPS

(Latonya Bates, Rhonda Calhoun, Iris Dalton, Latoyia Haynes)

Marcy Hoffman - 400 Meter Dash - 2nd Place

4 X 200 Meter Relay - 2nd Place

(names needed)

800 Meter Medley Relay - 2nd Place

(names needed)

Latonya Bates - 100 Meter Low Hurdles - 3rd Place

Remel Duncan - Discus - 5th Place

Latoyia Haynes - 100 Meter Dash - 6th Place

1986-87 IHSA CLASS 'A' 2ND PLACE!

Sectional Champions

State Meet Medalists

Marcy Hoffman - 400 Meter Dash - STATE CHAMP

Latoyia Haynes - 100 Meter Dash - 2nd Place

Latoyia Haynes - 200 Meter Dash - 3rd Place

4 X 100 Meter Relay - 3rd Place

(names neeeded)

800 Meter Medley Relay - 3rd Place

(names needed)

Latonya Bates - 100 Meter Hurdles - 4th Place

Charsa Palamore - Shot Put - 6th Place

4 X 400 Meter Relay - 6th Place

(names needed)

1987-88 IHSA CLASS 'A' 2ND PLACE!

Sectional Champions

State Meet Medalist

Marcy Hoffman - Long Jump - STATE CHAMP

Marcy Hoffman - 100 Meter Dash - STATE CHAMP

Marcy Hoffman - 200 Meter Dash - 2nd Place

Marcy Hoffman - 400 Meter Dash - 2nd Place

1988-89          IHSA CLASS 'A' 2ND PLACE!

                     Sectional Champions

                     State Meet Medalists

Marcy Hoffman - 100 Meter Dash - STATE CHAMP

Marcy Hoffman - 200 Meter Dash - STATE CHAMP

Marcy Hoffman - Long Jump - 2nd Place

4 X 100 Meter Relay - 3rd Place

(names needed)

Keva Bryant - 100 Meter Hurdles - 5th Place

1989-90 IHSA Class 'A' Medalists

4 X 100 Meter Relay - 8th Place

(names needed)

800 Meter Medley Relay - 8th Place

(names needed)

1990-91 IHSA Class 'A' Medalist

April Jordan - 100 Meter Dash - 7th Place

1991-92 IHSA Class 'A' Medalist

Menyett Baker - Long Jump - 5th Place

1993-94 IHSA Class 'A' Medalists

4 X 100 Meter Relay - 2nd Place

(names needed)

BOYS BASKETBALL

The Luther South Braves also earned an IHSA Class 'A' basketball championship in 1980 prior to winning the track championship that year. In all the program earned 6 Regional titles, 2 Sectional Titles, and a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!

1975-76 12 - 15 Coach Cliff Doll

1976-77 16 - 8 Coach Cliff Doll

1977-78 2 - 22 Coach Cliff Doll

1978-79 12 - 14 Coach Cliff Doll

1979-80 27 - 5 IHSA CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPS! Coach Cliff Doll

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

Super-Sectional Champions

Beat DePue 64-55

Elite 8 Finalist

Beat Pittsfield 61-38

Final 4 Finalist

Beat Okawville 59-57

State Championship Game

Beat Peoria Bergan 56-51

1980-81 22 - 8 IHSA Sweet 16 Finalist!! Coach Cliff Doll

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

Sweet 16 Finalist

Lost to New Lenox Providence 56-46

New Lenox lost in Elite 8 Round

1986-87 Regional Champions

1987-88 Regional Champions

1988-89 Regional Champions

1989-90 Regional Champions

GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Luther North Lady Braves made a nice run in the IHSA State Class 'A' tourney in 1988. The team made it to the Sweet 16 round before falling to eventual state runner-up Elgin St. Edward. The program won another Regional title in 2000. Other team records and coach's names are needed.

1987-88 27 - 3 IHSA Class 'A' Sweet 16 Finalist Coach Cal Behrens

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

Super Sectional Finalist

Lost to Elgin St. Edward 70 - 57

St. Edward lost in championship game

1999-00 Regional Champions

BOYS FOOTBALL

Two Luther South grid-iron teams earned the right to play in the IHSA Class 3A football playoffs. This occurred in back-to-back seasons during the fall of 1989 and 1990.

At least one player from the Brave's program made his way to the NFL. Steve Conley (younger brother of Mike Conley) played for the Luther South Braves in the late 1980s / early 1990s before moving on to a successful college career at the University of Arkansas. He would be a 3rd round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1996 and play 3 years in the NFL suiting up for the Steelers and Indianapolis Colts! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Conley)

1975-76 6 - 3 Coach Jim Braun

1976-77 2 - 7 Coach Jim Braun

1977-78 4 - 5 Coach Jim Braun

1978-79 6 - 3 Coach Jim Braun

1979-80 2 - 7 Coach Tim Warneke

1980-81 4 - 5 Coach Tim Warneke

1981-82 5 - 4 Coach Tim Warneke

1982-83 2 - 7 Coach Tim Warneke

1983-84 5 - 4

1984-85 4 - 5 Coach Cal Behrens

1985-86 4 - 5 Coach Cal Behrens

1986-87 1 - 7 Coach Cal Behrens

1987-88 2 - 7

1988-89 4 - 5 Coach Anthony Rainey

1989-90 8 - 2 IHSA Class 3A Playoff Qualifier Coach Anthony Rainey

Lost to Coal City 21 - 6

1990-91 6 - 5 IHSA Class 3A 'Sweet 16' Finalist Coach Anthony Rainey

Beat Lemont 20 - 12

Lost to Harvard 14 - 7

1991-92 3 - 6 Coach Phillip Dennis

1992-93 5 - 4 Coach Phillip Dennis

1993-94 4 - 5 Coach Phillip Dennis

1994-95 4 - 5 Coach Phillip Dennis

1995-96 4 - 5 Coach Phillip Dennis

1996-97 2 - 7 Coach Phillip Dennis

1997-98 3 - 6 Coach Phillip Dennis

1998-99 2 - 7 Coach Jim Pusateri

1999-00 0 - 9 Coach Jim Pusateri

2000-01 3 - 6 Coach Jim Pusateri

2001-02 2 - 7 Coach Jim Pusateri

2002-03 0 - 9 Coach Brian Kube

2003-04 0 - 9 Coach Charlie Clark, Jr.

2004-05 0 - 9 Coach Charlie Clark, Jr.

2005-06 1 - 8 Coach Charlie Clark, Jr.

2006-07 2 - 7 Coach Charlie Clark, Jr.

2007-08 1 - 8 Coach Charlie Clark, Jr.

2008-09 3 - 6 Coach Charlie Clark, Jr.

GIRLS BOWLING

The Lady Braves of the wooden lanes made two trips to the IHSA State Finals. The team won back-to-back District titles in the early 1970s. Team records and coach's names are needed.

1973 IHSA State Match Qualifier

District Champions

1974 IHSA State Match Qualifier

District Champions

BOYS WRESTLING

Several Luther South grapplers earned medals at the State Match level. David Douglas even earned a State Title! Team records and coach's names are needed.

1977 IHSA Class 'A' Medalist

Russ Belisle - 185 lbs. - 2nd Place

1988 IHSA Class 'A' Medalist

Steffond Jones - 155 lbs. - 2nd Place

1989 IHSA Class 'A' Medalist

Steffond Jones - 152 lbs. - 3rd Place

Eddie Davis - 125 lbs. - 3rd Place

1994 IHSA Class 'A' Medalist

David Douglas - 112 lbs. - STATE CHAMP

LaShaun Jackson - 152 lbs. - 2nd Place

GIRLS SOFTBALL

A Regional Championship highlighted the girls softball program. Team records and coach's names are needed to fill in the missing seasons.

1979-80 IHSA Regional Champions

BOYS GOLF

Linkster Dave Rundle earned medalist honors at the IHSA State Golf Tournament!

1968 Individual Medalist

Dave Rundle - 12th Place

SPEECH SWEEPSTAKES

The program at Luther South included competition of all sorts. The kids competed in the IHSA's annual Speech Sweepstakes competition as well. The team garnered a 2ND Place finish in 1975-76! Several individual medalists made the Luther South program proud as well.

1971 Individual Medalist

Daryl Moore - Oratorical Declamatiion - 5th Place

1972 Individual Medalist

Daryl Moore - Oratorical Declamatiion - 4th Place

Daryl Moore - Humorous Interpretation - 5th Place

1973 Sectional Champions

Daryl Moore - Oratorical Declamation - 2nd Place

1974 District Champions

Laurel Streich - Original Comedy - 2nd Place

Wayne Reddrick - Dramatic Interpretation - 6th Place

1975 Individual Medalist

Cynthia DeBois - Verse Reading - 4th Place

1976            IHSA SECOND PLACE FINISH

                   District Champions

                   Sectional Champions

Allison Bethel - Dramatic Duet Acting - STATE CHAMP

Leta Wilson - Dramatic Duet Acting - STATE CHAMP

Leta Wilson - Prose Reading - 3rd Place

Cynthia DeBois - Oratorical Declamation - 5th Place

1977 Individual Medalist

Sandra Baynham - Humorous Interpretation - 2nd Place

1978 Individual Medalist

William Walton - Humorous Interpretation - 3rd Place

William Walton - Original Comedy - 4th Place

1979 Individual Medalist

William Walton - Humorous Interpretation - 3rd Place

WE'RE SEARCHING FOR MORE INFORMATION...

...regarding Luther South High School. If you have anything that you can share with us, including photos, memories, and facts, please contact us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or using the USPS to send your information to:

Illinois HIgh School Glory Days

6439 North Neva Ave.

Chicago, IL 60631