The success of the Farina (LaGrove) High School athletic program is well documented on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org). Accomplishments are listed in boys basketball, girls basketball, and girls volleyball.  We are certain Farina (LaGrove) HS also offered girls track and boys track and baseball.  We are truly in need of some research from an area fan or resident of Farina.  The accomplishments listed on the IHSA web site are listed below.

 

  

Farina (LaGrove) High School has a very extensive listing on the IHSA web site.  Records and coach's names are available for all the FLHS boys teams from 1942 to 1988.  Though no IHSA hardware was won Farina (LaGrove) enjoyed many great seasons on the hardwood court.  The best of those records and successes are listed below. To view scores of Farina LaGrove High School in the IHSA State Tournament click on the following website link:  https://sites.google.com/site/xtmi2000/

   

1941-42   17 - 10     (nice record)                           Coach Paul Monical

1955-56   21 - 6       (nice record)                           Coach Art Manwaring

1968-69   17 - 8       (nice record)                           Coach Bill Sarver

1969-70   22 - 4       (great record)                          Coach Bill Sarver

1971-72   21 - 4       (great record)                          Coach Dan Garrett

1973-74   17 - 8       (nice record)                           Coach Tom Jackson

1974-75   20 - 5       Midland Trail Conf Champs  Coach Tom Jackson

1977-78   18 - 7       (nice record)                           Coach Gary Sessions

 

Vandalia Holiday Tourney highlights from Mark Jurenga:

 

1973 - 3rd Place  LaGrove beat Trenton (Wesclin). Outscored Wesclin 18-0 at the Free Throw line. Steve Soldner of LaGrove scored 38 points in the game.
1974 - Champ - 2nd Place - Nokomis 56 LaGrove 44
1976 - Consolation Champ LaGrove beat Oblong
 All-Tournament Team
1973 - Steve Soldner
1974 - Steve Soldner (MVP)

Soldner went on to become a standout basketball player at Kansas State University (see below). Soldner still (as of 2007) holds the tournament record of 72 rebounds (in 3 games) in 1974.(Currently teams in the VHT play 5 games and have since at least 1993, but Soldner's record remains.) Soldner was a rebounding machine. According to the 2007 Vandalia Holiday Tournament Program (pg. 8), "his 38 rebounds against Casey still stands as the best individual rebounding performance."

 

St. Elmo Tournament Highlights from Mark Jurenga:

 

1968- Champions over Altamont
1970- 2nd Place; lost to Findlay
1971- Champions over St. Elmo 
Cheerleader Awards
1979- 1st Place
1986- 1st Place

 

**Great Player - as researched by Mark Jurenga:

 

Steve Soldner
*Averaged 26.2 ppg and 23, yes 23, rebounds per game.
*Farina LaGrove won the Midland Trail Conference in 1974-75

*Played basketball at Kansas State from 1976-1979.
*Was named team captain his senior year.
*Played in 74 career games.
*Played for Big 8 regular season and tournament champions in 1977.
*Averaged 8.7 ppg including 12.1 his senior year; #66 in K-State career points.
*He amassed 433 rebounds in his career; 5.9 per game.
*He led K-state in rebounds in 1977-78.
*He still holds the all-time career field goal percentage mark with.558 (255-430).
*He is #2 and #3 in field goal percentage for a season.
               - 1977-78 .600 (108-180)
               - 1978-79 .584 (135-231)

 

 

The girls basketball program at Farina (LaGrove) also enjoyed many great seasons. Included in their success was the winning of one Regional title.  Team records and coach's names are listed on the IHSA web site and the best of these are again listed below.

 

1976-77     8 - 5     (nice record)                    Coach Jimmy Page

1977-78   10 - 5     (nice record)                    Coach Jimmy Page

1980-81   14 - 6     (nice record)                    Coach Ann Stock

1981-82   17 - 2     Regional Champions     Coach Brien Guy

1982-83   11 - 5     (nice record)                    Coach Brien Guy

 

 

The Farina (LaGrove) High School girls volleyball team also brought home some IHSA hardware.  In fact the team won three District titles and one Sectional title.  Unfortunately coaches names and team records are not available.  These successful seasons are listed below.

 

 

 

If you have ANY more information you would like to share regarding the history and successful accomplishments of Farina (LaGrove) High School we hope you will write to us so we can share it with others.  We are especially interested in a photo of the original Farina La Grove High School building.  We are also seeking information on the mergers mentioned above.  You can e-mail information and photos to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or you can write to us at:

 

Chicago, Il.   60631