We know Towanda High School offered boys' basketball as a member of the Tri-Valley Conference along with Anchor, Cooksville, Colfax, Cropsey, Downs, Bellflower, Ellsworth, Saybrook, and Arrowsmith during the 1940's. Six-man football was offered in 1939, and baseball was also offered. It is our understanding that track was also offered, but there has been no evidence found to show that the school may been involved in meets. If you have any information regarding the athletic program at THS, please drop us a line.

 

 

The hardwood court men of Towanda High School brought home one District Championship plaque. It is a good bet there were many great seasons at the Towanda H.S. gymnasium. Conference championships and winning seasons are being sought. The District Championship is listed below, though coach's name and team record are not available.

1920-21 through 1931-32  Postseason scores, records, and coaches' names needed.

                                  

1929-30   19-  5        Postseason scores needed            Coach Ben Smith

                                

1931-32                    Bloomington District Tourney          Coach's name & record needed.

                                 1st Rd lost to Cooksville 18-12

                                 Normal beat Downs in title game

                                

1932-33                    Normal District Tourney                  Coach's name & record needed

                                 1st Rd Beat Congerville 36-16

                                 2nd Rd lost to Downs 31-8

                                 Normal U-High beat Bloomington in title game

                                                  

1933-34                    Bloomington District Tourney          Coach's name & record needed.

1934-35                    Bloomington District Tourney          Coach's name & record needed.

1936-37                    Normal District Champions          Coach John Van Huss

                                 1st Rd Beat Danvers 20-17

                                 Semi-Final lost to Bloomington 27-11

                                 Normal U-High beat Bloomington in title game          

 

The Green Hornets fielded a six-man squad during the 1939-40 season as the idea spread across the nation from Texas, where it was begun earlier in the decade and spread from there. In that season, Towanda played against county schools such as Colfax, Lexington, and Chenoa.

 

1939   0-4                                           Coach George Bodecker

 

 

Towanda did offer this sport as a spring and fall sport throughout the time the school was offered. In the spring of 1940, we were able to find a partial record in the school yearbook, "The Totem." Prior to going to press, the Green Hornets were 6-5 with four games left in the season under coach George Bodecker.

 

 

From former student Neysa Miller Zurkammer: 

 

"I was a student in the building you show as "Towanda High School." Until the consolidation as Unit 5, it was actually Towanda School - I started first grade there in 1944 and the grade school was located on the bottom floor and the high school was mainly on the top floor, with a couple of classrooms on the first floor and science lab, etc., in the basement (if I remember correctly). My sister, Norida Miller, graduated from Towanda High, but my brother and I both graduated from NCHS."

 

 

...any further information regarding the history of Towanda High School, especially of some of the great teams that played at THS, you can e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:

 

Chicago, IL  60631