The Malta High School Mustangs had a very long and, in many cases, successful athletic past.  There is IHSA mention (www.ihsa.org) of the boys sports of basketball, soccer and track as well as girls sports of basketball and volleyball.  It is possible that Malta also offered baseball and softball. Malta competed in the Little Ten Conference. If you have knowledge of the better teams, conference champions, great records and coaches, and other items of Malta High's athletic success please pass it on to share with others.

 

 

The only mention of the Malta High School Mustangs boys basketball team is of the teams of 1994-98.  Though no IHSA hardware was won, three of those seasons turned in great records. Somewhere in his coaching career, Gary Croegaert made a stop at Malta High School. He would go on to have 300+ wins as a head coach for many years with various schools. The years and coach's name is listed below.

 

Basketball scores from the IHSA State Tournament found on a website called "Illinois Postseason High School Basketball Scores" are printed below.

  

Scores and information prior to the 1931-32 season are needed.

 

1931-32                    DeKalb District Tournament              Coach's name & record needed.

                                 1st Rd Beat Lee 13-12

                                 2nd Rd lost to Paw Paw 53-12

                                 Sycamore beat Waterman in title game

                        

1932-33                    DeKalb District Tournament              Coach's name & record needed.

    

1941-42  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

      

1942-43                    Maple Park District Tournament         Coach's name & record needed.

 

 

From Brian Hoxsey:

 

"Justin Allen (1996-1999)

 

Allen was a four-year starter for the Mustangs, he is Malta's  all-time leading scorer and rebounder with 2,453 points and 929 rebounds.  Averaged 26.7 points, 15.0 rebounds and 4.7 blocks his senior year in leading the Mustangs to a 23-4 record and both the Little Ten Conference regular season and Tournament titles.  In his junior year he posted 28.0 ppg and 11 rpg for Malta.  A Little Ten All-Conference pick and Team MVP in 1997, 1998 and 1999, selected Chicago Sun Times All-State in 1998 and 1999 and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-State pick in 1999.  Shot over than 80 percent from the free-throw line in his career and over 40 percent from beyond the arc in his junior season.  Also an outstanding soccer goalie (All-Little 10 in 1999) who entered senior season the school's record holder with 27 shutouts.

 

Justin Allen became the first player in Malta history to sign with a Division I school (Arizona State University).  The beginning of his sophomore (September 2000) season Allen was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease so he was redshirted that season and finished his chemotherapy in May of 2001.  Allen made his comeback in May of 2001.

 

His junior year (2002-2003) he helped ASU earn a trip to the NCAA tournament, earned first-team Pac-10 All-Academic honors.  Senior season Allen was second-team Pac-10 All-Academic and earned degree in justice sciences in May of 2003 with a 3.46 grade point average.

 

Allen was the recipient of the 2003 Jimmy V. Comeback Award and in 2002 the Gene Autry Courage Award."

 

 

The girls basketball has several seasons listed on the IHSA web site.  The best as far as season record is concerned is listed below.

 

1987-88    12 - 12       Coach Kim Vitek

 

 

Malta was one of only a few small schools that offered a high school soccer program, and even some of the other schools around Malta (Hinkley-Big Rock and Kirkland-Hiawatha for example) had soccer programs. Malta's program had a very successful run from the late 1970's to the middle 1990's. The most successful years are listed below:

 

 

 

One male athlete, Todd Duffield, brought home a medal from the IHSA Class A State Track Meet.  His great effort is listed below.

 

 

 

Most of the Malta High School Lady Mustang volleyball seasons are listed on the IHSA web site.  The best were picked out and are presented below.

 

1975-76   5 - 4                                  Coach Joyce Richardson

1981-82   6 - 3                                  Coach Marilyn Masilunis

1983-84  13 - 4     (great record)         Coach Cheryl Ulrich Martines

1985-86  14 - 7     (good record)         Coach Candy Weaver

1986-87  14 - 7     (good record)         Coach Kim Vitek

1987-88  18 - 6     (great record)         Coach Kim Vitek

 

If you have any more information you can share regarding the many successes attained at Malta High School please take the time to write to us so we can share the ionformation with others.  School colors, the many other GREAT teams, and personal stories about great memories and games should be shared.  We are especially interested in photos of the original school building and great teams, players, coaches, and alumni from MHS.  You can e-mail these items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.  You can write to us at:                        

 

Chicago, Il.   60631