Ashton High School "Aces"

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Ashton-Franklin Center High School
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Home of the Raiders

The History of Ashton High School

Ashton, Illinois is located in Lee County, nine miles southwest of Rochelle along the old Lincoln Highway and the Union Pacific "Overland Route" from Chicago to San Francisco. The town was plotted in 1854. Crest Foods is Ashton's largest employer.
 
Rick Rasmussen tells us the following about the history of Ashton High School:
 
"The first high school in Ashton, IL was on the corner of Paddock Ave and Route 38.  The old high school was actually deemed unfit in 1983, so from the 1983-1984 school year on, all students in K-12 were relocated to the Western Ave. location."
 
The original high school building was graced with the words "High School." on the front doorway with the period at the end to reflect the typical punctuation of that time (1890).
 
Robbie Wright tells us the fate of the original high school building:
 
"The old high school building did not initially sit empty. Someone bought the school and made it into apartments or a private residence before it was eventually tore down (in 1999)." 
 
In 2004, CUSD #271 (which included Ashton and Franklin Center) did some reorganization and decided make the former Franklin Center High School in nearby Franklin Grove a K - 4 facility. The new high school became Ashton-Franklin Center High School and the history of Ashton High School ended. The newer Ashton High School is now used to house AFC High School.
 
For more information on Ashton High School please visit http://genealogytrails.com/ill/lee/leeschoolashtonhs.html .
 
Ashton High School "Quick Facts":
 
Year High School Opened:                1890
Year closed:                                    2004
Consolidated to:                               Ashton-Franklin Center High School
Nickname:                                       the "Aces"
School Colors:                                 Green and Gold
School Fight Song:                           "Go You Aces"
                                                                         Lyrics provided by STEEN LAWSON
 
                                                     Go You Aces on to fame
                                                     Go You Aces Go
                                                     Fight till you win boys
                                                     Never give in boys
                                                     We're rootin' for you - you know
 
                                                     Rah! Rah! Rah!

                                                     When you come out before us
                                                     Our colors will unfold
                                                     We'll Cheer for you
                                                     Throughout the game
                                                     To back our Green and Gold

This fight song is to an original tune. It was composed in the early 60’s, possibly ever earlier.

From Rick Rasmussen:
 
"Prior to 2004, (prior to the 1988 -1989 school year), Ashton High School and Franklin Center High School consolidated in football, wrestling, band, and chorus.  I was a member of the graduating class of 1991 and I remember voting on the name AFC Raiders and the colors black and gold for the teams we had co-oped at that time."

Football Press Box
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AHS Football Field

Athletics
 
Football
 
Football was the prime sport at Ashton High School. The first football team formed in 1950 and lasted for nearly 40 years before the Ashton-Franklin Center co-op in 1985. Out of those 40 years, only 12 of those years produced winning records:
 
1953-54 - Record: 5-2           (Coach: Dick Rabbitt)
1955-56 - Record: 6-1           (Coach: Ken Johnson)
1956-57 - Record: 4-2           (Coach: Don Simpkins)
1962-63 - Record: 4-2-2        (Coach: Ron Stump)
1966-67 - Record: 5-2           (Coach: Don Lackey)
1967-68 - Record: 6-2           (Coach: Don Lackey)
1978-79 - Record: 6-2           (Coach: Dave Whiteman)
1979-80 - Record: 6-2           (Coach: Dave Whiteman)
1980-81 - Record: 5-3           (Coach: Bob Aubry)
1983-84 - Record: 5-3           (Coach: Bob Aubry)
1984-85 - Record: 6-3           (Coach: Jeff Jahn)
1989-90 - Record: 6-3           (Coach: Jeff Zick)
 
The Ashton-Franklin Center co-op began in 1988 and lasted until the consolidation of 2004. During that time, AFC earned their first playoff berth in 1990 with a record of 6-4. In 1994, the AFC Aces went a perfect 9-0 in the regular season and finished the year 10-1. They would not qualify for the IHSA playoffs until 2003, when they finished second in the Four Rivers Conference and went 9-3 before falling to eventual Class 1A state champions, Galena.

ashtonaces.jpg

Boys Cross Country
 
No seasonal records are available, but one athlete scored two medals in the state tournament:
 
1980-81  Chris Hager  11th Place Finish
1981-82  Chris Hager  10th Place Finish
 
Wrestling
 
Another sport Ashton offered starting in 1969. In 1980-81, the Raiders finished in 10th place at the state tournament and finished 12-7-1 overall.
 
Nine individual grapplers won a total of 14 medals at the IHSA State Match competition.  This includes Dave Lloyd who won the 145 lbs. title in 1982 and Jamin Soria who earned a total of four medals and two STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS! Ashland's individual medalists are listed below.
 
Andy McCannon    1975A                 145 lbs.                   2ND Place
Curt Dusing            1976A                 112 lbs.                   2ND Place
Chris Hager           1981A                   98 lbs.                   3RD Place
Dave Lloyd            1981A                 138 lbs.                   2ND Place
                              1982A                 145 lbs.                   STATE CHAMPION!!
Jamin Soria           1992A                 HWT                       4TH Place
                              1993A                  HWT                      STATE CHAMPION!!
                              1994A                  275 lbs.                  3RD Place
                              1995A                  275 lbs.                  STATE CHAMPION!!
Mike Gleissner       1995A                  171 lbs.                  4TH Place
Joe Gleissner         1996A                  171 lbs.                  4Th Place
                              1997A                  189 lbs.                  2ND Place
Stephen Feiden     2004A                  275 lbs.                  4TH Place
Dave Gleissner       2004A                 189 lbs.                   3RD Place
 
Volleyball
 
The girls were offered volleyball starting in the 1978-79 school year and would go through four coaches before Jan (Hughes) Cupp took over in 1987-88. She led the AFC Raiders to six Regional Championships starting in 1993-94:
 
1993-94 - 13-4            Regional Champions                           Coach Jan Cupp
   
1994-95 - 22-5            Regional Champions                           Coach Jan Cupp

1995-96 - 22-5            Regional Champions                           Coach Jan Cupp
    
1997-98 - 19-13-1        Regional Champions                         
 Coach Jan Cupp
         
1998-99 - 28-5-3         Regional Champions                            Coach Jan Cupp             
                                 Rock Falls Invitational Champs 
                                 Upstate Illini E. Conference Champs
                                 Sectional Tournament
                                 Semi-final Beat Morrison 15-6, 7-15, 15-10
                                 Title Game lost to Milledgeville 15-6, 15-13
                                 Millegdeville lost in Elite 8 round. 
                                   
2001-02 - 20-15          Regional Champions                           Coach Jan Cupp
                                Sectional Tourney
                                Semi-final lost to Bureau Valley 15-13, 15-6
                                Bureau Valley won Sectional, lost in Sweet 16
     
2003-04 -                  Aledo Tournament Champions             Coach Jan Cupp
                                Record needed
 
Ashton won Conference Championships in 1995 and 2001, the year they also won the Four Rivers Conference Tournament.
 

Ashton High School Gym 2013
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Today Serves As Ashton-Franklin Center High School (Submitted by Bruce Firchau)

Boys Basketball
 
Boys basketball was offered at Ashton High School as well. Over the years, they won two District Championships! Season records, coaches' names, and other information is needed.
 
We did locate some postseason scores from the IHSA Tourney were located on a website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores." These scores are listed below.
 
1933-34              Oregon District Tournament                Coaches name & record needed
                          1st Rd Beat Creston 16-8
                          2nd Rd lost to Rochelle 32-15
                          Rochelle lost in semi-final round
  
1934-35 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
  
1935-36              Leaf River District Champions         Coach's name & record needed
                          Title Game Beat Leaf River 43-32
                          Oregon Regional Tourney
                          1st Rd Lost to Polo 47-28
                          Polo lost in title game
   
1936-37              Mt. Morris Regional Tournament          Coach's name & record needed
                         1st Rd lost to Rochelle 52-9
                         Rochelle won Regional tourney
   
1937-38              District Champions                          Coach's name & record needed
                          District scores unavailable
                          Regional scores unavailable
        
1938-39              Dixon Regional Tournament                Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd lost to Sterling 39-23
                          Sterling lost in title game
   
1939-40 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
1940-41 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
   
1941-42              Oregon Regional Tounament               Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd Beat Stillman Valley 50-29
                          Semi-final lost to Oregon 39-26
                          Oregon lost in title game.
   
1942-43               Dekalb Regional Tounament              Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd Beat Leaf River 39-19
                          Semi-final lost to Shabonna 33-26
                          Shabonna lost in title game 
   
1943-44               Regional Tournament                        Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd lost to Rochelle 43-27
   
1944-45               Oregon Regional Tournament             Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd lost to Rochelle 39-30
                          Rochelle won Regional title
   
1945-46 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.
  
1946-47              Mt. Morris Regional Tournament          Coach's name & record needed
                         1st Rd lost to Byron 46-43
                         Byron lost in title game
   
1947-48               Oregon Regional Tounament              Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd Beat Oregon 50-29
                          Semi-final lost to Rochelle 45-34
                          Rochelle lost in title game
  
1948-49               Rochelle Regional Tounament            Coach's name & record needed
                          1st Rd Beat Forreston 52-26
                          Semi-final lost to Rochelle 36-34
                          Rochelle won title game
  
1949-50              Mt. Morris Regional Tournament          Coach's name & record needed
                         1st Rd Beat Leaf River 42-29
                         Semi-final lost to Byron 64-39
                         Byron won title game
  
1950-51             Rochelle Regional Tournament              Coach's name & record needed
                         1st Rd lost to Rockford St. Thomas 63-44
                         St. Thomas lost in semi-final round
  
1951-52             Mt. Morris Regional Tournament            Coach's name & record needed
                        1st Rd lost to Forreston 71-48
                        Ashton scorers: Hicks 13, Butler 10, Tews 8,
                        Warner 7, Cultra 4, Miller 2, Waupel 2, Dennis 2
                        Forreston lost in semi-final round
   
1952-53 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed
  
1953-54             Mt. Morris Regional Tournament            Coach's name & record needed
                        1st Rd lost to Forreston 73-43
                        Ashton scorers: Butler 15, Wisman 9, Gaskins 6,
                        Lawson 5, Huntley 3, Hicks 2, Warner 2, Bolen 1
                        Forreston lost in title game
     
1954-55             Rochelle Regional Tournament              Coach's name & record needed
                        1st Rd lost to Rockford St. Thomas 63-51
                        St. Thomas lost in semi-final round
    
1955-56 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed
   
1956-57              Rock Falls Regional Tournament          Coach's name & record needed
                         1st Rd lost to Sterling 67-47
                         Sterling lost in semi-final round
   
1957-58              Rock Falls Regional Tournament          Coach's name & record needed
                         1st Rd lost to Rock Falls 142-36
                         Rock Falls won Regional title
  
1958-59              Sterling Regional Tournament               Coach's name & record needed
                         1st Rd lost to Rock Falls 92-45
                         Rock Falls lost in title game
  
1959-60              Leaf River District Tournament              Coach's name & record needed
                         1st Rd Beat Franklin Center 60-47
                         Semi-final lost to Byron 76-47
                         Byron won District title.
   
1960-61 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed
   
1961-62              Stillman Valley District Tournament       Coach's name & record needed
                         1st Rd Beat Leaf River 75-45
                         Semi-final lost to Byron 66-56
                         Byron lost in title game
  
1962-63              Forreston District Tournament               Coach's name & record needed
                         1st Rd Beat Byron 64-39
                         Semi-final lost to Forreston 70-50
                         Forreston won District title.
  
1963-64 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed
1964-65 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed
1965-66 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed
1966-67 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed
   
1967-68             Mt. Morris District Runner-up!             Coach's name & record needed
                        Semi-final Beat Franklin Center 63-52
                         Title Game lost to Forreston 56-54
   
1968-69             Stillman Valley District Tournament        Coach's name & record needed
                         1st Rd Beat Forreston
                         Semi-final lost to Byron 76-66
                         Byron lost in title game 
  
1969-70             Byron District Tournemant                     Coach's name & record needed
                         1st Rd Beat Leaf River 68-66
                         Semi-final lost to Byron 63-50
                         Byron won District title 
   
1970-71             Polo District Tournament                       Coach's name & record needed
                         1st Rd Beat Leaf River 60-55
                         Semi-final lost to Mt. Morris 79-70
                         Mt. Morris won District title.
   
1971-72             Byron Class 'A' Regional Tournament     Coach's name & record needed
                        1st Rd lost to Polo 74-64
                        Polo lost in semi-final round 
  
1972-73 through 2003-04  Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed
 
1999-00            Amboy Tourny Champs                       Coach's name & record needed
 
2000-01            Amboy Tourny Champs                       Coach's name & record needed 
 
March 4, 1958 was a dreary day for the AHS Boys Basketball team. They were beat by eventual state second-placers, Rock Falls, 142-36 in the opening-round of Regional play.
 
Girls Baskeball
 
The Lacy Aces had some great seasons as well..
 
1997-98             Amboy Tourny Champs                      Coach Mike Messer
 
2001-02             Four Rivers Conference Champs        Coach Mike Messer
                        FR Conference Tourny Champs
                        Amboy Tourny Champs               
 
In 2001, they won the Amboy Fresh-Soph Tournament as well as the varsity.
           
Also Offered
 
Baseball and Softball were also offered. No records could be found at this time.
 
Great Coach
 
Jan Cupp coached volleyball starting in 1987 and established a record of 279-197-8 and continues to coach volleyball for Ashton-Franklin Center High School.

Ashton High School Stage
ashtonstagemons.jpg

Speech / Individual Events
 
Ashton High School also had an Individual Events team that placed seventh in the state tournament in 1957. In 1958, Doris Pogue was the State Champion in Verse Reading at the IHSA Individual Events State Tournament.
 
 
 
 
 
1956-57    Individual Events Team Finished SEVENTH in STATE MEET Competition!!
 
1957-58    Individual Medalist - Doris Prague    Verse   STATE CHAMPION!!

If you have more Information about Ashton High School:

Please e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:
 
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il.  60631

Ashton High School Gym 2013
ashtonhs2gym2013dav.jpg
Today Serves As Ashton-Franklin Center HS Gym (Submitted by Bruce Firchau)