Winola High School "Jets"

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Winola High School
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Home of the Jets! (photo courtesy of Michael Reick)

The History of the Winola High School "Jets"
 

Winola HS Newspaper Photo
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Submitted by Kenneth Brown (left click on photo for larger view)

New Windsor (population 720) is situated on Il. Rt. 17 seven and one-half miles east of US. Rt. 67. If you are unfamiliar with the area, New Windsor is about 23 miles (as the crow flies) south and a little east of the Quad Cities. New Windsor sits on the far east-central edge of Mercer County.  The town hosts an annual rodeo which draws competitors and spectators from all over the midwest.
 
Viola (population 956) is located in upper western Illinois on Iliniois Route 17 at the intersection of U.S. Route 67. The town sits in the eastern portion of Mercer County. Viola is situated about 20 miles south of the Quad Cities.
 
Winola High School is the result of a consolidation effort of the towns of Viola and New Windsor.  The consolidation of the two high schools took place before the 1952 school year began. The high school students recieved their education in the HS building in Viola.

violawinolahsbeginningarticledav.jpg
Submitted by Kenneth Brown

Winola School District enjoyed four decades of many successes before being deactivated in 1988.  As a result of the deactivation the high school students from New Windsor and Viola now attend Sherrard High School in Sherrard. The Winola High School building still rises tall and proud in the town of Viola, though now used for private purposes.
   
Winola High School Quick Facts
 
Year school opened:       1952
Year "new" gym opened: 1968 
Year school closed:        1988
Consolidated to:              Sherrard School District
School Nickname:           Jets
School Colors:                Maroon and White
School Fight Song:         "Go You Winola"
                                      The tune of "Washington and Lee Swing"
 
                                     Go you WINOLA through that fighting line,
                                     Show that Maroon and White that you are mighty fine,
                                     To trumpet forth your wisdom and your fame,
                                     To fill the air with lots of fight for evermore
                                     We work and strive through all sincerity
                                     To bring to our fair school a victory. 
                                     Fly high, the banners of the Maroon and White,
                                     For we will fight on
                                     To VICTORY!!!!   
                                    
Athletics
 
Very limited information is available on the IHSA web site regarding athletics offered at Winola High School.  Successes were only found in boys basketball, and boys and girls track.  It is probable that football, girl's volleyball, and girl's basketball were also offered.  Winola spent several years competing in the old Cornbelt Conference.  The IHSA success of the Winola teams is listed below.  Assistance is being sought regarding the many great Winola teams that did not bring home IHSA hardware.

Winola High School "Jets" Logo
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Submitted by Darith April

Bill Mack was a Winola coach then. He went on to coach at Crystal Lake, then North Central College and, after he retired he volunteered as an assistant at Beloit. I imagine his record is available on the website for Hall of Fame coaches. It certainly wasn't because of his Winola record that he made the Hall of Fame but in his defense we had a lot of injuries.
 
Boys Basketball
 

Entrance to the Winola Gymnasium
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The boys basketball program won a District title in the school's first year of existence.  We are in need of the team's record and coach's name.  In fact, we are searching for all of the school's team records, coach's names, and individual accomplishments.
 
Several scores were located on a website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores" which involved Winola High School in the IHSA Stae Tournament. The scores we located are listed below.
 
1952-53              District Champions!                            Coach's name & record needed
                          District Scores Unavailable
                          Aledo Regional Tourney
                          1st Rd Beat Alwood 78-66
                          Semi-final lost to Joy 66-58
                          Joy won Regional title.

Winola HS First Basketball Team - District Champs
violawinolahsbball534basketballdav.jpg
Submitted by Kenneth Brown

Front row:  Tom Frakes, Terry Brown, Gordy Miller, Coach Bill King, Tad Yarde, Cletus Moseley, Pete Peterson
Back row:  Garry McNeil, Harry Peterson, Rodney Garret, Roger Birkhead, Jim Myers, Ken Brown.

Winola Cheerleaders 1953
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Submitted by Kenneth Brown (left click on photo for larger view)

1953-54              Joy Regional Tourney Runner-up!     Coach's name & record needed
                          Winola did not compete in District
                          Joy Regional Tourney Scores
                          1st Rd Beat Alexis 63-46
                          Semi-final Beat Aledo 55-33
                          Title Game lost to Joy 59-51
   
1954-55              Sherrard Regional Tournament               Coach's name & record needed
                         Winola did not compete in District
                         Sherrard Regional Tourney Scores
                         1st Rd Beat Reynolds 55-50
                         Semi-final lost to Aledo 65-44
                         Aledo lost in title game
  
1955-56              Aledo Regional Tournament                   Coach's name & record needed
                         Winola did not compete in District
                         Aledo Regional Tourney Scores
                         1st Rd Beat Alexis 73-44
                         Semi-final lost to Little York 63-60
                         Little York won Regional title.
  
1956-57              Sherrard Regional Tournament               Coach's name & record needed
                         Winola did not compete in District
                         Sherrard Regional Tourney Scores
                         1st Rd lost to Little York 64-57
                         Little York lost in semi-final round
   
1957-58 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed
   
1958-59              Alexis Regional Tournament                  Coach's name & record needed
                         Winola did not compete in District
                         Alexis Regional Tourney Scores
                         1st Rd lost to Rockridge 64-56
                         Rockridge lost in semi-final round
    
1959-60              Sherrard Regional Tournament               Coach's name & record needed
                         Winola did not compete in District
                         Sherrard Regional Tourney Scores
                         1st Rd score unavailable
                         Semi-final lost to Sherrard 69-62
                         Sherrard won Regional title
  
1960-61              Woodhull Regional Tournament             Coach's name & record needed
                         Winola did not compete in District
                         Woodhull Regional Tourney Scores
                         1st Rd lost to Alexis 72-59
                         Alexis lost in title game
   
1961-62             Alexis District Tournament                     Coach's name & record needed
                        1st Rd lost to Alwood 69-56
                        Alwood lost in title game
   
1962-63             Alexis District Tournament                     Coach's name & record needed
                        1st Rd lost to Monmouth Warren 59-41
                        Warren lost in semi-final round
   
1963-64 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed  
  
1964-65            Postseason scores & record needed       Coach Battershell
1965-66            Postseason scores & record needed       Coach Battershell 
       
1966-67 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed
   
1967-68              Aledo Regional Tournament                   Coach's name & record needed
                         Winola did not compete in District
                         Aledo Regional Tourney Scores
                         1st Rd Lost to Galva 78-59
                         Galva won Regional title
  
1968-69             Alexis District Tournament                     Coach's name & record needed
                        1st Rd lost to Monmouth Warren 69-61
                        Warren won District title
  
1969-70              Oneida Regional Tournament                 Coach's name & record needed
                         Winola did not compete in District
                         Oneida Regional Tourney Scores
                         1st Rd Lost to Oneida ROVA 76-60
                         ROVA lost in title game
   
1970-71              Sherrard Regional Tournament               Coach's name & record needed
                         Winola did not compete in District
                         Sherrard Regional Tourney Scores
                         1st Rd lost to Galva 71-63
                         Galva won Regional title
  
1971-72              Viola Regional Tourney Runner-up!  Coach's name & record needed
                          1st year of IHSA two class tournament
                          1st Rd Beat Rockridge 77-61
                          Semi-final Beat Aledo 75-65
                          Title game lost to Orion 57-52
   
1975-76   9 - 9                                                               Coach Kennelly
 
**All other season records, coaches' names, and postseason scores are needed.                 
     
Boys Track & Field
 
Two individuals brought home hardware from the IHSA Boys State Track Meet!
 
1974-75     Duane Peterson      2 Mile Run       8th Place
1986-87     Mike Goben           Triple Jump       8th Place
 
Girls Track & Field 
 
Two ladies also earned medals at the IHSA Girls State Track Meet.  Julie Goben earned a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP in the high jump in 1983!! Lisa also won two other medals in the high jump, making her a three-time medal winner at the meet.
 
1981-82     Julie Goben            High Jump      5th Place
1982-83     Julie Goben            High Jump      STATE CHAMPION!!
1983-84     Julie Goben            High Jump      8th Place    
1987-88     Lisa Bisom              Shot Put          7th Place
  
Boys Football

Football Field Dedication Ceremony
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Submitted by Kenneth Brown (left click on photo for larger view)

We know the Jets played football. So far this is the extent of the information we have obtained.
  
Evan Thomas tells us:
 
"The initial Winola football coach was Leo Traister, who had been at Viola prior to consolidation. He later moved to VIT and Eureka College. Bill Mack, now in the IHSA coaches Hall of Fame, began his career at Winola in 1960. I believe he was there 4 years."
 
 
 

Winola HS Football Team of 1953
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Submitted by Kenneth Brown

1964-65                                           Asst. Coach Battershell
1965-66                                           Asst. Coach Battershell
1975-76     0 - 9                               Coach Stubbs
   
Boys Wrestling
 
Research by Dean Bentley showed the Winola High School boys competed in wrestling as well. A 1976 Winola High School yearbook revealed the grapplers of this year had a record of 7 - 10. Any other information regarding Winola HS wrestling is welcome.
 
1975-76      7 - 10                            Coach Wyffels
 
Girls Volleyball
 
The 1976 yearbook shows that Winola High School also participated in girls volleyball. In that particular season in fact they were quite good at it!
 
1975-76     13 - 2                             Coach Nederbrock
   
Girls Basketball
   
The Lady Jets competed in basketball as well. We only have the record from the 1975-76 season currently available. Please contact us if you have further informaton to share.
 
1975-76       2 - 8                             Coach Nederbrock                            
            
MEMORIES
 
**From Evan Thomas:
 
"I grew up in New Windsor and attended Winola High School. Bill King came to New Windsor to coach in 1950 and continued as the Winola coach until the '70's I have several yearbooks with records from the late 50's and 60's.I will try to uncover some additional information.
  
The first Winola football coach was Leo Traister who had been at Viola and stayed after the merger. He moved over to VIT and then to Eureka College. The Winola qb, Ron (Butch) McCready, played for him at Eureka. Butch later coached at Roseville and Savannah before moving into administration.
  
Bill Mack was a Winola coach then. He went on to coach at Crystal Lake, then North Central College and, after he retired he volunteered as an assistant at Beloit. I imagine his record is available on the website for Hall of Fame coaches. It certainly wasn't because of his Winola record that he made the Hall of Fame but in his defense we had a lot of injuries.
         
One of my classmates at Winola, Bob Frase, was a letterman fencer at the U of Illinois. He won a Big Ten title and competed in NCAA tourney. I would guess he may be one of a very few Cornbelt grads who ever competed in collegiate fencing.
   
Also, the "new" high school in New Windsor was designed by Albert Heino, a Chicago architect who was married to my aunt Doris from New Windsor. After Al's death she moved back to New Windsor and spent a number of years teaching in the Winola system.
 
It's been a long time, but there are still great memories of days at Winola."
                        
**From Gordy L.:
 
"I love the concept of your site and I think I can be of some help.  Winola HS opened in 1952 (class of '53 was the first graduating class). The school closed with the graduation of the class of 1988."
 
Seeking More Information
 
We are aware Winola had many more successful seasons than those listed. We are seekng information regaring the teams, players, and coaches who graced the courts and fields of Winola High School.  If you can offer any assistance in documenting this information please complete a . You can also send items to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net . You may also write to us at:
 
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il.  60631    
 
 
The photos below were sent courtesy of Michael Reick

Winola Grade School Building
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violawinola53homecoming1dav.jpg
Submitted by Kenneth Brown

Winola Loses Tough Game to Aledo - 1953
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Submitted by Kenneth Brown (left click on photo for larger view)

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Submitted by Kenneth Brown

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Submitted by Kenneth Brown

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Submitted by Kenneth Brown

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Submitted by Kenneth Brown