Granite City South High School

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The History of Granite City South High School
 
Granite City (population 31,303) is located in the southwestern Illinois in the southwestern portion of Madison County.  The Mississippi River flows about two miles to the west of town.  St. Louis is about 6 miles to the southwest of Granite City.  Illinois Routes 3, 203, and 111 will all lead you into town.  Interstate Highways 55, 64, 70, 255, and 270 all surround Granite City. 
 
According to a website regarding Granite City
the city was incorporated in 1896.  Granite City was established in 1892 by brothers William and Frederick Niedringhaus, two successful German-born businessmen from St. Louis.  The brothers started an eating untensil factory in St. Louis and had learned of a way of coating the utensils with granite.  The area where Granite City now sits was bought by the brothers for the purpose of establishing a factory and a town based on this business.  Hence the name of Granite City was given to the town. 
 
Granite City has had a long and rich history of providing educational opportunities as well.  A high school was likely established early in the city's history.  It was in the early 1970s that a population boom saw for the need of two high schools.  In 1973 it was decided that a second high school would be created.  Granite City High School was renamed Granite City South High School while a new building was constructed on the north side of town.  This school was named Granite City North High School.
 
Granite City South High School was held in the original Granite City High School building. The two-high school system in Granite City lasted through the early 1980s. In 1983 it was decided that two high schools were no longer needed.   Granite City North High School was subsequently closed.  Granite City South High School simply dropped the South from its name and reverted to the original name of Granite City High School.
 
Granite City South High School building continues to serve in its original capacity as Granite City High School.
 
Granite City South High School Quick Facts
 
Year opened:                                  1973
Year closed:                                   1983
Consolidated to:                             Granite City High School
Granite City South team nickname: the "Warriors" 
Granite City South team colors:      Black & Red
School Fight Song:                        "Here's A Song For Dear Old Granite"
                                                                        Submitted by J'Lynn Snyder

SCHOOL FIGHT SONG

Here's a song for dear old Granite
Lift up your voice and sing: RAH RAH RAH
Here's a cheer for dear old Granite
Shout it! Let the echoes ring: RAH RAH RAH
Victory's our habit; let's win this game
But win or lose, we'll keep on fighting just the same
For school's what you make it
Granite can take it
Fight, fight, fight for Granite High.

G-HE! G-HI! G-HO! HO! HO!
GRANITE WARRIORS, GO, GO, GO!
ATHLETICS
 
Below you will find the accomplishments of the many great Granite City High School teams, athletes and scholars as found on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org).   We are in need of information such as coach's names and team records.  As you will see, for only being technically open for 10 years, the Granite City South High School kids were talented and very successful on many levels.
    
 
BOYS SOCCER
 
Granite City South High School was the place where State Championship Soccer was a regular occurrence.  During the ten years that Granite City South High School was open, the boys soccer team won an incredible SIX State titles in boys soccer.  In addition, one GCSHS team finished THIRD at the State Tournament Finals. 
 
Boys soccer was king in Granite City South.  Coach Gene Baker was the leader of this dominate program. Coach Baker went on to coach several seasons at Granite City finishing his career with a record of 462 - 100 - 40 from 1973 through 1996.  This places Coach Baker second All-Time in Illinois HS Soccer history and among the elite high school coaches in the nation.
 
Among individual accomplishments Mark Goldschmidt's  102  goals from 1975-77 made him the 32nd all-time leading scorer in IHSA boys soccer history. 
 
1973-74   19 - 2 - 1    IHSA State Finals - THIRD Place    Coach Gene Baker
                                   District Champions
                                   Sectional Champions
                                   Final Four Finalist 
                                   Lost to Morton East 2 - 1 (Penalty Kick)
                                   Third Place Game
                                   Beat Lake Forest 1 - 0 
 
1974-75                                                                                Coach Gene Baker
 
1975-76   19 - 3 - 2    Sectional Champions                      Coach Gene Baker
 
1976-77   26 - 1 - 1    IHSA STATE CHAMPIONS!!            Coach Gene Baker
                                   Sectional Champions
                                   Elite 8 Finalist
                                   Beat Lake Forest   1 - 0
                                   Final Four Finalist
                                    Beat Highland Park   2 - 0
                                   State Championship Game
                                   Beat Wheaton Central  4 - 0
 
1977-78   22 - 1 - 4    IHSA STATE CHAMPIONS!!            Coach Gene Baker
                                     Sectional Champions
                                Elite 8 Finalist
                                Beat New Trier East    2 - 1
                                Final Four Finalist
                                Beat Wheaton Central  2 - 1
                                State Championship Game
                                Beat Chicago Shurz  6 - 1
 
1978-79   25 - 4 - 1    IHSA STATE CHAMPIONS!!            Coach Gene Baker
                                      Sectional Champions
                                Elite 8 Finalist
                                Beat Deerfield   1 - 0
                                Final Four Finalist
                                Beat Brother Rice   2 - 1
                                State Championship Game
                                Beat Evanston  2 - 0
 
1979-80   24 - 5 - 4    IHSA STATE CHAMPIONS!!            Coach Gene Baker
                                      Sectional Champions
                                Elite 8 Finalist
                                Beat Wheaton Central   7 - 0
                                Final Four Finalist
                                Beat Hinckley-Big Rock    2 - 0
                                State Championship Game
                                Beat New Trier East   3 - 1
 
1980-81   26 - 2 - 1    IHSA STATE CHAMPIONS!!            Coach Gene Baker
                                      Sectional Champions
                                Elite 8 Finalist
                                Beat Wheaton Academy   4 - 0
                                Final Four Finalist
                                Beat Chicago Bowen 2 - 1 (4 O/T - P.K.)
                                State Championship Game
                                Beat Hinsdale South    5 - 1 
 
1981-82                                                                                 Coach Gene Baker 
 
1982-83   30 - 2         IHSA STATE CHAMPIONS!!             Coach Gene Baker
                                   Regional Champions
                                   Sectional Champions
                             Elite 8 Finalist
                             Beat Downers Grove South  2 - 0
                             Final Four Finalist
                             Beat Chicago Senn   1 - 0
                             State Championship Game
                             Beat New Trier  2 - 1
BOYS BASKETBALL
 
The boys basketball program had a couple nice seasons under the leadership of Coach Don Deterding. However only two seasons were recorded with a winning record.  The East St. Louis area  is a hotbed for basketball action and GCSHS held its own most seasons.
 
1973-76                                                                    Coach Bryan Wilkinson
1976-77                                                                    Coach Don Deterding
1977-78   13 - 12                                                      Coach Don Deterding
1978-79   18 - 8     2nd Place in Regional                Coach Don Deterding
1979-80                                                                    Coach Don Deterding
1980-81                East Alton-Wood River Tourn.    Coach Don Deterding
                           (Champs) Beat Piasa (SW) 52-50
1981-82                                                                    Coach Don Deterding 
1982-83                2nd Place in Regional                  Coach Don Deterding
 
**From our good fan Mark Jurenga:
All-time series vs. Collinsville: 1-12
*Collinsville is #2 in IHSA history in wins with 1,939 after the 2006-2007 season.
South victory:
1/16/1982-- Granite City (South) 59 Collinsville 57
 
GIRLS BASKETBALL
 
The girls basketball program won a Regional title, however the coach's name and team record of this and other great teams are not currently available.
 
1980-81           Regional Champions
 
 
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
 
The lady harriers made one trip as a team to the IHSA State Finals meet.
 
1981-82            Team Qualified for State Finals 
 
BOYS TENNIS
 
The tennis program won two District titles, however this is currently the extent of the information we have available.
 
1973-74            District Champions 
1979-80            District Champions
 
BOYS TRACK & FIELD
 
Two medals were earned in Granite City South High School's history.  Tom Schooley accomplished this in the 330 Yard Hurdles in 1974 and 1975.
 
1973-74     Individual Medalist - Tom Schooley   330 Yd. Hurdles   3RD Place
1974-75     Individual Medalist - Tom Schooley   330 Yd. Hurdles   8TH Place
 
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
 
The girls enjoyed their best success in the sport of volleyball.  FIVE District titles, TWO Sectional titles, and a trip to the Elite 8 round highlighted the success of the program. 
 
1974-75               Team Won District & Sectional Championships  
 
1975-76   14 - 4    IHSA ELITE 8 FINALIST!                                       Coach Wilma Schulze
                             District Champions
                             Sectional Champions
                             Super-Sectional Champions
                             Elite 8 Finalist
                             Lost to LaGrange Lyons  (2 - 0)
                             LaGrange Won State Championship
 
1976-77                Team Won District Championship 
1979-80                Team Won District Championship
1980-81                Team Won District Championship

 
BOYS WRESTLING
 
Granite City is a great town for high school wrestling.  GCSHS had two TOP TEN finishes as a team in the 10 years the school competed in the sport.  Several grapplers also brought home individual medals from IHSA State Match competition.
 
1973-74   19 - 2       IHSA State Finals - SEVENTH Place  Coach Bill "Red" Schmitt
 
                              Individual Medalists
                              Brian Wilson            155 lbs. Weight Class       4TH Place
                              John Niebur             119 lbs. Weight Class       5TH Place
                              Russ Halbrook            98 lbs. Weight Class       6TH Place
 
1974-75   19 - 1 - 1  District Champions                            Coach Bill "Red" Schmitt
 
                              Individual Medalists
                              Kevin Page              119 lbs. Weight Class       5TH Place

1975-76   20 - 2       District Champions                            Coach Bill "Red" Schmitt
 
1976-77   22 - 2                                                                 Coach Bill "Red" Schmitt
 
                              Individual Medalists
                              Kevin Wilson            185 lbs Weight Class       5TH Place

1977-78   21 - 1       IHSA State Finals - SEVENTH Place  Coach Bill "Red" Schmitt
                              Sectional Champions
 
                              Individual Medalists 
                              Sam Perkins            138 lbs Weight Class        2ND Place
                              Darrell Hasty            145 lbs Weight Class        3RD Place
 
1978-79   22 - 1        District / Sectional Champions         Coach Bill "Red" Schmitt
                              Individual Medalists
                              Dean Perkins           145 lbs Weight Class        3RD Place
                              Barry Forshee          126 lbs Weight Class        6TH Place
 
1979-80   23 - 1        District Champions                           Coach Bill "Red" Schmitt
 
                              Individual Medalists
                              Dean Perkins           145 lbs Weight Class        3RD Place

1980-81   21 - 1                                                                 Coach Bill "Red" Schmitt
 
                              Individual Medalists
                              Dean Perkins           155 lbs Weight Class        2ND Place
                              Greg Garland          119 lbs Weight Class         5TH Place

1981-82   16 - 7                                                                 Coach Bill "Red" Schmitt
1982-83   15 - 10                                                               Coach Bill "Red" Schmitt
 
ACADEMICS
 
Granite City South High School had some team successes in IHSA Academic competition as well.  Below you will see the championships won by these teams.  If you have any further information on any event, please send us an e-mail.
 
DEBATE
 
1974-75         Team Won Sectional Championship
 
 
SPEECH SWEEPSTAKES
 
1973-83         Coaches Richard King & Ron Pennell
 
 
DRAMA
 
1981-82         Team Won District Championship   
 
 
GROUP INTERPRETATION
 
1981-82         Team Won District Championship
 
 
IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION YOU WISH TO SHARE...
 
...regarding the above mentioned items or any other activities that are not mentioned please contact us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. A photo of the Granite City South High School building is also being sought. You can mail items to us at the following address:
 
IHSGD Website
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il.   60631