Waukegan West High School "Raiders"

*HOME PAGE
Closed High Schools Alumni Apparel
*RECENT UPDATES
*CLOSED HIGH SCHOOLS LISTED BY COUNTY
IN THE BEGINNING - Where Closed High Schools Consolidated To
*YOUR COMMENTS
*SUBMIT A COMMENT or SUGGESTION
*THE "TO-DO" LIST
*ABOUT THE AUTHORS
GREAT CONFERENCES
*CLOSED GRADE SCHOOLS
RELIGIOUS ORDERS
MASCOTS & NICKNAMES
*LINKS TO OTHER SITES
COUNTRY SCHOOLS / SPECIAL BLDGS
*Schools That Start With "A"
*Schools That Start With "B"
*Schools That Start With "C"
*Schools That Start With "D"
*Schools That Start With "E"
*Schools That Start With "F"
*Schools That Start With "G"
*Schools That Start With "H"
*Schools That Start With... "I"
*Schools That Start With "J"
*Schools That Start With "K"
*Schools That Start With "L"
*Schools That Start With "M"
*Schools That Start With "N"
*Schools That Start With "O"
*Schools That Start With "P"
*Schools That Start With "Q"
*Schools That Start With "R"
*Schools That Start With "S"
*Schools That Start With.. "T"
*Schools That Start With.. "U"
*Schools That Start With.. "V"
*Schools That Start With "W"
*Waggoner High School
*Walnut High School
Walnut Grove Twnshp HS
*Walpole High School
*Wapella High School
*Warrensburg High School
Wasco High School
*Washburn High School
*Wataga High School
Waterloo Sts. Peter & Paul
*Waterman High School
Watson High School
*Waukegan East HS
*Waukegan Holy Child HS
Waukegan West HS
*Waynesville High School
Wedron High School
*Weldon High School
*Wellington High School
*Wenona High School
*West Brooklyn H.S.
*West Point High School
*West Salem High School
*West Union H.S.
*West York High School
*Westchester IHM
*Westervelt High School
*Westfield High School
*Wheaton Central HS
*Wheaton-Warrenville HS
*White Hall High School
*Willisville High School
Willisville-Percy H.S.
*Willow Hill High School
*Wilmette Mallinckrodt HS
*Wilmette Maria Imm. Acad
*Wing High School
*Winnetka New Trier East
*Viola Winola High School
*Winslow High School
*Witt High School
*Wolf Lake High School
*Woodhull High School
*Woodland High School
Woodson High School
Woodstock St. Mary HS
*Woodstock Seminary
*Worden High School
*Wyanet High School
*Wyoming High School
*Schools That Start With.. "X"
Xenia High School
*Schools That Start With.. "Y"
Yale High School
*Yates City High School
*Youngstown High School
*Zeigler High School
*Schools That Start With.. "Z"
*Strasburg High School

The History of Waukegan West High School
 
Waukegan (population 87,901) is located in far northeastern Illinois in east-central Lake County. The Illinois Routes of  21, 41, 43, 131, 132, and 137 all lead you to and from Waukegan. Lake Michigan serves as the eastern border of Waukegan. The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad and the Elgin, Joliet, & Eastern Railroad both travel through the east side of town. Interstate Highway 94 runs by the west side of town. Waukegan sits just 8 miles south of the Wisconsin / Illinois border.
 
A nice history of Waukegan's early days can be found at the web addresses of (Wikipedia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waukegan,_Illinois#History and (Waukegan Historical Society) http://www.waukeganweb.net/waukeganhistory.html. Both sites state the following:
 
"Waukegan, first visited by Pere Marquette in 1673, is one of the oldest communities in Illinois. The city started as a French trading post and Potawatomi Indian settlement known as "Little Fort". Records dating back to 1829 tell of a treaty signed by the Potawatomis in which they ceded all of their land in this area to the Federal Government.

Little Fort became the County Seat of Government in 1841 by virture of its population, replacing Libertyville. Between 1844 and 1846, the town's population grew from 150 to 750 people. In 1849 when the town was incorporated, the population had risen to 2,500.

Proud of the growth of their community and no longer wanting to be characterized as "little", on March 31, 1849 the residents of Little Fort changed the name of their town to Waukegan, the Potawatomi word for "fort" or "trading post"."

Waukegan residents began a school system for their children by the mid to late 1800's. It is likely that high school courses were in place by the late 1800's. Waukegan High School served the town and its ever-growing population through the early 1970's. It was in 1974 that the decision was made to create a second high school in Waukegan.

Eileen Lambo explains the process to create two high schools in Waukegan:

"I believe that in 1974 WWHS building was for all Freshman and Sophmores.  1975 it was for all Fresh and Soph, and the Juniors for that district.  In 1976 the two schools split to 4 years each in their respective districts.  This was the first year the4re were 2 high schools.   The homecoming football game for each school was played against one another in 1976 with East winning 20-0."  

Waukegan High School was renamed Waukegan East High School. The second high school was aptly named Waukegan West High School. Waukegan West High School served the families of Waukegan for 15 years. It was further decided in 1990 that Waukegan would revert to the one high school system. This decision effectively closed Waukegan West High School.

Today, the Waukegan West High School building is home to 10th, 11th, and 12th graders of the Waukegan school district, while ninth graders attend classes in the Waukegan East building.

Waukegan West High School Quick Facts
 
Year opened:                                      1974
Year closed:                                       1990
Consolidated to:                                  Waukegan High School
Waukegan West HS team nickname:    "Raiders"  
Waukegan West HS team colors:         Green and Gold
School Fight Song:                              "Cheers, Cheers for Waukegan West"
                                                                             University of Notre Dame Fight Song Tune
                                                                             Lyrics submitted by EILEEN LAMBO
 
                                                         We are the green and we are the gold
                                                         We are the Raiders, we are the bold!
                                                         We will conquer, we will win
                                                         We know we we'll never, ever give in
 
                                                         We have the teamwork
                                                         We have the speed
                                                         We know we'll always step out and lead!
                                                         We are Raiders tried and true
                                                         Waukegan West we love you!
 
                                                          "Fight Raiders Fight!"
 
ATHLETICS
 
In spite of the school's short time being active, Waukegan West High School had some incredible successes on the court and on the field. A State Championship and several other early round titles were won by various teams in WWHS history. We are in need of the school fight song, several coach's names and some team records of Waukegan West High School's glorious past. 
 
BOYS BASEBALL
 
The Waukegan West High School hardballers had some incredible success. In fact, they join the ranks of very few schools on this site, they won a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP in 1982-83!!  Coach Rick Mowen appears to have guided the program for the bulk, if not for all, of the school's tenure. A State Championship, THREE Regional Championships, and a Sectional Championship were all a part of the WWHS baseball program resume'.   
 
1975-78                                                                             Coach Rick Mowen
1978-79   16 - 7                                                                  Coach Rick Mowen
1979-80   14 - 9    Regional Champions                             Coach Rick Mowen
1980-81   16 - 11                                                                Coach Rick Mowen
1981-82   17 - 11                                                                Coach Rick Mowen
 
1982-83   22 - 7    IHSA CLASS AA STATE CHAMPIONS!!  Coach Rick Mowen
                           Regional Champions
                           Sectional Champions
                           Elite 8 Finalist
                           Beat Danville  6 - 4
                           Final 4 Finalist
                           Beat Chicago Simeon  6 - 5
                           State Championship Game
                           Beat Collinsville  2 - 0

1983-84   17 - 6                                                                  Coach Rick Mowen
1984-85   20 - 11                                                                Coach Rick Mowen
1985-86   19 - 11  Regional Champions                             Coach Rick Mowen
1986-87   18 - 9                                                                  Coach Rick Mowen
 
GIRLS BASKETBALL
 
The ladies of Waukegan West made an impact at the State Tourney level as well. Two trips to the IHSA Elite 8 made the West HS girls program a yearly threat im the late 1970's and 1980's. Coach Gene Head led the charge from 1977-78 through the 1986-87 school year. Coach Head's teams won SEVEN District titles, TWO Sectional titles and TWO Super-Sectional titles
 
1975-76   10 - 2                                                              Coach Linda Hoffman
1976-77     8 - 6                                                              Coach Linda Hoffman
1977-78   21 - 4    Regional Champions                         Coach Gene Head
 
1978-79   26 - 2    IHSA ELITE 8 FINALIST                      Coach Gene Head
                           Regional Champions
                           Sectional Champions
                           Super-Sectional Champions
                           Beat Kaneland  86 - 47
                           Elite 8 Finalist
                           Lost to East St. Louis Lincoln  71 - 55
                           E.St.L finished 2ND
1979-80   18 - 6    Regional Champions                         Coach Gene Head
 
1980-81   16 - 12  IHSA ELITE 8 FINALIST                      Coach Gene Head
                           Regional Champions
                           Sectional Champions
                           Super-Sectional Champions
                           Beat Crystal Lake Central  58 - 50
                           Elite 8 Finalist
                           Lost to Niles West     58 - 42
                           Niles West finished 4th
 
1981-82   11 - 12                                                            Coach Gene Head
1982-83   11 - 13                                                            Coach Gene Head
1983-84   11 - 16  Regional Champions                         Coach Gene Head
1984-85   17 - 8    Regional Champions                         Coach Gene Head
1985-86   19 - 8    Regional Champions                         Coach Gene Head
1986-87   10 - 7                                                              Coach Gene Head
 
BOYS BASKETBALL
 
The boys basketball program added two Regional titles to the Waukegan West HS trophy case. Team records and coach's names of these and other WWHS boys basketball teams are needed.
 
1982-83          Regional Champions 
1989-90          Regional Champions
 
GIRLS GOLF
 
The lady linksters used an excellent team effort to bring home a FOURTH place trophy from the IHSA State Finals in 1984. It was a true team effort as no individual medals were won by this team. Coach's name for this team is needed. 
 
1983-84          IHSA FOURTH PLACE TEAM FINALIST
                     Regional Champions
 
BOYS FOOTBALL
 
Coach John Neff built a solid football program at Waukegan West High School that was started by Coach Mike Jerikian. The grid iron warriors earned one trip to the IHSA State Playoffs under Coach Neff's leadership.
 
1975-78                                                                           Coach Mike Jerikian
1978-79    7 - 2                                                                Coach Mike Jerikian
1979-80    7 - 2                                                                Coach John Neff
1980-81    4 - 5                                                                Coach John Neff
1981-82    5 - 4                                                                Coach John Neff
1982-83    6 - 3                                                                Coach John Neff
1983-84    4 - 5                                                                Coach John Neff
1984-85    3 - 6                                                                Coach John Neff
1985-86    4 - 6                                                                Coach John Neff
1986-87    5 - 4                                                                Coach John Neff
1987-88    6 - 4  IHSA Class 5A Playoffs Qualifier            Coach John Neff
                        Lost to Lake Forest HS  14 - 7
1988-89    6 - 3                                                                Coach John Neff
 
GIRLS TENNIS
 
The girls tennis team made a trip to the IHSA State Finals in 1982-83 after winning the Sectional Championship. The coach's name of this team is needed.  
 
1982-83         Team Won Sectional Championship
 
BOYS GOLF
 
The boys won some IHSA hardware on the links as well. A District title and a Regional title highlighted the boys golf program success. One athlete even placed in the top-ten on the Individual Medalist category!
 
1978-79AA         Team Won District Championship
 
                          Individual Medalist
                          Randy Pilotte          9TH Place
 
1985-86AA         Team Won Regional Championship
 
 
BOYS TRACK & FIELD
 
Two Sectional titles and a THIRD Place Finish at the IHSA State Meet helped the tracksters leave their mark on WWHS history as well. The third place finish came in the school's final season. In addition, several athletes won Individual Medals including FOUR Gold Medals!!    
 
1977-78AA     Individual Medalists
                     Gerald Green           Shot Put                   3RD Place
                     Larnell Farmer         440 Yard Dash          5TH Place
                     Relay Team              1 Mile Relay             5TH Place
 
1978-79AA     Individual Medalist
                     Gerald Green           Shot Put                   STATE CHAMPION!!
 
1979-80AA     Individual Medalist
                     Rick Doby                 Long Jump               6TH Place
 
1980-81AA     Individual Medalist
                     Rick Doby                 Triple Jump              2ND Place
 
1987-88AA     Individual Medalists
                     Relay Team              4x100 Meter Relay    5TH Place
 
1988-89AA     Team Won Sectional Championship
 
                     Individual Medalists
                     Mario McDonald       100 Meter Dash         2ND Place
                     Jahamal Hardy         400 Meter Dash         8TH Place
 
1989-90         Team Finished THIRD in IHSA Finals!!
                     Sectional Champions
 
                     Individual Medalists
                     Mario McDonald       100 Meter Dash         STATE CHAMPION!
                     Relay Teams             4x100 Meter Relay   STATE CHAMPIONS!
                                                       4x200 Meter Relay   STATE CHAMPIONS!
                     Phillip Bryan             400 Meter Dash         2ND Place
 
GIRLS TRACK & FIELD
 
Three lady tracksters brought home three individual medals from the IHSA State Finals Meet.
 
1975-76   Individual Medalist  -  Anette Gardner    100 Yard Dash   7TH Place
1976-77   Individual Medalist  -  Brenda McMillen  Discus               8TH Place
1978-79   Individual Medalist  -  Gail Doby              Long Jump       5TH Place
 
 
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
 
The girls volleyball program had some nice seasons at Waukegan West High School as well.
 
1975-76    6 - 6             Coach Anne Clark
1976-77  10 - 8             Coach Anne Clark
1977-78                       Coach Levonne Williams
1978-80                       Coach Faye Warren
1980-83                       Coach Pat Patrick
1983-84                       Coach Jim McCauley
1984-85    6 - 6             Coach Eugene Dalbo
1985-87                       Coach Valerie Hansford
1987-88                       Coach Kathy Mohar
 
BOYS SOCCER
 
The boys soccer program produced the following above .500 seasons during the school's history.
 
1975-78                         Coach George Dervis
1978-79                         Coach Jaime Davila
1979-80                         Coach George Vogel
1980-83                         Coach Gary Slettum
1983-84                         Coach Glen Beausoliel
1984-85    5 - 5 - 3          Coach Tom Long
1985-86                         Coach Glen Beausoliel
1986-87    8 - 8               Coach Glen Beausoliel
1987-88    7 - 6 - 5          Coach Glen Beausoliel
 
BOYS WRESTLING
 
Coach Chris Thomalla developed a solid wrestling program at Waukegan West High School. His teams had several winning seasons and produced one Individual Medalist.
 
1975-76                                                                              Coach Chris Thomalla
1976-77   14 - 2                                                                   Coach Chris Thomalla
1977-78   12 - 5 - 1                                                              Coach Chris Thomalla
1978-79   14 - 4                                                                   Coach Chris Thomalla
1979-80                                                                              Coach Chris Thomalla
1980-81     9 - 8                                                                   Coach Chris Thomalla
1981-82   12 - 4                                                                   Coach Chris Thomalla
1982-83   13 - 8                                                                   Coach Chris Thomalla
                         Individual Medalist
                         Greg Pipes      155 lbs. Weight Class     5TH Place

1983-84   15 - 7                                                                   Coach Chris Thomalla
1984-87                                                                              Coach Wilbur Borrero
Theatre

The Illinois Theatre Festival is the largest, non-competetive high school theatre festival in the world. It was organized in 1976 by teachers from the Chicago suburbs. This festival is still going strong as they perform at the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) and Illinois State University every other January. Waukegan West High school participated in this festival in 1976, 1978 and 1981.
 
 
Need Your Assistance
 
As with every page, we are seeking some in-put from an Waukegan West High School fan or alumnus as to the history and great successes accomplished at Waukegan West High School. If you can provide us with information, please complete Guest Commentary Form. You may also write us at dr.veeman@gmail.com or via "real" mail at:
 
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago,  Il.   60631