Wataga Sparta Township High School Spartans

Sparta Township High School, Wataga, Illinois

Photo Courtesy of the Galesburg Register News

The History of Wataga Sparta Township High School

Wataga is a community of 857 residents located on US. Route 34 and Il. Route 167 approximately 10 miles northeast of Galesburg in Knox County. The AT & ST Railroad runs through the center of town.

The origin of the school and the town is being requested from a citizen or a history buff of the area.We did receive this bit of information from an anonymous source (to whom we are thankful) :

Wataga High School actually closed in the 1940s, around the same time as the R.O.V.A. District was formed. The residents of Wataga at the time chose to send their students to the Galesburg school system. However Wataga maintained control of its grade school. In the mid-1980s the residents of Wataga chose to detach from the Galesburg school system. The children of Wataga were accepted into the R.O.V.A. school district in 1987, effectively putting the "W" in R.O.W.V.A.

Wataga joined the 1948 consolidation of the high schools from Rio, Oneida, Victoria, and Altona. All five of these schools are now listed on this site.

The grade school in Wataga served as home to "ROWVA West Grade School" until the end of the 2009-10 school year.

From Sharon Karpinski:

"According to the Galesburg Register-Mail, this building was constructed in 1888! ROWVA Consolidated School District, faced with a million dollar budget shortfall and extensive boiler and roof repairs needed at Wataga, has decided to close this school."

Wataga High School Quick Facts

Year opened: 1888

Year closed: 1949

Consolidated to: Galesburg School District (Joined ROWVA in 1987)

School nickname: the "Spartans"

School colors: Blue & White

School Fight Song: "Wataga Loyalty Song"

(Provided by Roger Scriven)

Wataga Sparta Township High School Fight Song

Courtesy of Roger Scriven

Athletics

We were unable to locate any information regarding Wataga High School on the IHSA website www.ihsa.org. We are seeking your help in offering information regarding Wataga High School and its "Spartans" sports program.

Great Player - Former St. Louis Browns pitcher Ed Kuhl is a product of Wataga High School!!

Several scores involving Wataga High School playing in the IHSA State Tournament were found on a website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores." These scores are posted below.

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

1st Rd Beat Oneida 17-1o

2nd Rd lost to Matherville 11-10

Galesburg beat Abingdon in title game

1933-34 Galesburg District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Oneida 22-20

Galesburg Beat Knoxville in title game

1934-35 Galesburg District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Rio 26-10

2nd Rd lost to Abingdon 51-9

Galesburg beat Knoxville in title game

1935-36 Galesburg District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Avon 37-7

Avon lost to Abingdon in title game

1936-37 Maquon District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Prairie City 19-8

Avon beat Maquon in title game

1937-38 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1938-39 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1939-40 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1940-41 Oneida District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Rio 41-20

2nd Rd lost to Altona 27-22

Maquon beat Oneida in title game

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

1942-43 Oneida District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Maquon 38-32

Avon beat Oneida in title game

1943-44 Postseason scores, record, and coach's name needed.

1944-45 Oneida District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Altona 43-37

Avon beat Woodhull in title game

1945-46 Oneida District Tournament Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Gilson 47-41

Semi-Final lost to Altona 60-26

Oneida beat Altona in title game

1946-47 Oneida District Tourney Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd lost to Oneida 69-33

Oneida beat Woodhull in title game

1947-48 Oneida District Runner-Up Coach's name & record needed

1st Rd Beat Gilson 59-24

Semi-Final Beat Victoria 46-37

Title Game lost to Oneida 55-24

Oneida & Wataga advanced to Regional

Galesburg Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Abingdon 51-49 (2 O/Ts)

Galesburg beat Galesburg Corpus Christi in title game

1948-49 Galesburg Regional Tournament Coach's name & record needed

**1st Rd lost to Abingdon 51-28

ROVA beat Princeville in title game

Wataga did not copete in District Tourney this season

**Final game for the Wataga High School "Spartans."

MEMORIES

**From Nancy Hoagland:

"Going through the papers in my (deceased) parents house I've just learned that my grandfather, Henry E. Hoagland, was principal / superintendent of Wataga H.S. in 1906."

Mr. Hoagland was born in 1887 and would go on to become a professor at Ohio State University and a member of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Home Loan Bank Board in the 1930s.

Henry Elmer Hoagland - Wataga Superindant 1906

Submitted by Nancy Hoagland

Wataga Student Role Call 1906

Submitted by Nancy Hoagland

Wataga School Program 1906

Submitted by Nancy Hoagland

Seeking Your Help

If you have any information you can share regarding Wataga, its high school, and the programs offered there please complete a Guest Commentary Form. We especially enjoy photos of the old school building, great teams, and/or activities. You may also e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago Il. 60631

Wataga School Faculty 1906

Submitted by Nancy Hoagland