Athletics

Another fact regarding the history of Roberts-Thawville High School is that Coach Jim Matta began his teaching and coaching career at R-THS in 1960. Coach Matta began raising his family while at R-THS until he eventually moved on to Hoopeston-East Lynn High School to continue his career. One of his children, Thad, is currently the Head Basketball Coach at Ohio State University. 

 

The better teams and IHSA successes of R-THS are listed below.

 

1957-58     17-  7       (good record)                  Coach Ernie Warren

1958-59     19-  7       (good record)                  Coach Ernie Warren

1966-67     22-  4       (good record)                  Coach James Matta

1970-71     20-  6       (good record)                  Coach Leonard McKean 

1971-72     19-  6       (good record)                  Coach Leonard McKean

 

 

An excellent document was sent to us by Richard & Carol Long. This is an thorough and well-documented account of some of the R-THS High School records in sports and academics.

 

ROBERTS–THAWVILLE SUCCESSES 1949 – 1974

9  -   National Merit scholars

75 -  State scholars

3   -  Vermiliion Valley Basketball Tourney championships

5   -  Conference track championships

2   -  R-T Baseball championship trophies

12 -  State music sweepstakes awards

1   -  Class D state music championship

1   -  State Agriculture Mechanics Championships (FFA)

3   - National FFA 10^{th  place finishes  - AG MECH TEAM}

TOP CLASS HONORS

YEAR    VALEDICTORIAN          SALUTATORIAN

1950      Eugenie Jones             Donna Havener

1951      Roma Underwood        Wanda Hoover

1952      Wanda Hicks              Ruth Holy

1953      Donna Jennings          Robert Shambrook

1954      Audrey Eshleman        Joyce Hildenbrand

1955      Jeanette Dodd             Carol Reed

1956      Leola Hoppler              Lee McNeil

1957      Carol Bertram              Tomola Dodd

1958       Ruth Giese                 Gynell Zick

1959       Judy Dodd                  Shirley Yana

1960       George Veatch            Donna Lee & Dawn Veatch

1961       Alan Evans                  Martha Black & Mary Kietzman

1962       Ella Jo Crouch             Gloria Sturm

1963       Roger David                 Gail Cook

1964       William Veatch            Sharon Bennett

1965       LaVonne Lee               David Turner

1966       Carolyn Crouch            Alan Sans & Terry Zivney

1967       Michael Weber             Allen Harvey

1968       Robert Veatch              Thomas Schwarz

1969       Marsha Niles                John Rulison

1970       Stephen Flessner          Sara Crouch

1971       Mary Rock                    Becky Sans

1972       Stephen Rock               Naomi Crouch

1973       Colleen Rock                 Lucinda Rulison

1974       Lynn Saxma                  Joyce Stamm

SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENTS

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS

Allan Evans

William Little

William Veatch

Terry Zivney

Robert Veatch

JAMES SCHOLARS (U of I)

Allen Evans

William Veatch

James Veatch

LaVonne Lee

Robert Garrelts

David Turner

John Rulison

Michael Weber

Stephen Flessner

Lynn Allen

PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARS (SIU)

Carolyn Crouch

Alan Sans

Betty Roetzel

Marsha Niles

Karen Flessner

Cheryl Fuoss

Naomi Crouch

ADVANCED DEGREES  -  PH D’S

Allan Evans            Robert Currie

George Veatch       LaVonne Lee

James Veatch        Gregory Steigman

William Veatch       Harry Danforth

Jerry Natterstad

ADVANCED DEGREES - MEDICAL DOCTORS

Robert Currie

 

LaVonne Lee

 

Gregory Steigman

 

PAST ATHLETIC RECORDS

BOYS BASKETBALL

Vermillion Valley Conference Champions

1955, 1957, 1967 (Tied with Forrest-Strawn-Wing)

Vermillion Valley Conference Tourney Champions

1961, 1970, 1971

District Champions

1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961

Individual scoring record

Ray Johnson

Game high – 44 points (1972)

Season average – 32 (1972)

Team scoring record

1972 – 105 points

Team with best record

1955 – 28 won – 4 lost

SEASONAL WON – LOSS RECORD

YEAR          Record              COACH

1949-50       11-  9                  Buckner (25-17)

1950-51       14-  9                            "

1951-52       13-  7                  Blakeley (22-19)

1952-53         9-12                             "

1953-54         9-17                  Warren (161-59)

1954-55       28-  4                             "

1955-56       26-  4                             "

1956-57       27-  5                             "

1957-58       17-  7                             "

1958-59       19-  7                             "

1959-60       16-10                             "

1960-61       19-  8                             "

1961-62         6-15                  Matta (80-65)

1962-63         6-15                             "

1963-64       15-10                             "

1964-65       16-  9                             "

1965-66       15-12                             "

1966-67        22- 4                             "

1967-68          6-17                 McKean (77-93)

1968-69          6-18                             "

1969-70        18-  8                             "

1970-71         20- 6                             "

1971-72         19- 6                             "

1972-73           6-17                            "

1973-74           2-21                              "

Overall Record     365- 253

ACCUMULATIVE RECORD AGAINST RIVALS

R-T 29 21 Chatsworth

R-T 33 30 Melvin-Sibley

R-T 14 16 F-S-W

R-T 41 12 Piper City

VERMILLION VALLEY CONFERENCE TOURNEY

1966      CHEERLEADING CHAMPIONS

BASEBALL

Vermillion Valley Conference championship   -   1972

Vermillion Valley Conference tourney champs -  1970

Team scoring record

20 runs – 1972

Pitching record

Randy Higgins – 8 won – 0 lost – 1972

CROSS COUNTRY

Individual record – boys

Mark Gordon – 2.5 M – 14:14 (1973)

Individual record – girls

Beth A Kietzman – 1.7M – 11:10 (1973)

TRACK & FIELD

(Prior to 1974 Season)

Vermillion Valley Conference meet champions

1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1971

Individual Records

100 – yd dash – D. Perkinson – 10.1 (1967)

220 – yd dash – D. Perkinson – 22.6 (1967)

440 – yd dash – R. Manahan – 53.6 (1963)

880 – yd dash – W. Manahan – 2:06.1 (1960)

1 Mile run – L. Flessner – 4:47.1 (1963)

2– mile run – W. Kaeding – 11:26.5 (1971)

70 – yd high hurdles – R. Little – 9.4 (1964)

120 - yd high hurdles-15.5

W. Manahan (1960) & E. Stiegman (1970-71)

120 – yd low hurdles – E. Stiegman -14.4 (1971)

180 – yd low hurdles – E Stiegman – 21.6 (1971)

V. 440 – yd relay – 48.8 (1972)

K. Warlow, Jon Harris, R. Sans, D. Smith

F.S. 440- yd relay – 49.2 (1971)

Jeff Bristle, Tom Rock, R. Sans, D. Smith

F. 440- yd relay – 50.5 (1970)

Jeff Bristle, Tom Rock, R. Sans, D. Smith

V. 880 – yd relay – 1:39.3 (1965)

Jerry Sturm, D. Perkinson, E. Houtzel, D. Zick

F.S. 880 – yd relay – 1:42.3

Jerry Sturm, L. Hall, R. Hanna, D. Zick (1963)

Jeff Bristle, Tom Rock, K. Warlow, D. Smith (1971)

V. 1 mile relay – 3:46.0 – (1971)

M. Jordan, Tom Rock, R. Sans, M. Tammen

F.S. 1 mile relay – 4:04.5 – (1970)

Tom Rock, T. Fritchley, W. Kaeding, R. Sans

Shot put – Gene Weber – 47’ 8"- (1960)

Discus throw – Gene Weber - 144’ 6" – (1960)

High Jump – A. Sans – 6’ 2" – (1966)

Pole vault – L. Trees – 12’ – (1969)

Long jump – Morris Tammen – 21’ (1971)

SINCERE GRATITUDE

Thank you to Richard & Carol Long for their excellent contributions to the R-THS page!!

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Chicago, Il.    60631