Mazon High School

Mazon Township High School

1912 - 1955

The History of Mazon High School

Mazon (population 904) is located on Il. Route 47 approximately 8 miles south of Morris. This places Mazon in the south-center of Grundy County. "Johnny Run" creek runs through town as does the famous railroad of song, the Atchison, Topeka, & Sante Fe.

The origin of Mazon and its school system needs some research. It is thought the town started its school system in the late 1800s. At some point Mazon consolidated with its two neighbors to the southwest, Verona and Kinsman. Mazon faired quite well on its own through 1973, the year the unit district was formed.

The Mazon-Verona-Kinsman High School was located in Mazon. This school district lasted through the 1990 school year. In 1990 M-V-K was deactivated and the school district was annexed into the Seneca School System.

The fate of the original Mazon High School building is being sought. It is known there is an elementary school and a middle school that between them serve grades K - 8 for the kids of Mazon, Verona, and Kinsman. It is believed that this school is housed in the former Mazon HS building.

Mazon High School Quick Facts

Year opened: probably late 1800s

Year became M-V-K HS: 1973

School nickname: the "Red Devils"

School colors: Red & White

School Fight Song: "Mazon High, We're True to You"

Mazon High, we're true to you,

Our Alma Mater ever dear.

Mazon High, we're true to you,

That we are loyal, never fear.

Mazon High, we're true to you,

We greet you now with cheer and song,

With deeds of worth and tested courage strong,

Mazon High, we're true to you.

Cheer

Mazon High! Mazon High! Mazon High! GO!

The Team! The Team! The Team!

Grade School Gym Building 2011

Former High School Gym??

Athletics

Two sports are cited on the IHSA web site as winning IHSA hardware; Boys Basketball and Boys Track & Field. It is thought that Mazon High School also offered baseball and possibly football. We know they excelled in Track as you will read below. If you have any information on Mazon HS please e-mail us at eganann@sbcglobal.net.

Boys Track & Field

The boys track team of 1916 brought home some real IHSA hardware. The team finished 3rd in the "B" Meet, topping such schools as Aurora West and Normal University HS. The results and individual winners in the meet are listed below. Excellent job Mazon Tracksters!!

1915-16 H. Newport Discus 2nd Place

H. Newport Shot Put 2nd Place

Drake 220 Yard Run 4th Place

880 Yard Relay 2nd Place

Final Team Standings - 1916 "B" Meet

1.) Harrisburg - 20 points

2.) Jacksonville - 13

3.) MAZON - 10

3.) Oregon - 10

3.) Pawnee - 10

6.) Georgetown - 9

7.) Normal U-High 8

7.) Aurora West - 8

7.) Byron - 8

7.) Manteno - 8

Boys Cross Country

The Mazon High School Cross Country team had one athletes who medaled at the state meet TWICE!

1956-57 Bill Mellon 5th Place State Meet

1957-58 4th Place State Meet

Boys Basketball

The Red Devils enjoyed a magical season during the 1967-68 school year. The boys of this year won the Coal Valley Conference Championship, were Plano Holiday Tournament Champs and Odell District Champions. The team was coached by Mr. Keith Houchin with a record of 24 - 5 for the year. Members of that team included.

Rick Beeler - senior, Nicholas Walsh - sophomore, Robert Plott - junior, Dennis Jackson - senior, Daniel Arnold - sophomore, James Prindiville - junior, William Frizzell - senior, Douglas Lowery - senior,Gregory Finch - junior, Roy Ryan - junior, and David Roe - senior.

1967-68 24 - 5 District Champions Coach Keith Houchin

Coal Valley Conf. Champs

Plano Holiday Tourney Champs

(Beat Lisle Sr. HS, a much larger school)

Girls Basketball

Mazon High School organized a Girls Basketball team before the days of Title IX and competed in unofficial IHSA state tournaments before actual Tournament play started in 1977. There are a couple of other schools on this site that had these teams as well. MHS's teams excelled in the early 1940's as they took second place in the Tournament three straight years in a row from 1941 to 1943! On top of that, they had a third-place finish in 1944.

Need More Information

If you have information you would like to share with us regarding Mazon High School please complete a Guest Commentary Form. We would especially like a photo of the original High School building and great sports teams of MHS history. You can e-mail this information to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631