Athletics
Both the boys and girls teams at Minonk-Dana-Rutland enjoyed many successful seasons. The boys brought home IHSA
hardware (
www.ihsa.org) in the sports of football, basketball, track, and cross-country, while the Lady Mohawks won trophies in basketball, volleyball,
as well as competing in softball and track. The boys competed in baseball also. The school also
showed some good sportsmanship in the 1957-58 school year, winning the Mid State Conference Sportsmanship Award. If
you have additional information regarding the M-D-R HS athletic program, you can contact us via e-mail at
eganann@sbcglobal.net.
Football
The Mnonk-Dana-Rutland Mohawks have a long history of hard hitting, successful football teams. The Mohawks played
in the IHSA playoffs a total of four times. There were also some very successful Mid State Conference teams as well.
Their best records are listed below:
As Minonk-Dana
1949-50 5- 5 Conference 3rd Place Finish (4-2)
Coach Elmer Hampton
1950-53 Coach
Jack Pierce
1953-54
Coach Jack Pierce
1954-55 6- 2- 1 Conference 3rd Place Finish (4-2-1) Coach Leo
Hoffman
As Minonk-Dana-Rutland
1955-58 Coach
Virgil Staples
1958-62
Coach Jim Lee
1962-63 8- 0- 1 Conference Champions (5-0-1) Coach
Jim Lee
1963-64 5- 1- 3 Conference Champions (4-0-2) Coach
John Mowery
1964-65 Coach
John Mowery
1965-66 6- 3 Conference
Champions (6-1) Coach John Mowery
1966-67 7- 2 Conference Champions (7-0) Coach
John Mowery
1967-68 7- 1- 1 Conference Champions (7-0) Coach
John Mowery
1968-69 6 - 3
Coaches Hesselberth, Jochums,
& Mohar
1969-70 6- 2- 1 Conference Champions (6-0-1) Coach
Jack Marcoline
1977-78 8- 2 State 1A Playoff Qualifier
Coach Mike Cazalet
Conference
Co-Champs (6-1)
1978-79 9- 1 State 1A Playoff Qualifier
Coach Mike Cazalet
Conference
Champions (7-0)
Undefeated
Regular Season!
Lost
to Stronghurst Southern in O/T
1979-80 6- 3 Coach
Pat Cooper
1981-82 7- 2 Coach
Jim Innis
1983-84 8- 2 State 1A Playoff Qualifier
Coach Jim Innis
Conference Co-Champs (6-1)
1984-85 6- 3
Coach Jim Innis
1990-91 N.R.A. State 1A Playoff Qualifier
Coach Bill Sieffert
A couple of M-D-R receivers made their mark as being two of the best at their position during their playing years. Glen
Klendworth set a school record in 1978 with 15 receiving touchdowns that season. Another player, Jeff Meyer, set a school
record with 13 receptions in a game against Dee-Mack in 1975.
Girls Volleyball
The M-D-R Lady Mohawk netters were not to be outdone. The girls enjoyed many great seasons winning five Regional
titles and two Sectional titles which qualified them for the State's Class 1A Sweet 16! This
occurred during back to back seasons! The best of the Minonk-Dana-Rutland volleyball seasons are listed below.
1979-80 9- 9 Coach
Carol McCullen
1983-84 16- 6 Conference Co-Champs Coach
Judy Maddux
1984-85 18- 5 Team Placed 2nd in Conf. Coach
Jaynet Smith
1985-86 23- 6 Regional/Sectional Champs Coach
Jaynet Smith
IHSA Class A Sweet 16!
Mid State Conf. Champs (7-0)
1986-87 25- 4 Regional/Sectional Champs Coach
Jaynet Smith
IHSA Class A Sweet 16!!
Conference Champions (7-0)
1987-88 17- 7- 2 Conference Champs (7-0) Coach
Jaynet Smith
1988-89 19-14 Regional Champs Coach
unknown
Conference Co-Champs (6-1)
1990-91 23- 7 Regional Champs Coach
unknown
Conference Co-Champs (12-2)
1991-92 26- 6 Regional Champs Coach
unknown
Conference 2nd Place (12-2)
Mid State Conference Overall Record as MDRHS:
68 - 30 .694 Winning %
GREAT JOB LADY MOHAWKS!
Boys Basketball
The Minonk-Dana boys brought home one Regional title. One Regional title was also won by the Minonk-Dana-Rutland
boys basketball team. Those years (record and coach's names unavailable) and two other good M-D-R basketball
season are listed below.
As Minonk Dana
1949-50 17-12 Coach
unknown
1950-51 25- 4 Regional Champions
Coach unknown
Lost
1st Round Sectional game to DePue
2nd Place in Mid State Conference (10-2)
1951-52 16-12
Coach unknown
As Minonk-Dana-Rutland
1956-57 16-10 Conference 2nd Place (10-2)
Coach Jack Murphy
1957-58 20- 6 Woodland County Champs
Coach Jack Murphy
Mid-State Conf. Co-Champs
1958-59 20- 8 Conference Co-Champs (9-3)
Coach Jack Murphy
1962-63 Conference
Sportsmanship Award
1966-67 Conference Co-Champs
(13-1) Coach Jack Jochums
1980-81 13- 9 Coach
Tim Meiss
1981-82 16- 8 Conference 3rd Place (10-4)
Coach Doug Atkins
1986-87 18- 8 Regional Champions
Coach Doug Atkins
Conference
3rd Place (10-4)
1989-90 15- 9 Conference 2nd Place (9-5)
Coach unknown
1991-92 14- 9 Conference 3rd Place (10-4)
Coach unknown
Final Season as M-D-R HS
Girls Basketball
The Minonk-Dana-Rutland Lady Mohawks faired well in basketball too. Four Regional titles and many good records were accomplished
in the 1980s. Coach Judy McNamara led the M-D-R girls to some of their best seasons in school history.
1974-75 1- 4 1st Season Coach's
name unavailable
1978-79 11- 5 Regional Champions Coach
Donna Blair
1979-80 19- 2 Conference Champs (10-0)
Coach Donna Blair
1980-81 22- 2 Regional Champions
Coach Judy McNamara
Conference
Champs (12-0)
1981-82 17- 6 (good record)
Coach Judy McNamara
1983-84 16- 7 (good record)
Coach Judy McNamara
1984-85 14- 7 Regional Champions
Coach Judy McNamara
1985-86 22- 4 Regional Champions
Coach Judy McNamara
Conference Co-Champs (13-1)
1991-92 19- 6 Conference Champs (11-1)
3-Time All-Conference Player:
*Darla Reese - 1984, '85, '86
MDR Conference Record Overall:
116 - 42 .716 Winning % !!
Boy's Baseball
The M-D and M-D-R boys had some real nice seasons in baseball as well. There were some excellent successes in the
conference venue.
As Minonk-Dana
1949-50 5- 3 Conference 2nd Place (4-1)
1954-55 7- 2 Conference Co-Champs (5-1) Coach
Leo Huffman
1955-56 4- 2 Conference 2nd Place (4-2)
As Minonk-Dana-Rutland
1956-57 5- 0 Conference Champs (5-0)
Coach Virgil Staples
1960-61 5- 5 Conference Champs (5-1)
Coach George Zarcoff
1961-62 5- 1 Conference Champs (5-1)
Coach Jim Brown
1972-73 10- 3 Conference Tourney 2nd Place
Coach unknown
3-Time All-Conference Player:
*Chad Cusac - 1988, '89, '90
Boys Track & Field
Two Minonk-Dana-Rutland boys won medals at the IHSA State Track Meet. Their accomplishments are listed below. Also
listed are the better conference finshes for the MDR Mohawk thinclads.
As Minonk-Dana
1952-53 Team Finished 3rd in Conference Meet
1953-54 Team Finished 3rd in Conference Meet
1954-55 Team Finished 3rd in Conference Meet
As Minonk-Dana-Rutland
1961-62 Team Finished 2nd at Conference Meet
1962-63 Team Won Conference Championship
Coach Jim Lee
1963-64 Team Finished 2nd at Conference Meet
1964-65 Team Finished 2nd at Conference Meet
1976-77 John Riley 2
Mile Run 5th Place at State Finals
1977-78 Team Finished 2nd at Conference Meet
1978-79 Glen Klendworth Long Jump 7th Place at State Finals
3-Time Conference Champion:
*Rick Hakes - Pole Vault - 1975, '76, and "77.
Girls Softball
Judy McNamara headed up the girls softball program at Minonk-Dana-Rutland and some real nice seasons. in
fact, she has continued her career at Minonk Fieldcrest and has built an excellent softball program over the years. The
best seasons enjoyed by the Minonk-Dana-Rutland softball teams are listed below.
1982-83 8- 7 Coach
Judy McNamara
1984-85 7- 8 Conference Champs (4-0) Coach Judy McNamara
1987-88 12- 8 Conference 3rd Place (6-4) Coach Judy McNamara
1989-90 12-12 Conference 3rd Place (8-3) Coach Judy McNamara
1990-91 15- 9 Conference 3rd Place (7-5) Coach Judy McNamara
Boys Cross-Country
The Minonk-Dana-Rutland Mohawks had one great year in Cross-Country. They won their District and Sectional
and eventually placed 8th in the Class A Meet!! One individual placed in the top 10 that year. This magical
season is listed below.
1976-77 District/Sectional Champions
Team Placed
8th in the State Meet
1976-77 Meet Results
1.) Lebanon
- 96
2.) Winnebago
- 139
3.) Farmington
- 153
4.) Plano
- 157
5.) Aurora Marmion - 212
6.) Fairfield
- 223
7.) Elmwood
- 231
8.) Minonk-Dana-Rutland - 235
9.) St. Anne -
236
10.)
Chatham/Glenwood - 255
Individual Placer
1976-77 John Riley 7th Place
Scholastic Bowl
Minonk-Dana-Rutland High School also had some excellent academic success. The Scholastic Bowl team
won three Mid State Conference titles!
1980 Scholastic Bowl Conference Champs
1982 Scholastic Bowl Conference Champs
1983 Scholastic Bowl Conference Champs
Band
The Minonk-Dana-Rutland High School Band was a great one indeed, winning the IHSA Class "C" State Music Championship
with 600 points each in 1979 and 1981.
Noteable Alumni / People
*Duane "Moose" Woltzen (Class of 1951) - Player on the 1951 Regional basketball champs, coached college
ball at Lakeland College in Wisconsin. Minonk School gymnasium named in his honor.
*Coach Jack Murphy - Basketball coach of the late 1950s, member of Illinois High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall
of Fame for accumulating over 500 victories at various schools.
*Coach John Mowery - head football coach from 1963 - 1968. Overall record 25-6-4 with FOUR
conference championships. Record is needed for the 1964 team.
*Coach John Marcoline - From Dick Shelby: "Coach Marcoline would have a trick
play for each game and used it only if we had to. I do not remember one not being successful whenever we would use them.
He was a very good and only because of him did we win the conference (1969). We were not the most talented team but
we had the best coach!"
*Coach Tim Meiss - Basketball coach at M-D-R in the late 1970s and early 1980s, has a career record
of 451-271 though the 2004-05 season and currently coaches at Eureka High School.
Need More Information
We are seeking more information on Minonk-Dana-Rutland High School and its many great accomplishments. We are
especially are seeking a photo of some of the great teams in school history. You can e-mail these items to
us at
ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You may also write to us at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il. 60631
