Gridley High School "Redskins"

Gridley High School

Gridley, Illinois

The History of Gridley High School

Gridley (population 1,411) is located in east-central Illinois about 14 miles north-northeast of Bloomington. The town, located in north-central McLean County, is situated on U.S. Route 24 about 6 miles west of Interstate Highway 55. The Toledo, Peoria, & Western Railroad runs parallel to US Rt. 24 and passes through Gridley's south side. The Buck Creek flows just south of town and the Turkey Creek flows to the west of Gridley.

Kev Varney found this bit of information on the founding of Gridley:

"Gridley is named for banker Asahel Gridley, a prominent politician and banker from Bloomington. He owned the land that the village was platted on along with Thomas Carlisle as the village was incorporated in 1856. Gridley is best known for his founding of two other communities within the same county (McLean), Lexington and Leroy, and was in good company with President Abraham Lincoln prior to Honest Abe's ascent to the White House. Gridley was also the first millionaire in McLean County, although it is thought to be that he acquired his wealth by real estate dealings, banking, and by taking advantage of others' misfortunes."

The real history of Gridley's school system is found in "The Gridley Centennial Book," written in 1956. The first-known school for Gridley students was actually outside the village in the country in 1857, but a new location was built inside the community two years later. Another building was built a year later to handle the enrollment, which later was added onto and where the high school began its life in 1892 as a two-year school.

Gridley High School continued to flourish when a new building was opened in 1906 (the one you see at top of the page) for all four grades, and it continues to serve the community today as El Paso-Gridley Junior High School. It is believed that the high school was a four-year school from the beginning with its first graduates being Cora Waid Vincent, Ludy Waid Huguenin, and C. E. McNemar.

In the early 2000's, Gridley residents began consolidation talks with its neighbor the west, El Paso. The talks were eventually finalized and the two towns agreed to join their school districts. The El Paso-Gridley School District became a reality in 2004. This action effectively closed the two high schools.

El Paso-Gridley High School students attend school at the former El Paso High School. As stated above, the Gridley High School building is now used as the El Paso-Gridley Junior High School.

Gridley High School Quick Facts

Year opened: 1892 (as 2-yr school)

Year High School building built: 1906 (as 4-yr school)

Year Gridley HS closed: 2004

School nickname: the "Redskins"

School colors: Red & Black

School Fight Song: "Come On Old Gridley"

Sung to the Notre Dame University victory march.

Oh, come on old Gridley

don't let us down!

You are the best team

yet to be found!

Come on Gridley let us fight.

Fight to wear our Red and Black!

We never fumble,

We never fall!

Come on old Gridley,

Get at that ball!

GRIDLEY HIGH SCHOOL, G-H-S

IT'S ONWARD TO VICTORY!!

Gridley High School

Gibbs Athletic Field

Athletics

The Gridley High School Redskins and Lady Redskins have an extensive history of competitive teams and athletes. IHSA hardware was won in boys' basketball along with track & field, while the football team also made five trips to the IHSA Class 1A Playoffs. The Lady Redskin volleyball team also excelled with several solid seasons and one District title. It is believed the Ladies also competed in basketball and track & field, however, no mention of their success is listed on the IHSA web site (www.ihsa.org). It is known that the school had a baseball team as early as 1910 (there is a picture from the 1956 Gridley Centennial Book that identifies a team from that year).

Gridley HS 1975-76 Regional Champs

Undefeated Regular Season - 27 - 1 Overall

Gidley Basketball Team 1951-52

Courtesy of 1956 "Gridley Centennial Book"

Boys' Basketball

The Gridley HS boys basketball team history is listed on the IHSA web site back to the 1933-34 school year. No less than 7 Regional and 4 District titles were won by the Redskin basketball boys. One great game in Gridley basketball history occurred during the 1948-49 season when the Gridley boys upset then powerhouse (and rival) Chenoa, who had one of the best teams in the state that year. Chenoa went on later that season to the sectional championship game where they lost to Pekin in a close game.

Gridley's best season record-wise was the 1975-76 Resdskins, pictured above to the right. This team finished its regular season undefeated, winning the conference title. The team went on to win the Regional before bowing out in the Sectional.

Billy Hayes - B-ball 1978-82

Gridley's All-Time Leading Scorer

The Redskins' all-time leading scorer, Billy Hayes, is pictured to the right. Hayes played at Gridley High from 1978-79 through 1981-82. As you can see the teams faired quite well. Hayes started at Gridley from the third game of his freshman year through his senior year. Bill scored a total of 1,914 points for GHS.

The best seasons, as far as overall records and IHSA hardware won, are listed below. If you have more information, please write to us via e-mail.

1922-23 McLean Co. Jr. Div. Tourney Champs Coach Harry Hill

1923-24 McLean Co. Jr. Div. Tourney Champs Coach Harry Hill

1926-27 McLean Co. Jr. Div. Tourney Champs Coach Harry Hill

1938-39 District Champions

1941-42 15- 8 Coach Lynn Siron

1943-44 23- 6 District Champions Coach E.W. Towner

McLean Co. Tourney Champs

1944-45 25- 6 Coach E.W. Towner

1945-46 22- 5 McLean Co. Tourney Champs Coach L.D. Lang

1946-47 24- 5 McLean Co. Tourney Champs Coach L.D. Lang

1951-52 23- 5 District Champions Coach Clarence Kyger

Mid-State Conf. Runner-up

1952-53 23 -7 District Champions Coach Clarence Kyger

Mid-State Conf. Runner-up

McLean Co. Tourney Champs

1954-55 16-11 Mid-State Conf. Runner-up Coach Clarence Kyger

1955-56 15-10 Coach Vic Durcholz

1962-63 17- 8 Mid-State Conf. Co-Champs Coach Ken Hearn

Mid-State Conf. Tourney Champs

1967-68 13-10 Coach Dave Darnall

1968-69 17- 7 Mid-State Conf. Co-Champs Coach Dave Darnall

1970-71 16- 8 Coach Pete Meiss

1972-73 18- 8 Coach Pete Meiss

1973-74 16-10 Coach Pete Meiss

1974-75 23- 3 Mid-State Conf. Champs Coach Pete Meiss

McLean Co. Tourney Champs

Woodford Co. Tourney Champs

1975-76 27- 1 Regional Champions Coach Pete Meiss

Mid-State Conf. Champs (14-0)

McLean Co. Tourney Champs

Woodford Co. Tourney Champs

Undefeated Regular Season

1976-77 19- 6 Mid-State Conf. Co-Champs Coach Pete Meiss

McLean Co. Tourney Champs

1977-78 25- 3 Regional Champions Coach Pete Meiss

Mid-State Conf. Champs

1978-79 21- 8 Regional Champions Coach Pete Meiss

1979-80 17- 8 Mid-State Conf. Runner-up Coach Pete Meiss

McLean Co. Tourney Champs

1981-82 23- 4 Mid-State Conf. Runner-up Coach Pete Meiss

McLean Co. Tourney Champs

1982-83 20- 7 Coach Pete Meiss

1983-84 18-10 Regional Champions Coach Pete Meiss

McLean Co. Tourney Champs

1984-85 24- 5 Regional Champions Coach Pete Meiss

Mid-State Conf. Champs

1985-86 17- 9 McLean Co. Tourney Champs Coach Pete Meiss

1989-90 14-14 Regional Champions Coach Tim Fairchild

1990-91 19- 6 Mid-State Conf. Runner-up Coach Tim Fairchild

1991-92 22- 5 McLean Co. Tourney Champs Coach Tim Fairchild

1992-93 25- 4 Regional Champions Coach Tim Fairchild

Mid-State Conf. Champs

McLean Co. Tourney Champs

1993-94 15-10 Coach Tim Fairchild

1996-97 16- 9 Coach John Stella

2003-04 Final Season Coach Tim Fairchild

Three-time All-Conference Basketball Players:

*Wilbur Haney - 1953, '54, '55

*Rob Tipsord - 1969, '70, '71

*Greg Umland - 1975, '76, '77

*Mike Jenkins - 1977, '78, '79

*Billy Hayes - 1980, '81, '82

*Phil Meiss - 1980, '81, '82

*Matt Jenkins - 1991, '92, '93

Overall School Record from 1933 to 2004:

944 - 778 .548 Winning %

*Coach Dave Darnall - after gaining his coaching start at Gridley, went on to become the head coach of Eureka College men's basketball.

**Successes attained at the Bloomington-Normal State Farm Holiday Classic as researched by Mark Jurenga:

1992 - Grand Championship - Gridley 62 Chilicothe (IVC) 57
All-Tournament - Matt Jenkins, Benjie Zeller

Boys' Football

The Gridley High School gridiron was not exactly willing to take a back seat to the basketball program. This was true, especially in the early 1980's and early 1990's. Consecutive trips in the early parts of both decades were the highlights of those seasons listed. The best seasons of the Gridley Redskins with the pigskin are listed below.

Gridley High School

Football Field

Gridley HS Football Team of 1920

Undefeated at 7 - 0 (Courtesy of 1956 "Gridley Centennial Book"

The 1920 Redskin Football Team (the school's second season under Harry Hill) scored 650 points that season. Some of the the scores included 84-3 over Leroy, 105-0 against Fairbury, and 169-0 (this is not a misprint) over Chenoa. According to the 1956 Gridley Centennial book, this team averaged 92.85 points per game!

Members of the 1920 Redskin Football Team Pictured Above-Right:

Front Row, L to R : Fred Kent, Lyle Kehr, Harold Brown, Dale King, Virgil Blumershine, Ernest Blessman, Don Fenton

Back Row, L to R: Raymond Simpson, Roy Coyle, Clayton Ellis, Earl Lynch, Ralph Frey, Eugene McNaught, Coach Harry Hill

Gridley Redskin Football Team of 1926

Winners of 21 Straight Games! (Courtesy of 1956 "Gridley Centennial Book"

In 1926, the Redskin football squad stretched an unbeaten string to 21 games (after losing the opening game of the 1924 season and winning the rest of the games that year along with going undefeated in 1925 & 1926), defeating the likes of Chenoa (34-6), McLean (107-0) and

Lexington (116-0).

Members of the 1926 Football Squad Pictured Above-Right:

Front Row, L to R: Loren Vandegraft, Bill Klopfenstein, Lynn Gibbs

Middle Row, L to R: Leon Fruin, Jim Andrews, LaVerne Frey, Frank Fruin, Clifford Schram, Leslie Kirkton, Lowell Andrews

Back Row, L to R: Manager William Coe, Robert Kirkton, Duke Kiefer, Harold Frey, William Hanifin, Coach Harry Hill

Coach's names and season records are listed below for the Gridley High School Football Program.

1919-20 5-3 Coach W.H. "Harry" Hill

1920-21 7-0 Coach W.H. "Harry" Hill

1921-22 4-1 Coach W.H. "Harry" Hill

1922-23 7-1 Coach W.H. "Harry" Hill

1923-24 7-0 Coach W.H. "Harry" Hill

1924-25 7-1 Coach W.H. "Harry" Hill

1925-26 8-0 Coach W.H. "Harry" Hill

1926-27 6-0 Coach W.H. "Harry" Hill

1950-51 Mid-State Conf. Champions (6-0)

1952-53 Mid-State Conf. Runner-up (5-2)

1953-54 Mid-State Conf. Runner-up (4-1-2)

1957-58 Mid-State Conf. Runner-up (5-1)

1958-59 Mid-State Conf. Runner-up (4-2)

1962-63 Mid-State Conf. Champions (6-0-1)

1963-64 Mid-State Conf. Runner-up (4-1-1)

1965-66 Mid-State Conf. Sportsmanship Award

1967-68 Mid-State Conf. Runner-up (5-2)

1969-70 Mid-State Conf. Runner-up (5-1-1)

1974-75 Mid-State Conf. Runner-up (5-2)

1975-76 Mid-State Conf. Runner-up (5-2)

1981-82 10- 2 Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Ken Leonard

Mid-State Conf. Runner-up (6-1)

Elite 8 FInalist

Beat Bradford 20-7

Beat Tiskilwa 14-12

Lost to Freeport Aquin 43-0

1982-83 10- 1 Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Ken Leonard

Undefeated Regualar Season (9-0)

Mid-State Conference Champs (7-0)

Sweet 16 Finalist

Beat Monmouth Yorkwood 12-10

Lost to Kewanee Wethersfield 16-12

1983-84 7- 2 Mid-State Conf. Co-Champs (6-1) Coach Ken Leonard

1991-92 Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Rod Wertz

Mid-State Conf. Co-Champs (6-1)

Elite 8 Finalist

Beat Chenoa 8-0

Beat Deer Creek-Mackinaw 15-0

Lost to El Paso 3-0

1992-93 Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Rod Wertz

Mid-State Conference Champs (7-0)

Sweet 16 Finalist

Beat Cerro Gordo 10-6

Lost to Deer Creek-Mackinaw 34-28

1993-94 Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Rod Wertz

Mid-State Conference Champs (6-1)

Lost to Heyworth 29-6

2003-04 Final Season Coach Troy Kaupp

Girls' Volleyball

The Lady Redskin netters had just two long-standing head coaches during their 30-year existence. Coach Barbara Ringger led the Gridley High School volleyball program for their first 14 years from 1974-75 through 1987-88. Coach Penny Grusy took over the reigns from 1991-92 through the school's last season of 2003-04. Both coaches had their share of great seasons. Coach Ringger's teams in fact sported a 14 year record of 174-87- 6 at Gridley High School and brought home the District title in 1982. The best seasons are listed below.

1974-75 5- 1 Coach Barbara Ringger

1976-77 10- 5 Mid-State Conf. Tourn. Champs Coach Barbara Ringger

1977-78 17- 3 Mid-State Conf. Tourn. Champs Coach Barbara Ringger

1978-79 17- 3 Mid-State Conf. Tourn. Champs Coach Barbara Ringger

1979-80 20- 3 Mid-State Conf. Champions (5-1) Coach Barbara Ringger

1980-81 16- 4 Mid-State Conf. Champions (6-1) Coach Barbara Ringger

1981-82 20- 5 District Champions Coach Barbara Ringger

Mid-State Conf. Co-Champs (6-1)

1982-83 14- 7 Coach Barbara Ringger

1987-88 16- 7 Mid-State Conf. Runner-up (6-1) Coach Barbara Ringger

1993-94 19- 9 Coach Penny Grusy

2002-03 23- 7 Coach Penny Grusy

2003-04 20-10 Last Season Coach Penny Grusy

*Three-time All-Conference Players:

Elizabeth Grusy - 1989, '90, '91

Danielle Stoller - 1991, '92, '93

*Named to the all-time girl's volleyball team for McLean County by the 1994 book titled "Another Sentimental Journey":

Suzy Jenkins Mckinsey (Class of 1983)

Great Job Lady Redskins!!

Boys Track & Field

The greatest acheivement as far as IHSA success goes was attained by the boys track & field team of 1923-24. The boys of this season brought home a fifth place finish from the Illinois State "B" Track Meet. In all, 11 medals were won by male athletes of Gridley High School. Their accomplishments are listed below.

1921-22B Merle Ririe 220 Yard Dash 4TH Place

1922-23B Merle Ririe 220 Yard Dash STATE CHAMPION!!

1923-24B TEAM FINISHED 5TH IN STATE "B" TRACK MEET

Individual Medalists

Merle Ririe 220 Yard Dash STATE CHAMPION!!

Merle Ririe 100 Yard Dash 3RD Place

880 Yard Relay Team STATE CHAMPIONS!!

880 Yard Relay - State 'B' Meet Champions - 1924

Courtesy of 1965 "Gridley Centennial Book"

State Championship 880 Yard Relay Team members pictured above are (from left to right) Coach Harry Hill, Merle Ririe, Perry Burroughs, Virgil Andrews, and Levi "Duke" Kiefer. The alternate was Lowell Andrews. Also pictured is the team's trainer, Earl Lynch. This combination clicked as a winner 10 consectutive times that school year, setting records on seven occasions....including a time of 1:35.2!

Final Team Standings

1) Girard HS 20

2) Chesterfield HS 16

White Hall HS 16

4) Carlinville HS 15

5) GRIDLEY HIGH SCHOOL 13

Hinsdale HS 13

7) Wheaton HS 12

7) Bridgeport HS 12

9) Hoopeston HS 9

10) Chicago Pullman HS 8

10) Abingdon HS 8

1924-25B 880 Yard Relay Team 5TH Place

1926-27 Leon Fruin 880 Yard Run 5TH Place

1926-27 Levi Kiefer 440 Yard Run 5TH Place

1950-51 Team was Mid-State Conference Runner-up

1983-84A Brian Radke 100 Meter Dash 6TH Place

Brian Radke 200 Meter Dash 5TH Place

1984-85A Brian Radke Long Jump STATE CHAMPION!!

Individual Conf. Multiple (3-Time Minimum) Event Winners - Track & Field:

*Dave Burke-1950-120 Yard High Hurdles, 200 Yard Low Hurdles, High Jump

*Dave Burke-1951-120 Yard High Hurdles, 180 Yard Low Hurdles, High Jump

*Ricky Finck-100 Yard Dash Champion - 1959, '61, '62

*Ricky Finck-1962-100 Yard Dash, 220 Yard Dash, 440 Yard Dash

*Dave Roth-1963-Pole Vault, Long Jump, 220 Yard Dash

*Marty Lomelino-Shot Put Champion - 1981, '82, '83

*Brian Radke-1984-100 Meter Dash, 200 Meter Dash, Pole Vault

Gridley High School Baskeball Team of 1910

Courtesy of 1956 "Gridley Centennial Book"

Baseball Team Members of 1910 Pictured Above include:

Top Row, From L to R: George Kent, Les Mool, C.B. Anthony, Don Coyle, Russell Young, Jack Ehresman, Everett Kent

Bottom Row, L to R: Edwin Nuehauser, Henry Andrews, Drew Castle, Claude Steele, George Young

Boys' Baseball

Conference success was found on the diamond as well for the Gridley Redskins.

1952-53 6- 1 Mid-State Conf. Co-Champs (5-1) Coach Ken DeYoung

1959-60 Mid-State Conf. Champs (5-1) Coach Don Holler

1961-62 Mid-State Conf. Runner-up (4-2)

1968-69 6- 3 Mid-State Conf. Tourney Runner-up

1974-75 Mid-State Conf. Tourney Runner-up

1991-92 Mid-State Conf. Co-Champs (11-3) Coach Rod Wertz

1992-93 Mid-State Conf. Runner-up (11-3) Coach Rod Wertz

A good fan of the IHSGD website, Mark Jurenga, provided the following information on Gridley alum Perry Roth:

"Gridley alumnus Perry Roth is currently an NCAA Division I assistant baseball coach. He just finished his 8th year in D1 and his 10th in college coaching.

School                       Tenure
UAB                          1 year
Birmingham Southern  3 years
Bradley                      1 year
Illinois State               3 years
Greenville (D3)            2 years

Girls' Basketball

One Gridley Lady Redskin team faired well overall and in conference play. The school did not offer girl's basketball from 1986-93. The school co-oped with Flanagan from 1994 until the consolidation with El Paso in 2004.

1979-80 11- 5 Mid-State Conf. Runner-up (7-3)

Girl's Softball

One Lady Redskin softball player had a great career in the sport. Heather Stella was a three-time All-Conference selection as a catcher (1993, '94, '95). Heather earned a scholarship for softball to Illinois State University where she became a four-year starter at third base. She is currently playing professional softball for Poneke Kilbirnie, a Premier One Women's Major Fastpitch Softball Team in New Zealand.

Scholastic Bowl

Chalk up some serious success for the "brainiacs" of Gridley High. The Redskins won no less than nine Mid-State Conference Scholastic Bowl Championships for Coach Suzanne McGroarty. The Mid-State Conference title years are listed below.

1978, 1979, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993

Speech - Individual Events

Strike one up for the English Department. One Gridley Redskin claimed a State Medal in speech competition.

1951 Roger Calhoun Oratory Declamation 5TH Place

Great Coaches

*Coach W.H. "Harry" Hill - Boys' Football - 1919-20 through 1929-30

10 Total Seasons (no football 1928-29 season)

54-15 overall record

4 - undefeated/untied seasons

3 - one-loss seasons

Coach Hill was described by Coach Pete Meiss in this manner:

"Harry Hill was the greatest coach Gridley ever had. His name

is a legend as a coach and a teacher."

*Coach Pete Meiss - Boys' Basketball - 1969-70 through 1985-86

318-128 (.713 winning %)

17 - seasons as head coach

14 - seasons with winning records

7 - seasons of 20 or more wins

5 - Regional Championships

*Coach Barbara Ringger - Girls' Volleyball - 1974-75 through 1987-88

174-87 (.663 winning %)

14 - seasons as head coach

7 - Conference Championships

2 - seasons of 20 or more wins

1 - District Championship

*Coach Ken Leonard - Boys' Football - 1980-81 through 1983-84

32- 9 Overall Record

4 - seasons as head coach

2 - trips to the State Playoffs

1 - undefeated regular season

*Coach Tim Fairchild - Boys' Basketball - 1987-88 through 1994-95, 2002-03 through 2003-04

141-122 Overall Record

10 - seasons as head coach

2 - Regional Titles

2 - seasons of 20 or more wins

*Coach Penny Grusy - Girls' Volleyball - 1991-92 through 2003-04

181 wins

13 - seasons as head coach

4 - consecutive winning seasons to close out the school's program

2 - seasons of 20 or more wins including final two of school's existence

*Coach Rod Wertz - Boys' Football - 1992-94 through 1995-96

3 - consecutive seasons of qualifying for the IHSA playoffs

*Coach E.W. "Duke" Towner - Boys' Basketball - 1943-44 and 1944-45

48-12 (.800 winning %)

2 - seasons coached at Gridley

2 - seasons of 20 or more wins

1 - District Title

*Coach Suzanne McGroarty Scholastic Bowl Coach

Nine-Time Conference Champions

*Coach Gene Cwick - Boys' Football Coach (more information needed)

*Coach Harry Hill - Boys' Football & Track Coach (more information needed)

Great Athletes

1920s - Merle Ririe, Leon Fruin, Levi Kiefer

1940s - Wilber Haas, Rogers Kaufman, Ty Kaufman

1950s - Dave Burke, Wilbur Hany

1960s - Mark Dalton, Larry Gilmore, Pat Kinsella, Ricky Finck, Dave Roth

1970s - Ted Roth, Rob Tipsord, Greg Umland, Mike Jenkins, Dan McKey

1980s - Bill Hayes, Brad Radke, Marty Lomelino, Phil Meiss, Suzy Jenkins

1990s - Heather Stella, Elizabeth Grusy, Danielle Stoller, Matt Jenkins

A Song in Tribute

One alumnus of Gridley High honored his alma mater with a song. Jerry Meiss' "Good-By Gridley High" receives local air play each spring near graduation time. The lyrics are as follows:

"Good-by Gridley High"

Let's take a look back at the years gone by,

You know I graduated from Gridley High.

Guess you could say I'm an alumni,

Got my diploma from Gridley High School.

I remember the good times,

Back in those Redskin days.

But nobody wanted the cane that I raised.

All of my teachers thought my mind was decayed,

But I got educated at Gridley High School

Good-bye, Gridley High,

                              My memories will never die.

                              I couldn't forget you if I tried,

                              So long Gridley High School

All of my friends thought I was really cool

With my hair slicked down and pennies in my shoes.

And when I made headlines in the Gridlite News,

I was a big hit (doo wap a doo) at Gridley High School.

When I got a little older I got married you see,

And my wife even fell right in love with me.

When a couple of kids enlarged our family,

We sent 'em right on to Gridley High School.

(chorus)

SPECIAL THANK YOU!

Special thank you goes out to Pete Meiss and Merlin Haas for providing a great deal of information and time to make this page informative and interesting!

Seeking Your Assistance

If you would like to add, delete, or correct ANY information on this page regarding the Gridley Redskins and Gridley High School in general, please contact us via e-mail. Additional photos are also welcome. You can e-mail items to us at eganann@sbcglobal.net or write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Gridley High School