Saybrook-Arrowsmith High School "Comanches"
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Saybrook-Arrowsmith High School
saybrookarrowsmithhs.jpg
1952 - 1989

Saylbrook-Arrowsmith HS Bldg 1955
saybrookarrowsmithhsbldg1955dav.jpg
Submitted by Pueblo City Colorado-County Library District (Noreen Riffe)

The History of Saybrook-Arrowsmith High School
 
Saybrook (population 764) and Arrowsmith (population 298) are located in eastern Illinois in the southeastern portion of McLean County. Both towns are located about 15 - 20 miles east (and a little south) of Bloomington. You can read about the histories of both of these towns and their individual school districts on their individual pages of this site. 
 
It is known that both towns supported their own high schools from about the late 1800's through the early 1950's. The towns agreed to consolidate their school districts in 1952. The new district was known as Saybrook-Arrowsmith High School. The high school was located in Saybrook and is pictured above. It is not know if the school building in Arrowsmith was used any time after the consolidation took place. The athletic teams kept the Saybrook Comanche name and school colors.
 
For nearly four decades, the Saybrook-Arrowsmith Comanches served the two communities proudly. Declining enrollment and financial issues took their toll. In 1989 Saybrook-Arrowsmith High School closed her doors for good. The students became part of a new consolidation effort with Colfax Octavia High School (also on this site). This new district is known as Colfax Ridgeview High School and is still going strong today.

The fate of the Saybrook-Arrowsmith High School building is a sad one. After being used as a junior high school through 1995, the majority of the building was demolished a few years later. The gymnasium is still standing, used as a garage for the township it is located in.
 
Saybrook-Arrowsmith High School Quick Facts
 
Year created:                  1952
Year closed:                   1989
Gymnasium today:          used a township garage
School nickname:            the "Comanches"
School colors:                 Red & White
School Fight Song:          High School - University of Illinois Fight Song Tune
                                                            (Grade School Fight Song Sung to University of Wisconsin Fight Song Tune)
 
Athletics
 
The Saybrook-Arrowsmith High School Comanches competed in many different sports and were successful in each. The boys competed in basketball, baseball, track, and football (1952-1968). The girls were offered the sports of volleyball, basketball, track, & possibly softball and golf. The Comanches competed in the Sangamon Valley Conference with many other small schools in their area.

Saybrook-Arrowsmith Football Newspaper Clippings
saybrookjarr1962newsclippings.jpg
1962 Football Season

Saybrook-Arrowsmith Football Team - 1955-56
saybrookarrconfcochamps1955.jpg
Sangamon Valley Conference Co-Champs (7-1)

Football
 
The Saybrook-Arrowsmith Comanches competed in football from their inception in 1952 through the fall of 1968. It is thought that declining numbers may pushed the reason for the dropping of the football program. However, as you can read above in the newspaper clippings provided by the web site www.ridgeviewfootball.us, the Comanches did have some outstanding seasons during those 16 years. The best of these seasons are listed below.
 
 
1952-53   4 - 2 - 1       First Season as SAHS            Coach Russell McKeon
1955-56   7 - 1 - 0       SV Conference Co-Champs   Coach Marvin Schlosser
1956-57   7 - 1 - 0       SV Conference Co-Champs   Coach Marvin Schlosser
1957-58   5 - 2 - 1       SV Conference 4th Place      Coach Marvin Schlosser
1962-63   6 - 2 - 0       SV Conference 3rd Place      Coach Duane West
 
The team records for the 1953 and 1954 teams are not available.

The 1952-53 Comanches
saybrookarrowsmith1stteam1952.jpg
Saybrook-Arrowsmith's First Team (4-2-1)

The 1956-57 Comanches
saybrookarrconcochamps1956.jpg
Conference Co-Champs (7-1)

Saybrook-Arrowsmith High School Gymnasium
saybrookarrowsmithhsgymmons.jpg
Today a Township Garage

Boys' Basketball
 
The Saybrook-Arrowsmith Comanches had many successful seasons on the hardwood court as well. The school won one District and one Regional Championship. However, they enjoyed many seasons which brought more winds than losses. The best of the SAHS seasons are listed below.
 
1952-53   13 - 13    School's First Season                  Coach Russell McKeon
1953-54   17 - 10                                                        Coach Russell McKeon
1955-56   16 - 12                                                        Coach Marvin Schlosser
1956-57   19 - 6                                                          Coach Marvin Schlosser
1957-58   20 - 7                                                          Coach Marvin Schlosser
1964-65   16 - 9                                                          Coach Don Sobotta
1967-68   14 - 10                                                        Coach Robert Berg
1968-69   19 - 7                                                          Coach Bill Winn
1969-70   21 - 8      District Champions                       Coach Henry Bonner
1974-75   13 - 11                                                        Coach Henry Bonner
1975-76   15 - 11                                                        Coach Henry Bonner
1977-78   22 - 4      McLean Co. Tourney Champs     Coach Gerry Thornton
1978-79   25 - 3      Regional Champions                   Coach Gerry Thornton
1979-80   24 - 2                                                          Coach Gerry Thornton
1981-82   18 - 7                                                          Coach Charles Hall
1982-83   19 - 6      McLean Co. Tourney Champs      Coach Charles Hall
1983-84   18 - 8                                                          Coach Charles Hall
1988-89                                                                      Coach Allen Beck
 
Girls' Basketball
 
The Lady Comanches equalled the boys in IHSA tournament hardware. The program won two Regional titles during their existence, and brought home other trophies as well to show for their successes. 
 
1975-76                                                                        Coach Betty Gardner
1976-77                                                                        Coach Betty Gardner 
1977-78                                                                        Coach Betty Gardner
 
1979-80  16-7   Regional Champions                            
                       Normal U-High Round-Robin Tourney Champs
 
1980-81  19-4   Regional Champions                            Coach Clifton Gibbons
                       McLean Co. Tourney Champs
                       Beat Lexington 61 to 41
                       Won Regional Tournament 66 to 46 
 
Boys' Baseball
 
The boys' baseball team of 1958-59 won a Regional championship as well. Team record and coach's name of this and other great baseball teams in SAHS history are not currently available.
 
1958-59                  Regional Champions
 
Girls' Volleyball
 
The Lady Comanche netters had but one coach in their entire time as a program.  Coach Betty Gardner lead the Comanche girls volleyball team from its inception in 1973-74 to its end in 1988-89. The best of her seasons at SAHS are listed below. 
 
1974-75    7 - 2                                                         Coach Betty Gardner
1975-76    7 - 3                                                         Coach Betty Gardner
1976-77    7 - 7                                                         Coach Betty Gardner
1977-78    7 - 6                                                         Coach Betty Gardner
 
Boys' Track & Field
 
One Comanche thinclad brought home a medal from the IHSA State Track Meet.  His excellent accomplishment is listed below.
 
1978-79      J.C. Zimmerman            100 Yard Dash        8TH Place
 
 
Activities: Theatre

The Illinois Theatre Festival is the largest, non-competetive high school theatre festival in the world. It was organized in 1976 by teachers from the Chicago suburbs. This festival is still going strong as they perform at the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) and Illinois State University every other January. Saybrook-Arrowsmith participated in this festival in 1980.
 
 
Seeking More Information
 
Please forward any information regarding the many successful endeavors of Saybrook-Arrowsmith High School to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:
 
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il.  60631

Saybrook-Arrowsmith Class of 1955 (other half)
saybrookarrowsmithclassof1955halfdav.jpg
Submitted by Pueblo City Colorado-County Library District (Noreen Riffe)

Saybrook-Arrowsmith Class of 1955 (half)
saybrookarrowsmithclassof1955otherhalfdav.jpg
Submitted by Pueblo City Colorado-County Library District (Noreen Riffe)