Casey High School Warriors

Original Casey HS Bldg - Built in late 1800s?

Found at http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/il/clark/postcards/casyhs.jpg submitted by Gerry Halpin

Casey HS Bldg (on right) From 1917-2007

As viewed at http://www.cw.k12.il.us/highschool/index.htm & Submitted by Gerry Halpin

The History of Casey High School

Casey (population 2,942) is located in lower-eastern Illinois in the eastern portion of Clark County. Interstate Highway 70 runs to the north of town. U.S. Route 40 and Illinois Route 49 intersect in Casey. The Conrail Railroad passes through town. There is a small airport on the northwest side of Casey called the Casey Municipal Airport. Birch Creek and Quarry Branch creeks both flow through Casey as well.

According to the web address of http://genealogytrails.com/ill/clark/communities/casey.html the area in which Casey is now situated was first settled in 1854. It was not incorporated until 1871. The history of the educational system in town is in need of research. We are certain a school was established in the 1850s. Our guess is that a high school was set in place by the late 1800s. Casey High School served the community on a solo basis for nearly 100 years.

The 1980s brought consolidation talks between the residents of Casey and their neighbor to the north, Westfield. This effort became a reality in 1986 with the creation of the Casey-Westfield School District. The high school for the new district remained in Casey. For more history regarding Casey High School check out the web address of http://c-waa.org/History.htm .

The Casey High School building built in 1917 served the town of Casey through the year 2006 when it was declared unsafe. This building, pictured above and to the right, was demolished in December of 2007. To view information on the Casey-Westfield Alumni Association check out http://c-waa.org/ .

Casey High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s

Year consolidated: 1986

Consolidated to: Casey-Westfield High School

Casey HS team nickname: the "Warriors"

Casey HS team colors: Purple & Gold

School Fight Song: "Cheer the Team of Dear Old Casey"

Sung to the tune of "Wave the Flag"

Lyrics provided by HOWARD D. LOFTIS (Class of 1970)

Cheer the team of dear old Casey,

Battling for her fame,

Wave the flag of gold & purple,

Honor to her name.

With the Warriors out to lead us,

We do not fear our foe, FEAR OUR FOE!

Cheer the team of dear old Casey,

With a mighty "GO TEAM GO!"

Go Casey Go, Go Casey Go,

Smash 'em, bust 'em,

That’s our custom,

Go Casey Go!

ATHLETICS

The Casey High School athletic program was nothing short of incredible. STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS were won in girls softball and boys football. Both sports also earned runner-up finishes as well. Other sports winning IHSA hardware in tournament action include baseball, boys and girls basketball, and boys track. In addition trophies were earned in Drama and Speech competitions.

School team nicknames, colors, fight song, and several team records are being sought.

GIRLS SOFTBALL

Back to Back, that's how the Casey girls softball team enjoyed their state championships!! In fact how about the season before the back to back years the ladies almost started the first of a triple by finishing second in 1983-84!! Coach Denny Throneburg was a great fit for the Casey lady softballers leading them to some incredible finishes, even before there was a two class system!!

1977-78 8 - 2 Coach Denny Throneburg

1978-79 10 - 2 Team Qualified for State Finals Coach Denny Throneburg

One-Class System!!!!

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

SWEET 16 Finalist

ELITE 8 Finalist

Beat Champaign (Central) 6 - 4

FINAL 4 Finalist

Lost to Cahokia 4 - 1

Cahokia Eventual State Champions

1979-80  19 - 2     Regional Champions                            Coach Denny Throneburg
1980-81 22 - 1     Regional Champions                            Coach Denny Throneburg
1981-82 20 - 3                                                                  Coach Denny Throneburg

1982-83 18 - 4 Coach Denny Throneburg

1983-84 25 - 3 Team Qualified for State Finals Coach Denny Throneburg

One-Class System!!!!

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

SWEET 16 Finalist

ELITE 8 Finalist

Lost to Oak Lawn Richards 3 - 0

Richards finished in 2ND Place

1984-85 24 - 3 TEAM FINISHED 2ND IN STATE!! Coach Denny Throneburg

CLASS 1A Finalist

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

SWEET 16 Finalist

ELITE 8 Finalist

Beat St. Joe-Ogden 6 - 1

FINAL 4 Finalist

Beat Quincy Notre Dame 1 - 0

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME FINALIST!

Lost to Freeburg 1 - 0

1985-86 30 - 1 STATE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS Coach Denny Throneburg

CLASS 1A Finalist

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

SWEET 16 Finalist

ELITE 8 Finalist

Beat Pleasant Plains 2 - 0

FINAL 4 Finalist

Beat Delevan 5 - 0

STATE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!!

Beat Genoa-Kingston 5 - 0

FOOTBALL

Casey High School football has had some incredible moments in its history. The boys made sure the final solo season for the school went out with a "bang". The grid iron warriors of 1985-86 won the IHSA Class 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!! Add to this the school's RUNNER-UP Finish in the 1982-83 season and you have a pretty impressive run. Coach Keith Sinclair was the catalyst for these two teams as well as for the program from 1981-82 through the 1985-86 season. Coach Sinclair continued the Casey tradition when Westfield joined the fold.

1927-28    8 - 0
1928-29    8 - 0 - 1
1969-74                                                                              Coach Robert Durham
1974-75                 Team Qualified for Class 1A Playoffs   Coach Robert Durham

ELITE 8 Finalist

Beat Broadlands ABL 10 - 7

                             Lost to Villa Grove 18 - 16
1975-77                                                                              Coach Robert Durham
1977-78                                                                              Coach John Harland
1978-79    6 - 3                                                                    Coach John Harland
1979-80    5 - 4

1981-82 6 - 3 Coach Keith Sinclair
1982-83 11 - 2 TEAM PLACED SECOND in CLASS 2A! Coach Keith Sinclair

Beat Eldarado 8 - 6

Beat Tuscola 28 - 22 (O/T)

Beat East St. Louis Assumption 20 - 3

                            Lost to Blomington Cent. Cath. 38 - 0
1983-84    7 - 2                                                                    Coach Keith Sinclair
1984-85    8 - 2      Team Qualified for Class 2A Playoffs     Coach Keith Sinclair

Lost to Dupo 29 - 16

1985-86 14 - 0 CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONS!!!!! Coach Keith Sinclair

Beat Ziegler-Royalton 22 - 20

Beat Dupo 14 - 0

Beat Maroa-Forsyth 53 - 20

Beat Hamilton 22 - 0

Beat Woodstock Marian 34 - 6

Class 2A STATE CHAMPS!!!!!!!

BASEBALL

The boys of the baskeball diamond at Casey High had three Regional Championships come their way too. Unfortunately the coach's names and team records of these and other great Casey High School baseball teams are not currently available.

1979-80         Regional Champions
1980-81         Regional Champions
1985-86         Regional Champions

BOYS BASKETBALL

EIGHT REGIONAL Titles, two District titles, and one Sectional title highlighted the hardwood court success for the boys of CHS. Again, unfortunately the coach's names and team records of these and other great Casey High School basketball teams are not currently available.

1925-26 District Champions
1927-28 District Champions

1939-40 20 - 9 SWEET 16 FINALIST!! Coach Glen Rose

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

SWEET 16 Finalist

Lost to Moline HS 28 - 23

Moline HS Finished 3RD

1959-60 Regional Champions

1971-72                 Regional Champions
1975-76                 Regional Champions
1976-77                 Regional Champions
1977-78                 Regional Champions
1981-82                 Regional Champions
1983-84                 Regional Champions

Vandalia Holiday Tournament highlights as researched by Mark Jurenga:

1974 - 3rd Place Casey got 4th.
1975 - 2nd Place Dieterich 77 Casey 58
All-Tournament Team
1975 - Al Weaver

**David Collins was named the Decatur Herald & Review Small School Player of the Year in 1978

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Coach Denny Throneburg showed his diverse coaching abilites by guiding the ladies of the hardwood court to two Sweet 16 appearances in the early 1980s!!

1979-80 17 - 7 SWEET 16 FINALIST Coach Denny Throneburg

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

SWEET 16 Finalist

Lost to Sidell Jamaica 74 - 64

Jamaica Finished 2ND

1981-82 SWEET 16 FINALIST Coach Denny Throneburg

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

SWEET 16 Finalist

Lost to Argenta-Oreana 59 - 46

1982-83 Regional Champions

1984-85 Regional Champions

BOYS TRACK & FIELD

A District Championship and a TOP-FIVE Finish at the State Track Meet highlight the Casey boys track and field program success. Mike Simpson led the team of 1977-78 to the Fifth Place finish by winning the gold medal in the 100 and 220 Yard Dashes as well as finishing 4TH in the 440 Yard Dash!! Mike also won the State 100 Yard Dash title in the 1976-77 State Meet!!

1915-16B Individual Medalists

?? LeMay Hammer Throw 3RD Place

?? Harrison 100 Yard Dash 3RD Place

1919-20B Individual Medalist

Julian House 440 Yard Dash 2ND Place

1920-21B Individual Medalists

Glen Adams Long Jump 2ND Place

Clarence Chrysler Shot Put 3RD Place

1921-22B Individual Medalist

Clarence Chrysler Shot Put 4TH Place

1923-24B Individual Medalist

Harold Luckey High Jump 2ND Place

Harry Foster 220 Yard Dash 5TH Place

1924-25B Individual Medalist

Harry Foster 220 Yard Dash 3RD Place

1942-43 Individual Medalist

Donald Galey Discus 5TH Place

1947-48 Team Won DIstrict Championship!!

1976-77A Individual Medalist

Mike Simpson 100 Yard Dash STATE CHAMPION!!
220 Yard Dash 4TH Place

1977-78A TEAM FINISHED FIFTH AT STATE MEET Competition!!

Individual Medalist

                 Mike Simpson         100 Yard Dash           STATE CHAMPION!!
                                                220 Yard Dash            STATE CHAMPION!!
                                                440 Yard Dash            4TH Place

Final Team Standings

                 1) Robinson                                     35
                2) Madison                                      32
                 3) St. Anne                                      31
                 4) Gibson City                                  28
                5) CASEY HIGH SCHOOL                25
                6) Rushville                                      24
                7) Spring Valley (Hall)                       18
                7) Peru (St. Bede)                            18
                 7) Riverton                                       18
               10) Highland (St. Paul)                        16

1978-79A Individual Medalist

Toby Simpson 100 Yard Dash 4TH Place

1979-80A Individual Medalist

Toby Simpson 100 Meter Dash 5TH Place

1984-85A Individual Medalists

Relay Team 4X200 Meter Relay 3RD Place

1985-86A Individual Medalists

Relay Team 4X400 Meter Relay STATE CHAMPION!!

4X200 Meter Relay 5TH Place

4x100m relay 7TH Place

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

1985-86 18 - 6

ACADEMIC COMPETITION

The Casey High School kids proved to be a well-rounded bunch bringing home both individual and team hardware from State Meet Competition.

DRAMA

1950-51 Team Qualified for State Competition

Sectional Champions

SPEECH INDIVIDUAL EVENTS

1941-42 Individual Medalist - Maxine Perisho Comedy 5TH Place

1971-72 Individual Medalist - Betsy Dillier Orig Comedy 4TH Place

1972-73 District Champions
1973-74 District Champions

Individual Medalist - Linda Harned Orig Oratory 6TH Place

Need Your Assistance

If you have any information regarding Casey High School and its many successes, both athletic and other, please send us a note via the Guest Commentary Form. We are especially anxious to share a photo of the school building and gym. You can e-mail these items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or you can write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631