Springfield Griffin High School "Cyclones"

Springfield Cathedral HS 1939 -1958

Courtesy of "Sacred Heart-Griffin: A Century of Excellence 1895-1995"

Cathedral High School 1931-39

Courtesy of "Sacred Heart-Griffin: A Century of Excellence 1895-1995"

The History of Springfield Cathedral & Griffin High School

Springfield (population 111,454) is located in south central Illinois and is home to the State Capital. Springfield is also the county seat of Sangamon County, having been founded around 1821, became the county seat in 1823, and received its city charter in 1840. It was made the capital of Illinois in 1837, and the Legislature convened here for the first time in 1839 after moving from Vandalia. Interstates 55 & 72 are the major thoroughfares thru Springfield, as are US 36, Illinois 4, 29, 54, and 97. Also, the "Mother Road," US Route 66 ran thru town while it was in service, and still serves Springfield as the Dirksen Parkway in honor of former US Senator Everett Dirksen.

According to a source, the community was founded when Zachariah Peter, William Drennan, and Rivers Cormack drove a stake in the ground at a place described when the transaction was recorded as “a point in the prairie near John Kelly’s field on the water of Spring Creek.” By 1837, due in large part to the political maneuverings of a young politician named Abraham Lincoln, Springfield became the State Capital. From that point the City’s history, and indeed its future, has been and will always be inexorably tied to this famous American.

According to the Illinois High School Association's website (www.ihsa.org), the earliest known date that a parochial high school for boys in Springfield was 1930-31 when basketball was offered at Cathedral High School. Over time, the school grew in enrollment and was forced to relocate into a former grade school in Springfield. Cathedral existed until 1959 when the name was changed to Griffin in honor of the late Bishop James Griffin, who was the first bishop to oversee the Catholic Diocese of Springfield from 1924-48, and was the founder of Cathedral High School. A new complex was also completed in 1959 to coincide with the name change.

It is a known fact that Griffin was an all-boys' parochial school as a companion school to the all-girls' Sacred Heart Academy. The schools merged into one institution after the 1987-88 school to form what is now known as Sacred Heart-Griffin High School.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SPRINGFIELD CATHEDRAL/GRIFFIN HIGH SCHOOL

School opened as Cathedral: 1930

School name changed to Griffin: 1959

School closed: 1988

Now part of: Sacred Heart-Griffin High School

Cathedral HS team colors: Purple & Gold

School nickname: Cyclones

School song: "Make Griffin High Proud of You"

(courtesy of www.shgfootball.com)

                                         MAKE GRIFFIN HIGH PROUD OF YOU
                                         IN EVERYTHING YOU SAY AND DO
                                         MAKE GRIFFIN HIGH PROUD TO SAY
                                         THAT YOU'RE A MAN A LEADER IN THE U.S.A.
                                         AT GRIFFIN HIGH YOU ARE TAUGHT
                                         TO WRITE YOUR NAME IN HISTORY
                                         SO NOW ITS UP TO YOU
                                         AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO
                                         TO MAKE GRIFFIN HIGH PROUD OF YOU

                                        PURPLE AND GOLD YOU GIVE US STRENGTH!
                                        RAH! RAH! RAH!
                                        PURPLE AND GOLD YOU GIVE US HOPE!
                                        RAH! RAH! RAH!
                                        PURPLE AND GOLD YOU GIVE US FAITH!
                                        GO! FIGHT! WIN!
                                        GRIFFIN HIGH, GRIFFIN HIGH WILL ALWAYS WIN!

Note: SGHS Class of 1965 graduate Chuck Clark had this information to share about the Griffin HS fight song.

"It was adapted from a popular song of the 1950s called "Make America Proud of You" by Jack Fulton. The original song is still in use by the Boy Scouts for ceremonial purposes."

The Springfield Cathedral High School Fight Song was found in a 1946 Cathedral yearbook by our good friend Phil Shadid:

"Cathedral Song"

BRAVE COMRADES TRUE, LOYAL DEFENDERS, HAIL TO YOU!

GO MARCHING BOLDLY ON TO VICTORY

WITH OUR BANNERS FLOATING FREE.

IT'S GOLD AND PURPLE HUES WILL LEAD YOU,

AND SPUR YOU ON TO VICT'RIES NEW!

LET'S GIVE A CHEER (RAH TEAM,RAH, RAH)

COME MUSTER YOUR MEN AND MARCH ON TO VICTORY!

Springfield Griffin High School Complex - 1959

Courtesy of "Sacred Heart-Griffin: A Century of Excellence 1895-1995"

ATHLETICS

Cathedral offered at least boys' basketball, baseball, and track up until the name change of the school to Griffin took place in 1959. Football was also offered, but very little is known. Under the new name, golf, swimming, tennis, and cross-country were added. If you know if the school offered more than these sports, please contact us at dr.veeman@gmail.com.

BASEBALL

The Springfield area has had its share of successes on the diamond, and both Cathedral along with Griffin were at the state finals a total of seven times, bringing home two firsts and a second.

As Cathedral

1945 District Champions Coach John Hendricks

Sectional Champions

Qualified for State Finals

Lost to Maywood Provison 6-0 in quarterfinals

1947 District Champions

1950 17- 4 District Champions Coach Luke Gleason

Sectional Champions

Qualified for State Finals

Lost to Elgin HS 3-1 in quarterfinals

1956 District Champions Coach John Finigan

As Griffin

1963 Regional Champions

1964 23- 8 STATE CHAMPIONS!!! Coach Dick Murawski

Regional & Sectional Champions

Qualified for State Finals

Edged Rock Island Alleman 4-3 in quarterfinals

Got Past Danville HS in semifinals, 3-2

Defeated Skokie Niles West in title game, 6-5

1968 28- 5 Regional Champions Coach Dick Murawski

Sectional Champions

Qualified for State Finals

Lost to Champaign Central 7-3 in quarterfinals

1969 Regional Champions

1981 Regional Champions

1982 31- 7 SECOND IN AA STATE!!! Coach Robin Cooper

Regional & Sectional Champions

Qualified for AA State Finals

Edged Peoria Spalding 1-0 in quarterfinals

Defeated Dolton Thornridge 8-2 in semifinals

Lost to Darien Hinsdale South in title game, 5-2

1983 Regional Champions

1987 37- 4 STATE CHAMPIONS!!! Coach Ron Wojcicki

Regional & Sectional Champions

Qualified for State AA Tournament

Beat Chicago Vocational 14-1 in quarterfinals (5 innings)

Topped Belleville East 7-2 in semifinals

Defeated Barrington 9-1 in championship game

1988 20-20 Regional Champions Coach Ron Wojcicki

Sectional Champions

Qualified for State AA Tournament

Lost to Chicago Marist in quarterfinals, 4-2

TREMENDOUS JOB BY CATHEDRAL AND GRIFFIN BASEBALL!!!

BASKETBALL

Before they changed their name from Cathedral to Griffin, the school won a state championship as a member of the former Illinois State Catholic High School Athletic Association (ISCHSAA). The school was admitted to the IHSA in 1941 and reached the state’s single-class Sweet 16 three times during the same decade. But what makes it more interesting is that the Cyclones did it with three different coaches. As you can tell below, the basketball program had its share of successes almost from the time that the school opened.

As Cathedral

1930-31 First season Coach Earl Reavy

1930-31 9-10 Coach Earl Reavy
1931-32 10-10 Coach Earl Reavy

1932-33 14- 7 Coach Earl Reavy

1933-34 23- 6 Coach Earl Reavy

1934-35 12-10 Coach Don Anderson

1935-36 22- 2 Coach Don Anderson

1936-37 5-17 Coach Charles Dirksen

1937-38 13-13 Coach Greg Sloan

1938-39 22- 8 State Catholic Tourney Champs!!! Coach Greg Sloan

1939-40 13-12 Coach Jack Fabri

1940-41 14-15 Coach Jack Fabri

1941-42 27- 4 Regional Champions Coach Jack Fabri

Sectional Champions

Sweet 16 Qualifiers

Lost to Cicero Morton 47-32

1942-43 19- 5 Coach Jack Corcoran

1943-44 25- 4 Regional Champions Coach John Hendricks

1944-45 10-17 Coach John Hendricks

1945-46 22-12 Regional Champions Coach Al Lewis

Sectional Champions

Sweet 16 Qualifiers

Lost to Collinsville 50-28

1946-47 19- 9 Coach Al Lewis

1947-48 23- 6 Regional Champions Coach Luke Gleason

Sectional Champions

Sweet 16 Qualifiers--Beat Harvey Thornton 57-50

Elite 8 Finalists--Lost to Pinckeyville 58-36

(Pinckeyville won state championship)

1948-49 16- 9 Coach Luke Gleason

1949-50 18- 7 Coach Luke Gleason

1950-51 10-13 Coach Luke Gleason

1951-52 18- 7 Regional Champions Coach Luke Gleason

1952-53 23- 5 Regional Champions Coach Luke Gleason

1953-54 12-12 Coach Luke Gleason

1954-55 14-12 Coach John Finigan

1955-56 7-19 Coach John Finigan

1956-57 0-26 Coach John Finigan

1957-58 19- 9 Coach Jim Belz

1958-59 18- 7 Coach Jim Belz

As Griffin

1959-60 15- 9 Coach Jim Belz

1960-61 18- 8 Coach Jim Belz

1961-62 13-13 Coach Jim Belz

1962-63 20- 6 Coach Jim Belz

1963-64 23- 4 Coach Jim Belz

1964-65 10-15 Coach Jim Belz

1965-66 17-10 Coach Jim Belz

1966-67 17-10 Coach Jim Belz

1967-68 12-15 Coach Bob Martin

1968-69 2-23 Coach Bob Martin

1969-70 3-21 Coach Bob Martin

1970-71 9-17 Coach Bob Martin

1971-72 8-17 Coach Larry Sellinger

1972-73 14-11 Coach Larry Sellinger

1973-74 6-18 Coach Larry Sellinger

1974-75 9-15 Coach Larry Sellinger

1975-76 10-14 Coach Larry Sellinger

1976-77 14-13 Regional Champions Coaches Larry Sellinger

& Bill Fleischli

1977-78 15-12 Coach Bill Fleischli

1978-79 13-14 Regional Champions Coach Bill Fleischli

1979-80 16-11 Coach Bill Fleischli

1980-81 24- 4 Regional Champions Coach Bill Fleischli

Lost to State Champ Quincy

in 1st Rd. of Sectional

**Won Breese Mater Dei Christmas

Tourney During Season

1981-82 20- 8 Regional Champions Coach Gary Dorr

Lost to eventual 3rd Place

finisher Quincy in 1st. Rd. of

Sectional

1982-83 0-27 Coach Gary Dorr

1983-84 18- 9 Coach Gary Dorr

1984-85 15-10 Coach Gary Dorr

1985-86 7-17 Coach Gary Dorr

1986-87 6-18 Coach Gary Dorr

1987-88 5-20 Final season Coach Gary Dorr

Notable Roundball Athlete

Tom McDermott - Helped lead the Cyclones on the court during the early 1940s, eventually garnering All-State honorable mention honors in 1941-42, the year his team won the Regional and Sectional championships, and made it to the Sweet 16.

**The following information regarding Griffin's paticipation in the annual Breese Mater Dei Christmas Classic Tournament was sent to us by our good friend Mark Jurenga:

"The Twentieth Annual Tournament (1980-81 season) found Griffin, led by future Major League shortstop Dick Schofield, beating Mater Dei in the Championship."
2005 Breese (Mater Dei) Christmas Classic program, pg. 1.
Breese (Mater Dei) Tourney Facts Regarding Springfield Griffin HS:
All-Time Record: 24 wins 14 losses
Championships- 1980
2nd Place- 1982, 1983
3rd Place- 1981
All-Tournament Team Selections:
1975- Jeff Edmunds
1980- Dick Schofield
1982- Dave Snedecker
1983- Mike Hatman
NOTE: Through the 2004 Tournament, Schofield was #26 in career scoring with 200 pts."

Cathedral Football Team of 1935

Courtesy of "Sacred Heart-Griffin: A Century of Excellence 1895-1995"

FOOTBALL

By far and way, the gridiron successes of the Cyclones started early and have continued today even after the Sacred Heart-Griffin merger. Prior to 1957, win-loss records are unavailable on the IHSA website for Cathedral. Tremendous coaching & talent were the reasons why football was a successful sport for the Purple & Gold.

As Cathedral

1933 3-3-1 Coach Earl Reavy

1934 1-8 Coach Earl Reavy

1935 4-4 Coach Don Anderson

1936 3-5 Coach Charles Dirksen

1937 5-3 Coach Charles Dirksen

1938 5-4 Coach Gregory Sloan

*1938 saw tragedy strike the Cyclones as John dalBello died of injuries sustained while making a tackle vs. Carlinville HS

1939 6-2 Coach Gregory Sloan

1940 2-6-1 Coach John Fabri

1941 7-0-2 Coach John Fabri

1942 2-6 Coach John Corcoran

1943 6-2-2 Coach John Hendricks

1944 4-3-1 Coach John Hendricks

1945 6-2 Coach John Hendricks

1946 5-2-1 Coach Al Lewis

1947 0-6-1 Coach Luke Gleason

1948 2-5 Coach Luke Gleason

1949 8-1 Coach Luke Gleason

1950 7-1 Coach Luke Gleason

1951 2-6 Coach Luke Gleason

1952 5-2-1 Coach Luke Gleason

1953 5-3 Coach Luke Gleason

1954 0-9 Coach Joe Beja

1955 1-7-1 Coach Joe Beja

1956 6-0-2 Coach James Weithman

1957 7-1-1 Coach James Weithman

1958 4-4-1 Coach James Weithman

As Griffin

1959 4-5 Coach James Weithman

1960 3-5 Coach James Weithman

1961 7-2 Coach Bob Astroth

1962 3-6                                                                 Coach Bob Astroth
1963 3-6                                                                 Coach Bob Teater
1964 2-7                                                                 Coach Bob Teater
1965   5-3                                                                 Coach Bob Teater

1966 8-0 Undefeated Season! Coach Bob Teater

1967 6-2 Coach Bob Teater

1968 4-5 Coach Bob Teater

1969 8-1 Coach Bob Teater

1970 6-2-1 Coach Bob Teater

1971 8-1 Coach Bob Teater

1972 6-2-1 Coach Bob Teater

1973 4-5-1 Coach Bob Teater

1974 2-7 Coach Bob Teater

1975 10-3 SECOND IN 4A STATE!!!! Coach George Fleischli

Edged Lincoln 9-8 in first round

Downed Carbondale 33-6 in quarterfinals

Shutout La Salle-Peru in semifinals 12-0

Lost to Joliet Catholic 34-14 in championship

1976 8-1 Coach George Fleischli

1977 9-3 STATE 4A PLAYOFF QUALIFIER Coach George Fleischli

Defeated Bloomington HS 34-14

Got by Danville HS in OT 20-14

Lost to La Salle-Peru in Semi Finals

1978 10-1 STATE 4A PLAYOFF QUALIFIER Coach George Fleischli

Beat Roxana 33-7 in first round

Lost to Danville HS 16-6 in quarterfinals

1979 8-4 STATE 4A PLAYOFF QUALIFIER Coach George Fleischli

Lost to Belleville Althoff in first round 27-14

1980 9-1 STATE 5A PLAYOFF QUALIFIER Coach Robin Cooper

Lost to Peoria Central 27-21 in first round

1981 9-2 STATE 5A PLAYOFF QUALIFIER Coach Robin Cooper

Beat Granite City North 15-7 in first round

Edged by Champaign Central in quarterfinals 14-13

1982 12-1 SECOND IN 4A STATE!!! Coach Robin Cooper

Shutout Mt. Zion 33-0 in first round

Got by Champaign Central 13-9 in quarterfinals

Defeated Roxana 29-8 in semifinals

Lost to Geneseo Darnall 44-36 in title game

1983 8-2 STATE 4A PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS Coach Robin Cooper

Lost to Washington in first round 27-6

(Washington state 4A runnerup)

1984 8-2 STATE 4A PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS Coach Ken Leonard

Lost to Lincoln in first round 10-6

1985 10-1 STATE 4A PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS Coach Ken Leonard

Beat Mount Zion in round one 35-15

Lost to Washington in second round 21-18

(Washington eventual 4A State Champs)

1986 12-1 STATE 4A PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS Coach Ken Leonard

Won over Peoria Central 10-6 in first round

Edged 10-7 Peoria Woodruff 10-7 in second round

Lost to Rock Island Alleman 15-6 in quarterfinals

(Alleman eventual 4A runnerups)

1987 10-1 STATE 4A PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS Coach Ken Leonard

Beat Mount Zion 29-7 in first round

Lost to Rantoul 18-14 in second round

Two players that wore the Purple and Gold of Griffin later went on to play in professional football. Doug Bartlett was a lineman with the Philadelphia Eagles during the 1988 season, while defensive back Jim Rockford played with the 1985 San Diego Chargers before spending the next four seasons at Hamilton in the Canadian Football League.

GOLF

In addition to having a state champion medalist (J.C. Anderson won in a playoff after shooting a 146 to win the 1979 AA title), Griffin's linksters were prominent in the state prep golf circles by placing in the top 10 five times over an eight-year period with two of them being state championships under coach Ron Brian.

1973 Ninth Place at State Finals Coach unknown

1 Belleville West 619

2 Pekin 623

3 Hinsdale Central 627

Homewood-Flossmoor 627

5 Peoria Richwoods 633

6 Rockford Guilford 634

7 Decatur Lakeview 635

8 Edwardsville HS 638

9 Decatur MacArthur 642

Springfield Griffin 642

Normal University 642

Mt. Prospect 642

1974 Qualified for State Tournament Coach unknown

1976 District Champions Coach unknown

1977 Seventh in AA State Finals Coach unknown

1 Winnetka New Trier East 616

2 Palatine Fremd 620

3 McHenry 625

4 Moline HS 626

5 Freeport HS 628

6 Hinsdale Central 633

7 Springfield Griffin 635

8 Homewood-Flossmoor 637

9 Northfield New Trier West 639

10 Franklin Park East Leyden 645

Individual Medalist

J.C. Anderson--5th place---150, finished four strokes back

1978 AA STATE CHAMPIONS!!! 633 Coach Ron Brian

2 Peoria Spalding 646

3 Hinsdale Central 651

Arlington Heights Hersey 651

5 Naperville North 652

6 Rockford Guilford 653

7 Homewood-Flossmoor 654

8 Freeport HS 657

LaGrange Lyons 657

10 Libertyville 663

District Champions

Sectional Champions

Individual State Medalists

J.C. Anderson--2nd---152, lost by three strokes

Doug Williams--8th---158 (three-way tie)

1979 AA STATE CHAMPIONS!!! 630 Coach Ron Brian

2 Peoria Richwoods 633

3 Naperville North 635

4 Champaign Central 639

Winnetka New Trier East 639

6 West Frankfort Frankfort 640

7 South Holland Thornwood 641

8 LaGrange Lyons 644

9 Belleville West 647

10 Homewood-Flossmoor 649

District Champions

Sectional Champions

Individual AA State Medalist

J.C. Anderson--STATE CHAMPION!!! 146 (won in playoff)

1980 Fifth in AA State Finals Coach unknown

1 Crystal Lake South 626

2 Naperville North 629

3 Belleville West 635

4 Barrington 637

5 Springfield Griffin 644

6 Lincoln 647

DeKalb 647

8 McHenry 650

9 Rock Island HS 655

LaGrange Lyons 655

District Champions

1982 Individual AA State Medalist Coach unknown

Todd Gedaminski --9th---tied at 154

OUTSTANDING WORK BY THE CYCLONE LINKSTERS!!!!

SWIMMING

The Griffin Cyclones made some waves in the pool during the late 1970's and early 1980's by winning some state hardware and having one swimmer come home with three finishes in the top three of the state, including a state championship.

1977-78 Individual State Medalist Coach unknown

Rich Suhs--100 backstroke 3rd place (lost by .18!!)

1978-79 District Champions Coach unknown

Individual State Medalist

Rich Suhs--100 butterfly STATE CHAMPION!!! (:51.236)

100 backstroke 2nd place

1980-81 District Champions

1981-82 District Champions

1982-83 Sectional Champions

(NOTE: Suhs lost to future Olympian and five-time gold medalist Tom Jager of Collinsville in the 100 backstroke finals in 1979. Jager went onto to become the world's fastest swimmer with a time of :21.8 in the 50 freestyle.)

TRACK

As both Cathedral and Griffin, the school was represented by individuals who brought home medals from the state track meet as one of the best in their respective events.

As Cathedral

1953 Al Urbanckas--High Jump 3rd place Coach Leo Kilfoy

1954 Al Urbanckas--High Jump STATE CHAMPION!! Coach Leo Kilfoy

As Griffin

1978AA Brad Gair--2 mile run 6th place

CROSS-COUNTRY

Even the harriers were successful, qualifying for the state AA finals in 1978. According to Griffin alum Todd Schneider (Class of 1979), this team was one of 27 that made it to state that year. We are in need of the head coaches’ name. Co-MVPS of the 1978 harriers were Mark Brahler and Todd Schneider.

TENNIS

The Griffin netters won a pair of titles at the state tournament level, including one that might be considered one of the final championships as an all-boys' school before the merger with Sacred Heart.

1982 District Champions

1988 Sectional Champions

Great Athletes

Al Urbanckas (Class of 1954) - Al holds a basketball record at Cathedral as SHG has a huge banner up in the gym spotlighting Al's accomplishment. He held the high jump record at the University of Illinois for 14 years before they changed the method of jumping to the flop. Al is one of the charter members in the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame.

Dick Schofield (unkown year) - played major league baseball for the California Angels after being drafted right out of high school.

Special Thanks

In researching information, we'd like to thank Sr. Diana Doyle from Sacred Heart-Griffin for helping us out. As a 1948 graduate of Sacred Heart Academy, Sr. Diana furnished us with a copy of "Sacred Heart-Griffin: A Century of Excellence 1895-1995" that helped tell the story of Cathedral, Griffin and Sacred Heart as high schools that educated youth in the Springfield. Some of the photos that you see on these pages are from the book, so we appreciate the assistance!

DO YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT SPRINGFIELD CATHEDRAL OR GRIFFIN?

If so, we'd like to hear from YOU! Information such as the words and music to the school song. names of coaches and athletes, win-loss records, and great memories are all welcome. You can email your information to us at dr.veeman@gmail.com or by regular mail:

Illinois High School Glory Days

6439 North Nava

Chicago, IL 60631