The Atkinson High School "Tigers"

Athletics

The Tigers have a rich tradition of competitive and highly successful teams in many different sports. First in the Three Rivers, then the Cornbelt, and finally the Indian Valley Conference, the Tigers were a force to be reckoned with. For many years the battles carried on between Atkinson and their "arch-rivals" Annawan were contests movies could be written about. This was a real throw out the records game for both schools. The most successful teams and individuals in each sport the Tigers and Tigresses competred in are listed below.

Girl's Basketball

During the mid 1980s girl's basketball in Atkinson kept everyone "abuzz". The girls won 5 Regional titles in 6 years and made it all the way to the Elite Eight in two of those years. The Tigresses of 1985-86 came within two points of advancing to the Final Four. Only those five years are listed on the IHSA web site and are documented below.

1982-83 N.R.A. Regional Champs Coach's name unavailable

1983-84 24 - 3 Elite Eight Finalist Coach Mick Shinkevich

Regional Champs

Sectional Champs

Super-Sectional Champs

Won 41 - 37 against Amboy

Elite 8 Finalist

Lost 38 - 34 to Bushnell-Prairie City

BPC finished 4th

1985-86 25 - 2 Elite Eight Finalist Coach Heidi Hamer

Regional Champs

Sectional Champs

Super-Sectional Champs

Beat Byron 60 - 58

Elite 8 Finalist

Lost 45 - 44 to Metropolis (Massac County)

Metropolis eventual State Runner-up

1986-87 N.R.A. Regional Champs Coach's name unavailable

1987-88 N.R.A. Regional Champs Coach's name unavailable

Great Player

**The Quad City Times named an Atkinson grad, Val Wancket (1983-87), as one of the "Top 100 Athletes of the 20th Century." Val Wancket was named to the Class 'A' All-State team her junior and senior years.

Here are some of Val Wancket's IHSA credentials:

#4 ALL-TIME in IHSA history in consecutive games scoring 10+ points with 100

#7 ALL-TIME in IHSA history in career rebounds with 1,606

#7 ALL-TIME in IHSA history for rebounds in one game - 32 (vs. Wyanet, Jan. 28, 1985)

#9 ALL-TIME in IHSA history in most free throws attempted in one game with 25 (March 16, 1984 vs. Prophetstown)

#10 ALL-TIME in IHSA history in games scoring 10+ points with 103 - EVERY GAME SHE PLAYED IN!

#15 ALL-TIME in IHSA history in career points scored with 2,644

#15 ALL-TIME in IHSA history for rebounds in one season - 455 (1986-87)
#36 ALL-TIME in IHSA history for rebounds in one season - 402 (1985-86)

Boy's Basketball

The earliest Atkinson High School basketball team has been traced back to as far as 1922 when they beat Kewanee in a game by the score of 32-14. The boys basketball teams at Atkinson have had many a great seasons. The high school gym of the 40s and 50s was one of the premier gyms in the area, always hosting the District tournament. The Tiger boys basketball seasons are listed below.

1940-41 17 - 8

1941-42 13 - 9 Coach William Holloway
1942-43 7 - 9 Coach Lucian Fuhrmeister

1943-44 10 - 10 District Champs Coach Paul Earp

1944-45 19 - 9 Coach Paul Earp

1945-46 19 - 8 District Champs Coach Paul Earp

1946-47 20 - 9 District runner-up Coach Paul Earp

1947-48 22 - 7 District Champs Coach Paul Earp

1948-49 28 - 3 District Champs Coach Paul Earp

1949-50    18 - 9                                                        Coach Lawrence Curl
1950-51      6 - 19                                                      Coach Lawrence Curl
1951-52 12 - 17                                                       Coach John Haworth

1952-53 16 - 12 District Champs Coach John Haworth

1953-54 11 - 15 Coach John Haworth

1954-55 11 - 13                                                       Coach John Haworth
1955-56 13 - 13                                                       Coach John Haworth
1956-57 11 - 13                                                       Coach Bill Davis
1957-58 14 - 11                                                       Coach Bill Davis

1958-59 16 - 9 District Champs Coach Bill Davis

1959-60      7 - 15                                                       Coach Bill Davis
1960-61      3 - 17                                                       Coach Bill Davis
1961-62    11 - 11                                                       Coach Bill Davis
1962-63      6 - 17                                                       Coach Bill Davis
1963-64      6 - 16                                                       Coach Bill Davis
1964-65      7 - 15                                                       Coach Bill Davis
1965-66 14 - 9                                                        Coach Bill Davis
1966-67      6 - 16                                                       Coach Bill Davis
1967-68      3 - 19                                                       Coach Don Dolieslager
1968-69 19 - 6     Cornbelt Conference Champs     Coach Don Dolieslager
1969-70 12 - 12                                                       Coach Gale Thoroman
1970-71 11 - 13                                                       Coach Jim Frankenreider
1971-72 20 - 5                                                         Coach Jim Frankenreider
1972-73 14 - 11                                                       Coach Jim Frankenreider
1973-74 11 - 12                                                       Coach Jim Frankenreider
1974-75      4 - 18                                                       Coach Doug Wilson
1975-76      7 - 16                                                       Coach Don Steers
1976-77      6 - 16                                                       Coach Dave Lee
1977-78      4 - 19                                                       Coach Dave Lee
1978-79 13 - 11                                                       Coach Chuck Blake
1979-80      9 - 14                                                       Coach Chuck Blake
1980-81    4 - 18                                                      Coach Chuck Weber
1981-82      5 - 17                                                       Coach Lynn Daniels
1982-83      2 - 20                                                       Coach Lynn Daniels
1983-84 10 - 13                                                       Coach Jeff Neubauer
1984-85      5 - 17                                                       Coach Joe Iorio
1985-86 13 - 10                                                       Coach Joe Iorio
1986-87 14 - 10                                                       Coach Joe Iorio
1987-88      5 - 17                                                       Coach Bob Graves

School's Final Season

Noteable Roundball Athletes

Leslie Arnold - Led the Tigers to a 17-8 record in 1940-41 and ranked among the area's leading point scorers with 277 points scored.

Dale Van Moorey - Led the Tiger teams during the early 1950s and was a member of the Two Rivers All-Conference team in 1952-53.

Boys Football

Many a Friday night were spent cheering for the Tigers on their home turf. The Tigers rarely were the bigger of the two schools on the field, yet they battled year in and year out.

One season that stands above the rest was the 1985-86 Tiger team which finished the regular season at 9 - 0 as Champions of the Indian Valley Conference. The team progressed to the 3rd round of the 1A playoffs, making an Elite Eight appearance before losing to Monmouth Yorkwood.

The Tigers' 47 seasons on the "gridiron" are listed below.

1941-42 3 - 3 - 1 Coach Bill Halloway

1942-43 8 - 1 Coach Bill Halloway

1943-44      6 - 1                                               Coach Paul Earp
1944-45      9 - 4                                               Coach Paul Earp
1945-46      8 - 4 - 1                                          Coach Paul Earp
1946-47      4 - 4                                               Coach Paul Earp
1947-48      8 - 3                                               Coach Paul Earp
1948-49      5 - 3                                               Coach Paul Earp
1949-50      5 - 4                                               Coach Lawrence Curl
1950-51      3 - 6                                               Coach Lawrence Curl
1951-52      7 - 1                                               Coach John Haworth

1952-53 7 - 0 Coach John Haworth

1953-54      3 - 2 - 2                                          Coach John Haworth
1954-55      1 - 7                                               Coach John Haworth
1955-56    5 - 4                                               Coach John Haworth
1956-57      0 - 9                                               Coach George Frasher
1957-58      4 - 5 - 1                                          Coach Bill Davis
1958-59      3 - 7                                               Coach Bill Schehl
1959-60      5 - 3 - 1                                          Coach Bill Schehl
1960-61      5 - 3 - 1                                          Coach Bill Schehl

1961-62 7 - 1 Coach Bill Schehl

1962-63 8 - 0 Coach Bill Schehl

1963-64 7 - 1 Coach Bill Schehl

1964-65    6 - 2                                               Coach Bill Schehl
1965-66      6 - 2                                               Coach Bill Schehl
1966-67      5 - 3                                               Coach Bill Schehl
1967-68      2 - 5 - 1                                          Coach Bill Severino
1968-69      1 - 7                                               Coach Bill Severino
1969-70    2 - 7                                               Coach Bill Severino

1970-71      2 - 6                                               Coach Bill Fulton
1971-72      4 - 3 - 1                                          Coach Bill Fulton
1972-73      5 - 3                                               Coach Bill Fulton
1973-74      5 - 4 - 1                                          Coach Bill Fulton
1974-75      3 - 4 - 1                                          Coach Galen Noard
1975-76     2 - 7                                               Coach Galen Noard
1976-77      7 - 2                                               Coach Galen Noard
1977-78      3 - 6                                               Coach Galen Noard
1978-79      6 - 3                                               Coach Dan Craddock
1979-80      6 - 3                                               Coach Jim Frankenreider

1980-81      4 - 5                                               Coach Chuck Weber
1981-82      3 - 7                                               Coach Chuck Weber
1982-83      2 - 7                                               Coach Gene Eggleston
1983-84      2 - 7                                               Coach Stacy Bandy
1984-85    4 - 5                                               Coach Stacy Bandy

1985-86 11 - 1 Class 1A Elite Eight Coach Greg Christakos

Indian Valley Conf. Champs

Undefeated Regular Season

Beat Cambridge 34 - 8

Beat Bradford 28 - 21

Lost to Yorkwood 8 - 28

1986-87 3 - 6 Coach Bob Schumaker
1987-88 0 - 9 Coach Bob Schumaker

School's final year was 1987-88.

OVERALL SCHOOL FOOTBALL RECORD: 221 - 192 - 11 .534 Winning %

Tiger Grid Iron Greats:

*Darrell "Bump" DeDecker - Bump continued his football success after leaving Atkinson High School. Bump DeDecker went on to play for the Fighting Illini of the University of Illinois.

*Galen Noard - After a stellar career at AHS, Galen Noard attended the University of Iowa on a football scholarship. Galen Noard became Coach Noard and returned to his alma mater (Atkinson HIgh) as head football coach from 1974-77. Coach Noard continued his successful high school coaching career at Roseville and Biggsville Union, culminating in his induction to the Illinois High School Football Coach's Hall of Fame!

*Wayne DeSutter - Wayne DeSutter left Atkinson High and went on to star at Western Illinois University, eventually joining the New York Jets of the AFL in 1966 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DeSuWa20/gamelog/1966/ ). DeSutter entered the high school coaching ranks and became one of the winningest coaches in IHSA history. Coach DeSutter's coaching career landed him a spot in the Illinois High School Football Coach's Hall of Fame! Coach DeSutter's spot in the IHSA record books is reprinted below:

"143.] 135, Wayne DeSutter, Rock Island (Alleman), 1970-82, Plainfield 1983-96 (135-106-1)"

In addition, as is pointed out by Deborah Davis Jones:

"Wayne DeSutter played in the AFL for the New York Jets. When Wayne was in high school and my brother was 4 years old and I was 6 years old, Wayne would carry us around with each of us sitting on his shoulders."

*Tony Wancket (1977-80), was named to the IHSA Small School All-State Football First Team. Tony went on to play at the University of Iowa for Coach Hayden Frye where he started at defensive end, being named MVP of the Peach Bowl in 1984.

*In a game against LaMoille in 1977, John Longeville rushed an interception return for 100 yards. One of the longest returns in IHSA history!

Track and Field

The Tiger thinclads had three individuals earn all-state honors, all in the mid-1980s. The three are listed below.

Girl's Track & Field

Val Wancket's athleticism did not stop on the hardwood court. Check out her medals won at the IHSA Class 'A' State Track Meet!

Val Wancket 1984 200m 6th Place

Val Wancket 1985 400m 5th Place

Val Wancket 1987 300m hurdles 3rd Place

Boy's Track & Field

Two Tiger thinclads won medals at the IHSA Class 'A' State Meet. One item of note is that former Tiger great Tony Wancket (older brother of Val of girls basketball fame) was probably the only athlete in IHSA history to advance to the state finals in the Shot Put and the 100 Meter Dash!

Jon Ellis 1987 Long Jump 6th Place

Neal Sherbeyn 1988 400Meter Dash 2nd Place

Seeking Further Information

There is no record on the IHSA web site regarding the Tiger girls volleyball teams. If you have information regarding volleyball or any other information you wish to share regarding the Atkinson High School Tigers please e-mail us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631