Wheaton High School and Wheaton Central High School had several very successful athletic teams in their long and storied history. Some incredible athletes have also donned the orange and black of the "Tigers".  Below are listed the athletic accomplishments of the Wheaton and Wheaton Central High School "Tigers as listed on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org).

 

 

The girls badminton program won a District Title in the 1980-81 season.  Team records and coach's names of this and other great WCHS badminton teams are being sought.

 

Memories of the 1980-81 District Championship team have been provided by Maria De La Rosa:

 

"I was part of the 80-81 district badminton team.  I don’t have my yearbooks handy to verify who exactly was teamed up in districts.  Lisa Grubbs, Patti Vivoda, played singles and I, Marcia Sasman played doubles, along with 3 other players.  We had an excellent coach, Mrs. LaBudde, a phys ed  teacher, my first 3 years of the team, but she retired and we had a different “coach” our senior year.  There were only 2 returning players my freshman year, so all those my age played varsity all 4 years. Lisa Grubbs also qualified and played in the state tournament in 79-80 and 80-81 season.  Patti Vivoda also qualified and played in state 80-81."

 

 

 

 

The Tigers brought home two Regional Championships from the baseball diamond. Coach's names and team records from these and other great baseball teams in WHS and WCHS history are needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wheaton Central High School Lady Tigers faired quite well on the hardwood court in the 1980s.  Seven Regional Championships, two Sectional Championships (back to back), and a SECOND PLACE FINISH in the State Tournament highlighted the Lady Tiger successes. 

 

 

 

                          Beat Libertyville 58 - 50

                          Lost to Marshall 63 - 37

1986-87              Regional Champions 
1987-88              Regional Champions
1988-89              Regional Champions
1991-92              Regional Champions

Last season as Wheaton Central

 

 

The Tigers made three trips to the state finals in basketball before the school's name change to Wheaton-Warrenville High School. As Wheaton High School the Tigers qualified for the State Tourney Finals on two occassions.  As Wheaton Central the boys of 1965-66 earned a trip to the Sweet 16 round of the state tournament. The team of 1980-81 went one step further, bringing home a Fourth Place Trophy from the Class AA Tournament!! The basketball accomplishments we are able to locate are listed below, as found on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org)  

 

 

                           Lost to Peoria HS  41 - 26

                           Peoria HS eventual State Champs

    
1924-25               District Champions
1926-27               District Champions

                           Lost to Freeport 30 - 28

                           Freeport Finished 3rd

 

                            Lost to Harvey Thornton 61 - 57

                            Thornton Won State Championship

                            Thornton won final 3 games be 12 or more pts. 

1967-68     2 - 22

1973-74                Regional Champions 
1975-76   19 - 8     Regional Champions            Coach Don McGee
1976-77   14 - 13                                                Coach Don McGee

1977-79                                                             Coach Don McGee
1979-80   18 - 9                                                  Coach Don McGee

                            Lost to Quincy 65 - 34

                            Quincy eventual State Champs

                            Quincy's closest game in final 16 was 25pts.!! 

                            Third Place Game Finalist

                            Lost to Chgo Westinghouse 53 - 47

 

1981-82    9 - 18    Regional Champions            Coach Don McGee
1982-83                                                             Coach Don McGee  
1983-86                                                             Coach Not Available
1986-87                                                             Coach Barry Brennan
1987-88   11 - 15    Regional Champions           Coach Barry Brennan
1988-89   17 - 11                                                Coach Barry Brennan
1989-90   17 - 9      Regional Champions           Coach Barry Brennan

1990-91   16 - 11                                                Coach Barry Brennan
1991-92           Last season as Wheaton Central   Coach Barry Brennan

 

 

The Grid Iron stage was set from the "git-go" in Wheaton High School history.  The IHSA website lists Wheaton High School's first football team as having competed in 1912.  That team finished with an undefeated (3-0-1) record.  The Tigers have never looked back.  As Wheaton High School, and then Wheaton Central, the Tigers boasted winning records in all but 13 of the 81 seasons listed.  Undefeated regular seasons (there were no state playoffs until 1974) were accomplished in ten different seasons. 

 

One of Wheaton High School's most famous sons, and one of America's most famous football players, Harold "Red" Grange, played for the Wheaton HS Tigers in the very early 1920s.   

 

 

1912-13    3 - 0 - 1          Coach F.C. Berry
1913-14    7 - 1               Coach F.C. Berry
1914-15                         Coach F.C. Berry
1915-16    5 - 2               Coach F.C. Berry
1916-17    6 - 1 - 1          Coach F.C. Berry
1917-18    5 - 2 - 1          Coach Castle
1918-19                         Coach C.V. Mitchell
1919-20    5 - 0 - 1          Coach C.V. Mitchell
1920-21    7 - 1               Coach Dink Weldon
1921-22    7 - 1               Coach Dink Weldon 
1922-23    9 - 0               Coach Dink Weldon
1923-24    6 - 3               Coach Dink Weldon
1924-25    6 - 1               Coach Dink Weldon
1925-26    6 - 2               Coach Dink Weldon
1926-27    6 - 1 - 1          Coach Dink Weldon
1927-28    6 - 1 - 1          Coach Grant Steger
1928-29    8 - 0               Coach Grant Steger
1929-30    8 - 0               Coach Grant Steger
1930-31    5 - 2               Coach Grant Steger
1931-32    4 - 1 - 2          Coach Grant Steger
1932-33                         Coach Grant Steger
1933-34    4 - 1 - 2          Coach Grant Steger
1934-36                         Coach Grant Steger
1936-37                         Coach Bob Horsley
1937-38    7 - 1               Coach Bob Horsley
1938-39    8 - 1               Coach Bob Horsley
1939-40    5 - 4               Coach Bob Horsley
1940-41    9 - 0               Coach Bob Horsley
1941-42    7 - 2               Coach Bob Horsley
1942-43    5 - 3 - 1          Coach Bud Colin
1943-44    6 - 3               Coach Bud Colin
1944-45    6 - 2 - 1          Coach Bud Colin
1945-46    6 - 1 - 1          Coach Bud Colin
1946-47                         Coach Bud Colin
1947-48    6 - 3 - 1          Coach Bob Horsley
1948-49    8 - 2               Coach Bob Horsley
1949-50    8 - 0 - 1          Coach Bob Horsley
1950-51    6 - 3               Coach Bob Horsley
1951-52    8 - 0 - 1          Coach Bob Horsley
1952-53    6 - 2 - 1          Coach Bob Horsley
1953-54    8 - 0               Coach Bob Horsley
1954-55    9 - 0               Coach Bob Horsley
1955-56    6 - 3               Coach Bud Colin
1956-57    6 - 3               Coach Howard Barnes
1957-58    7 - 1               Coach Howard Barnes
1958-59    3 - 3               Coach Howard Barnes
1959-60    4 - 2 - 1          Coach Howard Barnes
1960-61                         Coach Howard Barnes
1961-62    5 - 2 - 1          Coach Howard Barnes
1962-63    4 - 4               Coach Howard Barnes
1963-64    6 - 3               Coach Howard Barnes

 

 

1964-65    6 - 3               Coach Howard Barnes
1965-66    8 - 1               Coach Howard Barnes
1966-67    5 - 3 - 1          Coach Rex Sherman
1967-68    7 - 2               Coach Howard Barnes

1968-69    8 - 1               Coach Howard Barnes
1969-70                          Coach Don Arnold
1970-71    5 - 4               Coach Andy Hauptman     
1971-72    5 - 4               Coach Andy Hauptman
1972-73                          Coach Andy Hauptman

1973-74    6 - 4               Coach Andy Hauptman
1974-75    5 - 5               Coach Andy Hauptman
1975-76    5 - 4               Coach Andy Hauptman
1976-77    6 - 2 - 1          Coach Andy Hauptman
1977-78    6 - 3               Coach Andy Hauptman    
1978-80                         Coach Andy Hauptman
1980-81    5 - 4               Coach John Thorne
1981-82                         Coach John Thorne
1982-83    5 - 4               Coach John Thorne
1983-84    6 - 3               Coach John Thorne
1984-85                         Coach John Thorne
1985-86    5 - 4               Coach John Thorne
1986-87    5 - 4               Coach John Thorne
1987-88    5 - 4               Coach John Thorne

Last season as Wheaton Central HS

 

 

 

Three individual medalists (one WHS, two at WCHS) and a team District Championship were the highlights of the Wheaton "Tigers" program. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lady Tiger harriers faired well in the late 1980s and early 1990s.  Three top-ten team finishes and two individual medalists were the recorded successes of the program on the IHSA website. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The linksters qualified for four IHSA State Match competitions and brought home two top-ten finishes.  Two individuals brought home medals as well.

 

 

 

1960-61     Team Placed SEVENTH in IHSA State Competition!!

 

 

The gymnastics program at Wheaton Central proved to be a successful one in the early 1970s. Six boys and one girl medaled in State Meet Competition.  In fact, the boys team of 1969-70 earned a FIFTH place finish in the IHSA team competition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1979-80     Individual Medalist  -  Melanie Waite      Vault             3RD Place

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1987-88    8 - 4 - 3       Coach Gary Luckey

 

 

Two trips to the IHSA state finals, two Sectional titles, and four Regional titles highlighted the successes of the Lady Tiger softball program.

 

 

                           Lost to Herrin  3 - 2

                           Herrin Finished 2nd

 

1984-85   24 - 5    Team Qualified for State Finals        Coach Kenneth Olsen

 

 

One male swimmer had an incredible year at Wheaton Central. Gardner Howland earned three 2ND Place Medals in the late 1970s at the IHSA State Swimming Meet.  

 

 

 

 

Courtney Coleman represented the girls swimming program at Wheaton Central quite proudly winning two medals in the 1990-91 State Meet.

 

 

1990-91  Individual Medalist  -  Courtney Coleman    200 Free       2ND Place
                                                                                  500 Free       3RD Place

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lady Tigers won three Sectional Championships, two District Championships, and one individual medal.

 

 

1991-92      Team Won Sectional Championship

 

 

The Tiger boys thinclads of Wheaton High placed in the top-ten of the IHSA State Meet on TEN different occassions, coming close to winning the whole thing in 1929-30.  In addtion, 12 individuals won gold medals, including the legendary Harold "Red" Grange who earned four Gold Medals of the seven that he won for WHS.  Wheaton HS boys teams won two District titles as well.

 

Some excellent information on the Tigers first State Champ in Track, Edwin Hubble, was provided to us by our long time fan Mark Jurenga:

 

"1906 State Champion High Jump Edwin Hubble. Here are some facts about him.
*At the time, Hubble set the state record for high jump.
*Edwin Hubble once won seven firsts and one third in ONE HS track meet!
*He was a Major in the Army in World War I.

*He was a high school basketball coach in New Albany, Indiana where he also taught Science.
*He was a graduate of the University of Chicago.
*Hubble was a Rhoads Scholar at Oxford University in England
*Hubble was a world reknowned Astronomer.
*The Hubble Space Telescope is named after him.
*He won the Catherine Wolfe Bruce Gold Medal is awarded every year by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific for outstanding lifetime contributions to the field of astronomy.

*Hubble also earned the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1940.
*Edwin Hubble won the Medal of Merit for outstanding contribution to ballistics research in 1946."

 

Incredible accomplishments for any individual!!

 

Here are the highlights of the Wheaton Central High School boys track program: