The (Buda) Western High School "Rams"

Western High School

Buda, Illinois

The History of the Western High School Rams

Buda is located in Bureau County, 15 miles southwest of Princeton along Illinois State Route 40 and the Burlington Northern-Sante Fe line from Chicago to Los Angeles. It's population is around 600, despite being considered as a "ghost town" of Illinois.

Western High School was a result of a name change from Buda High School in 1961, when the Sheffield school district was consolidated with the Buda school district. The "Western" part of the name comes from being the western-most school in Bureau County.

Western High School lasted from 1961 to 1995. Western, Wyanet, Walnut, and Manlius high schools came together to form the Bureau Valley School District. The high school building in Buda is used now for Bureau Valley (South) Middle School.

An excellent alumni website for Western High School can be viewed at the web address of http://www.westernhighschoolalumni.com/ . Thank you to Ben Atkinson for providing this information.

Western High School "Quick Facts":

Year opened: 1961
Year closed: 1995
Building used for now: Middle School
Mascot: Rams
School colors: Black & White
School Fight Song: "Hey Look Us Over"
Conferences: Indian Valley (1977-1995), Blackhawk

Western High School Football Field

School Buildings in Background

Athletics

The Western Rams competed in the Blackhawk and Indian Valley conferences. For more information on the Blackhawk Conference check out John Ballentine's article on the GREAT CONFERENCES page of this site.

Western High School offered a variety of athletics. Football, basketball, track volleyball, and golf were all offered at one time. Successes were reached on the conference and state contest levels in each sport. The most notable of these successes which we have researched thus far are listed below.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The most successful athletic program on a team level was the Boys Basketball program. Coach "Chips" Giovanne came over from Bureau Twp. in 1961 and led the Rams to a District Championship in 1968 (21-7) and back-to-back Class A State Tourney appearances in 1975 and 1976:

1975 - Finished 29-1 overall with an undefeated regular season and defeated (now AA) Lemont in the Streator Super-Sectional. The Rams lost to eventual third placer finishers Watseka in the opening round of the tournament in Champaign. Bob Sprowls was named to the All-Tournament team with 44 points in the two tournament games. Western was ranked 4th in the Associated Press final polls.

1976 - Finished 31-2 overall with an undefeated regular season and defeated Palos Heights Chicago Christian in the Pontiac Super-Sectional and defeated Havana in the first round of the Elite '8' tournament, 64-54 behind a 24-point effort from Ron "Stick" Happach. They fell to eventual state champions Mt. Pulaski in the semi-finals and fell to Lawrenceville, 65-57 in the third place game.

Overall, the two basketball teams combined for a 49-2 record with a 50+ regular season winning streak spanning between 1974 and 1976.

Brad Bickett, former Ohio High School standout basketball player, took over the program in 1991 and took home Regional championships in 1991, 1992 and 1995. In 1992, the Rams had a record of 19-8. After coaching several seasons at Bureau Valley High School and leading that school to three third place finishes in the IHSA Class A Tourney, Bickett left BVHS and currently coaches for Rock Falls High School.

Here are the season records of the Western High School boys basketball program as listed on the IHSA website.

1961-62   16 - 9                                                            Coach Gerald "Chips" Giovanine
1962-63   18 - 8                                                            Coach Gerald "Chips" Giovanine
1963-64   19 - 6                                                            Coach Gerald "Chips" Giovanine
1964-65   16 - 9                                                            Coach Gerald "Chips" Giovanine
1965-66   11 - 12                                                          Coach Gerald "Chips" Giovanine
1966-67   12 - 13                                                          Coach Gerald "Chips" Giovanine
1967-68   21 - 7     District Champions                         Coach Gerald "Chips" Giovanine
1968-69   18 - 8                                                            Coach Gerald "Chips" Giovanine
1969-70   16 - 10                                                          Coach Gerald "Chips" Giovanine
1970-71   10 - 16                                                          Coach Gerald "Chips" Giovanine
1971-72   16 - 10                                                          Coach Gerald "Chips" Giovanine
1972-73   16 - 9                                                            Coach Gerald "Chips" Giovanine
1973-74   18 - 9                                                            Coach Gerald "Chips" Giovanine

1974-75 29 - 1 ELITE 8 FINALIST!! Coach Gerald "Chips" Giovanine
Blackhawk Conf. Champions

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

Super-Sectional Champions

Beat Lemont 51 - 46

Elite 8 Finalist

Lost to Watseka 63 - 57

Watseka placed 3rd

1975-76 31 - 2 IHSA CLASS 'A' FOURTH PLACE!! Coach Gerald "Chips" Giovanine
Blackhawk Conf. Champions

Regional Champions

                              Sectional Champions

                              Super-Sectional Champions

                              Beat Chicago Christian 48 - 46

                              Elite 8 Finalist

Beat Havana 64 - 54

Final 4 Finalist

Lost to Mt. Pulaski 74 - 56

Mt. Pulaski eventual State Champs

Third Place Game Finalist

Lost to Lawrenceville 65 - 57

Western Rams - 1976 IHSA Class 'A' Tourney Program

Submitted by Jim Kouzmanoff

WHS Cheerleaders/Info - 1976 Tourney Program

Submitted by Jim Kouzmanoff

1976-77 26 - 3 Regional Champions Coach Gerald "Chips" Giovanine

1977-78 11 - 8 Coach Dick Stoltz

1978-79 9 - 13 Coach Dick Stoltz

1979-80 Coach Dick Stoltz

1980-81 11 - 4 Coach Doug Whiskers

1981-82 21 - 5 (Nice Record!) Coach Doug Whiskers

1982-83 8 - 13 Coach Doug WHiskers

1984-85   15 - 12                                                           Coach Craig Watson
1985-86   19 - 9                                                             Coach Craig Watson
1988-89                Regional Champions                       Coach Steve Kirby

1989-90 12 - 16 Coach Steve Kirby

1990-91 15 - 11 Regional Champions Coach Brad Bickett
1991-92 19 - 8 Regional Champions Coach Brad Bickett

1992-93    9 - 17                                                           Coach Brad Bickett
1993-94   11 - 13                                                           Coach Brad Bickett
1994-95   15 - 10   Regional Champions                       Coach Brad Bickett

FOOTBALL

The Rams football program qualified for the IHSA playoffs four times. In 1976, 1979 and 1992, they finished 8-2. In 1977, they had an undefeated regular season at 9-0 before losing in the playoffs in the first round under coach Rich Corpus.

In 1973, the Rams were led by a quarterback named Mark Marquis. His 482 passing yards against Elmwood ranks 10th all-time for most in a game in Illinois; just 8 shy from 9th place, which is owned by long-time University of Illinois quarterback, Jon Beutjer. Marquis had six touchdown passses (6th all-time in Illinois) and was 16-32 from behind the line of scrimmage.

Some records from the 1960s involving Buda Western's football program are provided below by Tom Sikorski:

1961 5-2 2nd place Little 8 Conference Coach Ron Hewitt

1962 7-0-1 Little 8 Conference Champs Coach Ron Hewitt

1963 6-3 3rd place Little 8 conference Coach Ron Hewitt

1964 5-4 3rd place Little 8 conference Coach Ron Hewitt

1965 3-5-1 Coach Harry Lehning

Team of 1965 featured All-State

Linebacker Dan Tumbleson

1966: 3-5 Coach Harry Lehning

1967 5-3 2nd place Little 8 conference Coach Joe Colmone

1968: 4-5 Coach Joe Colmone

1971: 2-7 Coach Rich Corpus

1974 7-1-1 2nd place Blackhawk conference Coach Merle Morwedel

1975 7-2 2nd place (tie) Blackhawk conference Coach Rich Corpus

1976 8-2 IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Rich Corpus

Indian Valley Conf Champs

IHSA Playoffs 1st Round

Lost to Chenoa

1977 9-1 IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Rich Corpus

Indian Valley Conf Champs

IHSA Playoffs 1st Round

Lost to Monmouth Yorkwood 6 - 0 (2 O/Ts)

1978 7-2 Coach

1979 8-2 IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Jim Hewitt

Indian Valley Conf Champs

IHSA Playoffs 1st Round

Lost to Milledgeville 24 - 8

1980: 6-3 Coach Jim Hewitt

1981: 6-3 Coach Jim Hewitt

1982: 4-5 Coach Jim Hewitt

1984: 4-5 Coach ?

1987: 4-5 Coach ?

1990: 3-6 Coach Terry Gutshall

1991: 5-4 Coach Terry Gutshall

1992 6-4 IHSA Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Terry Gutshall

IHSA Playoffs 1st Round

Lost to Wethersfield 14 - 8

Wethersfield Lost in Semi-Finals

(Beat #6 ranked Annawan HS 42-8 in the

seventh game of the regular season!)

1993: 2-7 Coach Terry Gutshall

1994: 3-6 Coach Paul Blandford

(This was last football season fielded by Buda-Western before it became Bureau Valley Storm.)

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Girls Basketball was offered at Western, and the Lady Rams won a regional championship in 1979 with an undefeated 14-0 season and finished the season at 16-1 under coach Deb Stetson. In 1988, they finished a gratifying 21-2 under coach Charlie Yelm.

1977-78 6 - 3 First Season Coach Deb Stetson

1978-79 16 - 1 Regional Champions Coach Deb Stetson

1979-80: 7 - 8 Coach Mike Taukus

1980-81: 8 - 7 Coach Mike Taukus

1981-82: 4 - 10 Coach Pat Corwin

1982-83: 5 - 10 Coach Pat Corwin

1983-84: 6 - 12 Coach Charlie Yelm

1984-85: 8 - 11 Coach Charlie Yelm

1985-86: 10 - 11 Coach Charlie Yelm

1986-87: 13 - 9 Coach Charlie Yelm

1987-88 21 - 2 Coach Charlie Yelm

1991-92 Coach Hepner

1992-93 11 - 9 Coach Charlie Yelm

1994-95 Coach Paul Blanford

VOLLEYBALL

The Lady Ram Volleyball team was very successful in their early days. They won three regionals (1975, 1977, 1981) in which 1975 was the first year volleyball was offered at Western. Also in 1977, they won a sectional championship.

1974-75 7 - 1 First Season Coaches Tocha / Goble

1975-76 11 - 2 Regional Champions Coaches Tocha / Goble

1976-77 14 - 2 Regional & Sectional Champions!! Coaches Tocha / Goble

(Sweet 16 Finalist!!)

1977-78 15 - 2 District & Sectional Champions!! Coaches Tocha / Goble

Sectional - Beat Lanark & Pecatonica

Super-Sectional - lost to East DuBuque

1981-82 Regional Champions

1991-92 9 - 14 Coach Pat Corwin

1992-93 13 - 11 Coach Pat Corwin

1993-94 15 - 6 2nd Place Indian Valley Conf. (8-2) Coach Pat Corwin

1994-95 Coach Pat Corwin

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

In 1980, the Lady Ram Girls Track program had a very successful season. They finished in fifth place at the state tournament and also had a win over future Indian Valley Girls Track powers, Tampico. The 1979-80 girl's finished in 5th place at the State Track Meet.

Western has had 8 state medalists in it's history:

1979 - - Sheila Foster [5th] (200 low-hurdles)

1980 - - Rhonda Gingrich [6th] (3200-meter run)

1980 - - Sheila Foster [2nd] (100 low-hurdles)

1980 - - Sheila Foster [2nd] (200 low-hurdles)

1980 - - Sheila Foster [8th] (long jump)

1979-80 Class A State Meet Final Team Standings

             1 Mahomet (M.-Seymour)                36
            2 Chicago (University)                      35
            3 New Lenox (Providence Catholic)   23
            4 Watseka                                      22
             5  Buda (Western)                           20
            6 Greenville                                     18
            6 Elmhurst (Immaculate Concepti      18
            6 Peoria (Bergan)                             18
            9 Monticello                                     17
           10 Freeburg                                       16

1982 - - Kris Kaufman [7th] (100-meter dash)

1982 - - Kris Kaufman [8th] (200-meter dash)

1982 - - Kris Kaufman [3rd] (long jump)

1993 - - Veronica Miller [6th - 400-meter dash)

1993 - - 3200-meter relay team [6th]

1995 - - Veronica Miller (7th - 400 Meter Dash)

1995 - - 800 meter-medly relay - 7th

Lonnie Hewitt on the Podium - State Champ 1979

From left toright: Larry Harpman, Jim Moore, LONNIE HEWITT, Eric Foster

BOYS TRACK & FIELD

The Western Rams won some medals in track & field as well. The most impressive is that of the accomplishements of Lonnie Hewitt. Between 1976 (his freshman year) and 1979 Lonnie won an incredible three gold medals in the high jump (sophomore, junior, and senior years). He also placed 6th in the high jump his freshman year and gained an 8th place finish in the 440 yard dash his senior year. Great job Lonnie Hewitt!!

David Hartz and Dennis VanderMeersch each brought home two medals from the IHSA State Track Meet as did two relay teams from the 1982 season..

1975 David Hartz Long Jump 7TH Place

1976 David Hartz Long Jump 5TH Place

Lonnie Hewitt High Jump 6TH Place

Relay Team 880 Relay 6TH Place

Team Won Blackhawk Conf. Championship

1977     Lonnie Hewitt                 High Jump           STATE CHAMPION!!

1978 Lonnie Hewitt High Jump STATE CHAMPION!!

1979 Lonnie Hewitt High Jump STATE CHAMPION!!

440 Yard Dash 8TH Place

1980 Dennis VanderMeersch 300 M Hurdles 2ND Place

100 M Dash 3RD Place

1982 Relay Team 4 X 100 6TH Place

4 X 200 6Th Place

NOTABLE ALUMNI

**Corey Waldinger (Class of 1986)

Corey Waldinger, a Buda native and 1986 graduate of Western High, was named Oustanding Young Alum of the College of ACES (Agriculture, consumer and environmental sciences) in October 2005. He is the President of the Chicago Agricultural Economists Club, and currently an executive director at Rabobank International, Chicago. According to a report published in the Stark County News, (24 November, 2005) Waldinger remains involved in outside activities, including coaching his son's baseball and soccer teams.

**Lonnie Hewitt (Class of 1979)

Lonnie continued his incredible track career graduating from Augustana College with a degree in Accounting. Lonnie was a two-time All-American there, and was a main cog on the Augie thinclad team which in 1981 placed second in the National meet. Hewitt was named Augie's track team captain his senior year.

Lonnie went on to become a well known football and basketball referee in the northern part of Illinois. His skills were so noted that he was selected to work the IHSA Girls Basketball State Tournament on three seperate occasions!"

MEMORIES

**From Larry Jontz:

"I love reading through your Glory Days website and reminiscing about the old schools and the old days. I really miss those good old days and the small schools. I was in heaven during state tournament time. I now live in Missouri and tell people there is nothing like Illinois during basketball season. Annawan and Tiskilwa were our two toughest rivals and gave us the most trouble although Neponset was the most fun to beat in basketball because we despised each other so much. They upset our Little 8 Conference regular season championship team in the 1964 District Championship game on our home court by 20 points and a most bitter rivalry was born. Keep up the great work. I love reading about all the schools."

**From Mike Spratt (Class of 1992):

"In 1992 our team was coached by Terry Gutshall and we made the playoffs...that is correct, but it says that we were 8-2...that is not correct. Actually, we were 6-3 going into the playoffs, and lost to Wethersfield to end our season at 6-4. I have also seen this error on the IHSA page. 1992 was my junior year, I was from Sheffield, and I played halfback and defensive back on that team. A highlight from that season was when we beat an undefeated Annawan team that was 6-0 and ranked 6th in the state at that time. We were 4-2, and it was the journal star game of the week. We were the underdog, and not picked to win or even compete. We went to Annawan and hung it on them 42-8!!! One of the biggest upsets in our school history. That win thrusted us into the playoffs for the first time in years. Our 3 loses going into the playoffs that year were Port Byron Riverdale (16-18), Princeville (16-18), and Manlius/Tampico (7-22). We played the playoff game against Kewanee Wethersfield at home in the snow."

SEEKING FURTHER INFORMATION

If you have any further information regarding the history of Western High School please write to us via e-mail at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net . You can also write to us via real mail at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva Ave.

Chicago, Il. 60631

Buda Western High School

Gymnasium in the Background

Western Football Field

Goal Post in Foreground