(MT. CARMEL) The Mt. Carmel High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is proud to announce its 2023 Induction Class.  Two coaches, three players, and one team will be enshrined in the MCHS Athletic Hall of Fame – joining the inaugural class of ten inducted last year.  Coaches to be enshrined include state champion MCHS Golf Head Coach John White and legendary Golden Aces Football Head Coach Jim John. Players selected for induction include MCHS boys’ basketball career scoring and rebounding leader Craig Snow; two-time state finalist quarterback Luke Drone; and state champion wrestler and state finalist football lineman Tanner Crum.  The lone team to be enshrined this year is the 1957 Golden Aces Baseball team which was the first team to place at the IHSA state finals in the sport.

The 2023 Induction Class of the MCHS Athletic Hall of Fame will be recognized at the Aces home football game on October 6th vs. Casey Westfield. A reception will follow the game at Stymie’s Rest at West Berwick Golf Course.

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Here’s the announcement of the Class of ‘23 inductees during today’s Morning Show…

1957 Baseball Team
The 1957 Baseball team was the first Aces squad to play for a baseball state championship – and remarkably it came in a one class system. Coached by the legendary Roy Gatewood the team amassed a 14-3 record and finished 2nd in the state. The team won their quarterfinal game against Danville 7-2 and the semifinal game against Chicago Land 5-3 before falling to Maywood Proviso 12-1 in the title game. Aces shortstop Larry Gill and catcher Lynn Crum were all-state selections from this team.

Tanner Crum
Tanner Crum excelled both in football and wrestling during his time at MCHS. Tanner won the Class 1A Individual Wrestling State Championship at heavyweight during his senior year in 2011 finishing that year undefeated at 39-0. He placed third at state as a junior, second as a sophomore and qualified for state as a freshman. On the gridiron Tanner was named an All State First Team Selection and All Big 8 Conference Selection in each of his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Tanner was also selected as The IHSA Sportsperson of the Year Award winner his senior year. After MCHS, Tanner was a four-year starter at SIU Carbondale and was named the team’s Offensive Line MVP his senior year. While working at Mt. Carmel Stabilization, Tanner is also an assistant on the Golden Aces coaching staff.

Luke Drone
Luke Drone left his mark on Golden Aces athletics. The 2003 graduate served as quarterback of the Golden Aces – leading the team to 2nd place finishes in the IHSA Class 3A state playoffs in both the 2001 and 2002 seasons as well as a state semifinal appearance in 2000. He set many school records for the Golden Aces including becoming the career total offense leader with 6024 yards and 82 touchdowns. He was the All-Southern Illinois First Team Quarterback in both his junior and senior seasons and was the All-Southern Illinois MVP his senior year. Drone was also a first team all-conference selection in baseball and basketball. Drone played college football at Illinois State University and his name is all over the ISU record book as quarterback. Among many others, he sits third all-time in career passing yards (8,123), career completions (610), and career passing touchdowns (61). He also holds the single game passing percentage record at ISU’s Hancock Stadium (81.3%). Drone was signed as a free agent by the Buffalo Bills of the NFL in the 2008 season and spent 5 seasons in the Arena Football League. After his playing career Drone has been a teacher and football coach. He was the head coach at El Passo Gridley High School for 2 years before returning to his alma mater serving as a teacher and assistant coach at MCHS.

Jim John
Referred to by many as the “The Father of Mt. Carmel Football” Jim John played for the Aces in the late 1930s and early 40s. John returned to his alma mater after serving in World War II to serve as head coach. John is credited for changing the attitude of the town and school and putting Mt. Carmel on the Illinois High School Football map. He served as the head coach from 1957-1967.  His 1958 team won the school’s first NEC championship in 20 years and his 1963 team was the school’s first undefeated team and mythical state title winner. He finished his 11 year tenure with 4 NEC conference crowns and amassed an overall record of 65-26-5.

Craig Snow
Craig Snow left his mark on the Mt. Carmel boys basketball program. The 1997 graduate remains the boys career scoring leader (2,087 points) and career leader in rebounds (846). He also recorded 188 career blocked shots and once had 11 blocks in a game. Snow also set a school record with 50 points in a game vs. Salem in his junior campaign. Snow led the Aces to their first ever Class AA regional title (when there were only two classes in Illinois) which was the first regional title in 28 years. He also led the Aces to their first North Egypt Conference title in 40 years and a second regional title in his senior campaign. Snow played division one college basketball at the University of Evansville where he remains 10th all-time in career points (1530). His 1998-99 Purple Aces team was the last at UE to advance to the NCAA Tournament. Snow was an All-MVC First Team selection and helped lead the Aces to a regular season MVC championship. After UE, snow played professionally in Luxembourg and Austria – becoming an all-star selection. Since playing, Snow has been a high school head coach in New Mexico, was on staff for three years at the University of New Mexico, was head coach at New Mexico Highlands University taking them to their first conference championship in school history and second NCAA appearance and is currently the Associate Head Coach at his Alma Mater, the University of Evansville.

John White
John White served as boys golf head coach for 16 seasons from 2005-2020. During that time White’s teams amassed 5 regional championships, 4 sectional titles, and 5 state final appearances. Under White, the Aces finished third at state in 2017, second in 2009 and captured the state title in 2010. The regional title in 2006 was the first regional crown in golf in 25 years for the Aces. Mt. Carmel also finished 8th in Class 2A in 2012, and 7th in 2008. White also spent time as JV basketball coach, on the bench for Ryan Haywood’s 2007 sectional championship team – the first sectional winning Aces team since 1944. And White was instrumental in launching the Mt. Carmel Lady Aces Golf team – serving as co-coach for the first ever team in 2008.