50 For 50: IHSA To Recognize Top Girls Volleyball & Football Programs To Celebrate 50th Anniversary of State Finals

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is proud to celebrate the 50th editions of both its Girls Volleyball State Finals and Football State Championship games in November of 2024.

Both milestone events will occur on the campus of Illinois State University (ISU) in Normal, as ISU’s CEFCU Arena will host the 2024 IHSA Girls Volleyball State Finals on November 15-16, and the eight state championship football games will unfold at Hancock Stadium on Thanksgiving weekend (November 29-30).

To help commemorate the past 50 years, the IHSA will release the Top 50 Volleyball Programs and Top 50 Football Programs from the State Series era (1974-2024) for both sports throughout the fall. A group of current and former high school coaches, administrators, and media members from around the state served on the committees to select the Top 50 programs in each sport.

“Releasing the Top 50 Programs is a celebration of the rich history and tradition of high school girls volleyball and football in the state of Illinois,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “It will be a fun way to remember many of the great teams, players, and coaches who have helped make high school sports in Illinois so special.”

Prior to the passage of Title IX in 1972, high school sports for girls in Illinois were conducted by the Illinois League of High School Girls Athletic Associations (commonly referred to as the GAA). Most GAA competitions were non-traditional in comparison to current IHSA formats, as they generally consisted of “festivals” where multiple area schools would gather to play contests in several sports.

“So much has changed since 1974,” said NFHS Hall of Fame Coach Peg Kopec, who won more matches (1,248) and state titles (12) than any other coach in state history during her 42-year tenure as head coach at St. Francis High School in Wheaton. “But what hasn’t changed is the amazing high school volleyball being played in Illinois. Just look at the all the players from Illinois on the USA Women’s Volleyball National team.”

High school football games in the state date all the way back to 1885, but despite the IHSA conducting postseason tournaments in sports like boys basketball since 1908, the IHSA football playoffs did not debut until 1974.

“I remember there being a lot of excitement about the playoffs among the coaches throughout the 1974 season,” said Ken Leonard, who was a college student helping coach at Chenoa High School in 1974 and later went on to win an IHSA-record 419 combined games at Gridley High School and Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, including six state titles at the latter. “Football was already big at the time, but the playoffs and state championship games boosted it to another level. It helped the growth of the game.”

Committee members were provided historical data on approximately 200 programs in each sport, which they voted on to whittle it down to the Top 50 list.

“The raw numbers don’t always tell the true story in Illinois high school sports,” said IHSA Assistant Executive Director Matt Troha. “We could have used a formula to name the Top 50 programs, where state championships are worth a certain number of points and postseason wins are worth a certain number of points, but I really don’t think that would have truly reflected the history of IHSA girls volleyball and football. Given the geographical format of IHSA tournaments, there are many programs who never won a state title, likely because they continually ran into another program on our Top 50 list in their geographic area. On the flip side, other programs certainly benefitted from class expansion, winning multiple state titles in short periods of time. There are always going to be programs that have garnered the utmost respect of opposing coaches, regardless of what the numbers say. We asked our committee members to use their lived experiences to tell us what programs belonged on the lists.”

Bragging rights aren’t the only spoils available for those that helped contribute to a Top 50 program, as IHSA partner Minerva Promotions has announced exclusive merchandise opportunities for the 50 respective girls volleyball and football programs who will be recognized. Learn more about Minerva’s Top 50 Football Program merchandise here and Minerva’s Top 50 Girls Volleyball merchandise here.

“It is amazing to see how the game has grown over 50 years and I am so happy for the opportunities that the young women who play and coach the sport have today,” said Nancy (Wichgers) Pedersen, who won nine state titles while coaching at Mother McAuley High School in Chicago from 1983 to 2004. “I am thankful I got to participate in that growth and contribute to what it has become today. I encourage all of the players today to give back to the sport however they can and never take these opportunities for granted.”

Mt. Carmel Athletic Hall of Fame Announces 2024 Class

MT. CARMEL) The Mt. Carmel High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee of the Mt. Carmel Sports Boosters is proud to announce its 2024 Induction Class. Highlighting the class are the first three female athletes to enter the Hall of Fame and the first Friend of Athletics to be enshrined. An additional player and one team will complete the 2024 class.

The first female athletes to enter the Hall of Fame are girls high jump state champion Jessica Bayne-Snow, the state of Illinois’ all-time leading scorer in basketball Tyra Buss-Davison, and Olympic equestrian Lauren Kieffer-Nicholson.

Also being enshrined is legendary Golden Aces football quarterback Sharon Miller, the first Friend of Athletics is longtime timekeeper Tim Wachs, and the team being inducted is the 1974 state finalist Golden Aces football team.

The 2024 Induction Class of the MCHS Athletic Hall of Fame will be recognized prior to the Aces home football game on October 4th vs. Olney. A reception, hosted by the Sports Boosters, will follow the game at Stymie’s Rest at West Berwick Golf Course.

Aces fans are also reminded that nominations for future Hall of Fame induction can be made anytime. Find the nomination form and view a list of all Hall of Fame members on the Athletic Hall of Fame website at www.wabash348.com/o/mchs/page/mchs-athletics-hall-of-fame


Jessica-Bayne Snow: Jessica Bayne-Snow graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in 1999. Bayne-Snow was the individual state champion in high jump her senior year (5’7”). She was the USA Track and Field Junior Indoor and Outdoor Illinois State Champion in 1998. She was a two-time conference champion in high jump and conference champion in 300 hurdles her junior year. She set school records in high jump, 300 hurdles, 100 high hurdles, and as part of the 4x800 relay team. Academically, Bayne-Snow as an Illinois State Scholar and was a valedictorian. After MCHS, Bayne-Snow attended the University of Illinois where she was a member of the track and field team and was a three-time Academic All-Big 10 Team selection.

Jessica-Bayne Snow

Tyra Buss-Davison: Tyra Buss-Davison became the state of Illinois’ all-time leading scorer in girls’ basketball with 4,897 total points in her four-year career at Mt. Carmel ending in 2014. Buss-Davison was also recognized as the 2014 and 2013 Ms. Basketball in Illinois. Additionally, Buss-Davison continues to sit atop the IHSA record book in the categories of Most Points Scored (Career 4,897 and Season 1,466), Highest Scoring Average (Career - 38.0 & Season 45.8), Free Throws Made (Career 1,185), and sits second all-time in Career Steals (713). Buss-Davison played college basketball at Indiana University holding the IU career records in points scored (4 years – 2,364), steals (292), assists (572), free throws made (633), and points per game (17.5) At IU Buss-Davison was named All Big Ten First Team and led the team to the WNIT Championship her senior season. She has played professionally the past two years in Europe where she led the league in points and steals each season.

Tyra Buss-Davison

Lauren Kieffer-Nicholson: Lauren Kieffer-Nicholson is a 2005 graduate of MCHS. She competed for Team USA in the 2016 Olympic Games, the 2018 World Equestrian Games and was a member of the gold medal winning team at the 2015 Pan American Games where she individually placed seventh. Nicholson was named the 2019 Lady Rider of the Year by the US Eventing Association and was on the silver medal winning team at the 2022 World Eventing Championships. Individually, she won the Pinnacle Cup Trophy in 2014 and 2016 and continues to be recognized among the top riders in the U.S.

Lauren Kieffer-Nicholson

Sharon Miller: Sharon Miller was the starting Golden Aces quarterback on two conference championship teams in the pre-playoff era. In 1960, he led the Aces to an undefeated season. He was named to the Illinois All-State Team. After MCHS, Miller was the quarterback at Western Kentucky University where he started for three years. He played on WKU’s first undefeated team and was named the MVP of the Tangerine Bowl in 1963. Miller was also named to the College All American Team. He was elected to the WKU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.

Sharon Miller:

Tim Wachs: Tim Wachs becomes the first Friend of Athletics to be enshrined in the MCHS Athletic Hall of Fame. Wachs has served as the timekeeper since his days as a student. He’s served the district as timekeeper for over 50 years. He has also served as the timekeeper for Wabash Valley College. Wachs was a longtime sixth grade math teacher in District #348 and has worked as a dispatcher for local emergency services for over 50 years. Even after retirement, Wachs has volunteered in a variety of capacities for District 348. In a 2008 newspaper article, a District 348 administrator said of Wachs “Whatever somebody needs done, he’s always there to help. He’s such an asset to the community.”

Tim Wachs

1974 Aces Football So many teams deserve credit for putting Golden Aces Football on the map – but it was the 1974 team that took the Aces program to the state finals for the first time – in the first year of the IHSA playoff system. The Aces finished in a three-way tie for the North Egypt Conference championship but were voted by the league members to represent the NEC in the playoffs. The Aces beat Mt. Zion in overtime in the opener at the Snake Pit, stopping a potential game winning Braves two-point conversion attempt. The Aces then beat Sparta at home before travelling to Quincy to take on the Catholic Boys. In that game “The Toe” Doug Peterson kicked a 32-yard field goal in overtime to send the Aces to the championship game with the “Kick Heard ‘round the World”. The Larry Davis led Golden Aces would fall to West Chicago in the championship – but set the bar for future Aces teams very high

1974 Aces FootbalL

Lady Aces Position Themselves Well At PGA National Invite

The Mt. Carmel Lady Aces finished day one of the PGA High School Golf Invitational in 12th place out of 31 teams. But, the Lady Aces are in much better shape than that 12th place position may indicate. That’s because Mt. Carmel played the toughest of the three courses teams will see during the three day tournament in Frisco, Texas. In fact, all top 10 teams in the standings played on the Gentle Creek Country Club course while the Lady Aces only finished behind a team from Oklahoma among the schools playing on the tough Fields West Ranch Course.

Mt. Carmel finished the first day with a team score of +18. In first place is a team from California with a blistering -16. The Lady Aces had balanced scorecards today with Maria Kennard shooting 3 over including an eagle on #14. Emily Gottman, Miley Kennard, and Zeme Moore were right behind with +5 each. Elyse Swanson is also on the team and shot a +23. Only the best four scores on each team count to their score. Teams also had to battle through a 15 minute lightning delay too before finishing play.

Tomorrow, the Lady Aces will play the Gentle Creek Country Club and should benefit from the less challenging course than what they played today.

Coach Karin Kelsey told us, “We plan on going up the scoreboard some tomorrow and then on Wednesday, the leading teams will be on the Fields Ranch course, we will make our way up then!”

Photo Credit: Lady Aces Facebook page

Shot clock plans announced for Illinois High School Basketball

Illinois High School Association leaders recently approved a shot clock for high school basketball.

The much-anticipated move brings a 35-second shot clock to boy's and girl's basketball starting in the 2026 school year.

For I-H-S-A Executive Director Craig Anderson, the move comes from feedback from coaches and administrators.

Over the past several school years, tournaments have been allowed to use a shot clock. However, regular-season games were not allowed to use it.

Use of the shot clock for lower-level contests will be determined by conferences and mutual agreement by competing teams in non-conference games.

IHSA State Girls Basketball To Remain at Illinois State University's CEFCU Arena Through 2029

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA), Illinois State University (ISU), and the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau announced on June 18, 2024, that they have reached a five-year contract extension for the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals to remain at CEFCU Arena on the ISU campus in Normal through the 2029 state tournament.

“CEFCU Arena feels like home for the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals, so we are excited to be able to announce an extension that pushes us closer to 40 years of the state tourney being held on the ISU campus,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “CEFCU Arena is beautiful, and we have an incredible support from the ISU staff and community volunteers. Their passion and professionalism make for an unforgettable experience for our student-athletes, coaches, and fans.”

Horton Fieldhouse on the ISU campus hosted the inaugural IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals in 1977. The tourney then moved to Champaign for a little over a decade, before returning to CEFCU Arena in 1992, where it has remained ever since.

“Illinois State University values the long-standing relationship between ISU, the IHSA, and the Bloomington/Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau,” said ISU Interim Director of Athletics Jeri Mullins Beggs. “We're proud that the IHSA Girls Basketball Tournament is synonymous with Illinois State University.  We look forward to providing a first-class experience to all the teams and their fans.”

Through the years, future stars like Candace Parker, Tamika Catchings, and NFHS Hall of Fame coach Dorothy Gaters won IHSA state titles competing in CEFCU Arena as a part of America’s Original March Madness.

“We are honored that the Illinois High School Association has given us the opportunity to continue to host the prestigious IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals,” said BNACVB President and CEO Crystal Howard. “We appreciate the great working relationship we have with the Illinois High School Association and look forward to welcoming the athletes, students, and fans. The economic impact this event has on our community is considerable and we will make every effort to give our visitors a great State Finals experience.”

In 2021-22, the IHSA altered the state final format and now crowns state champions in all four classes on a single-weekend (Thursday, Friday, Saturday). In June 2024, the IHSA Board approved time and game order schedule changes to the state tourney that will go into effect in 2025.

Photo Credit: IHSA

Lady Aces Softball Banquet

The Lady Aces softball team had their end of the year banquet after a 15-9 season and winning the conference championship for the 2nd time in 3 years. 

Riley Hershey- All Conference and Gold Glove Award. 

Selby Patberg- All Conference and Golden Ace Award. 

Bella Andrews- All Conference and Offensive Player of the year. 

Leah Lewis- All Conference and Rookie of the Year Award. 

Lyla Keepes- All Conference and Pitcher of the Year Award. 

Evie Sellers- All State, All Conference, and Team MVP. 

Aces Win 1st Sectional Title Since 1980

From Coach Tyler Browning: SECTIONAL CHAMPS!!!

Golden Aces defeat Nashville by the score of 3-2 in extra innings to claim the 2A Sectional title. What a game, what a crowd, what an atmosphere!! Thank you to everyone who continues to show out and make this run even more special!

Banks threw his normal awesome game on the mound and the Aces battled back from down 2-0 to take the game to extras. Coston drove home the winning run in the bottom of the 8th with a single to right field to seal the Sectional victory! Browning, Gillihan, Coston all had multi-hit games for the Aces, and we were stellar defensively once again!

On to the Super Sectional this Monday at 2:00 p.m. at SIU-Carbondale. The Aces will take on Effingham St. Anthony who is the #1 team in class 2A, for a chance at a berth in the State tournament.

Click the link to listen to the game broadcast on WSJD.

Photo courtesy of FlashMac Photography