The first Sangamon County youth to be named state champion in any sport was Springfield High School student Frank Bogardus (1874-1931), who won the “drop foot ball kick” at Illinois’ first statewide track meet in May 1893. His kick traveled 126 feet.
Bogardus, who also placed third in the shotput, went on to become a teacher and principal in the Terre Haute, Ind., school system. He is buried in Terre Haute.
The 1893 meet, sponsored by the University of Illinois, was held at Illinois Field on the Urbana campus. Athletes from 19 schools participated; Peoria High School won the team championship; SHS placed third.
Since then, dozens of high school students from Sangamon County have won individual state athletic championships. Here is a list, compiled from the website of the Illinois High School Association, through the 2018-19 school year.
BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
Auburn
Steve Landis: shot, 2001-02 ((1A)
Ira Martin: high jump, 1918-19
Ralph McElvain: 880, 1919-20
Kyle Sergent: long jump, 2001-02, 2002-03 (1A)
Cathedral
Al Urbanckas: high jump, 1953-54
Lanphier
Major Clay: high jump, 2005-06, 2006-07 (2A)
Kevin Fraley: shot, 2009-10 (2A)
T.J. Jumper: high jump, 1995-96 (2A)
Khalil Ross: triple jump, 2018-19 (2A)
Justin Smith: 100, 200, 2008-09 (2A)
Lutheran
Nate Browning: 400, 2002-03, 2003-04 (1A)
New Berlin
Lance Brooks: discus, 2001-02 (1A) Discus
Kahill Wessel: 400 2015-16 (1A)
Greg Zellers: shot, 2018-2019 (1A)
Pawnee
Casey Becker: high jump, 2001-02 (1A)
Orlo Jordon: 220, 1915-16
Kersten McAfee: 400, 1990-91, 1991-92 (1A)
Riverton
Chad Canaday: shot, 1986-87 (1A)
Chad Canaday: discus, 1986-87 (1A)
Sean Canaday: shot, 1982-83, 1983-84 (1A)
Sean Canaday: discus, 1983-84 (1A)
Brian Hartlaub: 300 intermediate hurdles, 1998-99 (1A)
Rochester
Matt Bane: pole vault, 2009-10 (1A)
Andy Dirks: 1600, 1997-98 (1A)
Mike Greer: high jump, 1980-81 (1A)
Dan Jeffers: long jump, 1977-78 (1A)
Dan Jeffers: 100, 1978-79 (1A)
Randy Klatt: 110 high hurdles, 1979-80 (1A)
Mike Marley: 400, 1989-90 (1A)
Southeast
Demarcus Brooks: 100, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 (2A)
Demarcus Brooks: 200, 2007-08 (2A)
Willis Gragg: triple jump, 2007-08 (2A)
Phelandis Minter: 400, 1996-97 (2A)
Springfield High
Frank Bogardus, football kick, 1893
Harry Eielson: pole vault, 1915-16
Stephen Ferns, high jump, 1919-20
Lee Hagler: high jump, long jump, 1894-95
Harry Hodde: 50, 1918-19
Robert Kelley: 880, 1938-39
Carl Melin: mile, 1901-02
Hiram Murrell: discus, 1921-22
Fred O’Hara: shot, 1895-96
Earl Ryder: high jump, 1913-14
Michael Simon: 800, 2010-11 (2A)
Don Sturgeon: 220 low hurdles, 1933-34
Bob Trumpy: long jump, 1962-63
Oliver White: 220 low hurdles, 1945-46
Joe Vance: hammer throw, 1905-06
Robert Williams: 300 intermediate hurdles, 2018-2019 (3A)
Tri-City
John McCarthy: 300 low hurdles 1979-80, 1980-81, 1981-82 (1A)
John McCarthy: 110 high hurdles, 1980-81, 1981-82 (1A)
Stacey Siders: 880, 1947-48
Stacey Siders: mile, 1948-49
Williamsville
Ben Bishop: discus, 2004-05 (1A)
Connor Icenogle: 100, 2015-16 (1A)
Keith Williams: shot, 2010-11 (1A)
Cameron Witts: pole vault, 2016-17 (1A)
RELAYS
Glenwood: 4×200, 2010-11 (2A)
Lanphier: 4×100, 2006-07, 2007-08 (2A) 4 x 100
New Berlin: 4×100 and 4×200, 2015-16 (1A)
Pleasant Plains: 4×800, 2013-14 (1A), 4×400, 2017-18 (1A)
Rochester: 4×400, 1981-82 (1A); 4×800 2006-07, 2009-10 (1A)
Springfield High: 2/3-mile, 1908-09; 880, 1910-11, 1912-13; 4×800, 2009-10 (2A)
NOTES
First IHSA State Meet in 1892-93. Two classes in 1974-75. Three classes in 2008-09.
Distances changed from yards to meters in 1979-80.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Lanphier
Jim Files: 1979-80 (2A)
Tri-City
Stacey Siders: 1948-49
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Sacred Heart-Griffin
Ann Gaffigan: 1998-99 (2A)
GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD
Auburn
Susan Grider: 220 low hurdles, 1977-78 (1A)
Susan Grider: 110 low hurdles, 1977-78 (1A)
Glenwood
Elle Alexander: discus, 2014-15 (2A)
Hillary Werth: 100 low hurdles, 2003-04 (2A)
Illiopolis
Jani Blakeman: high jump, 1972-73
Debi Kilhofer: 110 low hurdles, 1973-74
Debi Kilhofer: 110 low hurdles, 1973-74
Debi Kilhofer: 110 low hurdles, 1975-76
Debi Kilhofer: 110 low hurdles, 1976-77
Debi Kilhofer: 80 low hurdles, 1976-77
Lanphier
Liz Chukwudebe: shot, 2000-01 (2A)
Christina Gutterrez: 100 high hurdles, 1999-2000 (2A)
Susie Newell: high jump, 1991-92 (2A)
Rochester
Mary Cragoe: high jump, 1974-75 (1A)
Mary Cragoe: high jump, 1975-76 (1A)
Shelly Kemp: 200, 1992-93 (1A)
Shelly Kemp: 200, 1993-94 (1A)
Sacred Heart Griffin
Emily Delvo: 800, 2010-11 (2A)
Ann Gaffigan: 3200, 1997-98 (2A)
Ann Gaffigan: 3200, 1999-2000 (2A)
Springfield High
Hailee Elmore: 1600, 2004-05 (2A)
Sara Maxson: high jump, 2008-09 (2A)
Sara Maxson: high jump, 2009-10 (AA)
Southeast
Serena Bolden: 100, 2018-19 (2A)
Serena Bolden: 200, 2018-19 (2A)
Serena Bolden: triple jump, 2018-19 (2A)
Serena Bolden: long jump, 2018-19 (2A)
Charday Crawford: 100, 2011-12 (2A)
Charday Crawford: 200, 2011-12 (2A)
Charday Crawford: 100, 2012-13 (2A)
Jamari Drake: high jump, 2014-15 (2A)
Alexandria Harden: long jump, 2008-09 (2A)
Alexandria Harden: long jump, 2009-10 (2A)
Alexandria Harden: triple jump, 2009-10 (2A)
Alexandria Harden: triple jump, 2010-11 (2A)
Alexandria Harden: long jump, 2010-11 (2A)
Leah Kincaid: long jump, 2002-03 (2A)
Leah Kincaid: 100 high hurdles, 2002-03 (2A)
Brion Portis: triple jump, 2011-12 (2A)
Kim Schofield: 50 yard dash, 1972-73
Kim Schofield: 100 yard dash, 1972-73
Kim Schofield: long jump, 1972-73
Kim Schofield: 100 yard dash, 1973-74
Kim Schofield: long jump, 1973-74
Kim Schofield: 50 yard dash, 1974-75
Kim Schofield: 100 yard dash, 1974-75
Kim Schofield: long jump, 1974-75
Loretta Withrow: 800, 1986-87 (2A)
Tri-City
Melinda Morris: high jump, 1979-80 (1A)
Gretchen Wallhaus: high jump, 1981-82 (1A)
RELAYS
Illiopolis
880 relay, 1973-74
440 relay, 1973-74
Riverton
4×400, 1986-87 (1A)
4×400, 1987-88 (1A)
4×400, 1988-89 (1A)
Rochester
4×100, 1992-93 (1A)
4×100, 1993-94 (1A)
4×200, 1993-94 (1A)
Springfield High
4×400, 2013-14 (2A)
Southeast
440 relay, 1972-73
800 Medley, 1994-95 (2A)
4×200, 2008-09 (2A)
4×200, 2009-10 (2A)
4×200, 2011-12 (2A)
4×100, 2011-12 (2A)
4×200, 2012-13 (2A)
4×100, 2015-16 (2A)
Notes
First IHSA state meet: 1972-73. Two classes: 1977-78. Three classes: 2008-09.
Distances changed from yards to meters in 1979-80.
WRESTLING
Andy Gardner (Lanphier) 1987-88 105 lbs (2A)
Greg Gardner (Southeast) 1985-86 155 lbs (2A)
Randel Tarorn (Springfield High) 2012-13 132 lbs (2A)
BOYS GOLF
Brian Anderson (Rochester) 1999-20 (A)
J.C. Anderson (Sacred Heart-Griffin) 1979-80 (2A)
Pete Beardsley (Springfield High) 1952-53
Jeff Morey (Springfield High) 1982-83 (2A)
GIRLS GOLF
Tracy Tate (Springfield High) 1980-81
Tracy Tate (Springfield High) 1981-82
Laura Patrick (Rochester) 1995-96
BOYS TENNIS
Doubles: John Greenleaf and James Means (Springfield High) 1949-50
Singles: Denny McCain (Sacred Heart-Griffin) 1994-95
BOYS SWIMMING/DIVING
Butterfly: Rich Suhs (Sacred Heart-Griffin) 1978-79
100 breaststroke: Chris Grider (Springfield High) 1984-85
100 freestyle: Ryan Held (Sacred Heart-Griffin) 2012-13 and 2013-14
50 freestyle: Ryan Held (Sacred Heart-Griffin) 2013-14
Contributor: Johnie Meisner
See also: Illinois State High School Association state champions (team)
Original content copyright Sangamon County Historical Society. You are free to republish this content as long as credit is given to the Society.