Cary-Grove High School

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Cary-Grove High School
Cary-Grove HS Logo.png
Established 1961
Type Public High School
Principal Jay Sargeant
Dean Jim Kelly and Rebecca Saffert
Students 1887 (2008)
Grades 9-12
Location 2208 Three Oaks Road,
Cary, Illinois, United States
Oversight Community High School District 155
Colors      Navy
     White
Mascot Trojan
Newspaper Trojan Times
Website Cary-Grove High School
Cary-GroveHighSchool.png

Cary-Grove High School is a high school in Cary, Illinois, USA; it is part of Community High School District 155. Its name is derived from the fact that it feeds from schools in both Cary and Fox River Grove, Illinois. In 1995, it was the subject of much news attention after the Fox River Grove level crossing accident that killed seven students[1]. In 2006, on the anniversary of the accident, another Cary-Grove student, Justin Glassmeyer, was killed at the same crossing[2].

Cary-Grove opened in 1961. Originally, the school colors (purple and white) and the tune for the school song were borrowed from Northwestern University. In 1978, while the school colors remained purple and white, the sports, cheerleader and band uniforms became navy and white. During the 1980s, the changeover to navy and white became official.

Contents

[edit] Athletics

The school's team mascot is the "Trojan," popularly represented by a student dressed in a caricatured version of the legendary Trojan Warriors of the city of Troy.

In 1987, the Girls Basketball team went undefeated in the Fox Valley Conference. Propelled by All-State selection Eve Barry, the team earned a berth into the state quarterfinals and Cary-Grove's only Elite Eight appearance in school history[citation needed].

C-G also boasts a strong Chess program, notching back-to-back top 10 finishes at the IHSA state tournament in 2008 & 2009 [3].

In 2009, Cary-Grove's Baseball team (coached by Don Sutherland) advanced to the state tournament for the first time in school history.

The 2009 Women's Volleyball team won the school's first state title in any sport by defeating Lyons Township High School in the 4A State Championship game. The Trojans, who were coached by 15-year head coach Patty Langanis, finished the season 38W-4L.

[edit] Football Success (2004-Present)

In 2004 after the school's first undefeated 9-0 season, replete with a conference championship, the Trojans' football team battled through the IHSA state playoffs, fighting all the way to the state championship. It was there that they were finally defeated by the Libertyville Wildcats who were making their second consecutive championship berth [4]. Led by Head Coach Bruce Kay, defensive cooridnator Don Sutherland, and assistant head coach John Bryan, the football program has since proven itself to be an athletic powerhouse. It has won the Valley Division (formerly the aggregated Fox Valley Conference) title each consecutive season since 2004, earned a berth in the state finals in 2004; and have advanced through at least one round in the playoffs in each successive season since. C-G entered the 2009 season ranked #17 in the state of Illinois by the Chicago Tribune, [5] and capped off their season by winning the school's first ever IHSA football state championship, defeating Providence Catholic High School, 34-17, on November 28, 2009.

The team plays its home games at Al Boeher Field, which seats approximately 3,000 to 4,000 people. Located on the far east side of the school's campus, the stadium has grown very crowded in recent years, the product of a half-decade of consecutive conference championships. The Trojans run an aggressive triple option offense and an esteemed 3-3-5 defense which has spawned many imitators, and is perennially one of the best in the state.

[edit] 1995 Level Crossing Tragedy

Main article: 1995 Fox River Grove bus–train collision

[edit] Music

Cary-Grove has always had a very strong music program. Prior to 1972, the C-G choirs were led by Robert Hills and Alan Wedertz. Especially noteworthy are the long tenures of band director Don Ehrensperger (1963-1993) and choir director Dana Floor (1972-2005). Under their guidance, the music department grew to become the acclaimed and very popular activity that it is today. In the 1970s, the Jazz Band consistently won top honors at the Oak Lawn Jazz Festival in Oak Lawn, Illinois. In 1973, Mr. Floor was an early adopter of the show choir format when he created the Swing Choir, an extra-curricular group that performs contemporary music with choreography. Each year, choir students participate in Fall Follies, the Swing Choir Festival, the holiday trip to Chicago and the spring Musical. The Trojan Marching Band and Pep Band are great additions to the football and basketball games. Both band and choir students perform in Spring and Holiday concerts.

As Cary-Grove's student population has grown, so has the music department. As of 2009, four teachers direct 15 different groups and ensembles, including the A Cappella Singers, Swing Choir, Jazz Choir, Bel Canto Choir, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Pep Band and Jazz Ensemble.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] References

  1. ^ [Oct. 27 1995 http://www.cnn.com/US/9510/bus_crash/10-27/]
  2. ^ [Long, K. Boy, 15, killed by Metra train in Fox River Grove. Oct 25, 2006. http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2006/10/25/news/local/doc453ffeab5e041327698861.txt.]
  3. ^ [1], IHSA Top 10 Teams.
  4. ^ [2]
  5. ^ [3], Tribune's top 20 football teams

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cary-Grove_High_School"