Teams from Thornridge are nicknamed the "Falcons". The school colors are Columbia blue, grey, and navy blue. The school's teams compete as a member of the South Inter-Conference Association or SICA. These teams also compete in state championship series sponsored by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).
The following athletic teams placed in the top four of their respective class in their respective sports in IHSA sponsored state championship series.[7]
swimming & diving (boys): 4th place (1966–67, 67–68, 68–69); 3rd place (1969–70)
track & field (boys): 3rd place (1979–80)
Activities
Thornridge has had an extensive history of success in the performing arts and competitive public speaking. The following teams have placed in the top four of their respective state championship competitions sponsored by the IHSA.[7]
Debate: State Champions (1975–76); 2nd place (1972–73, 77–78)
Drama: State Champions (1971–72, 89–90, 2003–04, 04–05, 07–08); 2nd place (1969–70, 73–74, 75–76, 81–82, 84–85, 88–89, 2005–06); 3rd place (1976–77, 78–79, 82–83); 4th place (2001–02)
Group Interpretation: State Champions (1974–75, 93–94, 2002–03); 2nd place (1980–81, 97–98, 2000–01, 03–04); 4th place (1996–97, 99–2000)
Individual Events: State Champions (1967–68, 68–69, 69–70, 70–71); 3rd place (1984–85, 93–94); 4th place (1964–65, 80–81, 82–83, 89–90)
Speech (sweepstakes): State Champions (1967–68, 69–70); 2nd place (1970–71, 71–72), 4th place (1968–69)
Notable alumni
Quinn Buckner was a basketball player and later coach, broadcaster and executive. He led Thornridge to the 1972 IHSA state basketball championship, was co-captain of the 1976 national champion Indiana Hoosiers, won a gold medal in the 1976 Summer Olympic Games, and had a ten-year NBA career, including membership on the 1984 NBA ChampionBoston Celtics.[8][9][10] His Indiana Pacers biography claims he is one of three people in history to claim championships at all of these levels of basketball competition.[11]
David Clayton is a human rights activist. He was named to the IHSA All-Star Cast for his performance in The Firebugs in 1972.
