Morris Redskins

BY RANDY WHALEN

January 27, 2009

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TOP SPORTS MOMENTS

Football is king

1. Since 1977, the Redskins football team is 303-67 with 26 playoff appearances including nine title games. In 1980, Morris won its first title with a 40-0 win over Harrisburg in the 3A game behind QB Bill Button and RB Mark Sharp. In 1984, QB Jim Feeney and RB Doug Sharp led the Redskins to a 13-0 record and the 4A title with a 31-14 victory over Benet.

Dergo does it all

2. John Dergo was a one-man wrecking crew in 2005-06. He was named Sun-Times Player of the Year as he had 3,010 yards and 52 touchdowns in leading the Redskins to a 14-0 record and their third state football title — a 14-9 victory over Normal in the 6A game. Then he capped an 86-match winning streak by winning his second straight 171-pound state wrestling title.

Baseball champs

3. The baseball team capped a five-year stretch, during which it was 172-26, with a 1992 Elite Eight appearance, a 1993 runner-up finish and the AA championship in 1995. Jake Lambros, Justin Olson, Quinn Schafer and Kevin Skrtich propelled coach Denny Steele’s team to a 38-4 record and a 12-4 victory over Chatham Glenwood in the championship game.

Diamond gems

4. Behind the pitching of Joy Battersby, coach John Mackinson’s softball team went 34-6 and won the 1992 Class AA title with a 3-2 victory over perennial power Moline. Erin Hickey was the catalyst, setting an all-time IHSA record with 101 hits and a season record with 68 stolen bases. Hickey scored the only run in a 1-0 win over Lockport in the regional title game.

Girls basketball run

5. The 1995-96 girls basketball team, coached by Russ Battersby, had an undefeated regular season behind Ryann Heap, Kim Mackinson, Erin Murphy and Cheryl Prindiville. The Redskins overcame their small enrollment and advanced to the Class AA semifinals before falling to Elgin 53-41 and eventually finishing fourth with a 30-2 record.

WHAT MORRIS MEANS TO ME

By Jimmy Stafford, a 1982 Morris graduate who is the lead guitarist and an original member of the Grammy award-winning rock band Train.

When I was asked to write a piece about what Morris High School means to me, I felt a very strong sense of honor and pride. Aside from having one of the best, most consistently successful football teams in the state, Morris is also where I played my first gig as a musician — in the high school cafeteria following a football game.

I was about as excited as an incoming freshman could be. This was my big shot. The way I saw it, I was either going to be instantly popular and possibly have lots of cute girls chasing me, or I would fall flat on my face and be badly beaten by an angry mob of seniors in the parking lot.

Luckily, the Redskins won the game, so the seniors were all in a good mood, and my band’s set list of mostly AC/DC and Cheap Trick covers was a big hit. My band, Royal Star, was asked to play many more high school dances.

When I graduated — as an honor student, thank you very much — I was inspired to continue my pursuit of a career in music. Twenty-five years later, I have managed to sell millions of records worldwide, win a Grammy, have been nominated for seven and travel the world performing music.

My 25-year class reunion was in 2007. I try to visit Morris a few times a year. My parents still live in the house I grew up in, and my sister’s family lives a few doors down in my grandmother’s old house.

On the night before the reunion, my old high school band took the stage at a small bar called Clayton’s in downtown Morris for an emotional, powerful, unrehearsed, not really very good but still super-cool, three-song set that included "Meet Virginia," the first Train song that I received a paycheck for. I couldn’t have been more proud to be back on stage with the guys who were there with me in the beginning in that high school cafeteria.

Morris High School rocks.

Go Redskins.

NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Ed Brady: Played 12 seasons in the NFL.

• Dan Darlington: Coached Morris football to a 264-55 record with two titles; holds basketball scoring record of 50 in a game.

• George Dergo: Current football coach, won 2005 Class 6A state title.

• Kelly Dransfeldt: MLB, 2004 White Sox.

• Adrianne Leschewski: Won five state track titles.

• Ted Panish: All-conference in three sports at Bradley from 1936-39.

• Billy Petrick: MLB pitcher, 2007 Cubs.

• John Root: Tony Award-winning actor.

• Christine (Bolen) Scheibe: Coached Joliet Catholic girls volleyball to 2003 and 2008 titles.