Time Capsule- 2000 Register-Mail

This is a look back at some clippings from the Galesburg Register-Mail from November, 1999 thru March 2000. 

Maytag announces closing Plant 2.

Paige Bueckers Is Great But

UConn had a tremendous run to the NCAA Championship. Such things are debatable but I am not sure any team has ever been so dominate in the Final Four. UConn clearly was the best team in America!!

Paige Bueckers was the star of UConn and is one of the all-time most exciting college players. She will enter any debate on best all-time college players. And she is projected to be the #1 draft pick in the WNBA draft, which will be in on Monday, April 14. 

Bueckers is great but Sara Strong is the player that really impressed me. Strong is a 6’2” freshman. I am not saying Strong is better than Bueckers but it is a question to revisit in few years. 

Streaks Scrapbook- 1960’s- The Glory Days by Jay Redfern (1988)

On March 19, 1988, Jay Redfern wrote three articles looking at Silver Streaks basketball in the 1960’s, and the fifteen years since John Thiel coached. 

To give you background, Galesburg basketball from 1956 thru 1970 had won 79% of their games, and had gone to State 8 times during this period. By the mid-‘60’s, people were complaining about why the GHS Gym had been built so small. 

By 1988, Galesburg had gone 13 years without a State appearance. Previously the Streaks longest drought had been 10 years from 1921-1931. 

In the articles, Jay interviews- Barry Swanson, John Thiel, Ralph Cannon, Frank Dexter, Dale Kelley, Dave Wood, Jim Reinebach, Dave Peck, Jimmie Carr, Chuck Bednar, Lyle Snyder, and David Gunderson.

The three articles are:

Glory Days- 1960’s Made Galesburg Famous in Illinois for Streak Basketball

Will It Ever Be the Same?

GHS Looking To Increase Attendance

Jon Scheyer- Sit or Stand on Sideline?

Today most coaches stand on the sideline the entire game. They feel standing allows them freedom to move up and down the sideline to yell instructions. I am sure they feel their activity as a coach can help them “energize” their players, and make it more likely that as coaches they are heard.

A major problem if the head coach stands the entire time on the sideline, they often shut their assistants out of the game. An assistant may see something but not be able to really share it until a time out, then they have about 15 seconds to express their thought before the head coach needs to go into the huddle. 

Streaks Boys Basketball Coaches Thru History

All The Coaches

1903-4- Turk West (Student)

1904-5- Maynard Swanson (Student)

1905-6- Henry Aldrich (Student)

1906-7- Arthur Bridge (Student)

1907-8- Lee Allensworth (Student)

1908-9- Ed Adams (Student)

1909-10- Clarence Jordan (Student)

1910-12- T.W. Callahan

1912-3- Hayes

1913-6- T.W. Callahan

1916-7- Wilmoth

1917-8- Blum

1918-9- Buck

1919-20- Peters

1920-3- Kieth

Old School Coaches- How Can I Get More Playing Time?

This Week’s Question

In the Spring, players may ask the coach, “How can I get more playing time next year?” It is a reasonable and important question. An athlete wants to know what their off-season focus needs to be. The Old School Coaches share their response to the question. 

Streaks Scrapbook- Mike Trueblood (2000)

Galesburg has had some great sports writers who have given Streaks’ fans insight into the players and the games. Mike Trueblood was long-time editor of the Register-Mail.

I want to share four articles that Mike wrote in 2000 when the girls basketball team was making a run to State.

Hailey Van Lith- How To Build Toughness

In the Sweet Sixteen win over Notre Dame, Texas Christian University trailed at half-time 35-32 and star Hailey Van Lith had scored only 8 points. And Notre Dame still led after three quarters, 52-51.

Hailey Van Lith scored the last 6 points of the third quarter, and then scored 12 points in the fourth quarter to lead TCU to a 71-62 win. She outscored ND 12-11 in the fourth quarter, and had 18 of her teams 39 points in the fourth quarter. 

Silver Streaks- History of Nickname & Logo

At one time the Galesburg High School nickname was the Red Devils or the Tigers. The school colors became gold and black, presumably to fit with the Tigers.

Streaks Scrapbook- Jay Redfern- Girls Sports (1987)

In 1987, Jay Redfern as a young reporter talks to a young coach about the growth of girls sports at Galesburg High School. He mentions that the young coach “may not be one of the best known coaches in GHS athletic history.”

Throughout his career, Jay has helped shine a light on girls sports, and as a result helped with the growth of girls sports at GHS. 

Time Capsule- 1993 GHS Reflector

1993 GHS Reflector

2025- Best Things I Saw This Season

In my first year as a retired coach, I got to watch a lot of great players, great teams, great coaches, and great games. I want to share the best that I got to enjoy this winter!

Best Passing Performance- Divine Bourrage 5’11” Guard from Davenport North, Iowa. She is headed to LSU next year. I saw her vs. Bettendorf in December. It was obvious that she was a high major player. Like all great players, she made her teammates better. She is one of the most offensive skilled players that I have seen in years. With the combination of her height to see over the defense and her ball skills, she got the ball where it needed to be. 

Streaks Insider- Crisman a Streak for All Ages

By my count, Jay Redfern has been providing local news and sports to Galesburg for over 50 years. Today he does podcasts for WGIL that have a range of community celebrities from the past and the present. 

Years ago before tech allowed podcasts, Jay ran a column in the Register-Mail entitled “Silver Streaks Insider.” This episode was “Silver Streaks Insider: Crisman a Streak for All Ages.” It was written in November of 1999 before Crisman was to be inducted into the GHS Athletic Hall of Fame. Both Jay and Amy were 1981 GHS graduates. 

2025 Season- Coach Demott’s Reflections

Lexi Demott was a great player and an even better teammate. She “got it” in terms of work ethic and commitment. She “got it” in terms of understanding the importance of team culture. 

As an assistant coach, she brought many of the same characteristics- work ethic, commitment, and loyalty. The most impressive thing about her as an assistant coach was her desire to keep growing in her knowledge and as a leader. 

As a head coach, her passion and enthusiasm were off the charts. Her energy level was off the chart and it carried over into how the team played. The team was aggressive on offense and defense. 8-9 players rotated in and out of the game which created an exciting style and a strong sense of team. 

I asked Coach Demott to reflect on her first team and her first year as Silver Streaks Head Coach. 

Massey- As you look back on this season, what are some of the things you are particularly proud of about the team? 

Coach Demott- One thing that I was really proud of this season of the team and coaching staff I had was at no point in time did anyone ever give up. There were times I’m sure many people thought it will be hard to come back from or this is a rough stretch and they were probably right, but everyone stuck together. 

Massey- Were there any things that came up during the season and maybe took more time and attention? Were there any things that surprised you during the season?

Time Capsule- 1993 Boys Basketball

Some pictures from the 1993 Yearbook— 

Sean Hanlon