This Week in Galesburg History- Sept 21, 2026

 

 

“This Week in Galesburg History” 

Heavyweight title match

OT’s with Anniversary Sale

Streaks football beats defending champs

Streaks swimmers dominate

GHS Principal Tom Chiles has a close shave

Kyle Hunter wins Double-A Championship

This is a look back at the history of Galesburg (and the world). What was going on 100 years ago, 75 years ago, 50 years ago, 30 years ago, 20 years ago, and 10 years ago this week? 

“This Week in Galesburg History” appears on Mondays on the WGIL website and the Massey Basketball Blog.

Pete Thierry- "I Doubted I'd Ever be a Streak"

The old GHS located just off the square.

This post was originally published Nov. 13, 2011. 

When we think about segregation and racism in America during the 20^th century, most of us in the North immediately turn out thoughts to the South. The reality is that there were many examples of segregation and racism in the North during the 20^th century.

My mother told a story of when my father was coaching basketball in Savanna, Illinois in the 1940’s. Savanna was located about 40 miles from Wisconsin, so definitely the “North.” My father had an African-American player on his team. If the team was going to stop for a meal after a road game, my father would always go into the local restaurant to see if they would serve an African-American. If they would not, he would go back out and tell the team, “The restaurant is full.” And they would look for another place to eat. Having grown up in the 1960’s, I found this story to be a revelation. I was sure that only happened in the South.

Illinois- Top Girls Basketball Programs

The following is a list of the leading Illinois girls basketball programs thru 2026 in the following categories:

Total Wins

20 Win Seasons

Regional Championships

State Appearances

Final Fours

State Championships

The totals are based on what each school provides to the IHSA website. 

Illinois Top Boys Basketball Programs

The following is a list of the leading Illinois boys basketball programs thru 2026 in the following categories:

Total Wins

20 Win Seasons 

Regional Championships

State Appearances

Final Fours

State Championships

The totals are based on what each school provides to the IHSA website. 

State Championship Journeys- Todd Borrision, Jay Hatch, Bob Becker

(This was originally posted in January of 2025)

One of the goals for coaches and players is to win a State Championship. I have asked 8 high schools basketball coaches to reflect upon their championship seasons. Today Todd Borrison (Preston, Ia & Davenport Assumption, Ia), Jay Hatch (Alleman), and Bob Becker (Morton) reflect upon their championship seasons. 

HOF Insights: Coach Massey- Grow Your Game as a Coach

One of the major things coaches emphasize with their players is the importance of working in the off-season to improve their game. Coaches come up with all sorts of plans and programs designed to motivate their players to invest the time to elevate their skills. 

If there is a skill coach putting on a program in our area, coaches give their players the info and encourage them to go. Coaches organize camps for their team and enter them in leagues and tourneys in the off-season. And often coaches encourage them to become part of an AAU program. 

The message to our players is loud and clear— “If you want to succeed, you must be willing to invest the time to make yourself a better player.”

GAA- Girls Sports As We Knew It

For parts of almost five decades, when people thought about girls sports in Illinois high schools, they thought of the Girls Athletic Association. Depending on the facilities of each school, it was a daily after school program or just a program a few days per month. 

Female athletes received instruction in different sports and had intramural contests in a variety of sports. 

1981 Illinois Girls Basketball Class AA State Tourney

 

Streaks Alumni Profile- Stacey Watson 1979

Today’s “Streaks Alumni Profile” features Stacey Watson from the Galesburg HS’s Class of 1979. 

Stacey was an outstanding athlete for the Silver Streaks. As a sophomore, he dressed on the varsity for State Tourney series on a team that made it to the Sectional. Unfortunately the Streaks lost to Peoria Central in OT. Central went onto win the State Championship. 

Stacey had a successful varsity career then in football and basketball as a junior. 

It was great to catch up with Stacey. 

Massey Quiz #63- Galesburg HS Record Holders

  

 

 

 If you are a Silver Streaks sports fan, you will love this quiz. Who were the best of the best in all-sports?

Tomorrow, we will put up a post with the complete list of all the Silver Streaks records in all the sports!

The answers are at the end of the quiz. Keep track of your score and read exactly what your score indicates. If you would like- share your score on the Facebook or Massey Blog under the comments. 

1981 Illinois Boys Basketball Class AA State Tourney

State Champions- Quincy

2nd- Proviso East

3rd- Chicago Westinghouse

4th- Wheaton Central

HOF Insghts- Watching for Keys in Games

In the “HOF Insights”, I ask a group of successful, veteran coaches to share their thoughts on a variety of topics. Each week, I ask a different question. The questions can be focused on helping coaches, parents or athletes to have a more successful athletic experience.  

This is one of the all-time best posts in our HOF Insights. Greg King, Tim Engebretson, Mike Tracey, and Vic Boblett are four legendary football coaches. Their insights are off the charts!

There are things that are important to success in all sports. Too often as coaches, we develop a type of “tunnel vision” by being so zoned into our sport. We fail to see general coaching principles. 

Two of my most valuable coaching experiences were as a young coach having Kelly Kane as my jogging partner. I asked him thousands of questions about coaching. Then throughout my career hours of conversations with my brother, a HOF volleyball coach. 

Football coaches are the best scouts in all sports. In this post Coach King, Coach Tracey, Coach Engebretson, and Coach Boblett talk about what they looked at when watching their team and their opponents, and how they tried to measure their teams’ performance. 

Streaks Alumni Profile- Tom Bennett 1977- Designing Golf Clubs for the Pros

Tom Bennett’s Senior Picture

Today’s “Streaks Alumni Profile” features Tom Bennett from Galesburg HS’s Class of 1977. 

After graduating from Galesburg HS, Tom went to the University of Illinois, where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has had a fascinating career in engineering, going from helping produce missiles to artificial knees to golf clubs. 

1981 Illinois Girls Basketball Class A State Tourney

First- Chicago Christian

This Week in Galesburg History- Sept 14, 2026

 

 

“This Week in Galesburg History” 

Proposal to reduce divorce rates

WGIL Radio programming schedule

Local QB Club meeting on Mondays

Rubber Duck Race

New Tennis Courts at GHS

Knox Faculty gets high marks.

This is a look back at the history of Galesburg (and the world). What was going on 100 years ago, 75 years ago, 50 years ago, 30 years ago, 20 years ago, and 10 years ago this week? 

“This Week in Galesburg History” appears on Mondays on the WGIL website and the Massey Basketball Blog.