Athletics/Activities

Athletic History

Opened in September 3, 1966, Elk Grove High School was the 5th high school built by District 214. The athletic program presently offers 23 sports for both boys & girls to supplement the Academic life in the school. When the school opened, only boys' cross county and football were offered. During the next few years an additional 10 sports were offered. In the Fall of 1973 girls' sports started. At that time only basketball, tennis and archery were offered. Presently 12 sports are offered to girls at Elk Grove High School.

Elk Grove High School is a member of the Mid-Suburban League, South Division. Elk Grove excelled in football in its early years of joining the MSL conference. In 1971 they won the football Super Bowl II by defeating the Hersey Huskies 7-3 with Jim Leopardo's fourth-quarter touchdown. In l979 Jack Walsh broke all Elk Grove and Mid-Suburban League records by carrying the ball an average 30 times a game; he went on to play for Indiana. In 1981 along came Tom Napholz who carried the ball a record 258 times, easily eclipsing the league rushing record held by former teammate Jack Walsh.

State tournament has to rank among the best anywhere for importance, excitement and enthusiasm as Elk Grove's quadruple-overtime triumph over Hoffman Estates in 1979 was another exciting football game that left spectators breathless. All the Super Bowl games were great in terms of community interest.

In 1972 Elk Grove achieved respectability by outscoring the opposition 175-13 in the last four regular season games alone. Jeff Stewart and Jeff Schroeder helped Coach Don Schnake win. By the end of the 1972 season the press installed Elk Grove as the MYTHICAL STATE CHAMPS.

We have won a state championship in girls' basketball in 1981 and a second place in girls' softball in 1982. We were recognized as the number one football team in the state in 1978. The girls 1981 basketball team was led by Faith Mimnaugh, and Kathy Leyden, who were leading scorers at Elk Grove High School, played for Loyola and were all-time scorers in Loyola History.

Elk Grove High School has had teams competing in state finals in boys' tennis, baseball, wrestling, boys' gymnastics, boys' volleyball and bowling. In 1981 we won the Illinois High School State championship in girls' basketball and were state runner-up in softball in 1982. In 1993 the boys' volleyball team took 3rd place in state competition.

The girls' softball team were 2nd in state 1982 and the boys' baseball team were 1 of 8 in the state finals. The 1982 baseball team had the school's tallest baseball pitcher and basketball player in Dave Otto (6'7") who holds the school's single season scoring record of 670 points and career school scoring record of 1582 points for basketball. Dave Otto went on to the big leagues to pitch for the Oakland A's, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago Cubs.

Elk Grove High School has had the following State Champions:

Approximately 56 Elk Grove athletes representing 12 different sports have received "FULL" college scholarships.

The athletic program at Elk Grove High School allows each student to participate in a wide variety of sports. We had 887 students on athletic teams during the 1996-97 season.

Currently we offer 23 interscholastic sports: