Over the years Salem Community High School has developed a long, rich tradition in boys cross country. Much of that tradition began with the 1982 team.

Coach Jim Corrona’s boys produced many firsts for the program that season.

One of the season’s biggest highlights was the club’s first North Egypt Conference championship. In fact that title began a string of consecutive NEC championships that now reads 20 years.

The Wildcats had the top three runners and five of the top nine to win the race.
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The 1981 Salem Wildcats football team brought a return of glory to the program.

After five losing seasons in the past six years, which included a 2-7 record just the year before in 1980, Salem did nearly a 360 degree turnaround under first-year coach Chuck Budde.

The Wildcats came up just short in their bid to win the North Egypt Conference championship, but their 8-1 regular season record produced the first ever playoff berth for the program.

The run to the playoffs began with a 13-6 win over Centralia. Bobby Moore, who rushed for 95 yards, scored on a 16 yard run and Jeff Meador added a three-yard touchdown run to lead the way.
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A 1971 graduate of Salem Community High School, James Willhite had a highly prolific athletic career.

Willhite participated in four sports during his high school career with football and track the site of his
biggest success.

In football Willhite put up the best numbers ever for a Salem tight end and some of the best yardage numbers ever for Wildcats receivers.

A three-year starter. Willhite caught 23 passes for 513 yards as a junior in the 1969 season. During his senior season Willhite hauled in 25 catches for 421 yards and two touchdowns.
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One of the cornerstones for some of the best Salem Wildcats football teams ever, J. Roy Fogle excelled at both the high school and collegiate level.

A 1948 graduate of Salem High School, Fogle’s last two football teams had a combined 14-4 record.

Fogle made most of his contributions on the line, where he usually played right guard.

As a junior in 1946 Fogle helped Salem to an 8-1 record and second place in the North Egypt Conference. His blocking helped the Wildcats average nearly 290 yards per game. Fogle received NEC Honorable Mention for his efforts.

As a senior Fogle helped the Wildcats finish 6-3 overall, but 6-0 in the NEC to win the league championship. That team averaged 28 points a game in its six NEC wins.
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When Suzanne (Henry) Brown left Salem Community High School in 2000, she left with her a long list
of coaching accomplishments.

During her 20 years of coaching at SCHS, Brown was either a head coach or assistant coach on 41 North Egypt Conference championship teams.

A 1975 graduate of SCHS, Brown began her coaching career in the fall of 1980 as assistant volleyball coach to Pam (McCartney) Raymer. Brown held that position until 1988 when she succeeded Raymer as head coach.
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The athletic career of Jeff Morris is a lot like wine. It has gotten better with age.

Morris followed up a good high school career with an even better collegiate and coaching career.

A 1980 graduate of SCHS, Morris participated in both baseball and football in high school. His best sport was baseball where he earned All-North Egypt Conference honors as a junior and led Salem in hitting with a .353 average. He also led Salem in hitting during his senior season.

Morris landed an opportunity to continue his baseball career at Kaskaskia College.
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