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.

Senior Van Gardner led the way at the NEC Meet, which was held at Fairfield, with a first place finish. Gardner also set a course record in the process with a time of 13:31. He was just the second Salem runner to win the NEC individual championship.

Dennis Squibb finished second and Dennis Tidwell was third. Chuck Daniels finished fifth and Chris Daniels was ninth to complete the scoring.

Salem also won the regional, which was held at Centralia, for the first time. The Wildcats tallied 66 points, 20 better than runner-up Mt. Vernon’s 86.

Gardner just missed winning the individual regional championship, as he settled for second place in a time of 15:57. Squibb was next in line in fifth place. Tidwell was 13th, Paul Gierten 17th and Larry Bolton 29th to complete the scoring.

Salem punched its first ever ticket to the state meet with a third place finish out of 16 schools at the Springfield Sectional. The only teams to beat Salem were state ranked Springfield Sacred-Heart Griffin and East St. Louis.

Gardner had a tremendous race against the stiff competition and finished fourth overall to lead the Wildcats.

The other counters, were Squibb in 17th place, Tidwell in 27th place, Gierten in 34th and Chris Daniels in 46th place.

In its first ever appearance at state, Salem finished in 25th place.

As he did all season, Gardner led the way with a 102nd place. Squibb ran number two and finished 137th. The others counters were Tidwell in 174th place, Dave Doherty in 197th place and Gierren in 199th place. Tim Sullens and Bolton also competed for the Wildcats at the state race.

Some other team highlights were winning the Mt. Vernon, Harrisburg and Highland Invitationals. The team took second at the Olney, Flora, Benton and Herrin Invitationals.

Salem won 11 of 12 regular season dual meets. The lone setback was a one point, 27-28, loss to Mt. Vernon. Salem later avenged that loss against the Rams.

The Wildcats won three of those regular season dual meets with a perfect score of 15.

Salem compiled a 160-41 season record, 24 of those losses of which came at the state meet.

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.

Danny Garrett only carried the ball twice against Red Hill, but those two carries netted 92 yards in a 43-0 win. Garrett’s biggest play was a 78 yard run. Meador added a pair of touchdowns in the win.

One of the toughest tussles was an 18-14 win over Flora. Moore scored on runs of six and 13 yards and threw a 75 yard pass to Gary Sapp for Salem’s other touchdown.

Defense sparked the Wildcats to a 41-0 win over Fairfield. Sam Phillips intercepted a pass and returned it 85 yards for one score. Mark Copple picked off a pass and ran it back 75 yards for another touchdown. Meador rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

In what turned out to be a showdown for the NEC title, Salem lost a 14-7 overtime struggle to Mt. Carmel. The Aces would eventually go on to win the Class 3A state championship.

Touchdown runs by Kerry Martin and Meador led the way to a 14-3 win over Lawrenceville.

The Wildcats defense forced six turnovers in a 24-14 win over Olney. Meador ran for 138 yards in the win.

Moore was the big back in a 29-12 win over Carmi with 174 yards and touchdown runs of 58 and 40 yards.

Salem clinched an at-large berth for the playoffs with an 8-1 record when it beat Benton 14-7 in the regular season finale.

The Wildcats drew Murphysboro in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs and lost 40-6 to finish the season with an 8-2 record. Sapp scored Salem’s first and only post-season touchdown on a six yard pass from Martin.

Several individuals contributed to a defense that limited all nine of its regular season opponents to two touchdowns or less.

Mark Copple led the NEC with 13 1/2 sacks and fumble recoveries with six. Sapp led the NEC in interceptions with six. Rob Hays was the leading tackler with 106 tackles.

On the offensive end Jeff Meador was the leading rusher with 689 yards. Moore was right behind with 653 yards
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Martin threw for 316 yards in the run-oriented offense. Sapp was the leading receiver with 10 catches for 195 yards. Jeff Fairchild was the number two receiver with eight catches for 170 yards.

Mark Middleton led a solid special teams game with an NEC best 36.7 yards average per punt.

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.

Willhite’s accomplishments led to his selection to the All- North Egypt Conference Team in 1969 and 1970, selection to the All-South Team in 1970 and All-State Special Mention in 1970.

Willhite used many of his football skills for success on the track. His two biggest highlights probably came in his 1970 junior season. Willhite teamed up with Bob Turnage, Dick Kagy and Louie Bryant in the mile relay to set both an NEC and school record with a time of 3:31.

A few days later Willhite teamed up with Bob Carter, Randy Brown and Bryant in the 880-yard relay and finished second in the district meet. That earned them a trip to the state meet.

Willhite was also a solid basketball player for the Wildcats. He led the team in rebounding two years and shared the team’s Best Defensive Player Award for his senior season.

After completion of his high school career. Willhite continued his football career at both Indian Hills Community College and William Penn College.

In 1975 Willhite served as a student/coach at William Penn. That season William Penn advanced to the NCAA Division II Poultry Bowl.

Willhite has stayed active in sports since high school. He has served as an assistant football coach at Jacksonville High School. He has also coached grade school sports in that area of the state.

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.

He helped form a potent offensive line with left tackle Kenny Burchett, left guard Bill Chance, center Glen Holler and right tackle Stanley Knight. Chance and Knight are already members of the SCHS Hall of Fame.

Fogle was an NEC Second Team choice as a senior.

Also while he was in high school Fogle was a member of two NEC track championship teams and one NEC basketball championship squad.

Fogle received a football scholarship to attend Arkansas State University, but he also competed in track and wrestling in college.

Despite the fact Salem did not have a wrestling team, Fogle made a quick splash in that sport in college. As a freshman Fogle won the Arkansas Collegiate State championship in the light heavyweight class.

In his sophomore season Fogle won the Junior National AAU fifth district tournament, which was held in New Orleans, in the 175-pound division.

Fogle was elected Arkansas State team captain prior to his junior season.

Fogle’s collegiate athletic career was interrupted by the Korean War. Fogle was stationed in Korea as a member of the First Marine Air Wing.

On the football field Fogle saw playing time on both sides of the ball. Fogle played both guard on offense and linebacker on defense.

One of Fogle’s biggest post-school honors came in 1978 when the National Association of Development Organization created an annual leadership award in Fogle’s name.

In 1988 Fogle became just the 12th individual to receive the Arkansas State Outstanding Alumnus Award.