Ryan Boyles provided some big moments for himself and the Wildcats track and cross country programs during his time at Salem Community High School. That ability and success would later continue on at the college level.

A 1996 graduate of SCHS, Boyles began to make a name for himself on the track during his sophomore season in 1994 when he won the North Egypt Conference championship in the 3200 meters with a time of 10:03. Later that season Boyles earned a ticket to the Class AA state meet in the 1600 meters with a runner-up finish at the sectional in a time of 4:35. Boyles added an NEC championship in the 800 meters during his junior season in 1995 as well as a runner-up finish in the 1600 meters to SCHS Hall of Famer Chris Owen. The same scenario repeated itself during Boyles’ senior season in 1996 when he once again won the NEC 800 meters and was second to Owen in the 1600 meters. Boyles, who won Salem’s Most Valuable Player Award in 1996, earned a return trip to the AA state meet in the 1600 meters with a sectional championship time of 4:31.

Boyles was a key contributor to the 1993, 1994 and 1995 Salem cross country teams that reached the Class AA state meet. He ran No. 6 and finished 151st at the 1993 state meet where Salem finished 21st as a team. A year later Boyles jumped all the way into the No. 1 spot for the Wildcats at the state meet where he finished 40th as an individual and Salem was 20th as a team. During the 1995 postseason run Boyles ran No. 2 for the Wildcats and 88th overall at the state race as Salem improved its team position to 16th. (more…)

Norton Spencer was a versatile and highly successful athlete during his time at Salem Community High School and later at the collegiate level.

A 1958 graduate of SCHS, Norton was a four-year member of the Wildcats football and track teams. He also had stints with the baseball and basketball program. His biggest success in high school came on the gridiron where he led Salem in tackles as a junior and was second in that category during his senior season. Spencer received Special Mention on the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Daily News and Champaign News-Gazette All-State Teams. The Wildcats posted four winning seasons and an overall record of 22-13-1 during Spencer’s time with the program, which was under the direction of Coach Howard Thurman.

Spencer took his athletic skills to Eastern Illinois University where he was not only a key contributor to the Panthers football team, but wrestling program as well. During his sophomore season in 1959 he set a school record for solo sacks in a game when he had five against Southern Illinois. Besides earning three letters with the Eastern Illinois football program, he did the same with the wrestling team. Spencer took second place at the Midland Tournament and his only loss in dual competition during his junior and senior seasons was to NCAA champion Roy Conrad of Northern Illinois University. During his senior year at Eastern Illinois Spencer received the Blanket Award, which was the highest athletic award given by the school. (more…)

One of the best distance runners Salem Community High School has ever produced, 1993 graduate Travis Fredericks concluded his high school career with the Wildcats at the Class AA state meet in both track and cross country.

Fredericks was selected to the Southern Illinois Coaches Association All-South Team three straight years beginning with his sophomore season in 1990 followed by return berths in 1991 and 1992. Fredericks also received Salem’s team Most Valuable Player Award in each of those three seasons. Fredericks had to settle for a runner-up finish at the North Egypt Conference Meet held at Salem’s Bryan Park during his senior season in 1992. That setback came to Jason Zieren of Carmi, who later went on to win the Class A state championship and starred at the University of Illinois.

Fredericks led Salem to a Class AA regional championship by winning the individual title with a time of 16:41. While the Wildcats were unable to advance to state as a team, a seventh place finish by Fredericks at the sectional race in a time of 15:47 earned him a trip to the state race as an individual. Fredericks was 54th at state with a time of 15:42. (more…)

While the 1994 Salem Wildcats cross country team had some returning members from the 1993 team that had finished 21st at the Class AA state meet, the 1994 squad used a rebuilt lineup to take the program to even higher levels never previously achieved by the program.

Salem had a dominant regular season as it won six invitational races. The Wildcats claimed the title at Murphysboro, Hannibal, Mo., Herrin, Mt. Vernon, Edwardsville and Springfield. They also successfully defended their North Egypt Conference championship.

The Wildcats postseason run began with their third straight regional championship. The following week Salem did something it had never accomplished before when it won the Decatur Sectional. Not only was that the first sectional title for the cross country program, but it was the first sectional title by a Salem boys team in any sport since the Wildcats basketball team turned the trick way back in 1943.

Salem closed out its season with a 20th place finish at the state meet, which at the time was its best in school history.

Ryan Boyles led the Wildcats at state with a 40th place finish followed by Chris Owen in 104th place. Brett Bundy was 133rd, Shaun Clark was 159th and Shawn Andrews was the fifth and final counter in 175th place. Other runners for the Wildcats at the state race were Rob Henson in 183rd place and Bob Sanchez was 198th. Boyles, Owen and Bundy had competed for Salem the previous season at state. Clark, Andrews, Henson and Sanchez were new to the lineup.