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.
(more…)

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.
(more…)

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.
(more…)

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.
(more…)

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.
(more…)

Over the years Salem Community High School has developed a reputation as one of the top volleyball programs in southern Illinois.

The 1980 Lady Wildcats squad played a big role in starting that tradition. Perhaps fittingly, it is the first volleyball ream to be inducted into the Salem High School Sports Hall of Fame.

First-year coach Pam (McCartney) Raymer made a big splash right off the bat, as her squad won the North Egypt Conference championship.

The NEC Champion was crowned through a tournament at that time. Salem, which was the number one seed going into the tournament, had a first-round bye. In the semifinal round Salem defeated Lawrenceville 15-2, 15-2.
(more…)