Crystal Lake Central High School

Crystal Lake Central High School (formerly Crystal Lake Community High School)
Address
45 W. Franklin Ave Crystal Lake, Illinois United States
Information
Type	Public secondary
Established	1924
Oversight	Community High School District 155
Principal	Steve Olson
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	1536 (2015–2016)[1]
Color(s)	Orange and Black
Mascot	Tiger
Website	Crystal Lake Central High School

Crystal Lake Central High School, often referred to as "Central" or "CLC," is the oldest of the three high schools in Crystal Lake, Illinois, United States.

History

Crystal Lake Central High School opened its doors in 1924 as Crystal Lake Community High School. It was enlarged in 1928 with the first addition, with a second addition including the "Fieldhouse" completed in 1953. Another addition was completed to the west-end of the building in the 1964–1965 school year.^[2] Prior to its creation, area high school students attend Union School beginning in 1884. Crystal Lake Community (and Union School before it) served students in grades 9–12 from Crystal Lake, Cary, and the surrounding areas of McHenry County. Students in the first graduating class at Crystal Lake Community (Class of 1924) began their school year at Union School and moved to the new high school building just one month before graduation. Prior to relocating, the school was part of the Union School campus located at what is now Husmann Elementary School. The school was renamed as Crystal Lake Central in 1978 when Crystal Lake South opened, reaching an approximate maximum student population of 2100 in 1978. Crystal Lake Central once was the least populated of Community High School District 155's four high schools, as well as the oldest,^[3] however, as of the 2015–2016 school year, it is the second smallest, with Prairie Ridge High School having a smaller population size.^[1]

Athletics

Its mascot is the Tiger, with school colors orange and black.

The school captured its first individual state title in 1942, when Paul Behan won the state discus championship.^[4] Since then, Central's student-athletes have won Illinois High School Association state titles in boys track and field, girls track and field, wrestling, girls tennis (mid 1970s), and girls cross country.

Notable team finishes at the Illinois state level include:^[5]

• Boys Baseball – 4th, 2008
• Boys Cross Country – IHSA State Champions, 1995; 3rd, 2001.
• Girls Cross Country – 2nd, 2008; 2nd, 2011
• Girls Tennis – 2nd, 1976; 2nd, 1977
• Girls Volleyball – 1st; 2007 (Class 3A IHSA State champions with an undefeated record of 42–0. Crystal Lake Central was ranked No. 6 on the top 100 teams in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com.;^[6] 4th, 2009
• Wrestling – 3rd, 2009; 2nd, 2010; 2nd, 2011; 4th, 2014
• Dance Team – Inaugural IHSA State Champions, 2013

Notable alumni

• Joe Affrunti – Class of 1999 – PGA tour golfer^[7]
• Tom Amandes – Class of 1977. Actor best known for roles on Everwood and The Untouchables (1993 TV series).^[8]
• Jason Babinsky – Class of 1994. Stage and screen actor perhaps best known for playing Howell on The Good Wife.^[9] On stage, he was part of the Broadway cast of Billy Elliot the Musical, won the Kevin Kline Awards for Lead Actor in a Play for The Bomb-itty of Errors,^[10] and was lauded for his role in Stockholm.^[11]
• Charlie Behan – 1930s. Winner of Navy Cross and killed in action during Okinawa Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill. Detroit Lions professional football player^[12] and brother of IHSA champion Paul Behan.^[13]
• John Bock – Class of 1989. Former NFL center for the New York Jets (1995) and Miami Dolphins (1996–2000).^[14]
• Elaine (Doty) Bradley – Class of 1997. Drummer and vocalist for the Neon Trees.^[15]
• Rob Elgas – Class of 1992. Reporter, news anchor NBC Channel 5 Chicago WMAQ-TV.^[16]
• Mike Felumlee – Class of 1993. Former drummer, Smoking Popes and Alkaline Trio.
• Jen Golbeck – Class of 1995. Computer scientist at the University of Maryland, College Park and director of the University of Maryland Human - Computer Interaction Lab.^[17]
• Erin Jauch- Class of 2012.^[18] World Champion gymnast, as well as several other US gymnastics titles.^[19]
• Bob Kessler – Class of 1990. Reporter, news anchor WGN Radio 720 AM Chicago. Former producer "Ramsey Lewis Morning Show."^[20]
• Mike Myers – Class of 1987. Pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Chicago White Sox^[21]
• Chuck Swenson – Class of 1972. Former head men's basketball coach, The College of William & Mary. Former assistant coach to Mike Krzyzewski at Army and Duke University. Currently Administrative Assistant to University of Michigan Basketball program.^[22]

References

1. "Crystal Lake Central About". d155.org. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
2. School District 155 Student Handbook 1978 – 1979, Crystal Lake South High School.
3. "School Report Cards". Ww2.d155.org. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
4. "Records & History". Ihsa.org. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
5. "School Directory". IHSA. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
6. Illinois well represented in national Top 100 by Jeff Bartl, ChicagoSports.com, November 29, 2007
7. Hanley, Reid (August 8, 1997). "Crystal Lake Golfer, 15, Enjoys His First Taste Of The Big Time". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
8. Kunzer, Jamie (March 22, 2013). "CL native stars in 'Saving Lincoln'". Northwest Herald. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
9. Kunzer, Jamie (January 14, 2016). "Crystal Lake native lands roles in 'Madam Secretary,' 'The Good Wife'". Northwest Herald. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
10. "Kevin Kline Awards get gala presentation". St. Louis Beacon. April 2, 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
11. Brantley, Ben (August 23, 2013). "Dancing Erotically With Knives". New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
12. Terry Frei. "Frei: Salute veterans like Charlie Behan". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
13. "Victoria Bollensen Obituary – Barrington, IL | Northwest Herald". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
14. Thompson, Jack (October 31, 1988). "Crystal Lake Central`s Worries Just Beginning". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
15. "Marching to Her Own Drum". Mormon Women. 2011-02-09. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
16. "Rob Elgas". NBC Chicago. 2012-09-21. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
17. "Merit Semifinalists Announced". Chicago Tribune. September 15, 1994. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
18. "View News – McHenry County College". Mchenry.edu. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
19. "USA Gymnastics | Erin Jauch". Usagym.org. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
20. "Bob Kessler". WGN Radio. 2013-01-14. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
21. Beck, Jim (2012). Touching Home. Dorrance Publishing. p. 166. ISBN 9781434918000.
22. "Wolverine Basketball Announces Staff Assignments". Mgoblue.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.

External links

• Official Crystal Lake Central Homepage
• CLC Choirs
• CLC TIGER POMS
• CLC Bands
• Official Video History of District 155 and Crystal Lake Central

Coordinates: 42°14′13″N 88°19′21″W / 42.23694°N 88.32250°W