Best programs that never won a State Title.

[all4theillini]

One more fun fact about Geneva:

1981

3A Geneva beat 4A Morris
4A Morris beat 5A Plainfield
5A Plainfield beat 3A Geneva

All end the season 8-1.

A coin flip sends Morris to the playoffs while Geneva and Plainfield stay home.

Morris wins the 4A championship.

 

[4Afan]

One more fun fact about Geneva:

1981

3A Geneva beat 4A Morris
4A Morris beat 5A Plainfield
5A Plainfield beat 3A Geneva

All end the season 8-1.

A coin flip sends Morris to the playoffs while Geneva and Plainfield stay home.

Morris wins the 4A championship.

All correct, except it was 1980.

 

[all4theillini]

All correct, except it was 1980.

Yup. You’re right. Fumble fingers strike again.

 

[eagles2k3!]

How about Bloomington!!! I remember in their run of 3 2nd place finishes in a row they called themselves the "Public School State Champs!

That was normal community

 

[4Afan]

That was normal community

No it was Bloomington from 2002-2004

 

[Topiarydan1]

I'm shocked Edwardsville hasn't won one over the years. Obviously Marist has had a good number of bridesmaid (or Marv Levy) appearances but overall I think they've had as many losing seasons historically than they've had winning ones since their first Varsity year. This will be a telling year for Marist. They don't have a ton coming back on Varsity- a decent Soph team coming up and their rising Sophs (Frosh this past season) are solid. Now if its volleyball you're talking about they're the premier school in state

 

[eagles2k3!]

No it was Bloomington from 2002-2004

I meant that said “public school champion.”

 

[4Afan]

I meant that said “public school champion.”

I think that would still be Bloomington. They lost to 3 straight privates. Normal Community won in 2006 and they lost the championship game in 2005 to Morris.

 

[McCaravan]

I'm shocked Edwardsville hasn't won one over the years. Obviously Marist has had a good number of bridesmaid (or Marv Levy) appearances but overall I think they've had as many losing seasons historically than they've had winning ones since their first Varsity year. This will be a telling year for Marist. They don't have a ton coming back on Varsity- a decent Soph team coming up and their rising Sophs (Frosh this past season) are solid. Now if its volleyball you're talking about they're the premier school in state

I think what made me think of Marist is the amount of big name players they have had over the past 15 years where they have been more consistently winning. St. Rita also has had numerous big time players. With some of the players and all around teams they should have at least 7 titles instead of 2.

 

[Topiarydan1]

I think what made me think of Marist is the amount of big name players they have had over the past 15 years where they have been more consistently winning. St. Rita also has had numerous big time players. With some of the players and all around teams they should have at least 7 titles instead of 2.

Yes Marist continuously has a lot of big time talent - heck WR Brown (NC State), Huge OL (Purdue) and another OL (New Mexico) and another to Dayton. That's some good talent. Granted they had some injuries this year (lost the New Mexico OL and their RB early in the season). This will be an interesting season to see who might come in via transfer portal for them (QB?) and how they fare in Blue again. MC, Rice and Loyola are all loaded. I think they can do another 4-5 or 5-4 but with playoffs expanding to everyone gets a trophy now then I think they're still in even if they go 3-6

 

[eagles2k3!]

I think that would still be Bloomington. They lost to 3 straight privates. Normal Community won in 2006 and they lost the championship game in 2005 to Morris.

I could've sworn it was Normal Community or Normal West but I guess I was wrong. I can remember watching the game on TV and seeing the "Public School Champions" sign. I just looked it up and neither Normal school lost to a private school. Good call.

 

[JCHillmen10]

I could've sworn it was Normal Community or Normal West but I guess I was wrong. I can remember watching the game on TV and seeing the "Public School Champions" sign. I just looked it up and neither Normal school lost to a private school. Good call.

I remember the Public School Champions banner well. Rough look to display it before the game even began. They got a lot of grief on this board the "Bloomington Bills" after that.

Normal Community lost to Morris in the 2005 title game, but they played Morris real tough. Then they ran off 26 straight victories including a 2006 championship. Ran into Joliet Catholic who went down to Normal and dominated them in a 6A semi in 2007 to end the 26 game streak.

That was a fun atmosphere in Normal, but a surprisingly one sided result.

 

[McCaravan]

Yes Marist continuously has a lot of big time talent - heck WR Brown (NC State), Huge OL (Purdue) and another OL (New Mexico) and another to Dayton. That's some good talent. Granted they had some injuries this year (lost the New Mexico OL and their RB early in the season). This will be an interesting season to see who might come in via transfer portal for them (QB?) and how they fare in Blue again. MC, Rice and Loyola are all loaded. I think they can do another 4-5 or 5-4 but with playoffs expanding to everyone gets a trophy now then I think they're still in even if they go 3-6

I think 2017 they were undefeated, had 2 huge DL, one went to Minnesota and 1 to Indiana. Bohanek at LB. Markett and Skalinsky were juniors. I thought they had a chance there but they lost to LA @ home in the quarterfinals. They had a great WR Thompson I think? Great season in 2017 and 2018 and then bolted to Naperville Central for his senior year in 2019. That Marist team in 2019 lost to a great LWE in 2019 semifinal. Tate killed it as a Freshman that year, had Thompson stayed maybe a different story. 2021 they should have won that semi @Home vs Maine South. They have shot themselves in the foot some years but they have also had some rotten luck.

 

[eagles2k3!]

I think 2017 they were undefeated, had 2 huge DL, one went to Minnesota and 1 to Indiana. Bohanek at LB. Markett and Skalinsky were juniors. I thought they had a chance there but they lost to LA @ home in the quarterfinals. They had a great WR Thompson I think? Great season in 2017 and 2018 and then bolted to Naperville Central for his senior year in 2019. That Marist team in 2019 lost to a great LWE in 2019 semifinal. Tate killed it as a Freshman that year, had Thompson stayed maybe a different story. 2021 they should have won that semi @Home vs Maine South. They have shot themselves in the foot some years but they have also had some rotten luck.

Should’ve also beaten York in 2023 in the second round.

 

[McCaravan]

Should’ve also beaten York in 2023 in the second round.

Absolutely. They had a questionable call in that at the end I forgot what it was....maybe went for 2 or something. It was that second round game that was a typhoon out and that played a part

 

[CCHS-Fan]

Warren

 

[chisox05]

In Lake County, definitely Warren and Lake Forest. Everybody else has won.

I believe Warren has only made it past the quarterfinals once but they do have a title game appearance.

None of Lake Forest's three trips to the semifinals has gone particularly well but they do have a winning playoff record (35-31).

 

[4Afan]

Warren

Eh, they always get hyped up but have only been to one title game. Solid program, but others on this list are far better.

 

[CCHS-Fan]

Warren should own Lake County given their enrollment and alignment (district lines have changed).

And I agree, overhyped ALWAYS.

 

[Swansa01]

Sterling. Long, long playoff history. It wasn't until their eighth appearance that it made it out of the first round.661 total program wins. 38 total playoff appearances. Reached semifinals in 2017 and 2018. Combined record of 30-37 in postseason play.

That 2017 team was loaded. Thought they could have made the title game.

 

[BornNRazed]

I usually take the winters off from the Board but I checked in and found this thread and as the token Marist fan, alum, and father of many players I have some thoughts. Marist under Pietrczak had a ton of talented teams. And those were the days when not nearly as many teams made it. My senior year we lost to MC 7-0 in a mud bowl that ended up MCs first state title team. The Dunne teams were excellent and a lot of the kids you see now were from his efforts. Coogan etc. if he stayed on I have little doubt they would’ve run deep year over year. Dawz is a great man but the losses to Maine South and York were inexcusable. The jury is still out on Fitz and he will need to recruit like crazy to keep up. His offense requires a very talented QB that can run and throw. Injuries killed this years team. So yes I put Marist at the top of the list followed by Barrington and HF.

 

[BornNRazed]

And just like that my Marist PTSD has kicked in…back to hibernation

 

[USD24]

I usually take the winters off from the Board but I checked in and found this thread and as the token Marist fan, alum, and father of many players I have some thoughts. Marist under Pietrczak had a ton of talented teams. And those were the days when not nearly as many teams made it. My senior year we lost to MC 7-0 in a mud bowl that ended up MCs first state title team. The Dunne teams were excellent and a lot of the kids you see now were from his efforts. Coogan etc. if he stayed on I have little doubt they would’ve run deep year over year. Dawz is a great man but the losses to Maine South and York were inexcusable. The jury is still out on Fitz and he will need to recruit like crazy to keep up. His offense requires a very talented QB that can run and throw. Injuries killed this years team. So yes I put Marist at the top of the list followed by Barrington and HF.

Some of those old Marist teams were very good. I remember Marist losing to JC when the older Rein was the QB either in 82 or 83 I believe. I think that kept Marist out of the playoffs that year. JC's QB was Pezavento, who went on to play baseball an football at ND. I played against the younger Rein in the late 80's. Very good QB on a couple of very good Marist teams.