Vienna High School -

50 Years of Women’s Sports in Vienna
Thank your grandmother!

The 1974-1975 school year marked the start of Women’s Sports at Vienna High School. The 50th Anniversary will be celebrated on Saturday, November 16, 2024, during the school’s annual Meet the Eagles. Lady Eagles basketball, softball, and track all started under coach Jeanne Clayton, a 1969 Vienna High School alumni, who then earned a degree in education at Southern Illinois University (SIUC). At SIUC, she participated in multiple sports and experienced great success.

Since that inaugural season at Vienna High School, the women’s athletic programs have flourished, experiencing significant growth in visibility, participation, and support. “They came from various backgrounds, but that year they shared two goals – form a team and create an athletic program, a program that is thriving to this very day,” wrote Jackie Wright, husband to Nancy Choate, one of Vienna's first female athletes.

During the 50th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, November 16, 2024, the inaugural women’s basketball, softball, and track teams will be recognized, along with all women’s coaches and athletes throughout the school's history. A meal and reception will take place at 5:00 PM in the high school Upper Gym, with recognition to follow during Meet the Eagles (www.viennahs.com/live) at 6:00 PM. “I’m looking forward to recognizing the pioneers of women’s athletics at Vienna High School. This should be a wonderful evening for the participants and the community,” shared athletic director, David Hill.

The 1974-1975 teams will be presented with certificates and school letters and feature various speakers. Table space will be available so the community can bring memorabilia to share at the event. Photos can also be emailed to info@viennahs.com to be shared on the school's 50th Anniversary of Women’s in Sports page, which can be found at www.viennahs.com/50thwomenssports. A recent article published in the Vienna Times by Jackie Wright highlighting the history can also be found at http://www.viennahs.com/50thwomenssports.

Former Vienna athletic director, coach, teacher, and Eagles sports statistician, Ross Hill said, “Since the beginning of women's basketball, there have been over 290 varsity players, and that number is likely growing to over 300 with this year's seasons. There have also been over 71,000 points scored. The Lady Eagles have won over 80% of home court games.”

“Growing up in Johnson County has allowed me to know many of these inspirational alumni of Vienna personally, and I am excited for them to be recognized by the school and community and also for us to celebrate the history of the women’s athletic program,” said Joshua Stafford, school superintendent.

Tom Cole, former coach, teacher, and Vienna athletic director, said, “There have been other pioneers along the way before there were girls' high school opportunities. Summer softball had great community support in sponsorship and coaching, and it had been played in grade school, too. In 1949, Jack Gordon taught at Buncombe Grade and started girls' basketball in a 10-team conference. Coach Gordon moved to Vienna Grade in 1950 and continued to coach, retiring in 1983. Don Hacker was also an active pioneer in grade school girls' sports. The Johnson County Khoury League had Bynum Burris coaching older girls and Gil Guthrie coaching younger girls. Eric Hammon, who owned Vienna Drug, sponsored girls' teams in the Khoury League. All of these pioneers laid the foundation for the first Lady Eagles softball, basketball, and track coach, a Simpson girl, Vienna graduate, and SIU athlete, Jeanne Clayton. Following Coach Clayton, we have had many successful coaches, including coach Ross Hill, who has the longest tenure as a girls' coach and holds the win/loss record for the history of the program, and long-time coach Kay Ross, who made major contributions to the pitching program.”

Mr. Wright shared in an article: “...female athletes at Vienna…should thank their grandmothers. If they cannot imagine a world where they are not allowed to compete in basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming, track, volleyball, wrestling, or any other sport of their choice, they should thank their grandmothers. It was these VHS pioneers who laid a foundation of success, competition, teamwork, and sportsmanship.” “Title IX mandated girls athletics beginning with the 1975-76 school year, but the young ladies of Vienna High School were fortunate the school was directed by a forward-thinking school board and superintendent. These men – Board Members Bynum Burris, Harold Bush, Guy Casper, Tom Chester, Bill Elliott, Gil Guthrie, Eric Hammon, and Superintendent Lawrence Kinkade–made the determination there was no need to delay the start of implementing a girls' athletic program. The 1974-75 school year saw the birth of girls’ sports at VHS, so the Class of 1975 would forever be grateful they would be the first seniors to represent Vienna High School. Today Lady Eagles Nation could not envision a high school without young ladies competing on the field, the court, the course, or the track.”

Vienna currently offers over 30 student clubs, organizations, and co-curricular opportunities, as well as over 20 sports and activities for both boys and girls.

More information about the 50th Anniversary of Women’s Sports at Vienna can be found at http://www.viennahs.com/50thwomenssports.

Women's Sports Throughout the Years