Libertyville High School creating athletic hall of fame

The trophy cases are full and history deep for Libertyville High School athletics, but for all the achievements, there's never been a hall of fame to honor them.

That's changing with the inception the LHS Athletic Hall of Fame, and the school is searching for candidates to induct into the inaugural class.

"We are putting out a call to the alumni, the community, the world to submit nominations," Athletic Director John Woods said.

"We want to make sure it's an all-inclusive group and process. We want to make sure we don't miss anybody," he said.

The hall of fame has been organized to "recognize and honor those Wildcat athletes, teams and coaches who excelled in their respective sports or coaching roles and who helped bring honor, recognition, distinction and excellence to LHS," according to Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128.

Fifteen inductees in the inaugural class will be introduced in October during Homecoming weekend.

According to Woods, for athletes to be considered, they must be out of high school 10 years. Coaches need to be retired for at least two years. Further guidelines for consideration are being considered by the 11-member Hall of Fame committee.

"We're going to look at anything and everything in terms of criteria," Woods said.

There is an ample roster of potential candidates.

LHS athletics dates to 1917 and has five state championship teams, more than 30 state trophies, and hundreds of conference, district, regional, sectional and supersectional team crowns, according to the school district.

LHS athletes also have earned more than 400 Illinois High School Association medals, including 48 individual state champions.

The idea for an LHS Athletic Hall of Fame emerged from conversations among Woods and others involved in LHS sports.

"For me, the new guy in town, the wealth of knowledge is awesome," he said.

Woods joined LHS about 2½ years ago from Champaign Central High School. There, the athletic department during Woods' tenure researched and produced the "Champaign High School Hall of Fame" coffee table book honoring 160 inductees.

The LHS hall of fame will connect the past with current and future Wildcats and inspire athletes going forward to continue the legacy, according to the district.

Nominations are being accepted for athletes, coaches or teams through March 1. Forms are available at d128.org/lhs/athletics.