Cross Country Hall of Fame

Front Row, from left: Dan Ray, Eric Volkert, David Flanagan, Joan Murphy, Paula Alle, Jack Spring, Bruce

Kettler and Gavin Harpman.

Second Row: Craig Ray, Tom Schlink, Richard Spring, Steve Bergquist, Mark Cummings, Ty Covey, Joe

Fabish and Karl Wagner.

The 1980 Bergan High School boys cross country team did the unprecedented at the IHSA state finals at Detweiller Park.

Coach Mike Sullivan's Trojans became the first program in the five-year history of the Class A state series to sweep individual AND team championships.

Senior Eric Volkert led the way, winning the 3-mile race in a time of 14 minutes, 46.9 seconds.

Junior Dan Ray and senior Jack Spring also earned all-state honors by placing 15th and 16th individually.

Junior Richard Spring and senior Bruce Kettler also figured in Bergan's team score of 89 points. Princeton, with 123, was runner-up for the second year in a row.

The team title was the first in any sport for Bergan, which opened in 1964.

Volkert went on to compete as a collegian at Augustana College in Rock Island, where his best efforts included a 3:48.85 in the 1,500-meter run. That's the equivalent of a 4:07.09 mile.