Benton Consolidated High School (BCHS) is a

public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociology, sociological concept of the ''Öf ...

high school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., ...

located in

Benton, Illinois Benton is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Illinois. The population was 6,709 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. In 1839, Franklin County, Illinois, Franklin County was split roughly in half and the county seat was p ...

, United States. The campus is located in a city setting on Benton's east side, and has been operating (though in separate buildings) since 1888. Benton Consolidated High School is in a school district separate from the K-8 schools in and around Benton.

Athletics

The school's athletic teams (Benton Rangers) compete in the Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference. The Rangers' main rival is the West Frankfort Redbirds, located seven miles south of the BCHS campus.

Sports

Benton High School offers the following sports: * Baseball * Basketball * Cross country * Football * Golf * Softball * Track * Volleyball * Wrestling

State championships

Team

*1979-80 - Girls' basketball, Class A * 2004 - Competitive dance (pom division), Class 1A * 2005-06 - Girls' track & field, Class A * 2007-08 - Girls' track & field, Class A * 2013 - Competitive dance (hip hop division), Class 1A * 2014 - Competitive dance (hip hop division), Class 2A * 2015 - Competitive dance (hip hop division), Class 2A * 2020 - Competitive dance (hip hop division), Class A

Individual

* 2007-08 - Zach Wilson, IHSA wrestling, 140 pounds * 2005-08 - Courtney Smith, IHSA Girls' Track & Field * 2005-08 - Leah Orley, IHSA Girls' Track & Field * 2020-21 - Gabe Craig, IWCOA wrestling, 285 pounds * 2021-22 - Cy Norman, IHSA Boys' Golf * 2022-23 - Gavin Genisio, IHSA Boys' Cross Country * 2022-23 - Mason Tieffel, IHSA Boys' wrestling, 138 pounds

Notable alumni

* Lin Bolen, television executive * Doug Collins, basketball coach and player *

Billy Grammer Billy Wayne Grammer (August 28, 1925 – August 10, 2011) was an American country music singer and accomplished guitar player. He recorded the million-selling "Gotta Travel On", which made it onto both the Hot Country Songs, country and Billboar ...

, country music singer * Richard O. Hart, Illinois state representative and lawyer *

John Malkovich John Gavin Malkovich (born December 9, 1953) is an American actor. He is the recipient of several accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and ...

, actor * Rich Yunkus, basketball player

History

The first class to complete their course of study for Benton High School received their diplomas in March 1888, with 12 graduates. In 1909, the school became known as Benton Township High School, with 73 students enrolled at the time, and the building located across the street from its current location where a football field for the school's football team currently sits. The school's name was changed to Benton Consolidated High School in 1949. The school district began to teach students from Benton, Ewing, Browning and Barren Township. In 1973, the current high school building was completed.

References

External links

Yearbook digitized collection
at Benton Public Library {{Authority control Public high schools in Illinois Schools in Franklin County, Illinois