Benton Consolidated High School (BCHS) is a public high school located in Benton, Illinois, 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, country music singer Richard O. Hart, Illinois state representative and lawyer John Malkovich, 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