Dick Carstens
Downers Grove High School, now Downmers Grove North, was one of 6 founding schools when the West Suburban Conference was started in 1922. The conerence as on more state titles then any other conference in the state. It is hard to believe that Maine East and West Chicago high schools were once WSC members. Over time, other schools such as Riverside Brookfield and Arlington Heights have joind and left. In 1986, the conference was splt into two divisions: Gold and Silver, the Division North is currently in. Every year a football team plays each division opponent and has two "crossover" games vs. the other division. The crossover games have a two year run with each team hosting a home game. An exception to this this is DGN who plays Downers South every year and has one other crossover game a year.
From 1957 to 1964, Dick Carstens was Head Coach at North High. Coach Carstens came to North after graduating from Knox College and serving 5 years in the Navy as an avaiation ornanceman and aircrew gunner. Coach Carstens' 1969 team was voted by many newspapers as the "mythical state champ (pre-playoffs). In 1986 the football field was renamed "Carstens Field" and Coach was elected posthumously into the Illinois High School Coaches Hall of Fame.
Trojan Marching Band
At every home game and away games when the budget allows, North fans are entertained by the best Marching Band in the state. The talent, enthusiasm and dedication of our Band is unmatched.
The Trojan Marching Band averages 300 instrumentalists and color guard. Showcasing new uniforms purchased in 2006, the band performs at home football games each year, the homecoming parade and assembly, the Band-O-Rama concert, home and away play-off games, various spirit parades for state bound athletes, and the Downers Grove Holiday and Memorial Day Parades. The Band has marched in the 2007 Indianapolis 500 Parade and the 2009 Chicago Thanksgiving Parade. In 2009 the band was invited to play in the 2011 25th anniversary London New Year’s Parade in London, England. Brayer Teague and Bill Miller have led the Band for several years.
Sung and played, win or lose. after each game the Band is joined by the football team in the singing of The Alma Mater, a postgame moment that is regarded as "one of the most powerful things I have ever seen" -Chicago Tribune
After home games, please follow the band to the Fieldhouse and enjoy their post game performance and make sure to ask you sons how much they enjoy the postgame victory celebrations with Bandmembers in the indoor track.
Last year, Downers Grove North High School Fine Arts Department, Chaired by Brayer Teague was named the winner of ABC 7 Chicago's "Show Us Your Spirit!" contest. Click to see the video.--GREAT JOB STUDENTS AND TEACHERS!!!
