Winchester Invitational Tournament marks 100 years, observes talent
by Kyla Hurt
The Winchester Invitational Tournament (WIT) is the oldest invitational high school tournament in Illinois. This is the 100th year for the tournament and the Jan. 7-14 sports event is highlighting some professional talent that played in the tournament in past years.
The list includes former WIT players who had successful athletic careers.
One player is Lew Hitch of Griggsville. According to WIT, Hitch played “in the championship games of the Winchester tournament, NCAA tournaments and in the NBA Finals. Starting at the WIT Championship in the 1947, [he] rose to high success on the basketball court. Lew attended Culver Stockton college before transferring to Kansas State and was No.19 overall draft pick in the 1951 NBA Draft pick, heading to the Minneapolis Lakers. He averaged 5 pts per game, and his career highlighted was 2 back-to-back world championships during his 7 years with the Lakers.”
Hitch ultimately resided in Kansas with his family; he was a coach, teacher and later superintendent. Hitch passed away February 2012.
The second listed is Don Fairfield. Fairfield played for Jacksonville in the 1937 WIT. He served in the United States Air Force after high school. He played in the PGA from 1956-1963 and won three championships. He then golfed in Senior PGA from 1980-1989.
WIT shares that Fairfield and his wife have two sons, both of whom are professional golfers.
The third player listed is George O’Donnell, who played for Winchester at the WIT 1946-47.
He later player professional baseball for 13 seasons starting in 1949 — one season was for the Pittsburg Pirates. O’Donnell finished his athletic career in Minor League Baseball.
According to WIT, “He returned to central Illinois to raise his family, retiring in Springfield, but never forgetting his Winchester roots … George passed away in 2012. You can see more of his individual accomplishments on the back of [the Winchester High School] baseball dugout.”
Fourth listed is Larry Ball, of Rushville. Ball played in the WIT in the mid-‘60s. In the 1967 WIT, he was the high scorer, leading Rushville to the championship game. WIT tells that Ball was drafted out of the University of Louisville as an American football linebacker in the 1972 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins — he played 7 years in the NFL, for both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Detroit Lions.
WIT continues, writing, “He is the only player in NFL history to play an entire season for both an undefeated team (1972 Dolphins) and a winless team (1976 Buccaneers). Playing for the 1972 Dolphins, he was on the team to win Super Bowl VII.”
Post his athletic career, Ball worked for Miami-Dale County Public Schools until 2011 as a guidance counselor, department head and coach.
The fifth athlete listed is Sam Coonrod, of Carrollton. Coonrod was selected to the 2010 WIT All-Tournament Team and played on Carrollton’s 2009 and 2010 championship teams.
Coonrod is now a professional pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. He previously played for the San Francisco Giants. WIT notes that, “He made a quiet appearance at the 99th WIT, we hope he will join us for the 100th!!!”
The sixth on the list of WIT’s players who later became professional athletes is also its most recent. From Triopia and playing in the WIT in the 2000s is Dustin Jacoby.
Jacoby is an American mixed martial artist and kickboxer who currently competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of July 2022, Jacoby ranked #14 in the UFC light heavyweight rankings.
To scout other future professional athlete potential, head over to Winchester for the tournament in person. Additionally, watch or listen to the 100th WIT at www.youtube.com/WCAthletics (WC Athletics YouTube), www.YouTube.com/CentralIllinoisSports (Central Illinois Sports YouTube), WEAI/WLDS FM 107.1/AM 1180 or streaming at WLDS.com.
More information about WIT can be found on its Facebook page, “Winchester Invitational Tournament” or at winchesterschool.net.
