By Holli L. Rapp
A member of the last football team at IVCC died in Charleston, South Carolina. Scott Wehnes, 21, of Washington, Illinois, died at 9:30 a.m. on November 3, 1998, after suffering an aneurysm in his brain.
Wehnes was born on June 17, 1977, in Peoria to Arlan F. and Kathleen E. Lucas Wehnes.
Wehnes graduated from Washington Community High School, where he was captain of the football team his second year. He was named Most Inspirational Player and received the school’s Most Athletic Senior Award. He received numerous football awards throughout his high school career.
He attended IVCC and was a member of the 1996 Apache football team, and he also participated in basketball intramurals. He transferred to Rock Valley Junior College in Rockford and played football there in the 1997 season. While at Rock Valley, he made an impact on a team that was ranked 13th in the nation among junior colleges.
He received a degree in automotive technology from Rock Valley before transferring to Charleston Southern University in Charleston, South Carolina, where he was a defensive tackle on the varsity football team and was active with the Big Buc/Little Buc program.
Chuck Goodwin, IVCC’s football coach from 1991-1996, said "This is a tremendous loss to everyone; he was a good guy."
Surviving are Wehnes’ parents of Washington; one sister, Lisa Wehnes of Boulder, Colorado; and grandparents, Don and Bonnie Lucas of Washington.
Services were held on Nov.7 in Washington.
11/19/98 the Apache