February 25, 1954 The F. F. A. held their Annual Queen's Ball Wednesday evening with some 40 students attending the dance and crowning of the queen Reda Smith - senior in a very close contest. Her attendants, Janet Evans - Junior, and Betty Spooner - Sophomore. The program included dancing to records from 8:00 P. M. until the ceremony for the crowning of the queen at 9:00 P. M. The platform and seats for the queen were on the east side of the gym, backed by a large silver heart. During the ceremony, the queen and her attendants were kept in a spotlight from the balcony. The gym was decorated with red and white streamers of crepe paper, draped to form a canopy over the entire floor. Admission was free as the voting paid for the party.
Girls Basketball 1953-54 Season Summary - Scheduled games: Collins Won - Elkart 57-41; Rhodes 49-45; Baxter 50-43; Rhodes 59-50. Story County Tourney: Collins lostto Shipley 40-34. Sectional Tourney: Collins lost to Shipley 49-43. The Collins girls had a difficult season, won - 5 games and lost 16, 8 of the games by 6 points or less.
Team members - starting six: Mary McGrane (55) (pivot forward); Janet Evans (55) (f-g); Betty Spooner (56) (f); Reda Smith (54) (pivot guard); Janice Heintz (57) (g); Mary Jo Shultz (freshman) (g) and Jill Kilgore (57) (f) played regularly. Other members of the team were: Marjorie Hickle (56) (f); Sue Battles (sophomore) (g); Donna Frerichs (57) (f); Georgiann Briles (58) (f); Saundra Smith (58) (g); Daisy Maxwell (57) (g); JoAnn Conner (sophomore) (g); Manager - Sandra Long. Coach - Louis Schrader.
Boys Basketball 1953-54 Season Summary - Scheduled games: Collins Won - Elkhart 53-45; Cambridge 63-28; Rhodes 50-45; Baxter 47-25; Maxwell 45-33; Cambridge 49-23; Baxter 66-46; Shipley 59-36; Mingo 71-39; McCallsburg 64-44; Huxley 47-44; Colo 54-47; Zearing 53-44; Rhodes 76-60; Maxwell 60-43. Collins lost - Farrar 50-47; Slater 48-40; Colo 37-34; Farrar 60-49; Eldora Trng. Sch. - 57-41. Collins finished third in the South Story Conference. Story County Tourney: Collins won - McCallsburg 43-33; Cambridge 48-27. Collins lost - Slater 45-40; Fernald 47-40, for fourth place. Sectional Tourney: Collins won - Hubbard 45-36; Zearing 44-40. Collins lost in finals to Owasa 58-28, second place. Season Record: Won - 19, lost - 8.
Team members - starting five: Larry Laird (56) (f) 270 pts.; John Vasey (56) (f) 395 pts.; Jack Kilgore (55) (c) 297 pts.; Ronnie Long (55) (g); Gene Fitzgerald (55) (g). Main substitutes: Jim Dodd (56) (f); Rex Morrison (56) (g). Other team members: Jerry Nichol (56) (g) ; Bill Ballard (56) (f); Elliott Partridge (57) (f); David Fitzgerald (57) (g); David Maxwell (57) (g). Manager - Dale Derby. Coach - Louis Schrader. John Vasey, Jack Kilgore, and Ronnie Long were returning regular players from prior season. Collins had a successful basketball season. The team scored 1357 points for offensive average of 50 points per game to their opponents' 1150 points for 43 points per game average. The entire starting five returns next year.
March 4, 1954 The juniors received their long-awaited class rings. The seniors had their measurements taken for caps and gowns Monday.