How the “Red Rockets” Got Name? By Nels J. Monson
When you think South Milwaukee sports, everybody thinks ”Rockets”, right? If you, however, would have graduated from good ol’ SM High before 1938 you would have spent your time cheering for the South Milwaukee “Cardinals” instead. Headlines in the February 18, 1938 issue of the local newspaper, the South Milwaukee Journal, proclaimed that “ ‘Red Rockets’ Is New Name for High School.” So, what events prompted this change? According to the Journal, most notable was the fact that Suburban Conference rivals Wauwatosa High School were also known as the Cardinals. This led to some confusion for area sports writers. The new name was immediately adopted. The high school newsletter, The Harbinger had this to say of the new choice of names: “It’s spirited! It has possibilities for dance themes, class jewelry, and athletic emblems! It signifies speed, pep, and vitality! It’s new and different!” Not to be outdone, The Journal added their own two-cents worth regarding the change, “Might we add that the name is typically modern with talk of rocket airships in coming transportation methods.” “Red Rockets” was chosen by the students in a contest conducted by the high school’s “cooperative government.” Interestingly enough, the name change took place during the basketball season. Also, Wauwatosa decided to switch names to the “Red Raiders” around the same time. With that, the Suburban Conference went from two teams going by the name “Cardinals” to none. Fittingly, the last mention of the old name also appeared in the February 18 issue of The Journal when it reported that Coach F. Clark Van Galder’s Cardinals beat Whitefish Bay at home 36-30. |
Meet Your Coaches
Coach Noah Skowronski
Boys Varsity Head Coach Coaching History: Noah has been involved in the SM Boys Soccer Program since 2007. He was Boys Junior Varsity Assistant Coach for two years, and then Boys Junior Varsity Head Coach/Varsity Assistant Coach for five years. 2014 was his first year as Boys Head Varsity Coach. Playing History High School: South Milwaukee High School 1998 - 2002 3 year Varsity player from 1999-2001 Earned All North Division honors as Senior Captain 2000 – First winning season in SMHS history 2001 – First Rocket Invite Championship in SMHS history 2001 – First Regional Championship in SMHS history 2001 – First Sectional Final appearance in SMHS history (lost in double overtime) Club(s): During high school Noah played for the Simba Lions coached by Jimmy Banks, the current Head Coach of the Men’s Soccer Program at MSOE. Noah currently plays for Simbas SC in the Wisconsin Soccer League (WSL) First Division. Coach Taylor York
Girls Varsity Head Coach Boys Assistant Varsity Coach Boys Varsity Reserve Head Coach 
Taylor York began coaching at South Milwaukee in 2014. She is from Grayslake, IL, where she played Varsity Soccer and
continued her career to play Division 3 soccer at Carthage College. Prior to college, Taylor was on club teams such as
Grayslake United, Grayslake Galaxy, and the Chicago Kickers. When playing
for Grayslake United, her team made it to a National Tournament in Hawaii.
Taylor York is
currently the Physical Education teacher at South Milwaukee Middle School and
lives in Milwaukee. She hopes to continue with South Milwaukee for years to come
and develop the South Milwaukee Soccer Program to what it deserves to
be.
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