SHS Sports: Timelines from the Sidelines Tradition everlasting

Overview of 1920 to 1929

The first-ever SHS yearbook was published for the 1920-21 school year. It was a quality piece that included a surprising amount of detail about the students. Unfortunately, it was not produced again until 1924 and stopped being published soon thereafter. One can only presume why there were no annuals for over twenty years. The Great Depression certainly played a role. A push to conserve paper during wartime was likely a factor as well.

Regardless, Staunton was not alone in its plight, as most community high schools in the area did not publish yearbooks during the era. The original SHS yearbook was titled the Myrtle and Maroon, one can understand why baseball records have been named after Staunton’s school colors at the time. At some point, the yearbook became known as the Echo, as it still is today.

In addition to the construction of what is now the current high school building (the Class of 1923) was the first to graduate in the new facility), the 1920s saw two new sports added to the athletic offerings in the district. Boys basketball began in 1920-21, and the baseball program was likely launched two years later. While basketball has in general struggled in gaining traction within the community, baseball is well-rooted in Staunton’s past. However, the focus on the sport has generally been at the city level, and in fact the high school only competed in baseball sporadically in the first few years. Thus, despite the fact that no other program at the high school has won as many conference championships, baseball has rarely garnered much attention at SHS. Coupled with the fact that season results were often unattainable by the yearbook deadline, one can understand why baseball records have been difficult to uncover. Although not a sporting chance, it is worth mentioning that football enjoyed a decade of supremacy unlike any other, as national records for offensive dominance on its way to a perfect 10-0 season.

The decade also saw the formation of the South Central Conference (SCC) for the 1926-27 school year, of which Staunton was a charter member. In fact, SHS remained in the league until 2009-10, when the school switched to the Prairie State Conference for three seasons before rejoining the SCC. Other original members of the SCC included Carlinville, Gillespie, Hillsboro, Litchfield, Mt. Olive, Nokomis, Pana, Shelbyville and Taylorville.

Class of 1921

Football

The 1920 Staunton football team had a very successful season behind the play of seniors Al Martinelli, Charlie McGaughey, Ervin McLauchlan, Charlie Ross, and Ken Smith. The squad, coached by Bill Eccles, finished the year with a record of 7-1-1, outscoring their opponents 310-45 and capturing the unofficial Macoupin County championship. The group in myrtle and maroon started the year with three straight shutouts, defeating Litchfield (48-0), Benld (82-0), and Divernon (35-0). Staunton’s only defeat came in a tough game at Hillsboro where it fell by a score of 20-7. SHS came back in week 5 to defeat Carlinville (20-6) before settling for a scoreless tie with Virden in week six of the season. Staunton finished the year with three straight victories, including another win over Litchfield (60-3), as well as triumphs over Palmyra (21-2) and Mt. Olive (37-14).

Track (Boys)

The track team returned a nice blend of talent and experience for the 1921 season, including seniors Jess Hastings and Ervin McLauchlan. Glen Hasting, Max Jones, George Oehler, Roland Sawyer, Armond Sherman, and Cliff Stiegemeier rounded out the team. At the Macoupin County Meet, McLauchlan (javelin) and Jones (1600 meters) set records in their respective events, while Sherman also brought home a county title in the standing broad jump. Staunton also made some noise at State that year, as McLauchlan placed second in the javelin and Jones placed third in the 1600 meters. The Staunton athletes were coached by Bill Eccles.

Class of 1922

Basketball (Boys)

With no yearbook published and newspaper articles spotty at best, it is hard to find a complete record for the 1921-22 basketball team. However, it is known that the squad defeated Livingston twice in the regular season, as well as beating Virden and Benld once each. Losses came to Gillespie and Morrisonville. At the Macoupin County Tournament, Staunton defeated Virden and Gillespie before falling to eventual champion Mt. Olive, thus ending the season with an incomplete record of 6-3 under

Coach Noble Newsum.

Football

Coach Bill Eccles’ 1921 football team finished 7-3 on the year. It was Eccles’ last season with the team, though he certainly was not forgotten for the impact that he had on Staunton football. As superintendent of the district, he not only formed the program but, by experiencing success, he set the foundation for the record-breaking seasons that followed. Interestingly enough, Eccles had run for public office years earlier but was defeated in the election. Had he won the position, it is difficult to say what might have become of SHS football.

Back to 1921, the Maroons started the year off right with a shutout against Benld (19-0). After losing a heartbreaker to Mt. Olive (10-7), Staunton reeled off three more shutouts over Gillespie (13-0), Granite City (64-0), and Litchfield (21-0). Losses to Greenfield (38-15) and Virden (21-19) ensued, though the Virden loss came with much controversy. Apparently, in the final minute of the game and SHS leading by a small margin, Virden ran a play that the refs blew dead. The Staunton players stopped on the whistle but Virden did not, instead running in a touchdown to take the lead. Unfortunately, the Staunton bunch could not win the argument over the blown call, and the touchdown stood, resulting in a victory for Virden. Regardless, SHS finished the season strong, winning games over Palmyra (26-0), Carlinville (10-7), and exacting revenge on Mt. Olive (51-19). Football members that season included Gwylim Bozarth, Cliff Conway, Ed Fritz, Glen Hasting, Ed Hofstetter, Harry Jeanes, Max Jones, Delbert Lloyd, Adam Marquis, Harris May, Harry Miller, George Oehler, Harlow Panhorst, Gerald Roberts, Art Ruffini, Roland Sawyer, and Cliff Stiegemeier.

Track (Boys)

The 1922 track squad placed second at the Macoupin County Meet. Max Jones (800 meters) and Roland Sawyer (50 meters) won their respective races at the event, thus giving coach Bill Eccles two championships that year.

Class of 1923

Baseball

Though it is possible that baseball began at SHS prior to the 1923 season, no records indicating this have been found. However, what is known is that the 1923 team was coached by Paul Miller. In addition to his duties as school principal and classroom instructor, Coach Miller also directed each sport available at SHS during the 1922-23 school year. Many of his teams were considered among the best in the area, and his first baseball team was no different, finishing a sparkling 9-0 on the season.

Basketball (Boys)

Only partial results were obtained for coach Paul Miller’s 1922-23 basketball team, though it is known that Staunton defeated Shurtleff College, Litchfield, and Carlinville. A loss to Mt. Olive also occurred, leaving the team with an incomplete record of 3-1.

Football

For the first time in school history the football program had someone other than Bill Eccles at the helm. Paul Miller guided the 1922 team, a squad that finished with a mark of 9-1 overall and set a standard for the following season’s record-setting team. The year began with a week one victory over Benld by a score of 28-3. Shutouts over East St. Louis (20-0) and Litchfield (31-0) ensued, followed by a victory over rival Gillespie by a score of 28-3. A 65-0 shellacking of Auburn preceded a week six route of Virden (40-6). Staunton hit the century mark for the first time in school history in week seven, as SHS pounded Granite City by a score of 101-0. It was not the last time Staunton broke the 100-point barrier, and in fact the mark was shattered the very next season on two separate occasions. Unfortunately, the fun ended the very next week, as the Green Wave suffered its only loss of the season by a score of 33-13 to Carlinville. A solid victory over Alton Western Military Academy (13-0) followed, and Staunton also took care of business in the annual Thanksgiving game against Mt. Olive. SHS had many outstanding players in 1922, but tow in particular garnered media attention. Dave Wilson was named first Team All Central Illinois by the Illinois State Register, while Fred Arnicar was named to the second Team.

Track (Boys)

Paul Miller’s 1923 track program featured just five participants, all juniors. However, each was an exceptional athlete who helped SHS to a very successful season. Glen Hastings, John McBrien, George Oehler, Roland Sawyer, and cliff Stiegemeier led the team to victory at the McKendree College Invitational, an event that featured more than 20 local teams, and at that time was considered the premier track meet in Southern Ill. At the Macoupin County Meet, Hastings (400 meters), Oehler (discus) and Sawyer (standing broad jump) all won their respective events, leading the team to a second place finish.