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 1927

Basketball (Boys)

The 1926-27 basketball season seems to mark the first time that the school and community rallied around the program, providing ample resources, opportunities, and support needed for success. Perhaps not coincidentally, it was also the first year of the South Central Conference, with Litchfield eventually emerging as the champion of the league. Staunton, led by first-year coach Carroll McBride, did not disappoint its stakeholders, finishing 15-10 overall, thus setting a school record for victories in a season up to that point.

The highlight of each basketball season in that era was the Macoupin County Tournament. Although the current version of the tournament still holds some allure, with fewer schools competing, and with so many other entertainment options for people in modern society, crowds are sparse on most nights. Such was not the case in the 1920s, as the tournament was the showcase event of the winter season, drawing huge crowds to the host gymnasium with sixteen teams competing for bragging rights. Among the schools battling it out for the title were: Benld; Bright; Bunker Hill; Carlinville; Chesterfield; Gillespie; Girard; Hettick; Medora; Modesto; Mt. Olive; Palmyra; Scottville; Shipman; Staunton; and Virden.

Staunton began the tournament with a relatively easy victory over Virden before winning a close matchup with Benld. In the semifinals, SHS drew Chesterfield, which despite its small enrollment, was a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court in the 1920s. Unfortunately, SHS dropped the game by a score of 21-19. Staunton went on to capture third place by easily defeating Brighton, and Chesterfield lost in the championship game to Mt. Olive, which captured its third straight county title. One of the standouts on Staunton’s team was Walter Grabruck, a senior who went on to play basketball at Centre College.

Football

The 1926 football season saw two firsts: the first year for head coach Carroll McBride, and the first year for the SCC, of which STaunton was a charter member. However, despite being a ten-team league, the setup was a bit haphazard, as many conference foes did not actually settle games on the field. In fact, Staunton, which closed at 5-4 overall, only played five SCC games, finishing 2-3 in those affairs. The season began with a shutout victory over Litchfield. Solid wins over Edwardsville (8-0), East Alton-Wood River (48-0), and Greenfield (9-6) gave the team high hopes, and a shutout of SCC for Carlinville (27-0) added to the excitement. However, it was all downhill from there, as a 20-0 loss to Benld preceded setbacks to Hillsboro (7-0), Pana, and Mt. Olive (6-0). Thus, after having started the season 5-0, Staunton went on to lose four straight games, setting what was then a record for most losses in a season. Mt. Olive went on to win the inaugural SCC football title in 1926.

SHS featured two standout players in the form of seniors Walter Grabruck and John Horky. Both players moved on to Centre College to continue their careers. In addition to participating in football at the school, Grabruck also played basketball. Meanwhile, Horky became a campus icon and eventually had a building named after him at Centre College, as well as an award that is still given annually in his honor.

Track (Boys)

Under first-year coach Carroll McBride, the 1927 track season saw Staunton continue its upward trend in the sport, as several individuals qualified for State. At the Macoupin County Meet, Wellman France won the high jump. He also won District in that event and eventually placed sixth at State. In addition, France teamed up with Howard Meyer, Bob Ramseier, and Irwin Spotti on the District champion 800 meter relay team. The relay team also advanced to State, as did George McLauchlan (pole vault), Don Overbeay (discus), and Spotti (hurdles).

Class of 1928

Basketball (Boys)

The 1927-28 basketball team was coached by Carroll McBride, and the squad was quite simply the best in SHS history up to that point. The program accomplished many firsts, including the first 20-win season, the first Macoupin County championship, and the first postseason title, as SHS won the District Tournament. Unfortunately, the boys in myrtle and maroon were unable to win the SCC despite finishing 21-6 overall and 8-2 in league play.

Staunton was led into action that season by four outstanding players: Bernie Aschbacher, Wellman France, John Oehler, and Don Overbeay. Aschbacher, France, and Oehler were each named First Team All-County, while Overbeay was named to the Second Team. At County, Staunton defeated Girard, Virden, Chesterfield, and Gillespie on its way to the title. At District, SHS took out Morrisonville, Mt. Olive, Irving, and SCC champion Hillsboro in winning the school’s first District title. France and Oehler were named to the All-District Team at the conclusion of the event. At Sectionals, Staunton played very well in their first game, defeating Lebanon to advance to the next round. Unfortunately, the next opponent was Witt, a squad that had narrowly defeated SHS on its way to an eventual appearance at State. After the season, Aschbacker (Honorable Mention); France (First-Team); Oehler (Second-Team); and Overbeay (First-Team) each made the All-Conference squad.

On a side note, SHS exacted revenge on two ex-coaches during regular season action. Paul Miller, coach of the legendary football team of 1923, had moved on to Alton High School where he was put in charge of the basketball program. After losing to Alton early in the year by one point, SHS easily defeated the much larger school later in the season. Also, Byron Bozarth, a Staunton graduate who eventually coached basketball, football, and track in his hometown, was now working at Granite City High School. While SHS defeated Bozarth’s squad that season, he in fact enjoyed many successful years at GCHS, ultimately winning a state championship in 1940.

Football

Staunton captured its first SCC football championship in 1927. Gillespie shared a piece of the crown, as both teams were undefeated in SCC play. However, GHS upheld its ban of competing against teams from Staunton, due to the 233-0 thrashing that occurred in 1923. Despite repeated attempts by SHS to determine the championship on the field, the game never happened. However, writers and critics believed that the game would have been no contest, as Staunton, along with Virden and Hillsboro, was believed to be one of the best teams in the state, with Gillespie barely in the conversation. Others chose to look at comparative scores between common opponents. For instance, SHS defeated Mt. Olive 39-0 in the last game of the season, just one week after Gillespie narrowly beat Mt. Olive by a score of 6-0.

Staunton finished 8-0-1 overall in 1927, including 4-0 in the SCC, with all four conference victories coming via shutout. The record marked the program’s second undefeated campaign in its history. Week one opened with a non-conference game against Edwardsville, a team that SHS easily defeated by a score of 47-0. Week two provided the only blemish on Staunton’s record in a 7-7 tie with Virden. The fact that Staunton was able to garner a tie was a surprise to many, as Virden returned basically its whole starting lineup from the previous season, a group that was not scored upon all year. A 56-0 tune-up in Week three over Livingston preceded SCC play, which Staunton opened with a 13-0 victory over Litchfield. Wins over Greenfield (32-0), Carlinville (27-0), Girard (56-3), Hillsboro (14-0), and Mt. Olive (39-0) followed, and when the season was over SHS had outscored its opponents 232-13.

Carroll McBride directed SHS football in 1927, and team members included Bernie Aschlbacher; August Costa; Wellman France; Otto Horky; John Jersin; Tom Kinnikin; Bill Moss; George McLauchlan; Howard Meyer; Roy Miller; John Oehler; Don Overbeay; Bob Ramseier; Will Saottini; Irwin Spotti; and Bill Straud. Aschbacher, Miller, Oehler, and Overbeay all attained All-Conference First-Team status, while France and Ramseier were also honored by being named Second-Team All-SCC. Aschbacher and Overbeay continued their football careers at Illinois College.

Track (Boys)

Not only did SHS win the athletic portion of the Macoupin County Meet for the second time in school history, but in 1928 the team also took home the overall title, bringing the Grand Prize trophy, Field Meet trophy, and Relay Cup back to Staunton. Moreover, Carroll McBride’s crew also made history by winning the initial SCC Conference Track Meet. Finally, the dream season continued, as the track team won the District championship for the first time in the program’s history.

County champions in 1928 included Wellman France in the high jump, long jump, and hurdles. France actually set a county record in the high jump, which interestingly enough was a better mark than the record set at State that same year. Howard Meyer won County in both the 100 meter and 200 meter, while the 800 meter relay team of Meyer, Bob Ramseier, Irwin Spotti, and Harry Walters tied the meet record in winning that event. With the SCC Meet being in its inaugural season, each Staunton winner actually set a conference record. Winners included France (long jump, hurdles), Meyer (50 meters, 100 meters, 200 meters), Spotti (400 meters), and the 800 meter relay team of Meyer, Ramseier, Spotti, and Walters. Finally, although the team as a whole placed First, Meyer was the only SHS athlete to win at the District Meet, doing so in both the 100 meters and 200 meters and setting a meet record in the latter event. He moved on to State in both events, eventually winning Third place in the 100 meters. France also advanced to State, and he too took home a Third place medal, with his honor coming in the high jump.