SHS Sports: Timelines From The Sidelines Tradition Everlasting

Class of 1952

Basketball (Boys)

The 1951-52 basketball season is considered one of the best in school history, as the squad finished with an outstanding 23-4 record, including 7-1 in the South Central Conference. The 7-1 mark in the SCC was good for a league title for the first time in seventeen years, and the group also captured the championship at Macoupin County Tournament that same season. The year started out with eleven straight wins, but unfortunately Gillespie ended the winning streak and eventually the season for SHS. While the Dogs and Miners split the season SCC contests, Staunton captured Macoupin County championship over the Miners, while Gillespie won the Regional to end Staunton’s superb season.

The Bulldogs were an offensive juggernaut, averaging 74 points per game, including the 90-point mark on four different occasions. Len Renner led the explosive bunch tallying over 500 points on the season. Through his career statistics are incomplete, it is likely that Renner was the first member of school’s 1000 Point Club. Dean Brauer and Dick Goehe also averaged double figures for SHS. Brauer continued his career at Eastern Illinois University were he was nominated for All-American status as a senior. The varsity squad consisted entirely of seniors in 1952, and the group included Jim Anschutz; Brauer; Bob Cargnoni; Jack Gockel; Goehe; Don Horne; Delmer Jarman; Don Kotzman; Dale O’Neal; Renner; Fred Stein; and Walt Vesper. Many of the boys played significant minutes as underclassmen, and in fact Gockel and Jarman were four-year letter winners for coach Joe Jurkanin, who was wrapping his fifth and final season directing the program.

Football

Joe Jurkanin’s final year at the helm of the football program made for a successful season, as the squad matched the previous year’s 6-2-1 record and captured a share of the South Central Conference Championship with a 3-0-1 record in league play. The Dogs were led by an outstanding group of seniors in 1951, many of whom had been starters for two or three years. The seniors included Rich Albrecht; Jim Anschutz; Bob Cargnoni; Jack Gockel; Dick Goehe; Delmer Jarman; Don Kotzman; Dale O’Neal; Bob Owens; Dom Picco; Steve Pirok; Len Renner; Fred Stein; Walt Vesper; and Jim Zuchek. Picco and Goehe both moved on to play football in college. Picco ended up at Purdue, whereas Goehe attended the University of Mississippi. In fact, Goehe was a member of Ole Miss football teams that made Cotton Bowl and Sugar Bowl appearances in his time at the school.

SHS played a very difficult schedule in 1951, beginning the season with 27-0 shutout win over Springfield Cathedral in the first meeting between the two schools. SHS also faces a new opponent in a Week two loss to St. Louis DeAndreis (13-7), as well as in a Week three victory over Decatur Lakeview (20-14). Staunton moved on to defeat Alton Marquette (20-7) and Carlinville (26-6) to continue the winning track. A 13-13 tie with SCC Co-Champion Gillespie in Week six was the only blemish on either team’s SCC slate. The Dogs finished the year with a victory over Benld in Week seven (12-7), a loss to mighty Edwardsville in Week eight (33-21), and a victory over Mt. Olive (20-7) to close out the season.

Class of 1953

Baseball

The 1953 baseball team featured seniors Jim Bond; Dick Haase; Dean Hutchins; Jim Meyer; and Dave Wineburner. The squad was coached by former SHS standout Bill Edwards. Though Edwards was known more for his basketball exploits while in high school, he was a member of the 1944 baseball team that made an appearance at the State Tournament.

Basketball (Boys)

Fresh off an outstanding season, the basketball program welcomed a new coach for the 1952-53 campaign. Staunton alum Bill Edwards, a collegiate basketball player at the University of Illinois and St. Louis University, returned to Staunton to coach his alma mater. Unfortunately, SHS graduated its whole varsity team from the previous season, and the Dogs struggled to an overall record of 8-17, including 2-6 in the South Central Conference. After the season, the Bulldogs said goodbye to seniors Jim Furtkamp and Jim Vesper.

Football

The Bulldog football team was in rebuilding mode in 1952, as the program lost the bulk of its production from the previous season’s conference championship team. The Bulldogs also welcomed a new coach to the ranks, as SHS alum Bill Edwards took over the program. However, Edwards had to miss the first few games to as he finished out his military service to his country, and thus assistant Jonas Lashmet filled in for a good portion of the season. As could be expected given the graduation losses and coaching situation, the Dogs struggled to record of 1-8, including 1-4 in the South Central Conference. Seniors on the 1952 squad included Jim Bond; Jim Courtney; Jim Furtkamp; Dick Haase; Dean Hutchins; Jim Makula; Al Pernichele; and Jim Vesper.

The year began with a shutout loss to Springfield Cathedral (18-0), followed by three more non-conference setbacks to Litchfield (43-12), Decatur Lakeview (21-7) and Alton Marquette (46-7). The losing streak continued into SCC play following a Week five loss to Carlinville (47-7) and a Week six drubbing by Gillespie (40-0). However, the Dogs entered the win column the very next week, defeating Benld (21-19) in a tight matchup for the team’s lone victory of the season. After a 40-8 loss to Edwardsville in Week eight, SHS closed out the season and conference play with a shutout loss to Mt. Olive (47-0). Carlinville, Gillespie, and Mt. Olive shared the SC crown in 1952.

Track (Boys)

For the first time in over a decade, Staunton High School fielded a rack team for the 1953 season. Jonas Lashmet guided the program, but much credit must also be given to Bill Edwards. The school’s athletic director, Edwards was instrumental in re-implementing the sport after many years without a team. Unfortunately, the program did not fare well at the South Central Conference Meet, finishing in last place.

Class of 1954

Baseball

After winning two straight South Central Conference titles, the Dogs fell in the league standings in 1953. However, Bill Edwards’ baseball team climbed back to the top of the SCC in 1954, starting a streak of ten straight SCC crowns and thirteen titles in fourteen seasons. The season did not get off to a good start, as Staunton dropped contests to Litchfield and Edwardsville to begin the year. However, SHS reeled twelve straight wins before succumbing to East Alton-Wood River in the District title game. Senior pitcher Bill Renner (6-2); Junior Harry Zude (4-0); and freshman Wayne Masinelli (2-1); led the team to their final record 12-3, including an undefeated 6-0 in the conference. Renner also led the team in hitting with a .381 batting average. Senior ballplayers included Larry Caldieraro; Bill Lorson; Pat Muenstermann; Renner; Len Roddick; and Ron Yarnick.

Basketball (Boys)

The 1953-54 Bulldogs were coached by Bill Edwards and led by seniors Bill Renner; Rich Fiori; and Dick Scheller. It was an up-and-down year for the team, as SHS hovered around the .500 mark of the season. In the end, the Dogs finished 12-14 overall, including 4-4 in the South Central Conference, SHS took third at Macoupin County Tournament, defeating Mt. Olive in tits final game. The Dogs and Wildcats split the season with Mt. Olive winning both regular season contests and the Dogs taking the Macoupin County and Regional matchups. Gillespie won the country title that season for the second of four straight years.