SHS Sports: Timelines From The Sidelines Tradition Everlasting

The information in this column is provided by the book “The History of Staunton High School Sports (1908-2012)” which was researched and written by local resident and School Board member, Steven F. Moore. “Covering over 100-years of multiple sporting events of a local area is quite a daunting task,” and it is important to note that Moore acknowledges that he could not find everything that he wanted to include in the book.

The Star-Times releasing and publishing the information as a weekly news column is intended to educate, connect, and potentially humble all of us within the community on events and people that were the driving force in molding Staunton’s community and its tradition of sports into what it is today.

As we time travel the timelines in this column, the goal is to accumulate more information than what was provided from Moore’s book by being interactive and present. Feel free to send in any information, questions, pictures, comments, or concerns based on the information (or lack thereof) that is provided in this column for the foreseeable future. The Star-Times is appreciative of Moore in allowing the use of his hard work and research as a means of doing what Moore intended to do himself when writing the book: display and document local information and records in hopes to instill honor and pride for the traditions within and surrounding the sporting success of Staunton High School.

Class of 1954

Football

The 1953 Football season began once again with a coaching change, at least on paper, as Jonas Lashmet took over the program for one season. Lashmet essentially served as the team’s head coach the previous season while Bill Edwards finished up his military service. While the Dogs showed improvement in 1953, the team unfortunately lost several close games in sliding to 2-7 overall and 1-3 in the South Central Conference.

The year started off with a tough loss to Springfield Cathedral (12-7) in Week 1, and the Dogs fell to 0-2 with a 25-0 shutout at the hands of Litchfield in Week 2. SHS righted the ship with a 12-0 victory over Edwardsville in Week 3 but fell the very next week to SCC rival Gillespie (19-6). The loss began a three-game losing streak that included close setbacks to Carlinville (7-6) and Bement (13-6). SHS responded by defeating Benld (13-6) for its lone SCC victory of the season. The year ended with consecutive losses to East St. Louis Assumption (19-13) and SCC champion Mt. Olive (27-0). Despite the record, seniors Larry Caldieraro; Rich Fiori; Bill Lorson; Harry Mengelkamp; Pat Muenstermann; Bill Renner; Len Roddick; and Dick Scheller did their best to spark the squad. After graduation, Caldieraro played one year of football for Southern Illinois University.

Track (Boys)

Jonas Lashmet guided the 1954 track team in his last season with the squad. Harry Mengelkamp was the lone senior on the team and he helped guide the Dogs to a forth place finish in the South Central Conference. SHS placed seventh at the Macoupin County Meet.

Class of 1955

Baseball

The 1955 baseball program welcomed a new coach to the fold, though he was not unfamiliar to the community. Fred Brenzel, a standout pitcher who led his team to the State Tournament in 1944, returned to his alma mater to direct the baseball and football teams. Brenzel’s first season running the baseball program was a successful one, as the team finished 11-6 overall and 5-1 in the South Central Conference. The SCC record was good for first place in the league, giving Staunton its second conference championship in as many years. Four of the team’s six losses were to large schools Edwardsville (three times) and Collinsville, though Gillespie and Litchfield also had Staunton’s number The 1955 Dogs featured a strong starting lineup, including Gene Bentrup; Bob Crabtree; Rich Dal Pozzo; Wayne Helm; Al Loeh; Leroy Luketich; Ken Monschein; and Marvin Stein. Wayne Masinelli; Ted Wenner; and Harry Zude provide the pitching for the SCC champions.