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 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.

Basketball (Boys)

The Staunton basketball team got off to an inauspicious start to the 1954-55 seasons, dropping eleven of its first thirteen games, with most of the losses coming by a large margin. However, Bill Edwards’ squad responded with better play down the stretch, winning five of the next eleven games, with the six losses coming by a combined total of fifteen points. The 7-17 Bulldogs finished 3-5 in the SCC and were led by seniors Jerry Bradley; Ken Monschein; Wayne Odorizzi; Marvin Stein; and Harry Zude.

Football

In 1954, the SHS football program welcomed Fred Brenzel as its new coach. Brenzel represented the team’s fourth leader in as many years. However, the high turnover rate ended when Brenzel was hired, as he stayed on for sixteen seasons and eventually established the Staunton football program as one of the best in the state. The 1954 season started off very well with close victories over Springfield Cathedral (20-19) and Litchfield (12-7). After suffering lopsided losses to Edwardsville (28-12) and Jacksonville ISD (40-0), the Dogs opened SCC play roared back with a shutout to Benld (14-0). Unfortunately, Staunton ended the season with two straight losses, falling 53-13 to East St. Louis Assumption before losing to a tough Mt. Olive squad by a score of 13-6. The season thus ended with a 4-5 record, including 2-2 in the SCC, which was won by Gillespie and Mt. Olive. Seniors on the squad included Gerald Scherff; Len Scherff; Ken Monschein; Marvin Stein; Ted Wenner; Bob Fletcher; and Jerry Bradley.

Track (Boys)

As athletic director, Bill Edwards reintroduced track as a sport at Staunton High School in 01953. Beginning in 1955, he found himself running the program as its new coach. Fortunately, he inherited a solid squad, including major letterman Jerry Bradley; Ron Buffington; Dave Denny; Ray Duda; Ralph Jacobs; Fred Lamb; Gerald Scherff; Len Scherff; Frank Stanko; and Gerald Yarnik. Minor letterman included Dick Coyne; Chuck Frey; Rodney Jacobs; and Tony Zeppetella.

Class of 1956

Baseball

Despite an overall record of just 7-7, Fred Brenzel’s Staunton Bulldogs captured their third straight South Central Conference championship by finishing 6-2 in the league. The SCC champions were led by seniors Gene Bentrup; Jim Brusack; and Mike Heigert.

Basketball (Boys)

In its last season using the Old Gym for home games, Bill Edwards directed the 1955-56 basketball team and seniors Arlen Anschutz; Ron Buffington; Ray Duda; and Bert Hendricks. However, it was also the last season for Edwards leading the basketball program, as the former SHS standout and collegiate performer wrapped up his forth season at the helm. Unfortunately, it was not a good season for SHS basketball, as the team suffered to a record of 4-20 overall and 1-9 in the South Central Conference. Wins over Bunker Hill, Girard, and Benld come early in the year, and the team embarked on twelve-game losing streak before beating Cahokia on the eve of the Regional Tournament.

Football

Despite encouraging results in coach Fred Brenzel’s first year on the job, the Staunton football program took a step back in 1955, recording just the fifth winless season in the sport’s history. The 0-8-1 Bulldogs finished 0-3-1 in the South Central Conference. Ron Buffington; Bob Davis; Ray Duda; Gilbert Hebenstreit; Leo Nardin; Roger Perrin; Frank Stanko; and Rich Voyas were seniors on the team. Stanko continued his career at Iowa State University.

The season began with 19-0 setback against Springfield Cathedral, followed by a close loss to Litchfield (13-6) in Week two. SHS suffered two lopsided losses to Edwardsville (40-19) and Jacksonville ISD (13-6) in Week five against Carlinville. Unfortunately, SCC action was not kind to SHS, as the Bulldogs were handedly defeated by Carlinville (40-0) and followed that loss with a 34-7 setback to Gillespie. Week seven saw Staunton and Benld paly to scoreless tie, the only contest of the season not to end in defeat for the Bulldogs. A week eight non-conference affair with East St. Louis Assumption ended in a 55-19 loss. Finally, the annual Veterans Day game against Mt. Olive had major implications for both teams. While Staunton was trying to avoid a winless season, rival Mt. Olive was shooting for its fourth straight SCC championship. Though the Bulldogs hung tough in the contest, they eventually succumbed to the Wildcats by a score of 39-26.

Track (Boys)

Bill Edwards wrapped up his coaching career at SHS in 1956, leading senior track members Ron Buffington; Dave Denney; Don Denney; Bert Holloway; Leon Kelso; Roger Perrin; Frank Stanko; and Gerald Yarnik for the last time. At the South Central Conference Meet, Wayne Helm (800 meters) and Dick Coyne (pole vault) won their respective events for SHS, marking the first time in eighteen years that a Staunton competitor captured an SCC title.

Class of 1957

Baseball

Coach Fred Brenzel’s 1957 baseball team was one for the ages, as they Dogs advanced to the State Tournament for the second of three appearances in school history (1944, 1957, 1994). The Bulldogs destroyed Mt. Olive (11-0) and Bethalto Civic Memorial (13-2) to win the District title before shutting down East Alton-Wood River (4-0) and Edwardsville (4-1) to become Regional champions. Poor weather made the field nearly unplayable at the Sectional Tournament, so diesel fuel was sprayed on the diamond and ignited, effectively drying out the field enough to play the games. SHS took advantage of the situation, recording close wins over Belleville (4-3) and Salem (4-2) to capture the Sectional title and advance the team to the State Tournament. Unfortunately, Staunton lost its first game at State, finishing 16-3 on the year.

Wayne Helm (8-1) and Wayne Masinelli (7-1) (7-1) concluded their brilliant careers with excellent senior seasons, as they were nearly unhittable on the mound for the Dogs. In fact, the SHS pitching staff led the Bulldogs to their fourth straight league title by allowing just five runs during the 8-0 conference slate. Bob Crabtree joined Helm and Masinelli as seniors on the team, with Bill Birdsell; Rich Dal Pozzo; Art Hasse; Larry Kuba; Bill Lambert; John Lesich; Leroy Luketich; Joe Mancewicz; Russ Masinelli; Jim Yauornick; and Wayne Zude rounding out the squad. After the season, Dal Pozzo captured Hitting Award, while Helm won the Pitching Award. Helm continued his baseball career for one season with the Giant’s minor league organization.

Basketball (Boys)

On November 25, 1956, the Staunton Community Unit School District #6 held a building dedication for the elementary school, including a brand new gymnasium with a seating capacity of 1800. The Bulldogs thus opened the 1956-57 season in the New Gym, one of best facilities in the area at the time. Staunton wasted no time breaking in the new facility, as the school hosted the Macoupin County Tournament for the first time, an event won by Carlinville. SHS also hosted the Regional Tournament at the end of the season.

Unfortunately, the team’s play on the court did not live up to the standards of their new building. The Bulldogs finished the season 5-18 overall and 3-9 in the South Central Conference under Wayne Beach in his one and only year leading the program. After a 3-3 start, SHS lost nine straight befor it secured another win. Unfortunately, a five-game losing streak followed, including a loss to Carlinville in the Regional Tournament, the team’s fourth setback that season to the Cavaliers. Seniors and three-sport standouts Wayne Helm and Wayne Masinelli led the SHS attack.