SHS Sports: Timelines From The Sidelines Tradition Everlasting

Overview Of 1960-1969

The decade of the 1960’s saw the baseball program continue its dominance, as well as football’s return to prominence. Combined, the two sports won fourteen of twenty possible conference titles in the decade. Unfortunately, the basketball program fell on hard times and, in fact, failed to secure even one winning season in the 1960’s. While no new sports were added during the era, golf did disappear as an option for SHS Students.

The 1960s witnessed numerous changes to the South Central Conference. The first two years of the decade saw the SCC remain a seven-team league with Benld, Carlinville, Gillespie, Mt. Olive, Nokomis, Southwestern, and Staunton in the fold. The conference was back down to five teams beginning with the 1961-62 academic year when the Benld school district was annexed by Gillespie and Southwestern left to join Illinois Valley Conference (IVC). The IVC later merged with another league to form the Western Illinois Valley Conference (WIVC). Two years later, the Springfield Feitshans Flyers were admitted into the South Central Conference, making the conference a six-team league. Unfortunately, Springfield Feitshans was swallowed up by Springfield Southeast High School at the start of the 1967-68 school year. In order to keep the league at six teams, the SCC extended an invitation to Virden, which was accepted.

Class of 1960

Baseball

Coach Fred Brenzel’s 1960 baseball squad finished 11-7 on the season. Though unimpressive in regular season non-conference action (1-5 record), the Dogs were simply dominant in the South Central Conference, finishing 9-1 and capturing the league crown for the seventh straight year. In fact, SHS outscored SCC foes 146-36, including double-digit scoring in all nine league wins. The offensive juggernaut was especially impressed in wins over Mt. Olive (11-0 and 10-0), Gillespie (17-0 and 19-0), and Carlinville (32-8 and 16-1). Hitting Award winner Larry Kuba batted .588 on the year, which is believed to be a single-season school record. Junior Rick France hit .453 and also finished 6-2 on the mound in taking home the Pitching Award. Senior Bulldogs included Don Brewer; Ray Caldieraro; Kuba; Joe Mancewicz; Rich Monschein; and Dan Roland.

Basketball (Boys)

The 1959-60 basketball team was led by seniors Larry Kuba; Dan Roland; and Norm Wenner. Enno Lietz directed the squad in a season that saw the Bulldogs finish 12-16 overall and 7-5 in the South Central Conference. Unfortunately, the campaign resulted in a record below .500, the first of fourteen straight losing seasons for the program. SHS tried to salvage the campaign, making the Regional final before succumbing to Litchfield by a score of 85-63. At the postseason awards banquet, junior Rick France was presented with the Free Throw Award.

Football

The 1959 Bulldogs, coached by Fred Brenzel, finished the season 8-2 and a perfect 6-0 in the South Central Conference, thus repeating as league champions. The only two losses on the year came to large school powers in a 19-0 setback to Collinsville and a 32-0 defeat by Belleville (BHS did not split into two schools, East and West, until the 1966-67 school year). SHS victories on the season came against Litchfield (25-0), Southwestern (21-0), Jerseyville (14-7), Carlinville (18-7), Gillespie (43-13), Nokomis (53-12), Benld (13-6), and Mt. Olive (32-0).

Larry Kuba captured All-SCC and All-State honors in gaining 1414 rushing yards on the season, a school record that stood for more than 40 years. Leroy Schulte; Barry Deist; and Joe Mancewicz joined Kuba as All-Conference first team members, while Don Brewer (Second team); Dick Kapp (Honorable Mention); and Fred Brauer (Honorable Mention) were also rewarded for their play on the field. Seniors included Brewer; Ray Caldieraro; Bob Frey; Kuba; Mancewicz; Jack Perrone; Mike Skertich; Mike Smith; and Norm Wenner. Kuba and Mancewicz were named Offensive MVP, while Brauer was the team’s Defensive MVP. Kuba and Mancewicz both continued their playing careers at University of Missouri on football scholarships. Kuba played all four years at Mizzou before returning to SHS as a long-time teacher and coach.

Golf (Boys)

The 1960 golf team was coached by Bill Schuetze in his last year at the school. The team featured seniors Charlie Fritz; Wayne Hutchins; Dick Kapp; Dan Michki; Ron Rodeghiero; and Norm Wenner.

Track (Boys)

Enno Lietz directed the 1960 track team, which was led by seniors Ron Bond; Don Brewer; Stan Conroy; Myron Hoffstetter; Jack Perrone; Don Roland; Mike Skertich; and Norm Wenner. Though they have since been surpassed, Brewer (100 meters), Hoffstetter (1600 Meters), and Wenner (discus) set school records in their respective events. Wenner also took first place at the South Central Conference Meet and advanced to State in the discus.

Class of 1961

Baseball

Though the 1961 baseball team played just eleven games, the Bulldogs made the most of their opportunities, finishing 8-3 overall and 4-0 in the South Central Conference. The undefeated SCC slate secured the program its eight consecutive league title. Fred Brenzel directed the squad, which included seniors Bill Day; Larry Drumtra; Rick France; Ken Hochmuth; Todd Lantermo; and Dean Oehler. Hochmuth won the Hitting Award (.381), while France (6-2) took home the Pitching Award for the SCC champions. With a career record of 22-6, France is perhaps Staunton’s all-time wins leader on the mound.

Basketball (Boys)

Coach Enno Lietz welcomed seniors Bill Day; Rick France; Leroy Schulte; and Don Sievers to the court for the 1960-61 basketball season. The squad finished 9-12 overall, with France taking home the Free Throw Award for the second straight season.

Football

The 1960 football squad swept through South Central Conference play, finishing a perfect 6-0 in league and winning the program’s third straight title. In fact, the Dogs outscored SCC foes by a score of 214-32. The season actually began with two straight losses, as SHS dropped non-conference affairs to Collinsville (39-0) and Litchfield (20-7). A Week Three win over SCC opponent Southwestern (42-121) preceded two more non-conference games, a loss to Belleville (26-12) and a victory over Jerseyville (18-14. Staunton finished out the campaign with five straight league wins, including defeats to Carlinville (19-7), Gillespie (53-0), Benld (27-0), Nokomis (47-13) and Mt. Olive (26-0).

Coach Fred Brenzel’s 7-3 squad was led by All-Conference selections Len Bednar; Fred Brauer; Rick France; Dean Oehler; Leroy Schulte; and Make Yakos, all seniors, and Berry Deist and Bill Knop, both juniors. Schulte capped off a brilliant career by becoming the first athlete in school history to capture All-American honors, thus cementing himself as one of Staunton’s all-time football greats, As a result of being named to this elite squad, he was invited to paly in the All-American game in Texas, and he eventually would wound up at the University of Mississippi and played one season for the Rebels. Deist finished the year with 1259 yards rushing, and he and France were both named Offensive MVP, with Brauer; Schulte; and Yakos shared Defensive MVP honors. Seniors Bednar; Brauer; Jay Costa; Bill Day; Larry Drumta; France; Todd Lantermo; Oehler; Schulte; and Yakos.

Track (Boys)

The 1961 track squad included seniors Fred Brauer; Bill Pernicka; and Mike Yakos. The team, coached by Enno Lietz, featured junior Barry Deist, a State-qualifier in the 200 meters.

Class of 1962

Baseball

Coach Fred Brenzel’s baseball team won the South Central Conference title for the ninth straight time in 1962 behind the play of seniors Barry Deist; Bill Knop; Dave Robbins; and Dean Schulmeister. The squad finished 1-6 overall, including a perfect 8-0 in SCC play. After the season, Deist took home the team’s Hitting Award, while Knop was named the Pitching Award winner. After playing football for one season at the University of Illinois, Deist resumed his baseball career at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. After his playing days ended, Deist returned to SHS as a member of teaching staff and later became one of the winningest baseball football coaches in school history.

Basketball (Boys)

The 1961-62 Bulldogs, coached by Enno Lietz, ended the season with a record of 8-12. The season was somewhat of a disappointment for SHS, as the team had a nice blend of senior leadership to go along with talent at the lower levels. Unfortunately, senior leader Barry Deist was injured and unable to play the whole season. To add insult to injury, the Dogs lost many close games, including three contests to Gillespie by a total of four points. Ron Keene (14.9 points) and Norm Schmidt (13.1) led the Dogs in scoring, while John Luketich, Deist, Diel, and Eugene Diel also contributed to a balanced attack. Dave Robbins joined Deist, Diel, and Schmidt as seniors on the squad. Junior Ed Barnhart captured the Free Throw Award for the first two straight seasons.

Football

The Staunton football program, under the direction of Fred Brenzel, continued its success in the 1961 season. The Dogs finished the year 7-2 overall, including 4-0 in the South Central Conference, thus winning the league title for the fourth straight year. Staunton began the campaign with consecutive shutouts after soundly defeating Virden (41-0) and Litchfield (19-0). Coach Brenzel’s teams were known for taking on all competitors, regardless of size. One of the biggest schools in the state came calling in Week three, as the Bulldogs faced Belleville High School. The Dogs kept the game close but eventually fell by score of 20-12. After narrow wins over Jerseyville (18-14) and Carlinville (13-7), SHS posted three straight shutouts in clobbering Gillespie (33-0), Nokomis (53-0), and Mt. Olive (40-0). Unfortunately, the Bulldogs lost a shootout to Centralia in Week nine, falling 47-41 to the Orphans.

Senior Barry Deist led the Staunton juggernaut during the season, scoring 105 points and being named All-State for his efforts. Predictably, Deist was also named to the All-SCC first team. What made the honor so impressive, however, is that he had been named All-Conference in each of his for high school seasons. A rarity in any sport, but especially football, it is possible that Deist is the only player in the program’s history to achieve the feat. After graduation, Deist continued his career at the University of Illinois. However he suffered a knee injury in practice at the hands of legendary Dick Butkus and therefore finished his playing days at Truman State University. Deist, who also played baseball at Truman State, retuned to SHS as a teacher and coach, directing both the baseball and football squads for long tenures. As for other members of the squad, Bill Knop and John Luketich were also effective offensively for SHS, they shared Offensive MVP honors with Deist. Butch Duda; Bob Gaudi; John Monroe and Knop led a defense that posted five shutouts on the season, with Gaudi and Monroe sharing Defensive MVP honors. Joining Deist,; Gaudi; and Knop as seniors on the squad were Ross Bradley; Ron Langley; and Dave Robbins.

Track (Boys)

Seniors Jeff Balliett; Dave Cool; Barry Deist; Eugene Diel; Gary Heinemeyer; Bill Knop; and Dave Straub led a deep and talented track squad in 1962. The team, which took second place at both the South Central Conference and Macoupin County track meets, was directed by Enno Lietz. The 800 meter relay team of Deist; Knop and Juniors Melvin Duda and John Monroe took home SCC gold. Monroe also captured a conference championship in hurdles.