SHS Sports: Timelines From The Sidelines

Class of 1973

Baseball

The 1973 baseball team was dominant in league action, finishing 9-1 and capturing the South Central Conference championship under the tutelage of Barry Deist. One game of note was a contest with rival Mt. Olive late in the season. The game lasted twenty-one innings (two shy of the national record) and ended in a 0-0 tie due to darkness. During the game, Mt. Olive set a state record by striking out 31 Staunton hitters. SHS pitchers responded by setting down 25 Wildcats, and in the process the two teams combined for a state record (eighth nationally) for combined strikeouts in a game. Seniors on the squad included Al Callovini; Paul Hiette; Joe Kravanya; and Fred Stein. Callovini and junior Bill Marcuzzo shared the Hitting Award, while junior Vic Spagnola won the Pitching Award.

Basketball (Boys)

Despite welcoming eight seniors for the 1972-73 basketball season, Don Miller’s squad struggled in his third season as head coach. The Bulldogs finished 3-21 overall, including 1-11 in the South Central Conference. Wins on the year came in games against Odin, Mt. Olive, and Northwestern. Al Callovini; Mike Dal Pozzo; Mark Dietiker; Dave Hering; Paul Hiette; Brian Rotsch; Fred Stein; and Del Stiegemeier all finished up their playing careers that season. The end of the year also brought to an end Coach Miller’s tenure with the program.

Football

Bob Chiti’s 1972 football team enjoyed yet another successful South Central Conference campaign, as the Dogs finished with a 5-1 record in the league. Unfortunately, a 14-6 loss in Week six of the season to Gillespie cost SHS its fourth straight title, as the Miners finished undefeated in the SCC. The Bulldogs wrapped up the season 6-4 overall.

The season started with a shutout loss to Hillsboro (20-0) but followed with shutout victories over Litchfield (25-0) and Southwestern (26-0). Another shutout occurred in Week four against Pittsfield, though the Dogs came out on the wrong end of the contest (25-0). A 22-8 victory over Carlinville in Week five preceded the Gillespie loss. SHS went on to win three straight games, including victories over Virden (22-7), Nokomis (20-15), and Mt. Olive (20-9). The Dogs finished the season with a Week ten loss to Edwardsville (34-8).

Staunton placed several players on the All-Conference squad, led by First Team members and seniors Gene Felchner; Paul Hiette; Fred Stein; and Terry Tevini. Seniors C.J. Kellebrew and Joe Kravanya were named All-SCC Honorable Mention, as were juniors Randy Best; Norm Heigert; Curt Kellebrew; and Daryl Schuette. Offensive MVP honors went to Hiette, while C.J. Kellebrew took home the Defensive MVP award. Additional seniors included Al Callovini; Mike Dal Pozzo; Roger Friend; and Dave Slazinik. Felchner continued his playing career at Illinois College.

Track (Boys)

The 1973 track program welcomed a new coach, with Gale Bryan taking over the reins. Senior Del Stiegemeier was the South Central Conference high jump champion that season, and he was joined on the track team by fellow seniors Dave Bird; Mike Dal Pozzo; Gene Felchner; Dave Hering; Paul Hiette; Bruce Robinson; and Brian Rotsch.

Track (Girls)

Although the Girls Athletic Association (GAA) had been in existence for a considerable number of years, the 1973 track season marked the first time that Staunton High School officially offered sports for girls in the district. Patty Rupert directed the first squad in school history, though no seniors participated in the inaugural campaign.

Class of 1974

Baseball

The 1974 baseball team tried to defend its South Central Conference title, but unfortunately the Dogs fell to 8-6 overall and 5-4 in SCC action. Barry Deist guided the team, which was led by seniors Norm Heigert; Bill Marcuzzo; Daryl Schuette; and Vic Spagnola. Marcuzzo (0.87 ERA) and Spagnola (1.23 ERA) were brilliant on the mound for SHS, while sophomore Eric Pingolt led the team in hitting with a .360 batting average. Marcuzzo and Spagnola were both named to the All-SCC First Team, while Pingolt and Schuette attained Honorable Mention status. Marcuzzo continued his baseball career for four seasons at Western Illinois University, earning All-American accolades as a senior.

Basketball (Boys)

An amazing turnaround occurred during the 1973-74 basketball season, as the Bulldogs, led by first-year head coach Randy Legendre, reversed a severe losing trend. Coach Legendre’s team finished 14-11 overall and 9-3 in the South Central Conference, making the team co-champions of the league with Carlinville and Nokomis. The improbable championship season came on the heels of fifteen straight non-winning campaigns, including six straight years of single-digit win totals. However, Legendre’s teams became known for making the impossible possible, as he eventually guided the basketball program to the school’s only team title in his second stint as head basketball coach.

The 1974 team got out of the gate with a quick start, spurred by seven straight victories. Unfortunately, five consecutive losses ensued, though eventually the team finished the season on a four-game winning streak before being eliminated from postseason play by Nokomis. Seniors Bill Marcuzzo; Dave Oettel; Jeff Schmidt; Daryl Schuette; and Dave Suhrenbrock led the turnaround. Schuette garnered All-SCC First Team honors, and he was joined on the All-Conference squad by juniors Mark Stein (Second Team) and Don Sullivan (Honorable Mention).

Football

The 1973 football season got off to a promising start for coach Bob Chiti, as the Dogs won their first four games of the year. Unfortunately, key injuries unraveled the season, though the team still finished 7-3-1 overall and 3-2-1 in the South Central Conference. Interestingly enough, Staunton played eleven regular season games for the first and only time in school history that season.

The year began with a Week One victory over Bethalto Civic Memorial by a score of 28-18. A close win over Hillsboro (28-22) in Week Two preceded victories over Litchfield (20-6) and Southwestern (6-0). SHS lost a hard-fought Week Five game to Pittsfield (12-8) before battling Carlinville to an 8-8 tie in Week Six. Gillespie knocked off Staunton by a score of 24-14 in Week Seven, giving the Miners their second straight SCC title. However, the Dogs rebounded with victories over Virden (20-6) and Nokomis (48-6). A loss to Mt. Olive (20-16) wrapped up the league slate, though SHS finished the season with a 14-6 win over Chatham Glenwood.

Seniors on the 1973 squad included Randy Best; Norm Heigert; Bill Marcuzzo; Tim McBride; Mike Pirok; Jeff Schmidt; Daryl Schuette; and Dave Suhrenbrock. Heigert was the lone Staunton player to make the All-Conference First Team, though Best and Schuette joined juniors Bob Lietz and Don Sullivan in garnering Honorable Mention status. Schmidt was name the team’s Offensive MVP, while Best took home Defensive MVP honors. After the season, Schuette continued his playing career at Western Illinois University for four years.

Track (Boys)

Gale Bryan’s 1974 track team took home Fourth place at both the South Central Conference and Macoupin County track meets. Seniors Randy Braasch; Bill Marcuzzo; and Daryl Schuette anchored the team. Schuette (high jump), junior Don Sullivan (triple jump), and sophomore John Clark (shot put) all captured SCC titles for the Bulldogs.

Track (Girls)

The second year of track at Staunton High School saw seniors Denise Gockel; Terry Hawkins; Mary Link; and Renee Sherfy lead the program to a very successful 1974 season. In fact, the unit won all five of its regular season track meets. The Lady Bulldogs, under the leadership of Patty Rupert, finished in Second place at the County Meet. Paula Hering starred for SHS, qualifying for State in the long jump.