SHS Sports: Timelines from the Sidelines Tradition everlasting

Overview of 1920 to 1929

The first-ever SHS yearbook was published for the 1920-21 school year. It was a quality piece that included a surprising amount of detail about the students. Unfortunately, it was not produced again until 1924 and stopped being published soon thereafter. One can only presume why there were no annuals for over twenty years. The Great Depression certainly played a role. A push to conserve paper during wartime was likely a factor as well.

Regardless, Staunton was not alone in its plight, as most community high schools in the area did not publish yearbooks during the era. The original SHS yearbook was titled the Myrtle and Maroon, one can understand why baseball records have been named after Staunton’s school colors at the time. At some point, the yearbook became known as the Echo, as it still is today.

In addition to the construction of what is now the current high school building (the Class of 1923) was the first to graduate in the new facility), the 1920s saw two new sports added to the athletic offerings in the district. Boys basketball began in 1920-21, and the baseball program was likely launched two years later. While basketball has in general struggled in gaining traction within the community, baseball is well-rooted in Staunton’s past. However, the focus on the sport has generally been at the city level, and in fact the high school only competed in baseball sporadically in the first few years. Thus, despite the fact that no other program at the high school has won as many conference championships, baseball has rarely garnered much attention at SHS. Coupled with the fact that season results were often unattainable by the yearbook deadline, one can understand why baseball records have been difficult to uncover. Although not a sporting chance, it is worth mentioning that football enjoyed a decade of supremacy unlike any other, as national records for offensive dominance on its way to a perfect 10-0 season.

The decade also saw the formation of the South Central Conference (SCC) for the 1926-27 school year, of which Staunton was a charter member. In fact, SHS remained in the league until 2009-10, when the school switched to the Prairie State Conference for three seasons before rejoining the SCC. Other original members of the SCC included Carlinville, Gillespie, Hillsboro, Litchfield, Mt. Olive, Nokomis, Pana, Shelbyville and Taylorville.

Class of 1924

Baseball

The SHS baseball team finished the 1924 season with a spotless 8-0 record, defeating Gillespie, Litchfield, Virden, and Mt. Olive twice each. Seniors Glen Allen, Glen Hastings, George Oehler, Roland Sawyer, and Cliff Stiegemeier led first-year coach Gilbert Lane’s undefeated team.

Basketball (Boys)

Due to the success of the football program, Gilbert Lane’s 1923-24 basketball squad got a late start to the season. Nevertheless, the team showed no rust early., winning their first four games of the year. The Maroons played .500 ball the rest of the way, finishing with a record of 11-7. Staunton played for the championship at the Macoupin County Tournament that year, only to be upended by Chesterfield by a score of 20-19. Edwardsville eventually eliminated SHS in the District Tournament. Seniors at SHS included Glen Allen, Glen Hastings, John McBrien, George Oehler, Roland Sawyer, Cliff Stiegemeier, and Harry Yauornick. Stiegemeier returned years later to direct the basketball program at Staunton after spending several years coaching at Mt. Olive.

Football

The 1923 football team was quite simply the most dominant in school history and certainly could be considered one of the best in Ill. history. The boys in myrtle and maroon steamrolled nearly every team they played, finishing 10-0 on the season. In fact, most games were not even close, as coach Paul Miller’s squad outscored its opponents by a score of 494-23 on the season, allowing just one team to cross the goal line. Furthermore, in a 223-0 drubbing of Gillespie, SHS set state (still stands) and national (since surpassed) records for most points (233) and touchdowns (30) in a game. In fact, the game was so humiliating for Gillespie that the school refused to compete against Staunton in any activity indefinitely, including football, basketball, and debate. South Central Conference officials eventually required the two schools to renew their rivalry beginning in 1928-29.

The season started with a very difficult game against Alton Western Military Academy, and SHS won a defensive struggle by scoring on a blocked punt for a 7-0 victory, the first eight shutouts on the year. Carlinville came calling in week two, and a crowd of more than two thousand fans saw Staunton hold on for a 26-20 victory. The schedule remained difficult in week three as Staunton ventured to St. Louis to take on Cleveland High School, somehow coming away with a 10-3 victory over the host school. The season ended with seven straight shutouts, starting with a week four victory over Benld (18-0). After slaughtering Litchfield (113-0), SHS defeated Virden (9-0) and Girard (20-0) before the aforementioned matchup with Gillespie. A week nine victory over Mt. Olive (38-0) capped off a perfect regular season. Although the score of the Mt. Olive game looks respectable on paper in reality it would have been much worse if the whole game had been played. About halfway through the contest, Mt. Olive’s coach and players reacted to a perceived bad call by walking off the field, resulting in a forfeit. Ironically, SHS had requested that the annual Thanksgiving game be postponed anyway, due to the heavy rain and wet conditions of the playing field. However, the Mt. Olive coaching staff insisted on playing but, as stated, did not finish the game.

Being champions of the Central District, SHS arranged a postseason game with Carbondale High School, champions of the Southern District. The Staunton defense once again rose to the challenge, posting yet another shutout in a 20-0 victory. After the game, several media outlets bestowed upon Staunton the title of state champion. In an unlikely turn of events, Carlinville was being considered by some to be the best team in Ill. at the time, despite the early loss to SHS. Obviously, the community of Staunton was not happy with the claim and vocalized as much. The back and forth in the media strained relations between the schools, and in fact Carlinville eliminated Staunton from its schedule for two years thereafter.

Regardless of any media posturing, Staunton had achieved a season for the ages, and for their excellent play Cliff Stiegemeier, Mel Stigemeier, and Art Ruffini were named First Team All-Central Illinois by the Illinois State Register, while Gerlad Roberts made Second Team. George Oehler and Dave Wilson were also commended for their fine play, taking home Honorable Mention status. Senior members of the historic 1923 team were Erwin Grabruck, Glen Hastings, Oehler, Roland Sawyer, Roberts, and Cliff Stiegemeier. Hastings, Oehler, Sawyer, and Stiegemeier were four-year letter winners, and Oehler continued his career at Washington University in St. Louis. Cliff Stiegemeier eventually returned to his alma mater and led the football program to success as its head coach.

Track (Boys)

The 1924 track program featured the same five participants as the previous season, but this time Glen Hastings, John McBrien, George Oehler, Roland Sawyer, and Cliff Stiegemeier were determined seniors looking to surpass the success of the prior year. SHS again captured the title at the McKendree College Invitational, the premier track meet in Southern Ill. at the time. Though it is unclear how the community received the previous year’s title, this time the championship was considered such a feat that the following Monday was declared a holiday from school. The student body stormed Main Street, pulling an old buggy with the track team in tow. With principal Paul Miller serving as the team’s coach, it is likely the students had the administration’s blessing to carry on in such a manner.

SHS took home second place overall at the Macoupin County Meet, though the squad did finish first in the athletic portion of the event. Early county meets featured an oratorical competition in addition to the athletic one, and thus Carlinville’s mastery of the former contest gave them the overall team title. Sawyer had an outstanding year, breaking the meet record in the standing broad jump, while Hastings took home titles in the running broad jump and 800 meter run.

Class of 1925

Baseball

Gilbert Lane’s 1925 baseball team featured seniors Fred Arnicar and Gwylm Bozarth. Apparently the team was only able to schedule two contests on the season (Edwardsville and Alton Western Military Academy), and in fact after the season the program apparently went dormant for nearly two decades for unknown reasons.

Basketball (Boys)

The 1924-25 basketball team, directed by Gilbert Lane, was led by seniors Gwylm Bozarth, Delbert Lloyd, Vic Patterson, and Art Ruffini. Despite not having a gym available at the school for practice until late in the season, the squad still finished 7-8 on the year. Mt. Olive served as the team’s nemesis during the season, as the boys in purple in gold defeated SHS on four separate occasions, including knocking SHS out of both the Macoupin County and District tournaments.

Football

SHS welcomed a new coach for the 1924 football season. Byron Bozarth, a Staunton graduate, took over the reins of a program coming off of one of the best seasons in Ill. history. Due to the success of the previous year, SHS had a hard time finding games and had to do some traveling in order to play a full schedule. Despite the graduation of some very talented players, SHS still had a strong senior class led by Fred Arnicar, Gwylm Bozarth, Delbert Lloyd, Dan McGaughey, Vic Patterson, and Art Ruffini.

The season began against Kirkwood High School in Mo., a team which Stunton shut out by a score of 38-0. Week two saw rival and neighbor Benld come to town, and the two schools played an excellent game, settling for a 6-6 tie. In week three, the Green Wave defeated Alton Western Military Academy (16-7). With no opponent willing to play the team in week four, tiny Modesto agreed to take on SHS. As a favor, Staunton started its second unit against the feisty Modesto squad, but it backfired, and the boys in myrtle and maroon fell behind by two touchdowns early in the game. The first unit was then called upon, and they easily handled their competitors in a 45-14 victory. After a scoreless tie with Hillsboro in week five, SHS took on St. Louis University High, shutting out the much bigger squad (10-0). The only loss of the season came in week seven at Lincoln, with SHS falling by a score of 28-5. The campaign ended with consecutive shutouts over Mt. Olive (13-0) and Benld (7-0), leaving Staunton with an overall record of 6-1-2. After graduating, Arnicar and Ruffini both enrolled to play football at Centre College in Danville, Ky. Ruffini eventually returned to Staunton and would become head coach of the football and track programs.

Track (Boys)

The 1925 track team was one of the most successful in school history, as the unit finished in eighth place overall at State. Additionally, the Staunton squad tied Webster Groves High School for the championship at the exclusive Washington University Track Meet, an event that included some of the biggest schools in the St. Louis area. Finally, SHS finished second at the McKendree College Invitational.

The squad, coached by Bryon Bozarth, included seniors Fred Arnicar, Bob Maynard, and Art Ruffini. Arnicar won the Macoupin County Meet in the shot put and discus before placing second at State in the shot put. Dave Wilson won a county title in the 400 meters, and he eventually finished in third place in that event at State. Finally, Jim Peele took fourth at State in the hurdles. Ruffini returned to SHS years later and directed the track program, in addition to his tenure coaching football in the district.

Class of 1926

Basketball (Boys)

The 1925-26 Staunton basketball team was coached by Byron Bozarth. The team featured Dave Wilson, a second Team All-Tournament selection at the Macoupin County Tournament. The team finished with an unofficial record of 5-4, as it is likely the squad played more games than were reported.

Football

The 1925 football team, directed by Byron Bozarth, was a formidable squad. The team finished 7-1, with the only loss coming to Alton Western Military Academy by a score of 6-0. Staunton began the season with two close wins. A week one affair with Kirkwood resulted in a 12-6 victory, followed by a 13-0 win over Greenfield. The week three loss to AWMA preceded five straight victories, with four coming via shutout. Staunton defeated Pana 28-0 before beating St. Louis University High (26-0). Another win over Kirkwood, this time by a score of 34-6, followed, and wins over Hillsboro (33-0) and Benld (27-0) closed out the season. One of the standouts on the team was Roy Awe, a senior who went on to play football at Illinois College.

Track (Boys)

Coming off the previous season’s eighth place finish at State, coach Byron Bozarth’s track team looked forward to repeating its success from the prior year. Unfortunately, little is known about the season, though it is clear that the squad was unable to duplicate the success of the one that came before it.