Tales of Teams, Trophies & Trinkets - Vol 2
By
Ron Pesch
MHSAA historian
February 9, 2017
A picture may be worth a thousand words – but often, we can learn as much from a traveling trophy, game ticket, and even an old megaphone.
Michigan’s high school sports history is more than a century old and filled with legends passed on of games, teams and athletes and the roles they played as our communities rolled forward toward present day. Following up last year’s “Tales of Teams, Trophies & Trinkets,” we present a second chapter highlighting artifacts that tell some of those stories.
|
1909 |
Saginaw vs. Saginaw Arthur Hill |
Football Trophy |
This bronzed football was the original used in the 1909 Thanksgiving Day contest played between Saginaw High and Saginaw Arthur Hill, and won by Saginaw, 5-0 at Burkart Park. In 1948, the ball was stylized into a trophy by the Letterman’s Associations of the rival schools, designed to travel between schools as the reward for winning the annual contest. When the Lumberjacks of Arthur Hill ripped off 24 straight victories beginning in 1971 (the teams played twice in 1974), ownership of the trophy was mostly forgotten. When talk of closing Saginaw High School mounted, the trophy was placed on display at Saginaw’s Castle Museum, then donated to the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame.
According to Jeffrey Cottrell, the multi-media specialist at the Historical Society of Saginaw County, when plans to close Saginaw High did not materialize, “it was decided amongst the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame and the Arthur Hill Letterwinners Association that it was time to put it back into use. This past fall, the Sports Hall of Fame awarded the trophy to Saginaw High when they beat Arthur Hill 40-0.”
Going forward, the Letterman's Trophy will continue to be presented to the winner of the football game between the Trojans and the Lumberjacks.
|
1921 |
Detroit Cass Tech vs. Flint Central |
Football Program |
A crowd of 2,500 was on hand for this contest as Detroit Cass Tech downed Flint Central, 34-20, in an aerial battle between the squads. The Detroit Free Press arraigned for a special interurban run, with special railcars earmarked for Cass Tech students interested in attending the Saturday game at Flint. Between 200 to 300 made the trip to cheer their team to victory.
Flint Central completed 14 of 34 passes for 176 yards, but was intercepted on six occasions. Cass Tech arms were accurate on only 7 of 24 attempts for 160 yards, with four interceptions, but two completions went for touchdowns of 18 yards and 50 yards. A third pass of 35 yards helped set up the visitor’s first score. Bruno Murkobred, Cass Tech’s speedy quarterback, was the star of the contest, scoring three of his team’s five touchdowns.
|
1939 |
Kalamazoo Central vs. Battle Creek Central |
Basketball Program |
This tattered memento, from a scrapbook kept by historian Dick Kishpaugh, illustrates the modest design of a high school basketball program back in 1939. Likely created by the high school print shop, this single sheet, printed specifically for distribution at the game, features autographs gathered by its owner. Wes Clark, one of the names captured on the cover, led Battle Creek Central with 10 points, including a pair of buckets in the final minute to secure a 27-26 win by the Bearcats.
Newspaper reports from the time indicate that halftime of the contest would feature “a table tennis exhibition between Helen Van Dyke of Flint, four-time state champion, and Floyd Painter, Battle Creek champion.” Miss Van Dyke was a sophomore at Olivet College at the time.
|
1940 |
Lansing Eastern vs. Lansing Central |
Football Program |
This is the program cover from the 13th annual Football Classic between the Quakers of Eastern and the Big Reds of Central. Fans were requested to “refrain from making unnecessary noise as they drive away from the stadium … due to the nearness of Sparrow Hospital.”
At the time of the 1940 contest, Lansing Central led the series with six wins against five defeats. The series featured a single tie, a 6-6 result in 1935.
Eastern’s 1940 squad, coached by Walter Graff, was able to knot the series at six wins apiece with a thrilling 7- 6 victory over the crosstown rivals, coached by Al Bovard.
The 16-page document was hand set and printed by the Eastern and Central High School Vocational Printing Classes, and included rosters, messages from the two school principals and athletic directors, as well as comments from each member of the coaching staffs, team captains, student council presidents and numerous team members from each school with their views on the game. Of course there is a photograph of each high school football team, but also photos of each band, their directors, and a list of the band members for both Eastern and Central. Finally, there are photos of the Eastern and Central Yell Leaders, nine for the Quakers and six for the Big Reds.
It is a true work of art.
|
1950 |
Central Michigan College Relays |
Track Medal |
More than 2,300 athletes from 97 high schools descended upon Mt. Pleasant for the Tenth Annual Central Michigan Relays. Ecorse in Class B and Flint School for the Deaf in Class D earned team titles on Friday, May 5th while on Saturday, the 6th, Flint Northern and Milan won Class A and Class C, respectively. Six event records fell during the two-day event, three in the broad jump.
This medal, honoring a member of the winning Class C sprint relay team, was awarded at the event. The winning team, and therefore, the name of the individual awarded the medal, remain a mystery.
|
1962 |
Saginaw Sacred Heart |
Megaphone |
As at the majority of schools across the state at the time, athletic competition against other schools was not an option for Gloria Groll and her female classmates during her days as a student at Saginaw Holy Rosary High School. So, from the fall of 1959 until her graduation with 27 other students in the spring of 1962, she was a cheerleader for the Greyhounds. This beautiful megaphone, donated by Groll to the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame, is a memento from those times.
Holy Rosary was one of nine Catholic high schools operating in the Saginaw area in the 1950s and 1960s. Population shifts from the cities to the suburbs over the coming years would impact enrollment figures at schools nationally. In Saginaw, the opening of the Buena Vista School District in 1956 directly impacted Holy Rosary. In 1970 the school closed. A year later only three schools – SS Peter and Paul, St. Mary and Saginaw St. Stephen – remained. In 1984, those schools were consolidated to form Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central.
|
1963 & 1930 |
Grosse Pointe St. Paul |
League Trophies |
On the left, we find the trophy awarded to Grosse Pointe St. Paul's after winning the 1963 city championship. Bob Martin, a 6-foot-6 junior who earned first division all-Catholic honors, scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Lakers to a 55-46 upset-victory over Detroit Pershing. The game was played at University of Detroit Memorial before 6,979 spectators. It was the first time since 1958 that the Catholic League won the annual matchup with the champions of the Public School League.
To the right is the trophy awarded to St. Paul for winning the first golf tournament of the South Michigan Catholic High School League. The school's four golfers shot 710 over 36 holes on the day, 69 fewer strokes than second-place Detroit St. Rose. Played at Clinton Valley, the event saw Bill Beaupre win individual honors with a total of 158, including 76 in the morning. His cousin and teammate, Harold Beaupre, finished second with 169, while Peter Bononis of Detroit Holy Name was third with 171 strokes.
|
1965 |
Fennville vs. Kalamazoo Hackett |
Ticket Stub |
This ticket stub from a doubleheader hosted at Western Michigan University’s Read Fieldhouse on February 18, 1965 was the first chance for many to witness lightning in a bottle. A capacity-plus crowd of 9,100 fans slid through the gate to watch a rumor.
The antics of 5-foot-7½ guard Richie Jordan had been talked about around the Kalamazoo area, but few had actually seen him play. His skills were on full display on this Thursday night, as he netted a fieldhouse scoring record with 49 points in a come-from-behind 76-72 win over a much taller team from Kalamazoo Hackett. Jordan’s output during the evening’s second game eclipsed the 45 points Manny Newsome scored for Western Michigan University against Toledo, just over a year before.
The evening hadn’t started well. According to the Kalamazoo Gazette, “Jordan hit only six of his 13 field shots in the first half and threw the ball away eight times. Trailing Hackett by 17 points, 50-33, with two minutes to play in the third quarter, the Blackhawks were able to cut the deficit to 13, 60-47 as the teams entered the final frame.
Quickly, everyone in the fieldhouse knew who was getting the ball during the comeback attempt. Jordan grabbed control; with his drives for layups and “softly-arched” jump shots against intense pressure, he hit seven of nine field goals, wowing the crowd. With 2:36 to play, Jordan nailed a pair of free throws to tie the game at 72 all. Then, with 57 seconds left, the “Fennville Flash” nailed the go-ahead basket, followed by two insurance free throws to seal the win. For many, his 24 points in the fourth quarter sealed his journey from rumor to legend and, no doubt, inspired the single-sentence first paragraph of the next morning’s coverage in the Gazette.
“Yes, there is a Richie Jordan!”
(P.S. – Kalamazoo Central upset eighth-ranked Lansing Sexton, 67-57, in the evening’s opening contest).
Ron Pesch has taken an active role in researching the history of MHSAA events since 1985 and began writing for MHSAA Finals programs in 1986, adding additional features and "flashbacks" in 1992. He inherited the title of MHSAA historian from the late Dick Kishpaugh following the 1993-94 school year, and resides in Muskegon. Contact him at [email protected] with ideas for historical articles.
PHOTO: Fennville's Richie Jordan pulls up for a jumper, showing off the form that's become iconic when recalling the high school phenom. (Photos of Letterman's Trophy and Megaphone were provided by Jeffery Cottrell, and photo of Grosse Pointe trophies was provided by Bill Roose.)
Watch NFHS Network on Roku
September 14, 2020
By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
The excitement of high school sports hits living rooms this fall as the NFHS Network has released a Roku channel, joining the availability of games on computers and handheld devices.
Once on the Roku channel, typing “Michigan” into the search box will display lists of live, on-demand and upcoming events involving MHSAA member schools. You can also bookmark your favorite schools.
Nearly 600 events fill the coming week’s schedule for the NFHS Network and MHSAA.tv, as football joins the boys soccer and girls volleyball activity.
More games than ever before will be available online beginning this season, with approximately 270 MHSAA member schools taking part in the School Broadcast Program with Pixellot units being installed at their athletic facilities or with student crews producing games using a traditional format.
Pixellot is the NFHS Network’s automated production solution. Nearly 500 Pixellot units are already installed or about to be installed in high school stadiums and gymnasiums around the state. The NFHS Network has been offering schools up to two free Pixellot units since early July – with the schools only needing to cover the installation costs.
Additionally, MHSAA regulations regarding live video broadcasts and streaming have been relaxed during the pandemic to allow schools to use their choice of means to distribute games to fans who are unable to attend because of government-imposed spectator limits. Third-party broadcasters – like local television stations and cable television outlets – are also allowed to originate games live.
In the coming week, nearly 275 events will be available on the NFHS Network/MHSAA.tv. Monthly subscriptions are $10.99. Click for a complete list of upcoming games and for a complete list of on-demand games.
Fans can also type their school name into the search field on the MHSAA.tv page to search for events. Here is a list of varsity sports events being broadcast over the coming week:
Football (Home team listed first):
Thursday - Sept. 17
White Lake Lakeland vs. Walled Lake Northern - 7 PM
Friday - Sept. 18
Lowell vs. East Grand Rapids - 6:50 PM
Petoskey vs. Gaylord - 7 PM
Saline vs. Ypsilanti Community - 7 PM
Stevensville Lakeshore vs. Portage Northern - 7 PM
Waterford Kettering vs. South Lyon - 7 PM
Grand Blanc vs. Flint Carman-Ainsworth - 7 PM
Brighton vs. Novi - 7 PM
Ithaca vs. Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central - 7 PM
Macomb L'Anse Creuse North vs. Detroit Country Day - 7 PM
Marquette vs. Gladstone - 7 PM
Fowlerville vs. Williamston - 7 PM
Calumet vs. Kingsford - 7 PM
Portage Central vs. East Lansing - 7 PM
Riverview Gabriel Richard Catholic vs. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett - 7 PM
St. Clair Shores Lake Shore vs. Port Huron Northern - 7 PM
Plainwell vs. Kalamazoo Loy Norrix - 7 PM
Clare vs. Detroit University Prep - 7 PM
Bad Axe vs. Sandusky - 7 PM
Cedar Springs vs. Middleville Thornapple Kellogg - 7 PM
Detroit Catholic Central vs. Harper Woods - 7 PM
Manchester vs. Addison - 7 PM
Saginaw Heritage vs. Detroit U Of D Jesuit - 7 PM
Madison Heights Lamphere vs. Warren Lincoln - 7 PM
Freeland vs. Frankenmuth - 7 PM
Suttons Bay vs. Brethren - 7 PM
Mayville vs. Atherton - 7 PM
Cadillac vs. Alpena - 7 PM
East Kentwood vs. Hudsonville - 7 PM
Lake Orion vs. Oxford - 7 PM
Rockford vs. Jenison - 7 PM
New Lothrop vs. Mt. Morris - 7 PM
Saturday - Sept. 19
Traverse City St. Francis vs. Sault Ste. Marie - 1 PM
Boys Soccer (Home team listed first):
Tuesday - Sept. 15
Stevensville Lakeshore vs. Battle Creek Central - 6:30 PM
Petoskey vs. Cadillac - 6:45 PM
Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Cedar Springs - 6:45 PM
Dearborn Divine Child vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s - 7 PM
Clare vs. Plymouth - 7 PM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Birmingham Brother Rice - 7:30 PM
Wednesday - Sept. 16
Plainwell vs. Vicksburg - 6 PM
Clare vs. Gladwin - 7 PM
Freeland vs. Chesaning - 7 PM
Madison Heights Lamphere vs. Marysville - 7 PM
Hemlock vs. Midland Bullock Creek - 7 PM
Thursday - Sept. 17
Warren De La Salle Collegiate vs. TBA - 6 PM
Petoskey vs. Traverse City Central - 6:45 PM
Cedar Springs vs. Grand Rapids South Christian - 6:45 PM
Brighton vs. Salem - 7 PM
Novi vs. Hartland - 7 PM
South Lyon East vs. Milford - 7 PM
Waterford Kettering vs. White Lake Lakeland - 7 PM
Troy vs. Bloomfield Hills - 7 PM
Hemlock vs. Pinconning - 7 PM
Dearborn Divine Child vs. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood - 7 PM
East Kentwood vs. Rockford - 7:15 PM
Friday - Sept. 18
South Lyon East vs. North Farmington - 7 PM
Saturday - Sept. 19
Vicksburg vs. Coloma - 10 AM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Holly - 11:30 AM
Brighton vs. Birmingham Brother Rice - 12 PM
Detroit Catholic Central vs. Fenton - 12:30 PM
Novi vs. Howell - 1PM
Warren De La Salle Collegiate vs. Romeo - 1PM
Monday - Sept. 21
Romulus Summit Academy North vs. Madison Heights Bishop Foley - 6PM
White Lake Lakeland vs. South Lyon East - 7 PM
Madison Heights Lamphere vs. St. Clair Shores Lake Shore - 7 PM
Freeland vs. Alma - 7 PM
Waterford Kettering vs. Walled Lake Western - 7 PM
Grand Blanc vs. Saginaw Arthur Hill - 7 PM
Tuesday - Sept. 22
East Grand Rapids vs. Grand Rapids Northview - 6:45 PM
Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern - 6:45 PM
West Bloomfield vs. Bloomfield Hills - 7 PM
Waterford Kettering vs. Auburn Hills Avondale - 7 PM
South Lyon East vs. South Lyon - 7 PM
Howell vs. Novi - 7 PM
Clare vs. Taylor Prep - 7 PM
Troy Athens vs. Troy - 7 PM
East Kentwood vs. Grandville - 7:15 PM
Girls Volleyball (Home team listed first):
Tuesday - Sept. 15
East Grand Rapids vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern - 6 PM
St. Clair Shores Lake Shore vs. Marine City - 6 PM
Peck vs. Bay City All Saints - 6 PM
Kinde-North Huron vs. Kingston - 6 PM
Williamston vs. Eaton Rapids - 6 PM
Romulus Summit Academy North vs. Dearborn Henry Ford Academy - 6 PM
Cedar Springs vs. Middleville Thornapple Kellogg - 6 PM
Wayland Union vs. Lansing Catholic - 6 PM
Mayville vs. Akron-Fairgrove - 6 PM
Chesaning vs. Durand - 6:15 PM
Lowell vs. Grand Rapids Christian - 6:15 PM
Gladstone vs. Ishpeming - 6:30 PM
Westland Huron Valley Lutheran vs. Bloomfield Hills Roeper - 6:30 PM
Northville vs. Canton - 6:30 PM
Painesdale Jeffers vs. Dollar Bay - 6:30 PM
Grand Blanc vs. Flint Powers Catholic - 6:30 PM
Negaunee vs. Escanaba - 6:30 PM
Novi vs. Hartland - 6:30 PM
Brighton vs. Salem - 6:30 PM
Sterling Heights Parkway Christian vs. Away - 6:30 PM
Harbor Beach vs. Ubly - 6:45 PM
Calumet vs. Hancock - 6:45 PM
Marquette vs. Wakefield-Marenisco - 7 PM
Big Rapids vs. Newaygo - 7 PM
Plymouth Christian Academy vs. Clarenceville - 7 PM
Bear Lake vs. Mason County Eastern - 7 PM
Cass City vs. Vassar - 7:30 PM
Wednesday - Sept. 16
Stevensville Lakeshore vs. Kalamazoo Central - 6:30 PM
Niles vs. South Haven - 6:30 PM
Waterford Our Lady vs. Allen Park Cabrini - 7 PM
Frankenmuth vs. Bay City John Glenn - 7 PM
Bridgeport vs. Freeland - 7 PM
Riverview Gabriel Richard Catholic vs. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic - 7 PM
Bloomfield Hills Marian vs. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard - 7:15 PM
Dearborn Divine Child vs. Farmington Hills Mercy - 7:15 PM
Thursday - Sept. 17
Ovid-Elsie vs. Carrollton - 4:30 PM
Manchester vs. TBA - 5 PM
Zeeland West vs. Grand Rapids Union - 5 PM
Big Rapids vs. Whitehall & Ludington - 5 PM
Flushing vs. Holly - 5:15 PM
Flint Kearsley vs. Fenton - 5:15 PM
St Clair Shores Lake Shore vs. Roseville - 6 PM
Wayland Union vs. Cedar Springs - 6 PM
Grand Rapids Christian vs. Grand Rapids Northview - 6 PM
Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Middleville Thornapple Kellogg - 6 PM
Kinde North Huron vs. Bay City All Saints - 6 PM
East Grand Rapids vs. Byron Center - 6 PM
St Johns vs. Eaton Rapids - 6 PM
Peck vs. Dryden - 6 PM
Lowell vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central - 6:15 PM
Westland Huron Valley Lutheran vs. Allen Park Inter-City Baptist - 6:30 PM
Suttons Bay vs. Benzie Central - 6:30 PM
Kalamazoo Christian vs. Parchment - 6:30 PM
Galesburg-Augusta vs. Constantine - 6:30 PM
Sterling Heights Parkway Christian vs. Roeper - 6:30 PM
Painesdale Jeffers vs. Chassell - 6:30 PM
East Kentwood vs. Grand Haven - 7 PM
Troy vs. Auburn Hills Avondale - 7 PM
Brethren vs. Pentwater - 7 PM
West Bloomfield vs. Rochester Adams - 7 PM
Plymouth Christian Academy vs. Southfield Christian - 7 PM
Grandville vs. Rockford - 7 PM
Escanaba vs. Manistique - 7 PM
Maple City Glen Lake vs. Leland - 7 PM
Warren Regina vs. Madison Heights Bishop Foley - 7:15 PM
Bad Axe vs. Reese - 7:30 PM
Caro vs. Vassar - 7:30 PM
Lake Orion vs. Oxford - 7:30 PM
Friday - Sept. 18
Pentwater vs. Cadillac Heritage Christian - 5:30 PM
Dollar Bay vs. Hancock - 6:20 PM
Rochester Hills Lutheran North vs. Allen Park Cabrini - 7 PM
Saturday - Sept. 19
Waterford Our Lady vs. TBA - 8:15 AM
Cadillac vs. Lakewood Lake Odessa - 8:30 AM
Frankenmuth vs. Tawas Area - 8:30 AM
Flushing vs. Davison - 8:30 AM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. TBA - 10 AM
Monday - Sept. 21
Multi-team Event @ Saginaw Swan Valley - 5 PM
Williamston vs. Lansing Eastern - 6 PM
Ann Arbor Greenhills vs. Detroit Cristo Rey - 6 PM
Mason vs. Williamston - 6 PM
Frankenmuth vs. Millington - 7 PM
Harrison vs. Shepherd - 7:30 PM
Clare vs. Beaverton - 7:30 PM
Tuesday - Sept. 22
Madison Heights Lamphere vs. Hazel Park - 6 PM
Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Cedar Springs - 6 PM
Holt vs. DeWitt - 6 PM
Romulus Summit Academy North vs. Detroit Community - 6 PM
Stockbridge vs. Lakewood Lake Odessa - 6:15 PM
New Lothrop vs. Montrose - 6:15 PM
Ovid-Elsie vs. Byron Center Charter - 6:15 PM
Otisville LakeVille vs. Durand - 6:15 PM
Chesaning vs. Mt Morris - 6:15 PM
Galesburg-Augusta vs. Parchment - 6:30 PM
Brighton vs. Novi - 6:30 PM
Riverview Gabriel Richard Catholic vs. Clarkston Everest Collegiate - 6:30 PM
Frankfort vs. Onekama - 6:30 PM
Flint Powers Catholic vs. Saginaw Arthur Hill - 6:30 PM
South Lyon vs. Waterford Kettering - 6:30 PM
Bloomfield Hills Roeper vs. Whitmore Lake - 6:30 PM
Petoskey vs. Alpena - 6:30 PM
Suttons Bay vs. Maple City Glen Lake - 6:30 PM
Oakland Christian vs. Plymouth Christian Academy - 6:30 PM
Howell vs. Northville - 6:30 PM
Manistique vs. Ishpeming - 6:30 PM
South Lyon East vs. Lakeland - 6:30 PM
Kalamazoo Christian vs. Delton Kellogg - 6:30 PM
Cadillac vs. Traverse City West - 7 PM
Bear Lake vs. Walkerville - 7 PM
Hart vs. Montague - 7 PM
Saline vs. Ypsilanti Community - 7 PM
Escanaba vs. Gladstone - 7 PM
Troy Athens vs. North Farmington - 7 PM
Grand Rapids South Christian vs. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills - 7 PM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Warren Regina - 7 PM
Marcellus vs. Mendon - 7 PM
St Charles vs. Coleman - 7 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Brighton Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy - 7:30 PM
Lake Orion vs. Birmingham Seaholm - 7:30 PM
Now in its 12th year, the School Broadcast Program gives members an opportunity to showcase excellence in their schools by creating video programming of athletic and non-athletic events with students gaining skills in announcing, camera operation, directing/producing and graphics. Pixellot – The NFHS Network’s automated streaming solution – is used by schools wishing to live stream games, but lacking the ability to staff the events. The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.
NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $10.99 a month. Subscribers will have access to all live video and streaming statistics across the country. All content becomes available for free, on-demand viewing 72 hours after being shown live. A portion of every subscription sold by an SBP school goes to benefit its program.
A complete list of participating schools can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA Website.