Knoxville Catholic High School - Yearbook (Knoxville, TN)

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123 lPix ll Runner-up, state championship, team 197 374 members were llefl to rightj Coach Bill Deatherage, Greg Farmer, Tommy Underwood, Mike DeWine, lohn lellicorse, George Staffney, Matt Brown, Chuck Heffren, Matt Balitsaris, lohn Krusenklaus, Chris Gettelfinger, Greg Patterson, Assistant Coach Holbrook. lPix 21 The 1975-76 team, runner-up-state championship consisted of kneeling: Mike lellicorse, Tom Underwood, Leonard Means. standing l to r: Coach Deatherage, Shawn Rumbolt, loe Kendra, lim McAllister, Ieff Shell, Terry Schofield, Mike Williams, Chris Gettlefinger, Cedric Thomas, Brad Parker, Rick Sharpe and Coach Mike Ledford. lPix 31 The 1976-77 team with the best school record 13 1-31 and state tournament participants were l. to r.: Coach Bill Deatherage, Brad Parker, Shawn Rumbolt, lim McAllister, Ieff Shell, Eugene Anderson, Tim lellicorse, Philip MacDonald, Cedric Thomas, loe Kendra, Manager Mark Bently, and Coach Ward. In front Co- Captains, Chris Gettelfinger and Mike Williams. fPix 41 The 1977-78 team, state tournament participants, were front row, l. to r.: Carlos Andrews, Chris Miller, Tim Donovan, Brad Parker, Greg Erickson. back row I. to r.: Coach Bob Ward, Ricky Smith, lim McAllister, Ieff Shell, Phillip MacDonald, Barry Smith, Dan Fox, Eugene Anderson, Coach Bill Deatherage.

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l22 Iri h basketball-a d nasty in the ' 0' Basketball in the 70's would continue the winning tradition established in the 60's and by the end of the decade the Irish were regarded as a powerhou to be reckoned with on the hardwood. First year head coach Bill Deatherage took the 69-70 men's team to a respectable 9-15 record. The Irish, led by Capt. lohn Long, Bo Connor, Wilfred Seals, lohn Collins and Frank Bowden provided exciting basketball at KCHS with their reckless defense and wide op offense. The Lady Irish were a lonely group because they were the only girls team remaining in Knoxville since all other schools had abandoned the women's program. The team was led by Captain Barbara Dougherty, Kip Puleo, Cristy Bussard and Cinda Crumley. In 70-71 the men's team were crowni District S A Division Champs. The tall team was led in scoring by Frank Bowden and Felix Gaitor with strong support from lohn Mihalczo, lohn MacDonali and David Patterson. Girls basketball was discontinued due primarily to the amount of travel and expense that was involved in sponsoring a team. The 71-72 Irish again captured the District Championship by virtue of the outstanding play of Tom Heffernan, Mike Zanolli, Bill Gann, Bill Skaggs, George Staffney, Steve Atkins and Matt Brown. The team presented the Sisters of Mercy with an award for being the most faithful and dedicated fans. The basketballers came on strong in 72-73 and highlighted the year by capturing the schools first Regional Championship. Led by George Staffney, Matt Brow loe Fritz, Greg Patterson, Mike DeWine, Bill Gann and Stuart Schaad this team went further in the playoffs than any KCHS team to date. Matt Brown and George Staffney were both named to the all-tournament team. The next year, 73-74, the team went all the way to the Championship game of the A Division State Tournament in Memphis only to lose a one-point heartbreaker to Happy Valley. This team established many records during the year such a most wins in a season I31l, and most consecutive wins l26l. They also repeated as regional champs and were rated as the number 1 A Division team in thi state entering into the tournament. Leading players on this team were Matt Brown iMVPl, lohn lellicorse iMost Determinedi, Greg Patterson 111091. awarr and Mike DeWine lMad Dog awardl. Other stars were Matt Balitsaris, lohn Krusenklaus, George Staffney and Chris Ball. All of Knoxville saluted the Irish when Mayor Testerman dedared March 20, 1975 as KCHS Day in Knoxville. The 74-75 Irish, supposedly in a rebuilding year, swamped area teams and again advanced to the regional tournament. Co-Captains Mike DeWine and Greg Farmer were ably supported by Chris Gettlefinger, Chuck Heffner, Ton Underwood, Mike Williams and Terry Schofield. The team posted an impressive wonfloss i26-9l record before falling to arch-rival Happy Valley in the sub-state. The girls once again placed a team on the court and as is the case when a new team is formed the group was not particularly successful. Much credit must be given to Lydia McCaneIly, Marci McMillan, Sharon Clancy, Sharon Mabry, Monica Patterson and the other girls for their efforts under the most adverse conditions. In 75-76 the men's basketball team, after a slow start, blistered the competition at seasons end and ran through the district, regional and sub-state rounds on their way to the State Tournament. This group brought back the runner-up trophy due to the strong efforts of All State Chris Gettlefinger, Mike Williams, Terry Schofield, Tom Underwood and Cedric Thomas. This marked the fourth time in seven years that the Irish had gor at least as far as the Sub-State round. The Lady Irish improved under the direction of new coach ludy Mosier, Her leading players were Marci McMillan, Cathy Donovan, Sharon and leanne Mabry, Becky Kidd, Liz DeWine, Monica Patterson and Linda Underwood. The highlight of the 76-77 KCHS sports ye was the return of the men's basketball team to the state tournament. The team, without the services of All-State guard Chris Gettlefinger, sidlined with illness, lost in the semi-finals to Perry County, led by future Vandy star Mike Phodes, 72-69. The Irish were disappointed, of course, but this team would present the school with district, regional and substate titles and the best overall record l31-3l in school history. The talent-laden team saw brilliant play fro Chris Gettlefinger, Mike Williams, Eugene Anderson, leff Schell, Brad Parker, loe Kendra, Shawn Rumbolt and Cedric Thomas. The ladies improved to 8-1 due to the efforts of Carci McMillan 125 pts a gamel, Liz DeWine, Cathy Donovan, Candy Nutter, leanne Mabry, and Renee Kidd. This year saw 17 girls o the team, the most since the re-introduction of the sport at KCHS. A surprise in 77-78 was the return of the Irish basketball to the state tournament. The team would lose to Alamo 74-S2 in the quarterfinals, but this group were crowned as district and regional champs before reaching the state playoffs. Leaders of the team were Eugene Anderson, leff Shell, Brad Parker, lim McAllister, and Phil MacDonald with great support from Carlos Andrews, Dan Fox Tim Donovarfjlick Smith, Chris Miller, Greg Erickson and Barry Smith. The team finished with a 25-8 record. The girls varsity, with new coach Susan Kennedy, experienced a 10-14 season due to the strong play of seniors leanne Mabry, Monica Patterson and Cathy Donovan. Other contributers to the teams success are lulie McMillan, Renee Kidd and Candy Nutter. Including the freshman team, thirty girls were playing basketball at KCHS. New basketbal coach Mike DeBakker's Irish continued the winning tradition at KCHS in 78-79 by virtue of the play of First-team All-State player Eugene Anderson. Anderson, the KlL's leading scorer l27 pts a gamel bombed the competition and the team was rated in the top ten during the season. Eugene was also the KIL player of the year. The Irish captured second place in the district before losing to Oliver Springs in the regionals. The men were led by Anderson, Dan Fox, Barry Smith, Paul lellicorse, Chris Miller, Tim Donovan, Greg Erickson and Authur Gaston. The girls improved due to the play of All-KIL lulie McMillan, Candy Nutter, Sherri Shannon, Ann Bentley, Renee Kidd, Katie Pipkin and Marianne Mabry. Memorable victories of the season were against Webb, Seymour, Sunbright and Tenn. High. The 1974-75 basketball team consisted of Qleft to right, manager Curtis LeMay, Coach Bill Deatherage, Willie Andrews, Tom Underwood, Mike lellicorse, Terry Schofield, Chuck Heffner, Mike Williams, Chris Gettlefinger, Cedric Thomas, Roger Iackson, loe Kendra, Coach lohn DeBakker, Mark Bentley, manager, tin frontj co-captains Greg Farmer and Mike DeWine.

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I 'N tMidde, left photoj 1977 lrish lassies were fback rowl Eve Davidson, manager, Marrianne McAllister, Sherrie Shannoi DeWine, Anna Rebori, Susan Ortega, Candy Nutter, Marc McMillan, lulie Adkins, Renee Kidd, Cathy Callahan. lfront Monica Patterson, Linda Underwood, Michelle Thompkins Pipkin, leanne Mabry, Cathy Donovan, lulie McMillan, Co. ludy Mosier. QMidde, right photo, Chris Gettlefinger - Mr. Basketball- smooth as silk and almost impossible to cor on oftense. Bottom photoj Mike Big Cat Williams shoots an easy b in state tournament play, Eugene Anderson stands ready ti rebound.