Orion High School - Charger Yearbook (Orion, IL)

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H f Fil 'r ' - l l I 7 A - - Q J- l Orion sports gave everyone a reason to cele- brate in the 84-85 school year. An example that proved this was the tremendous turnout at Fresh- soph boys basketball games as the team went on to an undefeated season. This unprecedented feat boosted school spirit which had been waning in recent years. The unfortunate loss of bowling due to lack of interest gave rise to the revival of cross-cournty, a sport Orion hadn't seen in ten years. ln just one season, there were two sectional qualifiers, one of whom went on to place sixteenth at the state meet. The varsity volleyball team just missed winning the conference title, while the girls varsity basket- ball team went undefeated in conference, some- thing that had never been done before in that sport. Wrestling also proved to be very successful as the squad sent three individuals to the state meet. Two ended up state champions and Orion became the only Class A school in Illinois to have two state champs. So don't believe it if someone says sports at Orion are dead. They're not that there was a lot to Celebrate! Sports 63

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1 I I if 1 if -Q-.f-p--I'-' V if-,--nl' 62 Sports

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Varsity Football Team Falls Shor Starting their season with high expectations, the Varsity Football Team fell short of their set goals. Their overall record was 4-5, with two con- ference wins against Aledo and one against Westmer. Having two tough losses against Rockridge and Monmouth, teams that challenged each other in the Quarter Finals of state play, the team was set back but continued their high morale. They then had a break in routine which was thought to set them back. But they came on strong after a seven day teachers strike, with a victory over Morrison. Despite big numbers in the victory column, the Charger players stuck together as a team. They were led by Coach Mike Shipley and their four senior captains, Jon Bloomberg, Matt McCunn, Brian Pirta, and Jay Taets. Although the Chargers faced a great many up- Defensive backs Brian Andrae and Troy Holmberg display team effort in pushing back their conference foe, Rockridge. Coaches Mike Shipley and Jeff Padgett discuss their next play with the Crows nest commentator, Coach Brian Phillips. Front Row, Ed Zucher, John Moody. Tony Swancutt, Chris Becker, Brian An- drae. Tim Parry, Clint Engle, and Mitch Lee. Second Row: Brian Pitra, Jeff Nor- ton, Troy Helmberg, Paul Hancock, Tom Carney, Andrew Thompson. Randy Volk, Chris lsakson, and Dane Cruthers, Manager. Back Row, Dana Morey. Jay Taets, Mike Berg, .lon Bloomberg, Ed Ash, Mike Matykiewicz, Mike Rochau, Matt McCunn, Carsten Neilson, Coach Padgett, Coach Phillips, and Coach Shi- pley. Varsity Football sets, they were able to have junior Mike Berg senior Brian Pitra named offensive All-Confere players. Along with Jon Bloomberg, offensive ior, and Mike Matykiewicz, defensive senior, ' were slated as Honorable Mention. Coach Shipley said, Our team had its ups downs through the season, and made many standing performances, but found it hard to together a better record. The team was more serving than the conference tally showed. Pitra commented, I feel that more members the team should have received recognition their play, because we all worked hard toget we were all equal. Special award winners at the fall banquet vi Most Valuable, Brian Pitra, Sportsmanship Best Defensive Blocker were received by McCunn, Most Improved Ed Zurcher, and Best f fensive Players, Jay Taets and Jon Bloomberg. V . sz, mga...