Springfield Catholic High School - Irish Reflector Yearbook (Springfield, MO)

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v .u n... yntrmvmnwi , .- w .- .4- m .. . rm.....,...- .m t Achieving More Than Ever ttWe have always had a very proud tradition of winning? remarked Steve Quinn. ttWe were a hard hitting team, and we never quit? The Springfield Catholic Fighting Irish football squad had yet another heartbreaking year. Everyone felt the Irish had enough talent to go all the way to state playoffs in Busch Stadium. But another tough schedule prevented the Irish gridi- ron crew from reaching the first round playoff game. ttState would have been great, but I think I would rather play our schedule, than to play all 1A schools like Greenwood did. We,re small in size, but were not scared to hit e something to be proud of? declared Kelly Verfurth. Nevertheless, the Irish coached by Bill Hyde and Jim Horton, accom- plished more than any other Irish team since resuming the football program in 1976. They had six wins against four losses; and played to a time in the Greene County League with Reeds Spring and Ash Grove. iiWe set some goals at the beginning of the season and all of them were achieved with the exception of the state playoffs, stated Coach Bill Hyde. The Irish ran into some tough luck- in the third game against Bolivar. After a 32-0 thrashing by Bolivar the year before, the Irish were out for revenge. They won the game 14-8, but lost quarterback Mike Bettlach for four weeks with a broken collarbone. uI couldnlt believe it! At first I was really angry, then I began to feel like I had let the team down? commented Mike with a mixture of annoyance and disbelief. He was replaced by Senior Sean Hyde, who did a fine job the following week with an equally big victory over Reeds Spring, 13-6. After a loss to a tough Republic team, the Irish whipped Strafford neatly. Then the team hit a low, dropping two straight decisions to Green Forest, Arkansas and Ash Grove. They heated back up again, however, to defeat Iberia and an improved Fair Grove team. Adding a new depth to the football program this season was a JV squad. The younger players were provided with game experience. tiThere was a lot of competition between the JV players because if we didnt meet up to the standards we would be benched? said Mike Vienhage. Ending the season with a record of one and four, Coach Jim Horton and the JV squad seemed well pleased with themselves. wThey didnlt do well scoring, but' they played their hearts out to represent their school and that,s all that counts, stated senior Vince Berg. Even though the top goal was not attained, those long hot days of practice did pay off. The Irish can be proud of what they accomplished and can only sit back and wait for next year, a new season, and a chance to give State another shot. The Fightin' Irish Football Team: Front row, Mike Manczuk, Steve Quinn, Mike BettIach, David Woody, Vito Sisto, Glenn Gray, KeIIy Verfurtb, Ronny MichaeI; Second row: J V Coach Jim Horton, Mark Bertantt, Marc Manczuk, Bart Rehagen, Tom Weiss, Vince Berg, Jeff DriscoII, Steve Berbericlz, Varsity Coach BiII Hyde; Third row: David H311, Rocky Gambon, PauI Bingle, Sean Hyde, Ed Rippee, Mike Vienhage, David HoItmami; Back row: GIenn Swisher, Bruce Rippee, Brad Quinn, Tom Bertalott, Eddie Meiderlzoff; Chris Ottadovec, Robert Schroeder, Luke Nixon, David Rempe, Danny Charles, Thomas Bramer.

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K 47:19 W 3W! 0 f 0 . ' I. If . ?tzfuq'nl-v 1 , ,1, , vpl l 4 I h I , . , $535,474? 'iv'l'. : h I! '5 4 '3 11.54! I: 'I , 1,1 ,1,I$r e ' ; 3:! f,$5 l,!l:l;'l;:ll. 1hr, ' . I ' if I'Ih'hyryzfih 'I, '1. 145; 75,00 ' I! ' l; u :, NM... f 1'5? fv'l r ,, WWW ,. h With 2' II. hohnnlq'nht'hrA'. 3 1' p w ' f'l Upper right Irish supporters watch a footbaH game held at Harrison Stadium, where the Irish played their home games. Lower left Becky Rempe observes as Angela Hyde returns a hard one. Lower center Grimacing Steve Quinn along with Glen Gray made man y devastating tackles during the season. Lower right Irish roundbaIIers head for up court for another bucket.

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xvh-vcr.quCDMV-u:$ Ip-h-iI-erF 16 Ash Grove 40 Iberia 35 Fair Grove Top right In the excitement of the moment, David H811 aids the referees when Vim Sisto once again scores for the Irish. Lower center Steve Quinn breaks through the line of scrimmage for a first down. Lower right Coach Horton and Coach H ydek expressions show a mixture of emotions felt at a Saturday afternoon match.