St Marys High School - Bell Yearbook (Sandusky, OH)

Page 63 text:

Grapplers Grab District Title, Place Third In State Competition! A proud and happy Joe Dye after decking another opponent. Joe became the first state champ in the history of the school. FRONT ROW: M. Shamhart, D. Schwanger, Coach Tom Keegan, Coach Dave Bennett, D. Keech, I. Dye ROW 2: T. Spendiarian, I. Guerra, K. Nemitz, T. Scheck, K. Roth, B. Beverick, B. Harris, S. Blanton ROW 3: M. Naufel, K. Cousino, mgr. Ed Opfer, mgr. M. Linkenbach, mgr. A tear ran down the face of Coach Tom Keegan as joe Dye, his unbeaten 175 lber, embraced him after becoming the first state champion in the history of St. Mary's. Joe finished four years of wrestling with a superb 72-15 record. This year, Ioe's record was 26-O-1. He won the championship in the Edison Tournament, St. joe Tournament, SBC, Class A Sectional, District, and State Tournament. The Panthers sent nine of the thirteen wrestlers to compete in the Class A State Tournament and ended up placing third team-wise among 42 other schools and had one champ in Dye. Dave Keech, Dan Schwanger, and Brian Harris. Sham- hart finished fourth. Keegan commented, I can't tell you how proud I am of the team for their performance during the year and you fans for your support. Our team is not good by accident or lucky to get where they are. They are a No. 1 group of kids. The Panthers ended their season with a 7-2 dual meet record, championships in the Edison Tourn- ament, SBC, Sectional, and District Touranments. Their only dual meet losses were to Huron and Norwalk High. They defeated Clyde, Margaretta, Seneca East, Monroeville, Fremont St. Joe, Tiffin Calvert, and Perkins. Senior Scott Blanton sets up for the takedown.

Page 62 text:

Panthers Repeat As SBC Champs, Also Clasp Edison Tourney And Our kids really wrestled tough all the time, and our aggressiveness made the difference, beamed Coach Tom Keegan at the S.B.C. tournament as he was carried off by his team after clinching his second championship of the year. Dave Keech, Mike Shamhart, Dan Schwanger, and Joe Dye sparked the team with their championship performances while Brian Harris, and Tom Spendiarian, finished second, and Bill Beverick, Kevin Roth, Scott Blanton, and Kevin Nemitz finished third. The first wrestling championship was the Edison ln- vitational Tournament, where St. Mary's competed as the only Class A school in a field of eight schools, and walked off with four champions, three second place finishers and two fourth place seats. Kevin Roth, Scott Blanton, Dan Schwanger, and Joe Dye grasped first place crowns for the Panthers. Every member of the team contributed either through spirit or matches, commented Keegan. Any time you win a tournament it has to be a team effort ad that's what it was, with our seniors leading the way. Our seniors came up with clutch performances when we needed the points, replied the happy coach. Sr Brian Harris attempts to bridge his opponent. -'Y i Sectional Crown! Head Coach Tom Keegan verbally demonstrates confidence in his grapplers. Dan Schwanger cheers on teammate from the side.

Page 64 text:

167 lb. Sr. Kevin Nemitz, rides his opponent. Jude Roth takes a breath. Coach Tom Keegan and his grapplers victorious after the SBC tournament. Y .1- Dave Keech receives championship crown from Coach Keegan. Mike Shamhart gets a congratulatory handshake from Coach Keegan. N , .wma ,yuan