HISTORY
| MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA HISTORY | |
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Picture – Wilton H.S. Basketball Team 1906 – Courtesy of A. Wacker family
Back row (left to right): Frank Bacon, Arthur Wacker, Earl Whitmer
Front row - John Killian, Barry Schafnit, Orren McCoy
Wilton Athletics
By Jacob Duffe
Transcribed by Elizabeth Casillas, February 6, 2016The following is a history of athletics as played in Wilton and some of the outstanding teams and players. Some may have been overlooked in the gathering of this data and if this is so, we apologize in advance.
Basketball Basketball according to Webster is an indoor game played with an inflated round ball and elevated baskets for goals. The game was originated in 1891 and by 1900 it was being played a the German English College, now the Charles Norton apartments across from the elementary school. Will and John Schwin along with Newton and Joe Lang were among the first players at that time. They played on the third floor of this building.
The first basketball at Wilton High was played on the third floor of the brick school building built in 1875 and at the east end of this floor. The third floor served as an auditorium for school plays and graduation exercises. A stage was in the southwest corner of the room. Some of the early basketball players were Mike Cronin ’05, . . .
* ~ * ~ * This page sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Jake Duffe in loving memory of their son, Allan Duffe and their grandson, Ricky Duffe.
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Picture – Wilton Midgets Basketball Team 1909 – Courtesy of Zella Abbott
Back row (left to right) – Lucian McCoy, Herbert Wacker
Front row – Jim Robinson, Norman Abbott, Harry Griffith.Frank Agnew ’06, Alexander Atwill ’06, Arthur Wacker ’06, Arthur Wacker ’06, Earl Whitmer ’07, Oren Kiser ’07, Sylvester Kiser ’07, Harry Schafnit ’08, Frank Bacon ’08, Frank Abbott ’09, Phillip Dornseif ’10, Arnold Jacobsen ’10, and John Killian. By 1910 basketball was being played quite extensively in the smaller towns, the competition being very keen and plenty rough.
The High School boys would often play with the fellows going to the German English College where little or no heat was in the hall. That was also the case in the Wilton High School auditorium where one cast iron, potbellied stove in the northeast corner furnished all the heat for the players to change clothes. Their suits were much like those the basketball players wear today. With so little heat in the room, games were often played with snow in the corners of the windows located along the outside wall of the playing floor. Even under these conditions the attendance was very good at a price of 25 cents per person and . . .
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Picture – Wilton H.S. Basketball Team 1912-13 – Courtesy Zella Abbott
Standing, left to right: Warren Bowser, Supt., Norman Abbott, Guy Ringgenberg.
Seated: Ed Bannick, Richard Atwell, John Latchaw, Charles Mockmore, Louis Reed, Harry Griffith.. . . spectator room was at a premium. Fans used tables, ladders or anything available that would afford a view of the playing floor and their wearing apparel was heavy winter coats.
By 1910 with players like Guy Rinnggenberg, Arnold Jacobsen, Phillip Dornseif, Frank Abbott and Frank Weatherly and the attendance being so good, it was decided to buy lumber and put in a new floor. Four inch tongued and grooved pine wood flooring was purchased, laid, sanded, and varnished by the players themselves. This was paid for from the receipts of the games as were the suits, transportation and hotel bills since the school board would not pay for anything of this nature at that time.
The 1912 squad was composed of seven players – Richard Atwill, Louis Reid, Edwin Bannick, Louis Ticktin, Norman Abbott, Harry Griffith and Charles Mockmore. Guy Ringgenberg served as coach. This group played in the first Iowa High School State Tournament held at the University of Iowa gymnasium at Iowa City. The three other teams chosen were Ottumwa, Sioux City and Grundy Center. Ottumwa won this tournament beating Wilton in the first game by introducing the zone defense which is so popular today. Sioux City finished second, Grundy Center third, and Wilton fourth. This team’s record was 17 wins and 3 losses, the third loss being to Muscatine in early season play. There was some high scoring during the season for this ball team as Wilton scored 696 points to their opponents’ 411 in the 17 games played. Three unusual game scores were Muscatine 51, . . .
* ~ * ~ * This page sponsored by Georgia Frymoyer Alverson, Lucile Frymoyer Davies and Curtis Frymoyer in memory of their parents Mr. and Mrs. J.K. Frymoyer.
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Picture – Wilton H.S. Basketball Team 1916-’17 – Courtesy of Gale McClean
Back row (left to right) Richard Atwill (couch), William Rorick
Middle row – Carl Schroeder, Harry nolte, William Nangle roy Christison
Front row – Ovesen, Fred Stevens
This team won all games of the season until losing to West Liberty in a tournament at Grinnell, Iowa. . . Wilton 3; Wilton 73, Tipton 4; Wilton 101, Marion High 13. Defensive ball must have taken over after that period of time.
Ed Bannick ’13 and Leo Nicolaus of the 1915-16 team later starred for the University of Iowa in this sport. Leo was Captain and guard of the 1916 team. Outstanding players in the 1919-20-21 years were Rolland Abbott ’19, Harry Nolte ’19, and Perry (Dingo) Nelson ’21.
In the spring of 1922 Wilton won the Cornell College Invitational tournament beating Calamus 12-10; Mechanicsville 14-7; Wheatland 17-13 and Traer 20-13 in the finals. Wilton won the first trophy ever to be brought back to Wilton High School. Total points scored – Wilton 63, opponents 46.
In 1923 Wilton again won the Cornell College tourney winning over Center Point 43-9; Mechanicsville 23-6; Blairstown 21-6; and Lowden 50-10 in the finals. The Iowa State Basketball Association was formed in this year and Wilton lost in district play to Muscatine in two overtime periods.
In 1924 Wilton played in the Iowa Wesleyan tourney at Mt. Pleasant. Wilton won the first three games beating Wellman 19-10; Ottumwa 16-2; Mt. Pleasant 12-8 and lost the final to Burlington 16-13. They brought home the runner-up trophy. It should be mentioned here that Richard Atwill started to coach Wilton basketball in 1921 and was followed by Leo Nicolaus in 1922 who left to coach at Muscatine in 1924.
In 1925 Wilton won its first two games in the State Sectional tourney held in Muscatine, winning over Wapello 20-16; Muscatine 17-15 but losing the final to Iowa City 11-12. This loss was the first and only one of this season. Wilton brought back the runner-up trophy which was the fourth trophy in four years. The players of these years were . . .
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Picture – Wilton H.S. Girls Basketball Team about 1917 – Courtesy of Zella Abbott
Left to right – Zella Abbott, Ava Duffe, Mae Whitmer, Florence Schiflet, Marie Grunder, Esther Schroeder, Elsie Austin, Rhea Sylvester (teacher).. . . Herman Grunder, Claridon Doyle ’24, Harold Wacker ’23, LeMoyne Weirhauser ’25, Lauren Henderson ’25, John Schiele ’25, Harold Duncan ’25, Harry Shiflet ’23, and Raymond Schnack ’26. Lauren (Jim) Henderson was named as first team All-State back guard this year by Jack North of the Des Moines Register. Basketball in these years was more defensive than offensive as is vividly pointed out in the comparison of the 1923 team which scored a total of 270 points to 130 by their opponents in eleven games while before tournament play in 1976, Wilton scored 872 points to their opponents 792 in 14 games. A game played at Davenport in 1924 ended in a score of Wilton 8, Davenport 7 and is supposed to be the lowest scoring ever for a regulation game.
The 1928 team had a player, Leola (Lefty) Schnack, who became prominent as a player on the Central College team which for two years was considered one of the better teams in the nation. Lefty coached at Wilton and at Muscatine, later becoming athletic director there.
Many changes have been made in the game of basketball over the years. It started out with the center jump as today but after each score the ball was brought back for the center jump. Only 4 personal fouls were allowed before a player was forced to leave the game and only one free throw was given in any circumstance. Games were of two 20 minute halves. There was no limit on the years a player could play but he could not play after reaching the age of 21. Some years later the center jump after scoring was eliminated and the ball was thrown in from back line as today. The game in high school was also changed to four 8 minute quarters.
Later as rough play developed at or near the end of the game and intentional fouls were committed to gain possible control of the ball if the free throw was missed, a rule was adopted to give the team that was fouled the option of shooting the free throw or of taking the ball out of bounds at mid court. This rule proved unpopular and after a few years the “one and one” rule was adopted. Five fouls were now allowed and the last change was to give the ball to the fouled team out of bounds until a team collected a total of six fouls and then the “one. . .
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Picture – Wilton H.S. Basketball Team 1918-’19 – Courtesy of Zella Abbott
Back row (left to right) – Rolland Abbott, Prof. Gaines, Perry Nelson
Front row – Harry Nolte, Harold Wacker, Fred Stevens, Leland Rick, Bill Rorick.. . . and one” was taken on the 6th foul.
Good referees should be remembered too over the years. Some of them were Ab. Gould of Muscatine; Shimek of Iowa City; Dalquit and Beall from Augustana of Rock Island; Lefty Crawford, Sonny Gamber, Jess Day and Jim Ryan of Davenport; also Bob Farnsworth, Art Miller, Ken Huber and a man named Larson. There no doubt were others but the above stand out more vividly in memory.
Bernard Duffe ’37 was a prominent player for the University of Iowa on the teams of 1940 and 1941.
In 1939 Wilton had another outstanding team consisting of Harlan Beinke ’39 and Tom Lange. George Morris Ovesen, Wilbert Norton, Robert Freeland, Tom Smith, Fred Gruemmer and Lester Brenner of the class of 1941. This team won the sectional and went on to the district tourney at Iowa City where it won from Danville, Sigourney, and Ft. Madison in an overtime but lost to Clinton in the final game. In 1940 this same team minus Beinke by graduation won the sectional again but lost the first game in the district. In 1941 this same team won the sectional played at Wilton, winning over West Liberty 52-29; West Branch 55-31; and St. Ambrose in the final game 46-38. The boys went on to Davenport to the district where they lost to Davenport in the finals by a much disputed out of bounds play in the last few seconds. Davenport went on to the state meet and won the state title. All teams were still in one class at this time.
Wilton had another outstanding team in 1949 consisting of Jerry Atkinson, Jerry Hilgenberg, Harold Norton, of the class of ’49 and Fred Brammeier and Rollie Moeller of ’50. This team lost in the finals of the sectional in a hotly contested game. By this time the Boys’ Athletic. . .
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Picture – Wilton H.S. Basketball Team 1929-30 – Courtesy of Harriet Jensen
Back row, left to right: Coach Tandy, Frank Hansen, Frank Bacon, Clarence Lawson, Charles Lauser
Middle row: Felix Dwyer, Clifton Cockshoot, Hilbert Dice, Kenneth Friederichsen.
Front row: Robert Mason, Harold Templeman, Carlton Winters, Richard Lauser, George Bannick. . . Association was divided into two classes, A and B, depending on the size of the high school enrollment. Also, the various teams in the state were divided into various conferences with competition mainly in these conferences although a few games were played with other teams at the start of the season.
Wilton belonged to the Eastern Iowa Conference which included Durant, West Liberty, West Branch, Mt. Vernon, U High of Iowa City, Lone Tree, Columbus Jct., Winfield and New London. New conferences were formed sometime in the fifties and Wilton became a member of the Eastern Iowa Hawkeye Conference along with Durant, West Liberty, West Branch, Mt. Vernon, U. High (now Clear Creek), Mid-Prairie of Wellman, and Solon.
Wilton had girls’ basketball in 1910-11, a living member of that team being Ruth Ringgenberg Maurer ’11. In 1917-18-19 some of the players were Zella Noble Abbot ’20, Ava Duffe Ziegenhorn ’18, Mae Whitmer Stranski ’19, Florence Shiflet, Marie Grunder Sabboth ’19, Esther Schroeder Bessman ’19 and Elsie Austin Chamberlain ’17. Girls’ play was started again in 1940-41 and continued until 1959 when it was dropped because of a lack of interest and lack of time available for use of the one gymnasium.
We had many good girls’ teams during this span of years, some winning sectionals but losing in the district. The best, however, was the 1948 team which won county, sectional and district tournaments and went to the state as one of the Sweet Sixteen. Wilton won its first three games against Oakland, Waterville, and Slater but lost in the final game to Kamrar. Members of that team were Marian (Pedro) McClain Kavka and Beverly Ovesen Rabedeaux of ’48, Martha Brenner Bylene, Ella Mae Duncan Sambdman, Florence Kaalberg. . .
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Picture – Wilton H.S. football Team 1937 – Courtesy of Star Drug Store
Font row (left to right) – Bernard Duffe, George Freeland, Lupton Smith, Dick Fulton, Kenneth Atkinson, Tom Grings, George Nopoulos, K. Smith, Lee Mathes, Coach.
Second row - ?, Guyford Thurston, Irwin Maurer, Harry Luethye, Harry Peterson, Merle Sterner, Elmer Haage.
Back row – Junior Atkinson, ?, ?, -Doran, Warren Collier, ?.
Kneeling in front – Andrew Malchau, Student Mgr.. . . Atkinson, Thelma Soteros Noupolos of ’49, Bonnie Marolf Kincaid, Irene Moeller Wacker, Claradelle Mueller Bishop, Katherine and Virginia Robertson, Shirley Wacker McClean of ’50, Adelaide Bishop Miller, Carol Duffe LaCrosse ’51 and Beverly Tumey. Marian McClean was chosen guard on the Des Moines Register All-State first team and Beverly Ovesen was chosen forward on the second team. Carol Duffe won the sectional and district Free Throw contests in 1951 and went to the state in that event. Her coach was Bill Hartman.
An enormous amount of credit for the success of this team must go to coach Ray Tyler who carefully brought the girls along in the previous two or three years.
The 1949 team was also very good but suffered from the loss of McClean and Ovesen (both tall players) through graduation. This team won their sectional but lost in district play.
The 1953 team was also very good with a 17 won and 5 lost record. It won the sectional but was eliminated by West Liberty in the district by a score of 58-54. Standouts on this team were Nancy Whetstine Taylor ’54, Marge McClean Davies ’55, Nancy Herr Grunder ’55, Joyce Boller Schroeder, Patricia Bangert Ormsby, Ruth Madson Oostendorf of ’53 and Janet James.
With the building of a new gymnasium in 1973, girls’ basketball was started once again in 1974. The girls have taken some lumps the last three years but are gradually improving and Wilton will be heard from again in this sport.
Following is the accomplishment of the boys’ basketball teams starting with 1939—County Champion in 39, 49, 53, 54, 56, 57, 60, 61; Conference Champion in 56, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64, 68; Sectional Championships in 30, 41, 55, 58, 59, 64, 65, 66, 70, 76.
Following is the accomplishment of the girls’ basketball teams . . .
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Picture – Wilton H.S. Basketball Team about 1940-41 – Courtesy of the Star Drug Store
Left to right – Coach Lambert, Lester Brenner, Wesley Norton, Wilbert Norton, Tom Smith, Tug Cole, Fred Gruemmer, George (Morris) Ovesen, Tom Lange.. . . starting with 1945—County Champion in 45, 49, 50, 57, 58; Conference Champion in 53; Sectional Champion in 48, 49; District Champion in 48; and second in the State Tournament in 48.
Some basketball teams worthy of mention (other than varsity) and also some independent teams are The Wilton Midgets of 1909 whose members were Lucian McCoy, Herbert Wacker, Norman Abbott ’14, Harry Griffith ’13, and Jim Robinson.
A team called Harris’s Hornets formed by Ralph Harris (a local druggist) was composed of Clifford Russell and Jacob Duffe ’23, Clifford Noble ’24, James Harris and Toney Henly ’26 and Buster Kelley. This team scrimmaged against the varsity and also played the first or preliminary game which at that time was called the curtain raiser. Their greatest achievement was when they played a Muscatine team in the old Muscatine Armory building where the Uptown theatre now stands. They played the curtain raiser for Gilkerson’s Union Giants of New York against the popular Big Muskie Independent team. The Hornets established an Armory Field House record never equaled by holding their opponents without a field goal for the entire game. Final score Harris’ Hornets 15, Muscatine 3 (all free throws). An outstanding independent team of Wilton was called Abbott’s Texaco Five and consisted of Harold (Dutch) Maurer, Raymond Schnack ’26, Claridon Doyle ’24, LeMoyne Weirhauser and John Schiele ’25, Rolland Abbott ’19 and Toney Henly ’26. Their picture and write-up was published in 1975 in the S-R Advocate News.
Another local independent team called the Wilton DeLuxe Boosters . . .
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Picture – Girls’ Basketball Team, State Runnersups 1948 – Courtesy of Thelma Nopoulos
Front row, left to right: Irene Moeller, Martha Brenner, Florence Kaalberg, Beverly Oveson, Marian McClean, Thelma Soteros, Bonnie Marolf, Coach Ray Tyler.
Back row: Shirley Wacker, Kathryn Robertson, Ella Mae Duncan, Virginia Robertson, Claradelle Mueller, Beverly Tumey, Carol Duffe, Adelaide Bishop.. . . consisting of Tinker Beinke ’39, Freddie Gruemmer, Tom Lange and George Morris Ovesen and Lester Brenner ’41, Bob Lange ‘364, Ray Tyler (high school coach), Bernard Duffe ’37, George Freeland and Kenneth Atkinson ’37, Cal Mason and Lloyd Baurer from Davenport. John Schiele ’25 was the coach. They played in the National AAU Tournament which was won that year by Phillip’s Oilers who beat Miller’s Laundry of Des Moines in the finals by six points. Wilton DeLuxe had previously beaten Miller’s Laundry by a good margin.
Baseball Baseball has been played off and on since the turn of the century. Earliest baseball data available is of the 1903 Wilton High School team consisting of Frank Agnew, Ula Brown, Elbert Knot, Mike Cronin, Louis Miller, Hilbert Johnson, Leslie Whitmer, Guy Leith, Ruba Goldstein and Frank Winsell. This team’s picture is in Wildasin’s History and according to Henry, they won 20 of 21 or 21 of 22 games played.
The 1912 annual shows a picture of the Wilton High School team consisting of Ed. Bannick, Louis Ticktin, Lawrence Cockshoot, Charles Mockmore, George Mockmore, Harry Griffith, Vern Lear, Herman Thurston, Ernest Brammeier, Ray Wilkerson, and Israel Ticktin, manager. The 1913 annual shows no baseball team and none have been available for following years through 1922, so it is assumed it was not a high school sport in those years although the game was played independently.
It was again adopted as a high school sport in the spring of 1923. One of our losses was to St. Ambrose who beat Wilton 35-7. The game has continued since as a part of the school’s athletic program with some good and bad years. One particularly good team was in 1936. Their roster consisted of Wayne Ford, Bob Lange, Corwin Norton, Dean . . . .
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Picture – Wilton Baseball Players – Courtesy of Curtis Frymoyer
Frank Bacon, catcher; Earl Whitmer, batter.. . . Smith, Walter Sample, Leo Maurer, and Chester Whitmer of the class of 1936; Kenneth Atkinson, Bernard Duffe, George Freeland, and Tom Grings of the class of 1937. From this team, Bob Lange worked his way up to the Cleveland Indians, but his career was cut short by an injury received in the service.
Following are the championships won by Wilton High School in baseball—County Champion in 55, 56, 57, 58, 61; Conference Champion in 68, 69; and Sectional Champion in 57, 58.
Back in the early 30s during the Great Depression a kittenball league was formed consisting of 8 teams of local men and youth ranging in age from 19 or 20 up to the age of 50 or more. Kittenball is known today as softball. Even the women got into the act by forming some teams of their own. The games had to be played after supper in daylight for 3 or 4 years until the Lions Club, after receiving its charter, was instrumental in putting up lights. Tall trees were cut from Jim Smith’s timber south of Moscow and hauled over to what was the quarter stretch of the former Wilton Fairgrounds. Kittenball tournaments were started later with out-of-town teams participating. They have continued to this day but are now played at the Wilton park.
Summer playground developed some years back and we now have Midget Leagues, Little Leagues, Pony Leagues, Jr. Varsity and Varsity hardball and softball for both boys and girls. Also, a so-called Old Men’s League with teams from other towns participating. Most games are now played under the lights although some have to be played in early evening.
Some outstanding players from the past are Harry Freeland and . . . .
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Picture – Dr. Mason and his Boys’ Baseball Team – Courtesy of the N.N.C.
This team was playing in the mid twenties.. . . . Tom Henley after the turn of the century. Also, besides those mentioned earlier, are Robert Herr ’58, David Davies ’66, and Ed Sawvell ’69 who still play semi-pro ball.
There have been many so-called independent teams. One to be remembered particularly was Doc Mason’s Boys Team. It was a good little team and played some snappy ball. Boys on this team were Harold (Bill) Grunder ’29, Art Potter ’29, George Bannick “30, Carlton Winter ’30, Bob Mason ’30, Paul Darting ’29, Leo Jipp ’29, Charles Rottman, Charles Crispin ’30, Harold Johnson, Frank Johnson ’28.
Football This sport was first proposed for Wilton High in 1922 in the month of November but did not become a reality until the fall of 1924. Wilton lost the season opener to West Branch by a score of 18-0. This sport was played through 1929, then dropped for a year and then resumed again in 1932. It has been said that an injury or death was the cause for its being dropped for that one year.
The game was played until ’42 or ’43 when World War II brought about a shortage of coaches and teachers. It was reestablished in the fall of 1948 and this team was very successful for its first year winning 4 games and losing 3. This team was full of fight from the top of their heads to the bottom of their feet. Anyone who had seen them play would never doubt that with a little more experience they would have been champs for that season. West Branch, who won the title that year, barely squeezed by Wilton in a game played at Wilton City Park. Members of this team were Jerry Hilgenberg, Robert Jipp, Melvin Duffe, Kenneth Harfst, Raymond Maurer, John Nolte, Harold Norton, Tom Tumey, Delbert Wacker and Ronald Wacker of the class of 1949, Allan Duffe, Wayne Lincoln, Rolland Moeller and Lauren Johnson of the 1950 class, Harold Birkhofer, Lyle Birkhofer, Jack Bryant, Jerry Comstock, Paul Grunder, Donald Harfst, John Hinkhouse, Ted Kaufmann and Robert Laucamp of the 1951 class; Harris . . . .
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Picture – Wilton Texaco Basketball Team 19-26-27 – Courtesy of Jack Duffe
Left to right: Harold (Dutch) Maurer, Raymond Schnack, Claridon Doyle, LeMoyne Weirhauser, John Schiele, Rolland Abbott, Tony Henley.. . . . Giese, Russell Baker, Richard Beinke, Leo Duffe and Rex Ovesen of the 1952 class. The coach was Archie Frye who did a magnificent job with these boys who had the desire to play.
Jerry Hilgenberg went on to the University of Iowa where he became first team All-American Center under Coach Forrest Evasheski. After graduation he was SUI freshman football coach for a number of years. Other players who have made it big in college football are Wally Hilgenberg (Jerry’s brother) of the 1960 class who starred at SUI and went on to pro football with the Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh (temporarily), then to the Minnesota Vikings where he has been playing as a star line backer for several years. Bob Daut ’56 played college football and went into coaching after graduation. Charles Corle Jr. ’66 and Ron Baker ’72 both starred at Monmouth College and both established new records there. Charles Mockmore ’13 played at SUI in the last football game on Nov. 22, 1919 in the Iowa – Ames game.
The Wilton High School football team won the conference championship in the 68-69 season.
Track Wilton has participated in track since the 1920’s mostly on an unorganized or challenge basis until 61-62 when it became a regular conference sport. Wilton has had many fine athletes and in addition to scheduled member contests, it has held the Beaver Relays each spring for many years. There is also a Conference Championship Relay Meet held every year on a rotating basis.
Following is a list of the championships: Indoor District Championships 62, 67, 72, 74; Outdoor District championships 65, 66, 67; and Conference Champs 72, 74.
The following boys by their efforts in the District meets qualified for the state meet sometimes held at the Field House in Iowa City, but generally held at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. Tom McQuillen (mile run) 72, 73, 74, 75; Ron Baker (shot put, discus, pole vault) 72; Ricky Duffe (180 yard low hurdle, 120 high hurdle) 72; Tom Stoelk (high jump) 72; Dennis Boorn (pole vault) 73; Gary Baker (long jump) 74; Scott Symmonds (long jump) 74; Tom Graber (shot put) 74; Doug LaMaack (open 440) 74; Mike McGuire, Jim King, Robert . . . .
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. . . .VanHouten, Gary Baker (440 relay) 75; Gary Baker (180 low hurdle) 75; Marty Wacker (high jump) 75; Dick Grunder (2 mile run) 75; Tom McQuillen also ran in the Drake Relays.
Lynn Ovesen won the state pole vault in 67 and 68. He also won in the Drake Relays in 68 and set a record of 13’9 ½ ”. He was on the track team at the University of Iowa and set a fieldhouse record in the pole vault which lasted for one week.
Following is a list of Wilton High School track records: Shot—Baker-50’- ’72; Discus—Luethye-137’4” – ’69; High Jump—Hawkins – Stoelk – Wacker – 6’ – ’71-72-75; Long Jump—Budelier – 21’3 ½ ” – ’65; Pole Vault—Ovesen – 13’9 ½” – ’68; 50 Yard Dash—Ovesen – 5.6 seconds – ’68; Big Boy 100 Yard Dash –Corle – 10.6 seconds – ’66; 100 Yard Dash—Ovesen – 23.2 seconds – ’68; 220 Hard Dash—Ovesen – 23.2 seconds – ’68; 440 Yard Dash - Trafton-52.2 seconds – “63; 880 Yard Dash—McQuillen – 2 min. 02 seconds – ’75; Mile Run—McQuillen – 4 min. 29.2 seconds – ’73; 2 Mile Run—Grunder – 10 min. 25 seconds- ’75; 60 Yard High Hurdles—Duffe – 8.0 seconds – ’72; 60 Yard Low Hurdles – Marolf – Leming – 7.5 seconds – ’62-’68; 120 Yard High Hurdles – Smith – 21.1 seconds – ’67; 180 Yard Low Hurdles- Hawkins – 15.6 seconds – ‘ 71; 440 Yard Relay – Fralick – Hoekstra – Norton – Rabedeaux – 45.3 seconds ’69; 880 Yard Relay – Smith – Ovesen – Birkhofer – Corle – 1 min. 35.3 seconds – ’66; Mile Relay—Lange – Brenner – Workman – Boorn – 3 min. : 35.1 seconds – ’65; Mile Medley Relay—McQuillen – King – McGuire – LaMaack – 3 min. :49.2 seconds – ’75; 2 Mile Relay – Behrens – Huesman – Behrens – Boorn – 8 min. : 37 seconds – ’65; 720 Shuttle Hurdles – Baker – Duffe – Stoelk – Stoelk – 1 min. :30.1 seconds – ’72; 480 Shuttle Hurdles—Freeman – Graber – Budding – Christiansen – 1 min. :10.9 seconds – ’74; Pentathlon—Hawkins – 1910 points – ’71.
Wrestling This sport was initiated in Wilton High in the early 60’s. It has become a very popular sports event and draws a tremendous following of fans. In fact, it has been said that the fans are more spent at the end of the meet than the athletes.
Wilton wrestlers were Sectional Champs in 68, 69, 70; District Champs in 69 and Conference Champs in 68, 69, and 72.
Individual records are Charles Corle, Heavyweight, senior, 3rd place in state 1965-66; Bryce Healy, 154 lb., senior, State Qualifier, 1965-66; Danny Mann, 103 lb., Sophomore, State Qualifier, 1965-66; Ben Marolf, 133 lb., Senior, 4th place State, 1968-69; Dave Luth, 145 lb., Junior, State Qualifier, 1968-69; Griff Norton, 138 lb., Senior, 2nd place State, 1968-69; Tim Zinger, 132 lb., Senior, 2nd place State, 1970-71; Ron Baker, 185 lb., Senior, 6th place State, 1971-72; Dennis Boorn, 138 lb., Junior, 3rd place State, 1971-72; Dave King, 132 lb., Senior, State Qualifier, 1972-1973; Dennis Boorn, 138 lb., Senior, 1st place State Champ, 1972-73.
We can rightly be proud of the achievements of our youth in this sport in the short time it has been a part of our athletic program. By the same token, we can be also rightly proud of all the boys and girls who have represented Wilton High School and the towns of Wilton and Moscow since the turn of the century. Hats off to a fine group.
Swimming and golf have not become a part of the school’s athletic program as of this time, but boys, girls, men and women of all ages . . . .
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. . . . have been active in these two sports for a number of years. Swimming lessons have been given in the summer to all youth who wish to avail themselves of the offer through the Red Cross swimming program; Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, or family night offerings at the YMCA, Muscatine. Golf is played from ten years old on up at the Wilton-Durant Wahkonsa Country Club and golf courses at nearby West Liberty, Tipton, Muscatine and Davenport.
Horseshoe pitching has been popular for years. Some very good pitchers of yesteryear were Ed Miller and John Bolly while two very good present day pitchers are Ed Zybarth and Howard Davies.