Out of The Past
1968: Talent-laden hoop teams ready for openers As far as basketball partisans were concerned, it was now their time of the year.
Some teams were already preparing to play their opening games, coaches were hemming and hawing about their prospects and the faithful were wondering if “next year” would finally arrive.
So, how did those teams look this week back in 1968?
Frazier coach Henry DiVirgilio and assistant Joe Lafko had 21 prospects. Lettermen included Brothers Charlie and Wesley Ramsey, Jerry Boyle, John Valosen, Tom Galla, Rod King and Tim Sajna.
Bob Percy was head coach at Southmoreland, assisted by Frank Banasick. Their charges included nine senior lettermen, Jim Farmer, Sam Coffman, Ken Hough, Cil Smith, Roger Brown, Ed Pisula, Ken Groce, Larry Basinger and Neil Ronco. Plus junior Rich Able, who led the team in scoring as a sophomore.
Buddy Quertinmont was the new head coach at Mapletown, and his charges included two top scorers returning from last year, John Billetz (383 points) and Bob Clites (292). Others with some experience included Charles Williamson, Fred Chastain, Joe Ziegler and Dan Vekkeli.
Carmichaels also had a new head coach, Dominick Christy, who would be assisted by Vic Lapkowicz and Alva Dorsey. Returnees included Jan Weido, the Mikes’ top scorer who averaged double figures, Tom Bussoletti, Jerry Weido and Fred Stuvek.
Frank Wydo had only two returning regulars at Fr. Kolb High, Masontown – Rich Egidi and Darrell Patton. Other returnees included Bill Berish, Lud Kopec, John Mullen, George McCann, Vince Serra, Stan Batis and Jim Davis.
Abe Everhart welcomed back four lettermen at Uniontown – John Carom, Pat Risha, Arnold Belt and Tom Hull. Senior returnees included John Shull, Basil Dickerson, Ray Lampley, Jerry Wardell, Todd Trent, Adrian Curry and Dane Fox.
Geibel, with Ken Misiak again as head coach, assisted by Bob Fedorko, had a real bright spot in his prospects – 16 sophomores. There were only three seniors, Bob Bailor, back for his third season, Bob Cavalier and Frank Dunaway, for the second year. Plus seniors John Cunningham and Mark Teich.
Connellsville began drills with coach Hal Weightman looking for “just one big man” on his roster of nine seniors, 10 juniors and 13 sophomores. The Falcon nucleus would be seniors Fred Norton, Les Hart and Larry McCargo, playing their second seasons. Other seniors were Gary DeHainaut, Ron Fetsko, John Petrilla, Ben Sledge, Bob Meadows and Doug Mason. And the “big man” Weightman was looking for?? Norton was the tallest at 6-2.
Fayette Penn State Campus was starting its fourth season under coach Paul Agate, whose 11 prospects included returnees Don (Doc) Ainsley, Tom Griffith, Dwight Singo, Mike Quinn and Dave Henderson.
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In other sports events that week:
– Waynesburg College averaged 44 points per game on offense and allowed 3.0 on defense, to take season honors on both sides of the ball in the West Penn Conference.
– Pat Mullen was hired as a coach by the Washington Senators. After 30 years with the Detroit Tigers as player, coach and minor league manager, he became a scout for the organization.
– And in the biggest hassle involving a female rider since Lady Godiva galloped through town sans vestments, jockeys and trainers at Churchill Downs, Ky., banded together to boycott the racing card when they learned that track officials said they would let Ann Early, 25, become the track’s first female jockey.
At the end of the week, she still hadn’t left the starting gate.
Jim Kriek is a Herald-Standard sports correspondent.