ATHLETICS
The El Paso High School Comets had many great seasons, coaches, and athletes come through their school. The boys football program was extrememly strong playing in the State Championship game along the way. Boys sports of basketball, track, and wrestling were also quite successful. The girls won some IHSA hardware in volleyball (www.ihsa.org). They also competed in basketball, track, and softball. If you have any further information to supply regarding the great athletic program of the El Paso Comets please contact us via e-mail at dr.veeman@gmail.com.
BOYS FOOTBALL
The El Paso High School boys football program was an extrememly competitive sport during the entire existence of the school. There is a record of each season posted on the IHSA website for the Comets beginnning with the 1915 season and ending with the 2003-04 team. State playoffs were the norm in the later years, with the high point being a SECOND PLACE FINISH in the 2002-03 season!
A history and team records of the great El Paso grid iron boys was written by Merlin Haas. The information Merlin provided appears below:
“The first high school football game of any sort was played at the El Paso Fairgrounds on Oct. 16, 1897 when El Paso defeated Normal High School. Teams were fielded for the next six years (a 1903 result has El Paso beating Minonk 17-6) but their game with three downs to make five yards and no forward passing does not bear much resemblance to the modern game. The sport was discontinued after 1903 due to the many injuries caused by rough play (and no pads or helmets).
There was no football of any kind for 12 years before the revival of the sport on October 15, 1915 as LeRoy beat El Paso 15-7 at the El Paso Fairgrounds (close to where the present El Paso-Gridley High School football field is located now) with the first EP touchdown coming on a 30-yard pass from Hurd Adams to Virgil Gordon (Gordon later played for Northwestern University).
The sport took a one-year hiatus in 1918 due to World War I and the lack of a coach, but the game came back in 1919, and there were teams every year thereafter. Of the 88 teams El Paso fielded, 56 had winning records, with an overall record of 457 wins, 302 losses, and 36 ties for a win-lost percentage of .597.
The playing field was moved to the current site of the Centennial School for the 1933 season and lights were installed the next year. The first lighted home game was October 12th, 1934, though the first El Paso team to play under the lights had done so at Streator on October 9th, 1931. When construction on Centennial School took place, the field was moved to its present location north of the current El Paso-Gridley High School building, with the first game played there on October 6th, 1955.
The first Homecoming Game was Thanksgiving Day, 1923, with a 7-6 victory over St. Bede. There were Homecomings in 1927 & 1928 before the event became an annual affair in 1932. El Paso had a 53-18-2 record in Homecoming games.”
Conference Championships
Illini Conference—1929
Midstate Conference—1957, 1959, 1964, 1971, 1981, 1984, 1991, and 1996
Midstate Conference (North Division)—1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
Seasonal Records, Coaches, and Playoff Results
1915-16 Coach Paul Mulliker
1916-17 Coach Ed Vanneman
1917-18 Coach Perl Miller
1919-20 6-3-1 Coach Harry Clark
1920-21 7-2 Coach Harry Clark
1921-22 4-3-1 Coach Harry Clark
1922-23 5-4 Coach Harry Clark
1923-24 6-2 Coach Harry Clark
1924-25 Coach Harry Clark
1925-26 6-2 Coach Harry Clark
1926-27 5-3 Coach Harry Clark
1927-28 3-3-2 Coach Harry Clark
1928-29 Coach Harry Clark
1929-30 7-0-2 Undefeated Season Coach Harry Clark
1930-31 4-3-2 Coach Harry Clark
1931-32 Coach Harry Clark
1932-33 4-3-1 Coach Clyde McQueen
1933-34 5-2-2 Coach Clyde McQueen
1934-35 6-3 Coach Clyde McQueen
1935-36 5-3 Coach Lynn Gibbs
1936-37 4-4 Coach Lynn Gibbs
1937-40 Coach Sam Blackwell
1940-41 4-3-1 Coach Sam Blackwell
1941-42 4-3 Coach Esau Dotlich
1942-43 5-3 Coach Earl McLane
1943-44 5-2 Coach Robert Ferguson
1944-45 6-2 Coach Vincennes Bowers
1945-46 6-1-1 Coach Jack Secord
1946-47 7-1-1 Coach Bloice Bess
1947-48 6-1-1 Coach Bloice Bess
1948-49 Coach Joe Jobst
1949-50 8-1 Coach Joe Jobst
1950-51 Coach Tony Komlanc
1951-52 Coach Jack Trebbe
1952-53 6-2-1 Coach Jack Trebbe
1953-54 5-3-1 Coach Dean Poling
1954-55 5-2-2 Coach Jack Trebbe
1955-56 6-1-2 Coach Milton Kadlec
1956-57 7-2 Coach Milton Kadlec
1957-58 9-0 Undefeated/Untied Season Coach Milton Kadlec
1958-59 Coach Milton Kadlec
1959-60 6-1-1 Coach Ken Kuester
1960-61 3-3-2 Coach Ken Kuester
1961-63 Coach Ken Kuester
1963-64 Coach Gene Cwick
1964-65 6-3 Coach Gene Cwick
1965-66 6-2-1 Coach Robert Johnson
1966-67 5-4 Coach Robert Johnson
1967-68 Coach Tom McGhee
1968-69 7-2 Coach Tom McGhee
1969-70 6-2-1 Coach Mike Watson
1970-71 6-3 Coach Sam Wadsworth
1971-72 6-2 Coach Sam Wadsworth
1972-73 6-3 Coach Sam Wadsworth
1973-74 8-1 Coach Sam Wadsworth
1974-77 Coach Sam Wadsworth
1977-78 Coach Wes Rayner
1978-79 5-4 Coach Wes Rayner
1979-80 Coach Wes Rayner
1980-81 5-4 Coach Wes Rayner
1981-82 10-1 Team Qualified for Class 2A Playoffs Coach Wes Rayner
Undefeated Regular Season
Elite 8 Finalist
Beat Williamsville 25-14
Lost to Danville Schlarman 22-8
Schlarman eventual State Champs
1982-83 5-4 Coach Wes Rayner
1983-84 Coach Marc Hummel
1984-85 7-4 Class 2A State Qualifier Coach Dwight Unzicker
Elite 8 Finalist
Beat Dwight 17-14
Lost to Paxton 25-0
Paxton Eventual State Runner-up
1985-88 Coach Dwight Unzicker
1988-89 Coach Mike Souhrada
1989-90 5-4 Coach Mike Souhrada
1990-91 9-3 Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Mike Souhrada
Elite 8 Finalist
Beat Chenoa 20-15
Beat Lexington 31-28
Lost to Bloomington Cent. Cath. 17-6
B.C.C State Runner-up
1991-92 10-3 Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Mike Souhrada
Final Four Finalist
Beat Kewanee Wethersfield 28-6
Beat Oneida ROWVA 28-21
Beat Gridley 3-0
Lost to Stockton 20-0
Stockton eventual State Champs
1992-93 Coach Mike Souhrada
1993-94 6-4 Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Mike Souhrada
Lost to Cerro Gordo 41-14
1994-95 6-4 Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Mike Souhrada
Lost to Franklin Center 20-0
1995-96 7-3 Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Mike Souhrada
Lost to Chenoa 12-7
1996-97 10-2 Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Mike Souhrada
Elite 8 Finalist
Beat Gilman Iroquois West 46-6
Beat Toulon Stark County 40-18
Lost to Chenoa 24-12
Chenoa eventual State Champs
1997-98 7-3 Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Mike Souhrada
Lost to Arcola 28-20
1998-99 10-1 Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Mike Souhrada
Undefeated Regular Season
Sweet 16 Finalist
Beat Jacksonville ISD 41-16
Lost to Poplar Grove North Boone 20-6
1999-00 10-1 Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Mike Souhrada
Undefeated Regular Season
Sweet 16 Finalist
Beat Arthur 37-19
Lost to Dakota 13-7
2000-01 8-3 Class 1A Playoff Qualifier Coach Mike Souhrada
Sweet 16 Finalist
Beat Virden 13-9
Lost to East Dubuque 41-14
2001-02 8-2 Class 2A Playoff Qualifier Coach Mike Souhrada
Lost to Argenta-Oreana 33-20
2002-03 13-1 CLASS 1A STATE RUNNER-UP!! Coach Mike Souhrada
Undefeated Regular Season
State Championship Game Finalist
Beat Lewistown 64-0
Beat Bismarck-Henning 28-3
Beat LeRoy 40-6
Beat Cerro Gordo 12-10
Lost to South Beloit 50-22
2003-04 7-4 Class 2A Playoff Qualifier Coach Mike Souhrada
Sweet 16 Finalist
Beat Poplar Grove North Boone 35-34
Lost to Sterling Newman 35-0
School’s Final Solo Season
More El Paso Football Facts from Merlin Haas!
Most Wins as Head Coach
124—Mike Souhrada (1988-2003) 124-48-0
63—Harry M. Clark (1919-1931) 63-40-9
Longest Rivalries
88 years vs. Flanagan (first game: October 9, 1915/last game: October 24, 2003–57 games) El Paso led the series 37-17-3.
87 years vs. LeRoy (first game: October 2nd, 1915/last game: November 16, 2002—42 games) El Paso led the series 22-18-2.
79 years vs. Eureka (first game: November 13th, 1915/last game: August 26, 1994—75 games) El Paso led the series 37-32-6.
Consecutive Years Playing Against An Opponent
62—Chenoa (1939-2000)
57—Minonk/Minonk-Dana/Minonk-Dana-Rutland/Fieldcrest (1947-2003)
55—Lexington (1944-1998)
Best Season Records (by win-loss percentages)
1.000 9-0 1957
1.000 7-0-2 1929
.929 13-1-0 2002
.909 10-1-0 1981
.909 10-1-0 1998
.909 10-1-0 1999
.889 8-1-0 1949
.889 8-1-0 1973
.875 7-1-1 1946
.857 6-1-1 1945
.857 6-1-1 1947
.857 6-1-1 1959
.857 6-1-2 1955
Largest Winning Margins
97-0 vs. Fairbury, 10-29-1920
95-0 vs. Gridley, 11-28-1929
74-0 vs. Wenona, 10-27-1922
LONGEST SCORING PLAYS
Touchdown Run 94 yds—Oren Lane vs. Herscher, 1937
Touchdown Pass 76 yds—Bob Pierce to Jim McHugh vs. Dee-Mack, 1956
Punt Return 80 yds—Emerson Risser vs. Normal, 1920;
Gary Raymer vs. Farmer City, 1972;
Brett Tennison vs. Kewanee Wethersfield, 1991
Kickoff Return 97 yds—Allan Campbell vs. Washington, 1939
Pass Interception 100 yds—Larry Knapp vs. Lexington. 1964
Landis Loewen vs. Chenoa, 1981
Fumble Return 99 yds—Virgil Gordon vs. Eureka, 1915
Longest Field Goal 36 yds—Clint Kirkpatrick vs. Gridley, 1991
YARDS GAINED RUSHING (GAME)
291—Joe Hankey vs. Gridley, 1931
254—Tony Haas vs. Minonk-Dana-Rutland, 1973 (16 att)
245—Tony Haas vs. Chenoa, 1973 (16 att)
245—Ron Ales vs. Deer Creek-Mackinaw, 1978 (13 att)
YARDS GAINED RUSHING (SEASON)
2,105—Derek Hunsinger, 2002 (288 att)
1,749—Brett Tennison, 1991 (325 att)
1,623—Andy Van Scyoc, 1996 (201 att)
YARDS GAINED RUSHING (CAREER)
3,661—Derek Hunsinger, 2000-02 (528 att)
2,755—Adam Mool, 1992-94 (438 att)
2,569—Brett Tennison, 1989-91 (456 att)
YARDS GAINED PASSING (GAME)
328—Scott Reid vs. Streator Woodland, 9/22/2000 (10/16, 1 int.)
266—Tom Harvey vs. Chenoa, 1964 (12/23)
260—Monte Lindsey vs. Washington, 1944 (10/15)
YARDS GAINED PASSING (SEASON)
1,571—Brad Bouris, 1996 (101/177, 4 INT, 14 TD)
1,455—Scott Reid, 2000 (84/180, 10 INT, 19 TD)
1,394—Brad Bouris, 1997 (105/182, 0 INT, 16 TD)
YARDS GAINED PASSING (CAREER)
3,840—Brad Bouris, 1995-97 (290/525, 12 INT, 35 TD)
3,176—Scott Reid, 1997-2000 (178/381. 24 INT, 36 TD)
2,194—Stephen Rigsby, 1992-93 (147/347, 19 INT, 23 TD)
YARDS GAINED RECEIVING (GAME)
176 yds—Jake Cox vs. Minonk Fieldcrest, 8/30/1996 (8 REC, 2 TD)
167 yds—Josh Uphoff vs. Chenoa, 8/29/1997 (10 REC., 2 TD)
161 yds—Steve Young vs. Deer Creek-Mackinaw, 1974 (7 REC, 1 TD)
161 yds—Dave Feeney vs. LeRoy, 1993 (6 REC, 2 TD)
YARDS GAINED RECEIVING (SEASON)
990 yds—Jake Cox. 1996 (50 REC, 12 TD)
688 yds—Dave Feeney, 1993 (30 REC, 8 TD)
671 yds—Josh Uphoff, 1997 (50 REC, 8 TD)
YARDS GAINED RECEIVING (CAREER)
1,628 yds—Chris Carr 2000-02 (82 REC. 19 TD)
1,029 yds—Dave Feeney 1992-94 (54 REC, 14 TD)
999 yds—Jake Cox 1995-96 (51 REC, 12 TD)
MOST POINTS SCORED (SEASON)
194—Derek Hunsinger, 2002 (32 TD, 1 2-pt PAT)
182—Tony Haas, 1973 (29 TD, 4 2-pt PAT)
181—Jesse Smith, 2003 (22 TD, 45 1-pt PAT, 2 2-pt PAT)
MOST POINTS SCORED (CAREER)
305—Joe Roberts, 1919-22
286—Derek Hunsinger, 2000-02
254—Jesse Smith, 2001-03
Extra Tidbits About the Comet Football Program
Three-time all-Mid State Conference selections
John Armstrong 1962 (LB), 1963 (RB), 1964 (RB)
Jacon Allen 1990 (as RB, LB, and K)
Dan Salyards 1960 (OT), 1961 (OT & LB)
Dallas (Chip) Schuler 1963 (LB), 1965 (C & LB)
Bob Hunsinger 1968 (OG), 1969 (OG & DG)
Keith Mool 1972 (OG), 1973 (OG & LB)
Ken Mool 1972 (DE), 1973 (DE & OG)
Trent Wilkey 1979 (DL), 1980 (OT & DT)
Brent Kelly 1981 (OB & LB), 1982 (LB)
Adam Mool 1993 (RB & LB), 1994 (RB)
Wes Hedges 1995 (OG), 1996 (OG & LB)
Two-time two-way all-conference picks
Tom Harvey 1964 (QB & DB)-1965 (RB & DB)
Dave Armstrong 1970-71 (OT & DT both years)
Dane Simpson 1997-98 (OT & DT both years)
Other notes: Four Comets that were named all-conference also led the
Mid-State in scoring during the year they were chosen.
John Armstrong did so with 60 points in 1963, Tom Harvey had 78 points in 1964, Tony Haas set what might have been the conference record in 1973 with 134 points, and Heath Kilpatrick with 68 markers in 1989.
Boys Basketball – 1957-58 |
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Boys Basketball
The following information regarding the El Paso Comets boys basketball program was provided by Merlin Haas:
The first mention of an El Paso High School boys’ basketball team came in November, 1905 when the El Paso paper stated, “The El Paso high school team defeated Wenona in a game of basketball on the grounds here Thursday by a score of 12-10.” It is not known whether the game was played indoors or outside.
The first known El Paso High School team with a regular schedule was the 1912-13 season. The teams played in various locations prior to World War I and under conditions that would amaze modern players. Some floors had low ceilings or posts in the middle of the playing floor and there is a report of a player having to leave a game with burns after failing against a stove use to heat the building. The lack of any playing floor at all caused the sport to be dropped for five years after 1915-16.
The current El Paso-Gridley High School building was completed in 1921 and included what was then a state-of-the-art gymnasium. The first game in the high school gym was played on December 16, 1921, and was a 22-11 loss to Chenoa. This gym was used for the next 36 seasons, though it became inadequate for the faster game that attracted more fans (there was some talk of a new gym as early as 1940). The final game in the high school gym was February 25, 1958, but was continued to be used for physical education classes and wrestling practice and meets until 2002, when it was converted into a computer lab.
The first game in the Centennial School Gym was November 21, 1958 and that team celebrated their new playing quarters by winning the first nine games played there. The first boys’ game in the Comet Center (the current home of El Paso-Gridley basketball) was December 10, 2002, as the Comets downed Eureka 54-38.
From 1912-13 through 2003-04, El Paso won 1,013 games and lost 1,009 (a winning percentage of .501). They had a 489-340 record in home games at the old high school gym (1921-58; 177-160), Centennial Gym (1958-2002; 280-165), and Comet Center (2002-04; 14-11); 19-4 on other home floors prior to 1920, and 529-669 on the road.
MOST WINS AS HEAD COACH
187—Dave Ferrenburg, 1992-93 thru 2002-03 (187-103)
164—Dave Orr, 1980-81 thru 1990-91 (164-111)
108—Bruce Murphy, 1956-57 thru 1963-64 (108-85)
BEST SEASON RECORDS
.889 24-3 1985-86
.857 24-4 2000-01
.840 21-4 1989-90
.840 21-4 1990-91
.808 21-5 1984-85
.808 21-5 1945-46
.800 24-6 1999-2000
.800 20-5 1986-87
.800 20-5 1994-95
.792 19-5 1971-72
.739 17-6 1965-66
.724 21-8 1940-41
.720 18-7 1929-30
.714 20-8 1958-59
.714 20-8 1997-98
.704 19-8 2002-03
.690 20-9 1934-35
HIGHEST SCORING AVERAGE
74.0—1966-67
70.7—1986-87
MOST POINTS SCORED IN A GAME
104 at Chenoa, 2/25/1967
103 at Gridley, 2/9/1979
102 vs. Streator Woodland, 12/9/1966
99 vs. Lexington, 2/13/1979
BIGGEST WINS
67 (74- 7) vs. Secor, 2/1/1930
64 (76-12) vs. Roanoke, 12/12/1913
61 (84-23) vs. Farmer City (Moore), 2/6/1914
MOST POINTS BY A PLAYER IN A GAME
38—Vincent Sutton, vs. Roanoke, 12/12/1913
38—Larry Wadsworth, vs. Chenoa, 12/6/1974
38—Greg Strum, vs. Lexington, 2/13/1979
38—Gabriel Saldana, vs. Tremont, 1/9/1996
37—B.J. Faulk, vs. Lowpoint-Washburn, 12/3/1988
MOST REBOUNDS BY A PLAYER IN A GAME
22—Larry Wadsworth, vs. Chenoa, 12/6/1974
22—Gabriel Saldana, vs. Roanoke-Benson, 11/28/1995
21—Ken Dressler, vs. Cornell, 12/5/1969
21—Jake Cox, vs. Minonk Fieldcrest, 2/3/1997
MOST ASSISTS BY A PLAYER IN A GAME
12—Dan Pinkham, vs. Flanagan, 1/21/1986
12—Erik Hinthorne, vs. Roanoke-Benson, 1/13/1990
BEST SCORING AVERAGE BY A PLAYER IN A SEASON
24.4—Joe Baker, 1971-72
23.8—Jon Etcheson, 1966-67
21.3—Scott Sennott, 1980-81
21.2—Larry Wadsworth, 1974-75
BEST REBOUNDING AVERAGE IN A SEASON
12.6—Joe Baker, 1971-72
12.1—Gabriel Saldana, 1995-96
1,000 POINT SCORERS IN A CAREER
1,695—Phil Uphoff (last season: 2001)
1,609—Greg Sturm (1979)
1,563—B.J. Faulk (1991)
1,296—Tom Kearfott (1979)
1,284—Larry Wadsworth (1975)
1,213—Jon Etcheson (1967)
1,142—Dave Feeney (1995)
1,084—Bill Colburn (1957—minus 4 games)
1,073—Brian Uphoff (2003)
1,060—Joe Baker (1972)—minus 2 games)
1,001—Curt Hocker (2003)
MOST REBOUNDS BY A PLAYER IN A CAREER
861—Phil Uphoff (last season: 2001)
837—B.J. Faulk (1991)
MOST ASSISTS BY A PLAYER IN A CAREER
271—John Garrett (last season: 1991)
265—Mike Carley (1987)
More on El Paso Basketball
El Paso won at least 10 Mid-State Conference season titles, starting with the 1965-66 season at 17-6 overall and 13-1 in conference play under coach Woody Burnell. The next season, Russell Sullivan took over as head coach and produced another conference champ as the 1966-67 team was 15-8 overall, and again went 13-1 in the Mid-State. Bill Wolf succeeded Sullivan and produced back-to-back conference titlists in 1969-70 and 1970-71, going 9-13 (9-5, tied with Lexington at the top) and 19-5 (12-2), respectively.
It would be another 15 years before the conference title came back to El Paso, as Dave Orr’s Comets were 24-3 overall, 12-2 in the Mid-State for the top spot in 1985-86. Orr, the son of coach Paul Orr from McLean County (Anchor and Colfax Octavia were two places that the senior Orr coached at, and have more information about him on this site), brought his team back to the top of the list three more times in 1986-87 (20-5/12-2), 1989-90 (21-4/12-2), and 1990-91 (21-4/13-1) before he gave up the head coaching position.
Dave Ferrenburg won two more conference titles in 1994-95 (20-5/13-1) and 1998-99 (16-10/10-1) as the Comet hoopsters continued to roll towards the 21st Century.
Three-time all-Mid State Conference selections
Larry Wadsworth 1973-74-75
Greg Sturm 1977-78-79
B.J. Faulk 1989-90-91
Dave Feeney 1993-94-95
Five Comet players were toward the top of the conference scoring charts in years that they were named to the all-Mid State teams.
Alan LaRochelle was the first in 1960-61, scoring at 16.3. Matt Carley led the conference scoring parade at 19.4 in 1986-87, and his brother Mike was second that year at 18.5. Two seasons later, sophomore B.J. Faulk led the Mid State at 17.7 a game, while teammate Quint Stimpert was second at 17.3.
**Research from Mark Jurenga reveals the following successes were attained by the El Paso Comets at the Bloomington-Normal State Farm Holiday Classic Tournament:
1990 Grand Championship – Sherrard 72 El Paso 60
1999 Grand Championship – South Holland (Thornwood) 55 El Paso 38
Tournament Records
Fewest Points Half, Both Teams (Class A): 26, Cissna Park 18 El Paso 8, 1995.
Fewest Points Game, Both Team (Class A): 59, Cissna Park 35 El Paso 24, 1995
All-Tournament
1990 B.J. Faulk, Erik Hinthorne
2002 (Class A) Brian Uphoff
BOYS TRACK & FIELD
El Paso made its mark on the ovals within Central Illinois, especially in the Mid State Conference. The Comets won the conference meet 15 times, while having three second-place finishes before the conference meet was discontinued after 1987.
1960 2nd–39.67 pts Coach Bruce Murphy
1961 1st–59 pts Coach Bruce Murphy
1967 1st–71 pts Coach Bob Stoeffler
1969 1st–49.5 pts Coach John McIntyre
1970 2nd–49 pts Coach unknown
1971 1st–56 pts Coach Bill Wolf
1972 2nd–44 pts Coach unknown
1976 1st–66.5 pts Coach Jeff Stollberg
1977 1st–69 pts Coach Jeff Stollberg
1978 1st–75 pts Coach Wes Rayner
1979 1st–73 pts Coach Wes Rayner
1980 1st–79 pts Coach Wes Rayner
1981 1st–72 pts Coach Wes Rayner
1982 1st–94 pts Coach Wes Rayner
1984 1st–92 pts Coach Steve Schroeder
1985 1st–100.5 pts Coach Steve Schroeder
1986 1st–89 pts Coach Steve Schroeder
1987 1st–87 pts Coach Steve Schroeder
Three-time all conference champs
Ron Ales–100 yard dash 1977-78-79
Dennis Ludwig–120 yard high hurdles 1977-78-79
Landis Loewen–both the long jump & triple jump in 1980-81-82
Dennis Lay–triple jump in 1976, triple jump and long jump in 1977
Tony Haas–long jump in 1973, 220 yard dash and 330 yard low hurdles in 1974
Brian Parkhouse—pole vault in 1986, pole vault along w/110 meter high hurdles and 300 meter low hurdles in 1987.
NOTE: In addition to winning the 100-yard dash three straight years, Ales was part of the winning 440-yard relay in 1976-77-78-79, and Loewen was part of the lineup on six different winning relays between 1979-82.
Other Track & Field Notables:
Frank Vogel — Conference Champ – Mile Run – 1957 – time of 4:52.8 remained a school record until metric system implemented in 1980!
The Comet track program also came away from the state track meet around the World War I era with three top-10 finishes at the IHSA State Track Meet!!.
According to the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org), El Paso was fourth in 1915, ninth in 1919, and fourth again in 1920.
1915 Team was 4th in Class B standings
Joe Baker–STATE CHAMPION (both shotput and discus)
1919 Team was 9th in Class B standings
Fred Aubrey–3rd in 880 run
Don Cash Seaton–2nd in 220 hurdles
4th in long jump and 440 dash
1920 Team was 4th in Class B standings
Don Cash Seaton—STATE CHAMPION (220 hurdles)
2nd in 100 yard dash
880 yard relay—2nd in finals
Noel Gordon–4th in 50-yard dash
1921 Noel Gordon–2nd in 50-yard dash in Class B finals
1975 Larry Shepherd–8th in long jump in Class A finals
880-yard relay–8th in finals
1976 Dennis Lay–6th in Class A triple jump finals
1977 Dennis Lay–6th in Class A high jump finals
1980 Marty Heller–4th in Class A 300-meter low hurdles
1986 3200-meter relay–7th in Class A finals
Kevin Clements–6th in Class A high jump
1987 Kevin Clements–STATE CHAMPION (Class A high jump)
1988 Kevin Clements–STATE CHAMPION (Class A high jump)
1990 B.J. Faulk–6th in Class A discus
1991 B.J. Faulk–6th in Class A shotput
7th in Class A discus
2004 Luke Carr–9th in Class A high jump
BASEBALL
The Comet baseball program existed to the point that it played some games in the spring between 1949-67, then dropped it until 1989 when it resumed as a spring sport. El Paso won three conference titles in the Mid State, with four second place finishes.
1951 3- 3 Coach unknown
1957 3- 1 (2nd place in conference) Coach unknown
1958 4- 0 (Conference champs) Coach Milt Kadlec
1959 5- 0 (Conference champs) Coach Milt Kadlec
1961 3- 5 (2nd place in conference) Coach unknown
1991 17-10 (2nd place in conference) Coach unknown
1994 15- 7 (Conference champs) Coach Mike Souhrada
1996 17-13 (2nd place in conference) Coach Mike Souhrada
Brad Bouris was a three-time pick of the Mid State as a catcher in 1996-97-98. |