Mel Vaara has worn many hats in Clarkston over the years. Aside from writing sports for The Clarkston News in the 1960s, he was the first prinicipal of Sashabaw Junior High in 1969; has coached track, basketball and cross country; was named assistant superintendent in 1972; and was the principal of CHS in 1986 and again in the 1991-92 school year. He held numerous administrative positions.
This is the third in a series of guest column series in which he details the history of Clarkston sports. All facts and names presented in this column are from Mr. Vaara’s memories and have been presented as provided.
Baseball: Another outstanding coach was Paul Tungate. He later became Athletic Director. His team won the State title in 1976. Members of that team were Steve Howe, who went on to play for the Los Angelus Dodgers, Doug Manigood, Jeff Ferguson, Bill Matthewsm Jeff Schaz, who pitched the winning game, Steve Pearson, Rod Hool and Dan Blower. They beat Hazel Park 3-1 to capture the State title. Paul’s teams won 158 and lost 99. They won five districts and three league titles.
Other pitchers who made it to the majors were Dan Fife (Minnesota Twins) and Tim Birtsas (Oakland A’s). I had the opportunity to see both players win a major league game.
Roy ‘Pop? Warner replaced Tungate and coached for 20 years, Warner was inducted into the State Hall of Fame for baseball coaches. Warner coached sports for 29 years, 20 as a varsity coach, he compiled a 477-236 record and won four district and four league championships.
The present coach is Phil Price. In 2002, the team made it to the semifinals in the State tournament. Last year’s team made it to the regional final game, losing to Brother Rice. There were three standouts who received scholarships – Addison Turk, Sam Palace and Aaron Powell. Other members of that team were Jono Moehlig, Ben Munce, Derek Ranck and Bobby Slaughter.
Boys soccer Neil Granlund was the first boys soccer coach starting in 1983. He coached for eight years and was responsible for the foundation of the program.
Dan Fitzgerald was the second coach. He won six districts and one league title, losing three times in the regional finals. Bill Deloney was the assistant coach. His three boys, Andrew, B.J. and Jeremy, played for their dad. Scott Rooney was an outstanding player. One of the best players on the present team is Mike Holody. He played four years on varsity and is All-State. The present coach is Mark Whitcomb.
Girls Soccer: Hannah Olson was the first coach for girls soccer, followed by Kelly Gabriele, Dan and Brian Fitzgerald. The present coach is Tami Niemi. She played for Olson in high school. Niemi has coached for nine years, three on JV and six on varsity.
Two of Niemi’s players, Kelly Doughtery (CMU) and Liz Hardy (U of D), received Division I scholarships – a first for the program. Christine Brundage, Megan Medina, Katie Tripli and Katie Kennedy also received scholarships to play in college.
Three of Niemi’s teams reached the district finals.
‘It’s not always about winning and losing, but the experience of participation and competing,? said Niemi.
Intramural Programs: Back in the 1960s, the district had a very strong intramural program for seventh and eighth grade at Clarkston Junior High. It was only for boys at that time – should have been for girls too. Some of the coaches on the staff were Bill Potvin, Don Cooper and Cliff Irwin. All the coaches and administrators worked the concession stand at CHS football games to provide revenue for the program.
How can one forget the first ninth grade football and basketball games between Sashabaw Junior High and Clarkston Junior High starting in 1969. There would be close to 2,000 people at the football games and standing room only for basketball games.
Sashabaw’s first coach for football and basketball was Jim Koslosky. Tom O’Brien was an assistant in football. Clarkston Junior High’s first football coaches were Cliff Irwin and Dennis Bronson. Dave McDonald was basketball coach in ninth grade.
I attended the last football game between Sashabaw and Clarkston. Dave Whitehead (currently the freshman football coach) played in the first Sashabaw/Clarkston game in 1969 and was present to talk to the boys at their last game. They will now all be Clarkston Wolves.
Announcers and Boosters: One should mention the announcers for the Wolves, starting with myself. Bill Foster (former school board member) has been announcing for 31 years. He remembers announcing his two boys, Dave and Ken, playing varsity football. Dale Ryan has been on the microphone for the past 15 years. He remembers doing the Clarkston vs. Waterford Mott game when his son Eric scored three touchdowns. Neil Granlund is a sub for Ryan. Dale and Bill are valuable members of the athletic family.
Let’s not forget our athletic boosters. Every dime they collect goes back into the program. The first president was Duane Richardson (Kurt Richardson, the varsity football coach’s father). Duane kept the program going. Others were Wimp Harvey, Ray Davis, Kay Dyke, Arden Collier, Mary Jane Cox, Dwight Spiker (president for 15 years), Ray Neubeck and the current president, Keith Clement. They have many accomplishments. The building that houses soccer equipment at CMS and the athletic storage building at CHS ($30,000) were major contributions. The past seven years the boosters presented over $250,000 to the athletic department.
Wrestling: Max Inman was the first wrestling coach, followed by Dick Moscovic. Dick won a league title. Wrestling was new to the community at that time with not much of a following. Some outstanding wrestlers were Rick Detkowski, Mike Packer, Kurt Dougherty and Al Knake. Dick set the foundation for a wrestling program and started the feeder system from elementary and junior high. Other coaches were Greg Gwisdalla, Gary Warner and Toby Carter. Rick Detkowski coached for four years. Some outstanding performers during that time were Jeff Miracle, Mike Conway, Bruce Burowitz, Todd Thompson and Mark Karrick.
In 1991, the wrestling team became State champs. The head coach was Scott Strickler, he coached for seven years (100-25). Clarkston’s record in 1991 was 26-0, they were second in the State rankings and 15th in the nation. The team won three districts and one regional to go with their State title. All-State champions on that team were Damon Michelsen, Jerry Anderson, Corey Grant, Joel Davis, Joe Webb, Tony Miller and Jeff DeRosia.
Two wrestlers that really stemmed the tide at the State championship were Jason Slater and Brian Davis. They had to sub for other CHS wrestlers and were not expected to win against All-State Temperence Bedford wrestlers, both Slater and Davis won and the rest is history. Coach Strickler had his big guns waiting in the wings and CHS won going away for the State title. Strickler has fond memories of that team and communicates with them on a regular basis.
Incidentally Jerry Anderson is the only four-time All-State wrestler in CHS history.
In 1996, Mike DeGain was varsity coach assisted by Frank Lafferty. Joe DeGail, Ryan L’Amoreaux, and A.J. Grant were State champions. Armand Michelsen was ranked third.
In 2003 Joe DeGain was appointed Head Coach. He is assisted by Derek Moscovic. Joe’s team won the districts and regionals. Tony LaJoie and Braden L’Amoreaux were State champs. Shawn Turner and Elliot May took seventh. Steve Smith took sixth. There are 31 boys on the team.