DOVER - Midvale's 39 years of athletic participation comes to an end at the conclusion of this year's spring schedules. It has produced many good teams and standout players which it can be justly proud. The long string of mementos will long be remembered. Neither will Wednesday night's banquet be forgotten real soon. Anyone not attending missed something worth seeing. Those in attendance couldn't help but feel he was part of a very proud community. Those people revealed how proud they were of Blue Devil athletics and they have good reason.
It all started back in 1928 when Midvale's 1st basketball team lost to Baltic 54-5 in its 1st taste of competition and this was followed with a 96-4 blasting by Mineral City. (and don't forget, those were the days of low scoring games, too). It was right then and there that Midvale fans and players decided this couldn't go on. Three years later they won their 1st county tournament and from then on, Midvale has always been one of the teams to reckon with. Since the humiliations in '28, the name Midvale has been carved on 15 league champion or co-championships, runners-up 5 times, county tournament winners 10 times and runner-up 7. Blue Devil quintets have copped the Sectional on 23 occasions and the District 13. Also they have reached the State tournament level with 7 different aggregations. In football, county titles came their way in 1951 and 1964 and they have been Tuscarawas Valley Conference kings in '56, '59 and '64 and runner-up in '61. Many awards have been captured in track and baseball also. A sprinkling of record holders are still from the Midvale power-houses. The year of 1956-57 is one of their outstanding successful ones as the 'Devils were champs in football, basketball, track and consolation winners in baseball. How's that for a monoply?
A quick review of things to remember were summarized by Coach Burt Beaber in a booklet he formed for the Adult Booster Club:
During the war years when the janitor took a turn at coaching; the popular 'Red' White still talks of this experience.
When Jesse White, in 1931, scored a beautiful hook shot for his opponent. This was the exact margin of victory for Dennison.
Lightning Sam Booth and his track explolts.
Dick Leggett's last second baskets in the 1957 Regionals against Vienna and Savannah.
During the 1966 Sectional, Dan Fox stopping long enough to retrieve his bubble gum which had fallen on the floor.
Frank Baumholtz' 3 game total of 57 points in State tourney.
Dean DeMattio's 1172 points, best in school history.
Bill Housel scoring 10 points in the 1959 State track meet.
In 1940 when Midvale played football games on Tuesday and Saturday afternoons.
Dean DeMattio made All-Ohio and Honorable Mention and All-American in 1964 and Jack Ford made it in 1949.
Don't forget the final coaching staff consisting of Pete Hilliard, Oren Thompson, Burt Beaver and Keith Pretorius and last but not least...Hilliard's thread-bare light blue suit.
Friday, May 12, 1967
Ed Smith, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
No comments:
Post a Comment