CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS. The Sullivan track and field team won the varsity conference title for the first time on Tuesday, Apr. 27, 1971. The Eagles toppled the Washington Blue Jays from their seven-year championship streak. Sullivan’s members were, from left to right, front row: Randy House, Tim Larrison, Rich Long and Lynn Wilcox. Second row: Ronnie Coleman, Peter Kade, Clyde Erxleben, Randy Garner, Mark Schmidt, Vernon Zelch and Mike Klauser. Third row: Tim Thomure, Roger Hillman, Mark Head, Bob Key, Bryan Summer and Don Moss. Fourth row: Bob Thorpe, Paul Lackey, David Spoon, Mike Palmer, Ray Morris, Roger Bacon, Roy Gray and Mike Pennock. Fifth row: Curtis Dry, Neil Brown, Lyle McAmis and Don Bailey. Sixth row: Jim Tucker. Staff Photo
EAGLES WITH CONFERENCE TROPHY. LEFT TO RIGHT: Vernon Zelch, Peter Kade and Mike Klauser are shown with the Four Rivers Conference first-place varsity trophy. Staff Photo
VERNON ZELCH was the champion of the 120-yard high hurdles event, and set a record of 16.16 seconds. Staff Photo
PETER KADE scored the most points with nine for Sullivan at the 1971 Four Rivers Conference tournament. He placed first in the discus event, and third in the shot put event, while breaking two school records. Staff Photo
1971 Throwback: Eagles Track And Field Clinched First Conference Title
Sullivan’s varsity boys made history on Monday, Apr. 29, 2024, by winning a conference title for the first time in fifty-three years.
Apr. 27, 1971, marked the last time the Eagles had finished at the top of the Four Rivers podium. Sullivan’s A team (varsity) snapped Washington’s seven-year championship streak in Union and emerged at the top with 61 points. St. Clair and Washington tied for second with 48 points; Hermann (34) finished fourth, Union and Pacific (22) both landed fifth, and Owensville (21) placed seventh. St. James did not rank, and New Haven was not entered for the meet.
Peter Kade was Sullivan’s highest scorer, scoring nine points and inking two new school records. He finished first in the discus competition with a throw of 135’-5” and landed third in the shot put at 48.’
When reflecting on that tournament, Kade says, “Everybody put out the best effort of the year that day, and I’d just like to say the Lord was with us that day, and you know it was time for the giant to fall. We took down Goliath, and that’s basically what Washington was, you know because they were a big place ... But, you know, we had people that wanted to give their best and win, and that’ll triumph every time if you have [it]. We had confidence in each other, and we cheered each other on.”
Sullivan’s varsity seized most of their points from the 220 and 440-yard dashes. The Eagles racked up 12 points in these two events, while the defending champion Blue Jays could only manage to grab one. Mike Klauser finished second in the 220-yard dash, while Bill Record placed third. For the 440-yard dash, Mike Pennock landed second, and Vernon Zelch took fifth.
Zelch made history by setting a school record of 16.6 seconds in his win in the 120-yard high hurdles and taking fifth in the 440-yard dash.
He was also on the mile relay team, which shattered another school record with a winning time of 3:41. The team’s other members were Clyde Erxleben, Mark Schmidt and Pennock.
The 880-yard relay squad, which included Randy Garner, Record, Klauser and Rich Long, set a new conference record of 1:36.40.
Don Moss won the pole vault contest and ranked fifth in the 180-yard low hurdles.
Bob Key finished fourth in the 120-yard high hurdles, and Tim Larrison did so in the two-mile run.
Bryan Summer ranked second in the pole vault.
Sullivan tied for second in the two-mile relay.
Koski finished third in the high jump.
After the tournament, coach Bill Stringer thanked the seniors who helped clinch the title, saying, “They were the ones that worked so hard to bring a championship to Sullivan High School.”
B Team
Sullivan’s B team finished fourth with 34 points. Pacific clinched first with 53 points, Washington (45) took second, St. Clair (39) placed third, and Union (16) landed fifth, followed by Owensville (12), Hermann (6) and St. James (3).
Bob Thorpe landed 3rd in both the high jump and 120-yard high hurdles.
Roger Hillmann finished first in the 220-yard dash and was the runner-up in the 100-yard dash.
Sullivan took first in the 880-yard relay.
Kaufmann finished second in the 440-yard run.
Roy Gray ranked second in the 180-yard low hurdles, and Ronnie Coleman placed fourth.
Coleman also placed 4th in the long jump.
Sullivan took fourth in the 4x100-meter relay.