Local Sports
Back in time: Eugene “Hack” Zanter one of the best football players at Gillespie
Written by the late Andy Easton, Sr. for the Gillespie Area News contributed by the Gillespie Public Library
Eugene “Hack” Zanter was another of the great running backs to play for Gillespie High School. Zanter was a varsity starter on the 1943, 1944, and 1946 football teams. After his discharge from the Navy, Hack returned to Gillespie and completed his senior year and graduated with the class of 1947. The IHSA rules at this time allowed an athlete to play up to their 20th birthday. Hack was eligible for football but couldn’t play basketball during the 1946-47 season.
Hack Zanter was a brusing fullback who excelled at straight ahead running or bulling over for touchdowns on short yardage situations. Although playing fullback, Hack was also a good passer and did most of the passing for the Miners. During his three varsity seasons, Gillespie posted records of 5-3, 7-1-1, and 7-2-1 for an overall 19-6-2 record during this time.
In the 1943 and 1944 seasons, Gillespie had three of the best backs to ever play for our school starting in the same backfield. Joining Zanter were halfbacks “Lefty” Chappell and Jack Ridinger. There were many memorable games in Hack Zanter’s career and I’ll try to highlight some of them.
In the 1943 Thanksgiving Day game against Carlinville, the orange and black pulled off one of their greatest upsets as they shut out the Cavaliers 13-0. This stopped Carlinville’s 23-game winning streak and prevented them from their third consecutive unbeaten season. Zanter scored a touchdown and an extra point in this game.
Against Girard in 1944, Hack scored three touchdowns in the first quarter as he busted up the middle for a 60-yard touchdown and came back to score from 6 yards out. Hack them threw a 20-yard scoring strike to Tom Tallman and also added the extra point.
In 1946, Gillespie and Benld played at Gillespie before a crowd estimated at 4000 people. An inspired band of Miners pulled off the biggest upset in down state Illinois when they handed Benld a 14-7 defeat. The Indians came into the game undefeated and had won 14 games in a row. Benld was led by their touchdown twins Jim Lohmar and George “Cubby” Contratto.
It only took Benld about three minutes to get on the scoreboard as Lohmar contracted with a 40-yard scoring strike and Mike Zebra caught the extra pass for a 7-0 score that would hold until halftime. Gillespie came out in the second half and took control of the game. The offensive line opened the holes for Zanter, Bill Link, and Booley Keck and a sustained drive put the ball on the three-yard line and Benld couldn’t keep Hack out of the end zone. He also tallied the extra point to tie the game 7-7.
In the fourth quarter, the Miners intercepted a Benld pass on their own 20-yard line with Zanter doing much of the ball carrying. They moved down to the Benld seven-yard line and Bill Link went in for the winning score. Hack added the extra point and a huge upset victory was Gillespie’s, 14-7.
The field was very sloppy due to heavy rainfall during the week. Benld used this as an excuse and even went as far as claiming that the Gillespie Fire Department went out and wet the field down to slow up the Benld backs. Anyone who saw this game, including yours truly, knew that Hack Zanter was just too tough for the Indians to handle on this night.
Gillespie lost a chance to tie for the conference championship on Thanksgiving Day as Carlinville held them to a 6-6 tie which gave Benld the championship trophy. The superior Gillespie Eleven couldn’t get untracked and the game was scoreless until the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers took the lead with a fourth down and goal pass from the eight-yard line. The extra-point try failed and the game was 6-0. Gillespie came rowing back and a sustained drive put the ball on the 10-yard line and Zanter hit Keck with the tying touchdown pass. The all-important extra point attempt failed and a great football player’s career came to an end at Gillespie High School.
Zanter passed away in March of 1974.
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In a stunning display of athletic prowess and determination, Chaz Oberkfell, a junior at Gillespie High School, crossed the finish line first at the 2024 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 1A State Cross Country Championships, securing his victory with an impressive time and personal best of 14:31.9.
Rounding out the top five was senior Nicolai Martino of Winnebago (14:33.9), senior Gabriel McLain of Benton (14:33.9), sophomore Maxwell Kirby of Peoria Notre Dame (14:47.7), and senior Andrew Kurien of Rockford Christian (14:54.8).
The championship race, held at the scenic Detweiller Park, drew competitors from across the state, all vying for the coveted title. Oberkfell showcased his exceptional talent and training and was in second place before securing the first place spot toward the end of the race.
Oberkfell’s victory is a testament to his relentless dedication and the support of his coaches and teammates. Throughout the season, he has consistently demonstrated remarkable speed and endurance, often finishing races well ahead of his competitors.
The Gillespie community turned out in full force to support the team with many friends, family members, and fellow students cheering the team on Friday morning when the team bus was escorted through town and again on the sidelines Saturday morning. The triumph victory not only highlights Oberkfell’s personal achievements but also brings recognition to Gillespie High School’s cross country program. The team has shown tremendous growth over the past few years, and this victory is a significant milestone.
Also representing Gillespie in the state championship race were Carter Sies (16:59.4), Marshall Garwood (17:03.3), Hank Fletcher (17:15.4), Nolan Hostettler (17:23.9), Matthew Plovich (17:37.4), and Lucca Kapp (17:40.1).
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Opened Play in 1926; One of Oldest H.S. Conferences in Illinois
The South Central Conference is gearing up for a special anniversary.
The 2025-26 season will mark the 100th year of competition for the South Central, one of the oldest high school sports conferences in the state of Illinois. Founded in 1926, the SCC has spawned countless star players and coaches, as well as a myriad of state-level highlights.
Carlinville is the only school to be a member of the South Central for its entire existence. Gillespie and Staunton have been members for all but three years, from 2009-12.
Other members through the decades include Hillsboro (1926-44, 1997-present), Litchfield (1926-34, 1980-present), Pana (1926-44, 1997-present), Greenville (1997-present), Southwestern (1980-present), Vandalia (1997-present), Roxana (1997-2021), East Alton-Wood River (1997-2012), Mt. Olive (1926-1980), Nokomis (1926-44, 1955-1985), Taylorville (1926-44), Shelbyville (1926-32), Benld (1935-61), Springfield Feitshans (1963-67), Virden (1966-85), North Greene (1980-85), Triad (1985-93), Alton Marquette (1997-2012), and North Mac (2022-present).
SCC schools have produced numerous team and individual state titlists, including the legendary Taylorville boys’ basketball team of 1943-44, which rolled to a 45-0 mark and a state championship under head coach Dolph Stanley, who led five schools to the IHSA state tournament in his sparkling career.
Other IHSA team championships from SCC members include the 1993 Staunton boys’ basketball team, the 1996 Carlinville boys’ track team, the 2006 Hillsboro girls’ basketball team, the 2011 Marquette girls’ soccer team, and the 2022 Vandalia boys golf team.
Student-athletes from SCC member schools have also collected a number of state track and field titles, including Kelsey Card, Tunde Ridley, Cassie Lamar, and Jack Denby (Carlinville), Marcus Sitko and Becky Coyne (Staunton), Jodi Ottersburg, Amber Lewis, and Matt Rush (Gillespie), Jamie Nurnberger (Southwestern), and many others, not to mention state-champion relay teams from various schools.
State runners-up from SCC members include Gillespie football (1976, 1990), Gillespie girls track (1996), Gillespie softball (1995), Carlinville football (1978, 1993, 2016), Carlinville boys track (1995, 2008), Carlinville girls cross country (1996), Carlinville girls track (2004, 2005), Litchfield baseball (1985), Marquette girls soccer (2009), Southwestern softball (2003, 2009), Staunton football (2013), and Vandalia boys wrestling (2007, 2017).
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