Local Sports
Back in time: In 1927, Gillespie players ruled the football field
Written by the late Andy Easton, Sr. for the Gillespie Area News contributed by the Gillespie Public Library
(second row, from left) Jim Decker, John Hawkins, Sam Rossini, Trice Newman, Bill Cavanaugh, Frank Lonzerotti, Roy Anderson
(third row, from left) Martin Neylon, Jim Jones, Jim Cross, Vic Wayculis, Carroll Laughlin, Carl Behrens, Les Holden, Dave Tallman, Mike Bama, Marion Eilers, Al Marzis, Cliff Rademacher, Bill Stripling, John Steed
The orange and black opened the 1927 football season with yet another new coach. George W. Grauel became the sixth coach in the eight-year history of the sport at Gillespie High School. In the previous seven seasons, Gillespie never had a winning team. The record during this time was 14-31-3.
Coach Grauel greeted a team who had taken their lumps the previous year. They were determined that the experience gained and their athletic abilities would give Gillespie their first winning season.
Gillespie opened the season against a much bigger Wood River team. Versil Houchard got Gillespie started when he returned the opening kickoff back to the Wood River 20-yard line. After a five-yard loss, Frank Lonzerotti hauled in a touchdown pass from Houchard. Homer Abbott and Harry Brown also scored in the first quarter. In the second half, Houchard and Vic Waycolis scored to give Gillespie a 31-0 victory.
The second game of the year against Collinsville was a defensive struggle until the middle of the third quarter when Homer Abbott intercepted a pass and returned it 57 yards for the score. Later in the quarter, a Collinsville punt was fielded by Houchard on the goal line and he returned it 97 yards to the three-yard line. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Houchard went in for the score. The last touchdown came when Houchard hit Harry Brown with a 33-yard touchdown pass for an 18-6 victory.
Gillespie defeated Granite City 25-7 for the third victory in a row. Granite City was rated one of the best teams in the metro area as they defeated Alton earlier.
Before the largest crowd to witness a game in Gillespie, the orange and black battled Benld to a 0-0 tie on Columbus Day. The game was marred by fumbles stopping drives of both teams. The play of the game came when Benld’s “Chief” Tenikat got loose and ran 60 yards only to be run down and tackled from behind. Benld then fumbled on the next play.
Bill Cavanaugh broke open a tight game with Nokomis when he intercepted a pass and returned it 47 yards for Gillespie’s first touchdown. Nokomis returned an interception 76 yards down to the Gillespie four-yard line and Davis scored on the next play and they added the extra point to go up 7-6. With only a few minutes remaining in the game, Jim Decker hauled in a pass on the Nokomis 45-yard line and scampered the rest of the way for the winning score. This was the first defeat for Nokomis that year.
The highest scoring game in Gillespie’s history occurred when they defeated Modesto 97-6. Coach Grauel started his second team and Modesto scored first. With the regulars back in the game, Lonzerotti caught a touchdown pass and Brown went 85 yards for a score in the second quarter. The fireworks started in the third quarter when Gillespie scored seven touchdowns. John Hawkins scored from 47 yards out and Brown went in from the 45. Houchard scored twice on runs of 65 and 50 yards while Lonzerotti hauled in another touchdown pass. Jim Decker and Cavanaugh scored on runs of 55 and 50 yards respectively. The fourth quarter found much of the same as Abbott, Houchard, and Cliff Rademacher all scored, as well as two touchdowns from Decker.
Gillespie defeated Carlinville 13-0 and then in game played in a downpour of rain, Gillespie beat Litchfield 8-0 on a safety and five-yard touchdown by Abbott. Tallman played an outstanding game defensively as time and time again he broke through the Litchfield line to tackle the ball carrier.
Playing Mt. Olive for an undefeated season and the conference championship, Gillespie must have felt the pressure as they played their worst game of the season. Mt. Olive completely dominated the game but Gillespie recovered a fumble on their 10-yard line in the second quarter and Brown went over from eight yards out for the only score of the game.
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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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Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education members on Monday night approved a $300,000 adjustment to the fiscal 2024 district budget, accepted the retirement of long-serving Athletic Director Mike Bertagnolli, and decided, after lengthy debate, to commit nearly $90,000 in grant funds to adding solar panels on the roof of BenGil Elementary School.
Action to adopt the amended budget followed a 10-minute public hearing at the beginning of the meeting during which Supt. Shane Owsley explained the need for adjusting the budget numbers. State law limits district expenditures to whatever is budgeted for specific line items. The budgeting process, however, is complicated by the fact that school districts may not know what revenue will be forthcoming from state and federal sources when the budget is passed in August or September each year. This year, for example, the state has approved about $600,000 in state aid to the district but those funds have not yet been released by the comptroller. Since there is doubt about whether those funds will be released before June 30, Owsley said there is uncertainty about whether that $600,000 should be considered revenue for fiscal 2024, which ends June 30, or for fiscal 2025, which starts July 1.
Additionally, the district’s expenditures exceeded the budget in three specific funds—Transportation, Site and Construction, and Tort—for fiscal 2024. The amended budget increases both expenditures and revenue in those funds to not only cover expenses but provide a slight buffer. The newly amended budget also includes additional revenue in Education, Debt Service, and Building Operations and Maintenance to provide more of a buffer than originally slated to cover any late bills that could come in after June 30
“Trying to predict revenue and expenditures in August and September is much more difficult than in June,” Owsley quipped. “An amended budget is required anytime you spend more than you expected to spend in August.”
Under the amended budget, revenue for the Transportation Fund is adjusted upward from $924,329 to $933,060. Nearly 95 percent of the budgeted revenue—$884,322—has been received and deposited as of Monday’s meeting. Expenditures for Transportation were upped from 861,359 originally budgeted to $901,359, $872,006 of which has been spent.
Owsley said the increases were necessitated by unexpected personnel costs for additional bus aides and special bus aides, plus the acquisition of new routing software that allows the Transportation Director to efficiently map the most effective routes for drivers to run on their daily routes. Owsley said the software is especially useful now that the district is going to consolidated bus routes to deliver and pick up students and the same time rather than staggered times.
The cost of retaining architectural services for projects resulting from a federal safety grant and from approval of an alternate revenue bond issue precipitated increasing both revenue and expenditures for the Site and Construction budget. On the revenue side, the budget was increased from $2,054,870 to $2,351,669, reflecting unanticipated revenue from the safety grant and bond issue. Expenditures were increased from $780,000 budgeted last September to $986,229, of which $929,598 has been spent.
Increases in the cost of mine subsidence insurance required the board to boost Tort Fund expenditures from the originally budgeted $453,750 to $509,539, of which $476,366 has been spent. The revenue side of the budget was increased from $282,206 to $286,910.
The board voted unanimously to adopt the amended budget on a motion by Peyton Bernot, seconded by Amanda Ross.
PERSONNEL
On a motion by Kellie Vesper, seconded by Dennis Tiburzi, the board accepted “with regret” Mike Bertagnolli’s resignation for retirement as Gillespie High School instructor and Athletic Director. The resignation is effective June 30. Board members noted
Bertagnolli was a part of the district’s staff for 19 years. He served the last 13 years as Athletic Director, according to board member Tiburzi, who held that position before Bertagnolli was named. In addition to accepting Bertagnolli’s retirement, the board voted to post the position as vacant.
In other personnel action, all of which followed a one-hour executive session, the board appointed Korben Clark as a high school freshman football coach and hired Jordan Bartok as the head high school women’s volleyball coach, pending a background check and verification of certification.
In separate actions, the board hired Lexie Bussman as the head middle school cheerleading coach, accepted Bussman’s resignations from her position as a BenGil Elementary School one-on-one aid and as a high school assistant volleyball coach, and posted vacancies for both spots.
Board members voted unanimously to hire Emilie Campbell as a district paraprofessional, pending verification of certification and a background check, and hired Olivia VanDoren as a district one-on-one paraprofessional aide, pending verification of certification and a background check.
With separate actions, the board voted unanimously to post as vacant a student services coordinator position, and a high school social science instructor position.
Board members voted unanimously to reappoint the following spring coaches for the upcoming school year: Chase Peterson, middle school boys track; Jacob West, middle school girls track; Casey Fellin, high school women’s soccer; Michael Rodriguez, assistant high school women’s soccer; Lindsay Bearden, volunteer assistant women’s soccer; Jeremy Smith, high school head men’s baseball; Tim Wargo, assistant high school baseball; Adam Tallman, Dan Smith and Tate Wargo, volunteer assistant baseball; Michelle Smith, head women’s softball; Jim Matesa, assistant women’s softball; Joe Kelly, volunteer assistant women’s softball; Alex Ottersburg, assistant men’s track; Korben Clark, head women’s track; Jacob Kellebrew, bass fishing; and Ryan Bussman and J.O. Halterman, volunteer assistant bass fishing.
CEJA GRANT PROJECT
Board members spent several minutes discussing how to spend nearly $90,000 in grant funds the district is expected to receive as a result of a Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) grant application for which the city of Gillespie applied. CUSD 7 was one of 16 participating taxing bodies to receive grant funds under the city’s joint application. The city will be responsible for disbursing $1.1 million in grant funds to the participating agencies under terms of the grant, which is designed to mitigate against revenue loss resulting from the closure of Shay Mine No. 1.
Owsley said the school district is expected to receive about $98,167, three percent of which will be earmarked for grant adminstration. Spendable revenue from the grant will amount to about $87,000. To get its share of the grant money, the district must complete a project authorized under terms of the grant and apply to the city for reimbursement after the project is completed.
Owsley said he met with City Treasurer Dan Fisher about the grant and learned that Fisher wants documentation about how the district intends to spend its share of the grant by July 1, so he can submit it to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity by July 15.
“There’s a wide range of things we can do,” Owsley said, but he cautioned some projects could come with “strings attached.” Any project that might require earth moving, such as building a parking lot, would require an environmental student, which could cut into the grant funds. Likewise, altering an existing building would trigger a historical asset study.
While not taking a formal vote, the board authorized Owsley by consensus to indicate to Fisher the district would use its share of the grant to buy solar panels for installation at BenGil Elementary School. The district can circumvent the grant’s requirements for environmental or historical asset studies by earmarking the funds for the acquisition of materials and using the district’s own funds for installation.
“It sounds kind of foolish to eat up funds for environmental testing,” Bill Carter commented.
Bernot indicated the board should opt to buy materials only with grant funds, and use local funds for labor to install them. Additionally, because of the national push to install more solar, the district would be eligible for a 70 percent reimbursement from Ameren in addition to reductions in power usage.
“I think solar is the path of least resistance,” Bernot said.
Board President Mark Hayes agreed saying the district could avoid unnecessary restrictions on how the money is used, and get 70 percent of the investment back. Recapturing 70 percent of the grant money, plus reducing the school’s power consumption, he said, would provide the greatest benefit to the community.
BenGil Elementary was designed to potentially be energy self-sufficient. The number of solar panels on the roof now currently provides about 10 percent of the energy needed to run the building. Owsley said additional solar power would reduce the building’s reliance on the power grid but would not make the building totally self-sufficient. While self-sufficiency is a goal, Owsley said it would require three acres of solar panels to accomplish that objective.
ASHBY SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The board voted unanimously to authorize Owsley to invest funds from the Ashby Family Trust in nine-month certificates of deposit earning five percent interest. The funds currently are in a money market account earning only 1.25 percent. Owsley said the goal is to maximize the return on the memorial funds, which are used to fund three annual scholarships named for members of the Ashby family.
FOOD AND MILK BIDS
In separate actions, the board voted unanimously to accept Prairie Farms Dairy’s bid to supply milk products for the 2024-25 school year, and Kohl’s Wholesale, Quincy, to provide bread products. Kohl’s Wholesale also was the successful bidder to provide food commodities for the school lunch program. Kohl’s bid reportedly includes options for fresh fruits and vegetables, and Owsley said district cooks are expected to meet with Kohl’s representatives soon to discuss offering more options of food choices to students.
INSURANCE BID
The board voted to renew health care coverage with Blue Cross-Blue Shield, with a premium increase of about five percent for the same coverage.
CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND HANDBOOKS
The board unanimously approved a Consolidated District Plan. Owsley said the plan basically is a formality the district must have in place to maintain eligibility for certain grant funds.
In separate actions, the board also approved teachers’ handbook and a coaches’ handbook for the 2024-25 school year.
BOARD MEETING CHANGE
The board voted unanimously to move the regular July meeting of the board from July 22 to Monday, July 15, presumably to facilitate filling vacancies prior to the upcoming school year.
