Clinton High School (Indiana)

School in Clinton, Indiana, United States

Clinton High School

Address

301 Blackman St

Clinton

Indiana

47842

United States

Coordinates| 39°39′31″N 87°24′02″W﻿ / ﻿39.658565°N 87.400684°W﻿ / 39.658565; -87.400684
Information
Established| 1886
Closed| 1977
Grades| 7-12
Enrollment| over 800 when moved into South Vermillion
Color(s)|
Athletics| IHSAA
Athletics conference| Western Indiana
Mascot| Wildcat
Team name| Wildcats
Newspaper| The Annual
Yearbook| Old Gold and Black
State Championships| 1920 1924 1928 1932 1933[1]

Clinton High School was a public school in Clinton serving students in grades 7 through 12. It was created in 1886 and then from the consolidation in 1961 of former high schools in southern Vermillion County, Indiana, Dana High School, Hillsdale High School, St. Bernice High School, and Blanford High School. Then in 1977 Clinton was replaced by a new building and renamed South Vermilion High School

Old Clinton High School Building 1886-1919 Clinton Junior High School

## Campus

[edit]

The school was located in the center of Clinton just off Main St in the 300 Block of Blackman St. Their football field and baseball field was located at SportLand Park on the south west side of Clinton.

Gymnasium Built 1937[2][page needed]

## Consolidation

[edit]

School  | Location  | Mascot  | Colors  | Year Started  | Year Closed  |

|
|
|
|
|
|

Blanford | Blanford | Bears  |  | 1923  | 1928  | Consolidated
into Clinton
Dana | Dana | Aggies  |  | 1925  | 1961  | Consolidated
into Clinton
Hillsdale | Hillsdale | Hilltoppers  |  | 1916  | 1961  | Consolidated
into Clinton
Saint Bernice | Saint Bernice | Hornets  |  | 1928  | 1961  | Consolidated
into Clinton

## Athletics

[edit]

### Basketball

[edit]

Clinton has an all-time record of (25) sectional Championships 1912, 1913, 1914, 1916, 1925, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1938, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1961, 1968.[3] The Clinton Wildcats made it to the IHSAA Sweet Sixteen (8) times in its history and the Elite Eight (2) times in its history[4]

Year | Site

|

1912 | Terre Haute
1913 | Terre Haute
1914 | Terre Haute
1916 | Terre Haute
1925 | Clinton
1928 | Clinton
1930 | Clinton
1931 | Clinton
1932 | Clinton
1933 | Clinton
1934 | Clinton
1935 | Newport
1938 | Marshall
1939 | Clinton
1942 | Clinton
1943 | Clinton
1945 | Marshall
1946 | Clinton
1947 | Clinton
1949 | Clinton
1950 | Clinton
1955 | Rockville
1956 | Clinton
1961 | Rockville
1968 | Terre Haute

[5]

Clinton also has won (4) Regional Championships 1928, 1943, 1947, 1950.[6]

Year | Site

|

1928 | Greencastle
1943 | Clinton
1947 | Clinton
1950 | Greencastle

### Football

[edit]

The Clinton Wildcat are mostly known for their football team that has won 5 Indiana Big School Football Champions in 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, and 1933.

## Head coaches

[edit]

Clinton Wildcats Head Coaches

| Name | Seasons | Record

|
|

H. B. Allen | 1916  | 0-0
Mark Lyday | 1917-1918  | 0-1
Earl M. Morgan | 1919-1921  | 17-6-1
Earl Pike | 1922  | 4-3-2
Max Bullock | 1923  | 3-5-2
Paul "Spike" Kelly[7] | 1924-1930  | 50-11-5
John Magnabosco | 1931-1934  | 34-3-3
Ed Shaver | 1935  | 6-5
Raymond "Tubby" Trobaugh | 1936  | 4-4-1
Maurice E. "Babe" Frump | 1937-1940  | 23-14-2
| Name | Seasons | Record

|
|

William J. Coyer | 1941-1942  | 14-5
N. E. Wernz  | 1943  | 5-2-1
B. Leland McCool  | 1944  | 7-1-1
Frank Welton  | 1945  | 3-5-1
Robert Burton  | 1946  | 2-6-1
George Bibich  | 1947  | 2-7
Arthur B. Haverstock  | 1948-1949  | 5-13-1
Thorval Mattax  | 1950-1952  | 21-6-3
Chester Sanders  | 1953-1954  | 10-8-2
Stewart "Red" Faught | 1955-1956  | 9-11
| Name | Seasons | Record

|
|

John Alfier | 1957-1960  | 10-25-5
William S. Syvantek  | 1961-1964  | 13-13-4
Coach Deal  | 1962  | 2-8
Dick Schrier  | 1965  | 7-3
Jerry Chance  | 1966-1968  | 9-19-1
Rene Foli  | 1969-1971  | 10-17-3
Brent Anderson  | 1972-1976  | 28-21
Overall Record | 1916-1977 | 298-222-39

## Team Records

[edit]

Clinton Wildcats Football Records

| Season | Record

|

1916 | 0-0
1917 | 0-0
1918 | 0-1
1919 | 5-2
1920 | 6-2
1921 | 6-2-1
1922 | 4-3-2
1923 | 3-5-2
1924 | 8-1
1925 | 4-3-2
1926 | 5-3-1
1927 | 8-1
1928 | 10-0
1929 | 8-1-1
| Season | Record

|

1930 | 7-2-1
1931  | 9-1-1
1932  | 9-1
1933  | 9-0-1
1934  | 7-1-1
1935  | 6-5
1936  | 4-4-1
1937  | 7-2-1
1938  | 5-4
1939  | 6-5
1940 | 5-3-1
1941 | 7-3
1942 | 7-2
| Season | Record

|

1943 | 5-2-1
1944  | 7-1-1
1945  | 3-5-1
1946  | 2-6-1
1947  | 2-7
1948  | 2-6-1
1949  | 3-7
1950  | 5-4-1
1951  | 9-1
1952  | 7-1-2
1953 | 5-4-1
1954 | 5-4-1
1955 | 5-5
| Season | Record

|

1956 | 4-6
1957  | 2-6-2
1958  | 4-6
1959  | 1-8-1
1960  | 3-5-2
1961  | 2-8
1962  | 2-8
1963  | 6-2-2
1964  | 5-3-2
1965  | 7-3
1966  | 2-7-1
1967 | 1-9
1968 | 6-3
| Season | Record

|

1969 | 5-4-1
1970 | 5-4-1
1971  | 0-9-1
1972  | 3-7
1973  | 7-3
1974  | 10-0
1975  | 4-5
1976  | 4-6
Total | 298-222-39

### Conference championships

[edit]

Clinton has won or shared a conference championship around nine occasions, including six Indiana High School Football Conference titles and three Western Indiana Conference titles.

Season |  Coach |  Title |  Record |  Conf. Record

|
|
|
|

1927  | Paul "Spike" Kelly  | IHSFC Champion | 8-1 | 4-0
1928  | Paul "Spike" Kelly  | Wabash Valley Champion  | 10-0  | 4-0
1928  | Paul "Spike" Kelly  | IHSFC Champion | 10-0 | 4-0
1929  | Paul "Spike" Kelly  | IHSFC Champion | 8-1-1 | 4-0
1931  | John Magnabosco | Wabash Valley Champion  | 9-1-1  | 4-0
1931  | John Magnabosco | IHSFC Champion | 9-1-1 | 4-0
1932  | John Magnabosco | IHSFC Champion | 9-1 | 4-0
1933  | John Magnabosco | IHSFC Champion | 9-0-1 | 5-0
1951  | Thorval Mattax  | Western Indiana | 9-1  | 7-0
1952 | Thorval Mattax  | Western Indiana | 7-1-2 | 6-1
1974 | Brent Anderson  | Western Indiana | 10-0 | 6-0

### State championships

[edit]

Clinton has won or shared a State championship on five occasions, including three outright Indiana High School Football titles and two shared titles. In 1933 Clinton tied East Chicago Washington 6–6 in the arranged post-season North-South Mythical State Championship Game and was named Winner of Indianapolis Times & IHSAA ‘Most Outstanding Team in Indiana’

Season |  Coach |  Selector |  Record |  Conf. Record

|
|
|
|

1920  | Earl M. Morgan  | Heze Clark - Best Team In the State (Shared with Wabash) | 6-2 | 4-0
1924  | Paul "Spike" Kelly  |  | 8-1  | 4-0
1928  | Paul "Spike" Kelly  | Indianapolis Times - IHSAA - Dick Miller- "Most Outstanding Team"  | 10-0 | 4-0
1932  | John Magnabosco | Indianapolis Times - IHSAA - Dick Miller- "Most Outstanding Team"  | 9-1 | 4-0
1933  | John Magnabosco | Indianapolis Times - IHSAA - Dick Miller- "Most Outstanding Team"  | 9-0-1  | 4-0

## Record vs Rivals

[edit]

Team  | Record  | Percentage  | Streak  | First Meeting  | Last Meeting

|
|
|
|
|

Brazil | 28-28-2 | .500 | WIN 1 | 1920 | 1976
Rockville | 8-1-1 | .800 | WIN 2 | 1964 | 1973
Linton-Stockton  | 15-15-2 | .500 | Loss 8 | 1920 | 1973
Sullivan | 27-27 | .500 | Loss 1 | 1920 | 1976
West Vigo | 10-4-1 | .667 | WIN 4 | 1962 | 1976
Overall Record | 88-75-6

### All-State Players

[edit]

A total of 19 Wildcats have been recognized as All-State by various media selectors.[8]

Clinton All-State Players

| Season | Name | Pos.

|
|

1920 | Kelse  | LT
1921 | Leland York  | HB
1924 | Grahm  | HB
1924  | John Magnabosco  | RG
1925  | John Magnabosco  | FB
1927  | Antoninni  | OL
1928  | Cogan  | HB
| Season | Name | Pos.

|
|

1928 | Marsh  | QB
1929 | Malone  | RG
1930  | Ettore Antonini  | LE
1931  | Chris Dal Sasso  | DL
1932  | Chris Dal Sasso  | DL
1933  | Fred Vanzo  | HB
1934  | William Thompson  | DL
| Season  | Name  | Pos.

|
|

1936 | Robert Phillips  | DL
1938 | Tony Berto  | FB
1941 | Mike Rodich  | RG
1942 | Jack Curry  | OL
1944 | Jack Gilman  | FB
1952 | Gene Dick  | DB
1974 | John Riggins  | OL
|  |
|  |
|  |
|  |

## Notable alumni

[edit]

* Emil Bildilli \- Major League Baseball pitcher (1937-1941)
* Chris Dal Dasso 1933 - All-State Tackle, Played at IU 1934–1936; team captain 1936, Athletic Director at Indiana University[9]
* Lawrence J. Giacoletto 1934 - Known for his work in the field of semi-conductor circuit technology.
* Fred Vanzo 1934 - professional American football player who played running back for four seasons for the Detroit Lions and Chicago Cardinals.
* John Magnabosco 1923 - Head Coach Ball State 1935-1952 Head Coach Clinton Wildcats 1931-1934 3X State Champs 31,32,33. Indiana Football Hall Of Fame
* Tony Berto 1939 - Coached 39 years total - Otsego, Michigan, High School 1946–1948, Boonville HS 1948–1952, and Delphi HS 1952–1985; coached 3 sports for 24 years and 2 sports for 15 years (football, basketball, baseball, track, and golf); Delphi football record of 203 wins. Lettered at Purdue 1939–1943 in Football Basketball and Baseball. Indiana Football Hall Of Fame[10]
* Gerry Dick 1976 QB - American journalist and former news anchor at WRTV, a television station in Indianapolis, Indiana.He is best known as the current host of Inside INdiana Business, a television program owned by Grow Indiana Media Ventures.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Clinton Wildcats". www.almanacsports.com. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
2. ^ Old Gold and Black. Clinton, Indiana: Clinton High School. 1937.
3. ^ "ALL-TIME SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS". pastbb.homestead.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
4. ^ "IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals Records". www.ihsaa.org. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
5. ^ "CLINTON - SECTIONALS (22) and REGIONALS (4)". tnyhistory.homestead.com. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
6. ^ "All-time Regional champions". Archived from the original on 2015-03-16. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
7. ^ "KELLY, PAUL L. "SPIKE"". www.indiana-football.org. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
8. ^ "AlmanacSports.com - Football - Clinton High School Football All-State Players". www.almanacsports.com. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
9. ^ "DAL SASSO, CHRIS C." www.indiana-football.org. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
10. ^ "BERTO, TONY". www.indiana-football.org. Retrieved 19 August 2024.