Members of 1951 State Football Champs will join the SPASH Athletic Hall of Fame at the Spring Ceremony, April 15 at the SentryWorld Atrium. (Contributed Photo/Stevens Point Area Public School District)

SPASH announces inductees for the 2023 Spring Athletic Hall of Fame

March 8, 2023March 9, 2023

By Patrick Lynn

The SPASH Athletic Hall of Fame Commission has announced its Spring Class of 2023.

Four groups of athletes, teams, coaches, friends, and supporters of SPASH athletics will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during a special ceremony on April 15.

Football

Part of this year’s inductees is the 1949 SPASH football team, which had an undefeated season and won the state championship.

Led by head coach John Roberts, the Panthers had impressive victories over Waupaca and Antigo, which set the table for a huge matchup with perennial state power Wausau. In front of over 4,000 fans, the Panthers upset the Lumberjacks 13-6.

*This year’s inductees include the 1949 Football team, which had an undefeated season and won the state championship. (Contributed Photo/Stevens Point Area Public School District)*

A 74-yard interception return for a touchdown by Bob Bostad, hard running by Norbert “Nubbs” Miller, and a dominant defensive performance led by defensive linemen Bill Higgins, Don Mancheski, Jerry Miller, Eugene Sorenson, and Henry Olsen helped Stevens Point hand Wausau its first Valley conference loss since 1938.

Following the Wausau game, the Panthers proceeded to reel off four straight wins handily beating Rhinelander, Merrill, Marshfield, and Mosinee to move to 7-0 on the season. All that remained between the Panthers and an undefeated season was arch-rival Wisconsin Rapids.

In front of over 5,000 fans at Witter Field in Rapids, the Panthers used a Nubbs Miller third-quarter touchdown run to turn back the pesky Red Raiders 7-0 and claim the school’s first Valley Conference championship since the 1935 season.

Additionally, the 1951 football state championship team will also be inducted.

Coached by John Roberts and his able assistant, John Beste, the team was determined to disprove the rumors that they would not be outstanding that year. The result was a group of boys with the label of undefeated, untied, Wisconsin Valley Champions.

Wrestling

Part of the Hall of Fame Class of 2023 is also the 1949 Wrestling State Championship team.

Boys who received championship awards were Cliff Mancheski (SPASH HOF Member 2023), Robert Mau (SPASH HOF Member 2023), and Henry Yetter (SPASH HOF Member 2023).

Track

The 1955 state track championship team will be inducted.

The Thinclaids dominated the Wisconsin Valley Conference indoor meet and beat their archrivals from Rapids in a dual meet, then easily led the way in a quadrangular involving Marshfield, Merrill, and Antigo.

The SPASH Hall of Fame Commission is looking for any team members or team members’ relatives that would like to attend the ceremony and/or share stories, pictures, or articles about the team that they may have.

The Commission is also looking for local businesses that would like to sponsor an inductee or inductee table for the evening.

The event will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 15, with a social and hors d’oeuvres at the SentryWorld Atrium. The induction ceremony will begin at 7.

Individual tickets are $35, or attendees can purchase an eight-seat table for $250.

Tickets can be purchased through the SPASH TicketSpicket website (Electronic Ticket Link) or in-person in the south office at the high school, 1201 North Point Dr.

Anyone with questions should contact the SPASH athletic office at 715-345-7307 or email [email protected].