Can You Remember?
SAINT ADALBERT’S BASKETBALL
By Angelo Capozoli
- An ALL-TIME team, how about Chipper Solarczyk, Leon Kosakowski, Ron Cygrymus, or Ron Macy. Who can forget the left-handed jumper of Leo Polakowski or shooters like the Lech brothers or Buster Hovanec.
- My personal choice, as the best to ever wear the ‘red and white’ is someone I witnessed from sixth grade through an appearance representing St. Adalbert’s as a sophomore at the Class B All-Stars in March, 1967. That player is Jack Wojdowski. That same season, Jack set the Class B scoring record of 54 points against St. Mary’s, McKees Rocks. Jack transferred to Canevin High School, coached by Ron Cygrymus. Jack helped Canevin to two consecutive state championship Class A finals (1968-69)---winning in 1969.
- Jack went on to Duquesne University, where under the tutelage of Red Manning, the Dukes made a 1972 NCAA tournament appearance—only St. Adalbert alumnus in March Madness. Jack Wojdowski is definitely my choice as best ever. Some readers may disagree. I’d love to hear from you by mail, at meetings, or at the Saint Adalbert’s Alumni Association web page.
- My apologies to all the great coaches and great female players of the St. Adalbert’s girls’ teams (Sr. Barb Szymkowiak, I hope you’re reading) and those Acette cheerleading squads (where are you now, Marilyn Greb and Nancy Rogowski-Capozzoli?).
- Those were some wonderful times to be part of St. Adalbert School. Hope these articles brought a memory or two. Let’s hear from you!!!.
- Check out Angelo's two part series below!
Can You Remember? Part 2
- Throughout the ‘60’s, St. Adalbert’s basketball remained competitive but not quite ‘First Place’ caliber, but the coaches and players were all ‘WINNERS!’ Those of you who followed the “Aces” can easily remember the likes of Bernie Fajerski and the Zalewski and the Wojdowski brothers. Remember the Class of 1964 which included Bob Lech, Wayne Wanzco, and Kenny Guzowski; the Class of 1965 with Steve ‘Buster’ Hovanec, Eric Greb, Rich Pash, Rich Kaminski, and Frank Sapienza; the Class of ’66 with Rick Wojdowski and Leo Polakowski; the Class of 1968 include Tim Zeitak, Lenny Wanczo, and Joe Rogozinski. Other players from the ‘60’s include Bob Savinis, Ron Ferko, Jack Wesolowski, Ed Manko, Drew Cetnarowski, Ben Savinis, and Chas Hajduk who kept the St. Adalbert tradition alive until the last basket was scored in March of 1969.
- I probably have forgotten some player you may remember. Please, let me know. Tony Turici was the head coach and was assisted mostly by “Big” Ben Savinis as the junior varsity coach until the 1969 season, when Leon Kosakowski became head coach with Rich Bisiada as his assistant and ‘j.v.’ coach.
- Now for the answer to the questions asked earlier in the previous article, “ Who was the best team?” Was it the undefeated team of 1955 or the state championship runner-up team of 1960. You make the call. I was a bit too young to see them play!
- In the next edition of the newsletter, I will name an ‘All-Time Team’, as well as name the best ever player to wear the
‘red and white.’
Can You Remember? Part 1
SAINT ADALBERT’S BASKETBALL
By Angelo Capozoli
- With the excitement of the opening of PNC Park and another baseball season, let’s not forget about basketball just yet, especially Saint Adalbert’s basketball!
- Saint Adalbert’s basketball, both boys’ and girls’, was the main sport activity throughout the years. Yes, there was baseball and softball teams through the 1950’s and intramural football and bowling, but basketball was IT!
- Who can remember those many coaches, players, and cheerleaders of all those teams? Which was the “best team”, who were the best “all-time players”---and here’s a trivia question that will be answered later in this article. Who was the only Saint Adalbert alumnus to participate in the NCAA basketball “March Madness”?
- We have to thank the late Walter “Bebe” Filip for originating boys’ basketball as its first coach in 1944. No names of those first players could be found, though some of them are still with us today. Many great coaches and players followed. Coaches Lou Guzik and Hillary Modrak helped bring St. Adalberts its first and only team to go undefeated in 1955.
- The team of Ron ‘Chipper’ Solarczyk, Ron Cygrymus, John Bartus, Henry Kasper, Don Pryvigy, Rich Orzy, and others went 12-0 during the regular season, only to lose to St. Canice in the Class B playoff game. You may recognize some great names on that team, some of whom went on to future successes in basketball.
- Probably the ‘greatest team’ of St. Adalbert’s basketball history was the 1960 Aces. Head coach Ted Kaczorowski was assisted by Chipper Solarczyk. Led by Leon Kosakowski, John Lech, Ron Macy, Pat Mocello, and Ray Krawczyk as starters and the supporting cast of Rich Bisida, John Ciak, Dan Rota, Jude Sadowski, Joe Smith and others (apologies if I forgot someone), this team achieved the most wins in a season with a 28-2 final record. This team fell one game short of the state championship, losing to Bethlehem Catholic in the final game. The year 2000 was the 45th anniversary of the 1955 undefeated team and the 40th anniversary of the 1960 championship team.
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