Gaels Athletic Records & Athletic Hall of Fame
St. Philip Basilica High School Gaels Alumni Association
Gaels Athletics Hall of Fame
This page contains relevant information about the rich athletic tradition of the St. Philip Basilica High School Gaels.
Still Alive & Kickin'
Although our school has been closed, since 1970, our alumni association is now, and has been alive and functional throughout the years.
The early years...
This image, reflects the early years of Our Lady of Sorrows Church, which we were associated with throughout our history.
OLS Interior
The beautiful, ornate interior of Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica was both moving & inspirational.
OLS National Shrine
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, was our "special" place of comfort & reflection.
St. Philip High School
Our school has a long & proud heritage, dating back to 1904, when the Servite Fathers established a school for boys, at the rear of the monastery & adjacent to the church.
St. Philip High School
The school building was finally ready in 1910, and opened its doors for the first time. Our school building (shown here), stayed with us throughout the years, until its closing in 1970.
St. Philip High School
The St. Philip High School building still stands today, at 3141 West Jackson Boulevard, just as it did when we attended. After the closing, in 1970, it was first occupied by OLS Elementary School & then a charter school.
Gaels Athletics
The Gaels, early in their history, were members, of the Cook County League, for only one year, and captured the league's 1911 baseball championship, before the league dissolved.
The CCL baseball title, was vacated, due to the use of 1911 players, (shown here), some of whom were also professionals.
Annual Banquet
Each year, the alumni association conducts an gathering of faculty, staff, former students, sons & friends of St. Philip Basilica High School, to renew & foster the continued camaraderie we've all enjoyed throughout the years.
About Our School
This information contained in this box is linked to the History Page, of our web site. Information is provided about the rich History of St. Philip Basilica High School & our connection with the basilica. Read more...
About Our Alumni
The information contained in this box, is linked to further information about the St. Philip Basilica High School Gaels Alumni Association, its activities & "How to communicate directly with us." Read more...
Annual Alumni Banquet
The information contained in this box is linked to our Annual Banquet page, with information about our upcoming Annual Banquet, always held on the First Friday in May of each year. Read more...
What's New?
Generally, our entire site is "NEW," with a new look, feel & features that will help enhance your experience, and provide you with "NEW" things you can accomplish. Watch this section for further information about New "Features" & "Functions," that we we will be adding to the site, from time to time. It will be your first "look" at out latest inclusions.
All photo galleries have been updated, with all pictures we have available from previous banquets. The Guestbook has also been updated.
This year's banquet is rapidly approaching. Remember, ALWAYS the First Friday in May. This year, Friday, May 1, 2020.
Current News
The Current News content, in this box will be updated as necessary, to include information about current and upcoming events that may be of interest to you. Check back often to keep current with what is happening with the Gaels Alumni.
Upcoming Events
The Upcoming Events content in this box, will include news about any upcoming events that are planned for the future. You will be provided, here, with relevant information about our Annual Banquet & any actions directed by our alumni.
Our last banquet, held on Friday, May 3, 2019, was again very successful, with more then 100 attendees. Our next banquet will be held, as always, on the First Friday in May, this year on Friday, May 1, 2020. Read more...
St. Philip Gaels Athletic Hall of Fame
Throughout the years that St. Philip existed, athletics played an important role in academic life, as well as notoriety, for attracting new students to the school.
The following are merely highlights of some of the records that we have available to us. There certainly is much more tradition, but unfortunately, it is not available to us at this time. If you have further information that we are missing, or corrections or additions to what we have, please send it along to us, so that we can add it to the list below.
Football
| Year | Record | Head Coach | Football Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | 4-4-2 | Marv Adams | |
| 1943 | 4-4-2 | Tom O'Brien | |
| 1944 | 4-3-1 | Tom O'Brien | |
| 1945 | 7-1-1 | 3rd Place- Chicago Catholic North | |
| 1946 | 7-2-1 | Vito Ananis | |
| 1948 | 6-3-0 | ||
| 1949 | 6-3-0 | Clem Naughton | 3-way tie-Chicago Catholic North Lost to Fenwick in Division Title Game |
| 1950 | 6-3-1 | Clem Naughton | |
| 1952 | 6-4-0 | ||
| 1954 | 6-3-0 | ||
| 1957 | Owen "Red" Thurek | ||
| 1958 | Owen "Red" Thurek | ||
| 1959 | 5-3-0 | Joe Petruzzi | St. Philip Graduate Member, Chicago Catholic League "Hall of Fame" |
| 1960 | 4-4-1 | Joe Petruzzi | St. Philip Graduate Member, Chicago Catholic League "Hall of Fame" |
| 1961 | 1-7-0 | Bob Rosmarino | Asst. Coaches: Jack Marcoline, Charlie Rotkis |
| 1962 | 3-3-2 | Bob Rosmarino | Asst. Coach: Jack Marcoline |
| 1963 | 2-4-2 | Bob Rosmarino | Asst. Coaches: Jack Marcoline |
| 1964 | 1-7-1 | Bob Rosmarino | Asst. Coaches: Jack Marcoline, Wayne Elwart |
| 1969 | Jack Marcoline | Beat Fenwick |
** Please note that the above list does not represent the entire Gael's football record, but merely the information that we have available. Any additional information is welcome, and should be submitted via our contact form.
Football Notables
The "Golden Gaels" produced some gridiron notables, who attained college and professional fame.
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*Update: On Thursday, May 6, 2010, the Chicago Catholic League Coaches Association inducted Clanton King into its Hall of Fame. In its 50th Annual Induction presentation, the association summarized Clanton's life as follows: "Clanton King was born on Chicago's west side, and graduated from Our Lady of Sorrows grammar school and St. Philip High School, where he played basketball, and starred in football. He played both defensive tackle and offensive guard, and was awarded both All-Catholic League and All-State honors. Clanton went on to Purdue University, where he was a member of the 1967 Rose Bowl team, as a sophomore. He started at both offensive guard and tackle the following two years. The Kansas City Chiefs drafted him in 1969, but Clanton failed the physical, due to a rare blood disease. After working for the Illinois Department of Corrections for five years, the disease took its toll, and Clanton passed away in 1975." |
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Tony Pasquesi '51: Tony was a two-way performer on the 1948-49 teams at linebacker and fullback, gaining "All-State" honors as a Gael, and later, lettered for three seasons at the University of Notre Dame (1952-53-54), with the ledgendary Johnny Latner, from Fenwick, before being selected by the Chicago (now Arizona) Cardinals of the NFL. Pasquesi completed three seasons with the Cardinals, from 1955-57, before a career-ending knee injury. Pasquesi is a member of the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.
Tony Rio '55: Tony played fullback for the Gaels, and received a scholarship to the University of Michigan. He played three seasons at fullback, for the Wolverines, lettering twice, and was voted MVP for the 1959 season, under Coach "Bump" Elliott. Tony was drafted by the St. Louis (now Arizona) Cardinals, but a career-ending knee injury, prevented him from pursuing his pro career any further. He passed away, at the young age of 50, in 1987.
Terry Marcoline '60: From 1957-59, Terry graced the Gael gridiron at halfback & linebacker, earning All-State honors in his senior season. He moved on to the Big Ten, as a fullback & linebacker at Purdue, from 1961 through 1963, where he lettered during all three seasons, but went undrafted by the NFL.
Bill Minor '61: Bill was one of the "unsung" standouts for the Gaels, at Tackle, from 1959-61, and also went on to a Big Ten career with the University of Illinois, where he was a starting Guard for the Illini from 1963-65. In the 11th round of the '65 AFL draft, Bill was drafted by the Oakland Raiders as a linebacker.
Arunas Vasys '62: Arunas, like Tony Pasquesi, was a Gael linebacker, and also lettered three times at the University of Notre Dame, (1963-64-65), and was a 16th round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, in the 1966 NFL draft. Vasys stayed with the Eagles organization from 1966-68, appearing in 22 games.
Clanton King '65: Clanton was a 6'3" All-State offensive guard for the Gaels, who pursued his post-secondary education at Purdue University, where he was a starting defensive tackle for the Boilermakers 1967 Rose Bowl team that featured Bob Griese at Quarterback. In his three regular seasons as a Boilermaker, King moved from starting defensive tackle to offensive guard, and eventually landed as an offensive tackle for Purdue, donning the Black and Gold's Number 67. Clanton was a 7th round draft pick for the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs in 1969, at offensive tackle.Basketball
The Gaels had a competitive hoops program in Catholic League play during the latter part of the 1920's and into the mid-1930's, taking home three titles in lightweight and heavyweight play. The following information on the St. Philip High School basketball program comes to us from Thomas Geraci,'64:
"Chicago Catholic League basketball, consisted of two (2) teams from each school. They were distinguished as "Lights" and "Heavies." The Lights were for players under 5' 8" tall and the Heavies for over 5' 8". The basketball program was in existence for quite some time. Each Catholic high school was a member. Geraci played for the Lights from 1960-1964.
(NOTE: Historian Robert Pruter tells us that basketball was divided into senior and junior classes based on height, not weight.)
"In the 1960-61 season, we played St. Rita for the City Championship at De Paul University. St. Rita won by less than 5 points", says Geraci."
| Year | Record | Head Coach | Basketball Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927-28 Lights | CCL Lightweight Champions | ||
| 1927-28 Heavies | CCL Heavyweight Champions | ||
| 1933-34 Heavies | CCL Heavyweight Champions | ||
| 1944-45 Lights | CCL Lightweight Champions | ||
| 1944-45 Heavies | Clem Naughton | Chicago City Champions & CCL Heavyweight Champions | |
| 1958-59 Lights | Clem Naughton | CCL Lightweight 2nd Place | |
| 1960-61 Lights | Wm. Doherty | CCL Lightweight 2nd Place | |
| 1962 Lights | 6-6 | Pat Diggins | |
| 1962 Heavies | 4-8 | Clem Naughton | Freshmen Phenoms Rankins & Lewis lead Gaels Cagers. |
| 1963 Lights | Unknown | Pat Diggins | |
| 1963 Heavies | 6-6 | Clem Naughton | |
| 1964 Lights | Unknown | Pat Diggins | |
| 1964 Heavies | Unknown | Clem Naughton | |
| 1965 Lights | 6-14 | Pat Diggins | |
| 1965 Heavies | 12-8 | Clem Naughton |
** Please note that the above list does not represent the entire Gael's basketball record, but merely the information that we have available. Any additional information is welcome, and should be submitted via our contact form.
Swimming
| Year | Record | Head Coach | Swimming Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Fr. Kevin Fitzpatrick, OSM | New Records: 100 Breast: Bruce Neberieza, 1:10.7 160 Ind. Medley: Pete Racz, 1:52.7 40 Fly: Alex Metro, 23.1 (JV) 80 Ind. Medley: Alex Metro, 52.3 (JV) Catholic League Jr. Diving Champ: John Schueler |
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| 1963 | Thomas Kehoe, '61 | New Records: 100 Back: Gary Ashby, 1:06.0 100 Free: Martin Zick, 54.7 160 Free Relay: T. Kenost, R. Neniskis, L. Voss, M. Zick, 1:21.4 |
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| 1964 | Thomas Kehoe, '61 | ||
| 1965 | Fr. Kevin Fitzpatrick, OSM | New Records: 100 Free: Martin Zick, 53.4 400 Free: Larry Voss, 4:57.1 100 Breast: Myron Palij, 1:11.4 160 Ind. Medley: William Kazan, 1:56.3 160 Free Relay: R. Neniskis, W. Neberieza, L. Voss, M. Zick, 1:16.4 60 Free: Martin Zick, 30.8 |
** Please note that the above list does not represent the entire record of the Gael's swimming team, but merely the information that we have available. Any additional information is welcome, and should be submitted via our contact form.
Baseball
In 1911-12, the Gaels competed for a single year, in the Cook County League, and captured the league's baseball title. The league had operated during the previous season, but the league's baseball championship was invalidated, due to the use of players considered to be professionals. The league dissolved in 1913, with the formation of the Public League, Catholic League and Suburban League. St. Philip, during the operation of the CCL, was one of the few private schools associated with the league.
| Year | Record | Head Coach | Baseball Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Fr. Kevin Fitzpatrick, OSM | ||
| 1963 | Fr. Kenneth Crotty, OSM | ||
| 1964 | |||
| 1965 | |||
| 1969 | Dan Rusk | CCL Champions |
** Please note that the above list does not represent the entire record of the Gael's baseball team, but merely the information that we have available. Any additional information is welcome, and should be submitted via our contact form.
Bowling
Bowling was a stalwart of St. Philip athletics, with our own bowling alley beneath the main gym & adjacent to the swimming pool.
| Year | Record | Head Coach | Bowling Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | CCL Champions | ||
| 1962 | Fr. Patrick Donovan, OSM | ||
| 1963 | Fr. Patrick Donovan, OSM | ||
| 1964 | Fr. Patrick Donovan, OSM | ||
| 1965 | Fr. Patrick Donovan, OSM |
** Please note that the above list does not represent the entire record of the Gael's bowling team, but merely the information that we have available. Any additional information is welcome, and should be submitted via our contact form.
Hockey Club
The Hockey Club began in 1963, with the help of Fr. Donovan & Fr. LaFave.
| Year | Record | Head Coach | Hockey Club Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 1-1-1 | Fr. Patrick Donovan, OSM | First Season |
| 1964 | 4-9-2 | Mr. Trytek | |
| 1965 | 2-11-2 | Fr. Brendan LaFave, OSM |
** Please note that the above list does not represent the entire record of the Gael's hockey club, but merely the information that we have available. Any additional information is welcome, and should be submitted via our contact form.
Softball
In the spring of 1943, St. Philip was part of a seven-school experiment in the Chicago Catholic League, in the sport of Softball. Along with the Gaels, St. George, DePaul Academy, Mount Carmel, St. Rita, De La Salle and Loyola Academy, competed in "triple-headers," hosted at St. Philip's stadium, but inclement weather caused a reduction in the total number of games that could be played by each school's entry, and, as a final result, the experimental softball competition was discontinued by the league.
Boxing
The Catholic League also sponsored boxing (briefly in the 1930's) and bowling. St. Philip won the league’s boxing title in 1933, winning nine out of ten final matches. The following year, St. Philip competed for the “state” boxing title against St. George and Peru St. Bede, but the results are unknown, although St. Philip was dominating the preliminary matches.
* Contributing in part - Kevin W. Varney - http://www.illinoishsglorydays.com
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