40 years later, state title still resonates in Shadyside
SHADYSIDE – The year was 1976 and the venue was Ohio Stadium in Columbus.
Under the direction of legendary head coach Tom Vichich, six Shadyside athletes made the two-hour ride to the Ohio State Track and Field Championships with hopes of finishing their seasons in an impressive manner.
They did that and plenty more.
The Tigers’ contingent – which was comprised of Rudy Jovicic, Tommy Vichich, John Vichich, Craig Griffiths, Gary Long and Jack Parker – placed in five events and brought home the school’s first – and up until last softball season only – state championship, amassing 30 points, which was three better than Ashland Crestview’s total.
“I wasn’t expecting to win (the team championship),” Jovicic said. “We were excited to be going to Columbus and just wanted to place, but Coach Vichich had bigger ideas.”
The 1976 team, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, will be honored at this weekend’s annual running of the Shadyside Relays prior to the start of the afternoon’s running finals. They’ll also be recognized at Friday night’s social event.
“It’s hard to believe that it’s been 40 years already,” Tommy Vichich said. “I think about it probably twice a year, during the Shadyside Relays and then again during the state-meet weekend.”
Jovicic, who was inducted to the OVAC Hall of Fame last summer, is looking forward to seeing so many of his former teammates.
“I’m sure we will be telling some stories … at least as many as we can remember,” Jovicic laughed. “It was a great run and that season is something, no matter how old I get, that I’ll never forget.”
On top of talented, fast athletes, the foundation for the title was laid many weeks before the trip to Columbus, actually.
Though it was never talked about during the regular or postseason, the quest for the state championship was always ongoing because of the competitive atmosphere that Coach Vichich created.
“We were always pushing each other,” Jovicic said. “Even the guys who didn’t run at the state meet pushed us. The whole team competed at all times. From sophomores up to seniors, everyone competed for spots.”
With their spots basically set, Shadyside rolled through sectional and district qualifying, allowing the Tigers to take a solid delegation to Columbus.
“We looked at times and placements in the various events leading into the meet, but we didn’t talk about winning it,” Tommy Vichich, who now resides in Wilmington, Del., said.
The lack of ‘talking’ continued in the ride to the meet. Both Jovicic and Vichich recall the ride being “very quiet.”
Some of it might have been nerves because several Ohio Valley teams had been on the doorstep of success only to come up short in prior state-level competitions.
“There had been some bad luck or misfortune for other teams from the valley through the years,” Vichich said. “Teams would either drop a baton or not bring their ‘A’ game for that weekend and in the back of my mind, I didn’t want us to be one of those teams that suffered a disaster.”
The disaster that needed to be avoided was an illness.
Joe Vucelich – who had been a member of the 880-relay – got sick and couldn’t compete. Griffiths, who placed fifth in the state 440 that season in 51.3, stepped in and ran a key leg.
“My dad was always willing to move people around,” Tommy Vichich said. “He was having people challenge for relay spots right up until the state meet. He was always trying to construct relay teams, and their order, to give us the best chance to win.”
Shadyside set the tone on the opening day of competition. Vichich scored two points in the long jump with a mark of 20-ft-9 3/4, while Jovicic advanced to the state final in both the 120-yard high hurdles and the 180 lows with the second fastest time in the field.
Griffiths also advanced to the 440 final. The only mishap, which almost proved especially costly, was the 440-relay team failed to advance.
“We took care of our business that first day,” Vichich said. “I was third at the district and seeded eighth or ninth coming in and got fifth. So, we had a little bit of confidence coming out of the first day.
The second day started with Jovicic finishing second behind future NFL defensive back Roland James in the high hurdles in 14.2.
Next up for the Tigers was the 880-relay, which Jovicic anchored. Still upset about the high hurdles, his message to his teammates, who were Vichich, Vichich and Griffiths, came across loud and clear.
“We were in the bullpen and I told the other guys, ‘get me the baton and we’ll win’,” Jovicic recalled. “They did their part and I did mine.”
Shadyside turned in a 1:31.5 for the title.
Just 15 minutes later, Griffiths gutted out the 440 and finished fifth in 51.3. Jovicic and James squared off again, but this time it was in the lows and it was a similar outcome with Jovicic settling for second in 19.5.
“It just snowballed for us,” Jovicic said. “We were scoring points and scoring points. It just happened. Coach Vichich was one of the coaches who just told you to go out there and do your job, basically. And all of us did that weekend.”
As many track meets do, the title boiled down to the 440-yard relay and with Shadyside not having a team in the field all it could do was watch and hope.
“Crestview shuffled its lineup and put its two best runners on the first two legs,” Vichich said. “They were well positioned coming into the third leg and they only needed to finish in the top three to pass us.”
However, the third and fourth legs gave back much of the ground the opening two legs had gained and it set off a wild celebration in the Shadyside cheering section, which included several hundred fans.
“The whole stadium knew where Shadyside was sitting after that mile relay,” Vichich said.
Unlike today’s day and age, the Tigers weren’t presented rings or any sort of memento for their accomplishment.
“We had the trophy and that was all that really mattered,” Vichich said. “We did have a spaghetti dinner at the old Alberts restaurant and we had a celebration at the legion.”
Staskey can be reached at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com
40 years later, state title still resonates in Shadyside
SHADYSIDE – The year was 1976 and the venue was Ohio Stadium in Columbus.
Under the direction of legendary head coach Tom Vichich, six Shadyside athletes made the two-hour ride to the Ohio State Track and Field Championships with hopes of finishing their seasons in an impressive manner.
They did that and plenty more.
The Tigers’ contingent – which was comprised of Rudy Jovicic, Tommy Vichich, John Vichich, Craig Griffiths, Gary Long and Jack Parker – placed in five events and brought home the school’s first – and up until last softball season only – state championship, amassing 30 points, which was three better than Ashland Crestview’s total.
“I wasn’t expecting to win (the team championship),” Jovicic said. “We were excited to be going to Columbus and just wanted to place, but Coach Vichich had bigger ideas.”
The 1976 team, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, will be honored at this weekend’s annual running of the Shadyside Relays prior to the start of the afternoon’s running finals. They’ll also be recognized at Friday night’s social event.
“It’s hard to believe that it’s been 40 years already,” Tommy Vichich said. “I think about it probably twice a year, during the Shadyside Relays and then again during the state-meet weekend.”
Jovicic, who was inducted to the OVAC Hall of Fame last summer, is looking forward to seeing so many of his former teammates.
“I’m sure we will be telling some stories … at least as many as we can remember,” Jovicic laughed. “It was a great run and that season is something, no matter how old I get, that I’ll never forget.”
On top of talented, fast athletes, the foundation for the title was laid many weeks before the trip to Columbus, actually.
Though it was never talked about during the regular or postseason, the quest for the state championship was always ongoing because of the competitive atmosphere that Coach Vichich created.
“We were always pushing each other,” Jovicic said. “Even the guys who didn’t run at the state meet pushed us. The whole team competed at all times. From sophomores up to seniors, everyone competed for spots.”
With their spots basically set, Shadyside rolled through sectional and district qualifying, allowing the Tigers to take a solid delegation to Columbus.
“We looked at times and placements in the various events leading into the meet, but we didn’t talk about winning it,” Tommy Vichich, who now resides in Wilmington, Del., said.
The lack of ‘talking’ continued in the ride to the meet. Both Jovicic and Vichich recall the ride being “very quiet.”
Some of it might have been nerves because several Ohio Valley teams had been on the doorstep of success only to come up short in prior state-level competitions.
“There had been some bad luck or misfortune for other teams from the valley through the years,” Vichich said. “Teams would either drop a baton or not bring their ‘A’ game for that weekend and in the back of my mind, I didn’t want us to be one of those teams that suffered a disaster.”
The disaster that needed to be avoided was an illness.
Joe Vucelich – who had been a member of the 880-relay – got sick and couldn’t compete. Griffiths, who placed fifth in the state 440 that season in 51.3, stepped in and ran a key leg.
“My dad was always willing to move people around,” Tommy Vichich said. “He was having people challenge for relay spots right up until the state meet. He was always trying to construct relay teams, and their order, to give us the best chance to win.”
Shadyside set the tone on the opening day of competition. Vichich scored two points in the long jump with a mark of 20-ft-9 3/4, while Jovicic advanced to the state final in both the 120-yard high hurdles and the 180 lows with the second fastest time in the field.
Griffiths also advanced to the 440 final. The only mishap, which almost proved especially costly, was the 440-relay team failed to advance.
“We took care of our business that first day,” Vichich said. “I was third at the district and seeded eighth or ninth coming in and got fifth. So, we had a little bit of confidence coming out of the first day.
The second day started with Jovicic finishing second behind future NFL defensive back Roland James in the high hurdles in 14.2.
Next up for the Tigers was the 880-relay, which Jovicic anchored. Still upset about the high hurdles, his message to his teammates, who were Vichich, Vichich and Griffiths, came across loud and clear.
“We were in the bullpen and I told the other guys, ‘get me the baton and we’ll win’,” Jovicic recalled. “They did their part and I did mine.”
Shadyside turned in a 1:31.5 for the title.
Just 15 minutes later, Griffiths gutted out the 440 and finished fifth in 51.3. Jovicic and James squared off again, but this time it was in the lows and it was a similar outcome with Jovicic settling for second in 19.5.
“It just snowballed for us,” Jovicic said. “We were scoring points and scoring points. It just happened. Coach Vichich was one of the coaches who just told you to go out there and do your job, basically. And all of us did that weekend.”
As many track meets do, the title boiled down to the 440-yard relay and with Shadyside not having a team in the field all it could do was watch and hope.
“Crestview shuffled its lineup and put its two best runners on the first two legs,” Vichich said. “They were well positioned coming into the third leg and they only needed to finish in the top three to pass us.”
However, the third and fourth legs gave back much of the ground the opening two legs had gained and it set off a wild celebration in the Shadyside cheering section, which included several hundred fans.
“The whole stadium knew where Shadyside was sitting after that mile relay,” Vichich said.
Unlike today’s day and age, the Tigers weren’t presented rings or any sort of memento for their accomplishment.
“We had the trophy and that was all that really mattered,” Vichich said. “We did have a spaghetti dinner at the old Alberts restaurant and we had a celebration at the legion.”
Staskey can be reached at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com