Athletics
Highland St. Paul High School was a very competitive school in the realm of athletics. Boys basketball is covered
quite nicely on the IHSA website (
www.ihsa.org). The boys also had success in track and cross country. The ladies are mentioned in volleyball and track.
The girls probably competed in basketball as well but are not mentioned.
Boys Basketball
The boys basketball team won three District titles and three Regional titles during their existence. Several
twenty-games-won seasons highlighted the history of the St. Paul boys basketball program as well.
1932-33
Coach Elmer Gundlach
1933-35
Coach Fr. Bertman
1935-36 13 - 8
Coach Eddie Newlauer
1936-37 10 - 8
Coach Pete Neudeeker
1937-40
Coach Jim Ratchford
1940-41
Coach Victor Reichert
1941-42 19 - 9
Coach Victor Reichert
1942-43 14 - 9
Coach Victor Reichert
1943-44 Coach
Victor Reichert
1944-45 12 - 11
Coach Victor Reichert
1945-48
Coach Fr. H.J. Knoedler
1948-49 16 - 11
Coach Fr. H.J. Knoedler
1949-51
Coach Fr. Ed Adamski
1951-52 14 - 11
Coach Fr. Ed Adamski
1952-53 19 - 8
Coach Fr. Luke Kelly
1953-54 20 - 6
Coach Fr. Luke Kelly
1954-56 Coach
Fr. Luke Kelly
1956-57
Coach Richard Mason
1957-58 20 - 7
Coach Richard Mason
1958-59 18 - 9
Coach Richard Mason
1959-60 Coach
Richard Mason
1960-61 17 - 7
Coach Richard Mason
1961-63
Coach Maurice Klingele
1963-64 22 - 6 District
Champions
Coach Maurice Klingele
1964-65 22 - 5 District Champions
Coach Maurice Klingele
1965-67
Coach Robert Wutz
1967-68 16 - 10
Coach Mike Henning
1968-69 17 - 10
Coach Mike Henning
1969-70
Coach Byron Johnston
1970-71 20 - 7 District
Champions
Coach Byron Johnston
1971-72 25 - 3 Regional Champions
Coach Jeff Carling
1972-73 23 - 4
Coach Jeff Carling
1973-74 19 - 9 Regional
Champions Coach Don
Litteken
1974-75 12 - 12
Coach Joe Klosterman
1975-76
Coach Joe Klosterman
1976-77 14 - 11
Coach Rick Moss
1977-78 20 - 7
Coach Rick Moss
1978-79 25 - 3 Regional Champions
Coach Rick Moss
1979-82
Coach Mike Curran
1982-84 Coach
Ron Stern
1984-85 14 - 14
Coach Ron Stern
1985-86 14 - 13
Coach Steve Lanxon
High Scorer:
The IHSA website lists
Francis Coffey of St. Paul HS as having one of the highest scoring games in the
history of Illinois High School basketball. Francis scored 63 points in a game against Bunker Hill in 1958 making his
total the 28th highest in IHSA history (
www.ihsa.org)!!
[28.] 63, Francis Coffey, Highland (St. Paul) vs. Bunker Hill, Jan. 24, 1958 (30 FG, 3
FT)
The following information was submitted regarding the Breese Mater Dei annual Christmas Classic and the St.
Paul Vikings' participation:
Highland (St. Paul)
Consolation champs 1972 and 1977
2nd place 1978 (lost to Nashville who went on to 3rd in state).
Team's career record at MD tourney was 10-19.
1973
game between St. Paul and Greenville is tied for tourney record for Most Pts. in a game for two teams - 190
GHS
96 St. Paul 94.
All time top career scorers in MD tourney,
Dennis
Luber (1977, 1978) 231 pts. That is 13th place all-time.
All-Tourney - 1972
Dan
Koishor
All-Tourney - 1977 and 1978
Dennis
Luber
Other Notable Roundball Athlete
Leo Buehler - Led Highland's team during the late 1930s and early 1940s, and was honorable mention All-State
in 1940-41.
Great Coach:
Highland St. Paul Coach Rick Moss (1977-79) was quite successful not only at Highland St. Paul,
but also after leaving the school. Coach Moss is listed among the best basketball coaches in IHSA history in the following
categories and as coaching at the following schools:
All-Time Wins
[88.] 464, Rick Moss, Centralia, Summit (Argo), Vandalia, Highland (St. Paul),
1976-2002 (464-123)
Highest Winning Percentage, Career
[11.] .789, Rick Moss, Highland (St. Paul), Vandalia, Argo (Summit), Centralia,
1976-2002 (464-123)
In addtion, Coach Moss served as an assistant coach at the University of Iowa.
