2021 State Championship Banquet Photograph of the 17 Parade of Champions
State Championship Team Representatives:
Front row kneeling / sitting (L-R) 2015 Mark Delbrugge (Former Head Coach 2014-2017), 1938 Robert Hamilton (son of 1938 Team Coach Walter Ray “Lefty” Hamilton), 1963 Don Morris (sub for year before he won State Tournament in 1964 - ALAC Trustee / Secretary), 1949 George Gongola (3rd Place National Tournament - shortstop), 1983 Jimbo Lemasters, 1988 Dan Taylor (representing son Gary Taylor - State Tournament MVP), 2016 Brian “Soup” Campbell
Back row standing (L-R) 1966 Bo McConnaughy (Former Head Coach 1994-1996), 2017 Colton Coss, 1978 Dave Koehler (Former ALAC President), 1987 Sean Jamison (ALAC Trustee), 1975 Dave Mathieu (Former ALAC Trustee / Treasurer), 1982 Jo Jo Blaha, 1986 Scott Goodnight, Charles “Chuck” Koehler (ALAC Trustee 45 years, father of State Champion sons 1975 and 1978, Business Manager / Assistant Coach for 10 State Championship Teams), 1964 Dave Ciser, 1985 Steve Novotney, 1984 Ron Stephens
1938
1938 State Champions
Front row (L-R) Bill Linch, Ken Mager, Bert Shelek, Jack Nau and Beanie Garden (Bat Boy)
Second row (L-R) Russ Riggs, Jack Dalton, Carl Basnett, Bob Hull and Bob Westfall
Back row (L-R) Gene Britt, Ray Thalman, Timmy Mears, Whitey Borkowski, Nick Tuskey and Walter Ray
Walter Ray “Lefty” Hamilton (Head Coach)
Photo graciously provided by Mr. McKinley, a relative of Head Coach Walter Ray “Lefty” Hamilton
1949
2015 Alumni Day Photograph of George Gongola, Donald J. Tennant, Jr. President of ALAC and Tom Manion (winning pitcher at National Tourney) (Bob Kupchak was unavailable due to medical reasons)
1963
1963 State Champions
Sitting: Bat Boy Chuck Zarnoch
Front row kneeling (L-R) Pat Harvey (Wellsburg), Dace McCombs (Wellsburg), Greg Bieth, Dave Ferkol (Triadelphia), Dave Cisar (Bishop Donahue), Joe Doerr (Wheeling Central), Tom Murray (Triadelphia)
Back row standing (L-R) Head Coach Harold “Lard” Vitalie, John Atkinson, John Ferguson (Wellsburg), Adam Angel (Wellsburg), Frank Gongola (Union H.S.), Ron Romanosky (Wellsburg), Fred Rine (Triadelphia), Paul Cappas, Syd Smith (Wheeling H.S.), Manager Joe “Tipper” Zarnoch
1963 WV State Tournament at Mullens:
Game #1 Post 1 won Mullens 6-4
Game #2 Post 1 lost Marmet 3-2
Game #3 Post 1 won Morgantown 3-1
Game #4 Post 1 won Marmet 5-1
Game #5 Post 1 won Marmet 1-0
1963 Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament at College Park, MD
Game #1 Post 1 won Frederick, MD 2-1
Game #2 Post 1 won Washington, D.C. 7-4
Game #3 Post 1 lost Washington, D.C. 10-4
Game #4 Post 1 lost Frederick, MD 9-7
Note: 1963 All games were 9 innings
1963 Manager: Joe "Tipper" Zarnoch
1963 Coach: Harold "Lard" Vitalie
1963 Post 1 Record: 24-6
1963 National Championship played in Keane, NH
1963 Wheeling Post 1 Team Roster(15 total):
Wellsburg- Pat Harvey, Dave McCombs, John Atkinson, Adam Angel, John Furguson and Ron Romanosky.
Wheeling Central- Joe Doerr, Paul Cappas and Greg Beith
Triadelphia- Fred Rine, Tom Murray and Dave Ferkol
Union- Frank Gongola
Wheeling: Sid Smith
Bishop Donahue- Dave Cisar
"Aug. 2024 research by: Ron Miller, 1954 Wheeling Post 1"
1964
1964 State Champions
Front row kneeling (L-R) Ted Tsoras, Dave Zarnoch, Phil Comer, Herb Blake, Jimmy Young, Jim Shook, Fred Rine, Tommy Murray
Back row standing (L-R) Manager Joe “Tipper” Zarnoch, Charlie Smith, Bob Montgomery, Wayne Wells, Dave Ferkol, Dave Cisar, George Hill, Gil Koury, Head Coach Harold “Lard” Vitalie
1966
1966 State Champions
Front row kneeling (L-R) Bob Battista, Dave Zarnoch, Tom Rine, Don Morris, Bo McConnaughy, Jim Howell, Ron Zelkowski
Back row standing (L-R) Head Coach Harold Vitalie, Ron Pickens, Gary West, Steve Savage, Steve Myers, Gil Koury, Terry Gilbert, William Bill “Wally” Walter, Assistant Coach Joe “Tipper” Zarnoch
1975
1975 State Champions
Front row: Fred Wakim (Wheeling Central), Greg Wells (Warwood), Bill Burke (Wheeling Central), John Wakim (Wheeling Central), Rick Zarnoch (Triadelphia)
Second row: Dave Janeczke (Wheeling H.S.), Thomas Vensel (Wheeling Central), Tom Lufft (Wheeling H.S.), Fred Gongola (Triadelphia/WPHS), Joe Stolarski (Wheeling H.S.)
Back row: Assistant Coach Joe “Tipper” Zarnoch, Tom Wakim (Wheeling Central), Brian McWilliams (Triadelphia), Dave Mathieu (Wheeling Central), Jim Koehler (Triadelphia), Head Coach Harold “Lard” Vitalie, Clark Porter (President of the American Legion Athletic Club)
1982
1982 State Champions
Front row kneeling (L-R) Head Coach William Bill “Wally” Walter, Scott Pockl, Scott Peklinsky, Kevin Wetzel, Mark Saseen, Jude Werner, Dennis Horbatak, Tim Pavlic and Joe Blaha (State Tournament MVP)
Back row standing (L-R) Assistant Coach Joe “Tipper” Zarnoch, Mike Stocker, John Schmidt, Mike Tennant, Rick Hammers, Tod Peyton (Legion Post #1 Player of the Year), Milan Vosvick, Jim LeMasters, Joe Early, Manager Chuck Koehler and Assistant Coach Jack Walters
1983
1983 State Champions
Front row kneeling (L-R) Head Coach William Bill “Wally” Walter, Jason Frohnapfel, Dennis Horbatak, Jude Werner, Cary Vance, Jay Palmer, Jerry Comer, Rick Mount, JoJo Blaha, Jeff Rose, Assistant Coach Jack Walters
Back row standing (L-R) Assistant Coach Joe “Tipper” Zarnoch, Brian Taylor, Rick Hammers, Joe Early, Mike Stocker, Tim Pavlic, Ron Stephens, Steve Novotney, John Schmidt, Jimbo Lemasters, Manager Chuck Koehler
1984
1984 State Champions
Front row kneeling (L-R) Head Coach William Bill “Wally” Walter, Mike Stocker, Chet Ernest, Mark Blazier, Jason Frohnapfel, Cary Vance, Sean Jamison, Dennis Horbatak, Jeff Rose, Assistant Coach Jack Walters
Back row standing (L-R) Assistant Coach Joe “Tipper” Zarnoch, Brian Taylor, John Schmidt, Rick Hammers, Steve Novotney, Ron Stephens, Jimbo Lemasters, Ray Parsons, Tim Pavlic, Manager Chuck Koehler
1985
1985 State Champions
Front row kneeling (L-R) Head Coach William Bill “Wally” Walter, Lou Thomas, Eddie Lamb, Mike Mazure, John Campbell, Shawn Torbett, Jason Frohnapfel, Sean Jamison, Dennis Horbatak, Assistant Coach Jack Walters
Back row standing (L-R) Assistant Coach Joe “Tipper” Zarnoch, Don Weisal (Stats), Chad Hughes, Kevin Tatar, Mark Blazier, Mark Kriegeil, Ray Parsons, Ron Stephens, Steve Novotney, Brad Rodgers, Chet Ernest, Tom Costain, Manager Chuck Koehler
1986
1986 State Champions
Front row kneeling (L-R) Head Coach William Bill “Wally” Walter, John Campbell, Ed Lamb, Tim Aurber, Bill Welker, Schawn Torbett, Lou Thomas, Chad Hughes, Jason Frohnapfel, Assistant Coach Jack Walters
Back row standing (L-R) Assistant Coach Joe “Tipper” Zarnoch, Scorekeeper Don Weisal, Heath Haynes, Scott Goodnight, Keith Westfall, Kevin Tatar, Mark Krieger, Gary Taylor, Mark Blazier, Chuck Mazur, Chet Ernest, Manager Chuck Koehler
1987
1987 State Champions
Front row kneeling (L-R) Head Coach William Bill “Wally” Walter, Heath Haynes, Sean Jamison, John Campbell, Shaw Torbett, Jim Gilson, Gary Taylor, Jeff Rose, Dave Hagilouzo, Tim Auber, Ed Lamb y
Back row standing (L-R) Joe “Tipper” Zarnoch, Don Weisal (Stats), Steve Powell, Stush Dzingliski, Keith Westfall, Eric Gompers, Tom Breiding, Mark Kriegor, Tom Pasco, Chuck Mazur, Manager Chuck Koehler, Assistant Coach Jack Walters
1987
1987 State All Tournament Team
Second from left: Tim Auber (pitcher)
Third from left: Heath Haynes
1987
1988
1988 State Champions
Front row kneeling (L-R) Head Coach William Bill “Wally” Walter, Brian Ghaphery, James Companion, Jason Torbett, Jeff Taylor, Bill Welker, Jim Gilson, Brain “Buddy” McKinley, Jim Parsons, Dave Hagiloizou
Back row standing (L-R) Assistant Coach Joe “Tipper” Zarnoch, Steve Powell, John Campbell, Tim Murrin, Eric Gompers, Tom Breiding, Gary Taylor, Jeff Rose, Lewis “Stush” Dzingski, Business Manager Charles “Chuck” Koehler, Statistician Don Weisal
Absent from photo: Tom Pasco (went to Van Halen concert on team photo day)
