Added on June 18, 2018 Sara Swanson

Manchester High School Alumni Hold 141st Annual Banquet

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Manchester High School Class of 1968 at the 141st Alumni Banquet.

Submitted by Carol Westfall

The Manchester High School (MHS) Alumni Banquet was held Saturday, June 16, 2018, in the MHS Commons and attended by almost 200 alumni and guests. At least 30 classes were represented, from as far back as the Class of 1943 to this year’s graduating Class of 2018. Ava Sharrow-Ducsay (Class of 2018) sang the national anthem to open the banquet. From the Class of 1968, Roger Samonek provided the invocation and his classmate, Doug Keasal, delivered the benediction.

More than $14,000 in scholarship awards were presented during the banquet, including two scholarships from the Class of 1968 in memory of their deceased classmates. Scholarship winners included these recent MHS graduates: Stefan Asplunde-Hofman, Sirona Brower, Alexander Clark, Paul Derheim, Samantha Kominars, Claudia Pierce, Ava Sharrow-Ducsay, Hope Schook, Lauren Schriber, Noah Steele, Claudia Walz, and Skylar Zink. The Manchester Civic Club also presented its Luther Klager Salutatorian Scholarship to Claudia Pierce.

Some guests traveled great distances, including Terry Brown (Class of 1978) who was here from California; and Paul Grothe (Class of 1968) who came in from Florida. The oldest alum was announced as Marian Frey-Smith (Class of 1933).

Toastmaster Diana Steinaway Parr (Class of 1968) kept alumni and guests entertained throughout the evening, reflecting on the Class of 1968 in honor of its 50th year reunion. Short reflections on their classes were given by Skylar Zink (Class of 2018), Charles Steele (Class of 1948), Donna Kuhl Newgord (Class of 1958), Gary and Judy Simmons Neuderfer (Class of 1968), and Kathy Rose O’Mara (Class of 1978).

A high spot of the evening was the recognition of the 50th year anniversary of the MHS Wrestling Program. Bruce Haeussler, a member of that 1968 first wrestling team, spoke to the audience on behalf of the many, many wrestlers who have represented MHS. He explained how the school principal, Chet Koceski, had wrestled in college himself, and how he saw the benefit of bringing wrestling to the Manchester Schools. Mr. Koceski secured funding for the program, then worked with managers Tod Armentrout (Class of 1968) and Richard Walker (Class of 1970) to acquire everything needed for a wrestling program – mats, uniforms, head gear, transportation, referees, schedules, and more.

Ted Gulliver, a first-year teacher, became the program’s first wrestling coach. “Ted was only about three years older than some of us wrestlers,” chuckled Bruce. “We knew little about the sport and soon learned that high school wrestling was nothing like the wrestling we had seen on TV!” That first-year team was entered in a novice division and remarkably, finished second in Districts. “Ted was a good coach and he truly inspired each of us.” When Coach Gulliver left around 1971, the program’s foundation was well established for future success. Steve Vlcek, the current MHS wrestling coach, has the longest tenure of any Manchester wrestling coach – 28 years. “We salute all the coaches who built this successful wrestling program at MHS, including several of our MHS wrestlers who went on to become coaches,” said Bruce.

Officers for the coming year were announced in the banquet program and include: Paul Heinrich, President (Class of 1969); Beverly Feldkamp Smith, Vice President (Class of 1970); Laurie Walz Sanders, Recording Secretary (Class of 1975); Colleen Scully Kemner, Treasurer (Class of 1981); Betty Cummings, Historian (Class of 1958); and, Vicki Eisele, Membership Chair (Class of 1970).

For additional information about the Manchester High School Alumni Association or to make a donation to its Scholarship Fund, email mhsdutchalumni@yahoo.com; or write to MHS Alumni Association, P.O. Box 254, Manchester, MI 48158.