T/E Conestoga Football Association
The 1950s
1950 Bulldogs Story
Ernie Meyers was the Head Coach of the 1950 football team. His assistants were Earl Metzler and Bob Keehn. Coach Meyer became Head Coach in 1945 when he moved to Berwyn with his family. Coach Metzler joined him in 1947, and Coach Keehn became an assistant in 1948.
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Highlights of the year were the building and dedicating of the new football field and the 6-0 run at the beginning of the season. A low-light of the year was Occi Vause’s broken leg in the Pottstown game on October 28th. From that point the Bulldogs lost three games by a total of 14 points.
Despite the fact the Occi was unable to play for the remainder of the season, he received Honorable Mention on the All Ches-Mont team along with Tackle Lou Alleva, Guard Charley Hughes and Guard Dave DeRafelo. Halfback Dick Collins and End Charles Hamilton were nominated to the Second Team.
1951 Bulldogs Story
The Head Coach of the 1951 Bulldogs was Ernie Meyer. His Assistant Coaches were Bob Keehn and Earl Metzler. The exciting offense scored 190 points over their opposition while the stalwart defense held the enemy to less than 70 points the entire year.
The team amassed a seven and three records with a rousing win over arch-rival West Chester 32-0 in the Annual Thanksgiving Day Tilt.
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​Frank Della Penna and Randy McAusland were unanimous choices of the Chester County sports writers for the All Ches-Mont League First Team. Frank was named as a halfback, and Randy was named at wing post. Guy Mitchell was selected to the Second Team as right tackle. Receiving Honorable Mention were Guard Dave Irete, Fullback John Conti and Quarterback Bob Lee.
1952 Bulldogs Story
Ernest Meyer was Head Coach of the 1952 T-E Football Team. His Assistants were Robert Keehn, Earl Metzler and Robert McCardell. the team won the Ches-Mont championship before the end of the season with a 19-6 victory over Phoenixville, November 18th. So the 33-6 victory on Thanksgiving Day was icing on the cake.
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Four players were unanimous choices for First team berths in all-star selections made by sports writers of the area. They were Halfback Bob Hughes, Fullback Eric Hammond, Center and Linebacker Richard Patton and End Chet Knight. Nominated to the Second Team was Guard Charles DeHaven. Tackle Bill Hays, Guard Mike Pasquarella and Quarterback Bob Lee received Honorable Mention. "Butch" Patton received Honorable Mention on the All-State Team.
1953 Bulldogs Story
The team finished the season with a record of five wins, four losses and one tie. Charles “Chic” Chiccino received First Team honors on the All League team. Ends Lou Mitchell and Fred Domenick, tackle Joe Hohlefelder, center Abner Johnston and quarterback Lou Capetola received Honorable Mention.
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The All League names were just clippings in the school scrap-book. The coaches forgot the past and concentrated on the future, concentrated on building a team from the men who so eagerly reported. And once more, Coach Meyer proved that given a group of men who wanted to play football, a team could be developed that would proudly represent the spirit of T-E.”
The team finished the season with a record of five wins, four losses and one tie. Charles “Chic” Chiccino received First Team honors on the All League team. Ends Lou Mitchell and Fred Domenick, tackle Joe Hohlefelder, center Abner Johnston and quarterback Lou Capetola received Honorable Mention.
1954 Bulldogs Story
The 1954 T-E Bulldogs were mentored by Head Coach Ernie Meyer and Assistants Earl Metzler, William Paolantonio and Robert Keehn.
1954 was a banner year as the team and individuals earned many awards. They finished the season with a record of seven wins and three losses/ six and one in the ChesMont League.
Eight men were named to the All ChesMont teams. Fullback "Chic" Chiccino and Tackle Fred Gasser were named to the First Team. Guard Gerald Ramsey and Center John Hamilton were named to the Second Team. Guard Craig Bollman, End George Selfinger and Backs Lou Mitchell and Bill Delaware received Honorable Mention. "Chic" Chiccino was named Outstanding Player in the ChesMont League by the Chester County Order of the Purple Heart. He received Honorable Mention on the Philadelphia All Scholastic Team and on the Pennsylvania All State Team.
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1954 was an important year in the history of the school for three other reasons:
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This was the last year for the Tredyffrin-Easttown High School. In 1955, the new high school would be named Conestoga High School.
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This was the last year that the mascot was the Bulldog. In 1955, the mascot would be the Conestoga Pioneers.
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This was the final year that Ernie Meyer was Head Football Coach. In 1955, Bill Paolantonio became Head Coach.
Introducing: The 1955 Pioneers
1955 ushered in a new school, a new mascot and a new Head Football Coach. In the Fall of 1955, students entered the new Conestoga High School, and they adopted their new mascot, the Pioneer. William “Bill” Paolantonio took the helm of the football team. And he was assisted by Mr. James Rosato and Mr. Robert Cumens.
For the second straight year, the team earned the Ches-Mont Championship with an over-all record of nine wins and one loss. And the Garnet and Gray defeated the Garnet and White (West Chester) on Thanksgiving Day by a score of 20-7.
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Six pioneers made the First Team Ches-Mont League All-Star Team. They were end Lou Mitchell, Pat Rosato, tackle John Hamilton, guard John Dannaker, halfback Butch Shockley and fullback Bill Delaware. Quarterback Emil Capetola was named to the Second Team, and tackle Herb Wiley received Honorable Mention.
1956 Pioneers Story
William “Bill” Paolantonio was Head Coach of the 1956 Pioneers. It was his sophomore year in that position. He was assisted by Mr. Cumens and Mr. Fitzgerald. The team finished second in the league behind Pottstown with a record of seven wins, 2 losses and one tie. On November 22nd, they defeated Thanksgiving Day rivals West Chester by a score of 9-0.
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Six men were named to the Ches-Mont All-Star Teams. Guard John Dannaker, who was named to the First Team as a junior, was one of three “repeaters.” Junior center and linebacker Tony Yelovich was named to the First Team. Fullback Bill Delaware, tackle Gerry Ramsay and end Harvey Cornell were named to the Second Team. And guard Jim White received Honorable Mention.
John Dannaker was mentioned on many All-Star teams. He even received an honorable mention on the Pennsylvania All-State team and the All-American team.
1957 Pioneers Story
Bill Paolantino was the Head Coach of the 1957 football team. His assistants were Joe Kane and Bob Fitzgerald. They finished the season with eight wins, one loss to Radnor in the last game of the neighborhood series, and one tie with Downingtown. As a result of the tie, Conestoga and Downingtown were Co-champions of the Ches-Mont League.
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​Six men were named to the All Ches-Mont teams. Center Tony Yelovich, Tackle Sel Whitaker and Guard Jimmy White were unanimous choices of the sports’ writers for the First Team. Yelovich was named to the First Team in his junior year. End ‘Mex’ Barajas and halfback Eddie Byrd were named to the Second Team. Guard Bill Leary, quarterback Alan Freed and halfback Harry Siravo received Honorable Mention.
1958 Pioneers Story
Bill Paolantonio was the Head Coach of the 1958 Conestoga football team, and his assistants were Joe Kane and Joe Ujobai.
The team shared the Ches-Mont League Championship with Downingtown and Pottstown. Each team had five wins, one loss and one tie. The Pioneers tied Coatesville, 6-6, and they lost to Downingtown ,14-6. In non-league action, they won seven games.
End Matt Alston (5-8, 160-pound senior) was named to the First Team. Guard Ron Welpott (5-9, 170-pound senior), center Walt Pierce (5-9, 180-pound senior) and halfback Eddie Byrd (5-7, 167-pound senior) were selected for the Second Eleven. Quarterback Pete Thorell received Honorable Mention.
1959 Pioneers Story
The 1959 Pioneers were under the direction of William J. “Bill” Paolantonio, Joseph H. Kane, and Jospeh S. Ujobai. They emassed a record of nine wins and one loss, and they were Co-champions of the Ches-Mont League.
John Tunnell and Frank Lemma were named to the All Ches-Mont First Team by the suburban sports writers, and Dick Mannal, Bob Pasquarella and Dave Thornton were named to the Second Team.
The Main Line Times All-Star Selections were Frank Lemma as a guard and John Tunnell as a back - First Team, Dick Mannal as center – Second Team, Dave Thornton as a back – Third Team, and Haskell Williams and Bob Pasquarella as ends – Honorable Mention.
John Tunnell was named to the First Team Philadelphia Area All-Scholastic Team. According to sportswriter Jack Ryan, “Tunnell, is the best back in the Bux-Mont League. His touchdowns enabled Conestoga to eke out a tie with Phoenixville for the CM league title.”