T/E Conestoga Football Association
The 1960s
1960 Pioneers Story
The 1960 Conestoga Pioneers were coached by Bill Paolantonio, Joe Ujobai and Joe Kane. They won nine games and tied one to gain undisputed possession of the Ches-Mont Trophy – their first undefeated season since 1934!
Individual honors were plentiful. Four players were named to the All Ches-Mont First Team – the most for any league school and the Main Line Times’ All Star First Team. They were Tackle Pete Meoli, Guard Bob Menapace, Halfback Dan Cogan and Halfback Dave Thornton. Quarterback Lloyd “Smokey” Stover received Honorable Mention on the Times’ All Star Team. Pete was named to the The (Philadelphia) Bulletin's All-Scholastic First Team.
Dan was selected as the MVP of the Ches-Mont League. In addition, he was named on the Blue Shield-Blue Cross All Scholastic Team and The (Philadelphia) Bulletin’s All-Scholastic Second Team, and he received Honorable Mention on the All-State Team. Following his standout performance in the Phoenixville game on October 21, he received the Maxwell Football Award at a special luncheon in Philadelphia. The Maxwell Award, is given throughout the season to both college and high school players who exhibit outstanding ability.
1961 Pioneers Story
The 1961 football team was coached by Bill Paolantonio with assistance by Joe Ujobai, Frank Rocco and Lou Caparro. The team started the season with only eight returning lettermen - four of which were starters on the Championship 1960 team: Guard Don Schubert, End John Beatty, End Bruce Buckley, and Center Bob Stover. Two other returner who made headlines in each game of the 1961 season were Walt Holland and Ron Holliday. Steve Welpott filled Lloyd "Smokey" Stover's shoes as the Offensive General.
The team almost repeated as Undefeated Champs of the Ches-Mont League. Unfortunately, Pottstown pulled a "rabbit out of the hat" in the last few seconds of that game to win 12-7. Seven Pioneers were selected for the All Ches-Mont Teams: John Beatty, Steve Welpott, Don Schubert, Ron Holliday, Bob Stover, and Tackle Bob Zansitis.
1962 Pioneers Story
In 1962, Tredyffrin-Easttown School District opened its second high school. Half of the district was assigned to Conestoga High School in Berwyn and the other half was assigned to Great Valley High School in Malvern. Of course with this split, half of the sophomores who were on the undefeated Ches-Mont championship 1960 team and juniors on the equally successful 1961 team went to their respective teams.
In addition to splitting in 1962, the Conestoga athletic program joined the Suburban II League. Great Valley became a member of the Ches-Mont League.
The Pioneers compiled a record of three wins, six losses and one tie. Offense was led by Tom Metz at halfback. He scored 44 points for team’s high mark. Walt Holland at halfback was second high scorer with 39 points. Tom Metz was named to the All Main Line Team, the All County Team and the All- State Team. The stalwart in the line, Lee Wilson, was named to the All Main Line Team.
1963 Pioneers Story
The 1963 season was the second after the “split” into Conestoga and Great Valley. Coach Paol said that he wasn’t using the split as an excuse, but as it did in any other school district that split, it took a toll on the team.
The team finished the season with at 21-0 victory over its arch rival West Chester. The Pioneers played their best game on a rainy night against Plymouth Whitemarsh when they tied the undefeated team 14-14. And they defeated Penncrest 14-0. All of these successes came at the end of the year, and they gave the 1964 life.
Conestoga’s offense was led by halfback Lenny Elisio, quarterback Jay Reis and end Steve Pierce, who set a school record by catching 32 passes.
1964 Pioneers Story
Although the 1964 Pioneers did not have an outstanding win-loss record, they did record three very satisfying victories: A 26-25 win over Harriton, a 19-13 win over arch-rival Radnor and a 33-13 win over Thanksgiving Day rivals, the West Chester Warriors. Seniors on the team were Jeff Allen, Dave Collier, Eddie Durrell, Bruce Enders, Jim Ford, Craig, Greenwood, Ed Hess, Duane Holland, Don MacClemmey, Jim Porter, Jose Reed, Terry Ross, John Shain and Jim Tifft.
1965 Pioneers Story
1965 compiled a winning record with five victories, four losses and one tie. The victories were over Marple-Newton 13-7, Harriton 25-7, Haverford 19-7, Sun Valley 27-7 and Chester 26-13. The Thanksgiving Day game with West Chester ended in a 13-13 tie.
Returning linemen were Jim Harris, Jim Parrish, Frank Holbert, Robin Murlless, Lou Young, and Tony Domenick. Veterans in the backfield were quarterback Scott Tumilty and Tom Arena.
1966 Pioneers Story
The 1966 Conestoga High School Football team was coached by William Paolantonio. His assistants were Joseph Ujobai, Peter Ramsay and Harry Golden. The team compiled a six-win, four-loss record with two big wins over previously undefeated Penncrest and traditional Thanksgiving Day rival West Chester. And the Pioneers were the Suburban Two League champions.
Tony Domenick, Steve Tifft and Todd Parrish were named to the first team All-Main Line squard. Don Ingham was selected to the second team, and Nick Elisio received an honorable mention.
Although a team effort was responsible for Conestoga’s winning record, certain individuals deserved the spotlight. Senior standouts: Craig Welburn was the leading scorer until he was injured in the Penncrest game. Nick Elisio led the team to victory in five of the six games he quarterbacked. Tony Domenick was a stalwart three-year varsity lineman. Backs Drew Knowlton and Bill Tumilty and linemen Jeff Proter, Don Ingham and Chris Dexter were strong and steady throughout the season.
1967 Pioneers Story
The 1967 Pioneers, competing now in the Central League, went undefeated in the last four league games and finished 4-3-1. Highlighting the teams second-half comeback was a big 19-6 upset over the top-ranked Lower Merion.
Five Pioneers were chosen All-League performers in their respective positions: Bob Hill and Jeff Young, offensive tackles; Butch Smith, running back; Steve Tifft, defensive end and Mike Byrd, defensive back.
1968 Pioneers Story
A highlight of the 1968 season was Butch Smith's fantastic run in the Marple-Newtown game. The game ended in 7-7 tie.
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Jeff Young, the guard, was the captain of the team, and he was chosen for the All-Star Team.
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Todd Parrish, running back, was a tower of strength.
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Bob "Corky" Foster handled the majority of the quarterbacking details.
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The line earned a tough reputation thanks to players like George Schwartz, Lindsay Paine and Hank Gulbrandsen.
1969 Pioneers Story
The 1969 Pioneer football team amassed a record of six wins and four losses for a third place finish in the very competitive Central League. Of course, their major accomplishment was a Thanksgiving Day 32-6 trouncing of the West Chester Warriors to conclude their most victorious decade of Turkey Day wins since the 1910’s. Earlier they defeated Upper Darby, 14-0; Radnor, 22-16; Lower Merion, 36-19; Springfield, 13-12; Marple-Newtown, 26-12.
Captain Corky Foster, as quarterback, led the attack, and he doubled on defense at safety. Senior Rich Carter and junior Glenn Capriola were the workhorses on the ground. Tim Barrett, Tom Bucci, and Rick Stratton were the go-to men for Foster’s aerials. The offensive front line: Center Bruce Upper, Guards Carl Huling and Steve Schindler, and Tackles Jim Pettia and Pete Ingersoll.
The defensive line: Guards Carl Huling and Steve Schindler, Tackles Jim Pettia and Pete Ingersoll, Ends Mike Young and Dave Anderson. Linebackers were Mark Pace and Tim Barrett. Defensive secondary were Foster, Pete Strong and Bob Chandler.
Bill Paolantonio entered his 15th season as the Pioneers head coach. Tom Keyser, one-time West Chester State College Rams linebacker and center, started his third year as line coach. Harry Golden, who starred as a guard at Yale, began his sixth term as line coach. Clarence Culpepper, former linebacker at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and a VPI defensive coach, made his debut as the overall defensive coach.
