1957-58 Varsity Football Team

The first undefeated and untied football team in Ottawa Township High School history was the 1957-58 Ottawa Pirates, finishing their season with a record of 9-0-0. The team captured Ottawa’s fourth outright title in the NCIC Northeast since joining the conference in 1942, outscoring their opponents over the course of the season 209 to 48. The Pirates averaged 5.5 yards per running play over the course of the season, amassing 1,823 yards rushing, and another 389 passing, for 2,212 yards of total offense while holding opponents to only 1,220 yards. Dick Martin and John Rensch were selected by the members of the team as honorary co-captains. Dick Martin was selected as the most valuable player, and was named to the second team of the all-NCIC Northeast Division. John Rensch was selected to the second team of the Chicago Daily News All-State team, and to the first team of the all-NCIC Northeast Division. Additional Pirates named to the first team all-NCIC Northeast were Dick Ewing and Jim Clapper. Joining Dick Martin on the second team all-NCIC Northeast were Chuck Stephens, Ralph Lindemann, and Fran Clements. Team members as displayed in photo are - 1st row L-R: Gene Hampson, Dick Leslie, Dick Roberts, Jim Claus, Lyle Cunningham, Jerry Chevalier, Gordon Meyer; 2nd row: Ralph Lindemann, Ron Schomas, Ken Landstrom, Dick Ewing, Chuck Stephens, Fred Johnson, Gerry Varland; 3rd row: Assistant Coach Dean Riley, Ron Bruck, Roger Dettore, Larry Gustafson, Chuck Claus, Ernie Peterson, Art Mason, John Rensch, Bob Heth, Brian Painter, Fran Clements, Coach Bill Novak; 4th row: Manager Stan Seibert, Frank Schlosser, Dick Martin, Bob Parkins, Bill Schiffbauer, Mike Lynott, Richard Byers, Jim Clapper, Dick Willy, Manager Walter Farley, Assistant Coach June Gross; Missing from photo: Herb Hetrick, Victor Orsini and Manager Ed Whitney.