Feature Articles from
"CHUCK FOOTBALL" NEWSLETTER
Fall 2001
Chuck
Chuck Semancik may have touched your life like he did many others in our community. For those of you who never had the privilege, his commitment to Bremerton and the success of our youth began back in the summer of 1948 when he was hired on as a teacher and football coach at Bremerton High School.
Chuck dedicated his life to helping the youngsters of our community steer the straight and narrow. The vehicle he used was football.
Though we didn't always agree with Chuck, he was up front and didn't beat around the bush. He loved his guys and had a plan to help us succeed. He wanted us to be tough. He wanted us to look our opponents in the eye and be able to say we can take on any roadblocks you throw at us or clear all the hurdles that are placed in our way. He wanted us to feel that we were the best.
Chuck was very demanding and not beyond a swift reminder applied with a size 9½ Spot Bilt planted between the cheeks. Whether it was a verbal barrage or an arm around the shoulder, we all came away from "whisper time" with Chuck, a better person ready to play the game of life.
Chuck Semancik was a member of the 1st inductees into the Washington State High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame. His win-loss record was 210-114-18 in a career that spanned 38 years at Aberdeen, Bremerton and West Bremerton high schools.
Those whose lives he kick-started in a positive direction.....thousands.
CSMF Scholarships - Over $3,000 Awarded
Since it's inception in January 2000, your Chuck Semancik Memorial Foundation has given over $3,000 in scholarships to Bremerton High students and community programs aiding at-risk kids.
2000 scholarship winners, Kyle Heistand, who dawned the Blue & Gold for wrestling, and Knight footballer, Ben Archuleta, are currently furthering their education at Olympic College. Scholarship winners for 2001 were Benji Elhers and Idrese Manning.
You have made a difference in their lives. In order to accomplish the goals of Chuck's foundation and to continue helping some very deserving kids, WE NEED YOU!
First Semancik Golf Tournament a Big Hit
Saturday, July 28, 2001 was the kick-off of the First Annual Chuck Semancik Memorial Golf Tournament in conjunction with the BAR's 6th annual tournament at the Olympic Course on Gold Mountain. The event attracted 80 players and raised money to support both the Semancik Foundation & the Bremerton Athletic Roundtable.
Semancik board member and president of the BAR, Mark Bergsma, said that he is already looking forward to next year. "It was a bunch of fun, and we'd love to have additional support next year. We are tentatively planning a May-early June return date as the only downside was that the tournament was on the same weekend as Whaling Days - too busy for too many people." Bergsma thanked the individual hole sponsors that made the tournament a success, and wants anyone who is interested in future sponsorships to call him.
"Semancik Victory Park . . . A Work in Progress"
A lonely corner at Bremerton High School's Memorial Stadium will slowly emerge to the memory of a giant.
One of the goals of the Semancik Foundation was to establish a living memorial for Chuck at Memorial Field. The Bremerton School District has given its blessing and is eager to landscape and maintain the grassy area just to the right of the main entrance to the stadium into the Semancik Victory Park.
Initial plans call for a manicured lawn with appropriate shrubbery and bench(es) bordered by almost full-grown trees. The center of the park will have large granite stones to which we hope to be able to attach the Victory Bell for post-game celebrations. On one of the stones we will have the name of the park and a 12" x 24" bronze plaque with a likeness of Chuck and a brief description of his career and his ideals.
Victory Bell Returns
The symbol of the success and tradition of Bremerton's rich sporting past, the Victory Bell, is set to make a return to the hallowed halls of the Blue & Gold.
The bell's current guardian, Theresa Semancik, the widow of Chuck, has endorsed and generously donated to the development of Semancik Victory Park. Mrs. Semancik feels that the addition of the bell to the park for game night celebrations "will help restore that winning attitude that has been somewhat forgotten."
BHS groundskeeper and former student of Chuck's, Lance McCoy, feels that the bell may be attached to the top of the granite with Chuck's bronze plaque. Feet can be welded to the bell's frame and accommodating holes drilled in the stone.
It is hoped that the coveted bell will grow to have as much meaning to current and future Bremerton ASBs as it did in years past.
Local Businesses Chip in for Chuck
Former stellar South Kitsap, UW, and LA Ram footballer, David Rill, has helped the foundation acquire the neatly crafted 12" x 24" bronze plaque that will be affixed to a large granite boulder in Semancik Victory Park. The co-owner of Rill Chapel in Pt Orchard said," It is a pleasure to help memorialize this man who did so much for the kids and football."
The very generous co-owner/ vice president of Ace Paving, Bruce Christopherson has volunteered his company's time and products to the construction of Semancik Victory Park. Christopherson's Pavers have donated, delivered, and placed the large boulders that compromise the focal point of the park.
Those who continually donate their support, time, effort are our advisers. They lend the strength, credibility, expertise, and backbone to our work for Chuck. They are Bruce Buskirk, Kim Atwater, Linda Hoffmeister, and Mike Fleury.
We are lucky to have them on board, for they are top drawer in their professions.
Chuck Football is published annually by the Chuck Semancik Memorial Foundation, a non-profit corporation under the provisions of the WA Non-Profit Corporation Act (RCW 24.03) - EIN 91-2020300 - State UBI #602 007 558.
The Chuck Semancik Memorial Foundation is a 501C3 tax deductible organization established and nourished by alumni, athletes, coaches, and friends all sharing to create opportunities for our youth.
Send Contributions & Donations to:
Chuck Semancik Memorial Foundation
PO Box 2723
Bremerton WA 98310-0351
