Feature Articles from
"CHUCK FOOTBALL" NEWSLETTER -
Fall 2006
A NEW ERA AT BREMERTON HIGH?
MAYBE, MAYBE NOT
Chuck Stark is Sports Editor of the Kitsap Sun, a three-sport letterman for the West High Wildcats Class of 1971, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Semancik Foundation. This article was reprinted with permission of the Kitsap Sun.
When Bremerton's current building opened in 1988, all the hardware that represents Bremerton's tradition wasn't returned to prominence in a trophy case like it should have been. Hall of Fame plaques and photos honoring famous alums - athletes and non-athletes alike - also disappeared.
Somebody did a disservice to the school by not saving that history.
Hundreds of trophies were found in the basement of the old school district building, often referred to as the "White House," on Montgomery Avenue before it was torn down.
Former football coach Shawn Perkins said he and Mike McKnight, who would be Perkins' successor (in '03), found the trophy honoring the 1947 state football championship team.
"We pulled it out of the garbage," he said. "There's tons of records that kids going to Bremerton don't know about. That's some of the things they need to do. They need to go through the (archives) and put banners up and make them feel that sense of pride."
The lost tradition is not the only reason my alma mater's athletic program is in such sad shape.
Yeah, I'm a 1971 grad of West High. My blue-and-gold Wildcats merged in 1978 with East High's black-and-white Knights. They then became the blue-and-gold Bremerton Knights.
My son is a 2000 Bremerton grad who played varsity football, basketball and baseball. I was an assistant baseball coach his senior year. I don't pretend to be privy to everything that's going down at Bremerton, but you hear stories. People talk, mostly off the record. For that reason, it's been difficult to get to the nitty-gritty of this story.
The Kitsap Sun met with Superintendent Bette Hyde and athletic director Larry Gallagher last October. They were candid about Bremerton's failures in the athletic arena and outlined their plan to get things moving in a positive direction.
They said they were committed to change and pointed to an influx of new coaches as evidence of the dawn of a new era. Coaches would be evaluated and held accountable. More direction would be given to junior high coaches.
They would reach down to the middle school and elementary schools.
Dropping from the state's 4A classification to 3A, where the Knights will compete against schools their size or smaller, will enable Bremerton to be competitive right away, Gallagher said.
All of this sounds good, but reason for skepticism remains.
It's just too hard to ignore some of the mystifying decisions that have been made in recent years. I'm not going to name names or go into details. I'm sure every school has its share of mini-controversies, but most demonstrate more of a commitment to excellence than Bremerton has exhibited over the years. Its renewed commitment to change and improvement is laudable, but we must remember that words do not equate with actions, especially when the words are coming from the same people who have stood by and watched the program continue its downward spiral.
Nobody says football is as important as reading, writing and math, but Bremerton needs to treat it and other sports programs like a classroom. It is not extra-curricular; it's inter-curricular. There are a number of things you learn in sports that far outweigh what you learn in other classes.
Hire motivated coaches who are passionate about their jobs and the kids they coach. They can have such a positive influence on young people.
Bremerton's whining about competing against larger schools in recent years doesn't sit well with me. It's a loser's mentality.
I can't imagine legendary Bremerton football Chuck Semancik, for whom I had the privilege of playing, using that as an excuse. Teams knew what to expect from Semancik's teams. It was run left, run right and run left and right some more. It didn't matter. Semancik's teams were tough, disciplined and knew how to compete. Until that same kind of fire is burning in the athletes who attend Bremerton High, that trophy case, if the school still has one, will remain empty.
ED: Chuck Stark is Sports Editor of the Kitsap Sun, three-sport letterman for the West High Wildcats Class of 1971, and member of the Board of Directors for the Semancik Foundation. This article was reprinted with permission of the Kitsap Sun.
Thru the Decades
The letters we've received this year. Please send us your stories: PO Box 2723, Bremerton 98310 or dowells@wavecable.net
"WILDCAT DREAMS"
(50 years later..October 31, 1997)
Looked like old men around the table -
Maybe, out taking the sun,
But if one moved in real close, -
Something special'd begun.
Kind of magical things happened, -
Whenever one of them spoke -
They'd slip off all the years, -
With one magical stroke.
They'd laugh like a kid would, -
After catching the ball,
And maybe scoring a touchdown, -
In some long-ago Fall.
Then they'd throw up their arms, -
As if signaling a score,
And if one listened real hard, -
You'd hear a crowd roar!
Winners, Champions, if you please, -
In Nineteen Hundred Forty Seven.
Playing football for the Wildcats... -
The closest thing to heaven.
Smiling young/old men, at the table, -
Basking in all they could remember,
Recalling how glorious it had been... -
In that long ago November.
Gordon Personius 1997
ED: The 1947 Wildcats, coached by Dwight Scheyer, outscored its opponents 386-69 to a 12-0 season. The ‘Cats met Coach Chuck Semancik, during his last season in Aberdeen, Washington before coming to Bremerton in the Fall of 1948:
"One play Don Heinrich called against Aberdeen, then coached by future Bremerton coach Chuck Semancik, apparently had the Wildcats' coaching staff jumping out of their shoes. Until it worked.
Trailing in the game, Heinrich called the "podunk pass," where the offensive line, in a punting situation, let the defense through, and Heinrich would leap up and throw it over their heads to a waiting receiver. The catch of that particular play was that Bremerton hadn't run or practiced it since the seniors were freshmen.
With most players remembering the play, Heinrich, waiting until the last second, lofted the ball over the defense and into the hands of all-state halfback Jim Wiley, who gained a first down. The Wildcats went on to beat Aberdeen 38-17. (excerpt - Chris Barron - The Sun)
ED: Heinrich passed away in 1992. Coach Scheyer passed away in 2002.
THE MORAL EQUIVALENCE OF SPORTS
Sports have been a major interest and/or activity throughout the history of human beings. While each age has had its advocates, there have always been voices of dissent. Cries abound like "it's a waste of time" to "sports can be too dangerous" throughout history. So why do we continue these allegedly wasteful and dangerous practices?
Heck, man, they're fun! They're fascinating! Why look for trouble when you've found sports? Why not work hard and try hard if allowed to do sports? See, here's three moral values of sports in one short paragraph.
So, let's look further: Pee Wee sports, in so far as this writer knows, is limited to males only, seven to thirteen aged players of football, basketball, and baseball, and funded, operated, and coached, mostly by parents. Every Pee Wee is supposed to get game time in every game. It may sound like a mess, but it isn't. The players learn discipline and teamwork, gain endurance and strength, lose fear and self-centeredness, learn to act and think in crisis circumstances and something called sportsmanship. Good and lasting friends are made. They even learn respect, and to use courtesy towards grown-ups! Many of the Pee Wee athletes never play in high school or higher education athletics because of lack of talent, size, or continued interest. Those that do play further frequently become outstanding athletes. Society is rewarded by having all of them, Pee Wees on up through the professionals, as they mature into valuable adults.
Females, until recently, have been largely overlooked in their desire to participate in team sports. Their demands are slowly being answered as more and more opportunities open to their demands. Go gals, Go!
Horace "Hod" Burks
'32 Bremerton High
STORIES OF CHUCK
Lane -
I like the newsletter. I've heard many stories about Chuck and you're bringing him to life for me. Thanks.
Mike Colbrese
Executive Director of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association since 1993.
SPECIAL NOTE
Lane -
A little late with this donation to the Chuck Semancik Foundation but things are a little confusing this time of year. Got mixed up with my Xmas cards. Finally got this in the mail.
Have a healthy happy New Year
Bill Mahan
(ED: a dear friend to the Semancik fund who passed away on January 25, 2006. Bill graduated from Bremerton in 1936 and lived a long life with his wife, Bee, in service to the Bremerton community. Bill, for so many reasons, you are missed.)
SEMANCIK SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED FOR 2006
The Chuck Semancik Memorial Foundation awarded three $1,000 scholarships to Bremerton High graduates Noah Greenwald, Cassandra Metz, and Daniel Sawyers.
Greenwald maintained a prep-aratory course schedule at BHS while demonstrating his leader-ship as captain on both his soccer and tennis teams. He has also participated in numerous community service projects within the area. Greenwald plans to attend the University of Washington, become a teacher, and hopes to come back to the Bremerton District to teach early education.
Metz has dedicated herself to academics, school activities, and community service throughout her high school career. She also works 25-30 hours a week. She received the coach's award in both tennis and swimming. Her plans are to attend the University of Washington and then join the Peace Corps.
Sawyers has displayed discipline, determination, and humility in academics, sports, his church, and the community. He has received awards in cross-country, baseball, and wrestling. Sawyers plans to attend Olympic College, then the University of Washington to become a physical therapist.
Greenwald, Metz, and Sawyers will have their names engraved on tiles at the Semancik Victory Park in September (weather holding) along with other tiles that donors have purchased.
This year two very special donations were given to our scholarship fund by Dick and Beth McConaughy ($1,000) and the Bremerton High Class of 1950 and Rose Lay ($500). Their generous contributions led the ability to donate three $1,000 scholarships this year.
Seventeen scholarships have been awarded to deserving students of Bremerton High since Football Coaches Hall of Famer Chuck Semancik died in November 1999.
The scholarships are funded through donations, the annual Semancik Memorial - Bremerton Alumni Golf Tournament, and Memorial Stadium's Semancik Victory Park tile purchases by athletes, friends, and alumni of Bremerton, East, and West high schools.
2005 GOLF TOURNEY SUCCESSFUL
Beneath a warm late summer sun last September, a full-field of local golfers shared and enjoyed a morning of golf, a great lunch, and over $8,000 in raffle & silent auction gifts from a wealth of local merchants.
Mark Hughes, BHS Class of 1991, said it best. "This is like a giant reunion of the Bremerton high schools' alumni."
Tedd Hudanich, P.G.A. Club Pro at Rolling Hills and a West High grad of 1968, said that this tournament has become one of the biggest of its kind in the Kitsap area.
Thanks to all who had any part in making the 3rd annual tournament the best ever by netting over $13,000.
Our major sponsors included O'Brien Auto Group, Safe Boats International, Puget Sound Energy, Outback Steakhouse, R & H Market on Kitsap Way, Buskirk Brothers, Clear Creek Nursery, EHL Insurance, Ron Burley Construction, Paul & Dino Morgen, Minder Meats, Edward Jones Investments - Bill Richardson, American Financial Solutions, and BMcConsulting/ TMSportswear.
Low Gross/Field: 56
Jess Flores, Eddie Renfroe, Dennis Erickson, Gene Knoll
1st Net: 51
Mike O'Brien, Paul Morgen, Bruce Fingerson, Jim Carlson Jr.
2nd Net: 53.5
Al McKiernan, Ron Leibold, Bruce Besianwich, Trevor Besianwich
3rd Net: 54.7
Ed Santos, Greg Larson, Terry Lampshire, Gary Walters
1st Net Mixed: 51.7
Bryan McConaughy, Georgie Cannady, John Cannady, Derek Mills
Mike O'Brien also sponsors four golfers from BHS each year to remind them of their roots.
COMING THE FALL OF 2007....
Veterans Memorial in Memorial Stadium
Bremerton's Memorial Stadium has been a memorial to a very important segment of our community in name only. The Semancik Foundation, in partnership with the Bremerton School District and U.S. Congressman Norm Dicks, plan to give full meaning to Memorial Stadium by placing a veteran's memorial called the Path to Freedom in the Victory Park. Construction will begin in the summer of 2007.
The current Semancik Victory Park is the crescent in the upper portion of the picture with the five trees and six stone benches. The plaque of Chuck is the center granite rock of the three in the smaller crescent. More than 65% of the 600 square feet currently have your personalized memory tiles inscribed for the community to enjoy. We are continuing to sell these personalized tiles for $50 (4½"x9") & $100 (9"x9") apiece. Tiles are inscribed annually, usually in early fall or late spring.
After entering the ticket gate, one may walk into the Victory Park on the Path to Freedom, the inscribed stone stating its entrance, then traverse on more personalized tiles which will lead you into the center piece of the veteran's memorial, the flag plaza. This will feature a flag acquired by Congressman Dicks that was flown over the nation's capital Veteran's Day 2005.
Another key part of the flag plaza will be an inscription on top of the crescent border.
"For those who have given life, limb, and soul, so we might enjoy our freedom."
Engraved on the inside face of this crescent will be the names of each individual in the Kitsap area who gave their life in combat from World War I to present.
We hope any of you who are interested in this addition will contact us with contribution contacts, military protocol, and community-interest suggestions. Lane Dowell (360) 479-1189 or lcdowell@wavecable.com.
The Touchdown Club
Helping Bremerton's KIDS develop and succeed is a work in progress....and, thanks to all of you, the goals of this foundation are being met. All of your contributions, whether monetary or in-kind, are greatly appreciated.
During our fifth year, we have honored the major continuing contributors with a plaque for their dedication & their donations.
1. MIKE O'BRIEN -O'BRIEN AUTO GROUP
2. RITA RUNYON BAXTER
3. JIM & SUSAN SPENCER
4. NORM DICKS
5. THERESA SEMANCIK
6. SAFE BOATS INTERNATIONAL, LLC
7. ART ANDERSON ASSOCIATES INC
8. DON & NANCY RASOR
9. PAUL & DINO MORGEN
10. RON BURLEY CONSTRUCTION
11. R & H MARKET - BAKER BROTHERS
12. PUGET SOUND ENERGY
13. DON BROTT FAMILY
14. BMcCONSULTING, LLC & TMSPORTSWEAR
15. BAR - BREMERTON ATHLETIC ROUNDTABLE
16. OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE, BREMERTON - GRAYLIN HUGGARD
17. FRED HILL MATERIALS - KITSAP READY MIX
18. CLEAR CREEK NURSERY, INC - SEAN OLMSTED
19. RILL'S LIFE TRIBUTE CENTER - DAVID RILL
20. RICE MILLER FERGUS ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING
21. EHL (EDGREN HECKER LEMMON) INSURANCE
22. AMERICAN FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS
23. EDWARD JONES, SILVERDALE - BILL RICHARDSON
24. MINDER MEATS - CARLSON FAMILY
25. BUSKIRK BROTHERS
26. BILL MAHAN FAMILY
27. KITSAP GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
28. R & H MARKET - HERDMAN BROTHERS 29. BREMERTON BOTTLING COMPANY - PEPSI - PETE McKENZIE
30. OUTLOOK - CAL ORMISTON
31. KITSAP FAMILY YMCA
32. LANE & DEANNA DOWELL
33. MARK BERGSMA
34. CHUCK STARK
35. RYAN NICKELS
36. MIKE McKNIGHT & FAMILY
37. BOB IZZI FAMILY
38. BRUCE BUSKIRK - BUSKIRK LAW OFFICES
39. KIM ATWATER - SOUTHARD, BECKHAM, ATWATER, & BERRY P.S. CPAS
40. MIKE FLEURY - FLEURY FINANCIAL GROUP INC.
41. SILVER CITY RESTAURANT & BREWERY - SCOTT & STEVE HOUMES
42. ACE PAVING - BRUCE CHRISTOPHERSON
43. DICK & BETH McCONAUGHY
44. FAMILY PANCAKE HOUSE - BOB & KRISTI MATHWIG
45. EVERGREEN TROPHIES - JOE HUDSON 46. PELLUER & WITT FAMILIES
47. BOAT SHED RESTAURANT & BAR
48. BARNEY W GRADEN
49. DR JULIAN ARROYO - LAKEWOOD ORTHOPEDIC
50. ROSE SEMANCIK
51. ART PETTIGRUE - MICROSOFT
52. GNC OF SILVERDALE
53. GARY SHUTE
Business members of Chuck's Touchdown Club who have websites are linked on www.semancik.org.
As we grow, we continue to need and value all your help which enables us to reach more youngsters. THANKS so much for all your support.
RECOGNIZING BREMERTON HEROES
At halftime of a Bremerton home football game this season, the Semancik foundation will present its first annual award winners. These are people who made a difference in our community and schools. This year's recipients will be Al Colvin, and Ike Parker.
CLASS REUNIONS - LET US HELP YOU!
Working with our dynamic new BHS Principal, Aaron Leavell, the Semancik Foundation will help you in reminiscing your old school days with a tour of the new Bremerton High School campus.
Your tour will begin at Memorial Stadium for a short stop at the Victory Park. This personalized park has become a "walking history book of alumni memories."
PEPSI/Bremerton Bottling will provide free munchies and soft drinks at the park while you receive information of interest to Bremerton, West, and East High grads.
You will then be taken on a tour of the high school.
This event is for your enjoyment. You may contact us at lcdowell@wavecable.com or (360) 479-1189 to schedule your class tour.
Financial Status - The First Five Years
Since our foundation's inception in 2000 until 2005 (year end), your foundation has made a little over $80,000 and spent almost $44,000. The details are as follows:
Year 2000 through year 2005
14 Scholarships for $9,000 -
$157 was returned as one recipient didn't complete his college year.
Our goal is to give at least 5 scholarships at $1,000 apiece. In 2006, we gave 3 worthy graduates $1,000 apiece.
Donations $10,611.70 -
Thank you. This is money that has been donated thru-out the years where you've received nothing for your hard-earned dollars except a warm heart. We thank you! We've truly taken special care of your money to ensure it is focused toward our foundation's goals.
In turn, the foundation has donated $550.00 to community causes for kids targeted in our mission statement.
Semancik Victory Park net gain $7,331.09 -
Tile sales grossed $19,040.00 minus $11,708.91 to create the park and its annual engravings. The park was constructed in 2002 and the majority of the tiles are engraved (but there's still room for yours!).
We know of no other high school stadium in the state of Washington or the Northwest that has a personalized legacy of the school and community at their stadium. We hope to continue this tradition by adding "The Path to Freedom" in 2007, a veteran's memorial at Memorial Stadium honoring "...those who have given life, limb, and soul, so we might enjoy our freedom."
3 Semancik Memorial Bremerton Alumni Golf Tournaments netting $29,348.85 -
In 2003 we knew we needed something else to bolster the foundation, so with the expertise of two foundation board members, Mark Bergsma and Bryan McConaughy, we created an alumni golf tournament set at Rolling Hills. We have had a full field the last two years and over $8,000 of auction and raffle prizes to offer the golfers, thanks to the community and alumni participation. Our gross for the 3 tournaments is $48,951.75 with $19,602.90 in expenses. Our goal for 2006 is $15,000 net, so get your registrations and sponsorships in now! September 23rd is the day!
5 Newsletters costing $1,551.67 -
This includes the publishing & mailing of our annual newsletter to almost 700 interested parties. You are one of them. The preparation, typing, folding, and taping are all done by hand. We hope that you are enjoying these and passing them onto others that may appreciate them. We don't have a donation drive so we thank those of you who continuously send us a check right after you receive your copy.
www.semancik.org, instigated in 2006 by our board member, Ryan Nickels could become your daily dose of Chuck...but we think we'll continue the newsletter for a while.
1 Grant for $500.00 -
We have done a very inadequate job in this area, and we truly need help. We have requested 16 grants and received one positive response. It wasn't even really a grant, but a generous donation from Bob & Kristi Mathwig of the Family Pancake House in Bremerton. Anyone who can help us, please contact us.
1 Event - $738 net
This was the memorial gathering we had for Chuck in 2002 at the Cloverleaf. It was a great night - - we were in the beginning stages of the foundation. We may do more events in the future - watch for some new ideas to have fun spending your money.
Administration - $555.26
You've been waiting for this one, right? The $555.26 includes creating our non-profit status & renewals, postal box rental, and some postage. We're spending a little over $100 a year running this foundation. We couldn't do it without the volunteer help of our support staff, Bruce Buskirk, Kim Atwater, Mike Fleury, and the Silverdale Town Center Bank of America.
We have spent an additional $749.34 for Touchdown Club plaques given to major contributing individuals and businesses who help us annually. We hope you've seen them up on local business walls and homes. It's advertising. By the way, we have received $142.41 in bank interest.
Frank Russell Fund $35,500 (with interest, $40,716 as of Dec 2005)
This is where we've invested your money, and we've done it wisely. We want to ensure that the Semancik Scholarship Fund continues for years to come and, after five years, we feel we're getting the stability we need. Thank you for all you have contributed. Without you, this foundation would not exist, and the seventeen scholarship winners wouldn't have had that "gentle kick." With your help, we're making a difference.
Deanna Dowell,
Secretary -Treasurer
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
