1960s-TO the moon and back!!!

The goal is to strive for historical accuracy. Some records during this time is limited, and we needed to rely on FHSAA records and old school archives. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to add anything. You can contact nauman.justin@brevardschools, and please put in the subject line "WEBSITE". We will be happy to research any request.

This decade had one individual state champion.

1965-66

Wrestling finished 13th in state.

Spring football practice in 1965 where kids from Cocoa High, Monroe High, Clearlake Jr. High, and Edgewood Jr. High came together for the first time.

Coach Ed Gratton, our school's first athletic director.

From the Cocoa Tribune Sept 20, 1965, Picture from Merritt Island's first football game.

MIHS opened with football, cheer, cross country, golf, wrestling, track and field, baseball, and swimming (the only co-ed sport), and all sports were integrated.
MIHS started as a 10-12 grade school with around 1400 students.
Girls that wanted to compete in sports played in a club that competed against other girls in the county called the G. A. A, and this club lasted through the 1970s.
The school's first Athletic Director and Football coach was Coach Ed Gratton.
The football stadium was not complete, and all home games were played at Provost Park.
Despite not winning a game, highlights for football was John Lawson scored the first touchdown on a fumble recovery, and Harvey Jordan scored the first offensive touchdown.
Baseball's first game was a no-hitter and the team finished with a 9-7 winning record.
The most successful team was wrestling with a 4-2 regular season record, and the team finished 13th in state.
Individual wrestling achievements at the state meet were Ken Webb Hwt (5th), Dennis Trye 168 (6th), and Harvey Jordan 157 (7th).

1966-67

Harvey Jordan is the school's first all-state football player. Harvey also finished 2nd in wrestling and in track.

Coach Ed Feely took over as new athletic director, and head football coach.

Coach Ed Feely took over as Athletic Director and head football coach (He even coached golf for one year).
Some new coaches began to standout at the school that included Bill McGuinn (Football/Wrestling/Baseball), Coach Potter (Basketball), Al Tamara (Football), Doug Messer (Football and Swimming), Carol Cole (Swimming), and Gordan Kent (Football and Track).
Wrestling was led by the "Big 4" of Harvey Jordan (placed 2nd in the state meet), Paul Kendrick, Tom Kenyon (4th in the state meet), and Ken Webb.
Wrestling was the school's first undefeated athletic team with a 12-0 record, and they recorded a third place finish in the all-county tournament.
Wrestling coach Bill McGinn was name area wrestling coach of the year.
According to records, the swim team had swimmers qualify for the state meet, but at this point the names are unknown.
The basketball team struggled during the regular season, but made it to the district championship game.
Baseball finished with a 12-8 final record.
Track and field sent the following to the state meet: Steve Whitson (HJ), Jack Raterman (440), Bernie Waxman (220), and 880 Relay (Waxman, Tom Hooker, Don Bricker, and Harvey Jordan).
The 880 team of Waxman, Hooker, Bricker, and Jordan got edged out, and the relay team finished 2nd in the state meet.
Football's first win was against New Smyrna Beach, and the team finished with a 5-4 record.
Harvey Jordan earned the school's first all-state honor in football.

1967-68

Quarterback Ivan Inman helping them get to the school's first playoff appearance, and school's first final 4 team.

Two coaches join the football staff, Don Pruitt and Gerald Odom (Feely credit the team's success to Odom).
The 9-3 football team made the playoffs for the first time, and the team lost in semi-finals in a controversial last play of the game.
Ivan Inmon was the named all-state in football, and the other stars included Don Bricker, Dan Aarriss, Darrell Bennett, and Ivan Inman.
The basketball team fought hard all season long led by Mike Groth, and they were able make it to the District championship losing to Monroe HS.
The wrestling team had a 22 match win streak snapped, and finished 1st in the county tournament.
Ken Webb finished his wrestling career finishing 4th in the state meet.
The swim team had a strong year, and sent several to the state meet (names are unknown).
Track and field state qualifiers were Paul Taylor in PV, Tommy Reasener in HJ (4th in state), Ken Newton in hurdles, and 4x400 of Fred Jones, Bill Ott, Tom Hooker, and Jack Ratterman).

1968-69

Varsity baseball Cape Coast Champions

From Cocoa Tribune, June 6, 1969, Bobby May was the Pirates 1st round draft pick.

Basketball player Mark Luster (#44) led the county in scoring.

A major change occurred to MIHS athletics, the state moved the mustangs to the large school classification.
This also was the first year for the Cape Coast Conference.
MIHS had some new faces coaching that included Coach Nobrega, Coach Capper, Coach Canders, Coach Corso, and Coach Clayton.
The wrestling team had a strong year, and the following qualified for the state meet, Paul Henfeth, Joseph Williams (2nd), George Williams, Carl Bennett, Robert Mullens, Daniel Harris, and Mike Clark.
Wrestling were Brevard County, Cape Coast Conference, and District Champions.
Basketball had their best season with 9-13 record, and the team was led by Mark Luster who led scoring for all of Brevard County.
The football team was led by Bobby Brasher, Dan Harris, and Jeff Williams.
Girls teams were added for golf and tennis.
The girls top swimmer, 10th grader Mo Hughes, qualified for the state meet for the 400 free and 200 IM (finished 5th in state).
The 14-7 baseball team (Coach Odom) won the school's first Cape Coast Championship, and led by Robert Nelson, Bobby May, and Gary Winton.
Coach Odom won Cape Coast Conference Coach of the Year for baseball.
The highlight for baseball was Bobby May threw two no-hitters during the season (Cocoa Beach 3/23 and Satellite 4/17) with an 8-2 record with a .25 ERA. Later in the year, Bobby was drafted in the 1st round of the MLB draft by the Pirates.

1969-70

Mike Clark is the school's first state champion, which was accomplished in wrestling.

All-state Jimmy Revels leading the mustangs to a final 4 appearance.

The football team finished 9-3, and earned another trip to the playoffs with a district championship.
The team made it to the semi-finals only to lose to Tallahassee Leon.
Jimmy Revels earned first team All State as a running back.
The football team was led by Mark Detwiler, Dan Harris, Jimmy Revels, Randy Strisko, Gary Loucks, Robert Nelson, Mark Walter, and Mark Whitsm.
Coach Corso took over for wrestling and cross country.
Cross country really stepped up this year led by top runner Ron Solis.
Cross country finished 3rd in district, the team qualified for the state meet, and finished 20th in the state.
Wrestling had a strong year by winning districts, and the team finished 8th in the state.
In the wrestling state tournament, Phil Hentsch finished 4th, Mike Hartney, Bob Hillard, Dave Cunningham, and Mike Clark (HWT) became our first state champion in school history.
Coach Bill Potter stepped down as basketball coach after the season, and he was the last coach on the original coaching staff.
Swimming, the boys 200 medly (Denninghoff, Carither, Witzdeger, and Zablanik) qualified for state.
Mo Hughes, on the girls swim team, finished 4th in state in the 400 free with a time of 4:34.
The baseball team (Coach Odom) all-star members were Randy Strisko and Bob Nelson.

Page updated