1970s-A dynasty is born

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 4 individual state champions and 3 team state champions.

1970-71

First row (left to right): Steve Partlow (’73), Bill Sieyes (’72), Carl Holstrom (’73), Dan Downs (’73); Second row (left to right): John Mesa (’72), Davy Jones (’72), Rick Schwarze (’71), Mike Ferry (’72)

Football team was led by captain Gary Virene, and the team finished with a 6-4 record, and the team was in the hunt for the Cape Coast and District championship for most of the season.
The stars of the football team included Gary Virene, Randy Strisko, Jack Redding, and Ed Pingston
The wrestling team was competitive, and Mike Clark qualified for the state championships.
At one point, Mike Clark had a 41 match unbeaten streak that was eventually broken in the state tournament.
Basketball team did have a losing record, but finished really strong at the end of the season, including a playoff win.
The cross country team (Coach Corso) was the stand out team for the year earning a 2nd place finish in the state meet.
The cross country team was lead by Davy Jones who finished 9th in the state meet.
Joe Corso won Cape Coast Conference coach of the year for cross country.
These same distance runners were called the best distance team for track by Coach Kent.
The swim team sent two boys to compete at the state meet, Bill Harris (Dive) and Jim Buehler (100 fly)

1971-72

The O Line (right to left): Mike Garo (’73), Tom Jackson (’72), Terry Crain (’73), Dave Lowe (’72), Steve Horner (’72), Dave Brady (’73), Mark Bromstad (’72),

The Backfield (right to left): Leon Bright (’74), Greg Pingston (’73), Waldo Williams(’73), Rich Skinner (’72), Jimmy Black (’73)

Cross Country had another impressive finish in the state meet with a 4th place finish, and Davy Jones was the top MI finisher in the state meet with 12th place (13:06) and Steve Partlow finishing 23rd (13:17).
Wrestling was competitive in their district, and the team was led by captains Pat Woodard, John Theders, Richard Feldman, and Doug Lyons.
The 10-1 football team started a 2 year dominate period, and the team had the #1 ranked offense in the state.
Captains Eddie Black and David Lowe finished 10-1 with an undefeated Cape Coast Conference (CCC) record and the first MIHS CCC football championship.
The football team had Dave Brady, Leon Bright, Waldo Williams, and Eddie Black earn first team all-state honors.
Leon Bright won All-Space Coast offensive player of the year.
The only loss was by a field goal in a legendary game on November 17, and this game is considered a major turning point to for future success.
The baseball team finished with 12-11 records, but did finish second in the Cape Coast Conference.
The track team finished 2nd in the district, but faced a strong region.
The track regional qualifiers were Cummings (LJ), Schack (Both Hurdles), Bright and Cummings (100), Hofbauer(HJ), Pannell (440), Griffin (880, Tufts (PV), Partlow (mile), and Jones (2-mile). The Sprint medley, 880 relay, and 4x440 also qualified but names are unknown.

1972-73

Coaching staff of what is consider one the greatest state champions in Florida's history

The mustangs beat Tallahassee Leon in the state championship game.

Waldo Williams was a successful in football and baseball (Drafted by the Reds).

This 13-0 football team was one of the greatest teams in Florida's history, and during a two year stretch only lost one game.
This is currently the only time in FHSAA history where the entire backfield (Jimmy Black, Leon Bright, and Waldo Williams) earned first team All-State. Other All-State honors went to Dave Brady, Randy West, and Greg Pingston.
The team was able to with the conference by beating Fort Pierce, district beating Winter Park, and region by beating Hollywood Hills.
Football team beat Tallahassee Leon 40-21 to win the state title.
Coach Ed Feely won All-Space Coast coach of the year, and Jimmy Black won All-Space Coast offensive player of the year.
Wrestling sent Carl Holstrom (4TH) , Rick Peavler, and Randy Crain to the state meet, and the team finished 4th in Cape Coast and 6th in district.
Carl Holstrom finished the regular season undefeated, and he won both the cape coast and district championship for his weight class.
Cross country team qualified for state for the 4th year in a row, and the team finished 13th in state led by Steve Partlow and Jay Griffin.
Top runner, Steve Partlow, finished 7th (13:05) in the state meet.
Basketball, despite having a losing record, finished the season winning their last 10 out of 13 games, and finished with their first winning record in Cape Coast (10-8/4th).
Girls swimming had Heidi Hatfield qualify for state in diving, and she finished 9th in state.
In track, the boys 4x440 team finished third in state, and Bill Griffin finished 5th in the 880.
Note: Kyle Myers should have finished 4th in the state for the 400, but was disqualified for running out of his lane.

1973-74

Kyle Meyers, the state champion in 440 pictured in May 12, 1974 Florida Today.

Leon Bright was an great running back for the mustangs, and he also excelled in track and field.

Coach Gerald Odom became the new head coach and Roger Woodbury became athletic director when Coach Feely left to coach at Florida State.
The new football coaching assistants included, Dwight Thomas, Ron Taylor and Travis Akin.
Football captains (Leon Bright and Barry Black) led the 7-2 team to a Cape Coast Championship, and finished 10th in the state polls.
Doug Schroeder and Leon Bright earned All-State honors for football.
Leon Bright was named All-Space Coast offensive player of the year.
Wrestling finished 2nd in the Cape Coast and 3rd in the district.
Wrestling sent Harry Huston (101), Mark Black (122), George Long (129), Gary Lemmon (135), and Randy Crain (158) to the state meet.
Swimming was highlighted by Don Spurlock who won the Cape Coast diving championship.
In track and field team had a 2nd place in Cape Coast, and a 11th place finish in state.
Kyle Meyer won the state meet in the 440, and his Sprint Medley Relay (Roland Fabian, Steve Smith, and Leon Bright) finished 4th at state.
Other state qualifiers included Steven Kitch in the Pole Vault and Leon Bright in 440.
To finish Leon Bright's athletic career, he competed in the state decathlon, and finished 5th in the state meet.

1974-75

Florida Today, February 17, 1975, where Steve Williamson places 2nd in state, and the team finished 5th in state.

Clint Hurdle excelled in football and baseball, and he was a first round draft pick in baseball.

Coach Joe Corso won All-Space Coast coach of the year for wrrestling.

Girls Cross Country and Girls Track was added.
The boys cross country captains were Steve Pannel and John Taris.
Coach Goldfarb took over baseball, Coach AIkin (B. Golf), Coach Blyth (G. Golf), Coach Capper and Gibson (Swim), Coach Keener and Mahlmah (B and G Tennis), and Coach Skinner (Basketball).
8-0-2 football was led by captains Gus Valantasis and Roger Lee, and the highlight was the JV team went undefeated.
Tommy Smith, Clint Hurdle, David Hicks, and Tom Sperli earned All-State honors for football.
The wrestling team lost one dual match all year, won the regular season Cape Coast Championship, and finish 2nd in the Cape Coast and district tournament.
Wrestling had another great season sending Craig Walters (109) and Mark Cotter (141) to state, while Steve Williamson (101) placed 2nd (Losing 5-4 in the championship) and Mark Black (129) place 4th in state.
The Wrestling team finished 5th in the state, and this helped Joe Corso win All-Space Coast Coach of the year for wrestling.
Baseball had a solid 13-8 season, and finished 2nd in the Cape Coast, and led by Clint Hurdle, Tom Sperli, and Mark Strucher.
Clint Hurdle was named Area Baseball Player of the Year for his .567 batting average, 4 home runs, and 22 RBIs.
The track team finished 4th in the Cape Coast Conference.
The track team sent Kyle Meyer (440) and Gus Valantasis (Shot Put) to the state meet.
In the state Decathlon meet, Kyle Meyer finished 4th and Mike O'Connell finished 10th.

1975-76

School's first volleyball team.

Football team advances to the final 4.

Due to a Supreme Court decision to enforce Title IX earlier in the year, several new girl sports were introduced in the county including at MIHS: girls basketball (Coach Strickland), softball (Coach Reeves), and girls volleyball (Coach Strickland).
Roger Woodbury became a dean stepping down as athletic director, and M. W. Van Ormer became MIHS's 4th athletic director.
Captains Danny Sharpe and David Flickinger led the football team to 10-3 record. FHSAA expanded the playoffs to 16 teams.
The football team went on to win the Cape Coast and District championship, earning a playoff spot.
The football team won their first two playoff match-ups only to lose to Tallahassee Leon in the semi-finals. Jay Johnson, Al Anderson, Mike O'Connell, and Mark Strucher earned All-State honors.
Coach Odom won All-Space Coast coach of the year.
The girls cross country team was led by Sandra Hood and Karen Shay, and the team finished 3rd in the Cape Coast.
Girls cross county won the Regional championship to earn a spot at the state meet for the first time in school history for the girls side.
The girls cross country team finished 18th in the state meet.
The wrestling team only had two loses during the regular season to finish 2nd in the Cape Coast.
During the state series, the wrestling team finished 3rd in District, 1st in Regionals, and 10th at the state meet.
Under Coach Corso leadership, he sent 5 wrestlers to state: Craig Walters, David Herst (Captain), Doug Lemon (Captain), Al Anderson 4th in state, and John Morales who finished third in state.
The baseball team finished the season with a 9-9 Cape Coast record.
The baseball team, led by Mark Strucher, beat Vero in the playoffs, but lost to Satellite.
Mike O'Connell finished 10th in the state decathlon .

1976-77

Softball team places 2nd in state. The picture is from the Florida Today, May 13, 1977 from the semi-final win.

Once again, the mustangs strong defense led the football team to back to back final 4 appearances.

Tina Van Heiningen won area softball player of the year.

Coach Ron Taylor won area coach of the year for softball.

Coach Chuck Goldfarb won area coach of the year for baseball by helping the team win its first district title.

Significant note, girls sports, such as volleyball, began to count towards the all-sports Cape Coast Trophy.
The 10-3 football team was led by captains Charlie Lester and Troy Ratliff, and again won the Cape Coast and District (by a vote due to a tie) championship.
Jay Johnson, Mike McDonald, Tony Gayton and John Diamantis earned All-State honors.
For the second year in a row, the football team made it to the final four losing to Tallahasse Goodby.
Cross country (Coach Kent) was led by captains Sam Newsum, Jamie Walters, and for the girls Annette Gardiral.
The girls team qualified for the state meet as a team (place unknown), and the Jamie Walter qualified as an individual (place unknown).
Wrestling team's highlight was Harry Hearst winning both the individual Cape Coast and District championship.
Boys tennis (Coach Keener) had their best year with 13-3 (7-3 CC) led by Gilbert Chappell, and the team finished 3rd in District.
The 19-5 baseball team (head coach Goldfarb) were Cape Coast champions led by Johnny Prine, Scott Stewart, Tony Barnini, and Jerry Leverson.
Baseball did well in the playoffs winning the District championship (1st time in school history), but lost in the Sectionals to Sanford for a final record of 22-6.
Chuck Goldfarb did win All-Space Coast coach of the year.
The 19-1 softball team (Coach Ron Taylor) were led by Lisa Gilbert, Wanda Nasworthy, Barbara Detwiller, Cheryl Coash, and All-Space Coast player of the year Tina Van Heiningen,
The softball team did well in the playoffs winning the District and Sectional championship, only to lose in the State championship game to Miami Palmetto.
Coach Ron Taylor did win All-Space Coast coach of the year.
Girls swimmer, Cheryl Weber won districts in the 50 and 100 freestyle, and she placed 8th in the 50 free.
The boys track team sent Mike McDonald in the discus (156) and John Jackson in the high jump (6-8) to the state meet finishing 7th.

1977-78

Cheryl Weber dominated her swimming events in the 50 and 100 freestyle. The picture is from the Florida Today May 7, 1978.

John Diamantas was the star defenese player, and he earn All-Space Coast defensive player of the year.

Coach Odom became the 4th Athletic Director in the school's history.
The 9-2 football team, led by captains David Pingston and John Diamantas, were Cape Coast and District champions.
For the third year in a row, the football team made the playoffs, but the team lost in the first round to Gainsville.
John Diamantas and Scotty Stewart earned All State honors in football.
Boys basketball led by captains David Pingston and Elbert Rodgers, despite 7-15 record, played their way to the district championship game losing to Melbourne.
Under new coach Dan Desselle for wrestling, the team finished 2nd in the District meet, and Harry Hearst finished his career as a 3-time individual Cape Coast champion
Wrestling sent John Scott (102), Mike Colon (142), and Dave Hess (159) to the state meet.
Girls tennis had their best record in school history with 12-2 led by
Boys golf finished 2nd in the Cape Coast led by Bill Reichart, Ranson Fairchild, Rich Price, and Gary Doane.
Girls track won the District championship, and sent the following to the state meet,: Michelle Frazier discus, Paterson discus, Schmidt long jump, and the 4x400 team.
Boys track had a solid season, and sent David Moss in the 110 hurdles (District/Region champion and 8th in state) and 330 hurdles to the state meet.
Baseball finished with 23-13 record (Coach Goldfarb), and the team was led by Mark Ingram, John Staples, and David Pingston.
Both the boys and girls swim teams were strong with a 2nd place finish in the Cape Coast.
The swimmers qualifying for the state meet 200 medley relay (boys), Cheryl Weber (50 and 100 freestyle), and Lisa Robb (50 and 100 freestyle).
Cheryl Weber finished 8th in 100 free (55.1) and 11th in the 50 free at the state meet.

1978-79

Coach Odom, Coach Akin, and Quarterback John Staples helping lead the mustangs to another state championship. Photo from the Florida Today, October 24, 1978.

Picture from the Florida Today on March 11, 1979. Paul Winston wins the state championship in wrestling.

Picture from the Florida Today on March 13, 1979. Delight Chambers won the state championship in the 880 yard run.

Note, in years past, MI had state champions in various years for football, wrestling, and track, but this was the first time in school history where had champions in all three sports in the same year.
The football team won the Cape Coast and District championship to finish 14-0, and the team won the 4A state championship by beating Pensacola 20-6.
The team had a star backfield John Staples (QB) and Walter Battle (RB), but the team was led by senior the senior leadership like Dan Plonk and Charlie Lester.
Walt Battle, Russ Elliot, Dan Plonk, John Redmond, John Staples, and Durwood Dry earned All-State honors.
Volleyball team posted a winning season 7-5, and was led by Michelle Frazier.
Girls basketball turned a 1-18 season to 11-11 season, and the team was led by Donna Martin.
Wrestling had another strong year, and the team finished 13th in the state meet.
Wrestler, Paul Winston (So/102), wan the individual Cape Coast, District, Regional, and State championship finishing with a 29-0 individual record.
The 18-10 baseball (Coach Goldfarb) team led by David Burton, John Staples (12-6), Charlie Lester (.435 BA and 7 game winning hits), and Troy Ratliff won the District Championship.
Coach Chuck Goldfarb was name All-Space Coast coach of the year for baseball.
Softball (15-5) led by Shari Paterson, Tracy Patterson, Heather Sarbry, and Pat Bishop lost in the District championship game.
Girls track and field won the Cape Coast and District championship.
The girls track and filed team state qualifiers were Delight Cambers 880/Mile, Michelle Frazier Shot, Wendy Wilson 330 hurdles, Mile Medley relay, and Mile Relay.
Delight Chambers won a state championship in the 880yd run (2:14.7) which is still a school record today
Michelle Frazier was 6th in both the shot (38-5) and discus (125-4) at the state meet.
In boys track, Doug Plonk qualified in shot (6th in state) and discuss (177-4 7th in state)
Girls swim won the Cape Coast Championship, and sent Lisa Robb (50/100 freestyle), Cheryl Weber (50 freestyle) and 400 medley relay to state.
Boy swim state qualifiers were Dwight Ledbetter (50 freestyle), Joel Dobbs (100 backstroke) 8th in state, and 200 medley relay.
Swim Coach Jim Capper won Space Coast coach of the year.

1979-80

Walter Battle running over the defense to win back-to-back state titles. Photo from the Florida Today, September 29, 1979.

Picture from the Florida Today on June 8, 1980. Stephanie Hopper won the state championship in the 100 fly.

The softball team finishes 2nd in the state.

For the second year in a row, the football team, led by captain Danny Cowling, went 14-0, and this is part of a 30 game win streak.
The football team faced a tougher test, but beat Pensacola Pine Forest 19-14 to win another state championship.
Carl Armstrong, David Bell, Jerry Cabe, Robert Schneider, and Danny Cowling earned All-State honors.
Coach Odom earned All-Space Coast coach of the year.
The 7-5 volleyball (Coach Walden) team, finishing 2nd in District, were led by Judy York and Marsha Ganoe.
Boys cross country send Glen Gorton to the state meet finishing 10th with a time of 15:05
The girls cross country team qualified for regionals, and the team was led by Karleen Bregenzer.
The 20-9 girls basketball (Coach Payton), were led by Marcia Ganoe, Judy York, and Teresa Brewer, went on to become district and regional champions for the school's first playoff run.
Wrestling sent two wrestlers to the state, Paul Winston (109) and Marshall Irby (159)
The 16-12 boys basketball (Coach Haskell) were led by Tony Hensley, Carl Armstrong, Henry Davis, and Kevin Mee, and first winning season in basketball history.
The 6-4 girls golf team look much improved led by Valerie Madyda.
The 6-3 boys tennis led by Mike Cocchini.
The 7-2 girls tennis team were led by Donee Hauff (41-4 career record).
The 20-10 baseball team (Coach Hodgin) did well and led by David Bunton, Steve Childers, Dave Stevannus, Ritchie Coogan, and George Hamilton.
The 30-3 softball team (Coach Taylor) led by stars Heather Sarbry (6BB on 680 batters), Tudy Lee, Tracy Patterson, Shari Patterson and Karen Twiss (.522 BA) earned a 2nd place in the state. (They lost by one run in the state championship game to Miami Palmetto)
Coach Ron Taylor won All-Space Coast coach of the year for softball.
Boys and girls swimming teams had a successful years with Joel Dodds and Lisa Robb qualifying for the state meet.
Girls swimmer Stephanie Hopper had a great state meet, and got third in the 100 breaststroke and state champion in 100 butterfly (first swim champion in school's history).
The girls track team were district champions.
State qualifiers for the track included: Sharon Chappell shot put (3rd) and discus (6th), Flo McDonald 400 (7th) and the Sprint Medley Relay (Paula Hoffman, Renee Ferguson, Wendy Wilson, and Flo McDonald) in third. (Girls finished 9th as a team in state)

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