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1941 Championship Team

Class AA State Champions

Select or scroll down to view: Season Highlights  |  Player Accomplishments

1941 Wyandotte High School Basketball State Champions team photo.

Sitting, L- R > Leslie Smith, Hugh Kershner, Mike Vargon, Kenneth Thompson, Pete Hahn
Standing, L- R > Bill Micklick, Keith Thomas, Walt Verbanic, Donald Graves, Walter McCulley, Coach Ashley Elbl

Season Highlights

Regular Season

  • The Wyandotte Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 15-2 record.

  • In 1941, The Bulldogs played an independent schedule rather than being member of a league. 

  • The Bulldogs’ two losses were to the Newton Railers 32-24 and the Topeka Trojans 22-17.

  • In a regular season contest held on the same floor as the upcoming state tournament, Wyandotte defeated the Emporia Spartans (again coached by Alfred Smith) 40-17 at Emporia’s Civic Auditorium.  Mike Vargon led the Bulldogs with 12 points.

  • Ending a 10-game Ward winning streak before an overflow crowd of 3,000 at Memorial Hall, Wyandotte defeated the Bishop Ward Cyclones 26-16.  Mike Vargon led the Bulldogs with 13 points. 

 

Regional Tournament @ Olathe (now Olathe North) High School

  • In the semifinals, Wyandotte defeated the Lawrence Lions 30-16. Walt Verbanic led the Bulldogs with 10 points, Mike Vargon added 9 points, and Kenneth Thompson chipped in 7.

  • In the championship game, Wyandotte defeated the previously unbeaten Shawnee Mission Indians (now Shawnee Mission North Bison) 41-14.  Kenneth Thompson led the Bulldogs with 13 points and Pete Hahn added 8.

 

State Tournament @ the Civic (now William L. White) Auditorium in Emporia

  • In the first round, the Bulldogs defeated Chanute Blue Comets 28-20.

  • In the quarterfinals, the Bulldogs defeated the Bishop Ward Cyclones 26-18.

  • In the semifinals, avenging a loss to Newton during the regular season, Wyandotte edged the tournament favorite Newton Railers 26-25 in overtime. Walt Verbanic & Keith Thomas led the Bulldogs with 5 points each.

  • In the finals before a crowd of 4,000, the Bulldogs defeated the Salina (now Salina Central) Mustangs 36-31. Wyandotte led 18-16 at the half and 27-21 at the end of the 3rd quarter.  Kenneth Thompson led the Bulldogs with 15 points and Mike Vargon and Walt Verbanic tallied 8 points each.

  • After losing the 1940 Class A state championship game in overtime to the Winfield Vikings, the Bulldogs 1941 title was their 4th state championship and first since 1933.

  • With the new Class AA, 1941 was the first year the state tournament basketball classifications were expanded from two to three.

Player Accomplishments

*No records of individual honors could be found.
 

Reference Team Photo - Sitting, from left to right

  • Leslie Smith (Senior, Class of 1941)

    • Competed as a guard.
       

  • Hugh Kershner (Senior, Class of 1941)

    • Competed as a guard.
       

  • Mike Vargon (Senior, Class of 1941)

    • Competed as a forward.
       

  • Kenneth Thompson (Senior, Class of 1941)

    • Competed as a forward.
       

  • Pete Hahn (Senior, Class of 1941)

    • Served as team captain.

    • Competed as a guard.

Reference Team Photo - Standing, from left to right

  • Bill Micklick (Junior, Class of 1942)

    • Competed as a guard.
       

  • Keith Thomas (Senior, Class of 1941)

    • Served as team captain.

    • Competed as a guard.
       

  • Walt Verbanic (Senior, Class of 1941)

    • Competed as a center.
       

  • Donald Graves (Senior, Class of 1941)

    • Competed as a guard.
       

  • Walter McCulley (Senior, Class of 1941)

    • Competed as a center.
       

  • Ashley Elbl, Head Coach

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