Boys Athletics 1956-57 School Year

1956-57 was a very successful school year for boy's athletics. For a small high school of approximately 75 students, we were very fortunate to have an abundance of gifted athletes. This class achieved some accomplishments that have not been surpassed today, including the Class B State Baseball Championship in the fall of 1956. But the accomplishments go beyond that when you look at the total year and beyond.

In baseball and basketball combined, the 1956-57 Varnum Whippet teams only lost 5 games all year. In baseball, 3 games were lost in total combining both the fall and spring seasons. On the winning side the accomplishments included winning the conference, district, regional and state championships.

During the state championship game, Kenneth Reynolds pitched an outstanding 2 hitter against Ramona High School. While the Varnum Whippets collected 9 hits against Romona's pitcher Gary Ward in their 4 to 1 win. Later in his career. Ward became a successful baseball coach at Oklahoma State University where he took OSU to the College World Series on several occasions. (Foot Note: Ronald D. Lewis was the left handed pitcher and center fielder for Varnum High School. Ronald was killed in a car accident in November 1968)

In basketball, only 2 games were lost, and they were not in the regular scheduled season. Even though the losses were in tournament play (county and district finals), the 1956-57 basketball team went on to win the Little River Conference undefeated as well as the OBU Invitational Basketball Tournament. From this team, Zane Bowman and Carl Weingartner went on to play college level basketball at East Central State College. Zane and Carl were very proud that Varnum had two player playing ball at East Central at the same time.

*Although the winning autographed baseball and state trophy are located in the trophy case in the Varnum High School Gym, each individual player received a small baseball engraved with the Oklahoma State Athletic Association Seal and recognition of the accomplishment.

Submitted by: Carl J. Weingartner, 1957 Senior Class President