Members of the Southwick High School 1977 boys’ soccer championship team included Dan Keenan (6), John English (3), Brian Johnson (4), Chuck Schwer (14), Bob Ricks (18), Burt Prokop (12), Calvin Arnold (16), Barry St. Peter (1), Ian Hendersen (13), Jeff Cook (yellow goalie jersey), Todd Fenton (21), Jim Machesney (9), John Norris (17), Lee Haseltine (2), Brent Davidson (11), Randay Kimball (7), Dave Lapan (8), Ron Hall (yellow goalie jersey), and, from left to right holding the soccer ball, Stew Mountain and Kit Flag. Head coach Bob Dvorchak is pictured kneeling at far right. (Photo courtesy of Lee Haseltine)
SOUTHWICK – The defending Western Massachusetts Division II boys’ soccer champion Southwick-Tolland Rams had their run prematurely ended this season in the tournament quarterfinals, nearly two weeks ago after another incredible late season push.
If Frank Montagna’s bunch would have qualified for the state championship, the yellow-green-and-white clad Rams would be playing for a title this weekend. But while that feat has yet to be etched in the record books, there is one historic Southwick team searching for a bit of recognition for that specific accomplishment 34 years ago.
In 1977, Southwick-Tolland girls’ cross country coach Lee Haseltine, then a senior forward for the boys’ soccer team, faked out one of two oncoming defenders outside the penalty box, dished off the ball to teammate Brent Davidson, who banged it in. The goal came just 2 minutes, 6 seconds into the state title tilt, and stood for the game-winner against St. Mary, of Worcester, at Springfield College.
Davidson, one of the heroes of that game, fell ill to health complications, and passed away two weeks ago. But Haseltine is working to keep their team’s memory alive.
“We never really got any recognition for what we did,” Haseltine said. “Nobody on today’s soccer team even knows we won it.”
Their trophy and picture reside in a trophy case at the school, but Haseltine said his team’s feat should be shared with all town residents, who may have been witness to those sports moments, and current players who may be unaware of that achievement.
To boost awareness, Haseltine has donated a portion of the funds raised at last September’s Atkinson 5K to purchase a championship banner to be displayed inside the Southwick-Tolland gymnasium. The banner will be unveiled at a halftime ceremony during a high school basketball game this winter.
“It’s great that Lee has taken the initiative to remember some great things that happened with that team,” said former state representative Dan Keenan, a member of that championship team.
“Southwick has had a strong history in soccer,” Keenan said, also noting Montagna’s recent success.
Keenan is currently a coach within the Pioneer Valley League, a fall/spring youth league designed to prepare young players with the skills and knowledge necessary to become successful as a high school athlete.
Keenan served as a state representative for 12 years until 2006. He is now the vice president at the Sisters of Providence Health System.
Haseltine’s 1977 team, coached by Bob Dvorchak, was a senior-laden team (14 seniors) that went head-to-head with cross-town rivals Westfield Voc-Tech and St. Mary’s, while reeling off 15 straight wins to end the season with a remarkable 17-2-1 record.
“We were just a very close team,” Haseltine said. “We played a lot of sports together all our lives. We had that competitive fire. We weren’t going to be denied. We had a closeness I don’t think other teams had. And we were all pretty good athletes.”
The 1977 Southwick High School boys’ soccer championship team included: Calvin Arnold, Jeff Cook, Davidson, John English, Todd Fenton, Kit Flag, Ron Hall, Haseltine, Ian Hendersen, Brian Johnson, Keenan, Randy Kimball, Dave Lapan, Jim Machesny, Stew Mountain, John Norris, Burt Prokop, Bob Ricks, Chuck Schwer, and Barry St. Peter.
