Athletes, coaches recognized at Athletic Banquet

The Saints athletic banquet began Friday night with the induction of Pat Stangle into the Seward County athletic Hall of Fame.

Stangle coached the Lady Saints volleyball team for five years beginning in 1997.  Stangle was very successful, leading the Lady Saints to an overall record of 225-34 record and a Jayhawk West record of 42-4.

Stangle talked about how Seward County was “a big step for me because it allowed me to find out if I was any good at this(coaching)”, and let’s just say Stangle definitely found out he was good at coaching.

Stangle owns nine all-time records, including highest average of wins per season (45), conference wins in a single season (14, twice), career overall winning percentage (.869 percent), overall conference winning percentage (.913 percent), appearances in NJCAA National Tournament (3), best finish at NJCAA National Tournament (5th – 1999 & 2000), Jayhawk West Conference titles (2), Region VI Tournament championships (3), and 50-win seasons (2).

In the five years Stangle coached in the Jayhawk West, he was named the Coach of the Year three times. Now Stangle has his place in two Hall of Fames, as he was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2008.  Stangle is currently the assistant coach of the 2013 Conference USA Champion University of Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners.

The Saints Hall of Fame is now three years old, and Stangle joins the company of Seward’s previous Hall of Fame members such as the 2001-2002 women’s basketball team, Jim Littell, Galen McSpadden, Kim Ortega, Cory Patton, Charles Brownlee, Brent Gould and Tony Slaughter.

After Stangle’s induction, the Athletic Banquet began.  Saints and Lady Saints sports teams were introduced, and some of the athletes received awards from their teammates.

Brent William’s won the Wade Johnstone Award, voted on by his teammates, for his efforts on the baseball field.

The Lady Saints basketball team voted Janel Tammen the winner of the Jamie Talbert Award for her efforts on the hardwood.

Also announced at the banquet were the W.A. Shufelberger Award Finalists for the graduating male and female with the highest GPA. Those finalist are Shanise Brooks, Katelyn Cracker, Carmen Hughes, and Janel Tammen for the Lady Saints, and Keenan Hall, Austin King, Max Lusk, and Reid Thompson for the men.

Next up was recognition of coaches.  Galen McSpadden, head baseball coach, was awarded a signed bat by his team for his 1,100th win in his career.  Volleyball coach Bert Luallen received the gameball from his historic school record breaking 226 win.  Men’s basketball coach Bryan Zollinger was also recognized for his fourth straight Jayhawk West Coach of the Year award.

One of the greatest moments of the night actually didn’t come from a coach or an athlete, but rather a man who has quietly served the coaches and athletes in the shadows without recognition.  Al Pittendrigh was a maintenence worker at the college for 25 years, but retired this year.

Pat Stangle, in his Hall of Fame speech, mentioned seeing Al in the mornings cleaning up the gym with what looked like a toothbrush, scrubbing up every little mark in the stands.

“If our world had the same passion for our jobs that Al had, this world would be a much better place,” Stangle said.

Pittendrigh was recognized with signed balls from all of the sports teams.  As he walked up, one could see the joy in his face, and he seemed overwhelmed with the recognition. Then as Pittendrigh began his walk back to his seat, he received a very nice standing ovation.  It was clear that those present were thankful to and respected Pittendrigh for all that he had done.