Guss Schmiedt Field looks just as it did 50 years ago.
That’s according to Tim Brumley, who scored the first-ever touchdown during the dedication of the Manteca High stadium on that memorable September 1959.
He along with Jim Cunningham, Casey Stagno, Wayne Dias, Mike Erdman, Roy Rea, Leon Thomason and Gary Heaton were among those attending the special event honoring the longtime board of trustee.
Heaton, in fact, wore his original white jersey from those days.
Several generations of the Schmiedt family also joined in the festivities that took place prior to Friday’s non-league varsity game between Enochs and Manteca High.
Included were Guss Schmiedt’s sister, daughter, grand children, and great grand children.
The stadium was named in his honor as recognition for his services on the school board. He had been there since the formation of the high school district in 1920.
All told, Schmiedt put in 40 years of service while attending an estimated 1,100 school board meetings and logging over 14,000 miles – at no expense to the district – just to get to those sessions.
For Brumley, he was back at his old stomping grounds surrounded by familiar faces from yesteryear.
He still recalled the 21-6 victory over Tracy High in the new facility.
“It still looks the same to me,” Brumley said.
He now resides in Arbuckle, where he spent 34 years coaching football at Pierce High.
“It’s a school of 300 students in a farming community,” said Brumley.
Looking back, he said it was unusual for teams to play twice during the regular season. But back then, Manteca had a heated rivalry with Tracy, with special arrangements made just for the two teams to meet in the special dedication game.
The key player for Manteca, recalled Brumley, was Larry Scharmann.
“He couldn’t be here because of medical reasons,” Brumley added. “He was a big part of our team.”
Instead, family members of Scharmann sported the No. 84 jersey in honor of the standout lineman for the Buffaloes.
That’s according to Tim Brumley, who scored the first-ever touchdown during the dedication of the Manteca High stadium on that memorable September 1959.
He along with Jim Cunningham, Casey Stagno, Wayne Dias, Mike Erdman, Roy Rea, Leon Thomason and Gary Heaton were among those attending the special event honoring the longtime board of trustee.
Heaton, in fact, wore his original white jersey from those days.
Several generations of the Schmiedt family also joined in the festivities that took place prior to Friday’s non-league varsity game between Enochs and Manteca High.
Included were Guss Schmiedt’s sister, daughter, grand children, and great grand children.
The stadium was named in his honor as recognition for his services on the school board. He had been there since the formation of the high school district in 1920.
All told, Schmiedt put in 40 years of service while attending an estimated 1,100 school board meetings and logging over 14,000 miles – at no expense to the district – just to get to those sessions.
For Brumley, he was back at his old stomping grounds surrounded by familiar faces from yesteryear.
He still recalled the 21-6 victory over Tracy High in the new facility.
“It still looks the same to me,” Brumley said.
He now resides in Arbuckle, where he spent 34 years coaching football at Pierce High.
“It’s a school of 300 students in a farming community,” said Brumley.
Looking back, he said it was unusual for teams to play twice during the regular season. But back then, Manteca had a heated rivalry with Tracy, with special arrangements made just for the two teams to meet in the special dedication game.
The key player for Manteca, recalled Brumley, was Larry Scharmann.
“He couldn’t be here because of medical reasons,” Brumley added. “He was a big part of our team.”
Instead, family members of Scharmann sported the No. 84 jersey in honor of the standout lineman for the Buffaloes.
