Sixty years ago, on December 28, 1957, the Detroit Lions handed the Cleveland Browns a big loss, deciding the world’s football championship by a margin of 59-14. Even though the Lions did win by such an overwhelming decision, it was no fault of Lathrop’s Paul Wiggin, who was a stalwart on defense for the Browns. Wiggin played football for the local high school and went on to become an All-American tackle at Stanford. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Wiggin of Lathrop.
In other sports stories from the Bulletin files:
40 years ago: December 30, 1977 – A four-day holiday break, cold shooting and a lack of defensive pressure were all factors in East Union High’s 71-30 defeat at the hands of Turlock High Wednesday evening in the opening round of the Oakdale High Rotary Holiday Classic Tournament. “We shot a dismal 10 of 61 from the floor against Turlock, only 16 percent, and when you shoot that bad, you just can’t win games,” said Lancer mentor Bill Stricker. Alvin Stewart hit the boards for offensive and defensive rebounds in the struggle, but ended the game with only eight points. Stewart was high scorer for EU.
30 years ago: December 30, 1987 – Manteca High, with Mary Foehringer’s 19 points leading a well-rounded, balanced scoring attack, scored its biggest win of the season, a 47-42 triumph over Lincoln High in the third-place game of the Tracy Tournament. Cathy Ettle added 10 points for the Lady Buffs, now 6-6 on the year.
The Lady Lancers of East Union High were edged out 52-51 by Antioch High. EU (2-9) got 23 points from Carey Pulliam and 12 by Lisa Johnston.
Strong board play and double-digit efforts from Gary Kron and David Horton powered the East Union High basketball team to a 58-45 victory over Tracy High Tuesday in the opening day of the Lodi-Tokay Classic. Kron led all scorers with 23 points, including four three-pointers. Horton, who hit a perfect 7-for-7 free throws, finished with 21 points.
Manteca High, behind the 30-point performance by junior forward David Ennes, snapped its five-game losing streak by clubbing Tracy High 61-50 in the Classic Wednesday night. A double-teamed Marshall Cannon took just eight shots in the game and finished with 12 points for the Buffaloes.
A strong defensive effort and two second-half goals propelled the East Union High soccer team to the championship of the league tournament at Livingston Tuesday. The defending Valley Oak League champs wrapped up the title with a 3-1 victory over Livingston High and evened their season mark at 5-5-1. Lancer center-forward Tim Hamm, who scored the game’s final goal on a penalty kick, was named the tourney’s MVP, while teammates Julio Gutierrez and Philip Menchaca gained all-tourney honors, along with Manteca High’s Steve Roza.
Manteca High rebounded from an earlier soccer loss to top Ceres High 4-1. Steve Dearson, Tim Rhoades, Luis Flores and Hugo Flores all got single goals for the Buffs.
20 years ago: December 28, 1997 – Sierra High survived their own shoddy free throw shooting to beat the Tracy High girls 56-54 for 12th place in the Tracy Lions Club Basketball Tournament yesterday. In a game slowed by 50 fouls and 74 free throws, the Lady Timberwolves hung on for the victory despite shooting a miserable 9-of-24 at the free throw line in the fourth quarter. Christi Goodhart finished with a game-high 23 points for Coach Dan Cunial’s girls—off to their best-ever start at 11-4. Liz Nuttmann added 13 points to the winning total. Sierra scrambled for 60 rebounds, including a season-high 17 by Eryn Zirpel.
In the same tourney, East Union High’s Cynthia Mathews sparked the Lady Lancers past Turlock High 59-52 on Saturday. The Lady Lancer senior finished with 20 points, including four three-pointers. EU’s Jaynee Moon led all scorers with 27 points and 11 rebounds. Coach Mark Liles’s squad is now 6-9 on the season.
In the Alhambra Tournament, East Union High rebounded from a heart-breaking loss to Acalanes High on Monday to post a convincing 63-35 victory over St. Patrick’s High of Vallejo. The Lancers built a 35-15 half-time lead in coasting to the win. EU’s Derrick Kibler led all scorers with 16 points, including three 3-pointers.
Sierra High bounced back from a lop-sided loss to Alhambra High by defeating Albany High 42-27 in the Alhambra Tournament. Coach Frank Triglia’s Timberwolves held their opponents scoreless in the first quarter. Brandon Marable scored a team-high 10 points for the winners.
Sierra High topped Johansen High 1-0 in an over-time shoot-out in the opening round of the Beyer Soccer Tournament on Friday afternoon. Jennie Amaya broke the scoreless tie by netting the lone score on the Lady T’wolves fourth attempt. SHS goalie Sandra Herrera stopped all five shots by the Vikings. Coach Manuel Pires’s girls are now 10-2 on the season.
10 years ago: December 30, 2007 – For the third straight season, East Union High was able to pull off one of the largest all-girl high school wrestling tournaments in the Central Valley Saturday at Dalben Center. EU freshman Caitlin Stuber, wrestling at 114 pounds, collected her first win at the high school level by pinning Pajaro Valley High’s Grecia Munoz in the second round.
The East Union High girls’ basketball team wrapped up the 2007 preseason with a 58-35 win over Chavez High Thursday night at Dalben Center. Ashley Rose hit three treys in the first half and finished with 15 points, equaling the total output by Rachel McDaniel. Dani Molina finished with 10 points. The Lancers evened their record at 7-7.
