# Clinton High School (Indiana)

Clinton High School was a public school in Clinton serving students in grades 7 through 12. It was created in 1886 and then from the consolidation in 1961 of former high schools in southern Vermillion County, Indiana, Dana High School, Hillsdale High School, St. Bernice High School, and Blanford High School. Then in 1977 Clinton was replaced by a new building and renamed South Vermilion High School

## Campus

The school was located in the center of Clinton just off Main St in the 300 Block of Blackman St. Their football field and baseball field was located at SportLand Park on the south west side of Clinton.

## Consolidation

| School | Location | Mascot | Year Started | Year Closed | |
| Blanford | Blanford | Bears | 1923 | 1928 | Consolidated into Clinton |
| Dana | Dana | Aggies | 1925 | 1961 | Consolidated into Clinton |
| Hillsdale | Hillsdale | Hilltoppers | 1916 | 1961 | Consolidated into Clinton |
| Saint Bernice | Saint Bernice | Hornets | 1928 | 1961 | Consolidated into Clinton |

## Athletics
### Basketball

Clinton has an all-time record of (25) sectional Championships 1912, 1913, 1914, 1916, 1925, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1938, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1961, 1968. The Clinton Wildcats made it to the IHSAA Sweet Sixteen (8) times in its history and the Elite Eight (2) times in its history
| Year | Site |
| 1912 | Terre Haute |
| 1913 | Terre Haute |
| 1914 | Terre Haute |
| 1916 | Terre Haute |
| 1925 | Clinton |
| 1928 | Clinton |
| 1930 | Clinton |
| 1931 | Clinton |
| 1932 | Clinton |
| 1933 | Clinton |
| 1934 | Clinton |
| 1935 | Newport |
| 1938 | Marshall |
| 1939 | Clinton |
| 1942 | Clinton |
| 1943 | Clinton |
| 1945 | Marshall |
| 1946 | Clinton |
| 1947 | Clinton |
| 1949 | Clinton |
| 1950 | Clinton |
| 1955 | Rockville |
| 1956 | Clinton |
| 1961 | Rockville |
| 1968 | Terre Haute |
Clinton also has won (4) Regional Championships 1928, 1943, 1947, 1950.
| Year | Site |
| 1928 | Greencastle |
| 1943 | Clinton |
| 1947 | Clinton |
| 1950 | Greencastle |

### Football

The Clinton Wildcat are mostly known for their football team that has won 5 Indiana Big School Football Champions in 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, and 1933.

## Head coaches

Clinton Wildcats Head Coaches :
| Name | Seasons | Record |
| H. B. Allen | 1916 | 0–0 |
| Mark Lyday | 1917–1918 | 0–1 |
| Earl M. Morgan | 1919–1921 | 17–6–1 |
| Earl Pike | 1922 | 4–3–2 |
| Max Bullock | 1923 | 3–5–2 |
| Paul "Spike" Kelly | 1924–1930 | 50–11–5 |
| John Magnabosco | 1931–1934 | 34–3–3 |
| Ed Shaver | 1935 | 6–5 |
| Raymond "Tubby" Trobaugh | 1936 | 4–4–1 |
| Maurice E. "Babe" Frump | 1937–1940 | 23–14–2 |
| Name | Seasons | Record |
| William J. Coyer | 1941–1942 | 14–5 |
| N. E. Wernz | 1943 | 5–2–1 |
| B. Leland McCool | 1944 | 7–1–1 |
| Frank Welton | 1945 | 3–5–1 |
| Robert Burton | 1946 | 2–6–1 |
| George Bibich | 1947 | 2–7 |
| Arthur B. Haverstock | 1948–1949 | 5–13–1 |
| Thorval Mattax | 1950–1952 | 21–6–3 |
| Chester Sanders | 1953–1954 | 10–8–2 |
| Stewart "Red" Faught | 1955–1956 | 9–11 |
| Name | Seasons | Record |
| John Alfier | 1957–1960 | 10–25–5 |
| William S. Syvantek | 1961–1964 | 13–13–4 |
| Coach Deal | 1962 | 2–8 |
| Dick Schrier | 1965 | 7–3 |
| Jerry Chance | 1966–1968 | 9–19–1 |
| Rene Foli | 1969–1971 | 10–17–3 |
| Brent Anderson | 1972–1976 | 28–21 |
| Overall Record | 1916-1977 | 298-222-39 |

## Team Records

Clinton Wildcats Football Records :
| Season | Record |
| 1916 | 0–0 |
| 1917 | 0-0 |
| 1918 | 0-1 |
| 1919 | 5-2 |
| 1920 | 6-2 |
| 1921 | 6-2-1 |
| 1922 | 4–3–2 |
| 1923 | 3–5–2 |
| 1924 | 8–1 |
| 1925 | 4–3–2 |
| 1926 | 5-3-1 |
| 1927 | 8-1 |
| 1928 | 10-0 |
| 1929 | 8-1-1 |
| Season | Record |
| 1930 | 7-2-1 |
| 1931 | 9-1-1 |
| 1932 | 9-1 |
| 1933 | 9-0-1 |
| 1934 | 7-1-1 |
| 1935 | 6-5 |
| 1936 | 4-4-1 |
| 1937 | 7-2-1 |
| 1938 | 5-4 |
| 1939 | 6-5 |
| 1940 | 5-3-1 |
| 1941 | 7-3 |
| 1942 | 7-2 |
| Season | Record |
| 1943 | 5-2-1 |
| 1944 | 7-1-1 |
| 1945 | 3-5-1 |
| 1946 | 2-6-1 |
| 1947 | 2-7 |
| 1948 | 2-6-1 |
| 1949 | 3-7 |
| 1950 | 5-4-1 |
| 1951 | 9-1 |
| 1952 | 7-1-2 |
| 1953 | 5-4-1 |
| 1954 | 5-4-1 |
| 1955 | 5-5 |
| Season | Record |
| 1956 | 4-6 |
| 1957 | 2-6-2 |
| 1958 | 4-6 |
| 1959 | 1-8-1 |
| 1960 | 3-5-2 |
| 1961 | 2-8 |
| 1962 | 2-8 |
| 1963 | 6-2-2 |
| 1964 | 5-3-2 |
| 1965 | 7-3 |
| 1966 | 2-7-1 |
| 1967 | 1-9 |
| 1968 | 6-3 |
| Season | Record |
| 1969 | 5-4-1 |
| 1970 | 5-4-1 |
| 1971 | 0-9-1 |
| 1972 | 3-7 |
| 1973 | 7-3 |
| 1974 | 10-0 |
| 1975 | 4-5 |
| 1976 | 4-6 |
| Total | 298-222-39 |

### Conference championships

Clinton has won or shared a conference championship around nine occasions, including six Indiana High School Football Conference titles and three Western Indiana Conference titles.
| Season | Coach | Title | Record | Conf. Record |
| 1927 | Paul "Spike" Kelly | IHSFC Champion | 8-1 | 4-0 |
| 1928 | Paul "Spike" Kelly | Wabash Valley Champion | 10-0 | 4-0 |
| 1928 | Paul "Spike" Kelly | IHSFC Champion | 10-0 | 4-0 |
| 1929 | Paul "Spike" Kelly | IHSFC Champion | 8-1-1 | 4-0 |
| 1931 | John Magnabosco | Wabash Valley Champion | 9-1-1 | 4-0 |
| 1931 | John Magnabosco | IHSFC Champion | 9-1-1 | 4-0 |
| 1932 | John Magnabosco | IHSFC Champion | 9-1 | 4-0 |
| 1933 | John Magnabosco | IHSFC Champion | 9-0-1 | 5-0 |
| 1951 | Thorval Mattax | Western Indiana | 9-1 | 7-0 |
| 1952 | Thorval Mattax | Western Indiana | 7-1-2 | 6-1 |
| 1974 | Brent Anderson | Western Indiana | 10-0 | 6-0 |

### State championships

Clinton has won or shared a State championship on five occasions, including three outright Indiana High School Football titles and two shared titles. In 1933 Clinton tied East Chicago Washington 6–6 in the arranged post-season North-South Mythical State Championship Game and was named Winner of Indianapolis Times & IHSAA ‘Most Outstanding Team in Indiana’
| Season | Coach | Selector | Record | Conf. Record |
| 1920 | Earl M. Morgan | Heze Clark - Best Team In the State (Shared with Wabash) | 6-2 | 4-0 |
| 1924 | Paul "Spike" Kelly | | 8-1 | 4-0 |
| 1928 | Paul "Spike" Kelly | Indianapolis Times - IHSAA - Dick Miller- "Most Outstanding Team" | 10-0 | 4-0 |
| 1932 | John Magnabosco | Indianapolis Times - IHSAA - Dick Miller- "Most Outstanding Team" | 9-1 | 4-0 |
| 1933 | John Magnabosco | Indianapolis Times - IHSAA - Dick Miller- "Most Outstanding Team" | 9-0-1 | 4-0 |

## Record vs Rivals

| Team | Record | Percentage | Streak | First Meeting | Last Meeting |
| Brazil | 28-28-2 | .500 | WIN 1 | 1920 | 1976 |
| Rockville | 8-1-1 | .800 | WIN 2 | 1964 | 1973 |
| Linton-Stockton | 15-15-2 | .500 | Loss 8 | 1920 | 1973 |
| Sullivan | 27-27 | .500 | Loss 1 | 1920 | 1976 |
| West Vigo | 10-4-1 | .667 | WIN 4 | 1962 | 1976 |
| Overall Record | Overall Record | Overall Record | 88-75-6 | 88-75-6 | 88-75-6 |

### All-State Players

A total of 19 Wildcats have been recognized as All-State by various media selectors.
Clinton All-State Players :
| Season | Name | Pos. |
| 1920 | Kelse | LT |
| 1921 | Leland York | HB |
| 1924 | Grahm | HB |
| 1924 | John Magnabosco | RG |
| 1925 | John Magnabosco | FB |
| 1927 | Antoninni | OL |
| 1928 | Cogan | HB |
| Season | Name | Pos. |
| 1928 | Marsh | QB |
| 1929 | Malone | RG |
| 1930 | Ettore Antonini | LE |
| 1931 | Chris Dal Sasso | DL |
| 1932 | Chris Dal Sasso | DL |
| 1933 | Fred Vanzo | HB |
| 1934 | William Thompson | DL |
| Season | Name | Pos. |
| 1936 | Robert Phillips | DL |
| 1938 | Tony Berto | FB |
| 1941 | Mike Rodich | RG |
| 1942 | Jack Curry | OL |
| 1944 | Jack Gilman | FB |
| 1952 | Gene Dick | DB |
| 1974 | John Riggins | OL |

## Notable alumni

* Emil Bildilli - Major League Baseball pitcher (1937-1941)
* Chris Dal Dasso 1933 - All-State Tackle, Played at IU 1934–1936; team captain 1936, Athletic Director at Indiana University
* Lawrence J. Giacoletto 1934 - Known for his work in the field of semi-conductor circuit technology.
* Fred Vanzo 1934 - professional American football player who played running back for four seasons for the Detroit Lions and Chicago Cardinals.
* John Magnabosco 1923 - Head Coach Ball State 1935-1952 Head Coach Clinton Wildcats 1931-1934 3X State Champs 31,32,33. Indiana Football Hall Of Fame
* Tony Berto 1939 - Coached 39 years total - Otsego, Michigan, High School 1946–1948, Boonville HS 1948–1952, and Delphi HS 1952–1985; coached 3 sports for 24 years and 2 sports for 15 years (football, basketball, baseball, track, and golf); Delphi football record of 203 wins. Lettered at Purdue 1939–1943 in Football Basketball and Baseball. Indiana Football Hall Of Fame
* Gerry Dick 1976 QB - American journalist and former news anchor at WRTV, a television station in Indianapolis, Indiana.He is best known as the current host of Inside INdiana Business, a television program owned by Grow Indiana Media Ventures.