Washington High School 1973 State Championship Football Team to Be Inducted Into Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
Washington High School’s state championship 1973 football team will be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in November. The announcement came during a press conference by the St. Louis Hall of Fame at the Chase Park Plaza on Wednesday, September 13.
Representing the 1973 WHS football team at the press conference were team members Leroy Eggert, Gary Vogel, Ted Stahl and Mike Stahl.
The induction ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, November 19, at the Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis. The reception begins at noon with the banquet starting at 1 p.m.
A sponsorship table of 10 is $1,500 and includes recognition at the table and in the printed program. An individual ticket is $150. For tickets and details, contact Taylor Frederich at 417-527-5407 or at
[email protected].
“This is a great class, and we’re excited to be recognizing each individual, as well as each team and program,” said Byron Shive, CEO and Executive Director of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. “All have made sports fun and exciting, and we invite the St. Louis community to join us in recognizing them on their special day.”
This fall marks the 50th anniversary of the only state football championship team in the history of Washington High School.
Also among the inductees is Washington native and former collegiate softball coach Linda Wells.
Click here for more details on the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony on November 19.
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2023 features 23 inductees:
*Washington High School 1973 State Championship Football Team
*1984-1989 Crystal City High School Girls Track and Field Era
*St. Joseph’s Academy Girls Tennis Program
*1959-1974 Saint Louis University Men’s Soccer Era
*Adam Wainwright – St. Louis Cardinals
*Todd Lyght – St. Louis Rams
*Barret Jackman – St. Louis Blues
*Kenny Wallace – Motorsports
*Jay Delsing – Golfer
*Tony Van Zant – Hazelwood Central High School Football Player
*Kelly Mullvihill Stahlhuth – St. Joseph’s Academy and Indiana University Tennis Player
*Greg Vitello – DeSmet High School Soccer and Baseball Coach
*Linda Wells – Collegiate Softball Coach
*Bernie Miklasz – Sports Columnist and Radio Commentator
*Doug Smith – St. Joseph’s Academy Girls Tennis Coach
*Lindsay Kennedy Eversmeyer – Soccer Player
*Dave Loos – College Basketball Coach
*Dick Cook – Crystal City High School Track and Field Coach
*Khalia Collier – Basketball Executive
*Mark Mullin – Missouri S&T Athletic Director
*Randy Albrecht – St. Louis Community College – Meramec Basketball Coach
*Dr. Tom Smith – Missouri Baptist University Athletic Director
*Harry Weber - Sculptor
Washington had all the pieces to win the Class 3A state title in 1973. In essence, the Blue Jays took on the personality of their head coach, Jim Scanlan, and showed smartness and toughness to win games.
The team finished the season with an 11-0 record after a 14-7 victory against Jefferson City Helias at Rolla High School in the state title contest. What a thrilling finish it was. Ted Stahl, a junior then, returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown with 46 seconds left in the game. Stahl jumped in between four Helias players, grabbed the bouncing ball and raced down the sideline for the winning touchdown. Dennis Brune scored the two-point conversation. Earlier in the game, quarterback Leroy Eggert scored the team’s first touchdown on a 1-yard run.
The team featured six All-State players in Eggert, Brune, Mark Rothschild, Gary Vogel, Alan Elsenrath and Keith Maune.
The season began with a forfeit victory, and then featured victories against Farmington (7-6), Sullivan (18-7), Union (15-7), Pacific (8-6), St. Clair (36-7), Hermann (46-0), St. James (36-0) and Owensville (31-0). The Blue Jays then beat North County of Desloge-Bonne Terre 20-14 in the semifinals. It was the first state playoff game ever hosted by Washington.
The Blue Jays claimed the Four Rivers Conference championship and were the first team to reach the state football playoffs in school history.
In the first nine games of the regular season, Washington’s defense held opponents to a total of 26 points, which is an average of just under three points per game.
The Blue Jays were a tough, hard-nosed team that took the personality of their head coach. They were also a smart team with good quickness who knew how to win games.
Many members of the 1973 squad were on hand to celebrate the team’s recognition into the Washington High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2021.
Team Members at Press Conference
Representing the 1973 WHS football team at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame press conference, from left, were Leroy Eggert, Gary Vogel, Ted Stahl and Mike Stahl.
Vogel at Press Conference
Gary Vogel speaks at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Press Conference about the 1973 Blue Jays.
Eggert at Press Conference
Leroy Eggert speaks at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Press Conference about the 1973 Blue Jays.
