OCHS Teams of the Century



Archie Harris OCHS Boys Track Athlete of the Century!

By TOM WILLIAMS
Gazette Staff Writer

An impressive list of talented track athletes represented Ocean City High School during the 20th century as the Raiders won three South Jersey crowns, 16 Cape-Atlantic League championships and 21 Cape May County titles.

But the best of the bunch was a guy who never got to compete in the CAL because he ended his high school career 13 years before the league started.

Archie Harris, known to many of this generation only as the name of a booster club, was a world record holder in the discus. He threw the college-size discus 154 feet, 7 inches, 64 years ago while still in high school. That is just 20 feet short of the current school record, set with a lighter discus. Harris also tossed a heavier shot put 55-6 back then, just a little over two feet short of the current record.

Harris is not the only athlete chosen in two events. Scott Lipford was picked in three – the 800 meters, 400 hurdles and as part of the 4x400 meter relay team. Leon Brown and John Henry were both chosen for the 100 and 200 meters. And Walt Buganski was picked for the 400 meters and as part of the 4x400 meter relay team. The other two members of that relay team are Ben Marple and Vic Rolls.

Russ Mulford, who held the school record for 24 years, and Terry Tracey, who broke it and held it another 20, join Buganski at 400 meters. Joining Lipford at 800 meters are Fenton Carey, who was also a great OCHS track coach and the school half-mile record holder for 41 years, and Dave Duncan, a great runner in the mid-1970s.

There is a family connection in the distance events. Gene Watts and John Richardson are picked at 1600 meters. Watts held the record for the century, though Richardson broke it earlier this year. Richardson was impressive enough as a freshman to earn a spot on this team. His great success in 2001 was not taken into consideration. His father, Frank, shares a spot at 3200 meters (two miles, for them) with another great 1970s runner, Mike Scythes.

Lipford is joined by Dennis McGee for the 400 meter hurdles. Fred Jones, a versatile athlete from the 70s, and Alex Dudley are the choices for the 110 hurdles.

Harris is joined in the discus by Jonathan Dice, a star from the mid-80s. Bill Olney, who held the school record for 22 years, shares the javelin spot with John Betts, the current record holder. And the lineup at the shot is impressive with Harris teaming with John Carey, a state champion in 1930.

The high jumpers are Pat Peterson from 1990 and Brad Wickes from the early 1960s. In the long jump, the nod goes to Cut Reynolds, who leaped 22-1 in 1949, and record holder Kenny Henry. The pole vault combo is Jon Howell, who graduated with the final class of the century holding the school record, and Al DeSantis, who cleared 12 feet back in 1951 with a stiff, bamboo pole.

There were a number of successful coaches during the century. Both Careys, Ted Klepac and Fred Speers all built up a reputation for the school. But the edge as Coach of the Century goes to Wayne Colman, the current coach. Colman won more meets than any other coach, had three undefeated teams, won a South Jersey title, finished in the top five in South Jersey five times, won 17 Cape May County championships and four CAL titles. His four league championships were the only four won by dual meet competition. The rest were determined at a league championship meet.

The best single team of the century was the South Jersey champions of 1987, a team that featured Leon Brown and Kenny Henry from the All-Century team. That team was 9-0 in dual meets, the second of two straight undefeated teams, and also swept the county and CAL titles. Other key contributors on that team were Anthony Johnson, Dave Rowell, Greg Kelly, Alex Oves and Chris Armstrong.

The All-Century Raider Boys Track Team
100...............John Henry (1967), Leon Brown (1986)
200...............Leon Brown (1986), John Henry (1967)
400...............Russ Mulford (1947), Terry Tracey (1971), Walt Buganski (1995)
800...............Fenton Carey (1930), Dave Duncan (1975), Scott Lipford (1997)
1600.............Gene Watts (1984), John Richardson (2003)
3200.............Mike Scythes (1976), Frank Richardson (1970)
110 HH.........Fred Jones (1976), Alex Dudley (1986)
400 IH..........Scott Lipford (1997), Dennis McGee (1993)
Discus..........Archie Harris (1937), Jonathan Dice (1984)
Javelin...........Bill Olney (1954), John Betts (1983)
Shot...............John Carey (1930), Archie Harris (1937)
High Jump.....Pat Peterson (1990), Brad Wickes (1961)
Long Jump....Cut Reynolds (1949), Kenny Henry (1987)
Pole Vault.....Jon Howell (2000), Al DeSantis (1951)
4x400 Relay: Ben Marple, Scott Lipford, Vic Rolls, Walt Buganski (1995)
Coach Wayne Colman (1977-2000)

The 1987 team - Best of the Century
100..............Kenny Henry
200..............Leon Brown
400..............Dave Rowell
800..............Anthony Johnson
1600............Greg Kelly
3200............Greg Kelly
110 HH........Mike Franklin
400 IH..........Anthony Johnson
Discus.........Alex Oves
Javelin.........Dennis Felsing
Shot..............Alex Oves
High Jump....Dave Rowell
Long Jump...Kenny Henry
Pole Vault....Chris Armstrong
4x400 Relay: Kenny Henry, Joe Brown, Dave Rowell, Anthony Johnson
Coach Wayne Colman


Championship Teams
South Jersey titles: 1987, 1955, 1950
CAL titles: 1987, 1986, 1984, 1980, 1973, 1970, 1967, 1960, 1959, 1958, 1957, 1955, 1954, 1953, 1951, 1950
County titles: 2000, 1997, 1995, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1976, 1975, 1973, 1972