GREAT TEAMS: “After reading about the 1971 undefeated Owls
football team I wanted to remind everyone that there was another
team in Bradford that was also undefeated. The 1971 BCCHS Ramblers
were 8-0 and only gave up 14 points all year! Think about that, in
32 quarters of football they were scored on twice.”
Our e-mailer added, “The Ramblers were coached by Ted Maruca
with assistant Joe Vecellio and were led by Joe Costanzo, Mike
Alviti, Terry Buck, Jeff Sawyer, Joe Henchy, Joe Taylor, Don and
Fran Gleason, Marty Sapko, Frank Beyer, Pat Pecora, Pete Zandi, Bob
Henretta to name a few.
“In fact, Joe Costanzo and Jeff Sawyer were elected to the end
of year Big 30 team. I agree the Owls season was terrific but this
Rambler team deserves equal mention/praise.
“I believe the Ramblers also went undefeated in 1972 and only
one loss in 1973 – pretty impressive stuff, wouldn’t you say?”
Coincidentally, we also heard from Frank Beyer on the same
subjects:
“That was a great year in Bradford sports. Please check the
records and you will see that both high schools had undefeated
football teams with Bradford Central Christian going 8-0-0 in 1971;
8-0-0 in 1972; and 8-1-0 in 1973.
“With the basketball team in 1971 being No. 2 school in the
state Catholic school championships and the winning the
championships in 1972 and 1973 seasons, while Bradford High used to
dominate the District 9 league year in and year out.
“The time and effort that was put in by the parents and boosters
in the Midget League football programs and summer league basketball
programs and YMCA basketball paid off.
“It was a time of four TV channels, no video games or Xbox,
going to the YMCA, the Rec at Callahan Park, riding your bike to
the Little League fields and playing from sunup to sunset.
“Growing up in Bradford in the ’60s was a fun place for kids if
they were involved in athletics, and very competitive. We always
had top of the line equipment, fields and facilities.
“We were proud to represent ‘the high grade oil metropolis of
the world,'” he concludes.
