The 1959 Football Season
This season was one of both great accomplishments and frustrating disappointments. However there was one factor ever present both off and on the field --- the undying Big Blue spirit, which overpowered Andover, Woburn, Amesbury, Saugus, Newburyport and Marblehead. Several times the team was forced to come from behind in the waning minutes of a game to capture victory. Opening the season with a strong showing the Swampscotters defeated Andover 12-6. Both touchdowns were scored by fullback Jim Lyons. The next opponent was the highly praised Woburn team, with the resounding chant of “Hit-Hit-Hit” echoing throughout the stadium, the Big Blue again led by Lyons exploded for 20 points while holding the eventual Northeastern Conference Champions to but one score.
In a highly contested game, Swampscott was nipped by Danvers 14-12 with one conversion being the margin of the game. Tom Santanello and Lyons scored for the Big Blue which broke the winning streak at nineteen games. Passing was predominate in the Winthrop game, but when the contest had ended Swampscott was on the short end of a 12-6 score. Dick Leger scored the lone Big Blue tally on a quarterback sneak. The reception of Leger’s passes by Paul Langevin and Stuart Bass sparkled in a losing cause. On a rainy, muddy afternoon the Big Blue edged Amesbury 12-8. In the final minutes of the game, David Coughlin grabbed a pass at the Amesbury ten yard line and rushed the remaining distance for the victory.
A strong favored Saugus team journeyed to Swampscott seeking revenge but couldn’t penetrate the solid Big Blue defense. Again the field was wet and muddy, and when the final gun had sounded, the teams were deadlocked in a scoreless tie. The Big Blue met defeat at the hands of Lynn Classical by a score of 8-0 in a cold, and near –empty Manning bowl, Swampscott could not muster a sustained attack.
Swampscott once more came back from behind to topple Newburyport 20-12. Mike Powers switched from guard to fullback for this game and scored all three touchdowns. With forty seconds remaining in the game, Bill Bufalino intercepted a pass at the Porter twenty-six yard line. A quick pass from Leger to Pete Gnaedinger brought the ball to the one yard line and Powers then bulled over for the score, with another* Leger-to-Gnaedinger pass clicking for the conversion.
The Big Blue ended the season by whitewashing arch rival Marblehead 18-0. Bobby Arnold, David Corbett, and Mike Powers scored for Swampscott, while Marblehead was held to minus yardage.
Over the season, the Big Blue scored one hundred points and held the opposition to fifty-four points. Bruce Jordan, Mike Powers and Jim Lyons were selected to several all-star teams. There is high hope for another successful season next year, when the Big Blue will be led by Co-Captains Bobby Arnold and Mike Janvrin.
Sea Gull 1960 Yearbook 1959 TEAM 5-3-1, Trounced Marblehead 18-0
Swampscott High had only two defensive starters back from last year’s second successive undefeated Class B title squad. “ Mike Powers and Bruce Jordan are the Co-Captains and good leaders. This is the first time in 14 years I have had to rebuild from the bottom, “said Coach Bondelevitch.
The 1959 team, which complied a creditable 5-3-1 record, was only 16 points away from an unbeaten season, Danvers 14-12, Winthrop 12-6 and Lynn Classical 8-0 could have gone the other way
“The team was probably the hardest worked of all of my elevens. Lacking a breakaway runner or an outstanding passer, it’s strength was conditioning and defense,” said the coach. “It wasn’t the greatest I ever coached but certainly the most satisfying” Boston Herald 11-1959,Lynn Daily Evening Item 12/1959
1959 was the final season of Big Blue Football for Stuart Bass, Bill Bufalino, Dennis Caron, Jerry Cohen, Charles Eastabrooks, John Engstrom, Lawrence Fisher, Peter Gnaedinger, David Hapgood, John Hayden, Phil Janvrin ( student coach} Bruce Jordan ( Capt.) John Langan, Paul Langevin, Richard Leger, Jim Levesque, Jim Lyons, Mike Martin, Larry Milo, Arthur Palleschi, Jim Palleschi, Mike Powers ( Capt.) Tom Santanello, Steve Waldman, Paul Wilson ( mgr.)
Coaching staff, head Coach Stan Bondelevitch, Line Coach, Dick Stevenson, Backfield, Dick Lynch. Freshman Coach, “Doc’Marden
In a highly contested game, Swampscott was nipped by Danvers 14-12 with one conversion being the margin of the game. Tom Santanello and Lyons scored for the Big Blue which broke the winning streak at nineteen games. Passing was predominate in the Winthrop game, but when the contest had ended Swampscott was on the short end of a 12-6 score. Dick Leger scored the lone Big Blue tally on a quarterback sneak. The reception of Leger’s passes by Paul Langevin and Stuart Bass sparkled in a losing cause. On a rainy, muddy afternoon the Big Blue edged Amesbury 12-8. In the final minutes of the game, David Coughlin grabbed a pass at the Amesbury ten yard line and rushed the remaining distance for the victory.
A strong favored Saugus team journeyed to Swampscott seeking revenge but couldn’t penetrate the solid Big Blue defense. Again the field was wet and muddy, and when the final gun had sounded, the teams were deadlocked in a scoreless tie. The Big Blue met defeat at the hands of Lynn Classical by a score of 8-0 in a cold, and near –empty Manning bowl, Swampscott could not muster a sustained attack.
Swampscott once more came back from behind to topple Newburyport 20-12. Mike Powers switched from guard to fullback for this game and scored all three touchdowns. With forty seconds remaining in the game, Bill Bufalino intercepted a pass at the Porter twenty-six yard line. A quick pass from Leger to Pete Gnaedinger brought the ball to the one yard line and Powers then bulled over for the score, with another* Leger-to-Gnaedinger pass clicking for the conversion.
The Big Blue ended the season by whitewashing arch rival Marblehead 18-0. Bobby Arnold, David Corbett, and Mike Powers scored for Swampscott, while Marblehead was held to minus yardage.
Over the season, the Big Blue scored one hundred points and held the opposition to fifty-four points. Bruce Jordan, Mike Powers and Jim Lyons were selected to several all-star teams. There is high hope for another successful season next year, when the Big Blue will be led by Co-Captains Bobby Arnold and Mike Janvrin.
Sea Gull 1960 Yearbook 1959 TEAM 5-3-1, Trounced Marblehead 18-0
Swampscott High had only two defensive starters back from last year’s second successive undefeated Class B title squad. “ Mike Powers and Bruce Jordan are the Co-Captains and good leaders. This is the first time in 14 years I have had to rebuild from the bottom, “said Coach Bondelevitch.
The 1959 team, which complied a creditable 5-3-1 record, was only 16 points away from an unbeaten season, Danvers 14-12, Winthrop 12-6 and Lynn Classical 8-0 could have gone the other way
“The team was probably the hardest worked of all of my elevens. Lacking a breakaway runner or an outstanding passer, it’s strength was conditioning and defense,” said the coach. “It wasn’t the greatest I ever coached but certainly the most satisfying” Boston Herald 11-1959,Lynn Daily Evening Item 12/1959
1959 was the final season of Big Blue Football for Stuart Bass, Bill Bufalino, Dennis Caron, Jerry Cohen, Charles Eastabrooks, John Engstrom, Lawrence Fisher, Peter Gnaedinger, David Hapgood, John Hayden, Phil Janvrin ( student coach} Bruce Jordan ( Capt.) John Langan, Paul Langevin, Richard Leger, Jim Levesque, Jim Lyons, Mike Martin, Larry Milo, Arthur Palleschi, Jim Palleschi, Mike Powers ( Capt.) Tom Santanello, Steve Waldman, Paul Wilson ( mgr.)
Coaching staff, head Coach Stan Bondelevitch, Line Coach, Dick Stevenson, Backfield, Dick Lynch. Freshman Coach, “Doc’Marden