60 Years Later, Co-Champ Rediscovered
March 25, 2020
By Ron Pesch
Special for Second Half
Nicholas “Mickey” Turcheck tells a wild story. It involves a coin flip.
Involved in track & field for much of his life, Turcheck was a pole vaulter at Taylor Center during his high school days, then at Western Michigan University. He later served Taylor Center for more than three decades as track coach, where he mentored five state champions.
He also coached two future Olympians. Earl Jones, who won MHSAA Finals track titles in both 1980 and 1981, and grabbed bronze in the 800 meters at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Another of his athletes, Deby LaPlante, qualified for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal as a high hurdler.
In Turcheck’s possession is a medal. Etched on the back, pounded out in the style of the time, are five lines.
1960
FINAL MEET
CLASS A
POLE VAULT
1ST
Those 31 characters honor his MHSAA championship performance on what became a windy day in Ann Arbor at University of Michigan’s old Ferry Field.
But there is one problem. Turcheck’s name doesn’t appear on the MHSAA list of Finals champions. According to the list, the championship belongs to Joe Baldy of Monroe.
(The list has since been corrected and amended, per the story to be told below.)
Trackheads
For ‘trackheads’ – diehard fans of the sport and the events that comprise a track meet – as well as sports historians, a newspaper’s agate page is nirvana. Contained within the tiny type are the details that aren’t always relayed within the article covering a sporting event. Things like baseball batting averages, league standings, box scores, stat lines, team transactions, TV and radio schedules, and most everything else that doesn’t fix conveniently into the day’s sports section might appear on the page. For a track meet, a full agate listing will include place finishes as well as times, heights and distances that were used to determine winners of events, as well as detail on record performances that were equaled or topped.
Jim Moyes is a passionate sports fan. An undersized high school athlete at a small school, where participants of all shapes and sizes are valued, Moyes was the son of a prep coach at North Muskegon High School. He grew up and became, among other things, a beloved and respected broadcaster and public address announcer. Few were as well-prepared as Moyes, who studied agate pages, past performances, and, it seemed, the family trees of the participants prior to sitting before a microphone. His knowledge, as well as his sense of humor, was on display for 43 years in West Michigan, where he would balance his understanding and importance of an event with the awareness that, in the end, what we were experiencing was still just a game.
Well over 30 years ago he began his research into a passion project. Moyes is a ‘trackhead.’ And, because of this, in 2019, he officially became the author of a published book.
Way back, Moyes began digging into microfilm with the goal of capturing the names and events behind each MHSAA Finals track championship. He shared his initial research with the MHSAA, and for years the Association has highlighted his work on its website with lists of individual state champions on both their boys and girls track pages.
A couple of years before wrapping up his research, Moyes began work with another certified ‘trackhead,’ Jeff Hollobaugh – associated editor of Track & Field News, the voice of countless track meets, and as Moyes states, an “expert on this great sport” – to tell the stories of the meets in book form. “The Fleet Feet of Spring” – a history of Michigan’s High School State Championships covering the span 1895-2018 – was the result.
That’s 24,446 state champions. Simply put, its 439 pages contain a marvelous collection of statistics, stories and images.
But, with good reason, Turcheck’s name doesn’t appear in the publication.
Golden Age of Newspapers
Post-event press coverage on the 1960 MHSAA State Track Meet for most readers across Michigan arrived in their newspaper courtesy of coverage by wire-service reporters from The Associated Press or United Press International. With four meets to cover that encompass hundreds of prep athletes, the arch of the stories generally focus on record-setting events and streaks of success.
In Class A, the story was focused on the Pontiac Central squad that slipped past Flint Northern, 44-41, for its fifth title in six years. It was the seventh year in a row that the Vikings finished second at the meet. Pontiac junior Bredell Pritchett’s 59-foot-5¾ toss of the shot exceeded the previous state mark by better than two feet. Northern’s Maurice Pea, clocked at 9.8 seconds, tied a 35-year-old mark in the 100-yard dash. Al Ammerman of Dearborn established a new high jump record.
In 1960, the details of the pole vault simply weren’t the story.
Available space in newspapers is dictated by advertising. That certainly is the case today, and was most certainly the case back in the glory days of newsprint. Decisions are made by sports editors and staff on the amount of space available, and what agate will be printed. The results of a track meet, let alone the four simultaneous meets that comprise the MHSAA state championships, can certainly eat up plenty of real estate.
Relatively few papers around Michigan dedicated space to the MHSAA Track Championships back in May 1960. The old Detroit Times is among those that did include agate. Study of the listing however provides little clarity, as the paper listed only Metro Detroit finishers beyond the event winners. For the pole vault, that means confusion.
Pole Vault – “1 Joe Baldy, Monroe: Mickey Turcheck. Taylor Center: Bob Davis. Redford Union. and Larry Richardson. Livonia Bentley. were among those tieing for fourth. Distance 12 feet, 9 inches.”
The Grand Rapids Press agate adds haze to the mix. Baldy is listed in first, but Turcheck is listed as finishing second, followed by Flint Northern’s Jerry Wright in third. Davis, Richardson, Mike Pedler of Muskegon, J. Best from Battle Creek Central and Bill King of Traverse City are listed as occupying fourth place
The Battle Creek Enquirer lists only Baldy as the winner of the event and John Best “tied for fourth.” The Lansing State Journal agate shows only Baldy as the event winner. No track agate appears in the Detroit Free Press. Although the paper notes that team-wise, Birmingham finished third with 18 points, followed by Dearborn, Ann Arbor, Muskegon and Saginaw Arthur Hill in its coverage, the results from the Class A pole vault are not mentioned.
The Traverse City Record-Eagle does not include agate, but the article notes King’s fourth place finish, and that the Trojans track team spent the night sleeping on tumbling mats in the Saginaw Arthur Hill gymnasium when its bus broke down on the return trip home from Ann Arbor.
So, with little surprise, Moyes’ research concluded Baldy was the 1960 Class A pole vault champion.
Story of the Medal
In early March, Tony Mifsud, a longtime track coach at Dearborn Divine Child, contacted MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties John Johnson about the story.
Turcheck was recently visiting a friend, Bob Parks, the head track coach at Eastern Michigan University for 34 years and an assistant track coach at Western Michigan during Turcheck’s time in Kalamazoo competing for the Broncos. On a visit this past fall, Parks mentioned the Moyes and Hollobaugh book that he had recently received.
“Mick, your name is not listed there,” said Parks. “I know you were tied for the state championship because I was the coach at Redford Thurston at that time and I was at the state meet. I remember you being announced as the co-state champion of the pole vault.”
“I said, ‘Really?’” recalled Turcheck from his home in Taylor.
After the visit, he made a couple of phone calls to friends. In turn, some of those folks began reaching out to others with the story.
According to Turcheck, after the pole vault was over, a meet official said they only had one medal and they were going to flip to determine who would receive it. Turcheck won the coin flip and was awarded the souvenir. A duplicate medal was to be mailed to his co-champion.
Newsprint and the Miracle of Microfilm
Before the days of smartphones, e-mail, websites, pop-up ads, and cloud storage, the history of cities, big and small, was captured in print and sold on street corners, at newsstands, and, beginning in 1947, by coin-operated vending machines.
Monthly subscriptions meant home delivery of the day’s news, and newspapers were everywhere.
Before Craigslist and Google Ads, there was money to be made in helping businesses advertise their wares, employers to advertise job openings, and for individuals to sell items and offer apartments for rent in the classifieds. That strong revenue stream supported large staffs and solid coverage of local events at daily and weekly newspapers.
Some of that content – that history – is slowly coming online, but most of it remains tucked away on microfilm and microfiche in local libraries across America.
And sometimes, local pride resulted in details about the exploits and accomplishments of area athletes to appear in smaller town publications that cannot be found elsewhere.
Niles Kruger, a sportswriter at the Monroe Evening News, followed up on a request by Johnson to check microfilm from newspapers in the area for any detail that might exist. Fortunately, the coverage in the Evening News appears to help clear up much of the story.
The article also illustrates an issue often injected upon microfilm by small agate-style typeface. Characters can often bleed or blur and appear to be other letters. A lower case ‘s’ can look like an ‘a’ or an ‘e’; a lower case ‘i’ can look like lower case ‘l.’ Unexpectedly, this, too, was illustrated here.
And sometimes, long lists are subject to other errors.
‘Baidy’ not ‘Baldy, ‘John’, not ‘Joe’
“ANN ARBOR - John W. Baidy added his name to a long succession of great high school pole vaulters representing Monroe’s Trojans here Saturday,” stated the Evening News, “when he cleared the bar at 12 feet 9 ½ inches to tie with Mickey Turcheck of Taylor Center for first place in the state Class A track and field finals on Ferry Field …”
“Baidy also cleared the bar at 6 feet 1 inch in the high (jump) to gain a two-way tie for third place with Pontiac Central’s Bill Lee. Baidy thus accounted for a total of 9 points to tie the Trojans with Lansing Sexton and Ypsilanti Central for 8th place in the final standings.”
While there is no mention of the flip for the metal, the article backs up Turcheck’s recall of the day.
Recognizing that despite their best efforts, Moyes and Hollobaugh know that errors can appear in the publication. In their “Notes to the reader” section, they ask readers to please make contact if any mistakes are spotted.
“Thanks to today's modern technology Jeff Hollobaugh will be able to make the appropriate corrections in our book” noted Moyes from Florida via email, noting the marvels of the times we live in. “Better yet for Jeff & I,” added Moyes, displaying his comedic style, “with the amended corrections maybe Mickey Turcheck will purchase our newly revised book.”
Search for Baidy
“They wanted to flip a coin,” said Baidy recently, surprised in the sudden interest in a day from so many years ago and chuckling at the memory. “He got the call and got the medal. I really don’t remember if they told me if I was supposed to get a medal (in the mail). Right after that I had to go to the high jump or something.”
Baidy – who also tied for the Class A Finals high jump championship in 1959 – had received a call earlier on this day from his long-ago opponent from Taylor Center.
“I would certainly like to meet him again,” said Turcheck. His former high school sweetheart and bride had used her smartphone to seek out Baidy’s contact information, and soon after, the two old athletes were reminiscing about the day. Turcheck pitched the idea of getting together for lunch or dinner sometime soon.
“That’s what he wants to do, and it’s all right with me,” Baidy said, noting plans after things settle down. “We’re lucky to still be alive.”
Ron Pesch has taken an active role in researching the history of MHSAA events since 1985 and began writing for MHSAA Finals programs in 1986, adding additional features and "flashbacks" in 1992. He inherited the title of MHSAA historian from the late Dick Kishpaugh following the 1993-94 school year, and resides in Muskegon. Contact him at [email protected]:void(0);t with ideas for historical articles.
PHOTOS: (Top) The 1960 Finals championship medal, front and back, awarded to Baidy. (2) The Fleet Feet of Spring has been revised based on the latest re-discovery of a co-championship. (3) Mickey Turchek went on to compete at Western Michigan. (4) The Monroe Evening News announced John Baidy’s championship pole vault as part of its coverage of the 1960 Class A Track & Field Finals. (Turchek photo courtesy of the Turcheck famly; newspaper clipping courtesy of the Monroe Evening News.)
Preview: Prepare for Close Finishes
June 1, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Predicting the outcomes of MHSAA Track & Field Finals can be quite a leap.
But here's a semi-reliable forecast after hours of poring over the qualifiers for Saturday's seven boys meets: Expect plenty of close competition as a number of teams have the singular standouts needed to push them into championship contention.
Below is a look at some of the teams and individuals to watch at Saturday’s boys meets. All events begin at 9 a.m. local time on both peninsulas.
Click for meet information including all qualifiers. Check out MHSAA.TV for live streaming of running events from both peninsulas, available with subscription, and come back Saturday night for results as they come in and coverage of all seven meets on Second Half.
The MHSAA Track & Field Finals are presented by the Michigan Army National Guard. (All times/measurements referenced below were achieved during Regional competition.)
LP Division 1 at East Kentwood
Top Regional scores: 1. East Kentwood 166½, 2. Grand Blanc 139, 3. Oak Park 134.
East Kentwood is the reigning champion and has won six of the last nine LPD1 titles, doing so last year by 16½ points. Rockford was second and Oak Park third, and both could figure prominently again into Saturday’s final result.
East Kentwood: The Falcons return only one reigning champion – junior Logan Brown in the shot put, where he’s the top seed (57-8½) – but have plenty of options for scoring points. Senior Job Mayhue was second in the 110 hurdles last season and enters the weekend the top seed in that race (13.83) and the 300 (37.15). East Kentwood also will run the fourth-seeded 400 (42.80) and 800 (1:28.5) relays and third-seeded 1,600 relay (3:23.6).
Rockford: The rival Rams might have the best chance of catching East Kentwood. Senior Cole Johnson is the reigning 1,600 champ, and he’s seeded sixth in that race (4:20.02) and fifth in the 800 (1:55.59). Senior Gavin McIntyre is seeded second in the discus (157-1), and all four relays will run with multiple having a chance to break into the final heat.
Ann Arbor Pioneer’s Nick Foster: He finished third in the 1,600 as a sophomore in 2017 but could claim both long distance races this time with the top seed in the 3,200 (9:16.6) and the second seed in the 1,600 (4:17.84).
Macomb Dakota’s Jeron Kelley: After finishing ninth in the 100 and missing out on the 200 championship heat as a junior, Kelley enters as the top seed in the 100 (10.75) and third in the 200 (21.93).
Ypsilanti Lincoln’s Matthew Moorer: The senior speedster will try to repeat in the 400 and add the 200 title after finishing second in the latter last season. He’s seeded first in the 200 (21.56) and second in the 400 (48.07).
LP Division 2 at Zeeland
Top Regional scores: Dearborn Divine Child 179½, 2. Zeeland East 151½ 3. Chelsea 128½.
Zeeland East claimed its first championship in the sport last season, by 29 points over runner-up Coldwater. Those two appear to have the best chances of pushing for the title again, with a few others including Chelsea also in a possible mix.
Coldwater: Last year’s finish was Coldwater’s first among the top two at a Finals, and many of the key contributors are back. Senior Shuaib Aljabaly took second in the 3,200 last season and will return for that race and as the top seed in the 1,600 (4:13.9). Throws have been another area of strength, and sophomore Dylan Targgart is seeded first in both the discus (165-10) and shot put (59-4), with senior teammates Zach Gipple (56-3) and Cole Targgart (53-2½) seeded second and fourth, respectively, in the latter. Both Targgarts placed in the discus last spring. Senior Adam Bailey also has a second seed, in the 300 hurdles (40.0), after finishing sixth a year ago.
Zeeland East: The Chix’ power lies also lies in throws and hurdles, plus relays. Senior Brenden Knoll (162-9) and junior Boone Bonnema (150-3) are second and fourth-seeded in shot put, and Knoll is the third seed in discus (53-7¾); he was shot put runner-up in 2017. Senior Corbin DeJonge has the top seed in the 110 hurdles (14.83) and the fourth in the 300 (40.31) after taking fourth last season in both races. But the deciding points could come from top-seeded 400 (43.47) and 800 (1:30.3) relays.
Dearborn Divine Child’s Luke Ciarelli: The reigning champion in the high jump enters his final high school meet as the second seed (6-3).
Fruitport’s Cameron Oleen: He won the 400 last season as a junior and enters as the second seed in that race (50.39) plus will compete in the 800.
Wyoming Lee’s Thomas Robinson: The senior sprinter won the 100 and 200 in LPD3 the last two seasons, but could do the same in LPD2 as he enters with top seeds of 10.97 and 22.17, respectively.
LP Division 3 at Comstock Park
Top Regional scores: Warren Michigan Collegiate 164, Berrien Springs 153, Clare 144¼.
Five of the last six seasons have seen a first-time champion in LPD3. The last three seasons also have seen three straight runner-up finishes by Hillsdale (also seeking its first title). Saugatuck, Berrien Springs, Clare and Hanover-Horton are among teams that appear to have enough in what could be a low-scoring meet. Of those three, only Clare has won an MHSAA Finals in this sport – in 2000.
Clare: The Pioneers have talent spread throughout the lineup, starting with top-seeded 400 (44.06) and 800 (1:30.3) relays. Senior Noah Nivison has the top seed in discus (157-10), while senior Zac Stickler has the second seeds in discus (151-4) and shot put (56-9½); he was sixth in discus in 2017. Senior Xavier Martin adds another second seed in the 200 (22.23), and the 1,600 relay also has potential coming in as the fifth seed (3:31.4).
Hanover-Horton: The Comets could get points early with the top-seeded 3,200 relay (8:14.4) and have multiple racers in the 1,600 and 3,200. Senior Logan Melling is the top seed in the 800 (1:59.1) and the eighth seed in the 1,600 (4:26.8) after finishing second in the 1,600 and third in the 800 a year ago. Senior Dakota Manee adds the fifth seed in the 400 (51.04).
Houghton Lake’s Jackson Blanchard: The reigning champion in both hurdles races has the second seed in the 110 (14.97) and the top seed in the 300 (38.64), and he’ll also run the 200 in his final high school meet.
Hillsdale’s Spencer Eves: The reigning high jump champion, now a junior, is tied for the second-highest seed jump (6-4).
Chesaning’s Sam Forsyth: A senior, he won the long jump last season and is seeded third (tied) in that event (20-9) and sixth in the 200 (22.66).
Saugatuck’s Corey Gorgas: After coming in second in the 3,200 last season as a sophomore, Gorgas is seeded first in that race (9:34) and the 1,600 (4:21.7).
Harbor Springs’ Jeremy Kloss: He won the 1,600 and 3,200 in LPD4 as a sophomore and enters the LPD3 race Saturday with the second seed in the 800 (1:59.1) and the fourth in the 1,600 (4:25.7).
Kent City’s Giovanni Weeks: The junior standout is seeded first in the long jump (21-3) and 200 (21.99) and second in the 100 (11.06).
LP Division 4 at Hudsonville
Top Regional scores: Whittemore-Prescott 181, Southfield Christian 140, Lutheran Westland 135.
Whittemore-Prescott needed only 36 points last season to win its first championship in this sport, and the scoring could be that spread out again. If that’s the case, Addison, Kalamazoo Hackett or Hillsdale Academy might find itself contending as well. Hillsdale Academy was fifth last season, but only 10 points off the lead.
Addison: The Panthers will go after their first championship in this sport. Senior thrower Donovan Underwood is seeded first in discus (152-2) and fourth in shot put (46-½). Senior Dakota Knieper is seeded second in the 200 (50.74), and a handful of others are seeded in the 5-8 range of their respective events. All four relays are seeded seventh or higher, led by the third-seeded 800 (1:34.71).
Whittemore-Prescott: With competitors in 10 individual events and two contending relays, the Cardinals will have an opportunity to repeat. They won last year without a champion in any one event and enter Saturday without a top seed. But the 800 relay is seeded second (1:32.60) and the 1,600 relay is seeded third (3:34.18).
Marcellus’ Derek Flory: The reigning champion in the long jump and 300 hurdles is seeded first in the 300 (40.18) and third in the 110 hurdles (15.23) and will jump as well in his final high school meet.
Hale’s Patrick Harris: The reigning 400 champ is seeded first as a junior (50.52) and also will run the 200.
Harbor Beach’s Daniel Lanfear: He’s back as a senior to aim for a repeat in the high jump.
Sand Creek’s Alec Muck: The junior sprinter has three individual championships over his first two seasons and is seeded first in the 100 (10.77) and second in the 200 (22.11).
UP Division 1 at Kingsford
Top Regional scores: 1. Marquette 84½, 2. Houghton 57, 3. Gladstone 53½.
Marquette is aiming to extend its UPD1 Finals winning streak to four straight seasons after finishing more than 50 points better than runner-up Iron Mountain a year ago. Houghton, however, finished only 3½ points out of the second spot last year and will make a push for its first team championship since 1992.
Marquette: The Redmen’s massive win last season came with only two individual champions. Only two individuals and two relays are seeded first for this weekend; junior Raphael Millado has the top spot in high jump (6-7) after finishing runner-up a year ago, and junior Mathurin Gagnon is first in the 800 (2:03.66).
Houghton: The Gremlins return more star power, led by senior Clayton Sayen – the reigning champion in the 200 and two-time reigning winner of the 400. He’s seeded first in the 100 (11.58) and 400 (51.34) and second in the 200 (23.38). Senior Kameron Simpkin is the reigning champ in pole vault, and senior Seth Helman is one of the peninsula’s top distance runners – he’s seeded third in the 1,600 (4:40.72) and second in the 3,200 (10:26.29).
Gladstone’s Adam Bruce: The junior emerged last season winning the 3,200, and he’s seeded third in that race (10:26.69) and the 800 (2:04.54) and second in the 1,600 (4:37.86).
Negaunee’s Colton Yesney: Arguably the top distance runner in the U.P. the last two school years, he’ll finish his career trying for a second straight win in the 1,600 and seeded first in that race (4:27.76) and the 3,200 (10:03.52), third in the 400 (53.48) and fourth in the 800 (2:04.57).
UP Division 2 at Kingsford
Top Regional scores: 1. Ishpeming 65, 2. Iron Mountain 64½, 3. Newberry 45.
Newberry is the reigning champion after breaking Ishpeming’s three-year winning streak last spring. However, the Hematites finished second and may be the team to beat – although they’ll now have to fend off Iron Mountain again. The Mountaineers were the 2016 runners-up, then finished second last year in UPD1.
Iron Mountain: This could be the Mountaineers’ year to break through with a first team title since 2000. Junior Charlie Gerhard won the 300 hurdles in UPD1 last season and is seeded first in that race by more than a second (41.97). He’s also seeded second in the 110 hurdles (15.76) and tied for third in high jump (5-9). Seniors Michael Kulas (400 – 51.05) and Jacob Tucker (high jump – 6-3) and two relays also are seeded first.
Ishpeming: The Hematites have only two top seeds, but 11 among the top three – and that depth should pay off. Those number one seeds belong to sophomore Jonah Broberg in the 800 (2:10.32) – who is followed in that race by senior teammate Kyle Pruett (2:11.79) – and senior Hart Holmgren in the long jump (19-2½).
Stephenson’s Montell Glover: As a sophomore last year, he swept the 100, 200 and 400; as a junior he’s seeded first in the 100 (11.5) and 200 (23.02) and second in the 400 (51.25).
Ironwood’s Nick Niemi: The reigning champion in the 3,200 is seeded first in that race (10:24.85) and in the 1,600 (4:45.98) now as a junior.
Norway’s Inocencio Stankevich: He won the 300 hurdles last season and could double his total in his final high school meet, entering as the second seed in the 300 (43.32) and the top seed in the 110 hurdles (15.52).
UP Division 3 at Kingsford
Top Regional scores: Rapid River 83, Bessemer 80¼, Pickford 75½.
Rapid River will compete for its third straight team championship after edging Bessemer by four points at last year’s Finals. A Bessemer championship would be its second ever – and first since 1951.
Rapid River: Three returning individual champions give the Rockets a substantial start on their three-peat attempt. Senior Luke Gustafson won the pole vault last season and is tied for the top seed (11-6). Senior Logan Hardwick won the discus and is the top seed in that event (154-9) and the second seed in the shot put (45-9). And senior Lucas Sundling took first in the 400 in 2017 and is seeded first in that race (53.94) and the 100 (11.54) as well.
Bessemer: The Speedboys’ run at history will be aided by two returning individual champions. Senior Isaiah Aili won the 800 and 1,600 last year and is seeded second in both (2:09.43 and 4:51.07, respectively). Senior Brayden Tomes will look to repeat in the 200, where he’s seeded fifth (24.74), and he’s also seeded seventh in the 100 (12.0) and first in the 300 hurdles (44.34).
Pickford’s Nicholas Edington: He’s aiming to repeat in the high jump and is among those tied for fifth seed at 5-8.
Brimley’s Austin Plotkin: The sophomore will look to add to last year’s 3,200 title, and enters seeded fifth in that race (10:58.35) and seventh in the 1,600 (4:54.34).
Ewen-Trout Creek’s Jacob Witt: The senior football and basketball star is also a reigning shot put champion; he’s seeded first in that throw (45-11) and third in discus (143-9).
PHOTO: Reigning LPD3 long jump champion Sam Forsyth of Chesaning prepares to land during his Regional last month. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)