Class of “73

The Class of 1973 of Batesville High School just celebrated their 40th class reunion.  This group contained my first highly successful cross country team.  The 5 top runners included Brent Billman, John Moorman, Alan Butt, Tom Ertel, and Jerry Prickel.  This group followed Dennis Dierckman who really put Batesville on the cross country map.  I remember winning the County Meet against a Dave Porter coached Jac-Cen-Del team.  (Yes, Dave Porter coached cross country!)  Porter was not a happy camper because, I believe, he was undefeated a the time we beat him at the County.  It also marked the first season a Bulldog team won a sectional title.  The 5 young men that I mentioned have a special place in my memory, because they truly were a cross country “team”.  The talent did not stop with this 5, because standing in the wings were Mark Yorn, Ray Smith, and a young man named Mike Bogenschutz.   Mike started a stretch in which he, his brother Tom, and sister Judy took what this group started and continued for 9 straight EIAC crowns which is something that has never been done by any other school.  I would like to dedicate this story to John Moorman, Ray Smith, and Mike Bogenschutz.  All these men passed away at way too young an age.