Roster and Accomplishments From The 1974-1975 Season
The Hilltoppers put together another outstanding season in 1974-1975. Led by the policy debate team of Jim Fleissner and Craig Mullen, the Webster Club captured dozens of awards at tournaments across the country.
Webster Club members, when finding time between tournament weekends, relished their successes and shared their joy with the rest of the school.
The most highly esteemed debate team in the nation, returning national champs, Jim Fleissner and Craig Mullen, harvested a glittering crop of first place trophies in prestigious tournaments such as the Hodag Invitational in Rhinelander, or the Ruby Krider Tournament in Paris, Tennessee, not to mention the Bicentennial Forum in Philadelphia, the Motor City Special in Detroit, and the National Round Robin in Washington, D.C.
The star-studded speech team was equally successful; your man on the morning announcements, Cary Pfeffer, a Catholic National Finalist, captured firsts in the Pittsburgh Central Catholic Sweepstakes and the Miami Beach Forensics Festival. Multi-faceted Tom Schmitt placed first in Paris, finished second at Miami, and took first in the NFL. Extemporaneous speaker Jim Dowe overcame an unshakeable virus and placed high in state tournaments as well as the sweeping victories at Pittsburgh and Miami.
The juniors and sophomores sought out and captured victory on both state and national levels. In addition to many prospects in the class of ‘78, the underclassmen provided great prospects for the future.
—Flambeau, 1975
Roster of Students & Coaches
Coaches
All the club join in admiration of the 1974 Coach of the Year, Mr. Copeland. He extended himself to the rest of the school in counseling efforts and yet found time to lead the club to another brilliant year.
—Flambeau, 1975
- James Copeland - Director
- Steve Klink, S.J.
Varsity Debaters
- Rick Sankovitz
- Tom Goblirsch
- Tony Cafaro
- Jim Fleissner
- Bill Treacy
- Mike Brody
- Mike Flanagan
- John Garino
- Jim Duca
- Craig Mullen
Varsity Speakers
- Tom Lipscomb
- Nanda Alapati
- Cary Westley
- Peter Ziebert
- John Jarosz
- Mike Mikolajczak
- Tom Schmitt
- John Mullen
- Don Chrzan
- Cary Pfeffer
Junior Varsity Debaters
- Kevin Keck
- Louis French
- John Pilarski
- Martin Dowling
- Tom Taylor
- Bernie McCabe
- Mark Kaehny
- Mark Siettman
- John Jansky
- Tim Schally
- Tom Prendergast
- Steve Illa
- Rick Sincere
- Mark Strauch
- Dan Barboriak
- Pat Connelly
- John Mullen
- Bill Pangman
- Chris Clark
- Mike Zanoni
- Scott Murphy
Club Officers
- Tom Schmitt
- Jim Fleissner
- Cary Pfeffer
- Richard Sincere
- Rick Sankovitz
- Mike Flanagan
- Craig Mullen
- Mike Brody
- Pete Ziebert
Team Accomplishments
Sweepstakes Honors
- 1st Place - Pittsburgh Central Catholic
- 1st Place - Miami Beach Forensics Festival
Policy Debate Honors
- 1st Place - The Hodag Invitational in Rhinelander
- 1st Place - The Ruby Krider Tournament in Paris, Tennessee
- 1st Place - The Bicentennial Forum in Philadelphia
- 1st Place - The Motor City Special in Detroit
- 1st Place - The National Round Robin in Washington, D.C.
National Qualifiers
- Jim Fleissner
- Cary Pfeffer
- Tom Schmitt
- Craig Mullen
- John Jarosz
- John Mullen
National Tournament Locations
National Forensic League:
Ben Davis High School, Indiana
National Catholic Forensic League:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
National Policy Debate Resolution
Resolved: That the United States should significantly change the method of selection of presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
Photos
Click on the following photos to view a larger version. If you are able to provide a caption for any of the photos currently missing one or are able to correct a captioning error, please email Bill Batterman. Original, high-resolution scans of the photos are also available by contacting Bill.
Webster Club Officers: (sitting, left to right) Tom Schmitt, Jim Fleissner, Cary Pfeffer, (standing, left to right) Richard Sincere, Rick Sankovitz, Mike Flanagan, Craig Mullen, Mike Brody, Pete Ziebert.
In admiration, Pat Connelly dusts one of the Webster Club’s many trophies.
Junior Varsity Debaters: (bottom row, left to right) Kevin Keck, Louis French, John Pilarski, Martin Dowling, Tom Taylor, Bernie McCabe, (middle row, left to right) Mark Kaehny, Mark Siettman, John Jansky, Mr. Steve Klink, S.J., Tim Schally, Tom Prendergast, Steve Illa, (top row, left to right) Rick Sincere, Mark Strauch, Dan Barboriak, Pat Connelly, John Mullen, Bill Pangman, Chris Clark, Mike Zanoni, Scott Murphy.
National Qualifiers: (sitting, left to right) Jim Fleissner, Mr. James Copeland, Cary Pfeffer, (standing, left to right) Tom Schmitt, Craig Mullen, John Jarosz, John Mullen.
Cary Pfeffer digs for needed information.
Dick Sincere prepares his debate notes.
Varsity Speakers: (sitting, left to right) Tom Lipscomb, Nanda Alapati, Cary Westley, Peter Ziebert, (standing, left to right) John Jarosz, Mike Mikolajczak, Tom Schmitt, John Mullen, Don Chrzan, Cary Pfeffer.
Varsity Debaters: (sitting, left to right) Rick Sankovitz, Tom Goblirsch, Tony Cafaro, Jim Fleissner, (standing, left to right) Bill Treacy, Mike Brody, Mike Flanagan, John Garino, Jim Duca, Craig Mullen.
Mike Zanoni reaches for success.