|
Cloyce
Wentling, a 1931 graduate of Carey High School,
earned nine varsity letters – three each in football, basketball and track
and field. He was given the honor of being named a team captain his senior
year of football and track and field.
The 1931 yearbook called him “a
smashing half who was depended on to gain that extra yard when needed.” Wentling helped lead the basketball team to its first
ever win (31-30) in school history over Upper Sandusky and won the 220-yard
low hurdles in the Wyandot County Meet.
Wentling
enrolled at Bowling Green State College where he played four years of
football, lettering twice. His determination went a long way in making him
into the player he became. During a 58-6 loss to Baldwin-Wallace, Wentling’s play led one area reporter to write, “The
only shining moment that stood out in the defeat was the heart-breaking
efforts of Cloyce Wentling,
left halfback, who made 90 percent of the tackles and played marvelously
throughout game. His number 65 was found at the bottom of practically every
pile. He deserves the greatest of praise. Could he be the Moses to lead
Bowling Green out of the wilderness?”
Wentling
made a return to his high school alma mater after receiving his college
degree in 1935. He coached football, basketball, baseball and track and
field from 1935-49. Some years he was the only coach on staff.
In 1944, he stood in as the head
man for the resurrection of the baseball squad. He eventually led the Blue
Devils to a state tournament berth – a first for any Wyandot County school.
Unfortunately, World War II and the Navy came calling for some of the
team’s better players prior to the tourney. He also helped coached the 1946
football team to an unbeaten season.
In 1972 he retired from CHS with
the school board honoring his accomplishments both on and off the field by
naming the football facilities “Wentling Field.”
Wentling
and his wife Lucille remained Carey residents until their deaths. They had
two daughters, Sybil (Vaughn) and Carol (Jesko),
as well as a son, Stephen.
|
