Triumph and Tradition
of the Poland Schools

by Robert L. Zorn

Poland Seminary High School

 

The first mention of formal organized athletics in the Poland Schools is found on August 28, 1923 when W. A. Strain, the elementary school principal at Poland Union Elementary, was hired to coach football at a salary of $100.00 for the entire season.  In the picture of the first team, shown below, the coach's name is listed as Straun in the caption below the picture, but all the old records in the board of education office show it was Strain.

 

There was no football field back then.  Games were usually played on a big empty lot which is now the site of the Poland Methodist Church.  In the 1920's that area was still wide open undeveloped country.  Later some of the trees and forest area behind the old High School on College Street were cleared out almost all the way to Yellow Creek, and became known as the Poland Athletic Field.  There were no goal posts or track, and tree stumps not yet cleared from the area made playing football just that much trickier.  It was hard enough dodging tacklers from the opposing team, but when you inadvertently hit a tree stump - you knew it!

 

Football helmets, which were seldom enough to go around, weren't well padded like they are today.  Back then they were only made of leather.  Other padding was sparse too, and if nature hadn't endowed you well, you were just in for some real bumps and bruises.

 

Old Stadium

 

This refers to the old high school stadium, track and football field now known as the Middle School Field or Baird Mitchell Field on Courtland Street.  This was the high school stadium from 1935 until 1986.  The last varsity football game played at this field was on September 6, 1986 with Poland losing to Struthers by a score of 14 - 6.

 

Bulldog Mascot and School Colors

 

The term "Bulldogs" was first used in the 1945 yearbook.  Prior to that, the teams were simply known as "Poland" or occasionally as "Seminary."  I couldn't find out how far back the school colors blue and white go, but they are mentined in the school's first yearbook in 1930.  The blue and white colors must have been as popular then as they are now, for the yearbook contains this comment about the school colors:  "Several other schools in the county are using blue and white uniforms which made the identity of the players difficult."

 

First Athletic Booster Club

 

The Athletic booster Club was formed in the fall of 1944 to support and enhance the sports programs in the school district.  The Booster Club over the years has greatly helped the athletic programs, not to mention the morale boost provided for the teams.

 

 

 

New Stadium 1986

 

On October 4, 1986 the new Poland Seminary High School Field was dedicated at the new high school on Dobbins Road when Poland played Campbell.  The new field started off with 2,200 seats (1,200 on the home side and 1,000 on the visitor's side).  Seating is now close to 5,000 due to all the additions made since 1986.  The new stadium complex includes a combination football & soccer field, practice football & soccer fields, a phys ed-athletic building that houses locker rooms, concession stands, restrooms, weight room, coaches offices and storage.

 

Lights Added 1989

 

Lights were added to the New PSHS field in the summer of 1989.  Lights were made possible at no cost to the taxpayers by the contributions of the community through the leadership of the Athletic Booster Club.  It was not the first time Poland had lights.  Night time football games had been tried on several occasions in the late 1940's and the early 1950's, but the School Board decided in 1952 to continue the tradition of Saturday afternoon football.  This 1989 installation of lights at PSHS Field was the first permanent lighting of a Poland athletic field.  Even today, Homecoming is on Saturday afternoon as a carry over of this tradition.