Calvert Football began in 1924 under the leadership of Aloysius "Wishy" Kramer. Wishy established the school's first dynasty throughout his 21-year stay as a Seneca. The first season consisted of four games, before Coach Kramer handed the whistle over to Alfred Meier for 3 seasons. The 1929 team welcomed back Coach Kramer by cumulating a 3-5 record. The 1931 team saw more success by taking home what would end up being the last Northwestern Parochial Conference title. The '31 team compiled ten victories in a row, scored the most points in the state of Ohio, and held opponents to a total of 10 points. In 1932, the Seneca team captured the first of five LSN (league of Six Nations) football crowns. With the success of his teams, Wishy would become the winningest coach in the history of the football program to date.
Filling the shoes of the Kramer dynasty, Coach Karl "Zip" Zalar took control for the 1949 season. Zip would see his most successful season in 1953, as his team saw 8 wins to only 1 loss. Coach Zalar was able to cumulate a record of 46 wins and 31 losses in his 9 seasons with the program.
The 1958 season welcomed Paul Miletti as the new leader of the football program. In Coach Miletti's second season, Calvert became a new member of the SBC (Sandusky Bay Conference) and were able to capture a share of the League title. Coach Miletti also saw his 1961 (9-0-1) and 1965 (7-0-2) teams claim similar success, while capturing outright SBC titles of their own. The 1961 Senecas ended up 19th in the state rankings. Coach Miletti would end his 10 seasons with 55 wins and only 29 losses after the '67 season.
Coach Gene Nara carried the botton into the 1968 season and was able to compile a 15-4-1 record over his 2-year stay as head coach. Over the next 4 seasons, the Senecas would experience three different coaches in Pete Veneziano (1970; 3-7), David Hartman (1971-72; 10-9), and Frank Savarese (1973; 1-9). Then, before the 1974 season, Calvert welcomed Coach Roger "Buzz" Kirkhart as its head coach. Coach Kirkhart would bring 3 SBC crowns (1977, 1978, 1979) and 1 Regional Championship (1979) before capturing back-to-back Division V State Championships (1980, 1981). Needless to say, the '80 and '81 teams also won SBC titles as well. Kirkhart would remain with the program for 11 years before stepping down after the 1984 season.
Bob Olwin replaced Kirkhart for the '85 season, producing a 6-4 record in his inaugural season. After the '85 season, the Senecas closed affiliation with the SBC and entered the Midland Athletic League. In the team's 1st season in the MAL, they captured the league title and became a Regional qualifier for the first time since the 1981 season.
Coach Terry Mark would take over for Olwin following the 1988 season, leading the Senecas for six seasons and cumulating a 7-3 record in 1991. He would be succeeded by Toby Hammond for the 1995 season. In his fourth season, Coach Hammond would bring the 1st undefeated/untied regular season (10-0) in Calvert Football History, the first MAL title since '86, and the first Regional Championship since the '79 season. The Senecas were ranked 4th in the AP poll and reached the final four in the Division VI State Playoffs. They would end the season with a loss to Delphos St. John, who ended up winning the State title that year. Coach Hammond was named Division VI Coach of the Year, and several players earned State Honors. The 1999 season saw similar success, while cumulating another undefeated/untied regular season (10-0) and an overall record of 12-1. After gaining a 2nd straight MAL title, the team ranked 2nd in the AP poll and finished the season as Regional runner-up in the Division VI State Playoffs.
As the new millenium came, Calvert kept its progress moving forward. The 2000 team went 7-3 and won its 3rd straight MAL crown. They also went to the Division VI State Playoffs for the third consecutive year. In 2001, the Senecas finished 9-4 to capture the MAL title for the 4th straight year, and once again found a State Playoff birth. Coach Hammond would see more success in 2002, as his team (10-3) would conclude with a 5th straight MAL Championship as well as Division VI State Playoff Regional runner-up. After the 2003 season, Coach Hammond resigned after 9 seasons with Calvert. He would conclude with a record of 66 wins and 36 losses for a 64.7% winning percentage.
Pat Herron would lead the program for the next 2 seasons, compiling an overall record of 8-12 before handing over the position to Coach Keenan Leichty after the 2005 season. In his second season, Coach Leichty's 2007 team (6-4) achieved the first Seneca winning season since the '02 season. After leading the program for three seasons, he would hand the whistle to Coach Jim Kubuske, who would lead the 2009 team to a 5-5 record before resigning the post. The Senecas are currently under the leadership of Coach Todd Fox heading into the 2010 season.
Filling the shoes of the Kramer dynasty, Coach Karl "Zip" Zalar took control for the 1949 season. Zip would see his most successful season in 1953, as his team saw 8 wins to only 1 loss. Coach Zalar was able to cumulate a record of 46 wins and 31 losses in his 9 seasons with the program.
The 1958 season welcomed Paul Miletti as the new leader of the football program. In Coach Miletti's second season, Calvert became a new member of the SBC (Sandusky Bay Conference) and were able to capture a share of the League title. Coach Miletti also saw his 1961 (9-0-1) and 1965 (7-0-2) teams claim similar success, while capturing outright SBC titles of their own. The 1961 Senecas ended up 19th in the state rankings. Coach Miletti would end his 10 seasons with 55 wins and only 29 losses after the '67 season.
Coach Gene Nara carried the botton into the 1968 season and was able to compile a 15-4-1 record over his 2-year stay as head coach. Over the next 4 seasons, the Senecas would experience three different coaches in Pete Veneziano (1970; 3-7), David Hartman (1971-72; 10-9), and Frank Savarese (1973; 1-9). Then, before the 1974 season, Calvert welcomed Coach Roger "Buzz" Kirkhart as its head coach. Coach Kirkhart would bring 3 SBC crowns (1977, 1978, 1979) and 1 Regional Championship (1979) before capturing back-to-back Division V State Championships (1980, 1981). Needless to say, the '80 and '81 teams also won SBC titles as well. Kirkhart would remain with the program for 11 years before stepping down after the 1984 season.
Bob Olwin replaced Kirkhart for the '85 season, producing a 6-4 record in his inaugural season. After the '85 season, the Senecas closed affiliation with the SBC and entered the Midland Athletic League. In the team's 1st season in the MAL, they captured the league title and became a Regional qualifier for the first time since the 1981 season.
Coach Terry Mark would take over for Olwin following the 1988 season, leading the Senecas for six seasons and cumulating a 7-3 record in 1991. He would be succeeded by Toby Hammond for the 1995 season. In his fourth season, Coach Hammond would bring the 1st undefeated/untied regular season (10-0) in Calvert Football History, the first MAL title since '86, and the first Regional Championship since the '79 season. The Senecas were ranked 4th in the AP poll and reached the final four in the Division VI State Playoffs. They would end the season with a loss to Delphos St. John, who ended up winning the State title that year. Coach Hammond was named Division VI Coach of the Year, and several players earned State Honors. The 1999 season saw similar success, while cumulating another undefeated/untied regular season (10-0) and an overall record of 12-1. After gaining a 2nd straight MAL title, the team ranked 2nd in the AP poll and finished the season as Regional runner-up in the Division VI State Playoffs.
As the new millenium came, Calvert kept its progress moving forward. The 2000 team went 7-3 and won its 3rd straight MAL crown. They also went to the Division VI State Playoffs for the third consecutive year. In 2001, the Senecas finished 9-4 to capture the MAL title for the 4th straight year, and once again found a State Playoff birth. Coach Hammond would see more success in 2002, as his team (10-3) would conclude with a 5th straight MAL Championship as well as Division VI State Playoff Regional runner-up. After the 2003 season, Coach Hammond resigned after 9 seasons with Calvert. He would conclude with a record of 66 wins and 36 losses for a 64.7% winning percentage.
Pat Herron would lead the program for the next 2 seasons, compiling an overall record of 8-12 before handing over the position to Coach Keenan Leichty after the 2005 season. In his second season, Coach Leichty's 2007 team (6-4) achieved the first Seneca winning season since the '02 season. After leading the program for three seasons, he would hand the whistle to Coach Jim Kubuske, who would lead the 2009 team to a 5-5 record before resigning the post. The Senecas are currently under the leadership of Coach Todd Fox heading into the 2010 season.
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Updated May 27, 2010