CHS football honors Skorcz at banquet

Posted November 22, 2016 10:00 pm

By Pete Spitler Editor@heraldtrib.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: To read a full article about the passing of Eric "General" Skorcz, see the Herald Tribune's Dec. 2 print edition.

It was an emotional night at the Chester High School football awards banquet on Tuesday.

Less than 24 hours earlier, CHS assistant baseball coach and assistant Stingers football coach Eric "General" Skorcz passed away at Memorial Hospital of Chester due to complications from diabetes.

He was 34 and is survived by his father, Ralph, maternal grandparents (Earl and Pearl Hartman), two siblings (John Skorcz and Amy Eggemeyer), two nephews (James Maes and Ethan Eggemeyer), two nieces (Ally Eggemeyer and Kari Eggemeyer) and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

"I don't want to make excuses, but it's so tough for words right now," Blechle said after the banquet. "I haven't done anything with social media, other than some close friends I've had discussions with."

Blechle referred to Skorcz, whom he had coached with for the past 10 years, as "the prime example of what a perfect Chester fan should be."

"Chester lost a great man last night," he said.

Visitation for Skorcz is Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Pechacek-McClure Funeral Home in Chester and from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church in Ellis Grove. The funeral is Monday, Nov. 28, at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church.

The CHS football program honored Skorcz, who was a Chester High School graduate and a lineman on the football team, by awarding the inaugural Eric "General" Skorcz Award to an outstanding Yellow Jacket lineman each year.

Winning the award this year was junior Brady Kelkhoff, who was also previously honored by the Black Diamond Conference with an All-Conference Honorable Mention award.

Kelkhoff was one of several Yellow Jackets to receive team awards. Others were Daltyn Korando (Most Improved), Joey Stahlheber (Coaches' Award), Chase Colvis (Rising Star), Nick Heffernan (Defensive MVP), Chris Lang (Offensive MVP) and Jake Golding (Team MVP).

Heffernan is a junior and Colvis is a sophomore for Chester, while the others are seniors.

Individual team coaches - Blechle (varsity), Dallas Redeker (frosh/soph), Mike Heffernan (Frosh) and Charles Colvis (Frosh) - gave their recaps of their respective seasons.

Heffernan and Coach Colvis highlighted what was a learning year for the freshmen, as all but a handful of the 17 players had little prior football experience before the season.

The frosh Yellow Jackets finished 1-5 last season, their first losing season since 2008. Chester avoided becoming the first winless freshman team since 1986 with a 33-30 win over Anna-Jonesboro in the season finale.

"In the classroom, there were never any problems with the teachers, never had any problems with grades," Coach Colvis said.

Coach Colvis highlighted the performances of Ethan Rayburn (266 kick return yards, 2 TDs), Ethen Eggemeyer (62 tackles, a modern freshman-record 21 against A-J), Ian Reith (five INTs - four for TDs - his last three games at both frosh and frosh/soph levels), Ethan Bert (296 all-purpose yards) and Brendan Murphy (17 tackles, 3 for loss).

Coach Colvis also referred to Murphy as the team's "anchor lineman," with having the most football experience.

Redeker was next and gave highlights from the frosh/soph's 2-5 season, including the team's win over Edwards County-Grayville at the end of the season.

Lastly, Blechle touched on a 4-5 varsity season, which included "Jerseygate" against Fairfield at the beginning of the year, wins over C-Z-R, Sesser-Valier-Waltonville-Woodlawn, Hamilton County and Vienna-Goreville and several individual accomplishments by players.

The Yellow Jackets' All-Conference selections were introduced and presented with their certificates. Those included Kelkhoff, Nick Meyer (Honorable Mention), Heffernan (Second Team Defense), Lang (Second Team Offense), Savion Smith (Second Team Offense) and Golding (First Team Defense).

"It's nice when you get six on there," Blechle said. "I think it's a great award to receive, especially as a player.

"What it says about the team, even though our record doesn't necessarily show it, they're still about heart and there's a lot of fight left in these guys. Hat's off to them and I know they're proud to get the award."

Chester could return three of its All-Conference selections next season in Kelkhoff, Heffernan and Meyer.

"Hopefully, they stand up and be leaders," Blechle said, when asked what his hopes were for the trio as the program enters the offseason. "In football, the coach will have one side of the reins and they have to take the other side and that's what you hope for and hopefully, they have the personality and ability to lead like that."

As for the coaching staff, Blechle said they will once again attend the Glazier Football Clinic in St. Louis Feb. 24-26.

"It's a three-day event, stay in a hotel for a couple of nights and see some fantastic speakers," Blechle said. "Usually the goal is you go to where you coach in high school.

"For example, I go to all defensive guys talking or I go to Hudl stuff or Coach (Billy) Belton will go to offensive stuff. Whatever you're more comfortable with is where you go and it's a good experience."

Article Categories
Prep Sports