Warriors are strong in CVL
By CASEY CASE
Contributing writer
The Cottonwood Valley League, aka the CVL, can trace its roots back to Sept. 25, 1927, when a meeting was held in Peabody to discuss forming a basketball league.
As far as anyone can tell, the original CVL was comprised of Marion, Florence, Peabody, Hillsboro, Burns, Augusta, and Whitewater. During the first basketball season, Cathedral High of Wichita was elected to take the place of Whitewater, and Cottonwood Falls entered the league.
The first football season in the CVL took place in the fall of 1928. Marion played three league games that year, beating Cathedral 14-0, Florence 16-0, and Peabody 13-0. The 1928 team finished the season with a 4-2 record and was crowned CVL champs going undefeated in league play.
Members of that historic team included Lee Beaston, Morris Brooker, and Homer Miesse.
The 25th football season in the CVL took place in the fall of 1953. Marion once again went undefeated in league play and was crowned champion of the CVL. The 1953 team compiled an 8-1 record with their only loss coming at the hands of arch rival Moundridge by a score of 14-13.
Members of this team included Max Hayen and Roger Richmond, who still reside in Marion.
The 50th football season in the CVL took place in the fall of 1978. Marion once again went undefeated in league play and was crowned champion of the league. The 1978 team compiled an 8-3 record with two of their losses coming at the hands of class 2A undefeated state champs Moundridge, and class 3A undefeated state champs Douglass by a total of 12 points.
This also was the first team in Marion history to advance to the state playoffs. Members of this team included Jeff Richmond, Jay Smith, Doug Heerey, Jerry Hett, Darin Helmer, Danny Snelling, and many others.
That brings us to the 75th, and last football season in the CVL. It began Friday evening when Marion Warriors took on bitter rival and defending CVL champs, Sacred Heart of Salina.
The Marion boys came out fired up and won a hard fought contest in front of a capacity homecoming crowd with a score of 14-7.
Although the 2003 CVL champion is far from being crowned, the Warriors took a huge step toward being the first, and last champions of one of the oldest leagues in the state.
