I reached out to 8 GHS athletes who won individual State Championships, and 2 GHS athletes who won a doubles State Championship. My purpose has been to celebrate and honor their achievements, and to use their stories as an inspiration for athletes today.
I certainly appreciate this athletes taking the time to share their memories and to share their insights into what is needed to be a champion.
This is Part 1 “talking” with Gene Denisar, Mike “Charlie” Doyle, Dean McKillip, Nate Bobofchak, and Jason Gunther.
Gene Denisar
1964 Wrestling State Champ
Massey- Can you give a recap of your championship?
Gene Denisar- I won the 154 lb. State wrestling championship in Evanston. I won 4 matches in a row and pinned my opponent in the final. That particular weekend I was “on a roll” and pretty much dominated the competition!
Massey- Were you undefeated on the season?
Gene Denisar- I lost one match during the season and avenged that loss at conference meet.
Massey- Do you remember at what point you thought winning State was a realistic goal?
Gene Denisar- Frankly after 61 years I do not recall.
Massey- Many great athletes are driven by the goal of “getting to State.” How did you break thru that so that making it wasn’t the goal but winning State was the goal?
Gene Denisar- I always wanted to do the very best I could ! If a Championship happens that was fantastic!
Massey- Can you describe the moment of winning State?
Gene Denisar- It was a very happy event.
Massey- Who are a few of the people you credit with pushing you to win State?
Gene Denisar- Credit goes to my coach, my teammates, and my parents.
Massey- Did you learn something about yourself? Did it impact you going forward in life?
Gene Denisar- Yes!! I learned that one can do anything they “set their mind” to achieve. It helped me to realize to never, never, give up on your dreams/goals! Winning the State really “changed my life” completely!! It “opened the door” for a QUALITY education which I will always appreciate.
Gene Denisar- Football and Track
Massey- Where did you go to school after GHS?
Gene Denisar- I went to Indiana University. I received a FULL athletic scholarship. I eventually received 3 degrees from IU.
Massey- Share what you did for your career.
Gene Denisar- My career was education. I became a teacher and coach in the beginning and over the years served as Superintendent of Schools in Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, and Florida.
Massey- What advice would you have for today’s GHS athletes?
Gene Denisar- I would encourage GHS athletes to participate/take advantage of sports and extracurricular activities! One can learn so much from the participating.
Mike “Charlie” Doyle
1970 Long Jump State Champ
Massey- Give us a recap of how you won the State title.
Doyle- I won the 1970 state championship (there were no school classifications then) with a jump of 23 feet 6 1/4 inches.
Massey- Was there a moment when you realized winning State was a goal?
Doyle- It never crossed my mind my entire career.
Massey- Many great athletes can focus on “making it to State,” but then they can’t shift gears. It is like just making it is good enough, versus wanting to win.
Doyle- I was fortunate to go to state in several track events in my sophomore, junior, and senior years. My main focus was always basketball. We won 2nd place in the state in 1968, and now as a senior, this was my last opportunity to win a state title.
Massey- Can you describe your reaction to winning State?
Doyle- The fact that I was the top qualifier at 23 feet 5 1/4 on the first day reduced the pressure for the finals. I was shocked to win the finals with a jump of 23 feet 6 1/4.
Massey- Looking back, who were some of the people who helped you reach this goal?
Doyle- My motivation was recognized months before by a speech at the boys forum by the head of the Indiana high school athletics. This was also Coach VanDykes last year coaching. Jerry Albright and Coach Van Dyke pushed me in my training for this event.
Massey- Did winning State teach you any lessons about yourself?
Doyle- It certainly emphasized the importance of doing my best in all endeavors.
Massey- Did you do other sports at GHS?
Doyle- I lettered in basketball and track all 3 years. I enjoyed golf and baseball also.
Massey- What did you do after GHS?
Doyle- I attended Tulane University in New Orleans my freshman year, then transferred to Loyola in New Orleans for my remaining 3 years at both schools. I only played basketball in college.
Massey- What have you done post-college?
Doyle- I graduated with a business degree and went into sales and marketing for my entire career. I retired in 2012 and moved back to Galesburg and married my high school sweetheart.
Massey- Any advice to today’s GHS athletes?
Doyle- My advice for today’s athletes would be to not limit yourself to one or two sports because you never know where good coaching can take you.
Dean McKillip
1977 Shot Put State Champ
Today Dean lives in Utah, where he is still working in sales that takes him on the road. It worked out for Dean to call me while he was on the road. So I took notes and am writing Dean’s story.
Throughout Dean’s junior year and most of his senior year, he threw the shot in the mid-50’s (feet). This distance was good enough to qualify for State but not in the ball park to win State. Late in his senior season at the Geneseo Invitational, out of nowhere, Dean threw 61’1”. This was 3-4 feet farther than his previous best, and ranked as one of the best in the State. Dean’s reaction was,”Wow, I am up in an area that I could do something at State.”
The next week at the Monmouth Inv, Dean won the shot put but only threw 56’ or 57’. Dean said,”My shot coach, Russ Benjamin was so upset with me. I think Coach Benjamin thought I could win State before I believed I could win State.”
At Sectionals, Dean won the Discus and took second in the Shot. He advanced to State in those two events plus the long jump. Probably not many athletes are long jump and shot put athletes. So going to State, Dean had only the one throw over 60 feet from back at Geneseo.
At State, Dean’s first throw was 60’1” in the first round. He had two more throws on Friday, and then three on Saturday. He did not beat that throw the rest of the weekend. Dean described the competition this way,”They had chalk lines at 50 feet, 55 feet, and 60 feet. My throw put me in first, but there were three others throwing consistently around 60 feet. So there was a lot of throws kicking up the chalk at the 60 foot line. You don’t think of chalk as an exciting event but it was. All weekend there was stress because they would measure each throw and they were all close.”
With one person left to throw, Dean still lead. The last throw hit the line and so there was drama to measure. The final results- 4th place 59’11”, 3rd place 59’11 1/2”, 2nd place 60’0”, and Dean in first with 60’1”.
Dean described his feeling this way,”It was a combination of excitement and a ton of relief. It was like a photo finish on the track. Football coaches always say the game is a game of inches, this championship was definitely a game of inches.”
When asked about people he credits with helping him, the first he talked about was his family. He attributed getting toughness and competitiveness from his family. Russ Benjamin challenged him in the shot and pushed him. Kelly Kane in football had created a “winning attitude” in GHS sports.
Dean McKillip went onto play football at the University of Iowa and had a highly successful career. Dean compared the feeling he got from winning State with the success in football in college by saying,”Winning State was the most exciting thing I did in sports- it was unexpected and it was just me. In football, I couldn’t do anything without the others. Because of my position I got recognition.”
As far as how it has impacted him,”In sales, you are only as good as the people around you. It is like football, the group has to execute. From track, the confidence to be THE person to step and lead came from the confidence I got winning State. Track and football have played a role in the rest of my life.”
As far as advice to young athletes- he said he tells his son and daughter the following before games,”1- Have fun, 2- Hustle, 3- Give 100%.”
And then after the games when they talk, he says to them,”1- Did you have fun?, 2- Did you give everything?”
Jason Gunther
1996 Doubles Tennis State Champ
Massey- Can you give me a recap of how your state championship came about?
Gunther- We came into state seeded 4th, I think, but we had started to play really well towards the end of the season and knew we had a real shot. Most of our early matches went as planned and we only lost 1 game in the semi finals and were feeling great. We ended up starting the finals up 3-0 and looked unstoppable. However, that momentum changed and we won the first set 7-6. We then lost the second set 6-7 and won the 3rd 8-6. It’s hard to find a match any closer in finals history. Mentally and physically we left it all on the court.
Massey- Were you undefeated in this event, weight class during the year?
Gunther- No, we went 32-4 on the year.
Massey- Do you remember at what point of your career that you thought winning state was a reasonable goal?
Gunther- Being highly successful at state was always an important goal for me but after Nate had such a successful previous year at state, with Sam Steckley, I knew we were going to be a tough team. It wasn’t until about half way through the season until I really started to have the feeling we could be the best in the state.
Massey- It seems like a lot of athletes in many sports have a goal of “getting to State.” That is a great goal for an athlete but sometimes it seems like then once they “make it to State,” there is kind of a let up- they are satisfied. How did you break thru that and not become satisfied with just getting to State, but wanted to win State?
Gunther- My goal was always to win state and with Nate and Sam finishing 4th the year before, that really gave me the fuel and confidence to want to win the whole thing. Nate was a Sr. and I was a freshman so knew we only had one shot together to win as doubles champions.
Massey- When you won State- how would you describe that moment and the time after it? Was it more relief or utter joy?
Gunther- In the moment it was a complete blur and pure joy. We had such a tough battle in the finals and to pull off the win was such an achievement. We instantly celebrated together, then with our families, coaches and friends. It was a moment I think all of us will remember forever. Two downstate kids coming up to Chicago to do the impossible. The time after was great too. The school and community rallied around to celebrated the achievement.
Massey- Who do you credit with giving you the push to achieve this tremendous accomplishment- credit with pushing you mentally or physically?
Gunther- There are so many. My parents, Pete and Mary Lou and my siblings Kristin, Amanda and Jordan. My doubles partner Nate along with all my other teammates. My HS tennis coaches, Bill Sargent and Laurie Aten and also my other tennis coaches, Larry Davis and Greg Stacey. All of them spent hours upon hours on and off the court helping shape me/us to be ready for that moment.
Massey- Do you think you learned something about yourself thru this achievement, and did accomplishing this impact you going forward?
Gunther- Hard work is worth doing and if you can put in the time and do all the things others don’t want to do, you can come out on top. You have to work harder than your opponents and know that if you are not doing it, someone else it. I have carried the belief for my entire life.
Massey- Did you do other sports at GHS?
Gunther- Yes, I played on the boys golf team for 3 years
Massey- Where did you attend college? Did you continue in sports?
Gunther- Drake University and yes, I continued to play tennis but only for my first year.
Massey- What career path did you take?
Gunther- I currently work as a Certified Financial Planner with Edward Jones Investments in Lake Forest, IL.
Massey- Do you have any advice for today’s athletes at GHS?
Gunther- Put in the time and then put in more time. Listen to your coaches and be coachable. The memories and bonds you create in athletics with your teammates will be with you forever. Treat all of them with respect. Make the best of every practice, game and match. Have fun but take it seriously and push yourself to 100% in all that you do.
Nate Bobofchak
1996 Doubles Tennis State Champ
Massey- Can you give me a recap of how your state championship came about?
Bobofchak- We were seeded #3 in the state tournament, but had played ans tough a schedule as annyone and had a lot of momentum coming in. We played our best tennis of the season and dominated our first 6 opponents without losing a set. The championship match was against the #1 seed undefeated team from Glenbrook South. We had not played them previously, but knew they did not have as tough a schedule during the season, so we knew we had a good chance. There was a very long rain delay that day and the match was moved indoors, late in the evening. This affected our momentum a bit. The match was back and forth throughout and could not have been much closer. We pulled out the win 7-6, 6-7, 8-6.
Massey- Were you undefeated in this event, weight class during the year?
Bobofchak- One of the things I am most proud of. We lost 4 matches during the first half of the season, but ultimately avenged all 4 of those losses by the end.
Massey- Do you remember at what point of your career that you thought winning state was a reasonable goal?
Bobofchak- I had finished 4th the previous season with Sam Steckley, so I already knew what it took to be in the mix. Jason and I took a few weeks to get going, but by mid-season, after beating a great team from Bloomington, I knew we had a chance.
Massey- It seems like a lot of athletes in many sports have a goal of “getting to State.” That is a great goal for an athlete but sometimes it seems like then once they “make it to State,” there is kind of a let up- they are satisfied. How did you break thru that and not become satisfied with just getting to State, but wanted to win State?
Bobofchak- After you get there once or twice, you tend to naturally move past being satisfied just being there. I was a state qualifier each year, so by the time I was a senior, I was not at all intimidated by the atmosphere. Jason, however, was such a great competitor, even as a freshman. He was mentally ready to win right away.
Massey- When you won State- how would you describe that moment and the time after it? Was it more relief or utter joy?
Bobofchak- Jubilation! I think it would have been an amazing feeling no matter what, but winning it on the longest point of the match at the end of the longest match of the year felt a bit like the ending of a great sports movie. Only thing missing was the music!
Massey- Who do you credit with giving you the push to achieve this tremendous accomplishment- credit with pushing you mentally or physically?
Bobofchak- Certainly not just one person. God gave me the ability and will. My parents gave me the means and opportunity. Coach Sargeant had the courage to pair Jason and I together when it maybe didn’t make sense at first. And Jason and I motivated each other on the court.
Massey- Do you think you learned something about yourself thru this achievement, and did accomplishing this impact you going forward?
Bobofchak- There are a lot of lessons I learned by playing sports. But winning at a high level certainly gave me a great deal of confidence that spilled over into other areas of my life.
Massey- Where did you attend college? Did you continue in sports?
Bobofchak- Illinois Wesleyan University. I was a 4 year varsity tennis player.
Massey- What career path did you take?
Bobofchak- I attended medical school after college, and am now a practicing anesthesiologist.
Massey- Do you have any advice for today’s athletes at GHS?
Bobofchak- Stick with it! Achieving success in sports often requires weathering lots of ups and downs, but the lessons learned and the memories gained are all worth it.
Massey- For you, what was it like for you having your son win a State Championship in tennis?
Bobofchak- So much pride! It was amazing to be back at Hersey High School to watch my oldest son Noah and his partner Drew get 3rd place at state in 2021 and then 2nd place in 2022. Then having my younger son Zach and his partner Hugh go all the way in 2023 was just surreal. I will say that watching Noah, Zach, or Hannah compete is far more nerve-racking than playing myself!
Click on the link to go to Streaks Scrapbook- GHS Individual & Team State Champs
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