The Warsaw football program from 1988 to 1995 had the honor to be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. The program was inducted into the hall of fame in a ceremony on Feb. 4 at 1 pm in Springfield.
There were 100 former players and coaches that were honored, and just over 200 people in attendance from Warsaw.
Athletic Director Ryan Boyer said the success of Warsaw football during that era warranted the nomination and approval of the Hall of Fame recognition.
“The reason the ‘88 – ‘95 era is being inducted is because during that span of time they had one of the highest winning percentages of any high school team in the state of Missouri,” Boyer said.
Retired head coach Randy Morrow was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a coach in 2011.
During this era, the program’s winning percentage was 95 percent with 95 wins and 10 losses.
Many former football players reacted to the program being inducted in the hall of fame
“I was very happy, pleased, and finally satisfied to hear that our program from the 1988-95 era was going to be honored. It is much overdue because during that tenure, with multiple conference and district championships and several deep playoff runs that include two state championships, Warsaw football was the epitome of a powerhouse. And with that turnaround to happen so soon following some dismal seasons, it was truly an unfathomable feat for Coach Randy Morrow, his staffs, teams and the Wildcats faithful,” 1994 graduate and editor of the Benton County enterprise Adam Howe said.
Former players have many memories with the ‘88 to ‘95 program.
“Best memories were probably being a part of the 90/91 team winning the state championship games and the awards I was able to receive my senior year,” ISS supervisor Michael Slavens said.
Slavens was pleased to be part of such an important time in WHS history.
“I was able to be included with the right group of teammates and coaches at the right time,” he said.
The program taught the players many lessons that they passed down to their children. Both Slavens and Howe have children involved in WHS sports.
“The responsibilities taught and the lessons learned from winning and losing are very comparable to life after sports and, coaching my sons at an early age, I apply the same concept,” Slavens said.
The football program has became more than a program to the former players
“This year will be my first in 31 years that I haven’t coached any kind of team. Included in those teams are several Warsaw youth football teams, so I used that opportunity to try to teach other boys what it really means to be a Wildcat. I hope that worked too . . . I bleed green. I’ve played. I’ve coached. I’ve volunteered. I am currently the announcer at home on Friday nights, I travel to every away game to do commentary on our live broadcasts and I cover the team as part of my career. I now have a son who will be on the high school roster next year, so it’s all kind of come full-circle for me. Wildcats football is still, and always will be a part of me,” Howe said.
The football players from the era have many reasons to be proud.
“I’m probably most proud of the fact that Coach Morrow and his staffs are receiving this recognition. The impact that those coaches have had on hundreds of young men who came through the Warsaw football program is immeasurable and unimaginable. To be able to celebrate this event with all of them is what makes it all that more special,” Howe said.