Because of their accomplishments, the 1956 Sterling High School football team left their mark in the annals of SHS sports. The team is of legendary status and is said to be one of the best football teams in school history. The team was coach by Bernie Mitchell '28, along with assistant coaches Chet Sherman and DuWayne Dietz '48. The team had a season record of 8 wins and 1 loss.
The team was undefeated in conference games and held three opponents scoreless. They were the NCIC Northwest conference champions and also defeated the NCIC Southeast conference champions as well. They were undefeated until the season final football game, which they lost by a score of 19-12.
In 1956 there was not an official statewide high school ranking system. However, this Sterling team was considered by many newspaper sports writers as one of the top football teams in the State of Illinois.
Team defense was one of the main factors of success for this team. They limited their 9 opponents to a total of 59 for the season. Their team offense also was impressive by raking up a total of 184 points for the season.
One of the highlights of the season was the Mendota football game that Sterling won by a score of 18-7. Mendota had a powerful team with a fullback that later played for the University of Illinois and then was drafted and played for the Minnesota Vikings for many years.
This 1956 football team not only was outstanding on the football field but was impressive in the classroom as well. With the exception of only three players, every member of the team earned an overall grade point average of "B" or higher.
There were many post-season individual honors for this great football team. NCIC First team All-Conference selections were awarded to Gerald Wise '57, Frank Wagner '57, George Marshall '57, and Bill Tarner '57. Jim Farver '57, Mike Zigler '57, and Denis Bohm '57 were honored as second team All-Conference selections. The Champaign, IL News Gazette newspaper All-State Football Team selections included special mention to Marshall and honorable mention to Dave Lockhart '68, Bohm, and Tarner. The Chicago Daily News newspaper All-State Football Team honored Tarner, Marshall, Bohm, and John Sheldon '57 with selection to the honorable mention team.
The 1956 football team consisted of players John Lair '57, Don Cox '57, Tarner, Marshall. Art Mendoza '57, John Wurth '58, Ron Dettman '57, Bob Elfline '58, Wagner, Sheldon, Bohm, Gerry Hunsberger '57, Earl Stanley '57, Warren Handel '58, John Higby '57, Wise, Torry Keleher '58, Farver, Lockhart, Zigler, John Behrendt '57, Ron Miller '57, Larry Lenhart '58, Mason Fritz '57, Dwain Hereford '57, Ken Taualii, Charles Koehler '58, Rich Guerrero '57, Weldon Otten '58, Bob Morris '57, Wayne Volkman '58, Gene Williams, Larry Longanecker '58, Jon King '57, Les Johnson '58, Dave Hippen '57, Ron Hussung '58, Lyle Johnson '58, and team managers Charlie Ortiz '58 and Dave Siedel '58.