Chacalos Chronicled 50 Years of WPHS Football As It Happened
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WHEELING - Retired Wheeling Park High School educator and athletic trainer Pete Chacalos was a high school junior when WPHS opened its doors 50 years ago.
Over time, he used his skills as a statistician, teacher, athletic trainer, photographer, sports fan and lover of history to chronicle the history of WPHS gridiron battles and culture as it happened.
His accumulated efforts have resulted in the book, "Wheeling Park Football – The First 50 Years."
"In the beginning, we became one from many," Chacalos explained, noting how WPHS was formed from the consolidation of Warwood, Triadelphia and Wheeling high schools. "I was at Triadelphia High School as a sophomore. It had more of a family feel.”
"At Park, we were exposed to new things not possible at other schools. We had expanded curriculum, more opportunities and more friends."
He said while he was in the second graduating class from the school, he didn't have a direct connection with the football team then. But he was a member of the marching band and track teams, plus a statistician for the basketball team.
He also kept all the clippings from football games running in the Wheeling News-Register at the time in a scrapbook.
Chacalos went on to graduate from West Virginia University in 1982, and Ohio University in 1984 with a masters degree.
His first job teaching was in Hancock County Schools. But when job listings for both an athletic trainer and a biology teacher opened at WPHS in 1985, Chacalos came back to his alma mater.
While on the field with athletes, he often had his camera with him. Over the years he chronicled many of the key match-ups and games taking place.
It was at the 45th high school reunion five years ago where the idea for a book about WPHS football struck him, as the school's half-century mark was approaching.
"One of my loves is history, and I'm Wheeling Park through and through. I bleed red, white and blue," Chacalos said. "After the last reunion, we talked about how the next was going to be the 50th... I thought about how a book about the first 50 years of football would be really cool.
"I had clippings from every game played since 1976, and they are in a scrapbook. Since they went digital, I have been saving digitally. Any game in the News-Register I have a clipping of. I have always taken pictures."
Since he had the photos to work with, he began researching the school's athletic records.
"It all started coming together, and I wanted to tell some stories, too," he added.
Much of the book is arranged by decades.
"I wrote a bit about each decade. But some decades and years had more to write about than others," Chacalos said.
Chacalos takes time to explain the concept of "TWBAI," a mantra under current coach Chris Daugherty. It stands for "team, wins, brotherhood, all in."
"It's a common theme all can connect with," he said. "It's not about playing for yourself, but for your team and the brother next to you."
When writing the book, Chacalos also thought back to the many players and people associated with WPHS football over the years.
"There were siblings, fathers and sons - way too many to talk about every single one," he said.
Chacalos focuses on three sets of siblings in his book. There are the Phillips brothers, who were all first-state. There is discussion about Zach and Seth Abraham, and about Ronell and Ronnie Green.
Among father and sons in WPHS football, Chacalos notes Josh and Brennan Wack; Darrell "Boogie" Johnson and his sons Savion and Amare; and Jamie and Jay Bordas.
There are sections in the book noting school football records, all players named to the all-state team, and the score of every WPHS football game.
There is also a section about opponents, and what the WPHS record is against every team.
Chacalos termed the biggest WPHS football rivalries as being with Brooke, Morgantown, John Marshall, University and Parkersburg South.
He also talks about past rivalries with Wheeling Central, Bellaire, and Weir high schools.
"Those were good games. Hopefully those rivalries will be rekindled at some point," Chacalos said.
He also lists what he thinks were the 10 best WPHS football games and the 10 best plays ever.
The book is available on Amazon, and through Chacalos' personal website. He added he will also have copies with him when he appears at the Writers Association of Northern Appalachia show Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the White Palace.
Chacalos spent more than 30 years teaching and went on to serve a four-year term on the Ohio County Board of Education.
He continues to be a part of Patriot football, serving as the team's statistician.
"I didn't plan on staying as long as I have," Chacalos said. "I had other plans, but I enjoyed myself and never left.
"My grand scheme was to go into baseball and work as an athletic trainer in the major leagues. That didn't happen, and I'm glad it didn't. I wouldn't change anything that has happened so far," he said.