The advent of high school football games in South Williamsport in 1907 were played at Mountain Beach, thus the birth of the Mountaineers. By 1932 and public works programs during the Great Depression, South Williamsport High School had its own stadium, along with several firsts. The stadium was the first of its kind in the area and when lights were installed five years later, the first area night game was played.
High school sports throughout the years has grown from that very first football team to include basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, golf, track and field. Along the way, Title Nine that guaranteed equal sports for females, women’s sports developed as well.
The outstanding teams and players is endless, so the mention of the following is just a sampling of the males and females who have excelled over the years.
Norbert “Shorty” Morton, SWHS football standout during 1932-1935, was described as “one of the most famous players ever to wear a Mountie uniform…”
A star player of the 1940 undefeated Mountie football team, Mike Stover was killed in action on 4/20/44 during World War II. His son Mike was a player of Mountie’s football team in 1961; the first undefeated and untied season in the West Branch Conference.
Also among SWHS outstanding male athletes was Jim Dooley who was named on the 1952 All-American second team.
Steve Hamm in 1965 was considered an all-round South Side athlete.
Robert Henderson, 2012 West Branch Hall of Fame inductee, who excelled in football, track, baseball, basketball and named SWAHS “Mr. All Sport.” Robert holds the school record for the 100 yard dash.
As you stand in front of SWAHS’s wall of outstanding players’ photos and the school’s trophy case, both are examples of Mountie Pride.
Lady Mounties Baseball dominated the West Branch Conference Championships during the 1990s, while the men’s football team scored championships in both c and West Branch Conference during that same period. As the school enters the 21st century, the athletic teams continue to maintain achievements.
Girls and boys Soccer were both 2004-2005 Mid Penn Conference Champions while the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference produced 2011-2012 South Side Champs in Division 3 in both boys’ soccer and baseball and in 2012-2013 scored Championships in boys’ track and field.
South Williamsport Area Historical Collection 