Athletics
The athletics teams in Aurelia have been known as the Bulldogs throughout the years. This name dates back to at least the 1940s. The girls teams were once called the Atoms before the short-lived athletics-only consolidation with Alta from 1990-1996. At the time, Aurelia was the only school in the state with nonrelated nicknames for the boys and the girls athletics teams. Aurelia has produced successful athletic teams over the years, most notably football. The football team had a ten year run in the 8-man class that proved very successful. Aurelia made the playoffs in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, and 2007 and produced a 67-19 record from 2000-2008. After a 1-8 showing in 2009, Aurelia decided that it would share football with Alta High School in 2010. During a 4 year run near the beginning of the 8-man era, Aurelia was a perennial state title contender, being eliminated by the eventual state champion in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, and accumulating just 5 losses in that period. Longtime coach Myron Radke, who retired after the 2008 football season, compiled a total of 156 victories and 83 losses in 24 seasons as a head football coach at Aurelia. Aurelia first made it to state in 1986, during Radke's hiatus. This season they were coached by Neil Phipps and made a run to the state title game, where they lost 6-0 to Paton-Churdan, the 1985 state champs. The '86 team included (among others) running back Ryan Kolpin, who holds many records for, and is a member of the athletics hall of fame at, Coe College. Following this appearance Aurelia would not make it back to state until its 2001 runner-up season. In 2002 and 2003, Aurelia lost in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively. Falling in both years to Fenton Sentral High School.
The 2003 Bulldog squad was certainly the most talented Aurelia team of all time. The team employed two future Shrine Bowl participants and future D-1 football players (Matt Berg and John Fordyce), other exceptional talents destined to play college ball (Brent Kai, Tim Fordyce, Luke Dreier) and other talented players such as John Ireland (i.e. the Biggest One) and Tyler Nelson. The 2003 squad physically dominated their opponents through a devastating rushing attack led by the two-headed monster of Brent Kai and John Ireland, with a decorated offensive line led by John Fordyce and Luke Dreier paving the way. The team, who had been ranked #1 most of the year, was shocked in the state semifinals by eventual champion Sentral Fenton.
Aurelia did not qualify for the playoffs in 2004 thanks to a rule that allowed only district champions to advance to state. In a year that produced what was arguably the second most talented team in Aurelia Bulldog history, Aurelia fell short at the hands of Remsen St. Mary's in the next to last game of the season. St. Mary's stormed to victory in the 8-man class, beating Adair-Casey 56-8 in the most lopsided final to date.
Aurelia's basketball program also experience a lot of success in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Hall of Fame coach Duane Buttenob went 471-260 in 35 years as head coach, including state tournament appearances in 1973 and 1978 (during a time when there were just 2 classes for basketball and over 500 schools in the state) and an undefeated regular season in 1972. When he retired he ranked 7th all-time in IHSAA history in victories. However, Aurelia's basketball program has not fared too well since his retirement in 1988, posting only 5 winning seasons in the past 20 years.
Aurelia shares its wrestling program with Galva-Holstein and Schaller-Crestland. In the first 10 years of sharing, AGHSC has produced a State Dual Team Semifinalist and numerous individual state qualifiers. This sharing agreement will end in 2011-12, as Aurelia will share with Alta instead.
Read more about this topic: Aurelia High School