Phillipsburg High School once again looked back on its rich history to induct the Stateliners second athletic Hall of Fame class. Watch JSZ’s feature on the ceremony!
Phillipsburg’s Garnet Booster Club is the catalyst for honoring the greats from one of New Jersey’s most tradition-filled and historic athletic programs in the state. The second edition of the Stateliners Hall of Fame featured a mix of football legends from over 100 years ago along with three living legends. JSZ was at the ceremony to honor the newest group of Stateliner Hall of Famers:
Congratulations to the 2022 Phillipsburg Athletic Hall of Fame Class
1918 FOOTBALL TEAM
The 1918 Football Team was the first team to be recognized as state champions by the NJSIAA. They had a season record 6-1 losing only to Barringer. They scored 336 points and gave up only 13 to Barringer. They were coached by legendary coach Mike Maloney. The 1918 team defeated Washington 101-0, and Lincoln 99-0. Phillipsburg defeated Easton that year, 9-0.
TED DAILEY
First Team All-State Defensive End, Captain, and Four Year starter from 1925-1928. Daily scored 42 of the team’s 89 points in 19+28. He was an All-American at the University of Pittsburgh and went on to coach at Syracuse University for 25 years. During that time, the school won its only National Championship for football. Daily has also been recognized in the Phillipsburg-Easton Football Hall of Fame.
GEORGE “SAMMY” MOYER
First Team All-State halfback who played on three unbeaten teams from 1933-1935. Moyer had three wins over Easton and was inducted into the Phillipsburg-Easton Football Hall of Fame in 2006. He was captain of the 1935 10-0 undefeated team that was co-state champions with Bloomfield. He led the team in touchdowns, with 14 total. Moyer played on a tough Phillipsburg team that had seven shutouts and allowed only 24 points. Moyer scored 102 career points. He is in the Lafayette College Hall of fame where he earned honorable mention All-American status as a running back and coached the Phillipsburg football from 1952-1953.
CLAYTON WILLEVER
First team all-state quarterback who led the 1918 state championship team. Willever scored a school record seven touchdowns in one game, and kicked four extra points in setting the school record of 46 points in a 99-0 victory over Lincoln of Jersey City in 1919. Willever amassed 195 career points which stood for over 70 years as the school record. His 17 touchdowns in 1918 are still in the career top ten for a single season, and he is tied for seventh in career touchdowns at Phillipsburg with 29.
EILEEN CLYMER SCHWAB
Eileen Clymer Schwab earned 12 Varsity letters while at Phillipsburg. She competed in three sports, as a four-year starter in field hockey, basketball and softball. Clymer Schwab was captain of all three teams, an all star in all three. She was the starting short stop on two state championship softball teams in 1975 and 1976. She is a published author of two books.
MARY JANE DEUTSCH
Mary Jane “MJ” Deutsch is best known as a softball and basketball standout with eight varsity letters. She held records in batting average, RBI’s, singles, triples & home runs. She was a starter on three state championship teams in 1973, 1975, and 1976. At the time Phillipsburg participated in the East Penn League, she was part of championship teams 1973-1976, hit .517 with 18 RBIs, and did not strike out in 47 at-bats. She was recognized as a First-team all-East Penn League 1974, 1975, 1976. She was also a four-year starter and all-star in basketball who broke all-time basketball scoring and rebound records in 1976. Deutsch coached basketball, softball, track & field during the 1980s, was a Supervisor of Health, Phys Ed, and Special Ed served as the Assistant Athletic Director, an Assistant Principal, Principal, and held a 39-year career in the Phillipsburg School District, with 31 years as an administrator.
RICK THOMPSON
Rick Thompson is a three-sport star and coach best known as a two-time state wrestling champion, four-time district champion, three-time regional champion, and one of the wrestling coaches in Phillipsburg history with a record combined 268-54-1 in his career. His wrestling team won 15 Sectional Championships and eight Group titles with six Group second-place finishes. Thompson coached nine individual State Champions and 43 state place-winners, as well as many regional and district winners. This editor remembers two events like yesterday. The high-flying Mr. Thompson who never sat in his chair, and being a Stateliner from 1985 -1989 in this PIT. We have plenty of memories, especially 1987 and 1988 matches that had an energy unmatched. Thompson also earned eight varsity letters in cross-country and track and later served as a coach or assistant coach of both teams. He finished seventh in the state at cross-country in 1972. Thompson’s return to Phillipsburg also started the girls cross-country program with Neil Frankenfield in 1984. They won 88 straight meets and four EPC championships as well as three New Jersey State Sectional Championships. Career coaching record of 195-39-1 with the girls team. The Boys country teams won three EPC championships, a Group 4 State Championship and finished third in the Meet of Champions. Thompson often cites cross county as one of his favorite sports to coach. “The time is what it is, there’s no bad calls in cross county or track”. Thompson has also been recognized as #33 in the Top 100 sports figures of the 20th century by the Express-Times, NJ State Coach of the Year in 1988, and earned Express-Times Coach of the Year four times.
