By Sterling McGinn
One hundred years ago, Newberry reigned as Class C State Champions in boys’ basketball after beating St. James of Bay City at Michigan State College in East Lansing. The winning of the championship a century ago has been one of the most major accomplishments in Newberry High School (NHS) athletic history.
In those days, Newberry’s athletic teams were not referred to as the “Indians.” Most schools did not use monikers until the early 1930s. Newberry’s basketball team was referred to by U.P. newspapers as the “Celery City Cagers” or the “Celery City Quints” because of Newberry’s famous celery.
Newberry had not had a very successful record in basketball in several seasons leading to the championship, and there were low expectations for the 1925/1926 season.
One challenge the team faced right away was the availability of their practice venue. Practices were briefly delayed due to scheduling issues at the Newberry Community Building, where practices and games were held. NHS would not have their own gymnasium until 1927.
The Community Building was the hub of all Newberry activities with meetings, events and entertainment scheduled every week.
The 1925/1926 NHS Basketball team had one advantage over many teams across the state: height. All players except playmaker and defensive specialist Donald “Darb” Tait were at least six feet or more tall. One of the team’s most stand-out players was star center Neil “Shorty” Ahlman, who was well over 6 feet tall and a sophomore that season.
Newberry was coached by Ogden E. Johnson. The team roster included captain Donald “Darb” Tait, Edward Johnson, Charles Lavender, Lewis Kremple, Neil “Shorty” Ahlman, Jim Fyvie, Fred Becks, Matt Johnson, and John Myers.
The team traveled to games and tournaments by train on the Duluth South Shore and Atlantic Railroad. In March of 1926, the team was stranded for two nights in Munising when the worst storm of that winter made it impossible for them to return home.
The regular season began with a home game against Manistique. Newberry’s won, 25-8. Next up was Munising, which was anticipated to be a hard match. Newberry managed a one-point victory margin.
The team that way, defeating Sault Ste. Marie, Gladstone, Negaunee, and Marquette. The 1926 NHS yearbook, called the “Tahquamenon”, said the NHS team had great respect for their Sault Ste. Marie rivals.
“To beat the Soo meant a successful season regardless of what the result of the other games might be.” Newberry beat the Soo twice that season.
Newberry lost just once that season, when Ishpeming topped them with a final score of 26-11.
Newberry had high hopes to win the districts, which were held in Munising on March 5 and 6. Newberry defeated Baraga, then Munising, which had drawn a bye. The final score was 20-13.
Next came the U.P. Tourney in Marquette, where Newberry’s Celery boys played Lake Linden in the morning and won. That evening, Newberry was to play Wakefield—a team that was expected to win the tournament. Newberry topped them anyway, winning 26-12.
NHS later beat Crystal Falls before losing to Class B Negaunee by one point. Despite the loss, Newberry qualified for the state championship tournament.
For the state tournament, Newberry traveled to East Lansing’s Michigan State College via train. The train cars crossed the Straits of Mackinac on the Chief Wawatam train ferry. They were sharing the train with Negaunee’s team and the Class D U.P. Champion team from Michigamme.
Newberry first played Reed City, which had won 19 consecutive games. No matter – Newberry won that game, 23 to 21.
That took Newberry to the semifinal game, where they beat Three Oaks with a score of 26-24.
Just one game left.
In the championship game, Newberry faced off with St. James of Bay City.
The Newberry News reported, “Newberry overwhelmed St. James of Bay City in the Class C finals 31-14… They ran rings around the Bay City boys, who were powerless to get within their guard, were forced to shoot without the scoring zone most of the time. Taking advantage of their height, they used a passing game far over the heads of their opponents and were experts in tipping with good control.”
Coach Johnson sent a telegram to Newberry School Superintendent C. L. Bystrom enthusiastically announcing the win.
Captain and back guard Tait was named the “individual defensive star” of championship game.
“He took their shots off the backboard with dexterity and started the ball up the floor with unerring judgment,” the Newberry News read. “Clever forward” Charles Lavender was the high scorer with 11 points.
The boys receive a “rousing welcome” when their train returned to the station in Newberry.
“The whole town turned out to greet the champs, a half holiday had been declared and as the South Shore arrived, pandemonium broke loose. Eight hundred students and hundreds of townspeople cheered themselves hoarse, whistles shrieked, and bells clanged,” the Tahquamenon yearbook said.
The team, escorted by horse and cutter, the Newberry band, and a color guard, paraded through town to a reception at the high school. The team was showered with cheer and praise.
Donald Tait and Edward Johnson were later named to the first All-State team in their positions. Neil Ahlman was named to the second All-State team. Newberry was the only team to receive more than one representative on the All-State Five.
The team also received honors posthumously when they were inducted as a team into the Newberry High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015 with several of the players’ descendants in attendance. Neil Ahlman was also inducted posthumously as an individual athlete.
“This memorable basketball team and the reception tendered it on its arrival home from Lansing will never be forgotten as long as Newberry remains,” the Tahquamenon read.
Even 100 years later.
