Two “Distinguished Teams” added to Ronan Hall of Fame

Two Ronan teams will be inducted into the Ronan Fall of Fame during the ceremony on Feb. 14: the 1929 Ronan Chiefs, who took third place in a state tournament that included much larger schools, and the 2011 Robotics World Champions, who claimed the title in 2011.

Robotics World Champions, 2011

Ronan High School’s appearance in the World Robotics Championships in St. Louis in the spring of 2011 was the school’s first trip to the elite competition. Competing against 128 robotics teams from around the world, the Ronan squad laid claim to the title of “World Champions” after the three days of competition.

Members of the championship team were Troy McMillan, Thane Tobol, Alex Killian, J. T. Probst, Hunter Shima, Tyler Sassaman, Collin Hardy and Bradley Findly. They were coached by high school teacher Jesse Gray.

The championship didn’t come easy; falling in defeat to the Ronan team were the top-seeded team from New York and second-seeded team from Illinois. The win was six years in the making with Gray launching a robotics team six years earlier at Ronan Middle School.

“The robot worked flawlessly, and their strategies really clicked,” said Gray upon returning to Ronan with the team. “It was amazing. I think they’re (team members) still in shock over the whole thing,” he added.

Appreciative of the team’s success, the school and community rallied to give team members and coach a ride around town on a Ronan Fire Department truck, escorted by police, and followed by a pep assembly at the school.

Ronan Chiefs Basketball, 1929

Undefeated by a high school team until the semi-finals of the state tournament in 1929, the Chiefs went on to capture third place. Ronan, with an enrollment of about 100 students defeated Kalispell, Missoula and Great Falls during the season as there was no classification of schools based on enrollment at the time.

Led by four-year starters Phillip “Frenchy” Roullier, Alexander “Sam” Clairmont, Maurice Egan, and Theodore “Bias” Stinger, the newly christened Chiefs faced little resistance during the regular season and district tournament in Missoula.

A 40-14 trouncing of Plains in the district tournament secured Ronan’s invitation to the 16-team state finals in Bozeman.

The Chiefs knocked off Great Falls and Manhattan in Bozeman before being upset by Butte Central in semi-final play. Rebounding from the loss, Ronan defeated Anaconda and brought home the third-place trophy.

Coached by Foster “Prof” Polley, the team compiled a 23-1 season record, the best in Ronan history.

Roullier, Clairmont, Egan and Stinger were named to the All-District team and Roullier was named to the “First Five” All-State team.

    The Ronan Chiefs basketball team of 1929 included: standing – Theodore "Bias" Stinger, Sam Clairmont, Maurice Egan, Leonard Swanson and Coach Polley; and kneeling – Phillip "Frenchy" Roullier, George Hay and Paul Stevens.