James Sucharski served two tours with the U.S. Marines in Vietnam and earned combat awards.
After fighting for his country, Sucharski worked in education for decades and was a superintendent in four school districts, including Hillsboro R-3. He died in January 2018.
At Friday night’s frigid football playoff between host Hillsboro and Festus for the Class 4 District 1 championship, Sucharski’s two sons, Bill and Brian, were on the Hawks’ sideline. Bill is the head coach and Brian keeps the team stats; Brian also recently took over as head coach of the boys basketball team.
Their dad wasn’t far from their minds as Hillsboro dismantled the Tigers 55-6, culminating a four-year climb to the title. It was all the more meaningful coming on Veterans Day.
“I lost my dad five years ago this January,” Bill said. “He’d sit on the steps (at Hillsboro’s stadium) every game and shake my hand, as all good dads do with the ‘Good job, son.’
“It’s something you miss. I thought winning a district title today was fitting and it being against Festus makes it even more special to me.”
For the last two years, Hillsboro has honored all veterans at its home games, wearing POW/MIA stickers on their helmets, and the call sign “Hawk Zero Two” on their jerseys to honor Lt. Michael Blassie, an Air Force pilot who was killed in action in Vietnam. Adorning their sideline at home games are a pair of combat boots and a Vietnam-era “steel pot” helmet to commemorate the sacrifices of veterans.
What I respect most about Hillsboro’s thoughtful tribute to veterans is it’s not just for show. There’s connection and real feeling behind the effort. When I sense that veterans aren’t getting the respect they deserve, I sometimes lash out at the “convenient patriots” who only salute the flag when CNN tells them to. Most veterans are content with their service, don’t ask for any special attention, and just want to get on with life as a civilian. Social media helps make cherished memories between veterans an easy way to stay connected.
I know many veterans from all of the branches of service. Leader news reporter Kevin Carbery was in the Coast Guard. Leader photographers Ron Rigdon and Ted Howell served in the Navy. When I worked for the Suburban Journals, one of our photographers, Roy Sykes, was a Vietnam veteran in the Navy.
Here’s a belated “thank you” to all of our veterans past and present.
With the win over the Tigers, Hillsboro (10-1) is the last county fall sports team still playing. The Hawks face defending Class 3 state champion St. Mary’s (9-2) in the Class 4 quarterfinals on Saturday. Among the 11 teams Hillsboro has played this year, I’d compare the Dragons to another St. Louis private-school power, Cardinal Ritter, author of the Hawks’ only loss. The 11-0 Lions are back in the Class 3 quarterfinals after reaching the final four in 2021.
I like the Hillsboro-St. Mary’s clash being on Saturday. The two schools could have agreed to play on Friday night, but I’m assuming they decided a 30-degree temperature during the day is preferable to freezing even more at night. Good choice. A Saturday afternoon playoff game just has a different feel.
I remember the last time I watched Hillsboro in a state playoff game at St. Mary’s. The boys basketball team’s 95-46 loss to the Dragons in the Class 4 sectionals in 2019 was, as I wrote, a “punch to the gut.” With St. Louis University head coach Travis Ford sitting in front of me, we watched guard Yuri Collins blossom into a star as he tore the Hawks to shreds. Collins plays for Ford at SLU and led the NCAA last year in assists.
With senior thumpers Austin Romaine and Jaxin Patterson on the field for Hillsboro Saturday, I don’t see the Hawks being as physically outmatched as they were that night. At this late stage of the season, the remaining large schools usually have several college-bound players on their rosters. St. Mary’s leads Hillsboro in that department. But the Hawks also have state-caliber wrestlers on the football team. They’re not lacking toughness.
I expect Jefferson County will be well represented in the stands for this game. The winner gets to enjoy Thanksgiving, then compete in the state semifinals two days later.
These banner days at Hillsboro aren’t just because of football. The boys cross country team recently won the school’s first state team championship, knocking off 10-time king Festus, and the boys wrestling team will soon begin its pursuit of a third straight state team trophy this winter. Senior footballers Griffin Ray and Gavin Alexander are both state wrestling medalists (Alexander won the Class 3 state title at 106 pounds as a freshman) and football has delayed the start of their practicing on the mat.
Now that the fall season has wound down, winter previews begin with boys and girls wrestling in the Nov. 24 issue of the Leader. Previews for boys and girls basketball will follow.