OSH Remembered: Submit your stories here

May 03, 2010

Updated May 2

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Tommies of all persuasions -- alumni, parents, fans, faculty, staff and students -- are invited to submit any favorite memories of O’Shaughnessy Hall, which closed in early Janaury after a 70-year lifespan.

Fans are also welcome to submit memories of Schoenecker Arena, which closed last summer after a 29-year run.

Maybe it was a Tommie-Johnnie basketball game from the 1960s... or memories of the bowling alley, weight training, or the long wrestling room... or perhaps it brings to mind fellow students who you hung out with in the building.

Your responses will be posted here “OSH Remembered” blog on Tommiesports.com. Send short notes, titled “OSH,”  with your name and class if you choose, to ejmcgivern@stthomas.edu

Here are the submissions with latest to first:

"I grew up in that building..."

"Some of my first memories of osh were in august of l971 reporting to St. Thomas for preseason football practice.... before our practices Coach DuWayne Dietz would have all of us head to the top floor of OSH to an old room which overlooked the racquetball courts where we did our exergenie exercises before practice....which was a form of (what I now know as) isometric and isokinetic resistance training which got our muscles warmed up before we'd dress and go out to practice....looking back on it now, I realize that Coach Dietz was ahead of his time in having us do this before practice....at times it wasn't very pleasant on those hot august days...with sweat pouring and body odor coming from all of us on those days....wasn't as bad once the season started.....sure my teamates from that era have never forgotten doing the "genies".....grateful, in that it got me into strength training,..which played a huge role in my future career......   "OSH had an old (universal machine) weight room on the second floor (facing the football field)...which I'd spend hours during the offseason trying to strengthen myself...with my old college roommate Bob Immen, who has since then passed away (l995)....that room and countless hours I spent in there helped me tremendously and I sure appreciated the encouragement and motivation from my football and track coaches at the time....(Dietz and Larry Russ....).....a teammate who was two years older than me Billy Palmer (who was drafted my the Miami Dolphins)....often stopped by and motivated me to keep pushing myself in the old OSH weight room.....the smells....the excitement of a workout almost ending.....grateful for the encouragement they gave me.....feeling invigorated after showering and onto dinner at Murray Hall......grateful for the encouragement they gave me....I grew up in that building......lots of work...but there's something special about knowing you did your best...   "Across from the "genie" room...was an old room which had mats on the floor.......heard that that used to be the wrestling room .....in that room I spend many, many hours learning from Bill Fergeson how to correctly throw a discus...he was also the captain of the '7l football team.......really appreciated it, as I never learned how to correctly throw in high school, and Bill took a lot of time patiently working with me.....thank you Bill!!!!......I remember leaving a number of places on the side walls where I threw the discus into the side wall leaving holes.....after awhile, with Bill's and Coach Larry Russ help....I started throwing straight into the tarp which was hanging from the wall.....!!!   "I will never forget the first floor...the locker rooms, the "training room"....the feelings of anticipation, excitement, and anxiety as well. of putting your football uniform on before a big game...the anticipation....just kneeling on one knee before game listening to Coach Dietz giving us final  words....and going over the plays with my linemate george huss, who played guard, next to me....(george, you saved my life....I could never get all those assignments straight....thank you!!!!)......halftimes in OSH, sucking on oranges, and sipping on Mountain Dew listening to instructions........the "thrill's of victory"......which was very common for us during that very special  '73 football season.......(meeting's with coach John Kavanagh..(.probably my best position coach).....and the agonies of defeat....a lot of  "blood, sweat, and tears".......in that building......my major was physical education, so a lot of my classes were taught in that building as well.....kinesiology/athletic training..., with larry russ, health with joe flood, techniques with Frank Mach.....etc......a huge part of my St. Thomas experience was centered around OSH......literally, and figuratively..........wish I could have had a final walk through of the building, but maybe it's better I didn't....as now I can remember it the way it was.....   "My memories in OSH played a huge role in shaping my future as I went on to have a career in the health/fitness field....the positive experience at St. Thomas...and the fact that a HUGE amount of my memories centered around OSH ...played a big role in that....I'm sure with the new building there will be other memories with young Tommies that will be as special as mine were......Thanks for the memories....   Tom Schumate, Class of '75   --- 

The juggler?

In February, 1970, the College was celebrating Tommie Heart Week. One of the events was a visit by two WWF wrestling stars. (I wish I could remember their names). They did their presentation in the old gym on the 3rd floor of O'Shaughnessy Hall. They demonstrated a few holds, told a few stories, and then one of them decided to demonstrate his strength. With three 16-pound shot puts from the track and field office, he began to juggle. He's doing a pretty awesome job keeping the three heavy orbs in the air. Little by little the task becomes a struggle. He needs to reach a little further to keep the shot puts under what little control remains.

We all realize what is coming. He misses one and it crashes to the gym floor. It breaks through the maple hardwood and sits buried about three inches into the basketball court. There is an audible gasp and then silence. A College official walks over to escort the wrestlers out of the gym. Workers are brought in to fix the floor as a basketball game was scheduled for that evening.

And another dead spot in that gym floor was created that victimized opposing teams and helped propel so many Tommie B-Ball teams to victory.

Tom Cloutier, Class of 1970   

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Lucky strikes?

Read your fond reflections on the oddity of a basketball court on the third floor and yes indeed, that was strange placement. Worked well for us, though. I graduated from the Academy in 1959. We used
O'Shaughnessy for mixers, assemblies, basketball games (of course), swim meets, just hanging out, you name it. I'll  probably be struck dead for saying this, but Academy seniors could SMOKE in the second floor 'smoker'.

Something most people may not be aware of is the presence of a bowling alley. Just down the hall north of the second floor ballroom was a little bowling center. Four lanes, as I recall, and dirt cheap. I picked up pin money (good metaphor) setting pins there while at the Academy.

As I recall, bowling cost 25 cents a line of which the pinboy got half. One pinboy could cover two lanes so if you got two foursomes going, you could make some pretty good 'pin' money. At the time, I was a major bowling fan, though, so it was like being paid to play. A highlight of my tenure was one afternoon when a guy from the college (might have been Mike Dorle -- you can check it out) bowled a 300 game! The Holy Grail of bowling! I felt like I'd been part of a major event! It was evident to me, of course, since I was working hard clearing nothing but strikes, and I think I was more excited than he was! Got a nice tip after that one. Probably a few bucks, but remember the times.

I'm sad to see the place go away. Wish they'd just get going and tear it down, though. With all the destruction going on, and the amount of time it's taking, it's sad to see it sitting there, windowless with holes punched in the side.

A really wonderful place.


Tom Summers/St. Paul

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A dip (in the pool)... and a dunk

Two unforgettable memories of O'Shaughnessy Hall and Schoenecker Arena:

O'Shaughnessy, spring of 1977: Enduring a seemingly endless Sunday of crawling around the building, blindfolded, during Tiger Club initiation, dining on stockyard delicacies, singing silly songs, taking cold showers and being tossed into the swimming pool.

Schoenecker, March 2009: Savoring the last basketball game in the arena, a tense 53-50 NCAA playoff win over UW-Stevens Point to boost the No. 1 Tommies' record to 29-0. In three decades of watching games in Schoenecker, I never heard the arena as loud as it was when Joe Scott broke away and
dunked the ball with 7 seconds left to seal the win.

Doug Hennes '77

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The little white box

During my years at St. Thomas, the Lacrosse Club had many homes, from the south campus fields to the field house, McCarthy gymnasium, and all the way to St. Kate's. But certainly, the third floor gym was our home during many winter months.  

Despite the cold outside, it could get pretty warm up there; and with 20-30 guys practicing in such a tight space, it was quite loud, too. Our voices bounced off the walls nearly as hard as the rubber lacrosse balls (which often scooted out the doors and down the stairwell.)  

Third-floor gym wasn't exactly the best place to practice and open field sport, but it was one of the few places on campus that we could reserve with any consistency. I will always remember the good times my teammates and I shared in that little white box.


Anthony (A.C.) Gardin/Class of 1999
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Fond memories of OSH

Early 80's:

--The old football film room. I believe it was actually the copy/coffee room for the Athletic Department staff. There was maybe room for 4-5 guys and we were thrilled to be watching ourselves on the old 8mm black and white film.

--Coach Mark Dienhart's office and all of the enlarged All-American photos that hung on the walls. Very inspirational!

--The old training room. It was very small, maybe 1-2 rooms. I remember watching an SJU quarterback get his chin stitched up at halftime of the 1982 Tommie/Johnnie game. Ouch!

--Climbing up a rope to the 2nd floor window and sneaking into the school dance in the 3rd floor gym. Either the Metro All-stars or Johnny Holm was playing on the stage in the south side of the gym. It was jam packed and the floor was bouncing up and down. It was much more than just a gym! 

--The new and enlarged training room (1985) with the brand new hot tub and the benches with the special sinks for icing our shin splints after our track workouts. It was heaven!

--Playing water polo in the pool. The best workouts I ever had in four years of football and track and field.

Neal Guggemos/Class of '86

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"They played HERE?"

"I had been on the Tommie campus several times before I was hired in June 1994 as sports information director. I was used to watching basketball games in the spacious Schoenecker Arena. When I first walked up to see the old gym on third floor OSH, I was amazed. Did they really play basketball in here? The space seemed so small. With the bleachers gone, it was hard to imagine how there was room for 500, let alone 1,000 spectators.

"I'll also remember coming in late at night, on weekends or on holiday break and bringing my daughter and sons up to the old wrestling room. We played wiffle ball, kick ball and volleyball and burned off some energy. Maybe in 25 years when UST celebrates its 150th anniversary, those will be memories my children will share."

Gene McGivern/Sports Information Director

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"Hooked on handball"

The OSH was a second home during my four years at St.Thomas, especially during my freshman and sophomore years. I was introduced to handball by Joe Flood as part of my phy-ed course first semester freshman year.Several of my friends took handball too. We were all immmediately hooked. From
November through March, we would play 2-3 times per week. One of us would show up early and reserve a court, otherwise, you were out of luck as the courts were in demand.

"My very first experience with the OSH, however, came much earlier. It was the summer after first grade. At that time, our next door neighbor was Jim O'Brien, former equipment manager at St.Thomas. Every morning, for two weeks I believe, I and two other neighbor kids (Phil Kachelmeyer '72 and his
brother Mark) would ride with Mr. O'Brien to take swimming lessons in the OSH pool.

"It is difficult for me to see it go."

Lee Javorski, College of St Thomas, '73

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The "Second Home" for UST Dance

"The UST dance team is considered young compared to the history of St. Thomas as a university and college, but never have I or anyone on the UST dance team spent so much time in one area, exerting all the passion we had for our team and our school. Three days a week throughout the year, and everyday during J-term, the UST dance team spent countless hours perfecting competition routines, growing as teammates and as leaders right there in the O'Shaughnessy Hall gymnasium.  

"The "third floor gym" has always been our second home in the winter, fighting the cold floors and chilled air, and in the summer, hydrating to fight the heat. Although the atmosphere doesn't sound ideal on paper, it was always a comfortable place for our team to perform in, no matter what the weather. It was because all of the 'magic' happened there. This gym has hosted numerous occasions where our team has triumphed, whether in front of an audience or amongst ourselves.  

"Each and every Tommie dancer has grown in multiple ways during practice, all taking place at our home away from home. Every one of the girls who has participated on the team has left a piece of themselves on that floor, and in one way or another, that practice space has molded the dancers, students, and women into what they are today.  

"So many memories have taken place there for so many teams, but as a part of the St. Thomas Dance Team, it is safe to say we know it was our home, and our comfortable stage to perform in. Our program will forever remember our second home, the "third floor gym."

Kristin Seifert, Class of 2010

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"Good days and fun times"

"I think it was basketball season '67-'68.  It was our home game against St John's and the stands were packed. Before the game started, Cliff Knippel walked down the court towards the St John's fans holding a St John's sign with the arrow pointing down. Needless to say, St Thomas fans were really in a frenzy and the Johnnies were boiling!  Those games were intense.   

"Korba, Lapentti, Skelly, Fritz, Kudrle and Blum all helped bring an excitement to the old gym. Those  were good days and fun times."

Bob Kolnik/Class of '70

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A home "spark"

I remember my junior year of basketball (2008) in early December we have just had a horrible game against Simpson in Iowa. We came back practiced a little bit, then it was Christmas break, and then after we came back to practice.

That first January game at Schoenecker Arena something must have just clicked, because we just played so well against Carleton. They didn't know what hit them. Looking back at the box score we had them 32-16 at halftime. It was 15-5 four minutes into the game. We ended up winning 65-42, and its just something that playing at home at a place like Schoenecker can give that spark."  

DeJurnett Prioleau/Class of 2009

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'Like NBA stars to us kids in the neighborhood"

I grew up in the area a St. Mark's kid who at an early age went to a swimming camp led by Mr. (Joe) Flood. Swimming in the pool was always fun, except that first time up the ladder to the high diving board. Well, I was a bit nervous and the kid behind me knew it. As a joke he jumped on the base of the board when I got out to the end (yes I was shaking like a leaf) and I lost balance and fell awkwardly off the board. Not a great memory but I survived and hopefully toughened up a bit.

The best memories were going to the basketball games -- Coach Feely, Fritz, Fitz, Rozier, Piper, McKee. The good old days. Those guys were like NBA stars to us little kids in the neighborhood. 

Jim Blake/UST '83

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"It brought us all together"

"As a swimmer my most fond memories surround “The Palace Clubhouse” our beloved pool. From freshmen year on the first day of practice in the fall of 2000, until my last practice before MIAC Championships in the winter of 2004, I loved swimming in that pool. There was something to the style of the pool that drew you in, no matter the facilities you had ever been a competitor in.

"The high walls of the pool (which proved to be a challenge to those outside of our family) and glass block windows that let in the most amazing light in the morning and enchanting darkness in the winter evenings. 

"Tommie swimmers have been blessed by the facility that brought us all together." 

Melissa (Jackson) Scalia/UST Class of 2004

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A tight fit

"I recall many exciting Saturday night basketball games at OSH when I was 11-14 years old.  I was a huge Tommie fan and my Dad and uncle (St. Thomas President Msgr. Terrence Murphy) would bring us to watch Steve Fritz, Bobby Rosier, Dennis Fitzpatrick, Paige Piper and all the "stars" of the early 70's.  ( I hope I have recalled the names correctly).    

"I remember being squeezed by hundreds of fans trying to get up the narrow stairs to the gym and back down after another Tommie victory.  I first became aware of the intense Tommie/Johnnie rivalry in those days when the chant "Flush the Johns" came up.  It was great fun -- especially after the game when I could go up to and congratulate the players on another great game.  

"I also recall that St Thomas sponsored a youth sports day camp primarly at OSH that I attended.  We used all of the buildings facilites -- including the bowling alley.  The most amazing thing that I remember was when Bobby Rosier -- I think he was 7-foot-3 -- walked across the deep end of the pool -- and his head was visible the whole time!   As a student at St Thomas in the early 80's, I had a couple of Phy Ed classes in OSH.  

"It was a grand old building that served St. Thomas well. Thanks for asking for the memories."

Tim Murphy/UST Class of '81  

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UST fans protect court

"I remember the Tommie/Johnnie basketball game my senior year (2007). Both of us had two losses in the conference and it was the final game of the regular season to determine the MIAC champ. The rumor was that  St Johns had filled a bunch of fan buses and that they wanted to "steal" homecourt advantage from us by filling our gym with their fans. Once word got to our campus about this, our students took advantage.  

"I remember walking into the gym to catch the second half of the JV game which was being played before the varsity one, and I couldn't believe me eyes. The gym was packed full of UST fans who were determined to keep the Johnnies from having any type of fan base at the game. The level of excitement from the fans and intensity they brought was something I will never forget. That day is by far my most memorable from Schoenecker. By the way, we won the game, 74-59. "

Isaac Rosefelt/Class of 2007  

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Bethel barn burner

"My favorite memory from Schoenecker was the men's basketball game against Bethel during the 2008-2009 season. St. Thomas rallied from 14 points back in the final 8:00 and won in a barn burner to keep the perfect season alive. It was one of the best college basketball games I've ever seen."  

Jordan Osterman/Tommie Media sports editor