dankoandmanuel.blogspot.com: 1980's- COUDERSPORT'S TOP ATHLETE in SEVERAL SPORT...

dankoandmanuel.blogspot.com: 1980's- COUDERSPORT'S TOP ATHLETE in SEVERAL SPORT...:   John Dubots was one of, if not the finest, all-around athlete in the Big 30 during the decade of the 1980's. That statement is, of cou...

1980's- COUDERSPORT'S TOP ATHLETE in SEVERAL SPORTS at MULTI-LEVELS

 John Dubots was one of, if not the finest, all-around athlete in the Big 30 during the decade of the 1980's. That statement is, of course, open to debate, but Dubots' achievements and numbers he posted during his high school career certainly puts him high on any constructed list of top athletes during those years.

The Coudersport athlete's combination of speed and power enabled him to win (usually doubling or tripling in the 100, 200 and 400 meter events) in almost every track meet he ever competed in during his high school career. 

He rushed for 3,191 yards during his three year varsity career. Paul Simcoe's Falcon teams went 19-6-2 with Dubots rushing and receiving for scores, returning punts and kickoffs for touchdowns and even throwing a couple of TD passes.

PHOTO ABOVE: John Dubots, #45

ABOVE: This is a typical area track meet for John during his HS career- not only the week's best marks, but holding the year's best in the 100, 200 and 400 meters. John was one of several strong contributors on the Coudy squad that included hurdler, Dan Counts and 800 meter runner, Bill Pike.

1983- The top two area teams (Kane and Coudersport) each had a Big 30 season MVP, Doug Anderson (Kane) in the field events and Dubots in the track portion. Dubots' time in the 400 meters was the best in the area since 1979. 1982 saw sophomore Dubots win two individual title and also run a leg on the Falcons' relay squad. Coudersport's Bill Pike was the top 800 meter runner in the Big 30.

Coudersport finished in fourth place in the 1983 District 9 championships held at Clarion University. Coudersport garnered three first place medals with Dubots winning two.

January 1984- John stayed active between track and football seasons with strong performances on Coudy's basketball squad. The 6'3, 185 pound Dubots controlled the boards in this early season league action.

Coudersport basketball (circa '82)

1984 Coudersport football seniors

1982 football season- Sophomore Dubots scored three touchdowns and rushed for 133 yards in shutout win over North Penn.

1982- John leads the Falcons to a come-from-behind win over Cowanesque Valley, 18-7.  The sophomore rushed for 256 yards in 31 carries as Coudersport picked up two touchdowns in the final quarter.

Below) 1983- Coudersport picks up a 22-6 win over previously undefeated Otto-Eldred. The Falcons had been predicted by many area observers to greatly improve on their 3-5-1 mark in 1982. Dubots ran for 167 yards in 23 carries and scored the opening touchdown. Coach Simcoe was quoted regarding John's performance. "Tonight he really put out. When he went off tackle, he wasn't about to be stopped." The Falcons had a balanced attack as fullback Jeff Franke gained 65 yards and had two touchdown runs

1983- Big 30 Award Winners- Senior Roger Dunn makes the team as a lineman and Dubots is the other Coudersport player to make the all-star squad. Mike Taylor of Olean High School was named Coach of the Year.

NOTE: Identical clips of the '83 Big 30 team.

1984- Bishop Walsh was coming off a 1983, 6-1-1 season and played Coudersport to a 14-14 tie. Coach Motor Anastasia said, "Of course, we would have rather won. But that Dubots is a fantastic runner, isn't he." Dubots rushed 33 times for 183 yards, but never broke away for a long one.

1984- Two weeks after the Bishop Walsh game and a narrow 13-12 win over Otto- Eldred, Coudersport shutout Cowanesque Valley 42-0. It was Coudersport's 13th game in a row without a loss. Three touchdowns and 135 rushing yards for Dubots in this one.

1984- On a night when the longest Big 30 streak (29 games) by Ridgway came to an end, the second longest streak almost came to an end, saved by a missed two point conversion by O-E in the fourth quarter. Coudersport hung on for a 13-12 win. Dubots ran for 186 yards and returned a punt for a touchdown, his second touchdown return for the year.

PHOTO below: Tri County All-Stars (1984). The Falcons were represented by seven players: Four Coudy linemen are in the front row beginning second from the left- Mark Lambert, Craig Gibble, Jim Carey and Dan Counts. The Coudersport backs were represented by Claude Gamble, Dan Cowburn and Dubots. Counts, Dubots and Gamble were repeaters from the '83 squad.

John Dubots had his biggest game of the year rushing for 214 yards in 15 carries with three touchdowns in a 41-0 win over Cuba.

Above PHOTO: In what may have been the most highlighted game in the Big 30 in 1984, Smethport defeated Coudersport 6-0, scoring with 57 seconds remaining. Hubbers' QB, Tj Reap was stopped on this goal line by the Falcons, but Reap came back and his interception and return in the final minute of the game gave undefeated Smethport a 6-0 win.

BELOW: Three repeat clips of some previously displayed Coudersport clips.

Below: John Dubots.

John Dubots passed at the age of 53  due to complications of a pulmonary embolism on December 18, 2020. His obituary is noted below.

NOTE: I added another clip of the Smethport- Coudersport game written several days after the game. The newspaper clipping highlights the Smethport junior's key defensive stops during the game-a game that was Smethport's third straight shutout and fifth of the season. The Hubbers defense had not been scored upon for 29 quarters and held Dubots to 74 yards rushing in this classic contest. John bounced back in his final HS contest against Emporium becoming one of only two Big 30 runners to rush for a 1,000 yards in a season (for the second time). He ended his high school career with 3,191 rushing yards.

 Tj Reap played a large role in John's college life as the two standout players, who first were high school opponents and became friends, college roomates and teammates at the University of New Hampshire.

1984 post season recruiting- Both Dubots and Jerry Trietley (Olean) were two of the area's top college recruits. Both players were looking to follow the path that Bob Torrey (Bolivar) and a starting running back at Penn State, Emporium's Mike Simon ( center at the University of Maryland ) and star player at Ridgway HS, Ken Streich took.

Smethport's varsity football coach, Carl Defilippi, played at the University of New Hampshire played a major role in connecting John with New Hampshire as he did a year later with Reap. A future Smethport player, Ryan Woodruff, played linebacker at UNH. Jim Stayer of Port Allegany led UNH to a Yankee Conference title in his senior season.

Jerry Trietley had a strong career at Holy Cross as a defensive lineman and another player of that era, Portville's QB Jon Gardner had an excellent career at Bucknell University.

T.j Reap, a coach's son, fondly recalls his introduction to the game of football- a career that continues today. It began as a first grader and being a ball boy for the Hubbers.

"We played at "Ol' McCoy Stadium back in the day. The walk from the high school down to the stadium was magical in the fall with the rythmic"clickety clack" of 100 cleats hitting the asphalt as we marched to the stadium on a gorgeous fall evening.....with the autumn leaves reflecting off Hamlin Lake."

"I'm sure that guys like Eddie Swanson, Terry Johnson, Craig Funk, Bruce Nelson and Steve Mix would agree about that walk."

Reap stated, "John and I roomed together in Sawyer Hall my freshman and sophomore year. John also ran some track at UNH too. John was the most amazing athlete in District 9, starting his freshman year. He was one of the top 100 and 400 meter runners in the state as a freshman-a tremendous basketball player and started three years at outside linebacker for UNH with A LOT of playing time as a freshman. John was a terrific guy, Super teammate."

Reap's football career and his love of football continues today. From ball boy, to high school player to college player and into the coaching world-in the United States and continuing internationally. His future plans are to go back to Italy, live and coach part-time.

He opened his international career as a player/coach for the Graz Giants (home city of Arnold Schwarzenegger), winning the Austrian National Championship. He's also coached in Norway and with several teams in Italy.

The recruiting world of collegiate sports has changed dramatically, now in 2025. NIL's, portal system, more transfer opportunities, extended playoffs, and a mountain of other differences than what Dubots, Reap, Treitley, Stayer, etc. went through in the 1980's. Not much room for error forty years ago and fewer financial benefits, but the young men from Potter and McKean County and western New York not only reached the collegiate level, but were excellent representatives of their collegiate programs.

NOTE: Jim Pransky's latest book, "Baseball's Test of Spirit"- A Man's Unlikely Odyssey Into the Scouting World is available on Amazon or by contacting the author.

Above and below: More photos of Coudersport athletes- Top: L-R, John Dubots, Bill Pike, Bill Daisley and Devin Staiger

Potter-McKean LL Baseball- (late 70's)-Back row, far left-coach Ernie Kuratomi, Devin Staiger (4th player from the left) and Dan Counts (5th player from the left)