THE SPIRIT OF ’76 SCHOLARSHIP

By Eric Smith

Photo courtesy of Eric Smith. Pictured with Smith are Eastwood graduate Darryl Ray and Bill Wilke, a standout member of Eastwood’s Class of 1978.

In 1976, I was a fortunate sophomore pulled up to the Eastwood High School Varsity Basketball team by Coach Bob Lesley. In 2026, I felt equally fortunate to return to EHS alongside my wife, Bonnie, to reunite with my teammates and celebrate the 50th anniversary of our State Championship team.

That first event changed my life. The experiences we shared and the lessons we learned as a team have had a profound, positive impact on my life over the past 50 years.
Reflecting on that time, a few core principles stand out:

Teamwork: Our State Championship was won because every single member of our team cared only about doing what it took to win. No one focused on individual statistics or personal achievements. We played hard because we never wanted to let our teammates down. It is amazing what can be accomplished when a group is laser-focused on a common goal.

Preparation: Coach Lesley loved to say, "You get better in the summer, between basketball seasons." Taking that to heart, we worked tirelessly year-round. Every Monday through Friday at 2:00 PM all summer long, we met at the gym to push each other. Players from other schools often came to Eastwood to compete against us, making our daily scrimmages intensely competitive. Because we put the work in, the actual games often felt easier than our practices.

Preparation=Confidence>Accomplishments

Strategy: While history records that EHS won the state championship game against John Tyler High School, many do not know how badly we were being beaten in the first half. We were entirely outplayed, and we had no answer for John Tyler's star center, who was scoring at will. At halftime, Coach Lesley made two pivotal adjustments:

1. He challenged our commitment: Coach famously said, "I always thought if I brought 12 me's to the state championship tournament we could win it. I guess I was wrong!"
   
2. He changed the scheme: He implemented a box-and-one defense that successfully neutralized their center and completely confused the opposing team.

Mike Tyson famously said, "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the jaw." Many individuals and organizations fail because they lack a Plan B. Coach Lesley was mentally prepared to pivot when we needed it most. You could argue the '76 championship was won just as much on mental preparation as it was physical execution.

Paying it Forward

Being invited back to Eastwood for the 50th anniversary celebration was a deeply impactful experience for all of us. We were blown away by the incredible welcome we received from the EHS cheer squads, administrators, coaching staff, and district representatives, who all bent over backwards to make the event special.

We enjoyed every minute, but we were particularly grateful for the team dinner, which allowed us to visit with Coach Morales, his assistant coaches, Principal Robledo, and the current players. Tour guides from the EHS Class Officers also gave us a wonderful guided tour of the campus. We left Eastwood with a profound sense of pride in what the school has become and the vital role it plays in serving the surrounding community.

Because Eastwood has provided us with so much, my teammates and I wanted to find a way to pay it forward. Together, we created and funded the Eastwood Spirit of '76 Basketball Scholarship Fund, under the tagline: "Investing in the champions of tomorrow."

We were thrilled to award Daniel Mora with our inaugural scholarship this past spring. We have no doubt Daniel will do great things in college and beyond, and we look forward to awarding this scholarship to deserving students for at least the next nine years.

Of all the lessons I have learned in my life, the most important is that true happiness comes not from what you get, but from what you give to others. My teammates obviously share this feeling. We hope the recipients of this award will carry this legacy forward, inspiring others and shaping lives in positive ways.

P.S. My wife, Bonnie, was so impressed with the staff and students at EHS that she says she is now a Trooper—even though she graduated high school in California! 😄

Jerry Krampen, Darold Molix, and Doug Rutter discuss the creation of the Spirit of ’76 Scholarship Fund and the championship team’s ten-year commitment to future Eastwood student-athletes.

Their conversation reflects on the team’s fifty-year journey, the values behind its success, and the responsibility to turn a historic championship into an enduring opportunity for the next generation.

Former Eastwood basketball coach Peter Morales joins Doug Rutter to discuss the traditions of discipline, accountability, and pride that have shaped Eastwood basketball.

Their conversation explores how those same principles became the foundation of the Spirit of ’76 Scholarship Fund—and why preserving them matters for future generations of Troopers.

MORE THAN A CHAMPIONSHIP

The 1976 Eastwood Troopers left behind more than a state championship.

They left a standard.

Through the Spirit of ’76 Scholarship Fund, that standard continues—honoring the past while creating opportunity for those who will carry the Eastwood tradition forward.

The legacy continues.