"The 1960 A.L. Brown Little Wonders"
WNCHSAA CO Champions
"The Crown Jewel of the Golden Era"
A.L. Brown High School's first ever state title holding team belongs to the varsity Little Wonders football team of 1960. Members of the old Western North Carolina High School Athletic Association the 1960 Wonders were the crown jewel of the golden era of football in Kannapolis. The 1960 Little Wonders boasted such stars as Wesley Grant, Harry Greene, Lanny Teague, Ronnie Barlow and many more. The 1960 Little Wonders only stumble during the regular season was a 0-0 deadlock with the Asheboro Blue Comets in week four. The Little Wonders would run the table the rest of the way capturing the South Piedmont Conference title for 1960.
The Little Wonders would then capture the Southern Division Title after defeating the Mooresville Blue Devils 28-0 earning them a spot in the State title game for 1960. The Little Wonders would run up on a very tough group of Red Tornados from Hickory in the state championship game deadlocking the Red Tornados 0-0 winning a share of the state title. The Little Wonders and Red Tornados would finish the 1960 campaign as co champions of the WNCHSAA. This is the story of that first championship team.
The Little Wonders would then capture the Southern Division Title after defeating the Mooresville Blue Devils 28-0 earning them a spot in the State title game for 1960. The Little Wonders would run up on a very tough group of Red Tornados from Hickory in the state championship game deadlocking the Red Tornados 0-0 winning a share of the state title. The Little Wonders and Red Tornados would finish the 1960 campaign as co champions of the WNCHSAA. This is the story of that first championship team.
4th Annual Football Preview 1960
"The 1960 Varsity Season Takes Shape"
"The Hot Days of August"
"Meet the 1960 Little Wonders"
"Little Wonder Varsity Seniors"
"Little Wonder Varsity Football Schedule"
1960
Kannapolis vs Boyden Home
Kannapolis vs E. Meck Home
Kannapolis vs Winecoff Away
Kannapolis vs Asheboro Away
Kannapolis vs Albemarle Home
Kannapolis vs Statesville Away
Kannapolis vs China Grove Away
Kannapolis vs Thomasville Home
Kannapolis vs Landis Away
Kannapolis vs Concord Home
Kannapolis vs Boyden Home
Kannapolis vs E. Meck Home
Kannapolis vs Winecoff Away
Kannapolis vs Asheboro Away
Kannapolis vs Albemarle Home
Kannapolis vs Statesville Away
Kannapolis vs China Grove Away
Kannapolis vs Thomasville Home
Kannapolis vs Landis Away
Kannapolis vs Concord Home
Kannapolis-31 Boyden-7
Kannapolis-26 East Mecklenburg-6
Kannapolis-50 Winecoff-0
Kannapolis-0 Asheboro-0
Kannapolis-20 Albemarle-0
Kannapolis-20 Statesville-6
Kannapolis-13 China Grove-6
Kannapolis-13 Thomasville-6
Kannapolis-45 Landis-0
Wonders vs Spiders
For SPC Crown
Kannapolis-14 Concord-8
Kannapolis vs Mooresville
For Southern Division Title
Kannapolis-26 Mooresville-0
"A.L. Brown Little Wonders"
South Piedmont Conference Champions
Southern Division Champions
Kannapolis vs Hickory
For WNCHSAA Title
Kannapolis-0 Hickory-0
"A Piece of 1960 History"
This piece of green and white shaker was brought back from the 1960 WNCHSAA AAA Championship game vs Hickory. The pieces were taken from the pom poms of one of the Wonder cheerleaders shortly after the game by faculty member from the school. It was mounted in the scrapbook from which the material from this season was obtained.
Wesley Grant 1960 Little Wonder Shrine Bowl Nominee
"One of the Greatest for it's Time"
"The 1960 A.L. Brown Little Wonders"
WNCHSAA Co-Champions
The crown Jewel of the golden era finally ended their season at 10-0-2 taking a share of the Western North Carolina High School Athletic Association's AAA title home to Kannapolis. The Wonders proved to the whole town that they were capable of bringing home the big one or at least a share of it which set them apart from the pack in the annals of Wonder football history. It would be 1984 before the Wonders would come close to a state title game which was some twenty four years later, but the echoes of these champions still ring loud inside the confines of Memorial Stadium.
It has been fifty two years, a little over half a century since this group of Wonders stepped off the playing field for the last time to end their high school careers, and just like the articles and pictures posted above they have all faded within the pages of time. The feat these Wonders pulled off fifty two years ago will never be forgotten, and just like the state title holders of 1989, and 1997, and the runners up of 1984, 1991, and 2008 the 1960 Wonders hold a unique place in history that many seek to repeat. For those of you who were fortunate enough to bear witness to this landmark event in Kannapolis football history you should all feel honored. I would have loved to see some of these great athletes put on the show they did in person, but I have only these moments captured in photos and ink. This group of Wonders embody in it's truest sense the meaning of excellence that is Wonder football, and left a lasting impression for those Wonders of the modern era to follow. Friday Nights in K-Town is honored to pay tribute to these gallant warriors of old and to the legacy they left behind. You are all true heros of K-Town.
It has been fifty two years, a little over half a century since this group of Wonders stepped off the playing field for the last time to end their high school careers, and just like the articles and pictures posted above they have all faded within the pages of time. The feat these Wonders pulled off fifty two years ago will never be forgotten, and just like the state title holders of 1989, and 1997, and the runners up of 1984, 1991, and 2008 the 1960 Wonders hold a unique place in history that many seek to repeat. For those of you who were fortunate enough to bear witness to this landmark event in Kannapolis football history you should all feel honored. I would have loved to see some of these great athletes put on the show they did in person, but I have only these moments captured in photos and ink. This group of Wonders embody in it's truest sense the meaning of excellence that is Wonder football, and left a lasting impression for those Wonders of the modern era to follow. Friday Nights in K-Town is honored to pay tribute to these gallant warriors of old and to the legacy they left behind. You are all true heros of K-Town.
Kannapolis-31 Boyden-7
Kannapolis-26 E. Meck-6
Kannapolis-50 Winecoff-0
Kannapolis-0 Asheboro-0
Kannapolis-20 Albemarle-0
Kannapolis-20 Statesville-6
Kannapolis-13 China Grove-6
Kannapolis-13 Thomasville-6
Kannapolis-45 Landis-0
Kannapolis-14 Concord-8
Kannapolis-26 Mooresville-0
Kannapolis-0 Hickory-0
10-0-2
Kannapolis-26 E. Meck-6
Kannapolis-50 Winecoff-0
Kannapolis-0 Asheboro-0
Kannapolis-20 Albemarle-0
Kannapolis-20 Statesville-6
Kannapolis-13 China Grove-6
Kannapolis-13 Thomasville-6
Kannapolis-45 Landis-0
Kannapolis-14 Concord-8
Kannapolis-26 Mooresville-0
Kannapolis-0 Hickory-0
10-0-2
Friday Nights in K-Town would like to dedicate this special featurette on the 1960 Little Wonders to the memory of Tim "Panama" Kennerly who passed away on March 23, 2012 from a sudden illness. Kennerly was a member of the 1960 Little Wonders Co-Championship team, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him especially his fellow Little Wonders of 1960. I am deeply saddened that Tim did not get the opportunity to see this featurette. I know he would have been proud. Rest In Peace Tim.
"Timothy Lynn Kennerly"
5-3-44 3-23-12
5-3-44 3-23-12