Clinton High School - Clintonia Yearbook (Clinton, IL)

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Htblcttc Hsscctatton Harry Ford, President. William Sharkey, Vice-President. Mabel Brown, Secretary and Treasurer. BOARD OF CONTROL Faculty Representatives H. H. Edmunds, Chairman. Miriam Rosenstcin. Carl Richards. S. A. Dorris. Student Representatives. Howard Lane, Senior. Paul Harrison, Junior. Kenneth Wilson, Sophomore. Gordon Hull, Freshman. Our Athletic Association started out the school year 1917-iS by electing; Harry Ford as president, William Sharkey as vice, and Mabel Brown secretary and treasurer. The year was a very successful one considering the obstacles to be met caused by the Great War. We accomplished one of the greatest feats in eleven years by defeating our old rival. Decatur, in football The football banquet was the largest and best attended in many years. In general our year has been a very successful one considering the conditions of the time. THE FOOT BALL SEASON Clinton vs. Normal .............0-7 Clinton vs. Farmer City........43-0 Clinton vs. Peoria ...........0-13 Clinton vs. Decatur .........19-6 Clinton vs. Gibson City ......7-20 Clinton vs. U. High ..........6-33 Clinton vs. Normal ...........13-7 Clinton vs. Lincoln ..........12-6 Clinton vs. Villa Grove....... 9-52 The season of 1917 was a success. Financially it was the best ever experienced by C. H. S. Although our percentage was a little below 500, we won from Decatur and that alone would make it a success. About thirty candidates reported to Captain Harrison’s call for football practice. Without a coach and with only a few regulars, the outlook was not very bright. A field too caused no little worry and Downey Park was used for the first few weeks. To take the place of a coach, Hugh Harrison and Don Russell, two former football stars, from U. High and Bloomington, were chosen to take charge of the squad until a permanent coach could be obtained. To these two men we owe much credit in getting the squad in condition for the opening game. A week before the opening game Coach Richards, the basketball and track coach, took charge of the squad and rapidly put the finishing touches for the first game with Normal. NORMAL vs. CLINTON The opening game of the season was played at Normal and ended 7 to o in their favor. The Clinton team played very well, considering that it was the first game of the season and that there were a number of new men in the lineup. Harrison and Kent played best for Clinton. FARMER CITY vs. CLINTON The opening game at home was played on our new field at the Fair Grounds and was won, 43 to o. This game helped greatly in getting the team in shape for the Peoria game which followed. PEORIA CENTRAL vs. CLINTON This was the biggest out of town game this season. Here the team played one of its best games of the entire season. Playing against a team much heavier and on a foreign field, and holding them to a 13 to o score is a feat to be proud of. The whole Clinton team played excellent football with no one man starring. DECATUR vs. CLINTON The climax of the season and the ambition of the tr am were attained when we defeated the big Decatur team by the score of 19 to 6. It might be stated here that this is the first time since 1904 that we have beaten this school in football. It was by far the best game of the season and furnished the spectators with thrills enough to keep them away from picture shows, etc., for that night Harrison and Brown played exceedingly well. GIBSON CITY vs. CLINTON This game shows clearly what over-confidence docs for a team. Clinton had the same team with one exception that she had in the Decatur game, but she put up the worst game of tlv season. Consequcntlv she lost, 20 tc 7. PAGE TWENTY FOUR

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ATHLETICS PAGE TWENTY-THREE

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FOOT BALL Paul Harrison—Captain, playing half-back. Captain Harrison deserves great credit for keeping the team together during the time when they had no coach. He is a great lover of football and his playing was of the highest order both from the standpoint of ability and sportsmanship. A clean gentlemanly player and yet one greatly feared by his opponents. His injury in midseason came as a great blow to the team. We can’t speak too highly of Paul both as an athlete and as a gentleman. Gideon Smallwood—Captain-elect and tackle. A regular demon in a football game. His ripping, slashing and tearing style is well known and respected especially by his opponents. Gideon is a likable fellow ofi the gridiron as well as on it andl we predict great things in football next year as a result of his leadership. UNIVERSITY HIGH vs. CLINTON U. High was considered one of the strongest teams in the state, yet we held them o-o for the first half, only to lose in the last. 33-6. We were without the services of Capt. Harrison and • Pcdo” Kent, two of the best men on the squad, for this game, and for the remainder of the season. Harrison broke some small bones in his foot and Kent sprained an ankle. Lowe was unanimously chosen to lead the team in the absence of Harrison. Injuries to Smallwood and Draper also weakened the team. Lowe played the best for Clinton, while the whole Clinton team showed the same fight that they did against Decatur and Peoria. NORMAL vs. CLINTON The Clinton team was changed considerably since the first time that we played Normal, but nevertheless we won by the score of 13 to 7. LINCOLN vs. CLTNTON For the first time in several years we met the Lincoln team in football, and we celebrated by defeating them 12 to 6 in a hard-fought game. Clinton did not play lip to her standard in either of the last two games, but won by relying upon spread formations and forward passes VILLA GROVE vs. CLINTON The final game of the season was on Turkey Day with ilia Grove. We lost by the score of 52 to 19 because of the great offensive strength of the home team. Clinton gained most of her ground on forward passes and kept the game far more interesting than the score shows. The third annual football banquet was held November 28, at which time “Gridiron” Smallwood, the hard-working, consistent tackle, was chosen to lead the team next season. Among those who will be missing from next year’s lineup arc Lowe, Griffin, Sharkey, Pennington. Draper and Lane. But Captain Smallwood has a strong bunch of regulars around which a championship team can be built. In glancing over this season. Wc think that you will agree with us that it has been a success. We, the class of ’i8, sin- cerely hope that the next football season wil be a bigger and better one than the past Of those who re graduating and have played their last h:gh school football I wish to mention the following: HOWARD LANE, quarter back and utility man. Place-kicker, drop-kicker, punter, open field runner, forward passer and withal a heady pilot. When misfortune came upon the team in the latter days it was upon him wc depended most to take over the duties of the men lost. At the last he was doing th piloting, forward passing, punting, place and drop kicking, kicking off and running with the ball, and doing all these thisgs exceedingly well. WILLIAM SHARKEY, guard and tackle A good man on both offense and defense. A hard, willing worker and a man I could depend upon at all times. WILLIAM DRAPER, hard-hitting lull and half back. Probably the most feared man on our team because o: his hard tackling and open field running, lie was always willing to play wherever he was most needed, but probably was at his best at half back. CARL LOWE, whirlwind tackle and substitute captain. He might be called old reliable,” as he never failed to be on deck when he was needed. He was without doubt the best tackle in this district. Tiic U. High coach said lie was the best they had met this year. The esteem in which he was held by his team mates was shown by their electing him to lead the ream when Captain Harrison was injured. DALE GRIFFIN. Played guard all season and played it well. Was always anxious to improve his work and never loafed on the job. On offense iic could be depended on to puncture the opposing line and still have time left to get the secondary defense. On defense many opposition plays never got well started because Sears” tore through and grabbed the man before the interference could form. HAROLD PENNINGTON played end and was very dependable both in breaking up opposition plays and receiving forward passes in offense. A hard w'orker and likable fellow' for his quiet, gentlemanly manner. PAGE TWENTY FIVE