Curtis High School - Yearbook (Staten Island, NY)

Page 52 text:

BASKETBALL The Curtis Basketball Team Won the Staten Island championship and reached the play-off games at Madison Square Carden for the third successive year under the winning direction of Coach Harry 0'Brien. To do this, the Curtisites had to overcome the fine Tottenville team in the lsland play-off, This game was said to be the most exciting of the season, Curtis winning 35-34. The team played seventeen games, six of which were league games. The only league game lost was the first contest with Tottenville. Curtis lost to Andrew Jackson High School at the Garden before thousands of students from school who journeyed en masse to witness the game. The highlight of the season was a three-day excursion to South Jersey. The Curtis team defeated the Tri-county All-stars at Wfoodstown 55-22. They also played the Merchantsville High School team but lost 34-22.

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The backiield was called the best in the history of Curtis by Coach Sal Somma. Curtis rooters will never forget the power running of uRedn Rycowitch and uBig Johnn Siano, the bril- liant ballacarrying of Vinnie Castellucci and quick-stepping Tom Fawcett. Special mention should be made of Bob Spamer whose great improvement in play and scholastic record won him the trophy awarded annually to the most deserving player by Coach Somma. The reserves were all capable and showed their ability on more than one occasion. We would like to express our appreciation to Trainer Tex Dawson who has kept the Curtis football players in good physical condition for so many years. And finally, we can do no more than pay a humble tribute to Coach Sal Somma whose patience and expert advice piloted the team to its championship. Coach Somma has left the field of friendly battle, the gridiron, to join the United States Naval Forces in another kind of battle, the battle for freedom and democracy. We wish him as much success with the Navy as with his championship football teams at Curtis.

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During the trip to South Jersey, the boys had a great deal of fun and unusual experiences. Coach Harry OiBrien arranged for the boys to stay at farms. They drove tractors, milked cows, pitched hay and did other farm chores. For many boys, this was their first taste of farm life. At mid-season, the team lost captain Ralph Moscato and Gerry Ginsburg through graduation. This was a serious blow, but Doug Vllatson who was elected to succeed Moscato as captain, and Danny McGrath carried most of the burden for the rest of the season. Walter Majeski and Al Bovino also demonstrated their abilities when the going was the toughest. The other players, ,lim McGrath, John Sammon, Vin Lawless and Jay Quintana were always willing and capable to do their part to relieve the regulars.