J O Johnson High School - Harmony Yearbook (Huntsville, AL)

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1974-75 Boys Cross-Co un try LEFT PAGE: Upper Left, First Row: Earl Jones, Walter Eads, Virgl Hutch- inson, Nat Shelton. Second Row: Phil- lip Blevens, Brain Langston, Lem Vaughn, Robert Griffin, Howard King. 1974-75 Girls Cross-Country LEFT PAGE: Lower Left, First Row: Tracey Kaminsky, Lisa Howard, Eva Young. Second Row: Helen Stressel, Mary Jones, Katrina Berres, Dinah Smith. 234

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RIGHT PAGE: Upper Left: Rocky Yates . . . CHAMPION!!! The Champion began his career at Ed White where as an 8th grader he sustained a 12-2-1 overall record. As a 9th grader. Rock, built even more of a reputation with a 14-0 overall record capturing his first championship title at the 83 pound weight class. The young champ, as a Sophomore in high school, went on to win the 98 pound championship titles in both the North Alabama Invitational and in the Regionals. Rocky then battled his way to the 1973 State Championship Finals with a 35-0 winning streak, where he faced the defending State Champion. Bob Baily. of Benjamin Russell. Rock and the former State Champion fought tooth and nail for six long minutes only to find the score tied 3-3. After a one minute period of rest, the two wrestlers then wrestled three one minute periods of overtime, a test from which only a pure Champion would arise. As the overtime periods ended, the score 1-1, after a brief decision between the three officials, the match official raised the hand of Rocky Yates, Johnson High School's First State Championship. This was surely the highlight of Rocky's career, a dream come true. Rock started his Junior year with another first place victory in the 107 pound weight class at the Gadsden Invitational. There he defeated three time, 3A State C , Rocky took another first place title at 107 pound weight class, defeating State Champion David Piggee, 5-1, in the semi-finals. In the 1974 T. V.C's, Rocky captured his first championship title at 112, defeating State Champion Byrom McGlathery of S. R. Butler. Rocky's outstanding season ended with three Championship Tournament Titles, second in the Regionals, and a proud third in the State Tournament. Rock's Senior year was also a winner: after missing the first half o! the season, he returned with a 5-1 record, second in the Region, and sixth in the State Tournament at the 119 pound weight division. The Championships Rock obtained were due to 110 dedication of daily improvement of his skills, of being the attacker and not the defender, the aggressor and not the recessor. Rocky stated. You never think of defeat, you've got to be confident and know you are going to win. Rock ended his wrestling career with an accumulative Jr. High and High School record of 86-10-1, A True Champion's Record. Upper Right: Mike Saylor began his wres- tling career at Davis Hills Jr. High late in the 8th grade: ending his first season 3-2-1, and an overwhelm- ing third in the Huntsville Jr. High Wrestling Tournament. Mike’s Freshman year was even more promis- ing with an undefeated dual record of 9-0-1. His most outstanding performance came when he defeated Peter Cooper, of Westlawn, and captured the Championship Title at the 96 pound weight division. Lower Right: Mike Feam, a first year wrestler, was a success for the Johnson Jaguars. Mike wrestled his way through the season and ended with an 8-1 dual meet record. Mike also proved to be a champion when he pinned his way to the finals, and then decisioned Franklin Reid, of Huntsville, for the 1975 Freshman Championship at the 178 pound weight division. 233

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1974-75 Boy's Track Team RIGHT PAGE: Upper Left, First Row: Phillip Blevens, Scott Maness, Earl Jones, Derek Simmons, Jerry King. Second Row: Coach Scissum, Lem Vaugh, Mike Neely, David Waller, Archie White, Howard King, Nat Shelton, Coach Stafford. 1974-75 Girl's Track Team RIGHT PAGE: Lower Left, First Row: Dede Dorsey, Denise Baker, Debbie Robinette, Melinda Higgins, Eva Young, Linda Beard, Cheryl McDermott, Karen Clay, Mary Jones, Linda Kirk, Sythera Brunner, Doris Overstrett. Second Row: Christine Becker, Lisa Howard, Meg Shirley, Teresa Becker, Pam Jordan, Kristel Maples, Denita Cleveland, Chrrle Kelly, Greta Clay, Pam Martin, Janet Emerson, Emily Winston, Rasa Kulpa. Third Row: Teresa Clemons, Ruby Lanier, Tracey Kaminsky, Helen Stressel, Katrina Berres, Sylvia Davis, Wendi Wickwire, Linda Stressel, Kitty Tidwell, Debbie Taylor. 235