Macalester College - Quid Nunc Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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TENNIS. That tennis is coming to its own as one of the important college games at Macalester is shown by its development during the past few years. At the present time nearly every student who is not in baseball, football or track work is an active member of some tennis association. The Highland Tennis Association has this year made large improve- ments on its well-kept court just south of Shaw Field. The Chewambees, who are located on Grand Avenue, have a strong organization of racket- wielders. Near these courts are the grounds of the Waukan, a new asso- ciation that is rapidly developing to the front ranks. The game has as many devotees among the girls as with the boys. The present courts that they occupy on Summit Avenue are inadequate to meet the needs of the co-eds, and it is very likely that two more will be given them in the near future. Several inter-association tournaments will be held this spring, which will not only serve to arouse local interest in the game, but will also be a long step towards the adoption of Inter-collegiate contests. F, .W , I l 139

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TRACK. The general advancement of athletics at Macalester is marked by the adoption of track work in the spring of 1910. Unlike her sister colleges, Macalester has not indulged in this branch of, athletics during the past years. This can be attributed more to the absence of the proper facilities for carrying on the work than to the lack of material. The acquisition of Shaw Field has obviated this handicap and has placed Macalester athletics on the same footing with those of other colleges. As we learned in the case of football, it is impossible to turn out win- ning teams during the first few years of the game's adoption. Time must be given for the development of the new material, as well as for gaining the attention of the high school track men throughout the state. The present squad is necessarily small, but increases in size with the passing of every week. No brilliant stars have been unearthed as yet, but several of the men are showing more than average ability, while many others give prom- ise of future development. It is uncertain as yet just how much will be attempted in actual con- tests this year. An inter-class meet has already been arranged, and there is a possibility of a meet being held with St. Thomas. Besides this, nothing further will be done than developing the foundation of future track teams that will gain for Macalester as many laurels in this branch of sports as football and baseball have done in the past. 138

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Q XVI-IERE XVE ARE AT. The past year has noted a wonderful growth in athletics at Macalester. First of all, athletics were placed upon a business-like basis through the acquisition of a general athletic coach, who has made it his chief work to promote and encourage a clean brand of all athletics common to college life. Later, the student body showed its interest and desire to support in a tangible way by voting 356.00 per year individually, which fund has been reserved exclusively for a wholesome system of athletics. Just to keep thc good movement going and to show results, the base ball team won the state championship without losing a college game. Today, Macalester students are enjoying the beneficial results of training in all college sports. Football, baseball, track, basketball, hockey, handball, skating and walk- ing, all have their devotees here at school and the change has been much appreciated. Our enlarged athletic policy has made this possible and Shaw Field has come to make it a reality. Has this new policy paid? Watch the half hundred or more men who are daily taking their workouts in baseball, track and spring football on Shaw Field, and then compare this new situation with the one of a few years past, when the only men who could get any athletic training were the men who could make the teams. Consider the wonderful showing of the 1909 football team, which though not winning a game, won state-wide approbation for its pluck and sturdy iight for clean college football. We cannot refrain from reminding our readers at this point, how- ever, that the football team came within twenty yards of a triple tie for the state championship, for if Schiek had gotten past Stevenson in the Carleton game, such would have been the result. Furthermore, that it has paid, let us recall this significant sentence found in the 1909 football review as printed in the Pioneer Press: The feature of the 1909 football season was the phenomenal spirit shown by the supporters of the Macs. It was the biggest brace the team had. The old Macalester spirit has never been shown to better advantage than during the past year. Today, Macalester enjoys an enviable position in Northwestern athle- tics. Her teams are popular and are invited to meet the best teams of this section. Their successes are attracting young men as never before. They like Macalester because of its obvious advantages of situation, because of its spirit and its ideals. Can Macalester, with its present equipment, meet the reasonable demands of these young men, who demand and need a wholesomeathletic training quite as much today as they need a mental training in the sciences and the classics? Without adequate gymnasium facilities, can we hope to compete with our state rivals, who have so re- cently added splendid new gymnasiums? And if, because of a lack of proper training and equipment, Macalester teams must inevitably become trailers after state honors, will this not seriously reflect against our col- 1ege's iniiuence in every respect? We need that gym nextf' Every one conversant with the problem admits of this logic of the situation. We Want and we need a gymnasium. -E. J. C., '10. 140