Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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making a good sliowing, fully as well as could be expected. Football teams are not made in two or three years. It takes time. AVhat is the answer? Is it the fault of the school, the teachers, the coaches or the pupils themselves? The faculty members are as much in favor of athletics as the pujjils; coaches are a matter of choice and Wakefield High has had as good coaching as could be obtained. The fault must lie with the pupils or atliletes. Perhaps it is that training for competition is not to the liking of some of the boys. At- tendance at dances or late hours, smoking and other attractions seem to have the edge on ath- letics at the high school at the present time. Once in a while there is an outstanding star on a team but a well-balanced team is something that seems to be lacking. It may be that the social aml)itions of the athletes exceed their atlilctic ambitions or ability. The above criticism of our athletics ap- peared in the Wakefield Daily Item some time ago. The writer was at first inclined to pass it by as one of the many references to the good old days stories of wonderful teams we used to have , whicli are lieard about town from time to time. In fairness, however, both to the boys who have done and are doing their best and to the several coaches who have worked hard, a few fac ts should be presented to show that our athletics are far from being in a bad way or even on a decline. By the law of averages, Wakefield High or any other school cannot expect to win every game every season nor can any school expect to put on a winning team every season. Some team must lose every time some other team wins. We often lose sight of this fact. So even if the insinuation that we have not had winning teams of late were true, we might be reconciled by the fact that by the law of tilings, it was our turn to be on the losing side. Anyone who wislies to look up the records of our baseball teams for the past three or four years will find that they compare favor- ably with those of other years. Last year the team won eleven games out of fourteen games played. In 1920 the team won fifteen out of twenty. These ought to be classed as winning teams. Wakefield Hgh has had a football team for four seasons. Eeeords show that every year except 1919 the teams won more games than they lost. In 1919 they lost four and won three. These are pretty satisfactory records. In the Annual Schoolboy Meet Wakefield won sixth place out of fifteen schools compet- ing. In, track as also in all our athletics,, we are obliged to compete with more schools larger than ours than with those of the same size or smaller. Yet despite this handicap, Wakefield High does not need to apologize nor feel anything but proud of her records. In reference to the stars produced, the criticism is a bit contradictory. It notes an absence of stars and then admits that we do have an occasional star. We do not strive to produce stars in high school ath; letics, but if we did, here again the law of averages forbids our producing stars every season. A high school of less than three hundred boys competing witli schools three and four times our size cannot be expected to develop stars year after year and furni.sh photographs for the Boston papers. If we do liave an occasional star we are doing well. But in this connection it is interesting to note that many of the records made by our boys in the past have been broken by the keener competition of the last few years. To a careful observer, there are two very encouraging features apparent in our ath- letics at the present time. First, the number of boys being barred from athletics by the scholarship rule is growing smaller each year, despite the fact that the rules have grown more stringent and are be- ing rigidly enforced. Second, there is a growing spirit of fair play and at desire for cleaner athletics not only in our own school but also in tlie other schools of greater Boston. This is a goal far more worth striving for than a winning learn. Wakefield High is not slipping — but going strong. But after all we all expect to liear in ten or fifteen years from now about the good old days and wonderful teams and stars — it is the way of the world. ARTIIUE A. FULTON. SHADES OF MAN When a man has no pep, they say that he ' s colorless. When he ' s mad, they say he sees red. When he ' s a coward, tliey say that he is yellow. When he ' s straight, they say he is white. When he ' s loyal, they say that he is true blue. When he ' s inexperienced, they say that he is green. VIRGINIA ULRICI, ' 25. 21

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men in their tracks. In the backfield there were Dan Talbot, Grant, E. Talbot, J. Cough- lin, Corcoran, and R. Hall. Dan Talbot was the fastest man in the backfield and was an excellent broken field runner. He made a good many touchdowns and when he got go- ing it took a good man to catch and tackle him. Grant was the old ramrod and was used for line plays. He hit the line like a sledge hammer and something had, to give way. He was great as a ground getter. He played a wonderful game in the backfield and deserves a great deal of credit. E. Talbot played the quarterback position and handled the team like a general. He will be a great man for Mr. Dower next year. J. Coughlin played a great game at halfback. He hit the line like a shot and nobody could stop him. F. Corcoran played a fine game and proved to be one of Mr. Dower ' s fastest and best backfield men. R. Hall played but a few seconds before he got injured but during that time he proved to be a good backfield man. He is only a Sophomore and will be a great help to Mr. Dower in the future. Haggerty was the Wakefield manager and played in the back- field until he fell below in his studies. He played a good game and proved to be a good manager. John Maroney played a good game in the Ijackfield until he was forced to give up football. A great deal of credit should be given Mr. Dower in building up the team. Tliere was nothing that he would not do that would bene- fit the team. Much credit should be given Paseiualino and Ingerton who came down to practice every day and helped get the team in shape although they did not get into the game very often. They showed that they would stick by the team even if they did not get a chance to play. The work of the girls who sold tags for the benefit of the football team was wonderful. They showed the riglit spirit and should be given a lot of credit. These girls were re- warded for their work by getting W ' s and numerals. The football men to get their W ' s were Capt. G. Hall, Grant, D. Talbot, Corcoran, Coughlin, E. Talbot, Smith, Clemons, Mulliii, Crosljy, Sidney, Fuller, Capt. King of next year ' s team, Fitzgerald, Martin, and Manager Haggerty. The girls to receive their W ' a were Margaret Corbet, Arlene Gardner, Mar- garet Bucknam, Selena Kalaher, Brcta Heur- lin, Helen Jones, Muriel Kingston, and Harriet Dolbcarc. The girls to receive their numerals were Ruth Murkland, ' 2:5; and Helen Denne- hey, ' 22. The team loses Capt. Hall, D. Talbot, Grant, Mullin, Fuller, Crosby, J. Coughlin, Corcoran, Smith, and Manager Haggerty by graduation. For next year Mr. Dower will have to build a team around Captain-elect King, Sidney, Martin, E. Talbot, Clemons, Fitzgerald, and R. Hall. The f scores: Sept. 24- -Wakefield 6 St. John ' s Prep. 19 30- -Wakefield 7 Woburn 14 Oct. 7- -Wakefield Winchester 7 12- -Wakefield Lowell 25 15- -Wakefield 42 Stoneham 22— -Wakefield Amesbury 14 28- -Wakefield 7 Watertown 7 Nov. 5- -Wakefield 26 Melrose 12- -Wakefield 7 Arlington 19- -Wakefield 14 Lexington 7 Tot al 109 Opponents 93 CAPT. HALL. In the aljove article it will be noticed that Capt. Hall has Jiot made any mention of him- self. Hall made an ideal leader. He was pop- ular, and never asked a player to do anything that he himself would not do. Capt. Hall was a savage tackier, and though handicapped by injuries, he never grumbled. His wonderful interference gained many yards for his back- field, while his presence brought new life to the whole team. Gritty, modest, unassuming, Capt. Hall deserves all that is said about him, and tlien some. By W. J. L UNFAIR CRITICISM Where have Wakefield High School ' s crack athletic teams gone? Where are- the teams that ))rought championship to Wakefield and filled the cases in Room 1 with cups and trophies? Are there no more Dignans, Dug- gaiis, Goodwins or Burkes, no more Harring- tons, Scanlons, Keadys or otlier stellar per- formers for W. H. S.? In the past few years the standing of Wake- field High School has taken a decided drop in athletic circles. The track teams have won no outstanding victories either in dual meets or in tlio interseholastic meets in Boston; the basel)all teams have been fair, but tliere have been no cups or pennants coming to the town, the football team is something now and is 20

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BKTTKLIOn nOTBS BATTALION NOTES The work in Military Drill began this year with enthusiasm. Under the able supervision of Sgt. Ernest Monroe, the battalion has im- proved greatly. Much credit is due the cap- tains for their untiring efforts in rounding into shape their companies. After the Christ- mas vacation, a drum corps was formed, which made marching much easier. The following is the list of officers and non- eonimissioned officers which constitutes the present roster of the battalion: — Major E. B. Batten, Adjt. G. Hall, Supply Officer I. Patterson, Aide-de-Camp Lt. Thomas W. Jazukawiz, Sgt.-Maj. A. Jakeman, Supply Sgt. Maurice Lee. Co. A— Capt. E. Dnde, 1st Lt. G. Cole, 2nd Lt. E. Talbot, 1st Sgt. L. Meuse, Sgts., J. Yaru- shitcs, H. Eeynolds, K. Mumford, Cpls. J. Di- nan, J. North, E. Eaton, H. Nash, E. Ure. Co. B— Capt. F. Grant, Jr., 1st Lt. M. Fuller, 2nd Lt. L. Cutter, 1st Sgt. K. Babb, Sgts. W. Piiiuney, H. Bowser, V. Seaward, H. Lilley. Cpls. R. Slicrman, S. Hamm, L. Doucette, P. Connell. Co. C— Capt. J. McPartland, 1st Lt. Roger Meuse, 2nd Lt. A. Anderson, 1st Sgt. E. dem- ons, Sgts. L. Martin, W. Ulrici, E. Clark, M. Santoro. Ci)ls. R. George, P. Magnitzky, G. Walsh, P. Rich. Co. D— Capt. A. C. Sweetser, 1st Lt. L. Mc- Master, 2nd Lt. W. King, 1st Sgt. II. Mann. Sgts. M. Ireland, E. Ward, R. Seabury, E. Homer. Cpls. M. Porter, J. Burgess, R. Roach, N. Bayrd. Mrs. P. J. McPartland, and Mrs. L. W. Sweet- ser. Following this was the grand march, led l)y Major Robert Batten and Miss Helen Jones. The other Wakefield officers following in order of rank were, Capt. Ernest Dade and Miss Josephine Butler, Capt. Fred Grant, Jr., and Miss Breta Heurlin, Capt. John McPartland and Miss Flora Borden, Capt. Alan C. Sweetser and Miss Elizabeth Hurd, Lt. George Hall and Miss Muriel Mayne, Lt. Irving Patterson and Miss Hazel Hallett, Lt. George Cole and Miss Olive Cartland, Lt. Myrton Fuller and Miss Margaret Gammons, Lt. Roger Meuse and Miss Helen Jazukawiz, Lt. Leslie McMaster and Miss Charlotte Hammond, Lt. Edmund Talbot and Miss Margaret Fitzgerald, Lt. Lloyd Cut- ter and Miss Florence Munn, Lt. Albert An- derson and Miss Miriam Skulley, Lt. William King and Miss Evelyn j IcDonald, Lt. Tliomas W. Jazukawiz and Miss Ruth Murkland. Ofli- cers attended from Norwich, Gloucester, Woburn and Stoueham. STONEHAM OFFICERS ' PARTY Tlie commissioned officers of the Stone- ham High School Bat-talion held their Annual Officers ' Party, Friday evening, December IC. After a short receiition to Matrons came the grand march led by Major A. Brackley of the Stoneham High Battalion, followed by other Stonehan officers, Gloucester, Wakefield, Low- ell and Woburn. OFFICERS ' PARTY The Officers ' Party was held in the Wake- field Town Hall on Deceml)er 29, 1921. There was a short reception to the matrons, Mrs. T. W. Batten, Mrs. C. S. Dade, Mrs. F. S. Grant, 22 GLOUCESTER PRIZE DRILL The Gloucester High School Prize Drill and Dance was held Friday evening, February 3, 1922, at the Gloucester State Armory. The Wakefield officers present were Major R. Bat- ten, Capt. A. C. Sweetser, and Lt. George Cole. The jiarty not only gave the Wakefield offi- ccis a good time, i)ut it also gave tliem a glimpse of how a real R. O. T. C. drills. MAJOR ROBERT B. BATTEN,