Samuel Gompers Vocational Technical High School - Artisan Yearbook (Bronx, NY)

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Tracking 1 , v . the Track Team Gonipers is not a school, only for the training of fellows interested in learning the electrical or automobile industry, at least not judging from its athletic reports. Ever since the establishment of Gompers back in 1936 every athletic team has made for itself a place at or near the top of its particular sport, ln May 1940 when the first Gompers track team was formed with practically no financial support, unequipped as it was, the eligibles brought Gompers track fame. This fame came to he when with only five entrants to make points, Gompers finished fourth in the city-wide high school championship tournament. Many will long remember the famed Glenn Cunningham kick reproduced by Joseph Raiti to bring him up to second place in the tedious mile run. This term's graduate Eddy Turrell also found a place in the Gompers track fans' heart when after strenuous weeks of training, fighting his way to a chance in the Garden he was beaten by inches by the favorite, a much more experienced lad. Of course no event entered by the wearers of the blue and gray was 'ever complete without some record or other being broken and Robert Wilburn carried on the tradition. He not only won his event fthe high jumpj BUT he broke the all time Vocational High School rec- ord. The speed was most ably displayed by Guy King the husky Jesse Gwens of Compers. And finally but, by far, not the least we come to George Straty the gent who with the aforementioned Guy King made Compers recognized in the 100 yard dash. However, time travels on, and with last graduation went our W mile run and high jump stars Wilburn 81 Raiti. We also lost Turrel. The veterans now were those of the indoor track season chiefiy, Wilson, your co-editor of this column, Mar- ciano, Bolger and Pezzino.

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Led by Charles Liggio, the Gompers boys had the opposition dizzy with its dazzling attack and rock ribbed defense. Gompers was rated as the underdog in the city playoffs, but amazed the crowd with a whirlwind battle against Brooklyn Automotive, the league champions for the past four seasons. Although losing 45-40 our boys gave their opponents the toughest game of the season. They also threw the garden crowd of 12000, into a frenzy of excitement with their last minute splurge. One of our players, Leo Medwick, went on a rampage and tied the garden record for high schools by scoring 20 points. He accomplished this by set shooting that had the crowd on the edge of its seats. Also we are pleased to say that Charles Liggio with only two seasons of high school ball to his credit, attracted the atten- tion of L.1.U.'s Coach Bee, who was watching the game. Immediately upon notic- ing Liggio's playing ability, Mr. Bee asked Liggio whether he would care to tryout for the L.I.U. basketball squad. This was quite an honor, since the L.I.U. team is one of tl1e leading teams in the country. Liggio, thru no fault of his own had to turn down this offer. In checking the records we find that Liggio scored more points than any other vocational school player ever did for one season. Scoring 175 points for the season, he also held the record for most points scored in one game- 26 points. The season just past has been one of mixed appeal. From the depths of de- feat a lighting Gompers squad rose to great heights-and then suffered a jarring blow by fortune. During the first half of the season, despite a veteran array, we won only three games out of six and seemed resigned to an ordinary sason especial- ly in view of the fact that we would have to begin the second half with almost an entirely green team. p However these courageous boys refused to be awed by their opponents and proceeded to play the kind of hall that Gompers is noted for, winning six straight -an invitation once again to the garden, which now seems to- have become a trad- ition! Even Central Needle Trades-the eventual city champions-was defeated by this green team. At the Garden, Gomppers started well and led at the half 22-9. However one of those unfortunate things called ulet down happened, and the final score saw us on the short end of a 32-31 score. But in spite of the turn- about it was certainly a thriller. Hats off then, to Liggio, Zimmerman, Medwick, Powers, Bogart, Resnick and many others too numerous to mention, who helped to make the past season a great success. Here's looking forward to more successful seasons in the future.

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As we have written before all of these remarkable feats were accomplished through te primary efforts of the first five members of the track team who knew what they wanted and just wouldn't take no for an answer. We are proud that Gompers should have such fine spirited fellows. As this goes to press Mr. Fisher. tl1e little fellow who really deserves the laurels to hear the members tell it. is busy preparing the 70 track squad members to do their part in upholding the Gompers tradition of being in the selected winners' circle. As we write linis to this bit ol' track info we want Mr. Fisher to know that even when tl1e breaks are against us as they are bound to be some time the boys of Gompers are with him all the way. For this team has learned what it means to come up tl1e hard way. Of the five pioneers in Gompers track history when we began our initial in- door track season which proved very successful only Wilburn, Turrell Sl Raiti were left. Around this nucleus, Mr. Fisher, the new track team coach, built a sur- prisingly strong team. Strong, in that it placed third in both the cross-country championship tournaments and in the Vocational High School Finals held in Mad- ison Square Garden.