Abraham Lincoln High School - Railsplitter Yearbook (Des Moines, IA)

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State Titles, Ail-Americans Pack Sports History It started in 1926 with 17 spirited boys and set the pace for an exten- sive athletic program in fourteen sports. With a small amount of equipment to protect them against the falls and bruises, they beat their first opponent, North, 12-0. Lincoln ' s football team began in the South Central Conference, also playing with teams around the city. In 1937 Lincoln tied with Indianola for the South Central crown. 1941 brought Coach Russ Ruff a city and conference title and the Prep Coach of the Year award. That same year Lincoln stadium and athletic field was dedicated which was officially named Aaron C. Hutchens Stadiums in 1966. 1964 clinched great victory again as Lincoln was co-champion in the city and rated number three in the state of Iowa, sporting a 7-1-0 rec- ord. Basketball, track, and tennis also began in 1926 with high hopes for future victory. Lincoln has captured only two city basketball championships — in 1952 and 1972. In 1952, under the coaching of Francis Talarico, Lincoln won the sectional and ad- vanced to the first round of the district. They also placed first in the South Central Conference. The second title came in 1972 with Lin- coln advancing to the finals in dis- trict. Tennis players who won state singles titles for Lincoln in 1930, 1933, 1941, 1942, and 1968 were Art Johnson, Cullen Story, Harold Johnson, and Chris Johnson, re- spectively. In 1956 Lincoln won city titles in track and cross country. The track team became state champs, with cross country placing second in the state. For the only time in Lin- coln ' s history the 1968 cross coun- try team won the class AAAA championships. Lorin H. Graaff began building Lincoln ' s swim team in 1932, twen- ty years later they placed second in the city and third in the state. In 1954 All-American Bill Nesson captured the city and state diving championships. Again in 1962 with Brian Percival leading the team, Lincoln finished third in state. Six years later Dirk Han- son, All-American, set state records in the 200 1M and 100 breaststroke. Abe wrestlers captured city titles in 1954, 1956, 1957, 1967, and 1968. In 1956 Lincoln grabbed the district title. Now, years after that first football team, girls are competing in swim- ming, basketball, gymnastics, tennis, golf, and almost all other varsity sports once reserved for boys. Chris Johnson fights for a point as he captures his own State High School Singles Tennis title in 1968 (top). Dirk Hanson shows his butterfly form which won him honors as an All- American swimmer in 1969 (left). —17—

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Lincoln cheerleaders pose for a picture in 1950 (right). Robert Comiskey shows 1943 form for kicking football (lower right). The first football team consisted of 17 players in 1926 (bottom). LINCOLN SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS Football City Champs— 1940, 1941, 1942, 1962, 1963, 1964. South Central Conference Title— 1937, 1940, 1942, 1949. Basketball City Champs— 1952, 1972 Wrestling City Champs— 1954, 1956, 1957, 1967, 1968. District Title— 1956. Track City Champs— 1956, 1970, 1972. State Title— 1956. Cross Country City Champs, 1956; State Champs, 1968. Tennis City Champs— 1930, 1933, 1941, 1942, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968 State Title— 1930, 1933, 1941, 1942. Girls ' Tennis City Champs— 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968. Golf City Champs— 1971, 1972. State Title— 1937, 1939. Baseball City Champs — 1963. State Title— 1955. —16—

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We are... clowns discovering slap-stick in the routine... —18—