Antioch College - Towers Yearbook (Yellow Springs, OH)

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VARSITY FENCING 186

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E ENNIS is :Antiochls reigning varsity sportg the only one which has consistently retained the ability to cope With the best college talent in this section. In the last three years the greater majority of our matches have been won, so that the interest lost in other var- sity sports has been more than offset by that gained in tennis. A large part of the success of tennis during the past three seasons has been due to Walter Rutnam, Who, by his splendid playing, his diligence, and his enthusiasm, has brought the sport to a new high level of excellence. During this time he has held, without menace, the number one position on the squad, and in all his playing has lost but one OH his matches. He has officially coached the team and given careful advice and coun- cil to students who desired' to improve their game. Under his leadership tennis could not but be successful. Rutnam graduates this year. It is with sincere regrets that those interested in tennis see him play his last on Antioch courts. It is improbable, however, that his influence on the game will cease with his departure. 185

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Q NE day, four years ago, Giles Wetherill, an ex- 'I1 champion of New England high schools and Michael Hitrovo, an ex-soldier, fenced a few bouts E-f I ' J l in Kelly Hall for fun, and from this meeting grew the idea of varsity fencing. The lirst attempt to organize was made in the following spring of 1926 and in the fall regular fencing classes were started. During the winter only a few men came out for the new sport and the whole affair wore an atmosphere of casual play. There was a lack of equipment, Werherill having only a few foils. However, that winter a gift of fifteen foils was received from Mr. Strauss of New York, the father of one of the students here. In the fall of 1927 masks and jackets were purchased and regular classes inaugurated. About 25 men and 20 women signed for participance in these first classes. In the spring of 1929 these enthusiasts, organized under the name of the Antioch Fencing Club and held its first unofiicial meet with Wittenberg. This, as well as the meet in the fall of the same year, resulted in overwhelming victories for Antioch. In 192930 the Antioch fencing team had six oiiicial meets with three institutions, the University of Cincinnati, Ohio Northern University, and Wittenberg. In the spring of 1929, these three schools together with Antioch, formed the Ohio Intercollegiate Fencing Association, which promises a lively time for our fencing teams in the future. The men of Antiochls present teams are being coached by Michael Hitrovo and the Women by Robert Overstreet. 187