Assumption High School - Assumption Yearbook (Davenport, IA)

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Sportlite by Scrap O’Donnell Returning from a vacation trip this summer, Father John Ryan was pass- ing through Cordova, Illinois, the site of the World Series of Drag Racing each year. Father Ryan, who had just purchased a new Jaguar sedan, was be- wildered when a man frantically flagged him down. It seems that this man wanted Father Ryan to enter the Jaguar in drag rac- ing competition against other foreign stock. Father Ryan apologized sym- pathetically and said that he had busi- ness back in Davenport. Back in late August, the Varsity foot- ball team was hard at drills over at the St. Ambrose track. Many curious spectators stopped by to have a look at procedures. One day when Leo Kil- foy, director of athletics at St. Am- brose College, was helping out with the linemen, a bystander was over- heard talking to one of last year’s graduates. “The college team sure looks small this year doesn’t it?” Looking at quar- terback John Fennelly toss the ball he stated, “Webb (a former little All- American for St. Ambrose) doesn’t look sharp either.” The listener, taking this as a joke, filled in the inquisitor about the pro- ceedings. The man, who was from out of town, said that he didn’t know the college had dropped football and con- fessed that the team going through drills looked pretty fair for high school kids. Students who think they are getting gypped on activity books this year are certainly talking through their hats. The price of activity books at Assump- tion is $5.00, which includes many ac- tivities. The cost of admittance to our four home football games and nine home basketball games alone would be $6.50 by individual ticket. Included in the ticket books are tickets to all wrestling and baseball home games, as well as many other student activities throughout the year. At Davenport’s West and Central, the cost for such books is $4.00, which cover only ath- letics. Some of the nicknames Assumption's football team has. but which the pub- lic never hears about, have interest- ing stories behind them. We recall the “four yarders” — a name thought up by Head Coach Ambrose — mean- ing that if we can grind out four yards every play we’ll never have to worry; also, the “scholar tackles”; the first four tackles on Assumption’s line, Dave Cavanaugh, Tom Kisten- macher, both seniors, and Don Miller and Stan Maliziewski, juniors, are all honor students. Bet they don’t have it like that at Harvard or Vale. DOTTIE Mickelwright '61, shuffles a puck while trying out the latest addi- tion to the AHS gym classes. Star Joins Staff Twenty-four years old, Little All- American, All Central States Confer- ence three years in a row, high scor- er in the St. Ambrose vs. Western Illi- nois game last year, the most recent ad- dition to the coaching and teaching staff of Assumption High School — that’s Mr. William McAfoos. Hired to fill the vacancy left by the elevation of Coach Ray Ambrose to the head football post, Mr. McAfoos was “signed right off the campus” of Western Illinois University ait Ma- comb. A stellar basketball player at West- ern Illinois, the new coach majored in speech. He admittedly enjoys coaching very much and thinks the football players are “real fine and possess great possibilities.” Tom Eaton, senior defensive back, sums up the team’s feeling toward Mr. McAfoos. “He’s a hard-working, un- derstanding backfield coach.” Sophomore Bill Donahoo claims the new coach as a brother-in-law. Miss Pat Donahoo and Mr. McAfoos were married shortly after school started. Youths Field Team; Sport Good Record by Gary LaFayette Six balls, six bats and $25.00. With this meager supply Davenport’s Con- nie Mack team survived a 40 game schedule in their first season of play. The balls donated by Davenport high school, the bats from the St. Louis Cardinals, and $25.00 for playing at the Anamosa State Reformatory sup- ported the team. All other expenses were borne by the players. Most of the credit belongs to Dick Wolfe ’60, who, with the help of Don Haley of Davenport High, organized the team, lined up umpires, procured bases, aligned the schedule and was one of the top stars of the team. The Connie Mackers started out as a Legion team from Assumption. They discovered, however, that the Legion wouldn’t sponsor them. With a sched- ule all lined up, they teamed up with some other area youths and played high school, and nearby semi-pro teams. Playing this past season were: Tony McAndrews, Tom Eaton, Denny Cal- kins, Karl Noonan, Paul Castro, Mick Prochaska, Jack Wiland and Wolfe from Assumption. Representing Davenport High were: Frank Stark, leading hitter and home run slugger, Danny Bellman, Denny Nickle, Gary Herr, Pat Brady, Gene Lucht, Dave Barker, Terry Stieger and Haley. Jerry Hopkins and Larry Dobereiner of East Moline joined the team later in the season, along with Charlie Bar- retto of Bettendorf. The team finished with a 23-17 sea- son record. This, however, does not show the true picture because toward the end of the season they were play- ing tough seasoned area semi-pro teams. At one time during the season they were 12-1. According to Wolfe, the highlights of the year were the defeat of last year’s state semi pro champs, Mus- catine. 4-3 and knocking off this year’s winners, the Rock Island Na- tionals, 8-5. These important victories, coupled with a third place finish in this year’s tourney, show that the team was more than “a bunch of high school kids.” Paul Castro was the No. 1 hurler with a 10-4 record. He and Wolfe were recently given a tryout with the St. Louis Cardinals and were both offer- ed a chance to sign a contract. They declined, however, in favor of further schooling, Paul at Palomar Junior College in California and Dick at Iowa State. The team will operate again next year on much the same basis, playing high school teams in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois along with area semi-pro teams. 13

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Knights Drop Opening Duo, Eye River Kings John Watts as each scored and ac ASSUMPTION QUARTERBACK John Fennelly (No. 12) crosses the goal line to make the score 13-6. Alleman went on to win the game 19-12. Note the ref’s raised arms indicating a TD. This football season Assumption Knights will think they’re battling a Hydra (mythical beast, who, when one head is cut off, grows two more) as they meet Davenport’s two descendents: West and Central. This Friday night, the Knights jour- ney to Clinton to meet the River Kings. Led by halfback Tom Waldorf, who scored three times against Assumption in Davenport last year, Clinton might find it tough going as the game is rat- ed a tossup throughout Eastern Iowa. Both Clinton and Assumption hAve battled Davenport Central, the Knights fresh from the game of last Friday; Clinton’s Kings beat Centrajl’s Blue Devils 14-6 last Sept. 16 in their sea- son’s opener. Assumption has five games remain- ing on their tight schedule. This Fri- day the team plays at Clinton (Sept. 30). Sunday, Oct. 9, revives an old riv- alry as Assumption travels to Dubuque to encounter Wahlert High’s Golden Eagles with returnees, quarterback John Skowronek, fullback Jim Ed- wards, and halfbacks Mark Connelly and Tom Mass. This is the season’s only afternoon game scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Next the Knights challenge perhaps the two biggest foes of the season, ac- cording to varsity ballplayers. On Oct. 14, Assumption visits Bettendorf High in a game that was cancelled because of snow last year in Davenport. Two familiar names on the Bulldogs roster are Scott Rocker and Stu Spar- ling, who together did an excellent job of ambushing Burlington High 34-18. This Bettendorf squad is said to be the best ever, but enthusiastic Knights aim to prove otherwise. On Oct. 21, Assumption plays host to West high school at Brady Street Stadium. West operates from a winged- T offense, much like the Knights; quar- terback Doug Tucker is the potential threat with his passing; ends Bill Mar- tin and Don Wooldridge, along with fullback LaVerne Allers and halfbacks Bill Nicholson and George Thompson round out a very talented West Squad. Knight Quarterback John Fennelly sums up the attitude of the squad with this sentiment, “We’re going after this one with one thought in mind, it’s As- sumption’s Homecoming; we’re going to win it for Coach Ambrose and the students of our school.” Knight footballers will see if an- other head grows from this Davenport High Hydra. The season’s finale is against Bur- lington high school at Burlington on Oct. 28. The Greyhounds, number one in the state last year, are led by quar- terback Dale Brown, who helped Bur- lington defeat AHS at Muny Stadium last year 27-13. Two weeks ago, Alleman copped the Quad City Catholic title, beating As- sumption’s Knights 19-12 at Municipal Stadium. As anticipated, the Knights found their main trouble via Jim and counted for almost the entire Alleman offense, which ammounted to 151 yds. A poor start enabled Alleman to build a 13-0 lead after five minutes of play. But the Knights battled back and scored twice, on end sweeps by Johnny Fennelly, although this proved to be one tally short. Assumption out- played Alleman statistically, gaining 192 yds. on the ground, but the final score means the difference, and As- sumption had lost their second game of the season, 19-12. In the season’s initial contest, As- sumption’s tough luck and first game jitters proved fatal as the Knights had three touchdowns either dropped or called back, which TD’s would have spelled victory. Instead Fort Madison’s Bloodhounds took their second victory in as many years from Assumption’s spirited Knights, 14-6. Frosh and Soph Teams Outline Their Seasons Sixty players and five coaches com- pose the biggest athletic team (num- ber-wise) in the school, the freshman football team. Having practiced since the beginning of school, frosh are readying for the four team freshman jamboree tomor- row night. The team will then be reduced to about 40 players. According to Fr. Charles Mann there is “a lot of competition” for the starting positions. The first interschool game is next Tuesday against North Scott. The Squad has had a little trouble finding a place to practice. They began on the temporary Assumption field, but soon moved to the St. Ambrose College field. Lack of room forced them to Glen Armil Park where they are currently being run through their paces by Father Mann and his able assistants, Fr. William Dawson, Messers. Tony Navarro, Dick Leonard, and Skip O’Donnell. “A 26-6 victory ... not a bad start for any football team,” say the sophs. The Assumption sophomore club led by fullback Dave Schlitter trounced the North Scott Lancers in their opener on Sept. 12. Coach “Babe” Derouin and Fr. Arth- ur Perry are confident that this year’s squad will “compare favorably” with last year’s squad who sported a 5-3-1 record. They are currently busily readying for their next tilt at Clinton on Thursday, Sept. 29. A tough nine-game schedule faces the Little Knights whose backfield con- sists of Schlitter, quarterback John Burke, and halfbacks Jim Kellenberg- er and Steve Miller. 12

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