Byron Area High School - By Hi Yearbook (Byron, IL)

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Athletics

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Route 72 Speech Tournament The Byron speakers were on a rampage Saturday afternoon, February 5. After thousands of words had been spoken and weighed, Byron was declared champions of the conference for the third successive year. Twelve speakers from Byron walked away with five first places, two second places, and two third places, to amass 33 points. Closest rival was Stillman Valley with 11. Winnebago scored 4 points; Ashton and Pecatonica scored 3 apiece; Monroe Center failed to place. Placing by the Byron speakers was as follows: Verse Reading: Ramona Nelson, first; Gwen Stebner, third. Comedy Reading: Jerry Piper first. Serious Reading: Marion Fransen, first. Ora- tion: Wilma Dillow, second; Pat Kanode, third. Original Oration: Gene Heidenreich, first; Marguerite Johnston, second. Extempore Speaking: Chuck McNames, first. In the one-act play contest held in the evening of February 5, Byron was again successful. “He Came Seeing,” a religious drama set in the time of Christ, was adjudged superior to plays presented by Monroe Center and Stillman Valley. Frannie Noyes, Elwood Himes. Chuck McNames, Pat Rapp, and Marion Fransen were the lead- ing characters in the play and each did a fine job. They were supported by Jerry Weaver, Leary Kennedy, Marguerite Johnston, and Cecil Dillow who had non speaking roles. District Speech Meet Byron made a most impressive showing at the District Speech Meet. There were six individual events and the dramatics contest. Byron was the only school of the eight represented who qualified for the Sectional in all seven events. East Rockford and West Rockford were only able to qualify in five. In addition, Chuck McNames and Ramona Nelson gained the honor of winning first place in their events. Placing at the meet was as follows: Verse Reading: Ramona Nelson, first (also first in Class B). Comedy Reading: Jerry Piper, third (second in Class B). Serious Reading: Marian Fransen, third (first in Class B). Oration: Wilma Dillow, second (first in Class B). Original Oration: Gene Heidenreich. third (first in Class B). Extempore Speaking: Chuck McNames. first (also first in Class B). Dramatics Contest: Byron’s “He Came Seeing,” second (first in Class B). Sectional Speech Meet Winning ways were continued in the Sectional Meet held at East Rockford High School. The outstanding performance was by Chuck McNames who qualified for the State Meet in Extempore Speaking. Barely missing a trip to the state were Ramona Nelson and Wilma Dillow who placed third in their events. The first two places only were advanced. There were twelve entries in each event and placing was as follows: Verse Reading: Ramona Nelson, third (first in Class B). Comedy Reading: Jerry Piper, seventh. Serious Reading: Marion FTansen, sixth (first in Class B). Oration: Wilma Dillow, third (first in Class B). Original Oration: Gene Heidenreich, seventh (second in Class B). Extempore Speaking: Chuck McNames, second rfirst in Class B). Dramatics: Byron’s He Came Seeing,” fourth (first in Class B). Due to the illness of Elwood Himes, Jerry Piper played a role in “He Came Seeing’’ in the Sectional. State Speech Meet In the last meet of the year, Chuck McNames, sole Byron entry, brought honor to himself and the school bv placing fifth in the state in Extempore Speaking. The field of twelve was nar- rowed down Friday, April 1 when Chuck and five other speakers were advanced to the finals. On the following day in the championship round Chuck was awarded fifth place, a point, and a beautiful medal. TWENTY-FOUR

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Ou r Coach Richard (Dick) Haselton, coach of all athletic activities, came to Byron High in the fall of 1946 immediately after graduation from Northern Illinois State College. A young but energetic coach, Mr. Haselton has in the past three years not only built up an enviable athletic record, but has taught the importance of conditioning and sports- manship to the high school boys. It is in basketball that Byron athletes have shown particular power during Mr. Has- elton’s coaching. During the three-year span the varsity team has won 70 games, losing only 7. Only twice in the past three years has a conference team beaten the Tigers and each time by the narrowest of margins, one point. During the past three years Byron has lost only one game on their home floor. Other fields have not been neglected, however. In 1946-1947 Byron won the Route 72 Softball Championship and was barely nosed out of the Track and Field title. In 1947-1948 the track team ran off with the conference meet. In both 1947 and 1948 Byron was represented in the State Track Meet by an in- dividual performer. These are records set up in competitive sports. In the regular daily athletic pro- gram Mr. Haselton is cognizant of the students unable to compete against other schools and has built much of his gym work around those people. For the clean sportsmanship and championship caliber of competition which have been a part of the school program during Mr. Haselton’s three years, we, the stu- dents, are appreciative; and we proudly dedicate to our coach, the athletic section of our book. TWENTY-SIX