Catholic Central High School - Spires Yearbook (Grand Rapids, MI)

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Road to Championship Basketball, long the weak sister in a powerful Catholic Central athletic set-up, suddenly became a power by winning a share of the 1956-57 City Championship with Christian. Under the fine tute- lage of Coach Don Lennon, the Cougars finished the season with 12-4 record. The Cougars opened the season with an impres- sive 84-59 win over Muskegon Catholic Central. Steve Sichterman with 21 points and Ed Wagner with 20 led the Cougars. The Cougars then traveled to Flint to play the Northern Five, where they were defeated. The Cat-men led most of the game, but a fourth quarter barrage carried the Vikings to a 5l'43 win. Win Streak The Lennon-men opened their quest for the City Title by crushing Union 75-52 at the Red Hawks gym. Sparked by high scoring Steve Sichterman with 29 points and Jerry Barto with 11, this 1-2 combination proved to be effective all through the season. The next victim under the Cougar Mites was South. The rebounding of big Steve and Barto, along with impressive showings by Hofmann, Walsh, and Elliott, proved to be too much for the Troians. Final Score: 56-47. Keep Streak Alive The Cougars maintained a five game winning streak by defeating Ottawa Hills 52-37 in the feature game of a Civic Tripleheader and by a narrow win over Creston on a dramatic last-second tip-in by Barto. Next they trounced Central 53-36 in the battle of the unbeatens to surge into un- disputed possession of first place in the league standings. Elliot's shooting at the outset of the second half sparked the win. Cougars Meet Defeat In the last game of the first round the Sheldon- ites went down to defeat before the hands of the Christian Eagles, 56-54 in a thriller. As the second round got under way, the Cat-men hit the basket at a torrid pace to cop the City-League Team scoring mark by whalloping Union 92-54. The fol- lowing week the Cougars traveled to South High for what proved to be one of the most exciting games of the year. The final score: 53-50. The winning basket was dropped in by little all-city playmaker Wagner, who had sat out the first half and entered the game in the fourth quarter to play an outstanding game and prove his tremendous ability. The second tripleheader was played at Burton, where the Cougars overpowered Ottawa 58-42. DON LENNON, Coach Excellent shooting and ballhandling by Wagner, Walsh and Sichterman was outstanding. Next the Cougars crushed Creston by a 79-59 score. Terry Sommerdyke sparked the offense and proved to be an up and coming performer for Mr. Lennon. Cougars Upset The powerful Cougars were stunned by a sur- prising Central quintet, 54-53, by a freak shot at the closing seconds of the overtime. This loss knocked C.C. out of a first place tie and set the stage for a championship-game with Christian. If Christian won the game, it would mean an out- right crown for the Eagles. If C.C. won, it would mean a share of the title. C.C. played the caliber of ball that makes a champion, as did Christian. But the determined Cougars were not to be denied as they stormed to a 69-59 win. Every starter on the C.C. Five hit the meshing for double figures as Catholic won their second City League title and the first since 1942. Cougars End Successful Season Regional time again and the City-Champions from C.C. head for Portage to play a highly rated Benton Harbor five. The Cougars started out slow in the first half, were behind at half, 31-13, and finally defeated 50-40. With this defeat it ended the season, but it was a very successful season. City Champs! At the close of the season three Cougars were named to the All-City Teams. Ed Wagner and Steve Sichterman on the first team and Jerry Barto on the second team. Congratulations to the team and it's coach for a highly successful season.

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THE RIGHT REVEREND MONSIGNOR WILLIAM J. MURPHY Rt. Rev. Monsignor Murphy, Principal, and priestly servant of God cmd fellowmon, has been our friend, guide, and teacher for the most im- portant years of our lives. To him we give our honor, respect, and thanks. God has endowed him with many gifts which we have been privileged to share. We are grateful and pray that Catholic Central will long benefit from them. -r I , .,?1qtw,gqr7 NWS?- . Y' ' A