Chestnut Hill Academy - Caerulean Yearbook (Chestnut Hill, PA)

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CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY 125 Bruinu nf Zllfenniz, 1931 After several years, in which there was no organized ten- nis at the Academy, it was decided to offer those interested an opportunity to revive the sport this spring. Mr. W. F. H. Godson was appointed coach and asked to arrange the best schedule possible on such short notice and to develop a team from the dozen enthusiasts who wished to play. Mr. Codson has played tennis ever since his own high school days, when he made the team at Western High School, Wash- ington, D. C. He played at West Point and has won several military tournaments in the Army, but it is as a coach rather than as a player that he has had the greatest success. He coached the tennis team at the Bordentown Military Institute for four years, and was instrumental in giving tennis new life and impetus in the Castle Heights Military Academy in Tennessee. Most of the nearby high schools and college freshmen teams were challenged, and before long, a satisfactory sched- ule was arranged. Three trips hroke the sameness of play at home, and these were arranged with the Bordentown Mili- tary Institute, in Bordentown, New Jersey, the University of Pennsylvania freshmen in Philadelphia, and with Episcopal Academy, there, in return for a game at home. Home games were arranged with Drexel Institute, Taylor Business College, Haverford High School, West Philadelphia High School, St. .Ioseph's Prep., Temple University Freshmen, and La Salle College High School. An unusual feature of the season was the arrangement to play the last two teams mentioned on our indoor court, in pre-season matches, before the outdoor courts were in con- dition for play. While it was difficult to play in normal style on the gymnasium floor, by reason of the walls being a little close to the back lines, the lighting being very poor, and the apparatus being too close overhead, the matches were interesting, nevertheless, and did much to develop a team that could make a creditable showing outdoors a few weeks later. The practice indoors was valuable in spite of the handicaps, as the players were under the immediate eye of the coach and obtained instruction in serving, lobbing, and the fundamentals of good strokes, for which there was less time and oppor- tunity later in the season. At a meeting early in the year the team elected Edward Cook, team captain. Cook played in good form. His suc- cess in doubles, teamed with de Ceballos, makes next yearls prospects very promising, as these two players gain experi- ence and play more together. In the singles, two players were rated above the team captain, and played at number one and two, respectively. In the number one singles, the team had a very strong player in Ned Sukhsvasti. Easily the best stylist on the squad, he perfected his strokes by constant work with the Cricket Club professional, and developed almost perfect form. His close victory against the very powerful, hard-hitting number one of La Salle College High School was the feature of that match. ' - .

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126 THE CAERULEAN With several matches yet to play as this account is writ- ten, Sukhsvasti still has to play the best players of Episcopal Academy and West Philadelphia High School, who met as finalists in the Penn Tournament. He will have had an un- usually interesting seasonf Ellice McDonald has played a very consistent game at number two. His hard-won victory over Lawrance, at -Bordentown, was an upset, in his favor, and he turned in victories later, even when the team was losing. With another season's experience, McDonald, with his hard second serve, strong back hand, sound ground strokes and ability to take the net, should be one of the best singles players in the city. Carl Sheppard has done good work in singles and doubles. He developed excellent form early in the year, and only needs more match experience to develop into a dangerous singles opponent. Charles Dick was out for the team but left school. His chances of winning a high place were excellent. Sturges, and Williams, J., played in some of the matches and showed much promise. With more experience and greater con- trol, either would have ranked next to our leaders. Pedro de Ceballos has made remarkable improvement. Starting in the second flight, he worked up to the second doubles team and is sure of seeing much service in next yearas matches. Hammond played for us once and pulled a three-set battle out of the fire. Lee, L., Blanchard, W., and de Narvaez, A., were junior members of the squad. They participated in the two monthly tournaments and daily practice. All three have good strokes and understand the fundamentals of strategy. They will certainly work up on the list as time goes on. At the present time it is not known what recognition the tennis players will receive this year. Minor sport letters have been recommended and would do much to confirm the renewed interest in the game. There is a possibility of enter- ing a Chestnut Hill team in the lnteracademic League tennis matches next year. If this is done, the prospects of making a good showing are excellent. By graduation we will lose Sukhsvasti and Sturges only. Seven experienced players will remain, and there should be keen competition for places on the team, and a good fight to every school we meet.