Davis Vocational and Technical High School - Beacon Yearbook (Grand Rapids, MI)

Page 78 text:

F f R : Harold Derfeen, Donald Nixon, Bernard Piper, Ed Nelson, Roberf Mersman. S d Row: Coach Byrum, Frederick Fairchild, Lewis Rufledge, Kennefh Ploeg, Edward Dubiel. baslcetball The baskefball season of '40-'4I sfarfed ouf rafher slow for Tech, buf ended in a winning sfreak in which fhe Green and Whife quinfef won five ouf of fhe lasf eighf games fhey played. The final winning sfreak was fhe resulf of fhe finding of a combina- fion consisfing of Piper, Derfeen, Nixon, Nelson, and Mersman fhaf clicked in fhe Holland Chrisfian game. The forward posifions were held down by Piper, Herald all-cify forward who ranked among fhe highesf scorers in fhe cify: and Derfeen, anofher high-scorer, and Herald honorable menfion man. Bofh of fhese fwo regulars will be losf by Mr. Byrum, our coach, due fo graduafion. The wonder of fhem all, a sophomore who was ouf for Tech's feam for fhe firsf fime, was Nixon, anofher Herald honorable menfion man, who played fhe cenfer posifion for fhe feam. Alfhough slow in geffing sfarfed he soon was oufsfanding bofh as an offensive and as a defensive player.

Page 77 text:

Fronf Row: Gerald Telman, Andrew Holwerda, Norman Saur, Bill Nelson, Ray Wiki R G N d k M Second ow: eorge iewia oms i, Ray asiewicz. Third Row: Pefer Kladder, Joe Rudnik, Edward Nelson, Arfhur Mahlebashian, Eugen F lb In fhe game wiih Cresion neifher feam was able +o score. The sfar in +his game was George Niedwiadomski, who 'rurned in a beaufiful iob ai' fackle. Alihough The game wi+h Ceniral furned ouf +o be a 7-7 fie, Ed Nelson displayed excelleni blocking and Norm Saur showed clever running abilify. The highlighis of +his game came in +he second half when 'rhe Tech eleven confinually fhreaiened The Hillioppers' goal, buf save for once, Dame For'rune +urned her head away from ihe Tech boys. Alfhough 'rhe Wildcais were defeafed by Cafholic, I3-7, ihe firsi half was all Tech's. The Green and Whife s+ar+ed when Eugene Falba made a vicious fackle, causing 1'he Cougar back fo fumble fhe ball. The Tech gang recovered and marched +o a iouchdown. ln +he 'Final game of 1'he season Holwerda became fhe spark of +he Tech backiield, confinually breaking 'rhrough ihe Union defense. Many of +he boys were playing +heir lasi' game, and alfhough +hey didn'+ win, +hey showed invincible spirii' and deferminaiion. Since +he Hawks had The heaviesi' 'ream in fhe ciiy, and we by far +he ligh+es+, if can be said +ha+ ihe Davis Tech Wildcafs of I940 ended +he season in a blaze of glory.

Page 79 text:

Upper: Bernard Piper, Don Nixon, Harold Derleen. Lower: Roberl' Mersman, Ed Nelson. haslcethall The regular posilions of guard were capably handled by Nelson and Mersman, who are excepfionally good ball-handlers. Of all +hese regulars only Nixon and Mersman will re'rurn nexf year. Ofher lirsl' leam players were Hoebeke, Rufledge, Orange, Fair- child, Dubiel, Wilcforowslci, and Ploeg, of whom only Wildorowslci will graduafe l'his year. The highlighl' game of l'he year was played againsf Holland Chrisfian in which Tech won a very decisive viclory al' +he Holland gym. The Wildcal' quinfel' appeared a new l'eam in fhis viclory over fhe slrong Holland leamg spiril' was gained, l'he eflecfive combinafion was found, which resul+ed in +he +eam's final winning slrealc. All lhe players seemed +o have played +heir bes'r game of fhe season wi'rh +he resull +ha+ Tech beal' Holland Chrislian for l'he firsl' lime in i'rs hislory. The final game of l'he season, a fournamenl' game againsf Muskegon Heighls, proved fo be anofher sfep in making +he season a lhriller, when Tech was nosed oul' in a very hard-foughl' baHle by a score 38-35. And so l'he season ended malcing beHer al'hle'l'es oul' of fhose who parlicipaled and giving Tech a feam she mighl' well be proud of fo sei' an example +o fhose who follow.