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

Page 88 text:

The Wildcat Baseball Team. although very green at the opening of the season, developed into an excellent ball club. Don Nixon, who handled the first sack was a sparkplug in the infield. l-le played only half the season, but his batting average was .500. Iim Beurkens, the other letter man, showed up with real talent in left field. When the season was half finished, the infield and outfield, were changed With Ioe Zbikowski as first baseman, Iim Beur- kens as catcher, Art Vander Baan in right field, and Iack Alcumbrack in left field. The timely hitting of Don Nixon and Art Vander Baan, and the pep and fire of Ioe Zbikowski kept the rest of the team constantly on their toes and in high spirits. Most of the boys will be back and Mr. Emery, the coach, is looking forward to next season. FRONT ROW H. Smith, L. Bush, M. Quay, B. Vande Kopple, M. Paawee. SECOND ROW H. Lynch, I. Beurkens, E. Cichon, C. Tomaiczyk, T. Overholt, I. Alcurnbrack THIRD ROW B Diamond, E. Rittenhouse, I. Kalesback, A. Vander Baan, B. Weeber, B. Farnham I Zbikowski FOURTH ROW Coach Emery, I. Vadeboncouer, I. Skuzinski, B. Schutich, M. Baltusis, I. Stakowalk D Nixon

Page 87 text:

The Track Team, under the leadership ot Mr. Warren P. Byrum, had an average season this year with a number of regulars on the squad. The fans marvelled at Al Offringa's combined speed and excellent form in the hurdles. At the time of this writing, he had piled up Z4 points in only three meets. Following close behind Otfringa, Versil Vallier acquired three firsts in the high jump, a total of 15 points. lack Klunder, the best dash man in the squad, has run up a high total also. Bud Elve has developed into an exceptional 440 yard man. Louis Budznski excelled in the 880 yard event. Ed. Dubiel gathered 13 points in the 100 and 220 yard dashes and also in the broad jump and relays. Walt McVeigh and Frank Brinky Nawara ran up a grand total ot 19 points in pole vault and shot put. lack Van Vels did very well in the mile as did Leonard Zurawski in the dashes. The star discovery of the year was Harold Brumley, Tech's freshman rniler, who will be back next season, as will many of Tech's other gravel agitators. FRONT ROW I Klunder, W. McVeigh, S. Beebe, R. Bockheim, B. Elve, I. Bogema. SECOND ROW K Harshberger, I. Van Vels, H. Brumley, L. Zurawski, l. Dykehouse, B. Offringa M Sorg THIRD ROW Coach Byrum, F. Nawara, E. Dubiel, V. Vallier, L. Budzynski, A. Offringa, C. Dykema C Polkowskr

Page 89 text:

This year the Tennis Team had to contend with some very unfortunate conditions. The squad lost by gradua- tion some of the best players. The boys who might have made the team were so busy preparing to go into the armed services that they did not have time to practice regularly. The season was not successful from the standpoint of attendance or the Winning of games, but the schedule was maintained in order to keep tennis alive. Tennis is one of the greatest sports fostered by a school. The skills learned in this game carry over in later life and are a source of continued pleasure to men and Women after they leave school. The tennis team this season was coached by Mr. Kenneth Barnes. The boys who were able to take part Were enthusias- tic about the sport and were very disappointed that they did not have more time for practice and that more boys could not come out for the team. Next year conditions may be very different and the coach hopes to have a very fine tennis team. l. -T . 4 FRONT ROW: R. Eppinga, G. Vandenburg, R. Johnson. BACK ROW: E. Willison, R. Rutledge, Coach Barnes.