Elkhart Memorial High School - Monolith Yearbook (Elkhart, IN)

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Pouring rain didn’t discourage Charger fans at the Memorial- Central varsity football game which ended in a 14-0 defeat. Varsity spikers model their Hawaiian bermudas on the day of the Central game, which Memorial won 2-0, regaining the Matchpoint trophy for Memorial. String players from Memorial and Central gather in Central’s gym to rehearse for the citywide String Festival October 15. Although their teams will be battl- ing for the Mangy Lion in a few hours, Memorial and Central varsi- ty cheerleaders visit at their an- nual dinner.

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RIVALRY| Chargers, Blazers compete Early decisions sparked city rivalry In 1972, when Elkhart High School was split into two high schools, a complex rivalry began between the Chargers and the Blazers. Among the decisions that were made by school board members when the schools split, there were some that said to students and faculty of Memorial that Central was the Elkhart High School. Although Central was a new school, it preserved Elkhart High School's. colors, fight song, and team name, the Blazers. “Allowing Cen- tral to remain the Blazers caused pro- blems for Memorial and for Elkhart High School alumni. Graduates of Elkhart High School still thought of themselves as Blazers and often continued to sup- port Central, even if their kids went to Memorial,’’ said Ms. Carolyn Cook, principal. “It was made perfectly clear that Central was not the Elkhart High School. | think that having both schools con- tinue to give out ‘E’ letters confirmed this idea,’ said Director of Secondary Educa- tion Dr. Warren Breniman. Despite the fiercely com- petitive nature of Memorial- Central games, positive opi- nions of Charger-Blazer com- petition are held by many students, coaches and ad- ministrators. Preparation for the Memorial-Central game gives team members an objec- tive to try to obtain. “The rivalry is good for sports teams because wanting to beat Central is a goal that everyone on the team wants to achieve,” said baseball player Don Schultheis. ‘‘It makes the whole team work a lot harder.” Another good aspect of the rivalry is the system of ‘‘travel- the Drum majors pose after Charger Band Invitational which gave both bands a chance to per- form their shows before the district contest. ing trophies’ that originated with Mangy, the wooden lion statue carved by health and physical education teacher Mr. Jim Holland. Traveling trophies went, each year, to the team that won the regular season contest between Memorial and Central. “‘The trophies are a positive way to express the rivalry,’’ said Assistant Athletic Director Mrs. Phyllis Tubbs. Central games could have bad effects on sports if taken too seriously by team members, coaches, or fans. Placing too much emphasis on one game of the season could sometimes detract from the real purpose of amateur sports. “Each team Memorial sends up against Central gives their best, yet some fans feel this isn’t enough. People should remember that the players are out to have fun,” said football player Tony Schmanske. “I know a few coaches from both Memorial and Cen- tral who become obsessed with beating the rival school. When this happens, | think other valuable things are lost,’’ said Mrs. Tubbs. “The football team doesn’t ap- proach it that way,” sa id Head Football Coach Dale Rems. ““Overemphasiz - ing the Central game can hurt the team emotionally,” he said. While viewed as ‘‘just another game,’’ contests against Central have other good effects on sports teams. More fans show up for Central games than for practically any other game of a season, raising money to support athletics throughout the year. “The kind of competition that has drawn as many as 8,000 fans to a football game can only be good,’’ said Athletic Director Mr. James Powers.

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| ACTIVITIES | Everyone can get involved Students have much to choose from Ross Hales, freshman football player, poses by his locker decorated by his ‘‘Charger Pal,” a member of Pep Club. “Extra-curricular ac- tivities are good for you,”’ they say. They told you, “Everyone should be in- volved in something,” and ‘You will do better in school and make more friends if you get involved.”’ You said, ‘But there’s nothing for me.”’ Wrong! A student did not necessarily have to be an athlete to par- ticipate in sports. Intramural competition in basketball, volleyball, and wiffle ball was open to anyone who was not on an inter-scholastic team. Rod Alabaugh, who played on a volleyball team, said in- tramurals are ‘‘great because they give you something to do during lunch.’’ Many people also participated in sports by being a manager or a trainer. Skiing is a sport that anyone could have learned by joining Ski Club. This year premiered a ski trip to Colorado offered by “Travel 2000” for students in area schools. People who were on an athletic team or in band were honored by Pep Club. With say- ings such as “Serve up a vic- tory’’ and ‘‘Go for the gold at sectionals,’’ Pep Club members brightened the halls with color- ful locker decorations. “Charger Pals’’ also supplied the treats for ‘athlete treat day.’ At Saturday and Sunday work sessions, members work- ed on decorations for the stu- dent center and the cafeteria and decorated for Spirit Week, which they organized. In addi- tion, Pep Club recognized ‘‘100 percent Crimson and Gold classes.”’ In comparison to around 550 students who participated in athletics, there were 380 students who took part in the choral and instrumental music programs. The Crimson Charger Command's halftime show placed sixth at regionals, missing their chance to go to state by just 1.3 points. The show began with the music of Andrew Lloyd Weber and in- cluded a Broadway medley and a percussion feature. The 75 member orchestra, which had been ranked fourth in the state in 1985 competi- tion, upheld its high standards, according to director Mr. Don Litherland, who said that this was a very strong year because of the skill level of the incom- ing freshman and of the wind players. The choral groups had a new addition this year in the form of director Mr. Michael Wade. “The choral department here is very substantial,’’ Mr. Wade said, ‘‘so | don’t plan to make any drastic changes.”’ Also making their debut this year was Students Against Driving Drunk (SADD) and Future Problem Solving. Beth Fortino, Claire Hartman, and Tina Nix went to Indianapolis during the summer to learn more about starting a SADD chapter. Future Problem Solving teams consisted of four members plus one alternate. Each group would go through a six step process to come up with a solution to a problem, with which they entered competition. A change was made state- (continued on page 12) Before an after-school practice, Maria Carlson, manager of the boys’ tennis team, takes the balls out to the court.