Erasmus Hall High School - Arch Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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1925 our own Erasmus pool was opened and a year later swimming became compulsory, for each girl had to pass a swimming test before being able to graduate. Later swimming teams and Junior and Senior Life Saving classes were formed. Many of the graduates have received their Senior Life Saving awards which they will proudly wear on their swim suits this sunnner. Owing to Miss Dibble's efforts. a tennis club was formed in 1916. The first club consisted of a few enthusiastic girls while the 1939 tennis club has about five hundred enlisted members. of whom Betty Armstrong is the head coach. The most recent of girls' sports is indoor baseball, perhaps better known as softball. Since 1926 it has grown in popularity until it has become one of the most popular sports among the young women. The spring round robin tournaments were planned by Lois Black and Esther Rojas. As a result of her noticing a number of natural leaders among the many girls who came to the park to play hockey. Miss McGlue formed the Eras- mus Hall branch of the Leaders' Club. This club is made up of the best girl athletes in the school. Girls applying for membership must be more than 'flosie Musclesf' They must have an outstanding character rating and a friendly personality as well as leadership ability. Some of the many duties of these girls are: assisting the teachers in various gym classes, managing squad periods. conducting annual Held meets, and coaching girls in all the sports given to the girls in Erasmus. It was the Leaders who transformed Gym 57 into a splendid recreation room which now accommodates over one hundred girls a week. Besides all these duties, the Leaders are trained to acquire social poise by acting as hostesses for the Arthur Murray Dance Club. The Leaders elected the following girls. all seniors, to be their officers for this spring term: president. ,lean Neubeckerg vice-president, Elizabeth Armstrongg secretary, Lois Black. The following is a list of the Leader graduates. Elizabeth Armstrong. Lois Black, Elizabeth Finochio. Shirley Fouts, Sheila Lemont, Dorothy Munson, Jean Neubecker, Sylvia Paret, Rose Perrone. and Esther Rojas. Lorraine Bandeccha and Norma Frugone, who are not in the Leaders, Club. must be mentioned for their outstanding talents in sports. We thank you, Erasmus, for opening a new vista to us and for teaching us to look on the right side of the tapestry of life. We are most thankful for the greatest of all gifts-the power to lose and take our disappointments gracefully. 13

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ZMZS 7 dgioorlb AS THE YEARS have rolled on, girls have finally earned their rightful position in the world of sports. Basketball was the first sport played by girls in Erasmus Hall. ln 1906 the seniors. instructed by Mrs. Edgell, made their debut in dribbling, juggling, and sinking the ball into the basket. Later this sport was opened to girls in every grade. Every one has his 4cWHtCI'lOOl7 and this senior class is no exception. This is the only sport in which we have not quite mastered the technique of team work. The results of the round robin basketball tournaments planned by head coach, Marjorie Wieideman, and her assistant. Rose Perrone, showed that this was true. Three years after basketball was introduced in Erasmus Hall. Miss Turner told the students of an English game called hockey. Teams were formed and today it is the most popular of all the girls' sports. XVOIHGIIQS Hockey Leagues have been formed which are a goal for many an Erasmus Hall hockey player. When the players of our senior class were mere fresh- men, with but a few weeksi practice, their team was victorious over the Soph- omore and the Junior teams. This same team was the runner-up in the hockey tournaments held in Prospect Park last fall. The spring coaching schedule, which was planned by the head hockey coach, Jeanne Neubecker. and assist- ant, Roberta Morgan, provided for an adequate number of coaches to aid the girls during the practice season. ln l9l5. about the time women were giving up the idea of wading and were going in for swimming in earnest, a small group of girls went to Public School 89 in the afternoon with Miss Guerin to practice their swimming. In 12

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0 5 7 aggaorfa ATHLETES COME and athletes go, but this year more than ever before, the coaches of the various teams will be a sadder lot after graduation day has passed into history. Some of the most noted athletes will terminate their high school careers on that long-awaited day. When we started back to school in September, 1938, the football team was already hard at work. We had lost nearly all of our veterans at the June graduation, so the outlook was very bleak. However, those who did not have full faith in our team were in for a great surprise. They had not reckoned with the coaching ability of Mr. Sullivan, nor had they thought of the inspiring leadership of Captain Joe Watt. Least of all had they thought of the spirit and tradition held by Erasmus teams of former years. This fighting Erasmus Hall football team of 1938 surprised the news- paper writers and proceeded methodically to sweep aside all opposition. weak and strong alike. They beat Manual by such a wide margin Q26-05. that the defeats we had suffered at Manual's hands during our Freshman and Junior years were practically forgotten. On they Went to greater glory. and when the last Whistle had been blown, this light inexperienced team was the proud possessor of the mythical title 4'City Champs. YVho will forget the uTouchdown Twins, Joe Vlfatt and Max Hubenfeld: the block- ing and tackling of Morty Raufg the running of Mike Andreacchi and Dave Feldman: and the line play of Joe MacAvoie. Q'Red Fuller. Doc Parker. Killer Kampf: HBibbetts Bassinette. Ted Kelly. Burt Beattie. Wvarren Slavin. and Cy Getzolf? ln October the swimming and basketball teams begin to practice. The swimming coach is the one coach who never has to worry about having his team broken up by graduation. It seems to me that no matter how many lvl'