Geneva High School - Aquila Yearbook (Geneva, OH)

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'football This 1942 season found a new team and a new coach at Geneva High School. From the nucleus of last year's team Coach Bob White found a group of boys that knew what it was to play together and fight until the final whistle had blown. Starting out a little slowly and a bit over-confident they met o very formidable foe in Perry High. Both teams put up a great defensive, but neither could manage to cross the other's goal line. The final score was 0-O. The next week found the boys a little more experienced and they settled down to de- feat Ashtabula Harbor, 12-6. Painesville was the next team to meet the Eagles, who were not quite sure of themselves yet. The team made a good showing but ended up on the short end of a 13-6 score. 1 . The following Thursday the team played their first out of town game of the year at Willoughby where they met a highly favored Ranger team. lt was a great offensive game as the score showed with Geneva winning 21-13. Everyone will well remember this game for the stolen ball trick. The next week found our boys playing their final home game and the greatest game of the season with Ashtabula on a gridiron so laden with fog that you could not distin- guish the players. Our boys put on one of the greatest shows of fight and courage ever dis- played by a Geneva team. From the opening whistle they were on their toes completely out playing and outsmarting the much favored champions to gain a moral victory. The final score was 7-7. Continuing to improve as the season rolled along, we traveled to Conneaut. Smarting from a Conneaut article published in Geneva referring to how badly Conneuat expected to mop up the Eagles our boys soon went to work and when the final whistle had blown the fighting Eagles were on top, 25-O. By this time our team was viewing a possibility of a share in the Lake Shore League Championship. It was a determined team that took the field against the light but fight- ing Skippers. The game ended with a 13-7 victory after some hair-raising runs and passes by both teams. ' After this the team got a much deserved rest of five weeks which seemed a little too much for them since in their final game their play was not up to standard. On a freezing, snowing night before a handful of ardent spectators the Eagles defeated Madison 19-0. The final standings gave the Geneva Eagles second place in the Lake Shore League. lt was the second time since Geneva has been in the Lake Shore League that they scored more than their opponents. The 1942 team outscored the championship team of 1937. Needless to say our varsity team had a very successful season. has who on die Uafzsifmi Robert Bob Konczol--Honorary Captain-Back, 140 pounds. Bob was a little late in getting started this year due to a trip West. However, after he got under motion his quick kicks and brilliant signal calling picked up many valuable yards which resulted in sev- eral scores. Elmer AI Klaus-Tackle, 190 pounds. Al was the workhorse of the team. His deter- mined fight and spirit was a good influence on all the other players. He was the most fear- ed man in the league and his deadly blocking and tackling earned him an enviable position on the all league first team . Jack Wolf Cruine-End, 158 pounds. Jack was a great all-round player. He was very quick in diagnosing the plays and could spill the interference and usually get the tackle. His determined and constant playing earned him a place on the second all league team. twenty-nine

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7-14.2 Q8 148062 5G9l2S Q C X - L---ww--vw-G-A-e..s.,. . u.,.e,u..,,.,,,.,,,.. A , A. . .I so X 2 rss! ,y 5 .- I g g s TOP PICTUREe-First row: Jack Nightwirie, Robert Marhefka, Robert Slocum, Elmer Klaus, Jack Craine, William Manthey, Charles Owen, James Stuetzer, Paul Christian, Robert Konczal, Archie Bilger. Second row: Kenneth Kimmy, Manager, Bud Propper, Tony Sanzotta, Raymond Chapman, Max Whelpley, George Kaso, Alan Krohn, Coach Robert White, Alfred l-logon, Robert Merrell, Clarence Martin, Robert Cook, James Miller, Virgil Bidlack, Manager, Herbert Kauvar, Manager. SECOND PICTURE-First row: Jack Craine, Elmer Klaus, Robert Marhefka Charles Owen, Paul Chris- tian, Clarence Martin, William Mcnthey. Second row: Max Whelpley, Robert Slocum, Tony Sanzotta, Robert Konczal. CUZ. 6066 Before coming to Geneva High, Mr. White had been coaching in Wil- liamsfield and East Geneva. He attended Ohio State last summer and studied football under Paul Brown. Returning to Geneva, Coach White proceeded to build a football team that lost only one game and he also coached the basketball squad into a tie for third place. twenty-eight

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William BilI Manthey-End, 170 pounds. Bill was a consistant player both on offense and defense. He showed receiving ability at Conneaut by his great one hand catch. Robert Muscles Marhefka- Guard, 160 pounds. Bob was small but mighty. His spe- cialty was to puII out and lead interference for the ball carriers. He was responsible for many long gains. Robert Slugger Slocum-Back, 170 pounds. Bob's power and his determination gained him many yards. He was out for two games because of illness, but came back and made up for lost time. Charles Bud Owen-Center, 146 pounds. Bud had an important job to do and did it well. His passes were always good regardless of the weather or conditions of the field. Paul Bud Christian-Guard, 150 pounds. It was Paul's first year out and through his fight and spirit he gained experience as the season went on to earn his first G . Charles Gopher Russell-Tackle, 162 pounds. Gopher was a letterman back from last year. He was good on defense, especially when he got mad, and then not even the best back in the league could get by him. James Jim Steutzer-End, 142 pounds. Jim was in competition with two of the league's best ends. However, he could play either end and made a very able replacement whenever called upon. Jack Nightwine-Back, 135 pounds. Out for his first year of football, he gave a good account of himself. He was the smallest man on the field but his speed and spirit made up for his size. uniofzs and g0Plt0m0't6S Carmen Mellie Sanzotta-Back, 180 pounds. Mellie's power, end runs, and broken field runs gained many yards, and his long gains were responsible for many of the touch- downs. His great all round ability won him a berth on the all league first team. He was also chosen as the outstanding player of the year and his name was placed on the school plaque. Clarence Dimp Martin- Tackle, 170 pounds. Dimp was a very hard tackler and a good blocker. He stopped many a runner from making long gains. He started as a center, but finished the season as a regular tackle. Max Sonny Whelpley-Back, 140 pounds. Max was the unsung hero of the backfield. He did the blocking so the rest of the backs could make longer gains. Though he very seldom carried the ball, he made good gains when he did. Anthony Tony Sanzotta-Back, 155 pounds. Tony carried on where he left off with a brilliant record in Junior high. His running and passing made him a valuable cog in the backfield. Raymond Ray Chapman-Guard, 164. Ray was shifted from playing junior high back- field last year to varsity line. Through his hard work and fight he did a great job at fill- ing the position and very few gains were made through him. A-A LETTERMEN Archie Bilger lSeniorl-Guard, 136 pounds. Robert Bob Merrell lSophomorel-150 pounds. James Jim Miller lSophomorel-126 pounds. These boys are remembered by the coach and fellow players for their fine attitude, spirit, and cooperation. They didn't see enough service to win regular letters, but with- out them the team could not have completed so successful a season. MANAGERS Herb Kauvar, head manager, Virgil Biddy Bidlack, Ken Kimmy and Bud Prop- per, assistants. These boys took care of the equipment and got the field in shape for the games. These four boys spent as much time on the field and in the equipment room as the players spent on the field. They did a fine job and deserve much credit for their work. thirty