Grand Rapids Community College - Olympian Yearbook (Grand Rapids, MI)

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FOOTBALL This year as in the previous post-war years, it seemed as though Junior College would be with- out a football team. Two problems confronted the school. The first was one of coaching and the second concerned uniforms. At last 'word came through that our former coach was being dis- charged from the Navy. Mr. Steele returned to JC and solved the second problem with the aid of the University of Michigan who donated the uniforms for fall use. Coach Steele was assisted by John Regeczi and Dale Turner this year. At the very first practice a large turnout appeared, The first game was played in the latter part of September with the U. of M.'s B-team. This game was played after only two Weeks of prac- tice, so the boys really had to put their teeth to the grid stone to get in condition and learn their plays. The unprepared Raiders lost this one 39-0. Hope College next rolled over us to the tune of 20-O. The Hilltoppers from Junior could hardly match the power of the great MIAA conference leaders. With two losses the Raiders roared back to defeat Western Michigan-B 12-O. The score- K E V- , .-fx.-.1 f 5 ..- -- .b 3 1- , ... ', 1+ 'ah , ,Y 4 I .k..,,, L. 1-If t r . Lower right: Helder, kicking, Hausser, holding. Upper right: Nazwara, Zaremba, Prawdzik, coach Steele, Hutchins. Upper left: Etheridge, ig' Tomga, coach Steele and Lee with Bagge, Thomas, Montgomery, and Prawdzik looking on. 55 1's board did not tell the entire story, however, for by comparison of statistics it was an overwhelm- ing victory. Burt Helder, Hen Hausser, and Burt Brown were used consistently in the backfield. Brown could usually be depended upon to pick up a gain and in the Central Michigan game he proved to be the spark which won the game. Klapp was outstand- ing at the center spot, while Art Lindquist proved his versatility by showing up well at most any spot. His backfield action was especially com- mended by the coaches. The second Central Michigan-B game was hard fought and the local eleven again ended with the high score on the scoreboard. A newly revived and powerful machine presented itself from Western Michigan-B. This time their eleven won out 19-6. This marked the ending of the gridiron cam- paign. The final record stood at three wins and three losses. We may consider this an excellent record considering the many difficulties pre- sented. The Raiders had the fight of a champion- ship team. Uv X-s. 1 'V ,. 9 . niwaaian.z.1..wmrmwwys

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3 2 za at 1, , ,X , it , , 1 V 5, .it . 1 ,xv VN 5. 9. ' 21? ya 5 . ii First row: Lehman, Martin, Montgomery, Greenhoe, Goff. Second row: Coach Waters, Visser, Lee, Harrington, Haan, Olson. BASKETBALL Under the able leadership of Coach Russ Waters the Grand Rapids Junior College Raiders met a tough schedule and came through with a final record of 10 wins and 10 losses. Waters, who took over as coach this year in Gil Powers' place stated, The team made a good showing and played some excellent ball throughout the season. The opening game with Hope College found the Raiders on the lower half of a 62-34 count but they turned the tables on the next tilt with Dearborn at the local gym to the tune of 61-35. Hope's second encounter with the Raiders was closely contested with the Dutchmen pulling ahead in the last few moments. The final score was 53-39. However this loss was avenged at the hands of Aquinas College. The Blue Raiders from JC were victorious 64-38. During these games Coach Waters used two separate line-ups. Both the first and the second string were used extensively. The two former Ottawa High Jims, Montgomery and Horn, were the high scorers. In the Bay City battle the boys from Bay City led at the half by a count of 33-25, but Mont- gomery again got hot to score 12 points and defeat Coach Palmers boys 56-36. The Muskegon en- counter was a hard one to lose. After leading throughout most of the game, the Raiders were overcome and beaten 41-34. This hard fought game, lost, made the Junior C's twice as spirited and they took the Port Huron five 59-39. Both of the following games proved thrillers and can easily be counted as highlights of the season even though both were losses. The first with Calvin ended 49-47. The Flint encounter was hotly con- tested. It was a close count, being 53-52. The Raiders ended this, the first semester, with five wins and six losses. Horn was high point man at this time with 105 points.