Iowa Wesleyan College - Croaker Yearbook (Mount Pleasant, IA)

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The 1944-45 pre-season prospects looked rather discouraging but one of the most earnest and cooperative squads in Wesleyan's history turned in a season's record of which everyone concerned was justly proud. All teams defeating the Tigers had service personnel or they were much older men. The high spots of the season were, of course, the two defeats of Parsons; the victory over Coe in which the team stalled eight minutes without loss of the ball; the lop-sided victory over Kirksvillc; and the high conference standing above such teams as St. Ambrose, manned entirely by Navy Personnel. BASKET 1944 The Conference Standing is as follows: W L Pet. Lorcas 7 1 .875 Dubuque .... 11 2 .846 Simpson 8 2 .800 Luther 5 3 .625 Iowa Wesley an .... 7 5 .583 Wartburg .. 8 7 .533 St. Ambrose 3 3 .500 Penn 4 6 .400 Central 3 11 .214 Upper Iowa 2 9 .182 Buena Vista 0 6 .000 Parsons 0 7 .000 Western Union— played only 1 team. BOYS' BASKETBALL Opponents Opponents fc Opponents Score Date IWC Opponents Score Date 80 Iowa Malle- 24 Simpson, T 70 Jan. 12 able Iron, H. 34 Nov. 18 148 State Hos- 50 Parsons. H. 28 Nov. 21 pital. H 25 Jan. 23 41 Simpson, H 30 Dee. 1 26 Augustana, T 37 Jan. 27 62 Upper Iowa, 36 Carthage. T 25 Jan. 31 H 32 Dee. 8 64 Kirksvillc, 32 Dubuque, T 53 Dee. 9 T 21 Feb. 6 32 Culver Stock- 44 Central, H 29 Feb. 9 ton, H 51 Dec. 12 42 Augustana, 54 Parsons, T 42 Dee. 15 H 43 Feb. 17 26 Coe, T 25 Dee. 16 56 Carthage, H 38 Feb. 20 42 Upper Iowa, 35 Central. T 36 Feb. 23 T 38 Dee. 20 48 Penn, T 40 Feb. 27 42 Dubuque, H 73 Jan. 5 54 Penn, H 31 Jan. 10 1,038 851 Won 13 Lost 8 [40]

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A number of outstanding high school players reported for the 1944-45 season of the second year for Girls basketball in Iowa Wesleyan College. Through the untiring efforts of Coach Ruble he coordinated them into an outstanding girls basketball team. The team lost its first game of the season to the strong A.I.B. team of Des Moines but went on to win 12 games during the regular season and then accepted an invitation to attend the Womens National Championship tournament at St. Joseph, Mo. They were the first four year college in the U. S. to enter the National Tournament. At St. Joseph they defeated the Florida State champions, Jacksonville, in the first round and then lost in the second round to the national runner-up team. Dr. Pepper of Little Rock, Arkansas. Girls on the team were: Barbara Scott, Seymour; Mary Nclle Taylor, Keosauqua; Kathleen Turner, Rcdficld; Kay Carlson, Mt. Union; Joan Long, Denmark; Martha Siegrist, Denmark; Patricia Gerrie, Chicago; Margorie Boston, Nauvoo, 111.; Bernice Linn, Lockridge; Vivian Long, Salem. 1944-45 Season Record Iowa Wesleyan College Girls Team. Wc Opp. 19 A.I.B. (Des Moines).... 33 42 Parsons College ....... 13 32 Argylc H. S............. 21 22 Pepsi Cola (D. M.) 58 24 Donnellson H. S........ 28 41 Mt. Union H. S........ 15 42 Argylc H. S........... 15 35 Parsons College ........ 21 46 Denmark H. S........ 33 22 Seymour H. S........ 39 16 Mt. Union H. S.......... 21 30 Donnellson H. S........ 17 45 Yarmouth H. S....... 25 46 Mt. Pleasant Ind..... 26 39 Morning Sun Ind..... 39 32 Burlington Spitfires 34 52 Morning Sun Ind........ 22 30 Burlington Spitfires 23 National Tourncnyient 38 Jacksonville Florida ... 27 12 Little Rock. Ark....... 39 Total 665 ........................524 1944-45, Girls Basketball [39]

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BALL -45 Verne Smutz, from Stockport, Iowa, was elected co-captain of the team. He was playing his second year at center and only 18 years of age. He scored 239 points for the season. Don Finney, Eldon. Iowa, and only 17 years old played his second year as an Iowa Wesleyan forward. Don scored 198 points for the season, although he was forced out of four games with an arm injury. He was elected co-captain of the team. Ronald Huston, Olds, Iowa, was the diminutive spark'plug ol the team. He was only 16 years of age but fast, wiry, and clever, which enabled him to produce 177 points. Dale Burket, Mt. Pleasant, a senior, played h i s second year at guard since returning from the Army. He was one of the best passers on the squad. Guy Leighton, Quincy, Mass., a senior, with a medical discharge from the Army, returned to make an important contribution to the teams success as a guard. His uncanny ability with long shots was the deciding factor in a number of games and his clean-cut shots never failed to cut the fighting spirit from the opponents. Charles Fellers. Fremont. Iowa, played his second year on the team and was instrumental on several occasions in speeding up the players by his ability to steal the ball and inject enthusiasm. Merle Houser, 17, from Seymour, was a true competitor and always came through in the pinches. He was perhaps the best rcboundcr on the squad. T. L. Henderson, West Burlington, 17. made a valuable contribution as a forward. Although he was light in physique he made up for it in fight and persistence. Lloyd Campbell, 17, Benton, Iowa, at the end of the season, was giving the regulars a chase for their positions. He was exceptionally strong with a one hand shot up to 20 feet from the basket. Other men who saw action in the 1944-45 team were Howard McElhin-ncy. Morning Sun, at forward; Jim Gordon, Marshalltown, at center; and Ted Harbour, Rathbun, at forward. Three men played earlier in the season who perhaps would have won letters had they not been called to the armed forces. These men were Richard Van Vranken. guard, from Winfield; Don Stockton, center, from Argyle; and Sharon Moran, forward, from Letts. [41]