Mendota High School - Atodnem Yearbook (Mendota, IL)

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NFL - BACK ROW: I. Goebel, H. Weitzel. G. Barth, D. Carnahan. D. Weber: SECOND ROW: S. Carlson, B. Bice. T. Matychowicxk, S. Slick: FRONT ROW T. Dawes. M. Muthesius, R. Hilst. M. Hinkle: ABSENT: M, Smith, S. Marko. Mr. Workun. advisor The National Forensic League is fm existing organization which originated thirty-four years ago, This year NFL sponsored an extra- curricular debate class at Northbrook. The officers were Tom Matychowiak, presidentg Steve Carlson, vice-presidentg Martha Smith, secretaryetreasurerg and Mr. Workun, the advisor. Drama proved very successful, this being its second year. The purpose ot this organization is to inform the members on dramatic produc- tions, creative Writings, and individual speech work. The Thymelians did much to help all plays that were put on this year, besides putting on three skits for pep sessions. A Halloween party was enjoyed by all. DRAMA CLUB-BACK HOW: T. Matychowiuk, N. Stokes, M. Springer. G. Mcmeny. P. Donahue. C. Archer. I. Engle, Miss Unakis. advisor: D. Iuckson. M. Metzen. A. Kuehl. H. Keele. M. Smith. R. Weitzel: SECOND ROW: C. Chockley. T. Poisel. S. Wehmeyer, M. Dubbs. D. Scndgeroth. I. Iordal, A. Tower. B. Kessler, C. Andrews, I. Iohns. S. Snyder. N. Iuccb: FRONT HOW: I. Powers. I. Terry. president: C. Iohnson. secretary-treasurer: S. Carlson, vice- president: I.. Ladenburqer. I 5 ay -

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THIS IS THE team which tied for third place at the N. F. L. National in 1933. They are: rear. lohn Eichorn. Ice Sibigtroth. Melvin Schmitz. Mr. Nelson. and, front, Marie Elsesser, Gilford Moss. Robert Goebel, and Doris Van Hy. Schmitz, Charles Schmitz, Ed Baker, and lohn Eichorn. Ed Baker Won second at the state N.F.l.. tournament and the right to go to National ln l935, Mr. Zimdars came to Mendota as debate coach. In l938 his squad Won first in the Northern District Contest and the right to go to State in Class B competition. There they won the Class B State Championship. Those on the squad were Ken Elsesser, and Mary Louise Walzer for the affirmative and Pearl Nixdorf and Willis Ashley for the negative. ln speech competition Margaret Huss and Olive Rapp Won the right to go to State in humorous reading and oratorical declamation respectively. A new conference, The Trade Winds Conference, was formed in l939. Mendota was the first school to Win a first place trophy there. Dean Whitmore also did Mendota proud when he went to the National N.F.L. Tournament in Beverly Hills, Cali! fornia, With his humorous reading. Carol Hanson was his coach. Speech Work was most successful again in 1940. Christ Troupis Won a first at the Sub-district Tournament, a third in district competition, and a fourth at State. He competed in extemporaneous speaking. Dean Whitmore again won honors for himself and his school-this time in serious declamation. He Won first at District and Fourth at State. Coach Zimdar's team had another successful year in l94l. The team, consisting of William Schmitt, Ken Truckenbrod, Christ Troupis, Bob Wooley, Alice Nixdorf, and lack Steele, won first at the District N.F.L. Tournament plus the right to go to the National at Lexington, Kentucky. Due to unfortunate cir- cumstances, the squad was unable to attend. Perhaps Mr. Zimdars most successful season was in l943. He led the silver-tongued seven to first at the North Central Tour- nament, the Augustana lnvitational, at DeKalb. The first at Augustana made the third trophy Won there in nine years-a record no other school of our size had ever equalled. The out- standing record for the year was 35 Wins and 9 losses. Those on this winning squad were William Schmitt, Richard Mauntel, Bonnie Gardner, Francis Matychowiak, Ken Truckenbrod, and Carol Wills. Francis also took the state championship in a speaking contest sponsored by the FFA. In l944 the Zirndars team Won firsts at Augustana Invita- tional and North Central Conference tournaments and a second at Sectional. The record for '44 was 30 Wins and 9 losses, Be- sponsible for this fine season were Francis Matychowiak and Bonnie Gardner, affirmativeg Wayne Ashley and Walter Finley, negative. Francis is the only MHS debater ever to have been on two teams Winning at Augustana. Schmitt, Kenneth Truckenbrod, Carol Wills, and Francis with their coach. Edward Zimdars. THIS IS THE 1943 team that won first at North Central and Augustana. William Matychowiak are shown THIS IS Tl-TE third team 115353 in six years to win the State and enter the National. They were eliminated there alter two and a half days of debating by the second and third place tournament Winners. They are: rear. Iohn Eichorn, Everett Moore. Melvin Schmitz. Ed Baker. Mark Huss, and. front, Mr. Nelson, Eleanor Gross. and Charles Schmitz. Miss Payne directed the first MHS contest play Cloud Burst , in l946. The venture turned out to be highly successful. as the play took a second at Sectional, thus winning the right to go to State. Ruth Engelbrecht won a place on the AllfState cast of six. Others Who took part in Cloud Burst were Roger Butler, Charles Hill, Davis Scott, Barbara Beck, and Vera Ritter. Vera did a comedy reading at State, also. The debate squad Won the Conference trophy again. The next year, '47, was a great one for speech work at Mendota. Our contest play, Afraid of the Dark , its all-boy cast, and Paula Stenger, with a serious reading, Won firsts at both District and Sectional. At State Paula placed seventh and the play, eighth. Roger Butler made the All-State cast. The other boys were Charles Hill, Lamar Brewbaker, lim Hickok, Ierry lackson, and Pen Faber. Miss Payne was their coach. Mr. Houston's debate squad Won first at North Central. Speech seemed to get more popular every year, l948 was no exception. Six students and the contest play, Last Flight Over , were eligible for the District. The play and loanne Oester won firsts. Bob Holler won second in verse reading. At Sectional, the play and Bob both won seconds and were eligi- ble tor State. Those in the play were Pen Faber, lean Van Etten, Mary Grace Spenader, Bob Cotton, and lessie King, The Coach was Miss Payne. lane Laws, in serious reading, and Les Kramer, in ex temp. went out to bring honors in '49, They both won firsts at Con- ference and District. At Sectional, Les won first, and lane, sec- ondg both were eligible for State. Things picked up again in speech in l952. Under Coach Bill Moogk, the contest play, Which is the Way to Boston? Won third at District. Four others Were entitled to go to Section- al in individual events: Mary Lou Bruckner, verse reading, Iames Rave, radio speaking, lane Vogelsang, original oratory, and Gary Olson, original monologue. At Sectional the play took fourth, while lane won a first and the right to go to State. Mary Lou Bruckner did Mendota proud by winning first place at State in poetry reading in l953. She was thus eligible for the National. Again there was a lag in speech and debate-this time for or period of nearly five years. Then in 1958, Mr. Kerchner and his talented four won the Conference title, tied for first at Section- al, and Went to State Where they Won 3 and lost 3. The squad was made up of Larry Olson, Al Price, Ned McCormick, and Ann Lorack. THIS IS THE 1944 team that won first at North Central and Augustana. and second at Sectional. They are: rear. Walter Finley. Francis Matychowiak. Wayne Ashley: and front, Mr. Zimdars and Bonnie Gardner.

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Debate at MHS again had an DEBATE, it seems, was never meant to draw the audi- ence it proposes to inform and entertain, for win or lose, there never was that audience-and this year Mendota was win- ning. At the seasons close the varsity record stood 4l-27, more impressive than the years before. All debate was concerned with the proposition, Be- solved: That the United Nations should be significantly strengthened a topic as timely as those of other years with the rebellion in the Congo trying that organizations authority, Khruschev demanding the removal of its secretary general, and the related problems of disarmament and the growing world community giving rise to concern around the globe. The affirmative exploited various aspects of these situa- tions, presenting a proposal for disarmament at Lyons, a sys- tem of weighted voting at Normal, Geneseo, East Peoria, and Sterling, and a method curbing the Communist influence at Augustana Conference and Sectional. The negative, in turn, met and countered other affirmative proposals ranging from world government, world law and economic aid to those call- ing for the United Nations to farm the seas and govern Ant- arctica. Even such an extended list of proposals fails to mani- fest the topic or demonstrate the research and analysis neces- sary for its understanding. Varsity debate at Mendota has seldom lacked a strong first squad but rarely possessed the reserves necessary for practice debate with extended research and competition. This year to produce a more effective team, there was a shuffling of speakers. Don Weber, Steve Carlson, and Sam Slick saw action as first negative, while Tom Matychowiak debated sec- ond throughout the year. lim Goebel and Bill Bice alternated at first affirmative, as Carlson and Bice were interchanged at second affirmative. The most efficient teams resulted from a combination of Goebel, Bice, and Carlson on the affirmative, leaving Slick and Matychowiak as regulars on the negative where they distinguished themselves. Goebel, Bice, and Slick, debating their first year on the varsity, received major awards, while Carlson and Matycho- wiak as returning debaters, were each awarded their second chevron. On a novice level, teams met with various success. Sam Slick, Doug Carnahan, Tom Dawes, and Lee Oberman par- ticipated, winning their minor letters. While Mendota did manage a first place tie at Peoria with Goebel, Carlson, Slick, and Matychowiak winning 6 and losing 2, the team unfortunately neither won conference nor went to state, missing the required standings only narrowly? by a single debate in each tournament with one loss at sec- tional hanging on a single speaker's point in a total of fifty. Not only does debate give much to the school in the mat- ter of prestige among the schools of the state, but it has given much to its participants. The topics of the past years have demonstrated the need for rational thought and analysis and of the communication and persuasion of others. Of necessity, the squad has learned the methods of debate-elements that are needed in the world today in any field of endeavor. And they thank their coach, Arthur E. Workun, for what they have gained. 1960-Bl DEBATE RECORD TOURNAMENT PLACE RECORD DATE l La Grange Subvarsity 6-2 ll-l2-60 l La Grange Novice 5-3 ll-l2-60 2 Mendota Novice 6-l ll-19-UO 3 Normal 5-3 12-lU-60 4 Genesee 5-3 12-17-60 5 Genesee Novice 7-2 l -4-61 6 Aurora E-W 2-6 l- 7-6l 7 East Peoria Varsity 6-2 l-21-Bl 7 East Peoria Novice l-7 l-21-61 8 Augustana 6-6 2-3,4-51 9 NCIC 6-2 2-ll-6l lf! Sterling 2-6 2-25-61 ll Sectional, Oak Lawn 5-3 3- 4-6l outstanding season VARSITY DEBATE - BACK ROW: B. Bice. S. Carlson. T. Matychowiak. I. Goebel: FRONT ROW: S. Slick, D. Weber NOVICE DEBATE - REAR: D. Carnahan: FRONT BOW: T. Dawes. P. Donahue. B. Moon. A. Steele dqxar . i ifiiff i'5.f ,, . pd: -fr. 111. aug, , '11 ,... ,., . ft? .15 Q,,'