Metuchen High School - Blue Letter Yearbook (Metuchen, NJ)

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Sl 'tWe don't hear the eheers and ,ic-ers after the toss-up, and victory or defeat, the fellows did give their -ill 1 . Making a basket must have done something to those boys, because they were never tired ot' trying. When the first game rolled around. the team and coaches were very much dismayed to find that two ofthe veterans were unfit to play. Jim Rossi was kept out ot' play most of the season with an infected knee, reminiscent ot' football. while Ilill Thornall was kept out ot' the line- up for only the first few games. llill got around again and finished up the season true to form. The sehool was over-flowing with activity every Tuesday and Friday III I willy .lust arriving for the fun. night when our team played host to a visiting squad. The gym was crowded with spectators, whose time was busily divided between munching the Varsity Club's peanuts and watching the progress ot' the game. The Jay-Vee game was played first, but the crowd didn't really settle back until the main game was in progress. What girl didn't get a thrill when those Varsity boys came running on the floor in their colorful suits? Even though the score went against the boys in many a game, they fought hard and gave the spectators a thrill. Their efforts were somewhat re- warded in the last game when they upset a highly favored Princeton team. The fellows who probably turned in the best performances of the sea-

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opportunity of walking into the li- brary when Mrs. Cooke wasn't look- ing and slipped into the back room. We were very glad to find in one of the classes a budding romance . Ah, me! I guess they got spring fever early, too. We decided to end up our day with a glimpse of our own Seniors, so we slipped into a sociology class and listenedto Mr. Bailer talk about in- ter-relationships. It was most in- teresting but, well, it was the last period and we were getting hungry again! Off we went declaring that it was more fun than going skat- ing. A week after Thanksgiving, Mr. Seitzer posted a notice on the bulle- tin board announcing that basket- ball season would begin. From that day, when forty eager as- pirants reported for practice, until the final game of the season, the life of the school centered around one little leather sphere. The first week proved disastrous for the fel- lows whose names appeared on the fatal cut list, but, finally, Mr. Seit- zer made the selections and the Varsity squad remained with twelve fellows while the Junior Var- sity team was limited to fifteen. Every afternoon from then on those twenty-seven, hard-working fellows were seen shooting from all angles for that ever waiting basket, and from every imaginable position, under the watchful eyes of Mr. Seit- zer, Mr. Killian, and Mr. Lawrence. Perhaps you would appreciate a word from one of our best players, Ed Ris- ler, on a game. The third quarter of the Jay-Vee game has just been completed. It is time to start dressing. In the locker room you hear a flood of chatter. which indicates that the fellows are trying not to show their nervousness. Here is where a cold, clammy perspiration comes, and its effects are felt in the hands, feet and knees. Hastily we don our clothes and chew the gum provided for us. There are Bill and Yabs passing the ball around. Bing! the game has ended. The Jay-Vees pour in with perspiration wringing from their brows. Amidst cheers we get into our warm-up drills. For last minute instructions and the line-up, we again return to the locker, a little more confident than when we entered. The fellows file out and doff their sweat clothes. With a feeling of comradeship, remarks are passed as we pledge with hands to give our best. Pngr' nmcfcmz

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son were Hill Thornall, whose height and skill enabled the team to score many points, Ed Risler, who could usually be depended upon to get the ball off the backboard, and Don lflreen, who divided the scoring hon- ors with llill in many a game. Has- ketball got a backing more than ever this year. This may have been due to the cheerleaders. They seemed to be in a second childhood doing some of their cheers. In one of them they had the sudden urge to join in a game of leap frog. They looked as if they were having so much fun! They just checked themselves in time, re- membering that someone had to up- hold the dignity of Seniorsl The inspirations for most of the students during their darkest hours were the many social events which were held during the year. All the dances were conceived, organized, advertised, and decorated by the stu- dents themselves. We were even sur- prised to see some of the fellows from the check-room dancing at the risk of some tips. We ce1'tainly had a time, Miss Farrell. scraping up enough money to go to all the events! Of course. if one didn't t-fo to every dance, play. and concert one just wasn't popular! We didn't want anything like that thought of us, so at the risk of our bank account we went to everything! llerein lies the reason for tired eyes and unfinished homework. Although the Twilight Sing made more work for the Glee Club and Mrs. Saville, the students were certainly proud ot' the concert. We were surprised to find so many tal- ented soloists in our midst and were more respectful to them following that night. The students recognized many of their old favorites such as Roll, Jordan, Roll and Sylvia , We left with the tune of Now the Day Is 0ver ringing in our ears and felt that the evening had indeed been well spent. We, the Seniors, had a grand time planning our dance this year. We called it t'The Senior Winter Dance and then proceeded to make it win- tery. The decorations really were good, if we do say so ou1'selves. with two big snowmen on either end of the stage and tl'60S which were cov- ered with snow in the corners of the room. With the fancy decorations and all the dancers in evening gowns Knot the boys, of courseli. we felt very grown up. It seemed only nat- ural that the Senior Dance should