Middlebury High School - Middiette Yearbook (Middlebury, IN)

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Athletics. High School without athletics would be like a circus without elephants. Everyone makes room for an athlete and a monogram is more to be desired than much Latin and German. Being able to demolish the ribs of an athlete opponent makes High School worth While. A High School is known by the Athletics it keeps. An efficient cure for defective athletics is more athletics, and we, who believe in athletics as general High School activities, hope for three things: A game for everyone to play, everyone in the game of his choice and everywhere the spirit of the sportsman. Let us play the games for the pleasure and benefit thereby de- rived and we will soon realize that there is little benefit and pleasure de- rived from doing anything unless We do it as well as we can. There will be a natural outgrowth of the desire that every good player will acknowledge, the desire and zest for the fun of com- petition with someone of his skill. fl? S6 36 With the beginning of the fall term of the High School, an athletic meet- ing was called for the purpose of elect- ing an organization for the promotion and carrying on of the athletics for the fall of 1915 and the spring of 1916. Great enthusiasm was shown by all of the students and the meeting was well attended. The following officers were elected: President-Francis Farver. General Manager-M. O. Titus. Student Manager-Moses Diley. Baseball Coach-L. C. Mishler, Baseball Captain-Ralph Steele. Football Coach-M. O. Titus. Football Captain-Robert Gannon. Pl? SF fl? Baseball. The athletics for the fall of 1915 were started with baseball, the national sport, which everyone enjoys. The team was ,very fortunate in securing the services of two of the best men in the High School circuit of Northern Indiana. Namely, Mr. L. C. Mishler, coach, and Mr. M. O. Titus, manager. The fall season was very successful. Under the excellent coaching of Mr. Mishler, the team was soon rounded into shape for the first game. Middle- bury's old rival, Shipshewana was the first team to fall to the defeat of the local team. The game was a good one and although some good playing was done on both sides, the score stood seven to three at the Hnish, in favor of Middlebury. This was a great en- couragement to the team and awake- ened in the players the desire to win more games. The next game of the season was with Millersburg. This game was an interesting one and although the vis- itors have never triumphed over the local team they put up a good game. The score stood four to three in favor of Middlebury. The battery for the locals was Farver and Griner. A return game with Shipshewana was next on the program. Gannon, the southpaw, was in the box for the M.HLS. during the first part of the game, but the rest of the team failed to support him, and the enemy gained a great lead on us. Farver was then placed in the box and the team tight- ened up, and things began to look brighter. The game was really won in one inning when Middlebury ran in nine scores and won the game to the tune of 11 to 10. A third game was later arranged be- tween Shipshewanna and Middlebury to be played at LaGrange during the annual corn school. The weather was cold and unfavorable for a game, but it was played nevertheless, before a very small crowd of spectators. Some good and bad playing was done on both sides and the game was called in the eighth inning because' of the school parade. The score was 8 to 8 when the game was called, although Middlebury had three men on bases and a good man at bat with none down. This closed the season for the Mid- dlebury High School. Not, however, without leaving a good record, and high hopes for a victorious season in the spring. elif its S? Football. W,hen the baseball season closed, there was aroused in the school the desire, which every athlete in the High was inthusiastic in, of organizing a football team. Mr. Titus was elected coach, and as there had never been a,

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team of this kind in the M.H.S., it was necessary to begin at the very bottom and learn the game from the first be- fore any real practice could be in- dulged in. But as there was a great in- terest in the game, it was not long be- fore the team engaged in some lively sci-iunnages. Robert Gannon was elect- ed captain of the team and did much to promote team spirit. A scrub team was organized every day that it was possible and this gave the team much practical experience and helped thc players to get the ditterent signals and plays straightened out. As it was impossible to get a game with any High School of the calibre of Atllt' M.H.S. it was necessary to schedule a game with Goshen High School, o11e of the fastest teams in Northern Indi- ana.. The game was played and Go- shen won by a one-sided score, but the game showed that our practice had not been in vain tor, although the local team did not get any touchdowns, they did some good playing. Goshen was unable to break through the Middlebury line at any time, and made all their gains 011 end runs. Although the season was now over, another game was scheduled with a Goshen team, consisting of players from the Giammar-room and a number of players from the regular High School team. The game was played at lXliddlebury and resulted in a11 over- whelming victory for the M.H.S. The seore being 62 to 0. This closed the season for the local team. 26142 :lt Tennis. During the spare moments in the fall ol' lfllfm, a number ot' the athletes in- dulged in tennis as a pastime. Al- though no great amount ol' time and work was put in this sport. a number ol' good players were developed. Two tournaments were scheduled with Ship- sln-wana lligh Sehool. The lirst be- tween the regulars ol' both High Sehools and the seeoud between regu- lars trom Shipslu-wana and the seeoud team trom llliddlebury. Middlebury won both tournaments and looks for- ward to a Sllt't't'SSlIlll season in the spring. Track. Track-athletics were first introduced i11to the Middlebury High School in tl1e spring of 1915, by Prof. Mishler, who managed the athletics. A track meet was arranged with Shipshewana High-School and the athletes began training for the event, but as there was only about two weeks time before the meet, it was impossible to get much training. A try-out was held to select the representatives for the M.H.S. and Garber was selected captain of the team. The meet was held at Shipshe- wana and resulted in a tie. The points standing 50 to 50. Nihart was the high point winner from Middle- bury, ,winning 13 out of a. possible 15. A great interest was taken in the track sports and a large crowd of root- ers from Middlebury made the trip. As the result of this meet was very satisfactory, the track work is being continued and preparations are being mafde for the spring track work. The outlook at present looks promising for the local High School. RZ lt! 92 925 ATHLETICS. CAPT. ROBERT GANNON Bob is a recent addition to the ath- letic field, having joined us in the fait of 1915. He was unanimously chosen captain of the 1915 football. team and did full justice to the position of full- back. Bob is also a member of the baseball team, being 011 the pitching staff. He is a Southpaw and H11 e11- thusiastic and a persistent player. if 925 tt! FRANK MAUCK. Frank who has played two years on the baseball team is not a spectacular player, but always a consistent one. Wlieii the opponents were striving to win from us he has always been 'there to stop them and his characteristic yell, that-a-dope , cheered many a player toward victory. I'11'2ll1li also played class basket ball. 'jill HN, QQJ 4 L1 La is 5-fs ll-E HARLEY GRINER. On the baseball field Harley has spent Eve years being captain of the 1914-15 team and playing at 2nd base,