North High School - Polaris Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

Page 12 text:

Seventy years of unparalleled sports activity originated late in the fall of 1896. That fall found North High students lining up for North's first interclass football scrimmage. Seventy years and countless athletic contests later, North can proudly point to a record of trophies, honors and championships unmatched by any other school in the city, perhaps even in the state. While always striving for a victory, North athletes have never forgotten the importance of conduct befitting a North student and have, on the whole, one of the finest reputations for sportsmanship in the city. With a tough-fought victory over the old Camden team, 1896 saw the inauguration of interschool football at North, and with it a tradition of outstanding individuals and winning teams. Year after year of Hard-nose football has served to strengthen this tradition, as has every other athletic contest North has participated in. Coach Tom Kennedy explain the finer point of blocking a he prepare another championship team, in this case, the 1935 team Kennedy, Football Pace North Athletics North's oldest extant team picture found to date. If anyone has information about thi picture, please contact North High NORTH'S 1907 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TFAM- FIRST ROW: F. D. Casey, W. F Kurkc. SECOND ROW: A F. Casey. E. Swenson, H. Turner, E. L. Armstrong. A. Randall, E. F. Dikeman. S. P. Knaeble THIRD ROW: L. B Duntlcy, J. J. Brennan, R A. Leighton, F. S. Chicken. F. B. Lees (captain), G. Leighton. FOURTH ROW: R. T. Tenny (coach). A. Johnson, H Myc. S. Olson SIXTH ROW: C. A. Dikeman (manager), F. Burgan (coach). Ask any alumnus what winning teams” mean and one will most certainly be answered in terms of football— North's first city championship in 1904, the United States high school championship of 1907, 1910’s great championship team, the last few minutes of the 1927 North-Central clash for the city title, which ended in a 0-0 tie, 1938’s title team grabbing top city honors, or I953's Minneapolis championship team. A team is no better than the individuals concerned with it. No single individual is more thought of in connection with football than Tom Kennedy. Coming to North in 1919. Tom Kennedy produced more winning teams in all sports during his time than any other coach at North. Right up to ms death in 1965 he remained an ardent supporter of athletics at North. D. Ferrcra display the little bit extra that won for North the 1953 city championship.

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While all school-sponsored organizations attempt to emphasize citizenship and character, some go about it more subtly than others. The band, for instance, has always taught young people group responsibility, while organizations such as the Girl Scouts built self-respect through teaching the ideals of democracy and a practical code of ethics. These groups, along with the many science, language and special-interest clubs form an integral part of every student's school life. Through participation in the aforementioned organizations, young people learn to adjust and accept in a world where these two capabilities arc prerequisites for a full and happy life. NHS championship band marches in a wartime Aquatennial parade. Some girl scouts, 1934 variety, cam merit badges by working while learning. In 1900, sledding on 24th Avenue North from Aldrich to the river was a popular amusement. People cannot live solely in school organizations however, and they must learn to fend for themselves in the most socially acceptable manner. This, we believe, has been the most fundamental lesson taught by North High School. Mrs. Muriel Drake, Mrs. Marie St. Germain and John Noc-ton found hiking kept them physically fit, especially if they dressed for it.

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North wings its way to the 1953 Twin G'ty Championship. Jacobi Sets Cage Standards for North Jacobi sets dunked as the 1952 cagers clinch city title. Basketball at North is much the story of one man. J. J. (Jake) Jacobi. Jake coached North basketball for twenty-seven years and produced six city championship teams, four twin-city championship teams and two state runner-up teams in 1933, and 1938. Basketball had started at North in 1919. but for ten years North’s cagers achieved only average success. In 1930 Jacobi took over. Within two years he produced a city championship team and a state runner-up team the following year. There was one three-year period during which North lost only one of thirty games. In Jake’s twenty-seven years with North teams, the Polars finished in the second division only once. When he relinquished his title of dean of Minneapolis coaches in 1957, Jake became athletic director at North, and remains in this office at the present time. 190-1 found N.H.S. city champs in baseball. Teams were organized only to be disbanded because of lack of interest. The outlook for baseball looked dim until the 1920's when Tom Kennedy took control of the team. Under his skillful direction between the years of 1925 to 1929 North won five straight city championships and the 1927 team claims to be the best baseball outfield ever to represent North. Since then North periodically has produced excellent teams, the best of which have been the '}6, ’41. '42, ’52 and ' S0 teams. North's oldest baseball team picture, from approximately 1910. Anyone with information on this picture, please contact North. Another run scores for North as the 1938 season draws to a close.