Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

Page 24 text:

fyaotbcdl Paxton’s 1937 football season was featured by many ups and downs— flashes of brilliancy and several moments of despair. Starting with few regulars from last year, Coach Zimmerman developed a team which fought valiantly throughout the entire season, in spite of handicaps and ill luck. The first game was at Rantoul, where after the Eagles’ freak first minute touchdown, Paxton’s gridders fought an uphill fight to lose, 7 to 6. Drummer’s fine team next invaded the home field and won, 34 to 12. In a game preliminary to the Wauseca League race, Paxton played Rossville to a 6 to 6 tie. In the Wauseca League this year, the Blue and Gold won two and lost three. Onarga and Gilman were our two victims while the home eleven lost twice to Rantoul and Drummer and once to Watseka. Little can be said about the inglorious 66 to 2 defeat at Drummer on Armistice Day. There was no doubt that the “Swedes” were outclassed by the Maroon and White but the margin of defeat was not a true measure of the opponents’ superiority. Among the seniors who left at the end of the year were Co-captains Jack Erickson and Jim Dunnan. Others who played were Howard “Spud’’ Stevenson, Bob Kirsche, Don Flannery, and “Hub” Snyder, all seniors. With a plentiful supply of regulars and reserves returning next year, the Blue and Gold is looking forward to a successful season. The 1937 season record: Paxton 6 Rantoul 7 Paxton 12 Drummer 34 Paxton 6 Rossville 6 Paxton 0 Rantoul 7 Paxton 0 Watseka 14 Paxton 18 Onarga 0 Paxton 0 Iloopeston 13 Paxton 19 Gilman 0 Paxton 2 Drummer 66 Won two, lost six, tied one.

Page 23 text:

ig37-193$ Among- the highlights of the 1937-1938 sports year of P. C. H. S. were the installation of a fine public address system presented by the classes of 1936 and 1937. It was used advantageously at football and basketball games, keeping the spectators informed on the various decisions and facts of the game. Another innovation of the 1937-38 year was the all sports banquet. Previous to this time there has been a football banquet alone and the other athletes had no banquet. This year, however, a banquet was held at the Methodist Church and all the regular players in football, basketball, baseball, and track attended. Mr. H. V. Porter, an official of the Illinois High School Athletic Association was the speaker after the dinner was served. Letters were awarded and gold basketballs were given to members of the cage five who did not receive theirs last year. These basketballs are given whenever the team goes to the sectional tournament. This banquet was sponsored by the Paxton Service Club. It must be admitted that athletics did not make so good a showing as last but, taking into consideration some of the fine records established by our teams during the last few years, this year’s record was no disgrace. Probably the outstanding achievement of the year was the 45-21 victory over Drummer in the Regional Tournament. It was an event that will be long remembered in Paxton basketball circles. Prospects for next year are excellent as the nucleus of this season’s teams was made up of juniors and several underclassmen. Paxton should have a fine football season, and baseball and track are promising. Basketball, however, should bring us another regional title and very possibly a sectional crown. Thus, the curtain is rung down again on a credible athletic year at P. C. H. S.

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featebcdl Losing but four players from last year, Paxton was well off to another good baseball record this year at the time the Reflector went to press. Coach Wagner had considerable success in building up a patching staff of four fine hurlers, “Lefty” Baker, Max Sullivan, George Houston, and George Wyman. Ray Snyder and “Sully” did the catching, the latter being behind the platter when not pitching. The infield which has played together for three years combined with the outfield to present a stronger defense than the Paxton nine has had for two years. Infielders were cocaptains Jack Erickson and John Hill, “Pete” Anderson, Don Carlson, and Baker who played first when not pitching. In the outfield, George Wyman, “Ev” Tieman, “Red” Froyd, and Don Carlson covered the outer gardens. The record to May 4: Melvin 5 Paxton 3 Paxton 16 Armstrong 0 Buckley 9 Paxton 0 Paxton 10 Armstrong 2 Paxton 14 Onarga 2 Paxton 27 Loda 1