Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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The Blue and Gold started the baseball season with only four lettermen available. This made it necessary to rebuild a battery. After several experiments, this responsibility fell upon the shoulders of Bill Rich, catcher, and Wilbur Ogle, pitcher. Other newcomers were Bill Smith at third, Bud Turner at second, Vincent Purn in left field and Wilmer Smith in center field. Wendell Siddens, Stan Peterson and Everette Fields played short stop, right field, and first base, respectively, their positions from the previous year. The lettermen for this season were Bill Rich, Wilbur Ogle, Stan Peterson, Bud Turner, Wendell Siddens, Bill Smith, Vincent Purn, Wilmer Smith, and Everette Fields. Games played this season were: Paxton 8 Paxton 4 Paxton 0 Paxton 6 Paxton 2 Paxton 6 Roberts 7 Gilman 6 Buckley 7 Gilman 7 Buckley 4 Roberts 0 For the first time since 1939, Paxton participated in track. The time was divided between this sport and baseball. Mr. Ohmart helped coach track, and was in complete charge the last of the season. The Blue and Gold took part in only two track meets, an invitational meet held at Rantoul, and the Wauseca League meet. Out of the group reporting for this sport, only Bob Trager won a letter. The Reflector Staff is very sorry that there is not a track picture, because of the unavoidable loss of the negative after school was out. Baseball and Track

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FOOTBALL Coach Don Miller replaced our former mentor, Bill McCarty, who accepted a position in the Navy. Coach Miller had five veteran lettermen around which to build a team. To do this it was necessary for him to “try out” certain combinations of players to see which worked best together. Due to the shortage of experienced players, men originally playing in the line were switched to the backfield and vice versa. The 1942 football season was a slow one with numerous injuries. Purn received a broken collar bone which kept him out of the latter few games of the season. Our record this year wasn’t one to compare with other seasons, but it showed proof of a strong team next season. The following fellows received their first letter awards in football: Fred Whitcomb, Robert Kenner, John Lateer, Bill Smith, Wilbur Ogle, Lee Rowe, Norris Burklund, and Cleo Bayles. The veteran players that received letter awards were: Cornelius Noland, Bill Scott, Bob McCabe, Wendell Siddens, and Bob Gustafson. Jack Ireland received a letter as manager and Merle Lundeen as assistant manager. Paxton 0 . Gibson 32 Paxton 0 Milford 7 Paxton 27 . Gilman 0 Paxton 0 . Rantoul 13 Paxton 7 . Watseka 39 Paxton 0 . Onarga 27 Paxton 0 . Hoopeston 38 Paxton 6 . Rantoul 7 Paxton 0 . Gibson 47

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Basketball The Blue and Gold, or the “Pirates”, as they later were called, started the season by a 13 point win over Buckley, only to slump for the next 8 games. However, when the Ford County Tourna-ment rolled around at Gibson City, Paxton went in as a “dark horse”, winning the first two games and losing the final one to Piper City, 32-30. That game with Piper will long be remembered. There were two overtime periods, and it was only in the second that one of the Piper boys “hit” on a side shot. From then until the Regional Tournament, the “Pirates” lost three games and won two. Again the odds were against them in the Regional, which was also held at Gibson City, but this time they “brought home the bacon.” This victory brought new hope for the Sectional Tournament, held at Danville the following week. The “Pirates” lost a close game to Danville by three points. The “Pirates” ended the season with 13 losses and 10 wins, but their total points were 721 against 664. The lettermen for this year’s basketball squad were: Lee Rowe, Wilbur Ogle, Wendell Siddens, George Fox, James Nuss, and Vincent Purn. Last, but not least, we must not forget the cheerleaders. They were: Joan Archer, Mary McGauley, and Doris Ryberg. Ruth