Rockford High School - Rocketeer Yearbook (Rockford, MN)

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Arfstrom Mahlburg Biesher Jones Zukas Pavalaitis Hartnett Swimming Season When the Rockford high school swimming team opened its season in 1929 it was not con- ceded much of a chance to show anything above ordinary ability. But this did not prove to be the case. At the beginning of the current year, there were three lettermen who had had experi- ence in last year's team. This was not any great amount of material, but from this nucleus a well-rounded team sprang up which acquitted it- self well before the meets were over. A great deal of credit is due Coach Charles A. Beyer and the hard working captain, Anton Zukas, for the performance of the team this year, and more is expected from those who are left over to form a squad in 1930. The season opened January 19, with the squad journeying to Elgin for a dual meet with the Academy there. The Rabs, after fighting hard, were left at the short end of the score. This loss can be accredited to the fact that Elginys star backstroke and sprint men were both at their best. On February 13, with almost three weeks of uninterrupted practice behind them, the Rah tankers avenged the first defeat handed them in the previous meet by downing the Elginites i11 the home pool, 40-15. February 16 saw the Rabsters leave for Chicago to match their strength with the Carl Schurz team of that city. This meet ended rather disastrously for the local Wx squad by being sent back in defeat by one of the strongest teams in the country. For the second time Rockford's outfit traveled to Elgin, this time to engage in a meet with the Elgin Y. M. C. A. The Rabs emerged from the battle on the victoris side. Pavalaitis and Zukas looked best for the local team. On February 23, the Red and Black team journeyed to Oak Park high school. For the second time, the visitors bowed to another Chicago squad with a rating as one of the best in the Middle West. On March 8, Rockford swam in a return meet with the Elgin HY . The Rabs were again vic- torious with Zukas bearing the brunt of the at- tack. The home team presented one of its best performances of the year at this time. The great Schurz high school team came to Rockford in a return engagement, March 15. It gave an exceptional exhibition and won by a score of 39-16. Hyland gave a real thrill to the spectators by consistently winning the events he was entered in. This was the last home appear- ance of the local squad. March 22 and Z3 saw three Rabs, jones, Pava- laitis, and Zukas, swimming in the National meet at Northwestern University. The competition here was too keen for the Rockford lads and they failed to place. , fir? aaa ' aa! one hundred twenty-four

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- - .. JONES PAVALAITIS Harry ,Tones was another valuable man to the swim- ming team. Not being a sprinter, he confined himself to fancy diving. In this event he usually gave Zukas a fight for first place. Anton Pavalaitis, a letterman from last year, proved himself to be the best sprint swimmer on the squad. He not only heaped individual honors upon himself, but also helped the Rab team in the relays. Maurice Hartnett was another member who made good on the swimming team this year. Although he was small, he made up in determination what he lacked in size and was a dangerous contender in the breast stroke. Anton Zukas, captain of the Rab tank team, was a most consistent performer. Although he was a sprint star and an expert inthe backstroke, fancy diving was his specialty in which he invariably placed first. HARTNETT SNAPPED AT PRACTICE CAPTAIN ANTON ZUKAS - 'Y 643' - - .. - fi! one hundred twenty-three Y 3

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