Samuel Gompers Vocational Technical High School - Artisan Yearbook (Bronx, NY)

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Led by Charles Liggio, the Gompers boys had the opposition dizzy with its dazzling attack and rock ribbed defense. Gompers was rated as the underdog in the city playoffs, but amazed the crowd with a whirlwind battle against Brooklyn Automotive, the league champions for the past four seasons. Although losing 45-40 our boys gave their opponents the toughest game of the season. They also threw the garden crowd of 12000, into a frenzy of excitement with their last minute splurge. One of our players, Leo Medwick, went on a rampage and tied the garden record for high schools by scoring 20 points. He accomplished this by set shooting that had the crowd on the edge of its seats. Also we are pleased to say that Charles Liggio with only two seasons of high school ball to his credit, attracted the atten- tion of L.1.U.'s Coach Bee, who was watching the game. Immediately upon notic- ing Liggio's playing ability, Mr. Bee asked Liggio whether he would care to tryout for the L.I.U. basketball squad. This was quite an honor, since the L.I.U. team is one of tl1e leading teams in the country. Liggio, thru no fault of his own had to turn down this offer. In checking the records we find that Liggio scored more points than any other vocational school player ever did for one season. Scoring 175 points for the season, he also held the record for most points scored in one game- 26 points. The season just past has been one of mixed appeal. From the depths of de- feat a lighting Gompers squad rose to great heights-and then suffered a jarring blow by fortune. During the first half of the season, despite a veteran array, we won only three games out of six and seemed resigned to an ordinary sason especial- ly in view of the fact that we would have to begin the second half with almost an entirely green team. p However these courageous boys refused to be awed by their opponents and proceeded to play the kind of hall that Gompers is noted for, winning six straight -an invitation once again to the garden, which now seems to- have become a trad- ition! Even Central Needle Trades-the eventual city champions-was defeated by this green team. At the Garden, Gomppers started well and led at the half 22-9. However one of those unfortunate things called ulet down happened, and the final score saw us on the short end of a 32-31 score. But in spite of the turn- about it was certainly a thriller. Hats off then, to Liggio, Zimmerman, Medwick, Powers, Bogart, Resnick and many others too numerous to mention, who helped to make the past season a great success. Here's looking forward to more successful seasons in the future.

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D X I Three Settso s in the Go dl This is the record of' our school which organized a basketball team a short three years ago. How did all this come about? ln the fall of 1938. after many difficulties, Mr. Solomon and Mr. Shefter got permission to call for try outs-with the understanding that if an insufficient num- ber showed interest, the whole idea of a team would be abandoned. To the utter amazement and delight of' the two coaches. 950 boys jammed the gym! This was in- terest with a vengeance. With this encouragement a real start was made. Between tryouts and the open- ing of' the season a set back was handed the squad. Mr. Solomon had to retire from his coaching position due to illness. Mr. Herzler, a member of the gym depart- ment. offered his services in this emergency. To date. Mr. Herzler and Mr. Shefter are still our coaches. With their first win under their bells. the team started a career which has gained the envy of other schools. With eleven wins and three losses for the first season. the Gompers boys wound up by playing for third place honors in Madison Square Garden. The team climaxed the highly successful season by defeating Metropolitan Vocational before a wildly cheering crowd of 6000 students. 35-33. The following year. Gompers completed another successful season in inter- scholastic competition, by finishing second in the vocational basketball league. The basketball team cracked the league wide open by winning it's first 10 games and coasted into the finals with a record of' l0 wins and two losses.

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Tracking 1 , v . the Track Team Gonipers is not a school, only for the training of fellows interested in learning the electrical or automobile industry, at least not judging from its athletic reports. Ever since the establishment of Gompers back in 1936 every athletic team has made for itself a place at or near the top of its particular sport, ln May 1940 when the first Gompers track team was formed with practically no financial support, unequipped as it was, the eligibles brought Gompers track fame. This fame came to he when with only five entrants to make points, Gompers finished fourth in the city-wide high school championship tournament. Many will long remember the famed Glenn Cunningham kick reproduced by Joseph Raiti to bring him up to second place in the tedious mile run. This term's graduate Eddy Turrell also found a place in the Gompers track fans' heart when after strenuous weeks of training, fighting his way to a chance in the Garden he was beaten by inches by the favorite, a much more experienced lad. Of course no event entered by the wearers of the blue and gray was 'ever complete without some record or other being broken and Robert Wilburn carried on the tradition. He not only won his event fthe high jumpj BUT he broke the all time Vocational High School rec- ord. The speed was most ably displayed by Guy King the husky Jesse Gwens of Compers. And finally but, by far, not the least we come to George Straty the gent who with the aforementioned Guy King made Compers recognized in the 100 yard dash. However, time travels on, and with last graduation went our W mile run and high jump stars Wilburn 81 Raiti. We also lost Turrel. The veterans now were those of the indoor track season chiefiy, Wilson, your co-editor of this column, Mar- ciano, Bolger and Pezzino.