St Albans School - Albanian Yearbook (Washington, DC)

Page 80 text:

74 THE 1940 ALBANIAN Front row, l. to r.: Bell, Gadd, Rizik. R. Buchan, D. Gaillard. Second row, l. to r.: LeFevre, Cromwell, R, Winant, Hutcherson, Birney, Seal, E. Toense. Back row, l. to r.: Ham, Collin Moore, R. Toense, J. McClure, Snyder, P. Gaillard. MR. CLAYTON MICHEL RIZIK, Capfaini cc LTHOUGH the teams lost all three of their matches With other schools, commented coach Tom Clayton, I believe that they more than made up for their defeats by Winning the District Junior A. A. U. Wrestling Championship. He added that even in their defeats the boys did Well, considering that this was the first full season from Thanks- giving to Easter. With sixteen out of eighteen entries reaching the finals in the A. A. U. meet, and with six of these-Alvord, P. Gaillard, D. Gaillard, J. Bell, W. Chandler, and Moffett-Winning their class championships, the team totaled 17 points more than all the other competitors combined. Shortly after David Gaillard secured the quickest fall of the evening by pinning his same opponent of last year in 1 minute 28 seconds with a double wing, Alvord downed his man in the short time of 1 minute 35 seconds with a modified spread-eagle. i

Page 79 text:

ST. ALBANS SCHOOL 73 Front row, l. to r.: Sterrett, Graves, A. N. Miller, Addison. Back row, l. to r.: Block, Macljracken, Hart, P. Gaillard, Platter, Mr. Whipp. Boxing Mu. XVHIPP AST winter boxing was introduced into the Upper School under the direction of Mr. William XWhipp, well-known Washington physical in- structor. Although there was not enough experienced material to match in competitions against other schools, during the course of the season's training several boys developed into good boxers. However, because of one bad break following another, the prospects were unable to practice, and Mr. Whipp again found himself with un- seasoned boys, against whom he rightly felt it was unsafe to match vet- eran teams. But the gain of the candidates individually is undebatable, for any one who joined the class received very valuable instruction and experience. It is only unfortunate that a definite team could not have represented the School this year. It is unfortunate, too, that while the other winter sports commence immediately after Thanksgiving, boxing begins considerably later. The delay means that, since most of the fellows choose a sport they can begin to enjoy immediately, boxing suffers. With an instructor whom Jack Dempsey used to box for his speed and skill, it is to be hoped that the boxing team will take a more prominent place next year in District boxing circles.

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ST. ALBANS SCHOOL 75 Hardest fought match was that of 135-pound Captain Michel Rizik, who lost the decision because of lack of aggressiveness. Having been led to expect an extra period, he apparently planned his match accordingly, only to discover at the end of ive minutes that the referee had over- ruled the original decision. The closest contest of the season was that with McDonogh, who won from the Blues 19-13. After two extra two-minute periods, Baird Snyder lost an extremely close match. Another long bout, but somewhat rougher, was Allison Miller,s last-minute victory, in which after securing five near-falls, he finally pinned his opponent in 4 minutes and 58 seconds. Rizik and jim Bell were also winners against their McDonogh oppo- nents, Bell throwing his man in 3 minutes and 26 seconds, and Rizik gaining a hard-fought time-advantage. Throughout the bout, Bell had the advantage, securing two near-falls, and winning easily with a well executed Princeton Lock. In the Hrst meet, Eastern High School won six matches, while the Blues won only two. The most exciting match was Rizik's defeat, after his opponent gained a slight advantage in the first period and finally in the second downed Rizik with a spectacular high-bar and body hold. The two winners in this opening contest were D. Gaillard and Snyder, both of whom threw their opponents with a crotch and half-nelson. Most crushing defeat of the year was St. Andrew's 40-19 conquest. However, in this defeat the Blue matmen showed great improvement over last year, and next year the team promises still greater improve- ment, for at the close of the second-team matches the score was only 13-11 in the Red team's favor. Outstanding among the first team,s matches was Captain Rizik's decision in an over-time contest after obtaining .several advantages by freeing himself from his opponent,s grips and almost pinning him. In the eyes of Mr. Clayton, the best progress was made by Jim Birney, who learned more for his first season than any other. Rizik was a good captain for his aggressiveness and fight to winf' The coach's chief regret is that the limited enrollment of the School does not allow more candidates for wrestling- but if we are able to give more time to wres- tling in the Lower School, I look for one of the best teams in this section of the country in the next few yearsf'