St Albans School - Albanian Yearbook (Washington, DC)

Page 77 text:

ATHLETICS

Page 76 text:

The wind, the falling leaves, and the shortening days warn of the approaching winter. The last football game has ended in a blaze of glory, the brief Thanksgiving weekend has come and gone, and St. Albans is settling down to a new season. It is perhaps the most depressing of all seasons, punctuated by the anathema of midyear examinations. The posting of the exam schedule produces cries of anguish from all, followed by a frantic weekend of cramming and then the try- ing days of blue books, proctors, shirtsleeves, equations, precis, essays, and study. Everybody studies for midyears-some more than others. And when they end, there is no celebrating-only a sigh of relief, or a sigh of resignation. A day or two to recuperate. and School will be going again. The long, winter days roll drearily on, but gradually there is a change. As the temperature begins to rise outside, so do the spirits of Albanians. There is an eventual realization that the year is more than half gone-that the worst is over. Spring vacation is around the corner, and before long people are counting the days. The feeling of exhilaration and release builds up to a crescendo and finally erupts with explosive force on the final day. Classes are impossible, study halls are even worse. The sixth period bell signals the climax of the melee, and for a few brief minutes havoc reigns supreme. Slowly, however, the tumult subsides, and before long the halls are deserted once again. Suntans, madras, and high spirits mark the beginning of the final term. It's almost like school starting all over again. Itis a season of term papers, of local history reports, or Senior speeches, and fthis yearj of a new swimming pool and a 'Classics Convocation. It,s a season of baseball, tennis, and track, of plays and operettas, of ALBANIAN deadlines. And, most important, it's the closing season of the year. The first sign of the approaching end is the appearance of the Senior Issue of the fNews', with the announcement of the new editorial board. This is followed closely by the Prefect and Vestry elections, and the I-leadmaster's dinner for the graduating class. The pace during these last few days is fast and furious, and before anyone really realizes it, Commencement has arrived. A hot blue St. Albans blazer in the june sun, a prize given in the Bishop's garden, a service in the Cathedral, and then goodbye. Another year at St. Albans. -MARK I-IALLER 70 ACADEMICS 1963

Page 78 text:

Athletic Association Jw Left to Right: Shaw, Arterton, Peter Rosenbaum, Hobart, Muller, Mr, Wild, Rubino The Year in Athletics HE RETURN TO School brings the return to the discipline of organized athletics-time to get back into shape and redevelop the muscles grown stiff from months of summer leisure. The Varsity football team was expecting a good year with its unlimited potential. Mr. Wild commented at the football banquet, The margin in all games lost was very slight. It could have been a seven-and-one season. However, the final record was four wins against three losses and one tie. The cross country team also had a successful year, sparked by the admirable performance of Jon Arterton, who broke the School record for the course. Coach Hoffman pointed out, Q'We had a line season, and it was an exceptional one because of Jon, who was unbeatable? About the Junior Varsity football season, Coach Hino had this to say: 'QWe had a good sea- son, even though we lost more games than we won, in total points, however, we scored as many as our opponents did. The winter season was an excellent one. The basketball team won more games than it lost for the first time since 1956. Coach Wild was elated for there was good effort by everyone, and they never gave up. They beat Landon for the first time since 1957-that showed them what they could accomplish. The soccer team had a winning season. Coach Parker summed up the year when he said, In spite of the fact that we seemed to lose the important games, the team would have done much bet- ter, had we played under better conditions. They were the best soccer team I have ever coached. 72 ATHLETICS 1963