St Helena Extension School - Saint Yearbook (Norfolk, VA)

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;4t €tcc By James E. Maloney I ' he athletic program at St. Helena this year was much more extensive than last year. Varsity tennis and golf were added to the schedule to go along with basketball and baseball. An intramural table-tennis tournament was held to supplement the other campus athletic affairs. Other members of the student body participated in events with the swimming and track teams of the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Alary. The over-all athletic picture was completely successful and colored with interesting and exciting events. Once again the school was unable to field a varsity football team although there was plenty of spirit, potential players and a capable coach. The lack of adequate funds was the major handicap. As a substitute, Coach Howard again inaugurated a program of intramural football which proved to be a wonderful substitute for a varsity squad, lire season was climaxed by Pomfret I winning the championship from Small HI on a hotly contested decision. ith the coming of the basketball season the Saints put a Varsity squad on the court which made up in spirit and determination for what it lacked in ability, d ' he cagcrs did well against college competition despite the fact that a majority of the team was lost to other schools at mid-semester. They were repeatedly defeated, however, when playing the highly skilled service fives of the area. There was also an intramural basketball league which played until the start of the base- ball season. Again the athletes of Pomfret I were the winners by virtue of having won eight contests without defeat and conquering a strong team from Small in the play-off. A table-tennis tournament was initiated in late winter, and after much delay, was completed during the final week in , pril. Wesley Richardson emerged the victor and will be awarded a copy of the annual as his prize. ith the coming of spring several activities were started with baseball being the first to get underway. Last year this sport was the bright spot in the St. Helena athletic program with the team winning nine out of thirteen games played. Six lettermen returned and played on this year’s squad. The men lacked experience THE 1948 SAINT f 88 1

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4t £€tcC James E. Howard Director of Athletics [ 87 ]

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as a whole, but there were some excellent players on the team from whom Coach Howard expected and received good play as soon as they rounded into shape Indeed, baseball appears to be the major sport in which St. Helena had its best record for the second consecutive year. For those who were unable to make a place for themselves on the Varsity squad or who couldn’t spare the time, an intramural softball schedule was pre- pared. Ten teams were formed. In the first deciding game, the men from Small IV put an end at last to the reign of Pomfret I as intramural champions, by defeating them. Two new Varsity teams were formed this spring. The tennis squad, after practicing for about a month, met and defeated the Norfolk Division in its first match of the season. They lost two games to the Naval Station before meeting and being defeated by the faculty in their final match of the season. Mr. John Bright and Mr. Herbert Sebren took over the job of coaching the tennis team since Coach Howard was busy tutoring the baseball squad. Mr. J. H. East, who is a rabid golf fan, undertook the job of putting together a golf team to represent St. Helena. He carried on an extensive campaign to recruit a squad, even to the extent of putting up notices telling the students to see Joker East if they were interested in playing golf. The St. Helena linkmen lost to Vlaury High School, tied Granby High School, and defeated a team from North Carolina. Several of our athletes who wished to take part in their favorite sport could not do so on the campus. This did not deter them, however. They joined the tryouts at the Norfolk Division, going there daily to practice. Some of these men were on the Division swimming team, which had an excellent record last year. In the spring, others made the Division track team which also had a suc- cessful season. The student body worked hard to give the school a good athletic program. It was ably guided and taught by Coach Howard who inspired the boys on despite all odds. The school may well be proud of its fine athletic record. SAINT HELENA EXTENSION [ 89 ]