St Sebastians School - Arrow Yearbook (Newton, MA)

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Fr. Flanigan demonstrated that it was far from a softy's avo- cation. Under his instruction, many of us have developed an en- thusiasm for the game, even though as yet we have not mastered all the tricks of the trade. Bob Baker, Shea, Scully, Wiles and Lydon are the '45 men who monopolize the courts regularly, al- though they are hard pressed to outdo Ford and Higgins, the Junior zealots. Now that the major sports have acquired substantial roots here on Nonantum Hill, it is the hope of the Department of Athletics to develop competitive teams in the minor sports also. As the first graduates leaving St. Sebastian's, we serve notice on our younger lwrethren that we shall watch with interest their ventures into Track, Tennis and Squash competition, confident that these sports also will yield their share of glory to the wearers of the Red and Black. AFTERMATH Father Clifford, victimg Fathers Flanigan and Stocklosa, t'.X'6CZlfi0716f.f

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XVSS OUNTRP 4 v' 0 ft, y tw' I , A J .3-4 9' V I V it 04, N H95 MASSAC ALTHOUGH the spotlight of student interest is focused principally on Football, Baseball, Hockey and Basketball, minor sports have a definite place in the athletic program of St. Sebastian's. Track, Tennis and Squash are not only encouraged, but they attract their share of ardent devotees who enter into them with a spirit that rivals that of varsity competitors. Track activities were organized in our junior year under the tutelage of Fr. Keating, and while the greater number of candidates came from the lower classes, the Class of 1945 was well represented by jimmy Collins, and later by Don Gibbons. Among the junior speedsters, the stand-outs were Dunbar, Craig, McGoldrick, Ford, Mulhern and Bullock. Our hopefuls made their debut in the Bel- mont Relays of 1944, and in the face of fast competition put on a creditable exhibition. Last Fall, it was arranged that our practice spins be held at the B. C. Track and since that time our trackmen have profited by the kindly interest ofjack Ryder. Tennis comes into its own in Spring and Autumn, when our macadam courts are never idle, Among the present Seniors, Bob Baker, Shea, Scully, Wiles and Dermody are found most frequently among the racquet wielders, while Daly, Higgins, Bob Flynn and O'Leary are prominent among the under-class enthusiasts. The Faculty also feels that its members are still capable of playing the game, and scarcely 'a seasonable afternoon goes by without one of our professors joining a doubles combination, it may be that singles play is a little too fast for thern. With the passing of the outdoor season, the racqueteers move indoors and cavort about our splendid squash courts. At the be- ginning we were prejudiced against the indoor court game, until

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JUNIOR VARSITY ACTIVITIES THE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL type of education, with its insistence on participation in sports by every student, finds junior Varsity teams an indispensable adjunct to the athletic program. Almost every normal, healthy lad cherishes a secret ambition to blossom forth as a star in the world of competitive sport, and yet many likely prospects would never dream of presenting themselves as candidates for positions on School teams unless they had first won self-confidence and skill in minor competition. Such boys turn naturally to the junior Varsities and there under patient instruction and equitable testing, they develop their inherent abilities. junior teams are fielded by St. Sebastian's in all the major sports. The future football greats come under the supervision of Fr. Keating who devotes himself unstintingly to his little men and challenges them to tackle him as if they meant it. The diamond sport finds Fr. Flanigan in charge of the J. V.'s, and their earnest- ness is manifested by the oft repeated question: Father, do you think I'll get into the next game? The junior icemen have the benefit of Fr. I-lannigan's tutelage, and they learn the truth of his solemn assertion: Scoring is just a matter of knowing your ge- ometry and angles . In Basketball, the ponies come under the personal direction of Fr. Redding, the Varsity coach, and they display their marksmanship between the halves of Senior team games. In all four sports contests are arranged with the yearling teams of rival schools, and our V.'s win their share of games in such competition. The natural course of events finds these junior lumi- naries graduating to the Senior teams, and in the meantime their infant athletic steps have advanced them along the road toward a sound mind in a sound body . Coach Murphy weighs in Freshman Dick Finnegan