St Stephens Academy - Academician Yearbook (Port Huron, MI)

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St Stephen Hornets break even in league contests Go! St. Stephen ' s players get off to a flying start as they run wind sprints to get into condition for the Marine City Holy Cross game. The work, though tedious, proved rewarding as the Hornets trampled the Crusaders 57-0 in the first game. FOOTBALL RECORD Holy Cross We 57 They 0 Richmond We 33 They 0 Yale 7 12 Cros-Lex 0 18 Marysville 6 27 Algonac 0 20 St. Clair 26 7 Marine City 6 14 Dennis Kinch (85) is about to tackle a foredoomed Crusader. The Hornets ' defense sparkled in the Marine City Holy Cross game. The Hornets ' defensive team is converging from all directions, forcing a halt to the courageous effort of the Marine City Holy Cross player (46). Bob Castillo (30) uses a battering ram technique, to stop the progress of a Holy Cross player. 28

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STRENGTH to build strong youth A surprising display of school spirit spurred Hornets on to a fair football season. With only juniors and seniors from which to draw for a fighting foot- ball team, Coach Michael Gkekas found 37 boys ready in the summer to join the squad in grueling practices. Pep meet- ings continued to be morale-boosting sessions despite the loss of the under- classmen. Each Friday, various skits sent the student body into rollicking laughter and pepped up the spirit of the team. The fans did not let the team down, for scores of onlookers presented themselves at everyone of eight games. The cheerleaders as a dynamo of spirit could always be counted on, when going was rough. Hornet cagers ripped through their bas- ketball season to clinch its first St. Clair Area League title since 1948-49. Control of the backboards and the team ' s display of fine performance helped the Hornets on to victory. Only one game of the season found the Hornets trailing; the return game with its bitter rival, Marysville. The fast breaking Hornets, with exceptional shoot- ers and strong rebounders, were ranked 7th in the U.P.I. poll and 10th in the A.P. poll. The League competition was tough since the majority of the teams were class B while the Hornets belong to class C. Unfortunately, in the tournament the Hornets drew Capac, southern thumb champions, for their first opponent. Capac won. When this book goes to press our ath- letes are preparing to enter the spring sports schedule. These consist of base- ball, track, golf and tennis. If we can maintain our records of the previous years, we should have a good baseball nine with eight veterans returning to the team; our golf squad should prove successful, and our tennis team will need to work hard to maintain last year ' s ratings — the district and regional crowns. Our athletic program molds character by developing initiative and responsibility;by teaching good sportsmanship and fair play; by nurturing leadership and self confidence. Finally, sports help the athlete to realize how important teamwork is in life. St. Stephen cheerleaders and fans go wild as the buzzer sounds enabl- ing unbeaten Hornets to edge the Vikings of Marysville 48-41. 27

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Coach Michael Gkekas, in his first year as head coach of St. Stephen’s Varsity football team, had thirty-three candidates try- ing to make the starting eleven. Mr. Gkekas was pleased with his team of “hustlers”. In the first game with Marine City Holy Cross, the Hornets made nine touchdowns — one more than they chafed up last year during the whole season. Although the Horn- ets did not have a perfect sea- son, they provided the fans, both at home and away, with many thrills. St. Stephen displayed its traditional fire and spirit on the gridiron, whether they emerg- ed as victors or vanquished. Hopelessly Coach Mike Gkekas pleads with down, but the whistle brings the game to a Capt. Sam Napolitan for just one more touch- tragic close as Yale holds its lead of 12. St. Stephen ' s happy moment - Michael Fruge, Yale end zone for second quarter touch- Try this - Coach Mike Gkekas Hornet halfback (36), rams his way into the down. Robert Abdoo (40) lurks behind Fruge. advises Captain Sam Napolitan. Hornets’ Varsity, composed of 17 juniors and 15 seniors, fought a fifty-fifty battle in the 1962 season. Top row - left to right: Mike Zwolinski, Dick Pond, Dave Barzone, Bob Castillo, Bill Dunn, John Allore, Dennis Kearns, Jody Platzer, Henry Fischer, Bob Burkart, Mike Landon, Edwin Grattan, Assistant Coach Bob Sheehan. Middle: Assistant Coach Dick Troy, Ignacio Cardenas, Dennis Wyllie, George Fountain, James Rankin, Larry Zimmer, Larry Peek, Ron- ald Horbes, Mike Rossow, Tom Fox, George Stebbings, Greg Duva, Tim Liberty, Head Coach Mike Gkekas. First row: Dennis Kinch, John Vandenbossche, Dick Fawcett, Sam Napolitan, Bill Mullins, Mike Fruge, Joe Lozano, Fred Chartier, John Mercurio, Bill McKenzie, Jerry Mercurio and Bob Abdoo. Coach Gkekas was very well pleased 29