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

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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

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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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Mike Fruge (36) St. Stephen halfback, powers into the end zone after running through a maze of St. Clair players. Which way did he go? This might be the question ask- ed by the Algonac player as Larry Peek (38) sprints for yardage before he is tackled by a Muskrat. Hands are high and excitement higher as Joe Lozano (20) and two Muskrats of Algonac reach for a pass at a crucial moment.