Vancouver College - Collegian Yearbook (Vancouver, British Columbia Canada)

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of Athletics One of the most demanding sports is undoubtedly gym- nastics, above, requiring both skill and strength. First in- troduced in 1928, interest in this sport has been sporadic but sustained. Even in the early days, College sports games, right, were drawing large crowds and making the headlines. This tradition has been maintained up to the present day. Soccer, below, at V.C. had its beginning in the early years of the school’s history. In 1923 a College team won the Gibbons Cup and the Leader Trophy in soccer com- petition. Leagues were formed for intramural play and lasted several years after V.C. stopped playing other schools. New Canadian Rugby League Launched In City COLLEGIATE RUGGERS CLASH TODAY VANCOUVER COLLEGE WINS GRID TITLE RUGBY TEAMS CBDYER COLLEGE ALL SQUARE SEATS rasin ' 6-1, . r j ., Tt: ' :. - 1 ilsiSsg ' SrWizmgfg - - • z ' vsi arsity Ruggers P ,„ great shkies ro ii in tk ksch oi.a.stk titiT FUfCOliYQI COLLD Beat Vancouver , — WINS LABEIT TFOF College Boys, 6-1 . . . Vancouver ■ ■ College b idders M ins Game Play Well

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In the Sphere One of the more difficult sports to nurture in V.C.’s quest for variation, was hockey. Facilities were limited, practice time was expensive and at very inconvenient hours, if time was to be found at all. Although hockey was getting along, it, like many of the other V.C. sports, eventually gave way to football, basketball and track. The earliest sports organized at Vancouver College were soccer and rugby. In 1924 the soccer team won the Gibbons Cup and the Leader trophy in hotly contested competition. College also en- joyed tremendous success in the rugby league, winning the Greater Vancouver Championship in 1928. Despite this enthusiasm, however, rugby like soccer became an intramural sport at V.C. and died out under the emphasis of football during the thirties. Canadian football, called Canadian rugby at the time, became a major sport at the College in 1929. Entering active competition the next year, V.C. won the Labrie Trophy, symbolic of the Provin- cial Championship in High School football. College held its own in this sport for several years but was finally forced to the south to find op- ponents, which necessitated a switch to American football rules. This participation in American football began in 1939 with a game against O’Dea High School of Seattle, also taught by the Brothers, a rivalry that has continued down through the years. In the next season College’s schedule included several Washington teams. This precedent has been kept alive ever since, demonstrating College’s deter- mination and drive, although local teams have gradually replaced the American teams as the mainstay of our schedule. When we grope back into history for the begin- ning of basketball there is a story that Brother Breen coached the first-ever team in 1928 and they lost their first game 110 to 8, against Magee. By 1940 there was a resurgence of interest but there was a complication in that College did not have a gym and played its games at the Van- couver Athletic Club. Playing American teams brought a measure of experience and confidence so that when the first B.C. Tournament, an eight- team Invitational affair, was set up in 1947, College was able to take the title under coach Brother Neylan. Maury Mulhern received the most Valuable Player Award. The Junior Basketball teams were also winning B.C. titles at this time under Brothers O’Donnell and Gillis, and these players formed the basis of the 1949 team under Brother M.G. Reilly that again took the title in the expanded B.C. Tourney. Barry Brown, Leo Mulhern and Roy Durante made all-star teams. The opening of the new gym in 1951 saw the beginning of a real building program. Br. Finch, who had coached the 1956 Tournament team to fifth place, was transfered to New York. The College called in Mr. Ken Wright, a long time friend of Vancouver College, to coach the 1957 team. They swept the B.C. Championship and Bob Lasko was selected the most valuable player. Also this year, Br. Eccleston coached the Juniors to the Provincial Championship. The season of 1960 was another great year for the College. Coached by Leo Mulhern of the 1949 team and spearheaded by Mike Melanson, the College won the B.C. title for the fourth time. It was a seven year stretch before the team reached the top once again and grabbed the Provincial Championship in 1967 under the guidance of Mr. Gene Rizak. Beside the big two, football and basketball, there always were and always will be many types of athletic activities. Most of these enjoyed periods of popularity and success but were replaced by others in an attempt to find com- petition with other s chools. We have mentioned the rise and fall of soccer, rugby and Canadian football. Baseball and even cricket have had their day at College but wrestling and track now dominate the spring program. V.C. has had hockey squads at various times but like boxing it has faded. No sport has been more consistent at V.C. than Gymnastics, which has been carried on with brief breaks from the school’s infancy to the present day. After 50 Golden years of pioneering and testing on the part of V.C., Football and Basket- ball have established themselves as best suited to the College way of life, while other sports have been relegated to the roles of minor activities.

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In the Ways Even as far back as 1924 College was presenting highly entertaining productions, such as “It Pays to Advertise.” But academic and physical growth did not satisfy the wants and needs of the student body. It became apparent that although studies pertained to all, sports was limited to only the select few who were endowed with the ability to participate in it. Therefore in order to provide equal opportunity for all, to enable all to fully utilize their talents, various extracurricular activities were in- troduced. One of the most popular, both on the part of students and parents, was Drama. Such plays as Macbeth in 1924 and Julius Caesar in 1927 drew capacity crowds for every performance at the Orpheum Theatre. Although not a primary goal, such awards as the Open Division final for the Best Play of the Year in ’36 and the Comedy Trophy in ’42 were won. Besides ex- ceptional talent, another contributing factor to the success of the plays was the limited opportunities for entertainment, radio being in its infancy and T.V. non-existent. College received wide acclaim and publicity in the news media of the day, and critics could not be more effusive in their lavish praises. However, Drama was but part of the spectrum of activities to be offered. Step Dancing was taught to boys in primary and grammar school grades. Development in one’s ability to express oneself, both coherently and with confidence has always been en- couraged. Here the winners of one of the earlier Public Speaking Contest in 1958 display their trophies proudly. Pictured here is the high calibre 1924 orchestra under the direction of Professor Talbot. The historic background is the famous handball alleys that occupied the whole back yard of the Richards Street School.