Venango Christian High School - Saga Yearbook (Oil City, PA)

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Sportorama AN OBITUARY By Mike Yaeger Losing five football games is a mighty tough pill for Venango Chris- tian High School to swallow, es- pecially since they wanted so badly to set a fine precedent for the new school, But such is the way of fickle fate sometimes, and we can still learn a lesson from adversity: how to be good losers, how to tight- en our belts and keep on fighting; how to ignore discouragement. Looking back over the score- boards, it seems we might have won a couple of those games. The 13-13 tie with Cambridge Springs and the 12-6 takeover by Green- ville's Irishmen” were losses that could have been victories. We timed our drives wrong for the Cambridge Springs game. Two winning touch- downs might have come out of some push deep into enemy territory, but halftime halted one and the end of the game another. For the season's opener we had to settle for a tie. The second game Venango played was with Randolph-East Mead High School. This was the first game away from home and maybe the team felt a little strange. Randolph had the edge on us for weight, and we played the first half like we played the second, that 13-6 loss might have been reversed. We Might Hove The Greenville fray on September 22 was a close one. St. Mike's ac- complished all its scoring in the first quarter. We didn't warm up quickly enough. Once we did, how- ever, we kept their defense jumping. We plunged deep into their territory, made it to the 5-yard line once, to the 6-yard line another time. We needed so little, but whatever it was, we didn't get it. Down 12-6. So we had the spark plugs cleaned for the Kanty Prep game on Sept. 29. For the first th ee quarters we held them to a 6-0 lead. Again we came near paydirt several times. We hit their 5-yard line, and we missed. The fourth quarter killed us. A fourth-down pass in the end zone, a 55-yard scoring play and a 49-yard running play dazzled our gridders. When the fog lifted, Ven- ango Christian's black and gold were left behind to contemplate a 25-0 loss. Bradford's St. Bernard's team set us down most decisively October 6 when they romped away with the ball game to the tune of 42-0, on their own field. Venango just couldn't hold them. They say you have to crawl be- fore you can run, but Venango is tired of crawling. Some one of these years, we're going to paste two good halves together and come up with a win. BANDAGE BRIGADE To find the real competitive spirit in Venango Christian High School, sit in on a few gym classes. Under Mr. Zagorski's guidance, the fresh- men teams, eight sophomore teams, 6 junior teams, and 6 senior teams have completed the first phase of an intensive physical training program, basketball. Two freshmen teams, the Flush- ers” and the Falcons,” share the VENANGO MOVES Let him go; he deserves another try championship in their division. Led by Bill Tipping, the victorious Flush- ers are R. Schiffer, J. Streczywilk, J. Voloshin, and T. Koziara. The Falcons are Captain Jerry Beich- ner, T. Barr, P. Bouquin, T. Tarr, J. Serafin, A real battle souped up the soph- omore contests. The Zephers” with big scorer Tony Schill led most of the season and were heavily favored. However, Dave Henderson's Commanches” fought like their namesakes, came up from behind, and succeeded in tying the taller teams. The playoff battle proved disasterous for the Zephers as the winners romped off with a 10-8 victory. Commanche team members are J. Frawley, W. Hill, T. Alter, M. Horos, and D. Faller. The Kollar Collars” are, at present, the junior class basketball representatives. Led by Dan Drozdo, they compiled a respectable 6-2 record. They led the entire season with timely wins and evidently in- significant losses. These juniors are a rugged bunch, and you can bet it wasn't easy playing basketball with football tactics. Members of the winning team are: J. Williams, J. Gilland, R. Brezezenski, H. He- her, E. Combs, and S. Malene. COACH COUNSELED, CUDGELED, AND CONSOLED- But they only allowed eleven men on the field 4

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TOMORROW’S TRADITIONS Members of the senior class of Venango Christian have placed their orders, and soon will have their school rings. They will be the first of a succession of senior classes who will cherish, live with, and abide by the unwritten rule of the ring. The right flank is a replica of the school’s coat of arms. The shield is tierced in pairle or and sable (divided in three equal parts). The central or chief portion is a maltese cross and stole borrowed from the crest of John Mark Gannon, Archbishop, Bishop of Erie. This is also representative of the Bene- dictine Sisters who have served the community for over ninety years. The stole, a symbol of the Dioce- san Priesthood, encloses the crown to acknowledge the diocesan char- acter of the school whose develop- ment was part of a master plan which includes five high schools and St. Mark’s Seminary. It is em- blazoned with six roundels which are symbolic of the six parishes represented at Venango Christian: St. Joseph, St. Stephen, Help of Christians, Assumption, St. Ven- antius, and St. Patrick. Environment The derrick dexter represents the communities of Franklin and Oil City, the immediate circle of in- fluence upon which Venango Chris- tian education will have its effect. The mountains indicate the source from which the school draws its youth, while the river winding its way through the mountains depicts the common link among the chain of parishes under whose patronage the institution evolved. The plowshare reminds the stu- dent of his obligation to his federal, state, and local governments. This symbol is adopted from the coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Penn- sylvania. The sinister side of the field, the V-bark sailing onward, represents the Venango Christian High School student (the ship is a figure often used to denote the search for wis- dom). The sails are inflated by the breath of the Holy Spirit, the store- house of all understanding. On the sail, a simple star symbolizing Mary, Star of the Sea, Stella Maris” sheds its guiding light on the bark. This star is displayed on the shield of His Excellency, the Most Reverend Bishop Edward Peter McManaman, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Erie, who has chos- en Mary, the constant aid of spir- itual mariners, as his special pa- troness. Return To God The inscription Reddite Deo” (return to God) is taken from the scriptural passage Render to Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and to God that which is God’s.” The crown of Mary, Queen of Saints, is a reminder of the promise that he who directs his talents and activities to the will of God in his life will return to God sanctified. The chief tinctures of the shield- black and gold—are the school colors. The left flank of the ring pic- tures the torch of wisdom surround- ed by the American and Papal flags. This is the symbol of the student’s adult life which includes learning to live, the democracy of living, and the spiritual life of a Christian. The book and mortarboard resting on the olive branch signify the achievements of the Venango grad- uate. An onyx stone inserted in a gold setting carries out the school color theme. The stone itself has been left uncovered so that it can be seen in its entirety. Seniors expect to receive their rings around Christmastime. EITHER, OR Are extra-curriculum activities advantageous or detrimental to a student?” Judy Fitzgerald, a junior, has ex- pressed her opinions by saying, Extra-curriculum activities not only give you greater knowledge of great books and important mate- rial, but also give a school spirit. The students are then working to- gether and aiming for one goal, the betterment of themselves and their school.” Yet, Pat Henry, a junior, dis- agreed with everything previously stated. She believes, School ac- tivities take too much time from our essential studies and after we leave school, it is of little value. Many others have found a sub- stantial life without the use of forensic activities, etc. I feel it is really detrimental, for it detracts from study periods, the valuable time needed in order to be a good student.” Continued on page 15

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TOM TRIES He missed it MISS TOUCHDOWN 1962 A little limelight here Up and Over The seniors are the crew to watch. They have no posted basketball records, but now hold most track records. Although all the results are not posted, the seniors are holding a commanding lead with wins in the 50, 100, 220, and %- mile runs. The underclassmen aren’t expected to increase the times set in each of these events. Yet, despite the fact that the oldest students hold the sprinting records, the field events are domi- nated by the slower but maybe stronger younger set. Freshman Joe Fitzpatrick holds the medicine ball throw record with a toss of 33 feet. Sophomores hold the standing broad jump and the stand and reach events. Tony Schill jumped an amazing 8 feet and 10 inches to top all comers thus far, and Sam Leta, recovering from an ailing knee, reached 26% inches over his natural reach. More events will take place be- fore the year ends. Insurance poli- cies better be paid up. Crapp soccer and wrestling are still to be. LONG LIVE THE QUEEN Venango Christian High School stood in hushed expectation. It was Saturday, September 29, and half- time ceremonies were about to begin on the Mitchell Avenue Field. Kanty Prep held a slight edge over the local eleven, but the football game was momentarily forgotten in the excitement of the crowning of the girl who would reign as Venango’s first, last, and only Kickoff Queen. The music began, and the pro- cession inched across the field. It was led by Her Majesty’s honor guard, the high tag-day salesmen and the cheerleaders. Members of the guard were: Mary Larkin, Suz- anne Marshall, Virginia Hynes, Judith Balcerek, Judith Oliver, De- Anna Demmer, Susan Callahan, Joan Bajorek, Janice Schiffer, Anne McCallum, Barbara Zawislak, Gene- vieve Smutek, Judith Campagna, JoAnne Szabat, Anne Witcomb, Karen Alsbaugh, and Judith Fitz- gerald. The homeroom representatives preceded the queen. They included: Freshman—Miss Deborah Lee, Sophomore—Miss Suzanne Duda, and Junior—Miss Marjorie Rogers. The senior princesses and runners- up for the throne were Miss Cathy Manion and Miss Mary Jo Masson. Thomas Owens placed the pearl and rhinestone studded tiara on her head, and Her Majesty, Queen Mary Lou Fleckenstein began her reign as Miss Kickoff, 1962. Richard Conrad presented the queen-elect with a bouquet of yellow tea-roses complemented by a black satin bow. THOSE ARE THE BREAKS The long arm of coincidence struck a sour note in the lives of two Venango Christian sophomores. Bob Faunce and Sam Leta, who have spent the greater part of ten years as neighbors, classmates, and in- timate friends (,fwhen one’s in trouble, two are blamed”), happily spent the greater part of the 1962 football season convalescing to- gether also. In fact, they just missed sharing the same hospital bed. While Bob was recovering from a broken toe, Sam did him one better and broke his knee. Best wishes for a continuing friendship. MQ ■ft f “ I FOE FLIES He caught It 5