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

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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

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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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ED. NOTE: Somewhere in the wide, illogical world there may be another Student Council president whose first, last, and major obligation to his fellow classmates is flagpole duty. But we rather doubt it. So, when we saw Dan Callahan, our senior diplomat, dutifully tending to the wants of Old Glory, we knew we had a journalistic first. Below follows a unique, firsthand report of the perils and plights of a student senate president. It was with great pride and lofty ambition that I accepted the office of Student Council president last May for the school year of 1962-63. It was, likewise, with fervent an- ticipation that I passed the lengthy summer, contemplating the dignity, the respect, the loyalty that I would command as the supreme in- termediary between attentive faculty and fawning, adoring students. It was with an air of condescending humility that I reported to the office the first day of school to receive the greetings of the administration and, in addition, I felt sure, my first major official duty. As I entered, the headmaster im- mediately pushed aside the mountain of paperwork which had accumulated as part of the general headache of opening day. (I, of course quite familiar with these weighty nui- sances, sympathized completely with Father and informed him that it would offend me none if he wished to continue working throughout our discussion.) He affixed me with a certain faraway glance for the first of many times during our talk, but at the time I attributed it to the in- evitable weariness which is bound to be noticeable on the counten- ances of us supervisory personnel. We chatted for a few moments, as would a premier with his most trusted charge d'affairs, and then, feeling as I do that the welfare of one’s constituents should never be secondary, I asked in my most diplomatic manner, Exactly what will my duties toward my fellow students be, Father? This was the fatal query, the innocent, well- meant, straightforward question that set the stage for the most insidious affront to an elected official’s dig- nity since the horror of women’s suffrage. The Blow To be brief, I was told by the head of state that it would be my daily duty to raise the American flag each morning and lower and fold it each night. I sincerely hope that my face did not reveal the misgivings of my mind, because I really did not intend to openly con- vey the feeling that this duty was below my exalted dignity; this I meant to conceal as one of my pri- vate subjects of brooding. The actual reason for my concern was the fact that I have never been blessed by the Almighty with an exceedingly acute memory. It is with sorrowful recollection that I picture the scores of times that I have left the house bright and cheery without my lunch, or on other occasions without my ammunition during hunting season. I ruefully remember the gloomy day I walked six blocks to the spot where I was to receive some 90 newspapers to deliver, only to return to the house to get the bag I was to carry them in. I have traveled to away games, fully prepared to play except for an article of apparel as minor as hip pads or a helmet. But enough of this self-beration; you must realize the dilemma which con- fronted me. I smiled as I futilely fought the waves of nausea and fainting that threatened me. Unfair Alarm As I look back on the first week of my adventure, I find no reason significant enough for the adminis- tration to be dissatisfied with me. The only error which glares at my record is the Friday that I missed taking down Old Glory, and arrived at school Monday to find an epistle from a certain member of the local church Hierarchy who, while in- specting the grounds, found the flag up on the pole after sundown, a grievous breach of procedure. He himself removed it, and instructed me to take my privilege a little more to heart and exercise a little more caution in its care. Since that incident, I truly have been more observant in my duty, and I have been encouraged by the presence of several students each morning and each evening who cheer and salute martially as I pass with the Red, White, and Blue. My mind is now thoroughly accus- tomed to the ritual, and I never miss a day, thank the Lord, but I do pray that soon I may take my position by the horns and assert my rights, namely forming a Council committee to care for the flag—that the Council President is so obviously unequip- ped to handle. SOCIAL SECURITY Any time of the year is a good time for a party and any excuse is a good one. If you’ve never given a party because you’re afraid it will be a sensational flop, the real problem is that you've only given one; give four a night! Give a Pro- gressive Party. It’s a simple, inexpensive way to have fun. The object is for you and four or five of your friends to collaborate on one party. Each furnishes a major item toward the project—refreshments, games, record hop, and prizes— and all of you invite a different set of friends. It’s a way to make new friends and have fun with your old ones. Make a list of the food and games you are planning, and then divide it. For instance you can furnish the place to have the party, records, and hi-fi. One girl makes pizza, another brings coke and ice cream. Be sure someone donates potato chips and pretzels. Have one of the girls furnish games and a door prize. 6 Continued on page 15