Wells High School - Crimson and Gray Yearbook (Southbridge, MA)

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THE CRIMSON AND GRAY hero by making his kick good and giving Wells its first win in two years by a 7 to 6 margin. Everyone noticed the defensive playing of Metras, the Voloka twins, Perikli, Bushe, Lavallee, Thi- beault, and Beaulieu. Theodossj running was out- standing also. I WELLS— 14 V SHREWSBURY— Just to prove that its previous win wasn ' t just luck, the Crimson and Cray gridiron lads downed a highly favored Shrewsbury eleven 14 to in fine fashion under a sunny sky at Alumni Field on Tues J ay, No- vember 18. The first score for the Kyriosmen came in the sec- ond period, when after Caron and Theodoss sparked a 70 yard drive, Theodoss carried the oval over from the 4-yard marker. Caron ' s try for the extra point was successful and enabled the Wells lads to walk off the field enjoying a 7 to lead at the half. The second half was almost a repeat performance of the first, for after the lads had worked their way down to Shrewsbury ' s 30, a Theodoss to Perikli pass in the fourth period was good for another Wells ' score. Caron, who handles all the kicking for the Wells lads, cashed in on his bid for the extra point, thus making the score 14 to in Wells ' favor. Although the all-around playing of Perikli, Caron, and Theodoss was probably the most outstanding, we mustn ' -t forget our linemen. When I say linemen I mean every single guard, tackle, center, and end on the team, for it was the linemen that made three terrific goal line stands in the first, second, and third quarters by preventing Shrewsbury from scoring, when they were only a matter of feet away f rprrl the goal line. WELLS— 13 N BARTLETT— 6 On a sunny Thanksgiving morning a favored Bart- lett eleven was forced to hand our Crimson and Cray lads a 13 to 6 decision in their annual turkey day clash. The game started with Bartlett ' s Pete Vengryn re- turning Joe Taraskiewicz ' s kick-off 20 yards to the 50 yard marker. On Bartlett ' s first play Dojan picked up eight yards through the center of Wells ' wall be- fore Henry Bushe and Dona Beaulieu could bring him down. An off side against Wells on the next play gave Bartlett a first down on the Wells 37 yard marker. On the next play Miller romped down to the ten yard stripe before Sobieski and Taraskiewicz pulled him down. Bartlett, finding a weak spot on the left side of the Wells line, picked up five more yards on the next play. Although loyal Southbridge rooters were yelling to their local heroes to hold that line, the Crimson and Cray lads just couldn ' t stop Bartlett ' s Al Desautels from scoring. A bad center pass killed Bartlett ' s hopes for the extra point. With about half of the first quarter finished, Tar- askewicz returned Miller ' s kick-off 15 yards to Wells ' 35 yard line. Although Theodoss, Caron, Sobieski, and Edmond Voloka played with all their heart, the Wells line ■faild to hold Bartlett ' s invaders, thus the Crimson and Cray lads were forced to end the first quarter with Bartlett enjoying a 6 to lead. In the second quarter the Crimson and Gray fans could see that Rutcho, Metras, Perikli, Bushe, Soutar, and Thibeault were beginning to find themselves. The Kyriosmen returned every Webster scoring chance, although they were still a little jittery. Nothing of any importance happened in the second quarter, for after each team had pushed the ball back and forth a few times, the half ended with Bartlett still enjoying a 6 to lead. In the third quarter a reanimated Wells eleven marched out on the field to set up a scoring chance -which they took advantage of in the fourth quarter. The third quarter opened with Caron and Theodoss sparking a 60 yard drive, up to Bartlett ' s 20 yard line. Although it looked as though the Wellsmen were ir scoring position, Bartlett kicked out. This point might be called the turning point of the game, for with minutes left to the third quarter, Caron, Theodoss, and Voloka sparked the Crimson and Cray lads to Bartlett ' s 10 yard marker. The fourth quarter began with Caron carrying the oval oyer from the five yard marker for a Wells ' score, after Theodoss had brought it from the ten yard stripe to five yards. Caron ' s try for the extra point missed by inches. Taraskiewicz kicked the ball down to Bartlett ' s 10 yard marker. Before Desautels of Webster had time to pick up the ball, Taraskiewicz, in an unbelievable spurt from kick-off, made a terrific bone-crushing tackle causing Desautels to fumble the oval. After what looked like a riot from the stands, Johnny So- bieski made a desperate leap for the ball and landed on it, thus giving Wells a first down on Bartlett ' s own twenty yard marker. Caron and Theodoss again taking turns at the oval worked it down to the 10 yard marker, but a penalty brought them back to the 1 5 yard stripe. Still desperate for another Wells score, the Crim- son and Cray lads were only able to get back 8 yards of the 1 5 in three trys. With seven yards to go for a first down, Theodoss, the most outstanding player on the field, made a life-saving finger tip catch from La- vallee. He worked his way to a Wells first down — only three yards from the goal line. On the next play Theodoss wasted no time in carry- ing the oval over for a second Wells score. Caron ' s try for the extra point was good, thus putting the Crimson and Cray lads ahead by a well-earned 13 to 6 margin. With minutes left to play. Bartlett made one last desperate try to make another touchdown, but our local heroes just seemed to be too much for them and Bartlett was forced to be satisfied with a 1 3 to 6 defeat. So to you Metras. Edmond and Edward Voloka, Beaulieu, Sobieski, Taraskiewicz, Thibeault, and Mc- quade, we, the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors of Mary E. Wells High, take off our hats in appreciation to your good and hearty showing on our 1947 foot- ball squad. Autumn Prediction Fall is here. Listen! A rumble! Let ' s give a cheer For, soon, Bartlett will crumble. Here they come! Crimson and Cray! Give them a cheer: Hip! Hip! Hooray! Down they ' ll be borne, Creen and White. On Thanksgiving morn They ' ll lose the fight. Back we ' ll come. Shouting — a throng! Each one will hum The Wells Victory Song. As the years pass, We ' ll continue to say: Show your class, Fight on Crimson and Cray! '

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DECEMBER, 1947 17 Sports I WELLS — 13 PALMER— 19 The Mary E. Wells High School football team opened their 1947 season on October 4, by playing the heavier and more experienced Palmer High School. Palmer scored shortly after Joe Taraskiewicz had kicked off and it looked like trouble for Wells. John .Sobieski showed a new spirit by carrying the ball a neat 20 yards. The running of Phil Caron and So- bieski and the blocking of Lavallee, Soutar, Rutcho, and other linemen kept Palmer on their toes, but it was the superior passing of Theodoss and the catch- ing of Joe Tar-askiewicz a -id P ' erikli that really gained ground for Wells. Perikli scored on a Theo- doss pass, but the kick after was missed making the score 7 to 6, in Palmer ' s favor, at the end of the first half. In the second half Henry Bushe, Lloyd Thibeault, and St. Martin demonstrated some fine tackling, but DeMaio of Palmer scored two more touchdowns giving Palmer a 1 9 to 6 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Wellsmen brought the ball to the seven yard line in the fourth quarter and Lavallee carried it over. Caron kicked the extra point which made the final score 1 9 to 13 in Palmer ' s favor. j WELLS — PUTNAM- 26 On October 1 1, Wells met its second defeat of the season. Yet it was the sparking of Theodoss and the punting of Caron that held Putnam to 26 points. I wouldn ' t say Putnam deserved this 26 to mar- gin at all, for the line, with the exception of Rutcho and Bushe, just couldn ' t break through Putnam ' s wall, but I suppose we all have our off days. Most of the Southbridge fans came back from Putnam quite cer- tain that the Crimson and Cray lads would make up for this disgraceful upset the following Saturday on the home grounds. JE- WELLS — 7 ASSUMPTION — 26 It looked as though the Wellsmen were going to break their long string of defeats. After Assumption scored six points, Perikli blocked a punt which Bushe recovered. Theodoss and Caron gained about 21 yards to bring the ball down to the 4 yard line. Theodoss carried it over and Caron kicked the extra point put- ting Wells ahead 7 to 6 in the first half. All hopes of victory were frustrated when As- sumption scored on a Renquin to St. Louis eighteen yard pass. The Assumption squad followed this up with two more. The final score of the game was 26 to 7 in favor of Assumption. LO- WELLS — 6 NORTHBRIDGE— 19 Although the Wellsmen dropped a heartbreaking 19 to 6 decision to Northbridge, the atmosphere around the Crimson and Cray rooters was once again gay, for Don Beaulieu, center and defensive star of the ' 45 Wells team, having been discharged from the Navy, was once again ready to bring honors to the Wellsmen. Northbridge, after a 60 yard march in the open- ing minutes of the first period, scored the first touch- down, kicked the point, and ended the first quarter with a 7 to lead. Although the defensive playing of Soutar, Sobieski and Theodoss was of the best, it just couldn ' t prevent Bob Shugrue from scoring Northbridge ' s second touch- down in the second quarter, thus ending the half with Northbridge enjoying a 1 3 to lead. In the third quarter, after a Wells lineman had recovered a Roache fumble on the opponents ' 25 yard line Wells marched 30 yards for a score with Sobieski plunging over the goal line from the eight yard line. Theodoss, during the march, dashed 18 yards off tackle. Caron was great on defense. A third touchdown in the final period gave North- bridge a well-earned 1 9 to 6 lead. I r WELLS — MILLBURY — 26 After Wells had outplayed its opponents for almost ' two full stanzas, Frazer, at the end of the second period, intercepted a Theodoss aerial and raced all the way for Millbury ' s first score, thus ending the half 6 to in Millbury ' s favor. In the second half Millbury scored three touch- downs; nevertheless, honors go to Theodoss and So- bieski whose offensive and defensive playing was as it usually is, perfectly perfect. Although the Wellsmen lost this game, the playing of linemen Metras, McQuade Rutcho, Bushe, and Thibeault showed determination. Theodoss was in- jured during the 3rd quarter and was forced to leave the game. Voloka twins and Joe Taraskiewicz were the defensive stars; Sobieski, offensive star. Ceron ' s kicking was outstanding. kj WELLS — 7 STAFFORD SPRINGS — 6 The Wellsmen found themselves and played a good brand of football in this, their first victory of the sea- son. Wells failed to score during the first half be- cause of fumbles; it had two scoring opportunities. After the Wellsmen had given Stafford Springs a 6 to 0 fead in the first half, they, or rather, Caron, came, tack in the last half and showed the Stafford Springs admirers what fine ball carrying was. The Wells cheering section went hysterical, and ho wouldn ' t have, after seeing Caron, the individual star of the game, go off on a 60-yard sprint and set up the winning touchdown! Although Caron ' s playing stood out among all other players ' feats, Wells is also gifted with a superb pass combination. It was a Theodoss to Taraskiewicz aerial that put the oval over the touchdown marker. The game wasn ' t over yet for there was still that extra point to be thought of. Caron again became a

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DECEMBER, 1947 19 Our Football Team ANTHONY SOBIESKI ' 51 All the boys are on the beam When it comes to our football team. First the practice and then the play Which brings on that Thanksgiving fray When Wells vs. the Bartlett team will play. They move like lightning; They run like a flash As into Bartlett ' s team they crash. Then they know victory is on the way. For everyone cheers for the Crimson and Cray; And all the cheerleaders start to swoon As the football sails towards the moon. Then down the field the players stream And hurrah, hurrah, for Wells football team! The Outlook For The ' 48 Basketball Season JOHN ALLABASHI ' 48 After a splendid season in ' 47, Lou Kyrios and the Mary E. Wells High quintet are looking forward to repeating their excellent performance. The road will be tough, for such established veterans as Christo Metro, Hank Remian, and )ohn Sotir have left with the graduating class of ' 47. With this graduating class went the nucleus of last year ' s team. Can the team get along without Keech Metro, who with his wonderful hook shot, was the high scorer of last year ' s team? How will they fare with- out John Sotir who was excellent both on the defense and offense? John was especially valuable since he was the best on the team in playing the backboard and setting up plays. How about Remian? He was good, not only defensively, but offensively. Thanks to his swoting, which often paved the way for a clear shot at the basket, he was the highest scorer next to Metro and Duquette. The success of our current team depends chiefly upon the performance of three men — Ernest Duquette, Louis Theodoss, and Murat Regip. Duke is fast, steady, and good on defense. He has a wonderful eye. His excellent ability in shooting set and hook shots label him a scoring threat to any team. Along with Duquette in the shooting department is Louis Theodoss. He has no equal in pushing up shots from center. Louis is an able guard and center, who can also handle the ball masterfully in bringing the ball up court. In Murat Regip we find a steady, cool, smart, and able guard. He is a wonderful passer and by far the best ball handler on the team. His main job is to get that ball around and to set up plays. If he could only improve his set shooting, he would be that much more valuable to his team. This trio will compose the nucleus of this year ' s team. Shakespeare once said, There is much virtue in and if. How true it will be in this case! If Lloyd Thibeault can perk up and be more alert, he will make an excellent center. Lloyd is tall and has a good eye. If he can overcome his handicap, an important prob- lem will be solved. Who will be the fifth man on the team? This is the greatest problem of all. This job is wide open to all comers. Although Phil Caron and George Perikli played well with the junior varsitiy, a better brand of ball playing is demanded on the varsity. If either one of these boys, or better still, if both come through, the ' 47 picture will be bright. The team will have a tough schedule. Among the opponents listeed are orth High of Worcester, and Leominster. If Wells can get by these teams, the rest of the way will be much easier. The team would surely be assured of a berth in the tournament. I, along with the rest of the school, hope that for- tune smiles upon Lou Kyrios and the Mary E. Wells High basketball team. May they be champions! An Invitation To Uncle Joe Stalin To Uncle Joe I ' d like to go Before Thanksgiving Day And bid him see Democracy When Wells and Bartlett play; I ' d tell him: Joe, ' twill be a show To wake you up, I ' m certain — Don ' t be so blind, come from behind Your silly Iron Curtain! And bring with you Cromyko, too, — He ' ll marvel at the sight When Wells displays in crushing ways That it ' s not Left — it ' s Right! Then pack your grip and board a ship — Your delegate Vishinsky Will be on hand to see you land And bid you come in-sky. Don ' t let him say, Joe, go away — These capitalists sing And fill the air with war cries rare — Let ' s veto ev ' rything! Don ' t be so dumb but, Comrade, come And see our high schools battle; You ' ll take delight in such a fight — ' Twould make the Kremlin rattle! For Litvinoff and Molotov We ' ll find a seat somewhere — If Freshmen kids knock off your lids Just held on to your hair; And if you spy up in the sky An oval thing a-going, Don ' t duck your head and think those dread- Ful atom bombs we ' re throwing. Those things you see will only be Our famous punts and passes, But Uncle Sam has bombs to slam On war-provoking asses! Now, Joe, break loose — don ' t be a goose — Americans will all Admit they ' re hot with plan and plot — To down a pigskin ball! I ' d fill Joe ' s ear to bring him here With special invitations To learn the truth about our youth In freedom-loving nations; So, freemen all, we ' ll watch the ball As Wells and Bartlett play, And thrill with pride for either side On this Thanksgiving Day! — Anthony I Werner. Southbridge