Western High School - Occident Yearbook (Bay City, MI)

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Elhrrr Qlupn in 09112 that K' l SINGULAR circumstance in connectibn with the Valley Association 152 s-'IA' ., is the fact that three of the four cups yvere in the possession of West- Q ern High school, the smallest school in point of numbers of pupils of any of the schools afliliated with the3Valley Association. . -X uf . 5 Elgin' WY-stern had the basketball, football and base balk cups as con- crete evidence of its. prowess in three of the four lines of sport in which the Valley organization specializes. It is said to be the first time in the history of the organization that a sin le school has at one time pos- sessed three out of four cups. V Western's record in the realm of athletics would be remarkable under any circumstances, but particularly is it so by reason bf the unusual handicaps which it has encountered through the school attendancel There have been times when it has looked well nigh impossible to muster enough men to make up a team. Notable among these instances was the case of last fall when in several of the important games a. bare eleven men were availab e for them. So severe was the handicap in this respect that the team was at tim s crippled through the physical condition of the p'ayers as a result of previous injtiries. The unusual records made by the teams are due principally to the coach. VV. WV. Morris. His success in turning out a winning aggregation in the face of what early each season looked like insuperable obstacles has arrested attention through- out the state. Starting the season with green players for the most part, he has coached the fresh timber in a manner that has ,resulted not only in a. thorough knowledge of the game on the part of the athlete, but in many cases has uncovered talent that has attracted wide attention. Some o these players have gained ath- letic honors elsewhere, but there are still some in, school. l One example is Toutzxnt, who playing his first game of football last fall. was unanimously chosen All-Valley football center and who was spoken of by some as a candidate for all-state center. Another who is still in school is Pacynski, the all-valley choice for end and a candidate for all-valley basketball honors. Nickols, a member of the school, was easily all-valley center last year. Lefler, a lineman on last fall's football team. was elected to the all-valley football team and men- tioned outside of Bay City as an all-state candidate. Shaver, another man in school, who played On the football team, was alsoi on the all-valley team and men- tioned as a. candidate for all-state tackle. There are other instances now in school of Mr. Morris' success. Never has the athletic ability of VVestern been at the high standard that it is at present, many west siders attribute the fact fto -Mr. Morris. He commands the respect of every boy who has ever been under his tuition and to this circumstance many fol-lowers of the school point as an explanation of the success of the teams. 62 I

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Three Cups in One Year 61

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BASKETBALL