PAGE EIGHTEEN A Glance at . SPORTS BT MINCE VINCE CAROCCI Asst Sports Editor A new school year has finally rolled around, bringing with it another athletic season and whatever it may hold. Last year had its joys and disappointments, winning and losing squads, upsets and setbacks—what lies ahead is as yet unforeseen. But. let's reminisce for a few minutes to see how Penn State crashed the sporting news circle on both an intercollegiate and national scale. Veteran Lion gymnastic coach Gene Wettstone and two of his proteges, Karl Schwenzfeier and Armando Vega, broke into the national spotlight by copping berths on the 1956 United States Gymnastic Olympic squad during the Olympic trials held at Recrea tion Hall last April. Schwenzfeier, who was graduated from the University in Jan uary, 1956 after starring for the Lion gymnasts for three seasons, finished second in the men's all-round competition while Vega, a sophomore standout in his first season of varsity competition, finished :sixth. A few hours after the final point tabulation was released, the Olympic Committee announced its selection of Wettstone to head Uncle Sam's contingent at Melbourne. Wettstone plans to assemble his squad on the Coast some three or four weeks before departure for Melbourne—currently scheduled for early November—for a month's training period together. Two Lion soccertpen, Dick Packer and Ralph Coder, also are expected to figure prominently in 1956 Olympic play. Packer, captain of last season's undefeated co-national champions and two-time intercollegiate All-American, was selected after the Olympic trials last winter while Coder was added to the roster last month. Packer, a June graduate, set a new Penn State single season and career scoring records last season while Coder, a 1951 graduate currently serving in the United States Air Force, gained his soccer experience under Bill Jeffrey—former Lion soccer coach—and was noted for his outstanding defensive play. As usual, football brought its share of thrills to Penn State fans and a name synonymous . with Lion grid activity—that of Lenny Moore, the Reading speedster—gained national prominence. After an outstanding junior year when he shattered most Uni versity rushing marks and finished high in national rushing tabula tions, Moore became a marked man last season, falling far below his 1954 output. However, he was the number one draft choice of the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League and performed creditably in the College All Star classic at Chicago last month. In basketball, another former Lion great, Jesse Arnelle—a 1955 graduate and holder of most University scoring records—began to make his mark on the professional scene. After completing a tour with the world-famous Harlem Globe trotters, Arnelle joined the Fort Wayne Pistons for a rookie season in the National Basketball Association. Despite any world-shattering performances, his coach, Charlie Eckman, called him one of the most promising rookies in the NBA and looked for big things from the Lion standout. However, a frac tured nose brought an early curtain down on Arnelle's rookie year, forcing him to miss the championship play-offs. Wrestling, a favorite with most University students, also made its mark in the news when Sid Nodland, Johnny Johnson, and Bill Oberly won Eastern Wrestling Championships at Lehigh University last January. However, Oberly—a National Collegiate Wrestling Champion in the unlimited division in his junior year—was elimi nated early in defense of his crown at the Nationals last March. The Nittany baseballers, spearheaded by the strong left arm of Eddie Drapcho and the hitting of Captain Bob McMullen, compiled a 16-4 record and went to the NCAA District Two playoffs for the fourth time in five years. New York University eliminated the Lions in their first game, 15-7. Drapcho, considered by many to be an outstanding professional prospect, finished the year with a 7-1 mark, recording 83 strikeouts and an earned run average of 1.35. McMullen topped Coach Joe Bedenk's hitters with a .420 average, including five doubles and one homerun. Rod Perry, senior trackman who tied Harrison Dillard's world indoor hurdles record two years ago, brought track into the lime light by claiming IC4-A championships in both the indoor and out door high hurdles. He will be back to bolster this year's squad. That, in brief. sums up most of the Penn State athletes who were in the news last year. We now start a clean sheet with hopes of writing another successful season in Penn State sport annals. Mantle, Aaron Top Major Hitters New York Yankee Mickey Man-' lie ,Fox in most hits, 173 to 172. tle continues to lead the Amer-I In the National League, Hank lean League in most major hitting Aaron of the league-leading Mil waukee Braves regained the bat departments, according to th e' ting lead from Wally Moon of the latest statistics released by the St. Louis Cardinals with a .325 United Press. ' mark. Moon dropped to fourth Mantle tops the hitting depart-;with a .318 average, trailing the ment with a .359 average, runs:Giants Red Schoendienst (.321) batted in with 118, and home runs and Pittsburgh's Bill Vir d 0 n with 47. He also trails Little Nei— (.320). THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. STATE COLLEGE. PENNSYLVANIA Leonides Captures IM Title Leonides. women independents, copped the championship in the l hotly-contested softball 1 e a g u e, !16-9, after battling neck and neck with secoi:d place Thompson, to end active play of the coed's spring semester sport events. By winning the league, Leonides gained five activity points— giving it a high total of eleven— to cop possession of the intramur al cop for the third time since 1950. The other six points were made by notching the bowling cham pionship and by placing third in, volleyball. Leonides sent Thompson for its first loss, 11-6, in the first play-off tilt. The winner's Louise Need ham and Thompson's Sally Jervis sparked the hitting attack. Thompson Takes Second Game The freshman coeds bounced back the following night to white wash the champs, 5-0. Thompson scored all five runs in the second inning. In the pay-off game— both teams sporting 4-1 records—Leo hides i ended the see-saw competi tion by dumping the frosh, 16-9.' Leonides scored five runs in the first inning and held on to the 'lead, despite the loser's six-run, !fourth inning threat. Dorothy Hagan, Thompson cen terfielder, was the hitting star of the fray with three hits. Centerfielder Lois Stringer and pitcher Lillie Junas each socked two bingles for the winners, while their captain, Carol Bradt, scored four times. Koch Shines for Leonides Joan Koch played a rugged all round game and was the spark behind the plate that held the independents together. Junas started on the mound for Leonides but switched positions with first baseman Charlotte Klippel with two out and two on in the last inning because of a finger injury. Klippel pitched to Waters who ing limp on the base line, for the base line for the final out. Klippel and Waters collided as the reliefer was racing to get under the fly, and the ball fell to the ground. Junas picked it up and tagged Waters, who was ly ing limp on the base line, for the final out. Polly Hoffman pitched an ex cellent game in defeat. Five Sports Elect Managers Richard Shingler is the newly elected manager of the Lion base ball team. Newly-chosen assis tants are Bill Wallis, Larry Miller, and Gordon Miller. Richard Parry has been elected manager of the Lion track team for the 1957 season. John Min nich and Marshall Berman were named as his assistants. Harry Yaverbaum will head the managerial staff of the Nit tany lacrosse team. He will be assisted by Charles Hughes, Guy Rhodes, and Edwin Strong. Charles Good is the newly chosen manager of the 1957 Penn State golf team while Bill Det terer was named head manager of the tennis team. Carter Victory Boosts Rating Heavyweight contender Harold Carter may have moved up in the waiting line for a shot at the heavyweight championship be cause of his lopsided, upset vic tory over Johnny Summerlin in their return television bout last Friday night, according to the United Press. Carter, a 22-year-old Sunday school teacher from Linden N.J., is currently ranked eighth in the ratings, but his one-sided victory over the ninth-ranked Summerlin may have enhanced his chances for a title bout. Carter credited his "stepped-up pressure attack" as the key to his easy victory. The win avenged an earlier defeat at the hands of Summerlin. Old and New Nick Thiel Resigns Post Boer Replaces Thiel As Lacrosse Coach In the only University coaching change during the past year, Nick Thiel resigned as lacrosse mentor after staying at the helm for the past 22 years. He is succeeded by Ernie Baer. Thiel, a former All-American from Syracuse, was forced to give up his coaching chores because of his pressing admin istrative duties. He is the director of the required physical education program at the Univer sity The 29-year old Baer, a former Lion scoring great under Thiel, moves into command after hav ing served as Thiel's assistant for the past three seasons. Has Good Record Thiel had developed an out- I standing record for himself dur ing his 22 years as head coach, twice being named "Man of the Year" by the United States La crosse Coaches Association. He also served as head coach ofl the Northern squad in the annual North-South lacrosse classic three times, compiling a 1-1-1 record. "That tie game was the best in the series,' he said, "the final score being 14-14 in overtime. We played until 11:45 that night and not a fan had left the stands." Ritter Only All-American Although Thiel turned out a great number of outstanding play ers, only George Ritter of the 1940 squad was named to a first team All-American berth. lHow ever, many have gained second or third team spots as well as `honorable mention. He has also sent several players to the North- ISouth encounter. Some of the newer stars that lhave developed under Thiel's tuelage include Bob Hamel, Joe Erwin, Don Bell, and Junior Bill Hess who smashed the University single season scoring record with 14f goals last year. He also set a new assist mark with 21 to his •credit. Popularity Increasing When asked the reason why; HELLO FRESHMEN! And a Cheery Howdy-Do • to ALL of You ! Think of it. Fifty nine years Grahams have been with the students of Penn State and still going strong. This has only, been possible because Grahams have always played that little game of business fair and square with the students and they will always continue to do so. You will always meet your friends at Gr . ahams GRAHAM &• SONS Established 1896 103 S. Allen St. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9. 1956 t , - I - 1 Ernie Baer New Lacrosse Coach lacrosse was not as nationally known as other collegiate sports, Thiel said it was probably due to the lack of a great number of high schools in the east which carry the sport. However he said that its popularity was spreading fairly rapidly and the number of schools playing the game has ap proximately doubled. He said that lacrosse is one of the few major collegiate sports that does not require any actual experience to play -in varsity competition. "Few of my better players had any experience be fore coming to Penn State," he explained. Commenting on his resignation, 'Thiel said, "It's not easy to give up a sport in which you have been active for 30 years, but I am confident that my successor will do an outstanding job for Penn State and lacrosse." Ed Czekaj, who kicked the ex tra points for Penn State's un beaten Cotton Bowl team, now is cast in the role of football ticket manager at his alma mater. Varsity Soccer Practice Candidates for the varsity soccer team should report to Coach Ken Hosterrnan Wed nesday afternoon at Recreation Hall. Practice will begin this week, according to Hosterrnan.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers