FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1963 Nittany Coach Responsible For Building Gym Dynasty By joe Grata . Filing cabinets are wedged full with all sorts of material and no less than three of the four~ walls ■ in the compact cubicle-like room are covered with photos. and newspaper clippings—overlapping and some times haphazardly hung. A black slate window sill and two walnut-stained desks over flow ' with magazines, manila folders, books, more letters and more papers. Two uricushioned chairs provide the only available vacancy, but even these are usually occupied. THE OFFICE (Room 234 A, Rec Hall) is the professional home of Gene Wettstone, Penn State gym nastics coach, but moreover a world all its own. Twenty-four years ago Wetts tone arrived at the University and began the self-imposed task -of building his gymnastics program. The tall, slim and bespectacled coach has carefully molded Penn State into the unofficial gymnas tics capital of the East. In the early 1940’5, gymnastics meets attracted only a handful of spectators, sometimes number ing as little as 30 persons. Now capacity crowds of 6,000 fans pack Rec Hall to' see the well-versed proteges of the master-mind Wett stone consistently defeat opponent after opponent. Over the years, Wettstone has accumulated a record that speaks for itself. His all-tima dual-meet Wall, Cupit Share Lead In San Francisco Open SAN FRANCISCO '(/P) —Veteran Pennsylvanian Art Wall and 24-year-old Texan Jacky Cupit conquered bumpy greens yesterday to share the first round lead in the $50,000 San Francisco International Open Golf Tournament with scores of 67, 4-under-par. They finished just one stroke ahead of five golfers— Charlie Sifford, Dick Mayer, Bobby Nichols, Phil Rodgers and Rookie Terry Dill over the Hard ing Park municipal course on a sunny day. ' WALL, the 39-year old former Masters champion from Pocono Manor, Pa., fired three birdies and an eagle while collecting only one bogey on his ninth straight com petitive round on which he bet tered or equalled par. Cupit, the 24-year-old rookie-of the-year of 1961 from Longview, Tex., collected four birdies and didn’t go over regulation figures on his round. . A half dozen .were bracketed at 69 including Billy Casper, winner of the Bing Crosby tournament FREE . JAMMY FREE . JAMMY F JAMMY . FREE. JAMMY . FREE ■ FREE . JAMMY . FREE. JAMMY West Halls JAMMY . FREE. JAMMY , FREE Jammy FREE , JAMMY . FREE . JAMMY featuring JAMMY . FREE. JAMMY . FREE FREE . JAMMY . FREE. JAMMY c# “ ls JAMMY . FREE. JAMMY . FREE Saturday 2-4:00 FREE . JAMMY . FREE. JAMMY WA,, " ,0 THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. UNIVERSITY PARK. .PENNSYLVANIA ★ ★ Vr GENE WETTSTONE . . . "Mr. Gymnastics" * * * record at State stands at 96 wins against 30 loses. His teams have won nine Eastern and seven na tional collegiate titles. . VISITING COACHES and gym officials hold nothing but respect for Wettstone, a human dynamo that continues to play a vital role in helping to make America strong. Filed in his office are letters, personal and professional, from gymnastics dignitaries of the world he’s generally considered as the central agent involved in Sunday and Canadian George Knudson who was runner-up to Gene Littler in the 1961 San Fran cisco event. Arnold Palmer carded only a 73 commenting, “This is one of the toughest courses I've seen any where, but- it isn’t the best. I wasn’t putting well. The greens were a little bumpy, but every body plays the same greens.” BULLETIN Cassius Marcellus Clay did just whal he told everyone he would do when he knocked out Charlie Powell in the 3rd round of their scheduled 10-round fight in Pittsburgh last night. the recently organized • United States Gymnastics Federation, The federation aims to heal un coordinated AAU and NCAA poli cies which govern the selection of gymnasts for the World Olym pics. At the present time the group is fighting .for recognition, power 'to sanction meets, to determine eligibility and to set fair and ethical standards for the nation’s gymnasts. Slouched in his office chair, with a cigarette loosely" gripped between two of his slender fingers, Wettstone sometimes doesn’t look like the super-showman he is. But * ask a question and he’ll sound out an expert’s answer in his typical soft-spoken wav. INITIATIVE and efficiency are two factors that make opposing coaches, former gymnasts and anyone else who knows Wettstone on friendly or intimate terms hold even deeper admiration for the man. In 1948, Wettstone went to Lon don as coach of the men’s Olym pic team; in 1952, to Helsinki as an official, and in 1956, to Aus trailia, again as coach. > Several" times the State gym : boss took charge of fabulously successful coast"-to-coast tours by nationaLchampionship teams from i Sweden, Switzerland and ’•’inland. ; In 1961 he directed a gala extrava i ganza which matched the Russian ■ Olympic team against the United . States Olympic team in Rec Hall. , Wettstone is presenlly serving i his second consecutive term as ■ president of the American Gym l nasties Coaches. Last year Wett i stone also gained the distinction of being named “Gymnastics Coach of the Year.” In short, Wettstone is generally hailed, as “Mr. Gymnastics” in the United States. Grambling Holds AP Cage Lead By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS High-scoring Grambling College topped the Associated Press small college basketball poll rankings for .the third straight week yester day, but the Louisiana team’s hold on the No. 1 spot appeared in jeopardy. Grambling collected 64 points with runner-up Wittenberg, Ohio, close in pursuit with 61 points in the balloting, of eight members on the AP regional board of selectors. Grambling has won 15 games in 16 starts, while Wittenberg shows an 11-1 won-lost record. The vot ing is based on games through last Wednesday with 10 points for first, 9 for second etc. Both Grambling and Wittenberg played ,once during the week, each winning. The Louisiana school; averaging close to 95 points a'game, turned back Al corn A&M 88-83 Saturday night. The Ohioans looked impressive last week in jolting Dayton, a perennial major power, 48-45. ON GUARD: Two Penn Slate fencers duel during a practice session at Rec Hall in preparation for their opening meet next Wednesday at Temple. State reinstated fencing last year after a long layoff and under coach Dick Klima the Lions battled to a 1-2 record. ★ -k ★ Lion Fencers Dye! For Starting Berths By JOHN LOTT After weeks of gruelling workouts, final eliminations will be held tonight for the top positions on the Penn State fencing team. This week the candidates 1 competing in round-robin fen swordsmen who will perform' in State’s opening meet at Temple next Wednesday. ACCORDING TO coach Dick Klima, there will be a lot of new faces in the group that makes the trip to Philadelphia to duel with the Owls, Several of last year’s top-performers are getting a run for their money from new comers. However, Klima is not certain of his top 12 men and won’t make the final choices un til after this evening’s final elim ination bouts. steady and constant.” One of Klima's outstanding swordsmen is Dave Lewis, who competes in the epee division. Lewis, who went to the national championships last year, has im proved tremendously this season, Klima said. THE LION swordsmen will have a light workout Monday evening, then leave Tuesday to meet Temple, who is the defend ing Middle Atlantic Conference champion. The recruiting program for the fencing team begins in the physi cal education classes. The out standing fencers in these groups are invited to a spring practice, during which Klima works with each man individually. In the last weeks of these work outs, eliminations are held in much the same manner as those going on now.. The finalists are then asked back as candidates for the varsity team. OUYKUKSCnJACKUARI'UmUJVKUnSUKJACIvIIAitIM'.aOIyVKItHSukjACKIIAItI'IMt X “Last year the foil team was our weak spot, but that’s all changed now,” Klima said yes terday. “We have a real fine group of fellows ih foil, and we’re hoping that they can counter balance a definite weakness in the epee division." “In sabre, I figure‘we’ll be a little stronger than last year," Klima continued. “There’s noth ing sensational about our sabre group, but their performance is Annual Winter Shoe SALE All styles from our regular selection of famous brands Many of these styles, al- though current in our man ufacturers' national adver- tising programs are being Nettleton discontinued by us to bring Taylor you the latest in fashion. LtdV v5"cC? Jack Harper Around the Corner from Jack Harper Custom Shop - i GUYKRESCEJ ACKH ARPERGUYKRESGEJ ACKHARI’EUGUYKRESG'EJ ACICHAKI'KR 'or the varsity squad have been iceoffs in order to choose the Bostonian Johnson & Murphy Clarks of England Dr. Posner and Sabei Orphopedic Shoes S. ALLEN STREET PAGE NINE ★ ★ ★ Guy Kresge
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