The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-27
Y. M. c. A. in ATHLETICS
REVIEW OF THE GYMNASIUM WORK
FOR THE PAST SEASON.
Plans for Next Year VIII Include n
Class i'm BOxiug-Interest in Hand
ball and Wrestling.

Physical Director Fred West of the Y.
NJ. G. A, is busy at this time preparing
for the annual examination of the various
gymnasuc classes of the association. In
making this preparation he also has pre-
pared a review OF the work of the past
year in the gymnasi The season of ath-
letics in the gymnasium began last year
about Nov. l, and will conclude this year
about June 20. During this period there
have been classes in basketball, handbali,
indoor athletics, gymnastics and wrestling.
From Nov. to April l much OF the time is
given to muscle building. which includes
measurements of the body and tests of the
heart and lungs. As soon as all the exam
nations are completed the classes will in
dulge in recreative games, which include
number of special games prepared by Mr..
West
The work of the past year. Mr.. West
says, has been the largest in the history
of the association. More teams have taken
part in prominent athletic events. and those
representing the association have made
good records Indoor athletic events were
held each month for the Dyer medals. cul-
minating in the big athletic carnival held
in Tomlinson Hall. There was also dual
athletic meet between the Manual Training
High School and the Y. M. c. A, in which
the former team won. A team from the
association was sent TO Cincinnati, where
il received honors. The team which repre-
scented Shortridge High School last Satur-
day in Chicago. and which received men
ton for its work in the relay race, was
composed mainly of the members of the
association.
The examinations which are soon 10 be
held will commence about May l by taking
all grades on the apparatus. The ele-
mentary classes will be examined from
May Z to 3. The intermediate grades will
follow for three days and the advanced
classes will be examined May IA to 10. Fol-
lowing this there will be month OF
special work with single stick or baton"
Mr.. West says that in the past year the
classes have averaged from 100 to 400 each
month.
In speaking of the basketball season Of
the association during the past winter, Mr..
West says the association passed through a
fairly successful year. There was a first
team, a second team, intermediate teams,
day juniors, night juniors and the business
mems teams The work of the first team
was given full notice while the league sea-
son was on. The intermediates also gained
prominence by having team or their
own. The second Y. Nj. G. A. team
played winning games with Anderson and
the German House, besides playing a pre-
ude to all the games where the first team
participated. The day juniors played sew
eral games with the Y. NJ !. team and the
team from the Boys Club. The business
mems team played Butler College and the
Indiana Dental School.
Handball, which now has its season. is
recognized more as a recreative sport. The
| association has challenges from the y. Nj.
c. A S at Marion and Anderson, which have
been accepted These games will be played
in few weeks the dates not yet having
been selected. Mr. West says there are sew
eral good handball players among the mem
bers of the Y. NJ. G. A, among them oelnS
Louis Koenecke and William Burner.
handball tournament will be held Tuesday
night in the gymnasium to select players
for the games to be played at Marion and
Wrestling Mr.. West says, has lately be-
come one of the association fadS, ana
there are now about twenty boys actively
engaged in this kind of sport IL promises
TO become more prominent, and with this
view In mind the association has ordered
two new wrestling mats, sixteen by twenty
feet.
PLANS FOR NEXT SEASON.
The programme for athletics for next
year Mr.. West says, will be more complete
than the association has attempted for
many years The association will have its
first basketball team, also the second, in
termediate and junior teams. The same
city league will again be formed with the
addition of the German House. Efforts will
also be made for the formation of a league
| for the intermediates, which will include
| the Y. NJ G. A, Y. NJ. L., Turner's, St.
| Johns. st. Patricks and St Joseph's boys
schools.
He said athletics will not be begun
| soon next fall as they were last year. None
| of the classes will commence active work
| until after the close of the football season,
as both sports being on at the same time
| greatly handicaps some of the players who
| want to take part in both events. 1t is
likely that athletics will be started this
year Immediately after Thanksgiving day.
| Mr. West says he will try this year and
| revive the classes in boxing. Many are OPP
posed to this kind of sport he says, but If
| ii is carried on in a gentlemanly manner
| and no fighting allowed there is no recrea-
| tive sport that excels il. He will also try
| and rent the Cyclorama building or some
| other large building where weekly athletic
| events can be held He says this idea may
| be carried out by the association in con-
| junction with the different schools for the
| purpose of arousing interest in athletics
| preparatory to the big carnival TO be held
| next March in Tomlinson Hall. There will
! also be the Dyer medal contests, the same
| as held the past winter. The medals have
] already been secured. The association will
| send team TO Cincinnati and arrange
/ ments will be made TO send association
| team to the First Armory meet in Chicago
! next March.