Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-03-11
l. Racquet Champion.

- 4SooSuVs SAoA pawn
The sketch of citizen Of our county we
take from q recent number Of the Baltimore
Sun:
Few persons may know that George Il.
Brooke, who recently captured the amateur
championship Of America at racquets by de.
feating the Boston crack, Quincy A. Shaw,
in three straight games, Is q Marylander.
de was born at Sandy Springs, and his
career as an athlete began at Swarthmore
Preparatory School when he played on the
football team. When he entered Swarth.
more College In 1891 he Immediately made
the eleven and played at fullback for one
year. His natural kicking ability attracted
the attention of George Woodruff, then head
coach of the University Of Pennsylvania
football team, and young Brooke was soon
induced to matriculate at the latter lnstitu.
ton.
Penn's team in those days was remark.
ably strong aggregation Of experienced men
and the best Brooke could do the first year
that he was eligible was to substitute for
Knipe at fullback. However In "a he was
placed regularly at fullback, Knipe going
TO half. This was the famous year when
the Red and Blue made q clean sweep of
the boards, or, rather, gridirons, defeating
both Harvard and Princeton.
Brooke was Caspar Whltney's choice for
fullback on the all American team that year,
and following season, when the red haired
wonder won the Harvard game all by him
self, scoring goal from the field and kick.
ing two goals from touchdowns at difficult
angles, making the score II to Harvard's IA.
Whitney, In again placing him on his all.
star team, had this to say concerning his
selection:
"There is no difficulty in choosing full
buck. Brooke Is unquestionably entitled TO
that distinction for his marvellous kicking,
which includes proficiency in every depart
nent Of that game, such as line-kicking and
running through broken field. Not since
Buttefworth has another such all around
fullback been developed, and Brooke excels
Butterworth In drop-kicklng, their painting
being about even."
When his football career at Penn was
ended by the four year rule Brooke was
asked by the Leland Stanford University, Of
California, to coach its eleven, which he did.
10 1897 he Joined the all.star Duquesne
Athletic Club eleven Of Plttsburg. composed
entirely of college graduates who had played
on their varsity elevens. In 1898, however,
the great fullback decided TO take up coach.
ing as regular occupation and accepted
this position at Swarthmere, where he has
been ever since and where his efforts TO turn
out first class minor team have been al
most unInterruptedly successful.
Mr.. Brooke's career at racquets has again
shown his capacity for hard, conscientious
work and willingness TO bide his time until
he could make bid for highest honors with
reasonable chance for success. He took
up the game after leaving college In 1895,
and under the able tutelage Of Mr.. Ellis, the
Philadelphia Racquet Clubs professional,
the youthful player was soon able TO hold
his own with his club mates. By 1900 he
had reached the first class, and 10 1902, when
paired with II. d. Scott. succeeded in win.
ming the doubles championship Of America.
Last year i'll health prevented his making
his usual good showing, but after his care
fol preparations last fall those who had been
watching his game were not surprised when
he carried all before him in Boston.
Brooke is one of the best tennis players IN
this country, although he never took up the
game seriously enough TO 60 into the big
tournaments at Longwood and Newport.
Nevertheless he has often taken the winners
of these matches and trimmed them privately.
An incident of this kind occurred when
the Pennsylvania football team was up In
Canada for preliminary practice. The Ca.
madam pair who had just captured the dou-
bles championship Of Canada, happened 70
be stopping at the same hotel, and they
challenged any two players 10 the Red and
Blue squad to a match at doubles. Brooke
and Stauffer accepted the def and TO the
discontinue of the natives and delight OF
the American colony succeeded In quitting
It all over the Canadian champions.
Mr.. Brooke has been selected as one Of
the coaches for the Pennsylvania football
team next year, bat 1t Is doubtful II his du :
ties at Swarthmore will permito Of his accept
ing the position.
He is not physical marvel. He stands
about i've feet nine inches In his stocking
feet and weighs around 1856 pounds. His
muscular development is not exaggerated
like that OF so many Of the so called athletes
of the present day, but one can tell at q
glance that he is powerful man.