Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1906-03-27
Preparing For Annual State HiQh
School Athletic and OratOriCaI
Meet at MiSSOula.
ATHLETES DOING GOOD WORK
Prospects Are BRIGHT For FERGUS
County TallnQ Some of the Prin-
Cipal Events This Year.


County High school. Particularly
since the nice weather has started, the
boys have been doing some hard work
on the athletic grounds. trying to get
in shape for the second annual state
high school athletic meet which will
be held on the State University
grounds in Mssoula some time during
the latter part Of May.
Last year the Fergus county delega-
tion did some good work in Missoula
considering the fact that they had no
regular coach and could not train un-
der the most advantageous conditions
Belden took first place in the lOOyard
dash and others got up close to the
front. The boys were Inexperienced at
that time and that had something to
do with their showing not being better.
This year things will be different.
Almost all Of the boys who will COM
prise the team al the coming meet were
members Of last years team and are
therefore, seasoned athletes. There
will likely be new man or two on
the team who will add strength.
Charles Grupe and Cara Wilson are
going in for the pole vault and are
showing good springtime form. The
boys are both getting over eight feet
and within a week will be clearing the
pole pretty close to the nine foot
mark.
Ralph Tavenner will again try his
luck on the hurdles and at the broad
and high jumps. Ralph is a good high
school athlete and has got the form
down pretty we'll. He takes the hur-
dies gracefully and with steady work
will be able to hold his own with the
best of the state when they meet in
Misoula. Dan Crowley will try his luck
in the distance run. He showed good
form in those difficult events last year
and the boys expect him to get within
the points at the approaching meet.
Platt Belden, who was, by far. the
fastest man at Missoula last year In
the dashes, will, barring accident. go
along again this year and 1t Is believed
by all who saw him perform last year
that he will get first in both the 100
yard and the 50-yard dashes this year
Harry Briggs is trying for the jump
and the one-half mile events. He Is
doing nicely and will develop into a
fast distance runner before the middle
of May. Other boys will get out and
the best of the bunch will be sent to
Missoula. Prof. Crane Is coaching the
boys, and as he thoroughly under
stands field athletics, having had n
great deal of experience during his own
college days. it is a certainty that the
Fergus county bows will be in fine
shape when the time comes to meet
the other high school athletes Of the
state.
Athletics do not form the only topic
of interest among the high school stu
dents these days. There Is a lively
competition on between the candidates
for the honor Of representing the school
in the state declamatOry contest, which
will be held at the same time Of the
athletic meet In Missoula. There will
be two preliminary contests and one
final contest before the winner Is
chosen. The first preliminary trial will
be held next Friday night in the audi
| torium Of the high school building. The
students who will recite on that even
ing are: Charles Grupe. THE Soul Of
the Violin" Minnie Coryell. 1.-The Sec
ond Trial" Georgia Stuart, Good
Night, Grandpa" Kieth Caldwell.
Lincoln at Gettysburg" An admis-
sion fee of twenty-five cents will be
charged, to assist in defraying the ex-
penses of the contestants in going to
and returning from Missoula.