Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-01
Washington Institutions Have
Turned Out Some Great In
dividual Performers
in Athletics.
MANY CAPABLE FOOT
BALL MEN DEVELOPED
Also Other Sports Have Re.
Ceived Their Quota of Ma
teriaI-Sport Gossip.
BY H. C. BYRD.

While it is probably true that. i'm a gem
eral way. athletics in the local high
schools fall below the standard of the
northern institutions of the same scho-
lastic rank, it. nevertheless, Is a rather
strange contrast that there have been
turned out some of the best athletes ever
produced in almost every branch of sport.
Time after time the low standard in the
five high schools here has been deplored,
and Yet it is fact that many indi-
viduals have been developed who rank
with the greatest performers in the coun-
Try.
Take foot ball. for instance. There are
several teams this year which ranked
with the best which had on their roster
men who began their athletic career here.
Penn State undoubtedly had one of the
best elevens in the country, going through
its season without a defeat. and one OF
its regulars was a former Eastern High
boy. Whitney. Whitney was an excep-
tionally strong man and a very capable
performer. That he was able to hold
down regular job on such an eleven as
that which represented Penn State during
the past season is evidence enough of his
ability.
Another man who got his start with a
local high school eleven and who made
wonderful record last fall was Benson
of Lafayette. Benson played center and
at the end of the season was rated as one
of the five best men I'm the position. BY
one critic. who was emphatic in his dec
laration, Benson was given the place as
All-American center That he received
such recognition does speak so poorly for
the start received here.
In one year, two men who were stars
on local high school foot ball teams were
coaches at two of the largest universe
ties in the country, Princeton and Yale.
For three years previous to that both did
some exceptional playing for the same
teams. Cunningham got his foot ball
start at Central and Fields was probably
the best man Eastern has ever had on
foot ball team Linthicum is another
Eastern high man who made good with
big university eleven. He played half
back at Michigan and was rated as one
OF the most capable in the west. Magoffin
another Central man-was Michigan's
most capable halfback for two years.
Church of Western made record at Yale
of which no one need feel ashamed.
There have been Hart. Ellis. Morse.
Thrall. Morris and others who have made
enviable records in college foot ball cir
cles
On the track there have also been some
very capable men developed. Central
High alone has sent out men who have
risen to the very top in that branch Of
sport. While it is doubtful if there are
any from the local institutions who are
possessors of worlds records there have
been, since 1900. men who have gone out
year after year on the track and proved
against the most capable men, Last sea-
son Central High had hurdler who had
few superiors in the scholastic ranks.
There have been any number OF base
ball players who have been developed on
the school mines who have gone out and
made good with university teams. Whit
ncy. captain Of the Penn state team;
Cunningham. at Princeton: Howard, at
CORNELL Holden. at Lafayette; Mess, Nc
Donald and White, at Georgetown, and
others who have played brilliant ball
among the best college mines.
Last year two boys from the high
schools rowed on two of the best uni
versity crews in the country-Cornell and
Harvard
And it has been just that way all along.
Seldom has year passed when rep
schools here have not been members OF
university or college teams acquitted
themselves with credit The general
standard of athletics may not be high
here as among schools where generally
older and stronger material is available.
but it is certain that there is no room
for pessimistic reflection when the in
dividual performers are considered.
There is one thing that may be said
regarding athletics in the high schools
in this city. Ii is this: There is not an
other place in the country where better
teams are turned out a general rule
or where better article of sport is
shown in comparison to the material with
which the coaches have had to work.
w ME inc Otner SCHOOLS nave not Dtcn
fortunate as Central in the securing
Of capable tutors for their teams, for
lack of finances and other reasons, they
have had at various times some very
capable men in charge.
One man who has been connected with
athletics In various scholastic institutions
in the New England states told a man in
charge at one OF the local institutions
that he had never seen a higher athletic
development than that reached here He
said II was his opinion that for the ma
terial teams I'm the Washington schools
did better than anywhere else.
One man has entered big school this
year who is as certain TO make a brilliant
record among college ball teams as has
been made by some already-KendaIl
Meyers. Meyers has gone to Lafayette
and there is not particle of doubt but
that he will make good. When that nine
comes south this coming spring it -
practical certainty that the former West
ern boy will be holding down the regular
Job at first base.
On the same team there will be another
Western man doing a part of the pitching
Holden. Holden did some very credit
able work last year. and IL is likely he
will be able to accomplish a great deal
more this spring.
Also It might be mentioned in this con-
nection that Rene Adams another West
ern lad. Is one of the best infelders at
the Naval Academy. and as the regular
shortstop on that nine last spring played
high-class ball.
special program of athletic events