New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-09
VoIImer Seems Certain
to Win Aquatic Titles
Former Stuyvesant Boy
Making Good Wahle's
Predictions - Other
News of Swimmers.

Hal Vollmer, the Stuyvesant High
School swimmer, now competing for
the New York Athletic Club, is fast
fulfilling the predictions made for him
last spring by Otto Wahle, the ANA
teur coach of the Mercury Foot squad.
Wahle stated at the end of the in
door season that his young pupil would
prove one of the best middle distance
paddlers in the metropolitan district
before the summer was over, but the
statement was generally laughed at,
for Vollmer had never even attempted
to swim beyond the furlong.
Presently, however, reports OF the
rapid improvement Of the lad began
to leak out, and last Saturday, at
Travers Island, he made good in COM
petition, covering 440 yards in min
utes seconds, in spite of a mishap
which cost him several yards. Last
year the national quarter-mile cham
pionship was won over the same course
in 6 minutes 8 As seconds.
That Vollmer will be able to capture
district honors is doubtful, because
Goodwin, Reilly and other of the vet
Grams have developed materially in the
last twelvemonth. But he will be in
the running, ard he may even figure in
the awards. Wahle was right, after all.
James j. Kennedy, of the American
Lifesaving Society, who set new dis
lance record of fourteen miles for the
back stroke in the Tribune Marathon
swim TO Sandy Hook, has received and
accepted a challenge for series of
match races from Merrill Maissck, OF
the Pittsburgh Athletic Association.
They will engage at several distances,
always swimming on the back, and
competent judges believe they Will
send a few worlds standards flying be-
fore they settle the question OF SUI
pIemacy. Both seem confident OF VIC
tory.
Nicholas Nerich, of the New York
Athletic Club, has local aquatic fans
wondering what he intends 10 do TINS
season. He has not been near the club
pool in months, and it was thought he
had abandoned all idea of racing until
il was learned that he was quietly and
faithfully training in the Goth ST. pub
lie bath.
Now, every one believes he contem-
plates springing surprise on his n,
walls by lulling them into a sense OF
security and then appearing in the
pink of condition TO fight for the all
round laurels he held in 1912 and lost
last summer by default. II is to be
hoped that such is the case, for Nerich
has il in him to wipe out every exist
ing record and only lack Of ambition
has prevented his climbing to the top
rung OF aquatic fame.
Herman Laubis, Of the Missouri Ath-
letic Club, of st. Louis, heralded by
Western authorities a second Daniels,
il now visiting New York. He gave an
exhibition on Thursday in the Mercury
Foot pool, and made an excellent I'M
preston. Tom Whitaker has taught
him a type of crawl stroke which en-
bodies all the latest theories, and he
moves through the water with such
ease and smoothness that his work APP
pears effortless.
Laubis will take part in many i'm
portant events this season, but the one
upon which his eyes are focused IS
the ten-mile national championship. IL
will be held in ST. Louis, and he has
set his heart on winning II.
Michael McDermott. the present title