Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-01
JOE WRIGHT CANADIAN STAR,
WILL COACH PENN OARSMEN
Captain and Tutor of
Argonaut Clu b to
Give Amateur Serv-
ices to Quaker Crews
BY EDWARD R. BUSHNELL


DOwING will take a new hold on life
IN at the University of Pennsylvania
when Joe Wright, for more than 20 years
captain and coach of the Argonaut Row
ing Club, of Toronto, begins his duties as
amateur coach of the Quaker oarsmen.
Already rowing authorities and candidates
for the crews are looking forward to the
arrival of Wright with an enthusiasm
that even Vivian Nickalls did not arouse
when he came here two years ago.
1t will be wrlght's first appearance as
a University coach, but he brings to his
task an equipment which few of Amer
ica's crew coaches possess. Until the last
few years Wright stroked as well as
coached all of Argonauts famous eights.
Thus he knows rowing practically as
well as theoretically. Not only can he
teach rowing, but he can jump into
shell and illustrate the stroke If neces-
sary. When e man can command the
advantage of being a successful sweep
oarsman himself as well as coach he will
inspire confidence at every turn.
Another respect in which Wright has
something on many of his rival coaches
is that he is a sweep oarsman, not a
sculler. 1t is a curious fact that many
of Americas crew coaches won their
fame more by their ability as scullers
than as sweep oarsmen.
Has Reputation
Wright is extremely well known among
American oarsmen, because his Argonaut
crew has competed on nearly all our row.
ing courses. In addition, Wright has
taken his crews to England. where on
more than one occasion they made a
strong bid for Henley honors. They also
made a splendid showing in the Olympic
tn m 10 "a HanlpNT
1908 and at Stockholm in 1912
There is much surprise in rowing circles
that Wright should con. Mt to coach
Pennsylvania as an amateur. The fact
of the matter is that until today Wright
was the postmaster of Toronto, position
.ie held for a good many years, Possessing
unusual physical vigor, he was able to
hold his own as stroke in the best of the
Argonaut crews until after his 10th year.
And even last year, when in his 50th year,
he stroked the winning four-oared crew
in the club regatta, in which 20 club crews
competed
All told, Wright has won 1870 races with
sweeps and scu'.s, including the American
and Canadian championships in singles,
pairs, fours and eights, In 1885 he was a
member of the crew which won the
American junior four-oared championship.
His racing career was continuous until
1906, when he stroked the famous Argo-
maui SlBHlt WHICH WAS bthlen ny OHly SIX
feet by Leander in the final for the Grand
Challenge Cup of the English Henley
In 1899 Wright stroked the first Canadian
crew TO carry off AN American eight
cared championship. and in 1903 he
stroked the eight which won the first
American Henley championship on the
Schuylkill. Two days later this same
crew established the present record for
the Schuylkill course in the Peoples
Day regatta.
Wright was also a great sculler and
was the first Canadian TO win a sculling
race i'm England. when he carried off the
Bedford Cup. He was also the first Cana
dian TO win a heat in the Diamond
seulls.
Football Player and Wrestler
In addition to his fame as an oarsman
Wright was a great football player, and
for IS years did not miss a game. Not
only that. but at one time he held the
Canadian heavyweight wrestling cham
pionship.
Canadians swear by Wright as the
ideal type of sportsman. He mikes well
with his men, and has the ability to COM
municate his own courage and enthusi-
asm. He is a high type of man, physl-
cally, mentally and morally and as such
should inspire the greatest confidence
among Pennsylvania men.
PennsylYania's crew candidates will re-
Coach Wright Is on hand to take
charge of them personally Captain Chick
eFlng viii do the coaching. There will be
yIHE H. H.. Ill