The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-02-05
ATHLETICS N OUR SCHOOLS
(ocaleean Ensign)

Iexist yet, in certain benighted parts
lof the north, the mistaken idea that
athletics i not in favor In southern
schools, the basis for the thought be-
ling the erroneous opinion that our
1southern climate is discouraging to
physical exertion. It is, indeed, re-
lported that certain Boston philan-
Ithropist of large brain but ill-devel-
Ioped body, and consequent antipathy
for athletic contests generously en-
Ioowed certain southern college, be-
lcause, he said, as the weather was too
hot for young men to be out on the
diamond and gridiron. they would be
able to give a becoming amount of
time to their studies.
Florida schools of quarter of a
century ago might have given some
Support to. the idea, not on account
of the climate, but because it had not
occurred TO the scholars to become
sufficiently interested in sports to
follow them in an organized manner.
Also, the older generation of teachers
was not interested in athletics, and
some of the mossbacks actually dis
c0uraged them.
i In these later years, however, ath-
letics have come into their own In
the south, the pupils taking full in
terest in them and the teachers with
few exceptions realizing that sports
are an aid instead of a drawback to
education.
II Football is the principal school
game, partly for the reason that il
Il has been for centuries the favorite in
England, whence it was imported to
this country, and partly because the
Il baseball season is over before school
3 days begin, and does not well begin
until schooldays are over, the pupils
are too busy with their studies of the
last few weeks to try to excel on the
/ diamond.
il Football, however, is boys game;
i the girls have never taken to it; in
fact. it is only of late years that girls
have taken part in athletics. 1t has
not been long ago that girl who took
part in any outdoor game except ten
mis- and .croquet was considered
romboy, If not q rowdy. This gener-
4 alton, however, is wiser and more
lively. and is awake TO the fact that
i healthy body to keep healthy mind
in is the right of girl as well as a
boy.
Basketball is becoming the favorite
game of school girl teams. 1t is to
girls what football isA<p boys, and es-
tablishes the fact that q women is not
the weaker vessel" for it requires as
much skill and activity as football,
land if there are not as many accidents
in playing it as there is in the social
ed rougher game it is because girls
are as rule more deft in their move
ments than boys.
Basket ball is an ancient and hon.
orable game. It is of Celtic origin,
old-tirne stories of Scotch, Welsh and
Irish kings and chiefs showing that
it was often played in their courts
in the winter time, when weather was
too inclement for outdoor sports.
Il Basket ball among the South Flor
ida schools bids fair to become as well
4 organized as football The high
II schools in particular in this part of
the state have taken so much interest
in it that it has become the object of
a championship, and the ever-growing
circle of contestants promises in time
to take in every school that is a
school
4 Ocala's interest in basket ball was
established few years ago by the
/ famous Wildcats" team of girls
who had all the activity tho not the
ferocity of the animal whose name
they had adopted. They played
against the leading teams of the
state, and never lost game.
| Their successors, made up mostly
of their members, was the Ocala
Girls High School Team. This team
last year made an enviable record,
meeting teams from Gainesville, Or,
lando, Sanford and other places and
always winning.
With the opening OF this school
term, the team re-organized. 1t has
had A larger proportion of new play
ers than the team of last year and
has not had as good fortune. 1t has
!. lost two games, one to Gainesville
and one to Sanford, tho in each
case it played splendid game and
missed victory by narrow margin.
/ The two defeats have put the MEM
bers ON their best mettle, and they
have solemnly vowed it shall, not
happen again.
II The team leaves tomorrow morn
ing for Sanford, for game with the
high school team of that city, the
III most pronounced aspirant for the
state championship. From Sanford,
the team will go next day to Orlando,
where it will meet the high school
team of that town, for game before
returning home. Ocala defeated both
| Sanford and Orlando last year.
III Our girls will be at disadvantage
in playing with Sanford, as they will
be wearied by the long auto trip, but
they believe they have the high heart
and vim to overcome this handicap.
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